Ben's Reading 2012

[Inver]

Well I'm not going to attempt to try draft up my thoughts right now as the hour appears too late, but I have just finished Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks and I just want to say it was absolutely incredible. It's certainly one of the best books I've read in a long time.

I know what you mean Ben....I was tearing up at certain parts of the book too.

[Ben]

I know what you mean Ben....I was tearing up at certain parts of the book too.

Yep, that death was quite emotional for me - I was tearing up with Elizabeth's visits to the old man at the end also. Birdsong is such a poignant book; I think perhaps that is the reason why I enjoyed it so much, because for it to have such an effect it must be a powerful read. I still need to get a proper review up at some point for this novel, it really was one of my favourite reads in a long time.

Edited February 20, 2012 by Ben

[Ben]

Thought I'd post an update as I've been very busy with The Saga of Darren Shan these past few days. I've now finished books six, seven and eight in the series, and I'm enjoying them immensely. I'll post some thoughts below:

 

So, book six, The Vampire Prince, and after the events of Trials of Death Darren faces some of his biggest challenges yet. Beaten, bloodied and bruised, Darren must recuperate from his terrifying and death-defying journey down the river, with help arriving in the form of some unlikely characters. With the help and the support of his friends, and the luck of the vampires with him, his chances are significantly improved - but the odds are still stacked against him. Timing is crucial, or he'll be cut down and dismissed before he has a chance to say anything at all. Death lies over his own head if he returns - but he knows he must stay strong, for there are more important circumstances at stake. In a novel full of tragic death and brutal murder, Darren must race against time, to reveal the treachery that threatens the clan and the vampire Princes, before it is too late.

 

3/5.

 

A fair few years have passed since the events of The Vampire Prince, as Darren comes to grips with his new role, and the Vampires battle it out across the world with the Vampaneze in book seven - Hunters of the Dusk. In no time at all, however, the enigmatic Mr Tiny decides to pay a visit - and with it he brings terrible news. Despite this, he also brings hope - but only if the vampires follow his instructions to the letter. The Lord of the Vampaneze awaits, already half-blooded, and the only hope they have to win the War of the Scars, is to kill him before he becomes fully blooded. Only three warriors can hunt him down; two of those are Darren and Larten Crepsley, the other they will meet soon enough. And so the warriors set out into the night - with the grey-skinned, strange-looking creature Harkat Mulds alongside - directed initially to the cave of the mysterious Lady Evanna, knowing they will have only four chances to meet and destroy the Lord of the Vampaneze. On the way their cross paths with Vancha March - a scraggly, unhygienic vampire who fights with his hands, and his throwing shurikens - and who fights a constant battle against the sun, and it is clear he must be the final hunter. The warrior's first chance will fall sooner than they could have ever expected, but it seems clear that not all is as it seems, as they stumble upon their purple-skinned enemies.

 

3/5.

 

After the events of Hunters of the Dusk, the vampires must re-group and formulate another plan, with Vancha March for Vampire Mountain leaving to inform the vampire Princes what they have discovered. Darren, Larten and Harket leave for Mr Crepsley's home-town, the creepy city in which the events of Tunnels of Blood took place. Once more there is a hive of vampaneze activity, but as they go to investigate, it seems that so much more is afoot. Someone has tricked and schemed in order to give Darren his biggest nightmare yet - an enrolment in school. Vampire prince and Vampaneze tracker amongst the dirty tunnels at night, Darren must face a double life where he must tackle school and homework, appearing to live an ordinary life. There may be some relief and enjoyment to this ordinary life-style however, as he bumps into an old friend from the past. The past seems to converge all around him in this dark city, as their search continues, and they fight beneath the tunnels once more. In a novel once more filled with death and betrayal, as the battle and search for the Vampaneze Lord continues.

 

4/5.

[Kidsmum]

I've not read any Darren Shan myself but my 2 eldest boys are big fans. Glad you enjoyed Birdsong so much it's definitely one of those books that stays with you for a long time after you've finished reading it. I've got quite a few of his books on my shelves but haven't got round to reading anything else by him yet.

[Ben]

I've not read any Darren Shan myself but my 2 eldest boys are big fans. Glad you enjoyed Birdsong so much it's definitely one of those books that stays with you for a long time after you've finished reading it. I've got quite a few of his books on my shelves but haven't got round to reading anything else by him yet.

Yeah I used to remember them when I was younger, and didn't think I'd enjoy them as much now I'm older, considering my reading taste has matured somewhat. Yet I have enjoyed them as what they are: light-hearted reads that don't take much thinking about. I'll get back to reading some 'worthwhile' and more challenging books soon enough. As for Birdsong, it's incredible; so poignant. I haven't read anything else by him but I'm sure I'll give some of his other stuff a chance.

[Kidsmum]

Yeah I used to remember them when I was younger, and didn't think I'd enjoy them as much now I'm older, considering my reading taste has matured somewhat. Yet I have enjoyed them as what they are: light-hearted reads that don't take much thinking about. I'll get back to reading some 'worthwhile' and more challenging books soon enough. As for Birdsong, it's incredible; so poignant. I haven't read anything else by him but I'm sure I'll give some of his other stuff a chance.

 

I read quite a few children's books last year myself when I wasn't well & really enjoyed them I think the best children's books appeal to both adults & children alike

[Ben]

I read quite a few children's books last year myself when I wasn't well & really enjoyed them I think the best children's books appeal to both adults & children alike

You're spot on there, I think children's books that can be enjoyed by adults just place emphasis on how enjoyable that book is.

 

I think if you enjoy a book then it's important not to place too much significance on the group, or age-range that it's aimed at. We all recognise that there's 'high-brow' and 'low-brow' literature - we'd never consider something like The Iliad to be categorised with something like 'chick-lit' (although, no offence of course to anyone that enjoys that genre). However, I read for pleasure, and I'll always look whether I enjoyed something, regardless of genre or age-groups.

[Ben]

Well I must say at the moment I seem to be reading books much quicker than I can keep up with my reviews and thoughts on them. I'm not complaining though, I'm already massively set for one of my best reading years ever - until of course the inevitable loss of mojo and lack of pace sets in. In any case, I'll be catching up with reviews of Dracula, Birdsong and anything else I've missed, as soon as possible - but for now I just want to post a few thoughts on SJ Watson's Before I Go To Sleep.

 

Now, I must say I was a little weary about reading this one, after all the hype and media attention that it received (it's usually the case that I tend to have an opposite opinion on books that create such a fuss). If you don't already know, the book follows the life of a woman suffering from amnesia - Christine Lucas - who wakes up every day with no memory of who she is, where she is living, or who the strange man is beside her in the bed. Gradually, we follow events as she tries to piece together her past with the help of a doctor, and the journal that she writes in regularly - hoping that it'll help reconstruct her memories. As she progresses in her search, the dark secrets of her past remain tantalisingly on the edge of her conscious mind, just out of reach. As she struggles frustratingly to connect the dots, Watson writes delicately on a serious issue; her deft touch moving the reader to sympathise with the frustrations that the characters, principally Christie, must feel. To suffer like this must be dreadful beyond what words can describe - and yet Watson manages to capture it well. I have heard some reviews comment upon the repetition and the slow plot development, but for me I thought it made Christie's search for her own identity more real; it solidified the fact that for her the process of unravelling her own past must have being excruciatingly slow. All in all, an enjoyable and interesting read that had me gripped throughout.

 

4/5.

Edited February 24, 2012 by Ben

[Ben]

Okay, so I recently picked up Stephen King's The Green Mile as I've been meaning to read some more of his work for a while now (I've enjoyed Cell and Duma Key previously). I only started it a couple of days ago, but rattled through it quite quickly as it was very enjoyable. My thoughts as follows:

 

As I sit down to write down my thoughts on this novel, I'm struck by how it has left me feeling quite conflicted - I want to say the book was enjoyable, but anyone that has read it will surely recognise that it isn't quite the right word to use. The Green Mile is a novel that covers the antics that take place in 1932, in Cold Mountain Penitentiary's E Block; where inmates wait, condemned for death in the electric chair. The narrator is Paul Edgecombe, now an old man in Georgina Pines nursery home, penning the extraordinary tale of the mysterious John Coffey, a man convicted of the brutal murder of two little girls, but whose eyes show an emptiness quite apart from the world. For Paul, there is something not quite right about John, and as the narrative progresses we see the quite incredible lengths that he goes to, to understand more closely, the truth. For a man like John, there can be no salvation; his time ticks away slowly as the rest of the characters set about their business. From the intolerable nuisance that is Percy Wetmore - with his idleness, menacing attitude, and connections in high places - to the little Cajun prisoner Eduard 'Del' Delacroix and his performing mouse, the wonderful Mr Jingles - King's tale is filled with a variety of different characters; some sworn enemies, and others friends in the eerie and gloomy place that is E Block. King writes writes wonderfully, brutal and honest in his depiction of life in the prison cells, but with a lightness of touch, including jokes and amusing scenes, which I couldn't help but laugh out loud at - despite the seriousness of the text. At the same time, the book is poignant and upsetting; there is no escaping the realness and rawness of a man condemned to the electric chair, or the feelings and thoughts that must have plagued the mind's of guards like Paul Edgecombe, as he walked them to their deaths. The structure of the text is clever, as King provides parallels between characters - even now that Paul is in the nursing home, his experiences of the past, and the memories he has, still refuse to leave him, and manifest themselves in the people that live around him even now. That is why Paul feels he must write his tale; his story that has gone unheard until now. The Green Mile is a novel that can be both poignant and hilarious, and as readers we feel compelled to follow Paul's journey - a journey that, at times, brought a tear to my eye.

 

5/5.

[Ben]

February Reading Review

 

Okay, so I thought I'd do myself a little reading review for the month of February, which has been quite an extraordinary one; my biggest reading month to date. I have read two short stories, two of Shakespeare's plays, and fifteen novels; nine of which were the first nine books in The Saga of Darren Shan. In any case, my month start well with the reading of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, of course. I had to read this novel for my 'Bildungsroman' module at university, and I found it excellent - Dickens had such a way with words. Next, I read A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare, which was enjoyable, and also I finished my first ever Agatha Christie novel - The Body in the Library. It was an enjoyable little mystery, easy to read and not too taxing, but enjoyable nevertheless.

 

After the reading of two Edgar Allen Poe tales, which I read for my crime fiction novel, and which I found enjoyable and interesting (interesting because they're known to be some of the first stories of the genre 'detective fiction), I finally managed to drag myself through to the end of Dracula. I say drag myself, because I'd been putting it down on and off for a weeks, but that's unfair - other 'real-life' moments go in the way that's all. Besides, although I found it to be a little slow in the middle, Stoker's description was wonderful, and the second half of the novel burst into life for me. In the end it was a great read. After Dracula I read Birdsong - a book that's going to hold a place in my heart for a long time to come, I should think. I found it exceptional and moving - I don't normally cry when I'm reading books, but parts of this had me welling up. I think in the end I'd go as far to say this was one of my favourite books ever - not just one of my favourites of the last few years.

 

At this stage, I could feel myself slipping a little into a stage of not wanting to read. Fortunately, I recognised this very early on, and cast aside Jane Eyre. It isn't that I'm not enjoying it, because I am, I just for some reason can't get myself to settle down and tackle it properly. As the month comes to the end, I still haven't - but I hope I'll get to it early in March. In any case, the way I managed to get out of this possible slump, was to start reading some childhood favourites - The Darren Shan Saga. Now the entire saga is twelve books long, but they're so light and easy to read I found myself devouring them quickly. Also strangely enjoying them more than I thought I would. I managed nine of them in a very short space of time, before I realised I wanted to start tackling some proper 'novels' again.

 

The next book I read was Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson. Now I'd heard a lot of the hype and media attention surrounding this one, so I wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy quite as much as the papers suggested I would. In the end, I did find it a highly fascinating novel, which covered the subject of amnesia with a very deft touch. It's been described as a 'thriller' and in some senses, I didn't find it 'thrilling' - in the case of action not much happens in the majority of the book, in my opinion. I did, however, find it gripping and interesting, as a result enjoyed it immensely. I had a few days off from reading then, before picking up Stephen King's The Green Mile - a fascinating look at the events of 1932, E Block, and the electric chair. This was a fantastic read, and elicited strange emotions in me (I'm sure it probably does in others to). In one sense I really enjoyed the book, but enjoyed doesn't seem to be the right word for the events that take place, and the seriousness of the emotions and thoughts that must have gone through the guard's and the prisoner's heads. I shed a tear as often as I cringed, but I also laughed often too, which I think is why I felt conflicted. Nevertheless, a great read to bring February to a close.

 

All in all then an excellent reading month. I doubt any will be as good this year, but I do want to keep up a good pace going into March - where I hope I'll find many more great reads.

Edited February 29, 2012 by Ben

[Ruth]

I LOVED A Midsummer Night's Dream. Recently I have really got into Shakespeare - his humour and his style of writing - brilliant, and AMN'sD is my favourite.

 

Jane Eyre - one of my favourite books ever. When you do read it, I hope you love it as much as I did

 

Thought Before I Go To Sleep was brilliant. Thinking back on it now, it all seems a bit implausible, but at the time, I was just carried along with the story.

 

Oh, and The Green Mile - I cried. But I loved it!

 

Never read any Darren Shan, but people who have tell me that he's brilliant. You have piqued my interest in this author

[Ben]

I LOVED A Midsummer Night's Dream. Recently I have really got into Shakespeare - his humour and his style of writing - brilliant, and AMN'sD is my favourite.

I've been meaning to read more of his works forever now, and the fact that I'm doing an entire module on him at uni this term means I've finally been forced to.

 

Jane Eyre - one of my favourite books ever. When you do read it, I hope you love it as much as I did

I'm not sure what it is about Jane Eyre that means I keep putting off picking it up, but I promise I'll get around to it soon.

 

Thought Before I Go To Sleep was brilliant. Thinking back on it now, it all seems a bit implausible, but at the time, I was just carried along with the story.

I was wondering how realistic it would be. I'm no expert on amnesia, so I wondered whether that degree of severity has actually happened to people? Nevertheless, it's told well and I found it fascinating and enjoyable.

 

Oh, and The Green Mile - I cried. But I loved it!

I've never been one for crying when reading books, but it's happened twice recently with Birdsong and now The Green Mile. Either I wasn't reading the right books before, or I'm getting more sentimental. *shrugs*

 

Never read any Darren Shan, but people who have tell me that he's brilliant. You have piqued my interest in this author

I enjoy him for the light-heartedness really; perfect if you want something that isn't too taxing.

[Ben]

Ben's Incredibly Lengthy Reading Update/March Review (Falling asleep is forgiven..)

 

Well, I can't believe I haven't posted in here in nearly a month - I've unfortunately really neglected this thread, despite the fact I have thankfully continued reading. In contrast to last month's ridiculous amount of texts read, I have only managed seven this month. However, I've had a lot of assignments to focus on recently so it's good to see that the reading has just continued ticking over. I have a fair few books on the go as well, which I aim to catch up with and finished during Easter break. More on that later, though, as even though I don't have time to write proper reviews I just want to offer a few comments on the books I've managed to read this month.

 

As well as the four novels I have managed, I have read three of William Shakespeare's plays too: Much Ado About Nothing; As You Like It, and last but not least, The Merchant of Venice. Although I still think A Midsummer Night's Dream ranks as my favourite play I've read so far from the Bard, these three were enjoyable also. I think of the three, Much Ado About Nothing is my favourite, as I enjoyed the way Shakespeare has his characters communicate; Beatrice and Benedick are just fantastic. Despite this though, I'm still really yet to read a play on my Shakespeare module that has disappointed me, so I obviously have no complaints.

 

Now, three of the four books I have read this month, were those from the Hunger Games trilogy - as I finally submitted to the hype and attention and ordered them. I was put off slightly by some calling it 'the new Twilight' but I dived in with an open-mind, and let myself become immersed by Collins' world. I'll be honest: I thought they were a lot better than I imagined they would be - perhaps I wasn't totally open-minded, then. I think the first book and the final book in the series were my favourites, as in the first the 'magic' of the idea of the games themselves was fresh, and Collins in my opinion also wrapped up the finale at the end of Mockingjay rather well. I really hate it when series' or trilogies are ruined by bad endings, so was pleased here. There were a few things that niggled me - at times the writing seemed a little sloppy, and the whole love triangle thing with Peeta, Katniss and Gale was pretty one-dimensional and stereotypical. I'm not sure if it's just me but it didn't seem to have much depth to it in my eyes, and I didn't quite buy it well. Little nigglings aside however, I thought they were very well done and I'm looking forward to seeing the film and what they've done with it, next week sometime.

 

Lastly, I'm devoting a paragraph to Joseph O'Neil's novel Netherland which I devoured in under a day. I'm struggling with how to explain this book, but Google it or Wikipedia it, or something - and have a read. It's fantastically well-written and although the subject of cricket frames the narrative, for those that don't like the sport, I can guarantee you can read it without even enjoying cricket. It's an utterly fascinating read, thought-provoking; an enjoyable rewriting of the American Dream. So, yeah, if you haven't already, you should check it out.

 

Disaster

 

Okay, some of you may have seen this on my 'status' thingy on here: yesterday I had a disaster. Coming home for Easter, I decided to fill a bag with books that I will need (mostly university books I haven't managed to read yet, because it's been a busy month). Stupidly, I also decided to put a bottle of water in the same bag. I don't think it needs a genius to explain what happened next. Ultimately, then, my books were ruined; despite my attempts to rescue them by putting them in the sunshine, it only managed to dry them out a little and I couldn't cope with the state of some of them. You'll all probably understand the fact that I felt absolutely devastated. In any case, I went out and re-bought what I'd binned today, and that'll teach me to never have water in the same bag ever again.

 

Current Book Status'

 

Incredibly I have more books on the go than I have ever had before. Jane Eyre is still in the pipe-line (not through lack of enjoyment, rather lack of time), as well as Sons and Lovers which is steadily winding itself down to a close - about a hundred and fifty pages left. I'm also reading Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely and The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. This is not to mention Deadlock by Sara Paretsky which is the only book I haven't managed to replace from the aforementioned water-bottle disaster. As you can see, it isn't really feasible to have every single one of these books going at once, that's why I'm making them my list of priorities for the Easter break.

 

Finally if you've battled on this far - or even skipped to the end - I would like to offer a promise that I'll be back on the posting wagon from now on, and I hope to continue what has been an excellent opening three months to the reading year, onwards into April. Expect me back among reading blogs, book discussions, and feel free to drop a line in here if anything takes your interest.

 

All the best for all your reading in April.

Edited March 31, 2012 by Ben

[chaliepud]

Wow Ben, that's a lotta reading!!! Sorry to hear about to 'little accident', what a shame, and what a waste of money, but as you say a lesson learnt. My friend lost her Kindle yesterday as a stewardess on her flight spilt a little water on it, apparently it doesn't take a lot to ruin a Kindle so at least it was the paper books you had in there!

[vodkafan]

Ouch sorry to hear about your book disaster Ben. I feel your pain.

[poppyshake]

Love your lengthy review Ben .. I made a cuppa just so that I could settle down and read it I'm debating whether to read The Hunger Games trilogy so it's good to get another opinion on it. Netherland sounds like an absolute must though .. I think I have it here somewhere .. in a box maybe must find it out cos from what you say it's a gem

 

Sorry about your water disaster It's something I always fear will happen to me cos there's always water and a book in my bag .. but only one book usually so the damage would be minimal. Are they likely to be books I've got? I'll more than happily send them to you if so .. though you say they were mostly for your coursework so I'm guessing they're more specialist.

I'm glad you're back on the posting wagon

[Ben]

Wow Ben, that's a lotta reading!!! Sorry to hear about to 'little accident', what a shame, and what a waste of money, but as you say a lesson learnt. My friend lost her Kindle yesterday as a stewardess on her flight spilt a little water on it, apparently it doesn't take a lot to ruin a Kindle so at least it was the paper books you had in there!

Oh my word, I'd dread to lose or break my Kindle; thankfully it was in my laptop bag instead of the separate bag with my paper books. As for the whole lot of reading, I just hope it continues. It's been such a good year so far so hopefully things can stay flowing.

 

Ouch sorry to hear about your book disaster Ben. I feel your pain.

Thank you VF, it wasn't a good day at all.

 

Love your lengthy review Ben .. I made a cuppa just so that I could settle down and read it. I'm debating whether to read The Hunger Games trilogy so it's good to get another opinion on it. Netherland sounds like an absolute must though .. I think I have it here somewhere .. in a box maybe must find it out cos from what you say it's a gem

Aww, you did? That's awfully nice of you. Maybe if I stay updated you won't have to do that every time. The Hunger Games was a difficult one for me; I always have a problem with books that have gained so much media hype and attention. In this case, I was pleasantly surprised to find out they were enjoyable reads, worth it in my opinion. Netherland most definitely is one you should have a crack at though, I loved it.

 

Sorry about your water disaster It's something I always fear will happen to me cos there's always water and a book in my bag .. but only one book usually so the damage would be minimal. Are they likely to be books I've got? I'll more than happily send them to you if so .. though you say they were mostly for your coursework so I'm guessing they're more specialist.

Thank you, and yeah I guess in the end I was very unlucky to have that many in a bag at one go - ordinarily, if it wasn't a 'bring home for Easter break' bag, then the damage would have been much less. Ahh, no don't be silly! I couldn't have you done that! You probably do own some of them but in any case, I've re-bought what I needed, and the one left doesn't matter too much now (Sara Paretsky's Deadlock if you were interested). I do appreciate the offer massively though.

 

I'm glad you're back on the posting wagon

Thank you, and so am I. I'll sure be snooping around everyone's blogs soon enough.

[Inver]

Hiya Ben....yikes at the water/book disaster...what a shame . I have just started The Hunger Games first book, so haven't an opinion on it yet. Not my usual genre but like you after all the hype, Chrissy kindly sent me a copy as I mentioned I hadn't read it. Don't think I will get it finished before the film disappears from cinemas though.

[Ben]

Hiya Ben....yikes at the water/book disaster...what a shame . I have just started The Hunger Games first book, so haven't an opinion on it yet. Not my usual genre but like you after all the hype, Chrissy kindly sent me a copy as I mentioned I hadn't read it. Don't think I will get it finished before the film disappears from cinemas though.

Hey Inver, sorry I missed this. Yeah, the book situation was such a disaster, but lesson learned now. I hope you're having good luck with The Hunger Games - I'll check back with you when you're done to see how you got on.

[Ben]

Just thought I'd report in after a day and a half of good, solid, much-needed reading. As I reported a few posts back, I came into Easter with a fair few books looming over me, that I hadn't quite finished for university. Unfortunately, I've hit a bit of a wall with my reading in the past week, and haven't had much chance to make a dent in them at all. Up until now. Since yesterday I've managed to finally finish Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence, and I've read the entirety of Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler. I'm on my way to catching up, at least..

 

In any case, Sons and Lovers in the end was just one of those books where I was thankful to get over the line. I'm not sure if it's because it's taken me so long to read it in and amongst other books, and other things that needed doing, but I found it too wordy in places. Now I'm a big lover of description and long, wordy sentences, but in Lawrence's book nearly every paragraph is like this, and perhaps at times I felt a little like I was wading through treacle. Okay, maybe that's unfair. It was a very interesting portrayal of the working-class lifestyle, and Lawrence writes beautifully; while at the same time allowing the reader to feel Paul's struggle for independence and conflict he has between this and staying loyal to his mother. Overall, then, I think you need to be in the right 'mood' - if that makes any sense - at times, to read this novel, but it is certainly worth the read and I'll be looking out for more of his works.

 

4/5.

 

Raymond Chandler's novel, Farewell, My Lovely tells the story of the wise-cracking, cigarette smoking, scotch drinking, private investigator Philip Marlowe, as he becomes embroiled purely by chance, in a case that goes much further than he could have ever imagined. After bumping into a giant of a man named Moose Malloy, just out of jail, searching for his long lost love, Marlowe gradually begins to unravel clue after clue; taking him on a wild journey from stately mansions, to gambling cruise ships, to a hospital where he is drugged and held against his will. On his way he must keep the police on side without revealing all he knows, help a young man deliver $8,000 dollars to a trade-off for a necklace he wants returned for a friend, and keep himself safe at the same time. Chandler writes with witty, wise-cracking dialogue as he paints a fantastic picture of the criminal underworld that lurks in the shadows of the night. All in all a fantastic, enjoyable read, even if at times the dialogue used is tricky to get used to.

 

4/5.

[Ben]

Good news, I finally noticed that my TBR pile is starting to go down from where it started at the first of the year. I should think so after reading 38 books.

[Ruth]

Great review of Farewell, My Lovely I have read The Big Sleep, by Chandler and enjoyed that a lot.

 

How did you find The Maltese Falcon? I have it on my tbr. Actually I often get Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler mixed up - both crime-noir (is that a genre?!), both hard-boiled detective story writers - and both of their main characters were played by Humphrey Bogart in films!!

 

I was interested to read your review of Sons and Lovers...I tried reading Lawrence once - I think it was Wives and Daughters, but I'm not sure because it was years ago - but I couldn't get along with it and abandoned it fairly early on. Tastes do change though, so maybe I might give him another try one day.

[Ben]

Thanks. I did enjoy Chandler a lot, I enjoyed the way in which he writes and The Big Sleep is certainly one I'd be interested in. As for The Maltese Falcon, I'm a little bit behind on my reading so haven't got around to it yet. I will within the week though, so I'll let you know my thoughts on it. Ah, yes, Chandler and Hammett are easily mistaken - very similar types of authors.

 

As I said in my review of Sons and Lovers, I do think you have to be in the right frame of mind to read Lawrence - at least from what I can gather anyway. His long-winded, wordy paragraphs are wonderful, but sometimes can get a little bit too much. I think it might have been because he was writing about the working-class, and the everyday trivialities of life as well - sometimes, no matter how much you infuse the plot with romantic descriptions, it is just a little dull. You should give it another try though, it's worth a go.

[lauraloves]

Congrats on getting your TBR down a little bit, mine just wont co-operate and shrink, it keeps going the other way

[Ben]

Congrats on getting your TBR down a little bit, mine just wont co-operate and shrink, it keeps going the other way

They do tend to do that. Haha, I think nearly four months and thirty-eight books to get it down a couple isn't bad going.