Brian's Reading List - 2015

[BSchultz19]

The text should be pretty much identical so as a cheaper alternative, I'd say yes. I am the same as you when it comes to reading on the Kindle, especially with classics for some reason.

 

I think for me I prefer to read the classics as real books because they are so many editions and that way I can choose the edition I want and because the classics were written before the whole e-era, I feel like it connects me more to the people who have read the same book in the past. 

 

I wish I loved kindle more because it is really convenient, but I just love holding books 

[Brian.]

I'm making some progress with the latest "Jar" book, Cold Comfort by Quentin Bates.

[Brian.]

I almost bought a book yesterday but managed to avoid it by going to the library instead. I picked up 2 books at random, Ajax Penumbra 1969 by Robin Sloan and Happiness Is Easy by Edney Silvestre. I know nothing about either book but I'm hoping to read them during this week.

[chesilbeach]

I'm making some progress with the latest "Jar" book, Cold Comfort by Quentin Bates.

 

I misread that initially and thought you were reading Cold Comfort Farm … very different books I imagine!

[Brian.]

 

I misread that initially and thought you were reading Cold Comfort Farm … very different books I imagine!

 

I've never read Cold Comfort Farm but I took a quick look at the synopsis and yes, it's very different. Cold Comfort is a crime novel set in Iceland which features a female lead detective who is investigating a murder. It's been pretty good and I only have one minor quibble so far.

[Brian.]

The Big Trip (Lonely Planet) by George Dunford



Synopsis
So, you know you want to experience that ultimate overseas adventure but where do you start? Right here, with the one-stop guide to planning the trip of a lifetime. Try these ideas on for size:
Swim with dolphins off the coast of New Zealand
Learn Spanish in Guatemala
Teach children English in Ghana
Work your way around the UK 's best bars
Tend orphan elephants in Sri Lanka
Get soaking in Thailand 's Songkran water festival
Be the first in your family to go around the world
The Big Trip Is Your Ticket To All This And More
Essential pre-trip planning: health, safety, kit, costs, tickets, etc
Volunteering and working abroad: from fruit picking to teaching, yacht-crewing and au pairing
Regional overviews, maps and a diverse range of road-tested itineraries
Tips and stories from travelers and experts
Comprehensive directory of essential resources
(taken from Goodreads)


My Thoughts

I found this book while browsing my library's online directory and it sounded similar to a previous lonely planet book that I have recently read. This sounded like less of a gap-year book and more of a 'big trip' book which is exactly what I have been looking for. Unfortunately, at the time it was out on loan so I had to reserve it and wait patiently for the reservation email to arrive. The edition I read was the 2nd edition which was published in 2011 so the information was quite up to date.

 

The book starts off with the usual planning information regarding visas, flight booking, medical care etc. There was nothing really new here but it did include some useful tables when comparing the different round the world (RTW) tickets available on the market. It also goes into some detail about how adding certain destinations into your itinerary can really bump up the costs of your RTW ticket. The best part of the book, for me at least is the large section dedicated to destinations to consider and some of the routes through these regions. This starts with a RTW trip and then goes on to include all the major regions of the world. Each region has 4 or 5 suggested route variations along with stopping points along the way and details of places to visit while there. The best thing about these route suggestions is that there is a lot of variation so every traveller should find something to suit.

 

These regional sections contain a lot of information ranging from suggested reading, basic costs, highlights, activities, festivals, nature, nightlife, courses, working and any possible issues you may face. Also inserted into these sections are little travel tales from people who have done these journeys in the past. The writing throughout is informative but very lighthearted which makes the book easy to read.

 

4/5 (I really liked it).

[Brian.]

Cold Comfort by Quentin Bates



Synopsis
Officer Gunnhildur, recently promoted from her post in rural Iceland to Reykjavík’s Serious Crime Unit, is tasked with hunting down escaped convict Long Ommi, who has embarked on a spree of violent score-settling in and around the city. Meanwhile, she’s also investigating the murder of a fitness guru in her own city-center apartment. As Gunna delves into the cases, she unearths some unwelcome secrets and influential friends shared by both guru and convict. Set in an Iceland plagued by an ongoing financial crisis, Gunna has to take stock of the whirlwind changes that have swept through the country—and the fact that at the highest levels of power, the system’s endemic corruption still leads, inevitably, to murder.
(taken from Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I can't remember when or where I picked this book up from but if I had to guess, I would say it must be a charity shop purchase as it's a bit beaten up. The fact that it is a Scandi/Nordic crime novel and set in Iceland must have been what appealed to me. What I was unaware of however, is the fact that this is the second book in a series and I have not read the first book. Despite this, when I selected the book from the jar I decided to give it a go and see how I got on with it.

 

The above synopsis sums the story up pretty well so there is little for me to add in this respect. The story hinges around the murder of Svana Geirs, a one-time minor celebrity who now runs a health club with connections to people with a bit of a shady past. The investigation involves an intricate web of dodgy deals and people from various different walks of life. All this is set against the backdrop of the financial crash and it's effect on Iceland as a society. This is a particularly interesting part to the story and something that really added a lot of depth to plot as a whole.

 

The writing is pretty good and I found that the book easy to read. I even managed to read the book in noisy environments which is something that I am often unable to do. The story is a bit plodding in places and there isn't a huge amount in the way of action. The lack of action isn't as issue to me as I find that the 'normal' detectives in these books often have super human recovery or strength at times of duress. The slow plot is a little frustrating in places, especially when it seems like Bates has gone off on a tangent to introduce a new character. This brings me on to the biggest issue with the book, the characters.

 

There are simply far too many characters in the book, several of which could have been dropped without detriment to the storyline in my opinion. I found myself a few times trying to work out who was being featured and this was further complicated by the Icelandic patronymic naming tradition. For example, the main character Gunna is actually called Gunnhildur Gisladottir and all the characters have two names which are interchanged throughout the book. This got a little confusing at times and had me flicking back at times until I had worked out what was going on. Whether reading the first book in the series would have eased this, I cannot say. It also felt like the ending came very abruptly, almost as if Bates had become bored.

 

Despite this, I enjoyed this book and I will keep an eye out of the first, and subsequent books in the series.

 

 

3/5 (I liked it).

[Brian.]

Ohh and I got weak today and bought a few second hand books. I rationalised that because I have read 17 books this year, a few new ones won't hurt.

 

Hunters in the Sea - Robin White

Narcopolis - Jeet Thayil

GB84 - David Peace

Panic - Lauren Olivee

The Good German - Joseph Kanon

 

All for the princely sum of £5.

[Athena]

I hope you enjoy your new books !

[Brian.]

I finished Happiness is Easy by Edney Silvestre this afternoon and I have made a start on Ajax Penumbra 1969 by Robin Sloan.

[Brian.]

Happiness is Easy by Edney Silvestre



Synopsis
Olavo Bettencourt is an important man, a man of spin. With Brazil adjusting to the new idea of democracy, his PR firm holds the balance of power in its hands. Which has also made Olavo very rich, if not very popular.

Loathed by his trophy wife and mired in a web of political corruption that spreads from Sao Paolo to Switzerland, Israel and New York, Olavo is an obvious target for extortion. And what better leverage can there be but the kidnapping of his only son.

Except that the child on his way home from school in Olavo’s armour-plated car, deep into his colouring book as the gang closes in . . .

He’s not Olavo’s son.
(taken from Goodreads)


My Thoughts

During my most recent visit to the library to return some books I happened to walk past the 'recently returned' shelf. I had no plans to borrow any books but two books seemed to call out to me and demand to be read. The first of these books was Happiness is Easy by Edney Silvestre. Three things grabbed my attention, the title, the cover picture, and the location story, Brazil. Initially I had assumed that the author was Brazilian so it would also allow me to tick another country off of my 'world list', alas, the author was actually born in Valencia, not that this mattered at all.

 

The story centres around Olavo Bettencourt, an advertising executive with a lot of shady lies to corrupt government officials. Due to his elevated financial status in society Olavo becomes the target of a gang of kidnappers who specialise in separating rich people from their money. The gang is made up of a disparate group of men from all over South America who all believe that a few big pay days will bring them happiness. Their plan goes slightly awry when, instead of kidnapping Olavo's son they manage to kidnap the son of one of Olavo's domestic staff.

 

I really enjoyed this book, the writing is direct and the translation is easy to read. The story moves along at a decent pace and the tension slowly builds to an exciting conclusion. Almost all of the characters in the book are searching for what they believe will bring them happiness with varying degrees of success. I found the book to be a great insight into Brazilian society and the hardship that many normal Brazilians face on a regular basis.

 

4/5 (I really liked it).

[Brian.]

Ajax Penumbra: 1969 by Robin Sloan



Synopsis
The utterly charming prequel to the New York Times-bestseller Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore

San Francisco, 1969. The summer of drugs, music and a new age dawning. A young, earnest Ajax Penumbra has been given his first assignment as a Junior Acquisitions Officer - to find the single surviving copy of the Techne Tycheon, a mysterious volume that has brought and lost great fortune for anyone who has owned it. After a few weeks of rigorous hunting, Penumbra feels no closer to his goal than when he started. But late one night, after another day of dispiriting dead ends, he stumbles upon a 24-hour bookstore and the possibilities before him expand exponentially. With the help of his friend's homemade computer, an ancient map, a sunken ship and the vast shelves of the 24-hour bookstore, Ajax Penumbra might just find what he's seeking...
(taken from Goodreads)


My Thoughts

This was the second book that grabbed my attention during a recent visit to the library. The cover grabbed my attention and then the blurb on the back had me completely hooked, there was no way I could put this back without reading it. This is the prequel (but written after) to Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, a book which I have heard of but haven't yet read. It is a really short book, coming in at less than 100 pages which meant that I read it in pretty much one sitting.

 

Ajax Penumbra is given his first job as a Junior Acquisitions Officer, to locate and collect the only copy of the Techne Tycheon. During the search he ends up in San Francisco in the 1960's at the tail end of the 'Summer of Love'. He manages to find a 24-hour bookstore, a bookstore unlike anything he has ever come across before and one which seems to do a very strange form of business. With the help of the bookstore custodian and an old university friend he embarks on an adventure to unearth the Techne Tycheon.

 

This is a fantastic book which completely sucked me in as I'm sure it would other book lovers. There are loads of nods to the city of San Francisco, most of which were probably lost on me but would delight people who know the city. The characters are all great and the story moves along at a really rapid pace. This was one of the best reading experiences I have had for a while and it makes me very keen to read Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore when I get a chance. The only downside to the book is that it was so short, I was left craving more and I just hope that this was a teaser for what is to come in the future.

 

5/5 (It was amazing).

[Athena]

I've got Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore on my wishlist, I'm glad you enjoyed this prequel .

[chesilbeach]

I think I wrote quite a good review of Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore when I read it, but was disappointed at the conclusion, and now after some time, I don't have many fond memories of reading it as the ending has dominated my thoughts.  I think if I wrote the review now, I'd be more critical!  I know that's not everyone view of the book, and there have been lots of others who've enjoyed it, so I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on it, Brian.

[bobblybear]

I think my thoughts were roughly the same as yours, Chesil. I was so, so disappointed by the second half of the novel and that is all I remember when I think about it. Hopefully you will enjoy it more than I did, Brian.

[frankie]

 

I misread that initially and thought you were reading Cold Comfort Farm … very different books I imagine!

 

Me too! And then I had to wonder who is this CC by. Then, coincidentally, I saw a book with that very same title at the library. I can't remember the author but it wasn't Quentin Bates Must be a popular name for a novel. 

[Alexi]

Great review Brian. I'm really intrigued by this book and it's gone straight to the wishlist. I'm going to San Francisco in September so maybe an apt time to get my hands on it. 

[Brian.]

I checked the status of Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore at my local library and all the copies have several people waiting for it so it may be a while until I get to it. I did manage to reserve A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby and Yoga For People Who Can't Be Bothered To Do It by Geoff Dyer. Both of these have been on my wishlist for a while now and they should arrive at the library by Wednesday.

Edited March 9, 2015 by Brian.

[Brian.]

The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley



Synopsis
Charles Blakey is a young black man whose life is slowly crumbling. His parents are dead, he can't find a job, he drinks too much, and his friends have begun to desert him. Worst of all, he's fallen behind on the mortgage payments for the beautiful home that's belonged to his family for generations. When a stranger - a white man - offers him $50,000 in cash to rent out his basement for the summer, Charles needs the money too badly to say no. He knows that the stranger must want something more than a basement view. Sure enough, he has a very particular ? and bizarre ? set of requirements, and Charles tries to satisfy him without getting lured into the strangeness. But he sees an opportunity to understand the secrets of the white world, and his summer with a man in his basement turns into a dark game of power and manipulation.
(taken from Goodreads)


My Thoughts

After reading two books away from the TBR jar I decided to put my fate in it's hands again and see what it decided I should read. I looked away, drew out one of the bright green tickets, peeled it open and found that The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley had been chosen. I had mixed feelings about this coming out. On the one hand, it's been on my TBR for a few years so I was looking forward to finally starting it. On the other hand, I wasn't sure what it would be like, I thought the writing may be a bit turgid even though I had nothing to base this on.

 

On opening the book I discovered that it was written in 2004 which caught me by surprise, for some reason I had assumed that it had been written in the 1950's. I later discovered that Mosley is a very prolific writer who is best known for his crime novels so my first impressions were very wide of the mark. The book is split into three roughly equal sized parts which neatly divide the story into it's phases. The first part introduces us to Charles Blakey, a young man who is a bit of a loser with little direction to his life. He is at severe risk of losing his home which has been in his family for many years, and he cannot find a job due to a previous indiscretion.

 

The second and third parts introduce and involve our mysterious "man in the basement", Anniston Bennet. Out of the blue Bennet offers him $50,000 to rent his basement for the summer. Initially Blakey declines this offer at it seems far too strange, but, after the financial pressure on him grows too much he decides to accept the offer. From here on the story gets very strange and turns into a bit of a commentary on the human condition. At this point I imagine that the book will frustrate some readers as it is quite different from the earlier pages and I am led to believe it is a bit of a departure for him as a writer as well.

 

Fortunately I was not frustrated, I was drawn into it more and I needed to know what was going to occur. I can't say that I got everything there is to get from the book, I am sure I missed plenty, but I still found it very readable. I couldn't say for certain if the tale is allegorical or not but there is certainly more to the story than immediately meets the eye. Some of the conversations between Charles and Anniston really made me think and the book has been on my mind since I finished it. There are a number of topics covered and there is also a story line about his family's heritage and slavery throughout.

 

Despite thinking this may be a bit in-accessible I really enjoyed it and I would read some more of Walter Mosley's work should it cross my path in the future.

 

4/5 (I really liked it).

[chesilbeach]

I did manage to reserve A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby and Yoga For People Who Can't Be Bothered To Do It by Geoff Dyer. Both of these have been on my wishlist for a while now and they should arrive at the library by Wednesday.

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush is a brilliant book. After reading today that Wanda Newby has passed away, it has made me think of the Newby books I have yet to read, so I think at least one will be on my holiday reading list this year.  Hope you enjoy it, Brian.

[frankie]

The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley

 

 

Synopsis

Charles Blakey is a young black man whose life is slowly crumbling. His parents are dead, he can't find a job, he drinks too much, and his friends have begun to desert him. Worst of all, he's fallen behind on the mortgage payments for the beautiful home that's belonged to his family for generations. When a stranger - a white man - offers him $50,000 in cash to rent out his basement for the summer, Charles needs the money too badly to say no. He knows that the stranger must want something more than a basement view. Sure enough, he has a very particular ? and bizarre ? set of requirements, and Charles tries to satisfy him without getting lured into the strangeness. But he sees an opportunity to understand the secrets of the white world, and his summer with a man in his basement turns into a dark game of power and manipulation.

(taken from Goodreads)

 

 

My Thoughts

After reading two books away from the TBR jar I decided to put my fate in it's hands again and see what it decided I should read. I looked away, drew out one of the bright green tickets, peeled it open and found that The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley had been chosen. I had mixed feelings about this coming out. On the one hand, it's been on my TBR for a few years so I was looking forward to finally starting it. On the other hand, I wasn't sure what it would be like, I thought the writing may be a bit turgid even though I had nothing to base this on.

 

On opening the book I discovered that it was written in 2004 which caught me by surprise, for some reason I had assumed that it had been written in the 1950's. I later discovered that Mosley is a very prolific writer who is best known for his crime novels so my first impressions were very wide of the mark. The book is split into three roughly equal sized parts which neatly divide the story into it's phases. The first part introduces us to Charles Blakey, a young man who is a bit of a loser with little direction to his life. He is at severe risk of losing his home which has been in his family for many years, and he cannot find a job due to a previous indiscretion.

 

The second and third parts introduce and involve our mysterious "man in the basement", Anniston Bennet. Out of the blue Bennet offers him $50,000 to rent his basement for the summer. Initially Blakey declines this offer at it seems far too strange, but, after the financial pressure on him grows too much he decides to accept the offer. From here on the story gets very strange and turns into a bit of a commentary on the human condition. At this point I imagine that the book will frustrate some readers as it is quite different from the earlier pages and I am led to believe it is a bit of a departure for him as a writer as well.

 

Fortunately I was not frustrated, I was drawn into it more and I needed to know what was going to occur. I can't say that I got everything there is to get from the book, I am sure I missed plenty, but I still found it very readable. I couldn't say for certain if the tale is allegorical or not but there is certainly more to the story than immediately meets the eye. Some of the conversations between Charles and Anniston really made me think and the book has been on my mind since I finished it. There are a number of topics covered and there is also a story line about his family's heritage and slavery throughout.

 

Despite thinking this may be a bit in-accessible I really enjoyed it and I would read some more of Walter Mosley's work should it cross my path in the future.

 

4/5 (I really liked it).

 

When I saw on Goodreads that you'd started reading the novel, I thought uh oh, I wonder what he'll make of it... And then not too long afterwards I noticed you'd given it four stars! I'm happy you enjoyed it loads more than I did. I was one of those people who got frustrated at that one particular point and I just wasn't up for the rest of it. 

[Brian.]

When I saw on Goodreads that you'd started reading the novel, I thought uh oh, I wonder what he'll make of it... And then not too long afterwards I noticed you'd given it four stars! I'm happy you enjoyed it loads more than I did. I was one of those people who got frustrated at that one particular point and I just wasn't up for the rest of it. 

 

After I had finished it I noticed that you had read it at the end of last year and didn't enjoy it as much as I did. I can see this book being a bit of a marmite book, people with either really like it or pretty much hate it.

[Janet]

I did manage to reserve A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby

I really enjoyed this book. 

 

I've just re-read my review and one thing I will say is that I wished I'd waited until the end of the books before looking at the photos which are in the middle of my edition.  I flicked through them when I got to them, but with hindsight they'd have been better viewed after I'd finished the book.  

[Brian.]

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush is a brilliant book. After reading today that Wanda Newby has passed away, it has made me think of the Newby books I have yet to read, so I think at least one will be on my holiday reading list this year.  Hope you enjoy it, Brian.

 

I spotted the post about Wanda Newby the day after I had reserved it, quite a coincidence.

 

I really enjoyed this book. 

 

I've just re-read my review and one thing I will say is that I wished I'd waited until the end of the books before looking at the photos which are in the middle of my edition.  I flicked through them when I got to them, but with hindsight they'd have been better viewed after I'd finished the book.  

 

His name just kept coming up in lists of the best travel writing so I'm expecting good things from the book. I'll save the photos until I have finished on your advice.

[Brian.]

Perfect 10 by Richard Williams



Synopsis

Puskas of Hungary in the '50s; Pele of Brazil and Gianni Rivera of Italy in the '60s; Platini of France in the '70s; Diego Maradona of Argentina in the '80s; Baggio and Zidane in the '90s. The most magical. supremely talented footballers of the post-war period have all worn the Number 10 shirt.

 

Puskas presided over the regal Real Madrid side that won five consecutive European Cups between 1955 and 1960 and like his fellow number 10s in the football hall of fame and infamy, shares the uncanny ability to transcend the role of mere 'player'. The terms 'inside forward', 'playmaker' or fantasista fail to capture the instinct for genius that characterises all great Number 10s. In ten mini-biographical essays on some of the greatest players the world has ever seen Richard Williams explores the astonishing creative influence of the most celebrated players to wear the shirt and recreates some of the most memorable moments witnessed on a football field.

(taken from Amazon)


My Thoughts

This book has been languishing on my bookshelf for quite a few years now. I think I originally bought it from Waterstones or Amazon as the synopsis struck me as something that would appeal to me but it has suffered from a few aborted attempts to read it. I am a big football fan but I haven't read a lot of books on the subject save for a few by journalists that I like, such as Jonathan Wilson. I have a keen interest in the tactical side of the game and hoped that this book would look into what made the chosen players unique in their position. Certain players, such as Maradona defined the position during the era he played and took it to a new level. I wanted to find out what was different about his game and what made him so much better than everyone else. I also hoped to gain some more insight into players I never got to watch play such as Puskas.

 

In the introductory chapters the author starts to explain what makes the number 10 position so special and how there have been quite a few slight variations on it over the years. He also details how hard it was to narrow his selection down to the final 10 (technically 11) players chosen. Those players are Ferenc Puskas, Pele, Gianni Rivera & Sandro Mazola, Gunter Netzer, Michel Platini, Enzo Francescoli, Diego Maradona, Roberto Baggio, Dennis Bergkamp, and Zinedine Zidane. It is a good mix of players from different nations who played during different eras of the game and provide a wide range of playing styles.

 

Sadly, despite the introduction, we are treated to a potted history of the chosen players which frankly lacks detail. There are also some very strange asides during these histories which are very out of place and detract from the matter at hand. There is no tactical insight and there is very little in the analysis of what made the player different to his compatriots. I would have expected some discussion on how Bergkamp for example would find space where none seemed available but Zidane's game had a more physical edge to it than is normally associated with a number 10. There are some wonderful passages, for example, Zidane's balletic movement and control of the ball seemingly at odds with his physical size and strength. There are however, some really glaring holes in the author's research, one of which in particular really irritated me. Williams implies that Zidane bulked up during his time in Italy using questionable methods prevalent in Italy at the time. This is a perfectly valid claim, but, he states that Zidane "used the drug Creatine". Creatine is not a drug, it is a food supplement which aids in muscle growth and recovery and it has never been banned by WADA, USADA or any other doping control agency. It is readily available and used by most athletes around the world where strength is a factor. A simple google search would have turned up this information but it would seem that Williams preferred the more sensationalist approach. He doesn't deal any further with this claim, which is quite inflammatory, basing it entirely on this one line.

 

This book promised a lot but delivered a fraction of that promise.

 

2/5 (It was OK).