poppyshake Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 What a shame, the title was the best thing about it You're not alone, I looked it up on Amazon .. the reviews aren't good. Quote
ian Posted May 17, 2011 Author Posted May 17, 2011 Just finished "Found Wanting" by Robert Goddard. Anyone who has read any Robbert Goddard will know the form that his books take. In this, the protaganist, Richard Eusden, agrees to carry an attache case over to an old friend in Brussels who is dying. He doesn't know what the case contains or why so many people want to get hold of it. I enjoyed this book. The charactors make their way across northern europe and scandanavia trying to solve the mystery of what the case contains. At times it reminded me of a Dan Brown book, with all the twists in the plot. The difference? It avoids the hyperbole of Dan Brown and has a plot that is beleivable. Books read = 13 Quote
ian Posted May 26, 2011 Author Posted May 26, 2011 Finished " The Reapers" by John Connolly. A standard thriller, elevated by some good characterisation and some interesting sub-themes book read this year = 14 A break from reading for a little while. Taking the kids to Disneyland, which I suspect will leave me very little time for reading! Ian Quote
poppyshake Posted May 26, 2011 Posted May 26, 2011 Is that Paris or Florida? Either way have a great time Ian Quote
ian Posted June 7, 2011 Author Posted June 7, 2011 Thanks Poppy - It was Paris. We had a great time, but now my wallet and I need a rest! And so, onto book 15 of the year - The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo. (Actually, I'm already halfway through. I haven't been able to visit the site and update as my laptop at home has died, so I have had to wait till my lunchtime here at work! Ian Quote
ian Posted June 20, 2011 Author Posted June 20, 2011 The redbreast was excellent - I will need to get hold of some more Nesbo pretty sharpish! Since then (I've been a bit remiss in posting here) I've read book 16 which was "Under the Rotunda" by Danny Bernardi. Living in Birmingham I was intrigued when I found this in the library as I have never read a book based in Birmingham before. The first half was a bit if a slog to be honest, as I found the main charactors very annoying. Fortunately, the second half settles down and begins to tell a proper story. Ian Quote
Ben Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 The redbreast was excellent - I will need to get hold of some more Nesbo pretty sharpish! I enjoyed The Redbreast and have a few more of Nesbo's work waiting on my to-be-read pile. I do agree with your view that it was an excellent read, though; I enjoyed it immensely. Quote
ian Posted June 20, 2011 Author Posted June 20, 2011 A shame that the first couple of books in the series haven't been translated into english yet Quote
Roland Butter Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Since then (I've been a bit remiss in posting here) I've read book 16 which was "Under the Rotunda" by Danny Bernardi. Living in Birmingham I was intrigued when I found this in the library as I have never read a book based in Birmingham before. The first half was a bit if a slog to be honest, as I found the main charactors very annoying. Fortunately, the second half settles down and begins to tell a proper story. Ian If you're interested, Catherine O'Flynn's What Was Lost is set in a West Midlands shopping centre, inspired by her time working in the Merry Hill Centre in Dudley. It's also a great book in its own right - I haven't met anyone (including quite a few BCF members) who hasn't thoroughly enjoyed it. Quote
Ben Posted June 21, 2011 Posted June 21, 2011 (edited) A shame that the first couple of books in the series haven't been translated into english yet I'm always a little pedantic in that I want to read the books in order, even if they can be read as stand alone titles, so I do agree that it is a shame about the translations. Edited June 21, 2011 by Ben Quote
ian Posted June 28, 2011 Author Posted June 28, 2011 After an aborted attempt to read Robinson Crusoe, I needed something light and easy to read - so " Confessins of a GP" by Dr Benjamin Daniels was, excuse the very bad pun, just what the doctor ordered! I read it over the weekend as it's a very light easy read,very funny in parts but still manages to be quite moving Books read = 17 Next read - American Assassin - Vince Flynn Quote
ian Posted July 13, 2011 Author Posted July 13, 2011 Finished American Assassin. Good without being something I would go mad about. It was the first time I had read anything by this author, and I would read more by him. I have to recognise that my reading mojo is at a low ebb at the moment, which has probably affected how I feel about what I'm reading. Books read in 2011 = 18 An aborted attempt to read Tricks of the mind by Derren Brown. I thought I would really enjoy this, as I like his programmes, but the introduction put me off as he comes across a bit aggrogant in it. I skimmed through some of the later chapters where the subjects interested me, and these were better, particularily his tips on how to remember lists etc which worked amazingly well! However, I won't count it as book 19 as I read less than half of the entire book. So, an uninspiring trip to the library (Northfield library: get some new books!)managed to yield only two books. The above Derren Brown and Robert Goddard "Long time coming" Ian Quote
ian Posted July 20, 2011 Author Posted July 20, 2011 Finished "Long time coming" by Robert Goddard, which has gone a long way to restore my jaded mojo! I've put a review (of sorts) elsewhere as I enjoyed this enough to want to bring it to everyones notice who likes this kind of thing. Need to go and find something new to read now! Books read this year = 19 Ian Quote
ian Posted July 26, 2011 Author Posted July 26, 2011 Just finished "The kite runner" by Khaled Hosseini. I don't think I have the words to adequetly describe how this book has made me feel. I'll just say - WOW! Books read this year = 20 Quote
Sofia Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 Just finished "The kite runner" by Khaled Hosseini. I don't think I have the words to adequetly describe how this book has made me feel. I'll just say - WOW! Books read this year = 20 Have you read A Thousand Splendid Suns? Quote
ian Posted August 3, 2011 Author Posted August 3, 2011 No, but it is definitely be on my TBR pile after that! There where times when what I had read moved me so much, that I had to put the book down for 5 mins or so, just to take it all in. I've now just finished book 21 - "Death of a blue movie star" by Jeffery Deaver. This is the second of the Rune series, the first of which (Manhatten is my beat) I read a couple of years ago. A "easy" book in comparison with the Kite Runner, if they makes sense. Not to denegate Deaver - this is a tightly plotted crime thriller with an engaging protaganist and few good trademark Deaver twists throughout. Not bad for £1.50 from a market stall! Unfortunately, I find myself sans book until I can get to the Library Thursday hopefully. Ian Quote
Ben Posted August 3, 2011 Posted August 3, 2011 I don't think I have the words to adequetly describe how this book has made me feel. I'll just say - WOW! I absolutely loved The KIte Runner - thought it was a brilliantly written novel. Quote
ian Posted August 4, 2011 Author Posted August 4, 2011 Absolutely Ben, which is why I was very pleased to pick up a copy of "A thousand, splendid suns" today at the Library! Now my only decision is whether to read this or the Dean Koontz (the title of which escapes me - it's in the boot of the car still!) first. Ian Quote
Sofia Posted August 4, 2011 Posted August 4, 2011 Absolutely Ben, which is why I was very pleased to pick up a copy of "A thousand, splendid suns" today at the Library! Now my only decision is whether to read this or the Dean Koontz (the title of which escapes me - it's in the boot of the car still!) first. Ian read Suns!! You won't be disappointed Quote
ian Posted August 8, 2011 Author Posted August 8, 2011 Half way through "A thousand, Splendid suns" Sofia - you were right! Ian Quote
Sofia Posted August 8, 2011 Posted August 8, 2011 Half way through "A thousand, Splendid suns" Sofia - you were right! Ian Quote
Ben Posted August 8, 2011 Posted August 8, 2011 Half way through "A thousand, Splendid suns" Sofia - you were right! Ian Glad you're enjoying it, it's been one of those books I've been wanting to get for a while but just never got around too it.. Quote
ian Posted August 12, 2011 Author Posted August 12, 2011 Finished "A thousand splendid suns" last night. You have to admire the writing here. To take a tale of such unrelenting misery and heartbreak, and yet still manage to make it suffused with hope as it is. And when you consider that the book is about a time and place that I can know nothing about. Is it as good as "The Kite Runner"? It's certainly as well written; the charactors are believable and sympathetic, the scenes are well observed, and an occasional wry observation makes what could be a very bleak, joyless read into a real emotional rollercoaster. If you haven't read either of these books, I can heartily recommend them Books read = 22 Quote
Sofia Posted August 12, 2011 Posted August 12, 2011 Finished "A thousand splendid suns" last night. You have to admire the writing here. To take a tale of such unrelenting misery and heartbreak, and yet still manage to make it suffused with hope as it is. And when you consider that the book is about a time and place that I can know nothing about. Is it as good as "The Kite Runner"? It's certainly as well written; the charactors are believable and sympathetic, the scenes are well observed, and an occasional wry observation makes what could be a very bleak, joyless read into a real emotional rollercoaster. If you haven't read either of these books, I can heartily recommend them Books read = 22 glad you really enjoyed it.....as good as both books are, I enjoyed Suns even more that The Kite Runner...can't wait to see what's next Quote
ian Posted August 18, 2011 Author Posted August 18, 2011 Just finished Dean Koontz - Relentless. Not bad, but not his best. I find myself getting frustrated reading Koontz now because while I do enjoy his books, I know he can write much better stuff than this. He effectively is re-writing the same story over and over again, just changing a few details it seems. Flashes of the old brilliance present themselves, but not enough. books read = 23 Quote
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