Anyone a fan of John Connolly?
Books The BOOK thread
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I've read a couple of the Charlie Parker books. Very well written but somehow the characters and plots never fully captured me.
I am having the same vibe to be honest. Fantastic sense of atmosphere and characterisation but the plots are so similar the three books I have read so far are interchangeable. I am onto book 4 now and waiting for it to really take off but it seems to have the same issues.
Yeah it's a shame as his descriptive writing is great. They don't hook me quite like a Michael Connelly (no relation) book for example.
Recently started reading again after a long break. Stuff I've read and liked include Dune, American Gods, LOTR, A Song of Ice & Fire and lots of autobiographies. It's overwhelming trying to decide what to read next; I feel like there's loads of really obvious great books that I've forgotten exist. Could anyone share a few obvious great books they would recommend to someone who never read?
I started The Bandini Quartet, nearly finished Wait Till Spring. I was a bit daunted, I have to admit, but the heft of it before I started, because Ive found myself labouring through a few quite long books that I wasnt absolutely loving in recent months. Books that you were enjoying enough to persevere with, but that werent calling you to read them, forcing you to read another chapter before you turn the light out. And at 700+ pages this could take a while to read if you dont tackle it with some gusto. But yeah, Ive flown through the first part of it, partly because its not as long as it seems - the pages are not that text heavy - and partly because it is very readable.
So thanks for the recommendation - which I would also pass on to anyone else looking for something to read.
I'm halfway through the 2nd book at the moment. They're entertaining enough, but I find some of it a bit cringeworthy too.
Read the Harry Potter play and really enjoyed it after Portrait of a Lady. Worth a read if you have about 3 hours to kill on a plane or anywhere really.
Is that the first book? If so, no.
It's more some of the dialogue and the occasional action. Seems like king's dialing it in a bit.
Still quite entertaining though.
Just finished Ghost Story by Peter Straub. Excellent book from the horror master. I found the plot extremely similar to Stephen King's IT, but its shorter, the storyline is tighter and overall a more enjoyable read.
Oh did you mean you're reading the second book before the first? Mr Mercedes is by far the best in the series in my opinion so if you like finders keepers definitely read it.
Yes, I read the first book. I didn't know if there's a mother involved in the 2nd, as I've not finished it yet.
I think it's the greatest ghost story, and contains the entire history of the genre's story-telling methods.
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I was thinking about trying Catcher in the Rye as I've never read it.
Is it a good read?
Is it a good read?
Celebrated journalist Michael Deacon's celebrated review of celebrated author Dan Brown's Inferno:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10049454/Dont-make-fun-of-renowned-Dan-Brown.html
More:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10049454/Dont-make-fun-of-renowned-Dan-Brown.html
It's very divisive. Some people see Holden as a brilliantly written character who's endemic of disillusionment of an American teenager; some think he's a know-it-all, judgmental whiny arsehole. I think both are true: Holden's often hard to like but that's sort of the point. A lot of people dislike it but I think it's great personally.
Probably worth reading anyway, just to form your own opinion of it.
Thanks for that. I don't mind a flawed protagonist. Going to give it a read this week.
Im reading Notes From a Small island for the third time! one of my fave books.
Just finished it. Definitely the bit in bold! I found it really hard to get through to be honest. If I had to summarise the book I'd probably say it was the internal monologue of a grandiose, depressive teenager over the course of a rather uneventful 2 days.
That being said the characters are very believable and three dimensional; There just wasn't enough going on to keep me entertained.
I really liked the book when I read it as a know-it-all, judgmental, whiny arsehole teenager. I must reread it now as an older but not much changed individual!
I really liked the book when I read it as a know-it-all, judgmental, whiny arsehole teenager. I must reread it now as an older but not much changed individual!
Be interesting to see if Old Holden gets on your godamn nerves!
I read Catcher in the Rye as a teenager.
All I remember now is a scene in which the central character (I think) watches another character pick his nose. You'd think reading such an iconic literary work, I'd have stashed away some rich nuggets of human wisdom. But no...
All I remember now is a scene in which the central character (I think) watches another character pick his nose. You'd think reading such an iconic literary work, I'd have stashed away some rich nuggets of human wisdom. But no...
To be fair that's probably one of the most exciting scenes.
A yank won the Booker. The end is nigh.
I might take up reading again heh, @Archie Leach what books will I like based on my film taste?
The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler
My Struggle: A Man in Love - Karl Ove Knausgaard
Sputnik Sweetheart - Haruki Murakami
Blood Meridien - Cormad McCarthy
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Woman in the Dunes - Kobe Abe
For some reason I think you've read Kurt Vonnegut but if I'm wrong Slaughterhouse Five would be right up your alley.
For the sake of diversity I'll recommend The Secret History by Donna Tartt and The Emperors Children by Claire Messud.
Thanks.
I've been recommended Murakami in the past as he's supposedly seen as some sort of book version of WKW, but then fellow WKW apostle peterstorey said that he's trash, so I don't know what to believe.
I've only seen the film version of Slaughterhouse which was pretty average.
@R.N7 My personal favourites of Vonnegut are Cat's Cradle and Sirens of Titan, but please don't judge SH5 based on a film adaptation.
I'd also recommend Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and if you're ready for a large beast, Roberto Bolano's 2666.
I'd also recommend Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and if you're ready for a large beast, Roberto Bolano's 2666.
Just finished I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. Brilliant book, and even better when considering it's his debut.
Thanks! I won't, there was definitely something there in the source material.
I've read Brave New World, it was okay but hardly riveting. I think I need something to ease me in first, I jumped straight into Hopscotch by Julio Cortazar yesterday and it was just a bit too much.
The Big Sleep and Slaughterhouse Five are both short and easy to read and a good intro to both authors. Catch-22 and The Secret History are both highly readable but longer. The rest of my list can be difficult in their own ways.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10049454/Dont-make-fun-of-renowned-Dan-Brown.html
Brilliant.
Renowned author Dan Brown woke up in his luxurious four-poster bed in his expensive $10 million house – and immediately he felt angry. Most people would have thought that the 48-year-old man had no reason to be angry. After all, the famous writer had a new book coming out. But that was the problem. A new book meant an inevitable attack on the rich novelist by the wealthy wordsmith’s fiercest foes. The critics.
Renowned author Dan Brown hated the critics. Ever since he had become one of the world’s top renowned authors they had made fun of him. They had mocked bestselling book The Da Vinci Code, successful novel Digital Fortress, popular tome Deception Point, money-spinning volume Angels & Demonsand chart-topping work of narrative fiction The Lost Symbol.
The critics said his writing was clumsy, ungrammatical, repetitive and repetitive. They said it was full of unnecessary tautology. They said his prose was mired in a sea of mixed metaphors. For some reason they found something funny in sentences such as “His eyes went white, like a shark about to attack.” They even say my books are packed with banal and superfluous description, thought the 5ft 9in man. He particularly hated it when they said his imagery was nonsensical. It made his insect eyes flash like a rocket.
Renowned author Dan Brown got out of his luxurious four-poster bed in his expensive $10 million house and paced the bedroom, using the feet located at the ends of his two legs to propel him forwards. He knew he shouldn’t care what a few jealous critics thought. His new book Inferno was coming out on Tuesday, and the 480-page hardback published by Doubleday with a recommended US retail price of $29.95 was sure to be a hit. Wasn’t it?
I’ll call my agent, pondered the prosperous scribe. He reached for the telephone using one of his two hands. “Hello, this is renowned author Dan Brown,” spoke renowned author Dan Brown. “I want to talk to literary agent John Unconvincingname.”
“Mr Unconvincingname, it’s renowned author Dan Brown,” told the voice at the other end of the line. Instantly the voice at the other end of the line was replaced by a different voice at the other end of the line. “Hello, it’s literary agent John Unconvincingname,” informed the new voice at the other end of the line.
“Hello agent John, it’s client Dan,” commented the pecunious scribbler. “I’m worried about new book Inferno. I think critics are going to say it’s badly written.”
The voice at the other end of the line gave a sigh, like a mighty oak toppling into a great river, or something else that didn’t sound like a sigh if you gave it a moment’s thought. “Who cares what the stupid critics say?” advised the literary agent. “They’re just snobs. You have millions of fans.”
That’s true, mused the accomplished composer of thrillers that combined religion, high culture and conspiracy theories. His books were read by everyone from renowned politician President Obama to renowned musician Britney Spears. It was said that a copy of The Da Vinci Code had even found its way into the hands of renowned monarch the Queen. He was grateful for his good fortune, and gave thanks every night in his prayers to renowned deity God.
“Think of all the money you’ve made,” recommended the literary agent. That was true too. The thriving ink-slinger’s wealth had allowed him to indulge his passion for great art. Among his proudest purchases were a specially commissioned landscape by acclaimed painter Vincent van Gogh and a signed first edition by revered scriptwriter William Shakespeare.
Renowned author Dan Brown smiled, the ends of his mouth curving upwards in a physical expression of pleasure. He felt much better. If your books brought innocent delight to millions of readers, what did it matter whether you knew the difference between a transitive and an intransitive verb?
“Thanks, John,” he thanked. Then he put down the telephone and perambulated on foot to the desk behind which he habitually sat on a chair to write his famous books on an Apple iMac MD093B/A computer. New book Inferno, the latest in his celebrated series about fictional Harvard professor Robert Langdon, was inspired by top Italian poet Dante. It wouldn’t be the last in the lucrative sequence, either. He had all the sequels mapped out. The Mozart Acrostic. The Michelangelo Wordsearch. The Newton Sudoku.
The 190lb adult male human being nodded his head to indicate satisfaction and returned to his bedroom by walking there. Still asleep in the luxurious four-poster bed of the expensive $10 million house was beautiful wife Mrs Brown. Renowned author Dan Brown gazed admiringly at the pulchritudinous brunette’s blonde tresses, flowing from her head like a stream but made from hair instead of water and without any fish in. She was as majestic as the finest sculpture by Caravaggio or the most coveted portrait by Rodin. I like the attractive woman, thought the successful man.
Perhaps one day, inspired by beautiful wife Mrs Brown, he would move into romantic poetry, like market-leading British rhymester John Keats. That would be good, opined the talented person, and got back into the luxurious four-poster bed. He felt as happy as a man who has something to be happy about and is suitably happy about it.
Renowned author Dan Brown hated the critics. Ever since he had become one of the world’s top renowned authors they had made fun of him. They had mocked bestselling book The Da Vinci Code, successful novel Digital Fortress, popular tome Deception Point, money-spinning volume Angels & Demonsand chart-topping work of narrative fiction The Lost Symbol.
The critics said his writing was clumsy, ungrammatical, repetitive and repetitive. They said it was full of unnecessary tautology. They said his prose was mired in a sea of mixed metaphors. For some reason they found something funny in sentences such as “His eyes went white, like a shark about to attack.” They even say my books are packed with banal and superfluous description, thought the 5ft 9in man. He particularly hated it when they said his imagery was nonsensical. It made his insect eyes flash like a rocket.
Renowned author Dan Brown got out of his luxurious four-poster bed in his expensive $10 million house and paced the bedroom, using the feet located at the ends of his two legs to propel him forwards. He knew he shouldn’t care what a few jealous critics thought. His new book Inferno was coming out on Tuesday, and the 480-page hardback published by Doubleday with a recommended US retail price of $29.95 was sure to be a hit. Wasn’t it?
I’ll call my agent, pondered the prosperous scribe. He reached for the telephone using one of his two hands. “Hello, this is renowned author Dan Brown,” spoke renowned author Dan Brown. “I want to talk to literary agent John Unconvincingname.”
“Mr Unconvincingname, it’s renowned author Dan Brown,” told the voice at the other end of the line. Instantly the voice at the other end of the line was replaced by a different voice at the other end of the line. “Hello, it’s literary agent John Unconvincingname,” informed the new voice at the other end of the line.
“Hello agent John, it’s client Dan,” commented the pecunious scribbler. “I’m worried about new book Inferno. I think critics are going to say it’s badly written.”
The voice at the other end of the line gave a sigh, like a mighty oak toppling into a great river, or something else that didn’t sound like a sigh if you gave it a moment’s thought. “Who cares what the stupid critics say?” advised the literary agent. “They’re just snobs. You have millions of fans.”
That’s true, mused the accomplished composer of thrillers that combined religion, high culture and conspiracy theories. His books were read by everyone from renowned politician President Obama to renowned musician Britney Spears. It was said that a copy of The Da Vinci Code had even found its way into the hands of renowned monarch the Queen. He was grateful for his good fortune, and gave thanks every night in his prayers to renowned deity God.
“Think of all the money you’ve made,” recommended the literary agent. That was true too. The thriving ink-slinger’s wealth had allowed him to indulge his passion for great art. Among his proudest purchases were a specially commissioned landscape by acclaimed painter Vincent van Gogh and a signed first edition by revered scriptwriter William Shakespeare.
Renowned author Dan Brown smiled, the ends of his mouth curving upwards in a physical expression of pleasure. He felt much better. If your books brought innocent delight to millions of readers, what did it matter whether you knew the difference between a transitive and an intransitive verb?
“Thanks, John,” he thanked. Then he put down the telephone and perambulated on foot to the desk behind which he habitually sat on a chair to write his famous books on an Apple iMac MD093B/A computer. New book Inferno, the latest in his celebrated series about fictional Harvard professor Robert Langdon, was inspired by top Italian poet Dante. It wouldn’t be the last in the lucrative sequence, either. He had all the sequels mapped out. The Mozart Acrostic. The Michelangelo Wordsearch. The Newton Sudoku.
The 190lb adult male human being nodded his head to indicate satisfaction and returned to his bedroom by walking there. Still asleep in the luxurious four-poster bed of the expensive $10 million house was beautiful wife Mrs Brown. Renowned author Dan Brown gazed admiringly at the pulchritudinous brunette’s blonde tresses, flowing from her head like a stream but made from hair instead of water and without any fish in. She was as majestic as the finest sculpture by Caravaggio or the most coveted portrait by Rodin. I like the attractive woman, thought the successful man.
Perhaps one day, inspired by beautiful wife Mrs Brown, he would move into romantic poetry, like market-leading British rhymester John Keats. That would be good, opined the talented person, and got back into the luxurious four-poster bed. He felt as happy as a man who has something to be happy about and is suitably happy about it.
Brilliant.
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SH5 doesn't strike me as the sort of book that's particularly easy to make into a film admittedly due to how the narrative works. I'd also throw in some Fitzgerald/Hemingway based on Archie's recommendations.
Shane Kuhn - The Interns Handbook | http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18144009-the-intern-s-handbook
Very entertaining read. I love the authors style of writing and use of language, feels like reading a Tarantino or Sam Raimi movie. Absolutely love the characters in the book and there is some great suspense, very easy read as well. I've never read a book written in this style before, a totally different thriller that feels like a really entertaining movie.
Shane Kuhn - Hostile Takeover | http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492620-hostile-takeover
The second book in the series and every bit as good, if not better, than the first. Just like the first one written in action movie style with some genuine John Woo feel to it, about 23 tonnes of ammunition being used before you've reached page 100. The part where John Lago and his gf \ ex-gf tries to kill each other with creative office worker methods is some of the most entertaining I've ever read. The comedy parts of this book were superior to the first installment.
Edit: Looks like they are making the first book into a movie. Fully understandable since if there ever was a book made for it, this is it.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dave-franco-star-interns-handbook-704665
Very entertaining read. I love the authors style of writing and use of language, feels like reading a Tarantino or Sam Raimi movie. Absolutely love the characters in the book and there is some great suspense, very easy read as well. I've never read a book written in this style before, a totally different thriller that feels like a really entertaining movie.
Shane Kuhn - Hostile Takeover | http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492620-hostile-takeover
The second book in the series and every bit as good, if not better, than the first. Just like the first one written in action movie style with some genuine John Woo feel to it, about 23 tonnes of ammunition being used before you've reached page 100. The part where John Lago and his gf \ ex-gf tries to kill each other with creative office worker methods is some of the most entertaining I've ever read. The comedy parts of this book were superior to the first installment.
Edit: Looks like they are making the first book into a movie. Fully understandable since if there ever was a book made for it, this is it.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dave-franco-star-interns-handbook-704665
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So I've just started reading Mr. Mercedes and I'm struggling a bit, albeit only 15 chapters in.
Firstly the concept. The whole retired detective cliche almost coming out of retirement to solve the one that got away grates a bit and it almost reads like somebody writing their first ever book based on rehashed ideas they've seen a million times before. He'll also just chuck in something graphically sexual every now and then which is obviously fine but it doesn't seem to fit with the theme or tone. Also does anyone think King isn't great with black characters? Hodges' 'jive' talking neighbour is incredibly cringey and sounds like a Dad trying to be cool and guess what the kids are saying these days.
I know it's obviously in the title of the book too but the whole thing just sounds like an advert for Mercedes. I'm sure he's mentioned 'that German engineering' about 3 times already, and I just read the line “Where most good Mercedeses go to sleep when their long day’s work is done,”. The f*ck is this? It almost reads like one of Steve Bruce's novels.
I'll stick with it but it seems pretty terrible so far.
EDIT: Added this to my post as it went onto the next page.
Firstly the concept. The whole retired detective cliche almost coming out of retirement to solve the one that got away grates a bit and it almost reads like somebody writing their first ever book based on rehashed ideas they've seen a million times before. He'll also just chuck in something graphically sexual every now and then which is obviously fine but it doesn't seem to fit with the theme or tone. Also does anyone think King isn't great with black characters? Hodges' 'jive' talking neighbour is incredibly cringey and sounds like a Dad trying to be cool and guess what the kids are saying these days.
I know it's obviously in the title of the book too but the whole thing just sounds like an advert for Mercedes. I'm sure he's mentioned 'that German engineering' about 3 times already, and I just read the line “Where most good Mercedeses go to sleep when their long day’s work is done,”. The f*ck is this? It almost reads like one of Steve Bruce's novels.
I'll stick with it but it seems pretty terrible so far.
EDIT: Added this to my post as it went onto the next page.
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So I've just started reading Mr. Mercedes and I'm struggling a bit, albeit only 15 chapters in.
Firstly the concept. The whole retired detective cliche almost coming out of retirement to solve the one that got away grates a bit and it almost reads like somebody writing their first ever book based on rehashed ideas they've seen a million times before. He'll also just chuck in something graphically sexual every now and then which is obviously fine but it doesn't seem to fit with the theme or tone. Also does anyone think King isn't great with black characters? Hodges' 'jive' talking neighbour is incredibly cringey and sounds like a Dad trying to be cool and guess what the kids are saying these days.
I know it's obviously in the title of the book too but the whole thing just sounds like an advert for Mercedes. I'm sure he's mentioned 'that German engineering' about 3 times already, and I just read the line “Where most good Mercedeses go to sleep when their long day’s work is done,”. The f*ck is this? It almost reads like one of Steve Bruce's novels.
I'll stick with it but it seems pretty terrible so far.
-----
That's a letter the main character finds in his mailbox from the black guy who mows his lawn. The book is set in 2010.
Firstly the concept. The whole retired detective cliche almost coming out of retirement to solve the one that got away grates a bit and it almost reads like somebody writing their first ever book based on rehashed ideas they've seen a million times before. He'll also just chuck in something graphically sexual every now and then which is obviously fine but it doesn't seem to fit with the theme or tone. Also does anyone think King isn't great with black characters? Hodges' 'jive' talking neighbour is incredibly cringey and sounds like a Dad trying to be cool and guess what the kids are saying these days.
I know it's obviously in the title of the book too but the whole thing just sounds like an advert for Mercedes. I'm sure he's mentioned 'that German engineering' about 3 times already, and I just read the line “Where most good Mercedeses go to sleep when their long day’s work is done,”. The f*ck is this? It almost reads like one of Steve Bruce's novels.
I'll stick with it but it seems pretty terrible so far.
-----
That's a letter the main character finds in his mailbox from the black guy who mows his lawn. The book is set in 2010.
The f*ck am I reading.