Ben's Reading 2010

[Nollaig]

BEN! I was wondering where you'd gotten to.

 

The Historian is EPIC, and I often found that it's one of those books that the thought of picking up is worse than the actual picking up and reading. It's pretty dense and you need to concentrate, but once you do it's very easy to get lost in it. It's a very worthwhile read, one of my favourite books. And if you like Dracula, it works brilliantly alongside that.

[Ben]

BEN! I was wondering where you'd gotten to.

 

The Historian is EPIC, and I often found that it's one of those books that the thought of picking up is worse than the actual picking up and reading. It's pretty dense and you need to concentrate, but once you do it's very easy to get lost in it. It's a very worthwhile read, one of my favourite books. And if you like Dracula, it works brilliantly alongside that.

Hey Noll, good to speak to you again, hope you've been well?

 

Glad you're recommending The Historian strongly, I could tell from the first few chapters that I would really enjoy it, just like you said, the thought of settling down is actually worse than the reading. As it happens, I was thinking about tackling Dracula after I've read it, as I've never read it before. We shall see.

 

Time to pull myself together and just get some reading done, I'm sure if I do then I'll begin to get through some more novels quickly..

Edited December 6, 2010 by Ben

[Roland Butter]

Yes, stick with The Historian, I'd say. It's probably a bit longer than it needs to be, but still a very worthwhile read.

[Ben]

Yes, stick with The Historian, I'd say. It's probably a bit longer than it needs to be, but still a very worthwhile read.

Thanks Roland, I intend to get cracking with it shortly, thanks to the good recommendations I've read. I have to admit, it seems rather enthralling so far.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Ben

[chesilbeach]

Hey Ben! Good to hear from you again Nothing shameful about not reading much when you've been studying, but at least it sounds like you've got a good book to get you back in the swing of things when everything settles down. At least it won't be long until the summer holidays, so you'll have a bit of extra time then!

[Ben]

Hey Ben! Good to hear from you again Nothing shameful about not reading much when you've been studying, but at least it sounds like you've got a good book to get you back in the swing of things when everything settles down. At least it won't be long until the summer holidays, so you'll have a bit of extra time then!

Hey Chesil, how have you been?

 

Yes, I've heard lots of good things about The Historian and I get the impression it'll be one of my favourite books this year, once I get stuck in. I can't wait for the summer holidays to be honest, much needed break, it's been a stressful school year.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Ben

[Kidsmum]

I saw the Historian in a charity shop the other day & didn't buy it

Looks like i'll have to go back & see if it's still there.

[Ben]

I saw the Historian in a charity shop the other day & didn't buy it

Looks like I'll have to go back & see if it's still there.

Judging by the opinions of everyone on hear, you certainly missed out there. I think even I can safely say that you should go back and have a look, and I'm barely 50 pages in.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Ben

[Kidsmum]

Judging by the opinions of everyone on hear, you certainly missed out there. I think even I can safely say that you should go back and have a look, and I'm barely 50 pages in.

 

Curses i hate to let a good book get away

[Ben]

Curses I hate to let a good book get away

Likewise, at least you know you can look out for it in the future. It could have been worse if you never saw these good recommendations, then you might never have known about it.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Ben

[Ben]

I have reading news my good friends. The novel that I was reading, The Historian has been put on hold for the time being. It's not because I don't like it - in fact the opposite, I do indeed enjoy it very much and I'm on page 136 at present. However, I've had to put it on hold because I'm doing a project at school for English Literature, about Stieg Larsson, author of the Millennium trilogy, and I need to familiarise myself with his second novel in the trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire. So I'm going to read that. The synopsis as follows:

 

SPECIAL REPORT: Mikael Blomkvist investigates.

The Millennium publisher has launched the most explosive and far-reaching expos

[Ben]

Well settled into The Girl Who Played With Fire at the moment, about 200 pages in. It's really good, and at the moment the plot is just gathering pace. I can see this is going to be just as good as the last one in the Millennium Trilogy, maybe even better.

[Ben]

Okay so here we go. I've got 6 weeks and I'm going to try make them count. I'm on a pitiful 9 books read through this year, and it's all due to having such a hectic year so far. This is where things change, I'm going to read, read, and read some more. Wish me luck..

Edited July 24, 2010 by Ben

[Ben]

Finished: The Girl Who Played With Fire. - Steig Larsson.

 

Well, what can I say. I lost my reading mojo completely for a lot of this year, and I haven't finished a novel in a long time - in all honesty I struggled to finish this one as well, at first. That changed lastnight when I decided to open the novel and try read a few pages. I got lost in it and didn't stop reading until the early hours of this morning, when I turned over the last page in amazement. It was an explosive ending to a very well written book which I enjoyed immensely. It was better than the first in the series - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - in my opinion, but nevertheless I would recommend this series to anyone - and I haven't got to the finale yet; I'm sure that'll be wonderful also.

 

4/5.

 

Now, what to read next? I have far too many choices.

[Ben]

Books I'm taking on holiday with me.. I decided on 7. Yes, I know I'm only going for 14 days, but I read loads on holiday, and it's best to be prepared.

 

The Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest. - Steig Larsson.

Good Omens. - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaimen.

Dracula. - Bram Stoker.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray. - Oscar Wilde.

Heroes Of The Valley. - Jonathan Stroud.

Frankenstein. - Mary Shelly.

Catch 22. - Joseph Heller.

 

Okay so I'm starting with the top one because I want to finish the trilogy, but any ideas which one I should read after that? (:

[Charm]

Okay so I'm starting with the top one because I want to finish the trilogy, but any ideas which one I should read after that?

 

I would definitely go with Dracula! But that's just because it's my all time favourite classic Mind you, I didn't rate The Picture of Dorian Gray very highly either while others think it's superb, so now you know my taste!

 

Either way, hope you have a briliant holiday!

[Kylie]

The Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest. - Steig Larsson.

Good Omens. - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaimen.

Dracula. - Bram Stoker.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray. - Oscar Wilde.

Heroes Of The Valley. - Jonathan Stroud.

Frankenstein. - Mary Shelly.

Catch 22. - Joseph Heller.

 

Awesome choices Ben! I have Good Omens on my TBR pile and I would maybe suggest using it to break up all those classics (all of which are on my all-time favourites list). I'm not sure which to recommend first; I don't think you can go wrong with any of them!

[Pixie]

Books I'm taking on holiday with me.. I decided on 7. Yes, I know I'm only going for 14 days, but I read loads on holiday, and it's best to be prepared.

 

The Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest. - Steig Larsson.

Good Omens. - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaimen.

Dracula. - Bram Stoker.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray. - Oscar Wilde.

Heroes Of The Valley. - Jonathan Stroud.

Frankenstein. - Mary Shelly.

Catch 22. - Joseph Heller.

 

Okay so I'm starting with the top one because I want to finish the trilogy, but any ideas which one I should read after that? (:

Wow! I wish I could help you with your choice, but you have such an excellent list I can't decide which one would be best. I would want to read all of them next.

[Ben]

I'm glad you all aprove of my list, finished the Millenium trilogy - comments when I get back - and I've made a start on Good Omens and Catch 22. Don't normally alternate between books but it's two different tastes - both of which have started off fantastically. Aditionally, I'm enjoying my holiday very much guys, thank you.

Edited August 11, 2010 by Ben

[Ben]

Good Omens was fantastic. Wonderful, well written, enjoyable and exciting - comments once again when I return home.

[Kylie]

I'm glad you're having a great holiday and enjoying all those books Ben! I look forward to hearing more thoughts on them when you get back.

[Ben]

I'm glad you're having a great holiday and enjoying all those books Ben! I look forward to hearing more thoughts on them when you get back.

Thank you Kylie, I hope everything is okay with you? I should be writing reviews comments on all that I finish when I get home. I'm making tracks on The Picture of Dorian Grey at the moment - which is fantastic. I've pushed Catch 22 gently to the side, though I'll get through that as well no doubt.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Ben

[Kylie]

I'm pretty well thanks Ben. You're really tearing through those books!

[Ben]

I'm pretty well thanks Ben. You're really tearing through those books!

Glad to hear it. I am indeed; finished The Picture of Dorian Grey which really was wonderful, and I've made a start on Frankenstein. Still have Dracula and Heroes of the Valley to start and Catch 22 to finish, so I probably won't make it through them all, but I'm doing okay.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Ben

[Mac]

Man alive, Ben! You'd batter get cracking...