rwemad Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share Posted May 28, 2009 (edited) After the Quake by Haruki Murakami***** I just knew I would love any short story written by Murakami. I mean, how could I not? These are 6 stories set in various locations following the devastating earthquake in Kobe, remember it? Brilliant stuff. Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami**** This is the sequel to 'Sheep Chase'. Our totally adorable and very ordinary hero continues his awareness of the/a parallel world and finds himself 'connected' to some amazing characters. It has a touch of thriller about it and is funny and bizarre and profound and surreal..... This book is more about the various characters than the beautiful and scenic descriptions we read within the 'Sheep Chase', I think. Some of them may be quite odd but surprisingly likeable. Again I find the writing simple but the style is so unique I really don't think I can compare him to anything else. However, I think this one was a little long and some of the attempts to tie up any loose ends were a little too off-the-wall for me. A very bad thing about reading such good books as these is that it makes me all too aware that I could never hope to write a best selling novel. I think I have an awful lot to learn . I am going to join the book reading circles. Meanwhile I shall just keep shovelling the snow. 'Marley and Me' next. Edited May 29, 2009 by rwemad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Aloha. I'll read A Wild Sheep Chase next. I try and avoid going back to the same author time and time again, but with Murakami, what can you do? Michael Marshall's books are very, very good. You'll love him. I hope this finds you very well, lovely lady. P.S. What snow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwemad Posted May 30, 2009 Author Share Posted May 30, 2009 Aloha. I hope this finds you very well, lovely lady. P.S. What snow? I'm all good thank you Mac. Read 'Dance, Dance, Dance'...... that snow . And yes, I really liked 'The Intruders' I am looking forward to reading the 4 others I have lined up. I am trying to alternate the authors but I sometimes get stuck in a groove . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwemad Posted May 30, 2009 Author Share Posted May 30, 2009 Marley & Me by John Grogan *** First off, let me make it absolutely clear I am a big animal person. In fact I would go so far as to say I prefer animals to people . In particular I am a dog person. I love dogs. This book was OK. The sad bit had me in tears as, well... it was very, very sad. The rest of it though, dare I suggest was a little ummmmm ordinary? I mean, the dog was clearly very special to the family as it was their dog but it just did normal doggy stuff and they were a normal, ordinary, average family. To be honest even the sad bit was only sad as it made me consider how awful it's going to be when it is time to cope with my own dog's departure. (Let me put it on record MY dog is the best ever and the most good natured, loyal, friendly, funny doggy companion in the universe ). Books that cover the death of a pet always make me think 'why do I keep putting myself through it?'. I haven't seen the film but whereas I normally think the film could never be as good as the book, on this occasion, I think the funny bits may actually be funny if the dog and director were good etc. I didn't laugh at the book at all, perhaps the writing failed to involve me as much as it should have done, I don't know. It's a pleasant enough read; I think I had too high an expectation of it though. Should you want an easy, non exciting, pick-up-put-down book about a young family with dog.... this is the book for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Let me put it on record MY dog is the best ever and the most good natured, loyal, friendly, funny doggy companion in the universe That can't be true, because my dog, Boris, was the best dog in the universe...no, wait...Jessie was the best dog in the whole univer...no, wait...Sadie was the best dog in...oh, sod it...*sighs* I agree with your judgement. The funny thing was that, even though I knew everything about it when I went to the cinema, I still found myself doing a check-list of everything I was to do that weekend and stoically not watching the screen when the inevitable happened. I'm such a soft doofus... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwemad Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share Posted May 31, 2009 ALL my favourite people are animal people. I guessed you would be Mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwemad Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 (edited) Remains of he Day by Kazuo Ishiguro***** This book is truly amazing. It is the third book from Ishiguro I have read and it is also my favourite. In fact I think this is going to have to be noted as one of my favourite books of all time and I will definitely read it again. Probably many times. Written in the first person, Stevens is an English butler with an innate need to be a 'great' butler and demonstrate a 'dignity' that only an Englishman could possibly have. He has unwavering loyalty and pride in his position, so much so, that he defends some quite shocking behaviour in his former employer, the deceased Lord Darlington, and convinces himself that any unpleasantness was all carried out with the best of intentions; as a butler merely carrying out his duties, he feels totally exonerated. So devoted is he that he has restricted his 'self' to the extreme and he appears to fail to recognise any emotions. He doesn't allow himself to grieve, love, hate, get angry...... he is surprised when strange 'feelings' come over him or words escape from his mouth which he really can't explain. Some passages are really very funny but as a book it is a tragic love story. The writing is 'proper gentleman's Engish' but simple, understated and smooth. Stevens is such a complex, fascinating, pompous, ignorant, repressed.......... but likeable character; we get to know him almost intimately... brilliant stuff. It is totally absorbing. Lots and lots and lots to this book. Can I give it 6******? I loved it. My sort of book. Edit- I read this during the very hot spell. I lie in a shady spot of the garden on a comfy lounger and the air was still, heavy and warm; it wrapped me up all cosy. The only sounds were from the small waterfall in the garden pond, the ocasional chirruppy bird, a distant sheep and the odd contented sigh from the dog lying at my side. Should there really be a heaven then I think it won't be so different from my back garden with an unlimited supply of books written by Kazuo Ishiguro to hand....... and maybe some chocolate, beer and vodka . I am now reading Running with Scissors so I can join in over at the reading circle. The Three Muskateers looks scary.... not my sort of book at all . Edited June 3, 2009 by rwemad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwemad Posted June 7, 2009 Author Share Posted June 7, 2009 The Road by Cormac McCarthy ***** I was warned off this book by a work colleague. He came into my office and saw two books on the desk, neither of which I had started and picked it up and called it a 'a tedious piece of sh1te' so I read the other one and put this back on the shelf where it gathered dust for a short age. It is set in the future when the world has been ravaged by disaster and the few survivors are scrabbling for the last remnants of food and warmth. A father and son are aiming South in the hope of finding.... something... hope maybe, or an easy death. They are having to deal with freezing temperatures, starvation, cruelty, loneliness, terror.... This book, as terrifying and somewhat disturbing that it was, I found humbling. The kid is totally adorable and remains so regardless of what is happening around him. Nature scores a point off nurture for sure. A sad, poignant read with a lesson in there somewhere for each of us. I may well read this again. Gotta go as the final of the apprentice is about to start. I don't watch much tv but heck.... who won't be watching it tonight?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwemad Posted June 13, 2009 Author Share Posted June 13, 2009 The Straw Men by Michael Marshall **** Phew. How on earth did he think of all that? This is a book that I would never have picked up had it not been for this forum... thanks Mac... again. I still think The Straw Men sounds a bit of a daft name for what is a very grown up book but it just proves that the old book and cover thing ..... It's about lots and lots of things but involves a gruesome business venture that has the good guys running around in circles chasing the bad guys. There are two leads who are strangers to each other and the book follows both in their quest to find answers to personal events. This is really well written, I think. The plot is intricate and the characters are complex so I had to concentrate . I was a little unsure at first as it began quite slowly ... but it ended at a breakneck speed... G force 7!!! It is insightful, horrific, disturbing, thought provoking and has a touch of comedy where you would least expect it. The characters were incredibly real... they had egos and foibles like all of us... I liked that. There is surely no such thing as a truly altruistic hero is there? Although Bobby came close now I think about it, but that is maybe as I grew quite a soft spot for him. The writer is not at all greedy and this is a book that does not rely on a few good passages padded out with gunk. Every sentence is in there beause it means something to the plot, character, setting or whatever... they all mean something. This is a great book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I'm really glad you liked it. The next two are The Lonely Dead and Blood Of Angels. Again, strange titles, but there you are. This guy really is one of my favourite authors. Great review, Rwemad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwemad Posted June 28, 2009 Author Share Posted June 28, 2009 (edited) I'm really glad you liked it. The next two are The Lonely Dead and Blood Of Angels. Again, strange titles, but there you are. This guy really is one of my favourite authors. I have them waiting in the wings Mac, and Bad Things too. I have also, amongst many others, acquired a book called Nothing to Lose by Lee Child. I believe this may be one of your favourites too:). I have aquired so many books recently I am banning myself from my favourite on line store for the foreseeable future. I struggled but have finished This charming Man by Marian Keyes, gave it a miserable **. I really didn't like it. I found it a bit of a mismatch; I didn't find it funny at all, quite depressing actually. I think the blurb and the cover were misleading causing me to like it less than I would have done had I been expecting such a shift from her usual stuff. I was looking for light and amusing and I got dark and dismal. Having written the above it is worth mentioning that it did take me a long time to read it which may explain why it appeared so dull and depressing. Shame. I'm going to try The Three Muskateers next for the book club. Edited June 30, 2009 by rwemad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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