So, the reading kick didn't really happen as I had hoped. It took me almost a month to read the next book I selected - yet another case of slowly reading a few chapters and then finishing most of the book off in the space of a day or so. And then it's taken me over a month to start writing about it. But I do have an excuse for that part. I finished reading this while I was in the early stages of labour, and strangely free time has been in short supply since then!
Not wanting to make a decision I asked my husband what book I should read next, and he picked something by Robert Harris. Archangel was the next book for me to read (in the order they were written) and so that is what I read. Archangel follows an academic called Kelso in a historical-mystery-scavenger hunt, searching for a notebook that belonged to Stalin.
In the same way that The Shadow of the Wind made me realise my ignorance about the Spanish Civil War, reading this made me realise how little I know about the rise, existence and fall of the USSR. Possibly knowing more would have enabled me to get more out of the book in terms of background context, but just enough background was provided that the plot still worked perfectly well.
The characters involved aren't the sort of people I'de want to spend the day with, however they fit the grittiness of the setting and plot. While it's not the sort of book that I'm desperate to have back on my 'to read' list I enjoyed the time I spent reading it (well, except for the pain I was in....).
Monday, 11 November 2013
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
The Hound of the Baskervilles - Arthur Conan Doyle
There are many different reasons that people decide to try a new author or a new series of books. For me, with Sherlock Holmes it was this book that was the reason. Scanning down the list of 100 must-read novels on the Telegraph website I decided that this seemed a good pick. But, not one to do things by halves, I started from the beginning. And now that I've read the target novel I plan to continue to read the others.
The Hound of the Baskervilles tells the story of the Baskerville family, and the mystery and misfortune that has surrounded them. Although Holmes and Watson are introduced to the affair in London much of the story takes place in the Dartmoor area, where the Baskerville residence is situated. After one prominent member of the family has met their death in strange circumstances, should the surviving heir be worried of meeting a similar fate?
I confess, it took me quite a few chapters to get into this book. However, I should also confess that this is likely to be my fault. Starting a new story when over-tired or sat in a noisy office will never do it justice. Once safely curled up under a blanket on the sofa, though, I couldn't put it down. And for this reason I am now over-tired again.
The story is engaging, so much so that even in the last few chapters once the culprit is revealed there is still the urgent need to read on and find out more. After the short stories it was nice to return to a Sherlock Holmes book with sub-plots and twists. So many different threads of clues to unravel and then neatly stitch back together.
This isn't a book where characters develop or the world changes drastically. Instead it is a book that is very true to itself. It is a detective story, and a very good one. I would recommend reading earlier Sherlock Holmes stories first, so as to get used to the style of delivery, but if you've ever thought that this is a book you should read then you were right.
The Hound of the Baskervilles tells the story of the Baskerville family, and the mystery and misfortune that has surrounded them. Although Holmes and Watson are introduced to the affair in London much of the story takes place in the Dartmoor area, where the Baskerville residence is situated. After one prominent member of the family has met their death in strange circumstances, should the surviving heir be worried of meeting a similar fate?
I confess, it took me quite a few chapters to get into this book. However, I should also confess that this is likely to be my fault. Starting a new story when over-tired or sat in a noisy office will never do it justice. Once safely curled up under a blanket on the sofa, though, I couldn't put it down. And for this reason I am now over-tired again.
The story is engaging, so much so that even in the last few chapters once the culprit is revealed there is still the urgent need to read on and find out more. After the short stories it was nice to return to a Sherlock Holmes book with sub-plots and twists. So many different threads of clues to unravel and then neatly stitch back together.
This isn't a book where characters develop or the world changes drastically. Instead it is a book that is very true to itself. It is a detective story, and a very good one. I would recommend reading earlier Sherlock Holmes stories first, so as to get used to the style of delivery, but if you've ever thought that this is a book you should read then you were right.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Sorting things into categories is a habit that is picked up at a young age. It makes things neat and provides a sense of order. When it comes to books, those categories could be target age or size but normally would be genre. So when someone puts a book on your bedside table and describes it as "a good book that doesn't really fit a category" it's a little disconcerting, and kind of hard to know what to expect.
The Shadow of the Wind is set in Barcelona in the 1940s and 50s and follows the life of Daniel, a young boy whose life is changed forever by a book. As he grows up, the desire to know more about the life of the book's author starts to take over, and it turns out he's not the only one that wants to know more.
I can see why my husband couldn't categorise this book, even putting aside the fact he remembered little other than that it was good. It's a story of someone's life as they try to find the story of someone else's life. And like any life it has a variety of tones and events. There is romance, there is lust, there is longing. The theme of loss, of losing someone close to you, runs strongly throughout. At the same time, the harsh brutalities of war are showcased. And the whole thing is held together with a detective-style thread of discovery. So much for neat little boxes.
But actually, you don't need to be able to put something in a box to enjoy it. I was swept away into Daniel's world and found myself wanting to know the same things he longed to discover. That's not to say that it didn't annoy me at times. In a first-person situation it's only natural to get frustrated with the narrator, and occasionally to want to bash some sense into them. It's the things like that which make a good book a good book. If you don't care enough to feel then something has gone wrong.
I like the idea of a book making such an impact in your life. Sure, I would hope for a little less pain than was inflicted on Daniel. A good book should make you think. If you feel the same after reading as you did before then it seems questionable how highly you really rated it. It's fair to say that this one made me think, and I'm placing it in the category of books that I would recommend.
The Shadow of the Wind is set in Barcelona in the 1940s and 50s and follows the life of Daniel, a young boy whose life is changed forever by a book. As he grows up, the desire to know more about the life of the book's author starts to take over, and it turns out he's not the only one that wants to know more.
I can see why my husband couldn't categorise this book, even putting aside the fact he remembered little other than that it was good. It's a story of someone's life as they try to find the story of someone else's life. And like any life it has a variety of tones and events. There is romance, there is lust, there is longing. The theme of loss, of losing someone close to you, runs strongly throughout. At the same time, the harsh brutalities of war are showcased. And the whole thing is held together with a detective-style thread of discovery. So much for neat little boxes.
But actually, you don't need to be able to put something in a box to enjoy it. I was swept away into Daniel's world and found myself wanting to know the same things he longed to discover. That's not to say that it didn't annoy me at times. In a first-person situation it's only natural to get frustrated with the narrator, and occasionally to want to bash some sense into them. It's the things like that which make a good book a good book. If you don't care enough to feel then something has gone wrong.
I like the idea of a book making such an impact in your life. Sure, I would hope for a little less pain than was inflicted on Daniel. A good book should make you think. If you feel the same after reading as you did before then it seems questionable how highly you really rated it. It's fair to say that this one made me think, and I'm placing it in the category of books that I would recommend.
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Utopia - Lincoln Child
For various reasons this is review has been delayed a fair bit, and for the same reasons this won't be the best writing I've ever done!
Utopia is a science fiction book about a theme park of the same name. Not just any run-of-the-mill theme park, it is the biggest and most high-tech in the world. Special effects and automation come as standard, and the whole operation runs like clockwork. Until the technology goes wrong, that is.
Other than the prologue and epilogue, the story is set over a single day in the park's life, which makes for an interesting perspective. Different chapters focus on the paths of different characters, and the format worked really well in terms of intensity.
Due to the nature of a one-day plot there clearly wasn't a lot of scope for character development, but I didn't mind that so much as the story itself was enough. I loved Terri as a character, because geek girls who are both good at their job and a rounded human can be hard to find in books. However, some of the characters were a little shallow.
Overall it was definitely a page-turner. I found myself trying to sneak in 'just one more' chapter during lunch breaks. My first dip into the world of science fiction for adults was a success.
Utopia is a science fiction book about a theme park of the same name. Not just any run-of-the-mill theme park, it is the biggest and most high-tech in the world. Special effects and automation come as standard, and the whole operation runs like clockwork. Until the technology goes wrong, that is.
Other than the prologue and epilogue, the story is set over a single day in the park's life, which makes for an interesting perspective. Different chapters focus on the paths of different characters, and the format worked really well in terms of intensity.
Due to the nature of a one-day plot there clearly wasn't a lot of scope for character development, but I didn't mind that so much as the story itself was enough. I loved Terri as a character, because geek girls who are both good at their job and a rounded human can be hard to find in books. However, some of the characters were a little shallow.
Overall it was definitely a page-turner. I found myself trying to sneak in 'just one more' chapter during lunch breaks. My first dip into the world of science fiction for adults was a success.
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
The Magician's Apprentice - Trudi Canavan
Whatever anyone tries to tell you, size does matter. And in the case of The Magician's Apprentice, I was very nearly put off by the bulky size, particularly relative to my ultra-light Kindle. What I failed to remember, though, is that other things matter more than size. If a book absorbs you into its world and has you hooked then you quickly forget how big it is, until you try to put it in a small bag of course!
The Magician's Apprentice is a prequel to Trudi Canavan's Black Magician trilogy, which I read a few years ago and absolutely loved. For some reason I've been putting off reading this prequel for a while. This was a mistake in several ways. The first is practical. As with all prequels, many references are made to concepts that are accepted as norms by the 'later' stories. While I remembered the basics of how the Guild worked, for example, I felt like I was missing out a little by having to work to understand certain ideas.
However, the main reason it was a mistake is that this is a really good book, and really good books should not sit on your shelves for that long waiting to be read. I may have mentioned previously that I get on well with Trudi Canavan's writing style, and that definitely helps when trying to lose yourself in a world.
The setup of the world itself and the characters within it are beautifully described and easy to warm to. So much so that I commented to my husband early on that I didn't want there to be a plot. I have read books before that introduced wonderful characters that were then completely changed by unenjoyable (to me) plotlines that completely ruined things. In this case though, the plots worked. There was a balance that ensured character development and a realistic number of war casualties, without taking away what made you fall in love with the characters in the first place.
And yes, I definitely did fall in love with the characters which, as I have definitely mentioned before, will usually win me over. Wonderful characters, an eventful plot, and lots of good magic thrown in. Who could ask for anything more?
The Magician's Apprentice is a prequel to Trudi Canavan's Black Magician trilogy, which I read a few years ago and absolutely loved. For some reason I've been putting off reading this prequel for a while. This was a mistake in several ways. The first is practical. As with all prequels, many references are made to concepts that are accepted as norms by the 'later' stories. While I remembered the basics of how the Guild worked, for example, I felt like I was missing out a little by having to work to understand certain ideas.
However, the main reason it was a mistake is that this is a really good book, and really good books should not sit on your shelves for that long waiting to be read. I may have mentioned previously that I get on well with Trudi Canavan's writing style, and that definitely helps when trying to lose yourself in a world.
The setup of the world itself and the characters within it are beautifully described and easy to warm to. So much so that I commented to my husband early on that I didn't want there to be a plot. I have read books before that introduced wonderful characters that were then completely changed by unenjoyable (to me) plotlines that completely ruined things. In this case though, the plots worked. There was a balance that ensured character development and a realistic number of war casualties, without taking away what made you fall in love with the characters in the first place.
And yes, I definitely did fall in love with the characters which, as I have definitely mentioned before, will usually win me over. Wonderful characters, an eventful plot, and lots of good magic thrown in. Who could ask for anything more?
Monday, 22 April 2013
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle
My aim for 2013 is to read 30 books, and given it's almost the end of April and my tally has just reached 7 it might be time to get my skates on. Still, things have been busy lately and so a book I can dip in and out of has been exactly what was required. Cue the second collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories...
As my second dip into the world of short stories I was a little more aware of what to expect. For one thing, I had far more idea of how long each tale would be. And reading in more of a stop-start nature gave me more appreciation of the individual plotlines. It always helps, of course, to make a strong start, and in this case I did enjoy Silver Blaze. The balance of deductive reasoning and solid clue gathering worked well, and the storyline was enjoyable as well.
Two of the cases featured as stories are from very early in Holmes' career, indeed one is his very first case. As such Watson's words are almost exclusively a relay of Holmes' description of events. This makes for a nice change from the usual style and provides a different frame of reference. While I wouldn't want to read a whole novel in that format it works well as part of a collection with other styles.
All's well that ends well, and unfortunately that is where this collection falls short. I found The Final Problem to be disappointing. Watson's tone throughout is sombre, for obvious reasons, but this made reading a little dry. But that wasn't what disappointed me. Nor was the ending a disappointment, as it could hardly have been a surprise from the build up (and a visit to the Reichenbach Falls several years ago). What disappointed me was the lack of mystery.
The whole story is a chase. There is nothing to solve, not even a mention as to how the gang in London are to be captured. In a way, it just felt like it wasn't a Sherlock Holmes story. Maybe I just didn't connect with it, or was too focused on how it would end. Or maybe it really is disappointing to a mystery fan. Either way, it tarnished the end of what had been a very enjoyable collection.
My next dip into the world of Sherlock Holmes will be the novel that inspired me to start reading about him in the first place, but I think that will have to wait for a while. For now I'll just read whatever takes my fancy on the day. So many books, so little time!
As my second dip into the world of short stories I was a little more aware of what to expect. For one thing, I had far more idea of how long each tale would be. And reading in more of a stop-start nature gave me more appreciation of the individual plotlines. It always helps, of course, to make a strong start, and in this case I did enjoy Silver Blaze. The balance of deductive reasoning and solid clue gathering worked well, and the storyline was enjoyable as well.
Two of the cases featured as stories are from very early in Holmes' career, indeed one is his very first case. As such Watson's words are almost exclusively a relay of Holmes' description of events. This makes for a nice change from the usual style and provides a different frame of reference. While I wouldn't want to read a whole novel in that format it works well as part of a collection with other styles.
All's well that ends well, and unfortunately that is where this collection falls short. I found The Final Problem to be disappointing. Watson's tone throughout is sombre, for obvious reasons, but this made reading a little dry. But that wasn't what disappointed me. Nor was the ending a disappointment, as it could hardly have been a surprise from the build up (and a visit to the Reichenbach Falls several years ago). What disappointed me was the lack of mystery.
The whole story is a chase. There is nothing to solve, not even a mention as to how the gang in London are to be captured. In a way, it just felt like it wasn't a Sherlock Holmes story. Maybe I just didn't connect with it, or was too focused on how it would end. Or maybe it really is disappointing to a mystery fan. Either way, it tarnished the end of what had been a very enjoyable collection.
My next dip into the world of Sherlock Holmes will be the novel that inspired me to start reading about him in the first place, but I think that will have to wait for a while. For now I'll just read whatever takes my fancy on the day. So many books, so little time!
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - JK Rowling
Clearly the Harry Potter bug bit me harder than I thought, and just a few days after finishing the Chamber of Secrets I found myself curled up on the sofa deep in the world of the Prisoner of Azkaban. And I wasn't disappointed.
The third installment of the series is full of little gems, so many of which it's easy to forget amongst the main storyline that sweeps you away. And reading with hindsight is even better. The little remarks, such as it being the second real prophecy that Professor Trelawney has made, are so blatant when you know what they mean.
This book contains my favourite Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Professor Lupin. Clearly he's a favourite amongst the pupils too, but his watchfulness over his friend's son is touching. I also like his carefully placed quips about the makers of the Marauder's Map and similar incidents.
Sometimes I think the proof that you've enjoyed a book is after you finished reading. Sure, I was completely immersed in the story at the time and didn't want to be distracted at all. However, the fact that since finishing I've been running through parts of Harry Potter books in my head must surely mean more. I've been smiling as I remembered the elation of the house Quidditch Cup, and feeling pensive about some of the less happy moments. And most of all I've been feeling annoyed at myself that I remember barely more than a few details of the later books. Time to put that right soon I feel!
I'll finish with the end of the book, and a conversation snippet that I had completely forgotten but made me smile broadly (and has done so now just thinking about it).
'It's a letter from my godfather.'
'Godfather?' spluttered Uncle Vernon. 'You haven't got a godfather!'
'Yes, I have,' said Harry brightly. 'He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though... keep up with my news... check I'm happy...'
And it that didn't make you smile, you need to re-read the book.
The third installment of the series is full of little gems, so many of which it's easy to forget amongst the main storyline that sweeps you away. And reading with hindsight is even better. The little remarks, such as it being the second real prophecy that Professor Trelawney has made, are so blatant when you know what they mean.
This book contains my favourite Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Professor Lupin. Clearly he's a favourite amongst the pupils too, but his watchfulness over his friend's son is touching. I also like his carefully placed quips about the makers of the Marauder's Map and similar incidents.
Sometimes I think the proof that you've enjoyed a book is after you finished reading. Sure, I was completely immersed in the story at the time and didn't want to be distracted at all. However, the fact that since finishing I've been running through parts of Harry Potter books in my head must surely mean more. I've been smiling as I remembered the elation of the house Quidditch Cup, and feeling pensive about some of the less happy moments. And most of all I've been feeling annoyed at myself that I remember barely more than a few details of the later books. Time to put that right soon I feel!
I'll finish with the end of the book, and a conversation snippet that I had completely forgotten but made me smile broadly (and has done so now just thinking about it).
'It's a letter from my godfather.'
'Godfather?' spluttered Uncle Vernon. 'You haven't got a godfather!'
'Yes, I have,' said Harry brightly. 'He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though... keep up with my news... check I'm happy...'
And it that didn't make you smile, you need to re-read the book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)