I have just read....

[Sheepman]

I so rarely find time to read books for "pleasure", but have tried to do so recently. The latest one was Forever Today, by Deborah Wearing. The 4 word review on the front says "Harrowing, haunting and heartening." It certainly is that, and I think it is a book so powerful that it can change lives.

Following this, I'm trying to tackle "Phantoms In The Brain" by V. S. Ramachandran. "One of the most accessible neurological books of our generation."

Both books are far from easy going in places, but I think the effort is well rewarded.

Greg

[David Franklin]

I read a few of these after you recommended them so highly, Gadget. I started with the first two in the series, then skipped forward to one of the most recent - and was a bit surprised by the sudden appearance of a lot of fairly graphic sex scenes (kind of inter-species - human/vampire/werewolf - sci-fi porn ).... A bit like fanfic, but by the original author.

Don't know if you gathered, but 10 books into the series, LKH introduced the "arduer" is a very blatent plot device to allow as many sex scenes as possible. LKH "runs" (in a loose sense) an official website with discussion board. It has been very entertainmening over the last year, as the "fans" have gradually voiced greater and greater disapppointment, while Laurelll has explained "when people tell me there's too much sex, that just makes me determined to put even more in the next book". It's finally reached complete meltdown - not often you see such blatant dislike between an author and her (ex-)fans. There are some interesting reviews on amazon etc. following the whole mess...

I agree the series has gone downhill, the books just got too similar and bloated. They're still readable, but to be honest I skip over the "sex" pages ( never thought I'd say that!)

Skipping the "sex" pages isn't a huge hardship; the problem is there's very little book left after you do so. And more frustratingly, there is no continuity anymore - there were some big developments in book 11 (Cerulean Sins) that were just completely forgotten in book 12 (Incubus Dreams). So it's hard to care what happens anymore, because it will all be ignored in the next book anyhow.

You may also find this parody of Anita Blake's blog amusing... You'll probably need to go back a bit - it started as straight parody but has started having a half sensible plot (unlike ID...)

I do like her Merry Gentle series though, more development and character involvement in each book. And not so much "spending 100 pages talking about having sex, then another 50 pages describing it, then another 100 pages talking about it afterwards" of the Anita Blake series

Slightly less angsting, true. But apparently there's a pretty distasteful four-way in Book 4 (out in US)...

[Gadget]

I do like her Merry Gentle series though, more development and character involvement in each book.

Really? I thought that the Gentle series was the start of the decline of Anita Blake and I (vainly) hoped that this would be the 'sexual outlet' that could keep Anita on-track. Unfortunatly not. {I did find Merry a lot more sexual than expected; perhaps I'm just innocent and nieve? .}

and a big to David Franklin

[jockey]

Just finished "The Fall" by Albert Camus, but I've no idea what it was about.

I find that absurd..

[jockey]

Sadly (you will think) since I studied Social and Political Pholosophy at Uni I have barely been interested in novels; my new flatmate (who is between his first and second years at Sussex, also Philosophy) tells me he has had the same experience.
However, prior to that I used to read a novel a week; some of my favourites were: War and Peace (Tolstoy)
And Quiet Flows The Don (Sholokov)
Steppenwolf (Hesse)
Anything by Graham Greene

Nowadays I like nothing better than to read an entry in The Encyclopedia of Philosophy (masterpieces of erudition and economy with comprehensive bibliographies) or essays by Bertrand Russell, Orwell, or Readiongs such as The Mind Brain Identity Theory (ed, Borst). What a perfect bore!
Does anyone remember the tv reviews done by Martin Amis in the Observer (I think it was) and Clive James - utterly brilliant!
Maybe I should try some of your recommendations and get myself back into reading novels; theres always Sartre - a novelist and a pholosopher, perfectomondo!
Maybe I should shut up.

[Clive Long]

<< snip >>
Does anyone remember the tv reviews done by Martin Amis in the Observer (I think it was) and Clive James - utterly brilliant!

I used to possess a paper-back (long since lost) containing a few, selected Clive James articles and book reviews. There was something about his writing style that was incisive and amusing without being down-right nasty. And he didn't just review the material, he also put it in context - for example challenging the version of the truth in fawning biographies (hagiographies? help me here ESG) and self-justifying autobiogs. I vaguely remember a review of the official biography of Leonid Brezhnev by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. A (poorly-remembered) fragment ... "birds fell dead from the trees from the excitement caused by the prose ... "

Maybe I should shut up.

Maybe you should, but I think there are very many other people who should shut up before you.

[Sheepman]

The History Of Love by Nicole Krauss (Penguin)

The sleeve notes say a "tale brimming with laughter", I certainly didn't find anything to laugh about, as I ploughed my way slowly through it, getting Irritated by the main character, annoyed with the style of writing, and frustrated with it apparently being a book about books and authors.

But my patience was rewarded, finally I got to the stage where I wanted to keep turning the pages, and the last 50 or so were devoured in one go.

There is just one other book that has made me react in the way this eventually did, and that's the other book I mentioned here (Forever Today) The strength and power which runs through that book can also be found here. Which of these 2 books is true and the other fiction? I'm not sure that it really matters.

If you have ever been in love, this book will speak to you, if you are in love, perhaps it can give you a confirmation, a tangible sense of what it is that you have. And if you have lost love, then don't read this without a large box of tissues!

Greg

[Sparkles]

I find that absurd..

Why should you?
I read 'The Catcher in the Rye' ages ago and to this day I still don't get it.
Maybe someone here can explain it to me?

[Clive Long]

Four Letters of Love, Niall Williams

This is a beautiful book.

Each sentence is rich with imagery. I sense it is a very "Irish" book - although I haven't read any other Irish writers

What I think I mean by that is every thought, every description, every intention is conveyed in a richly textured language that relates to the land, the sea and the seasons. Williams chooses the unusual word and phrase that makes you "see" what he has written.

Let me stick me finger in a few random pages and copy ...

"Months passed. We moved into a trembling spring as if against our will. My studies had improved dramatically, and as Masters and Brothers alike changed their tone, moving like whispering statues around the knowledge of my tragedy, the schooldays passed more easily. The thrilling promise of the season, all the light flickering noons and afternoons of April and May gave way to an uncertain summer."



"Nothing in my life has prepared me for this.To love you. It is hardly even what I think of as loving. I have to see you. I feel a compulsion like fire inside my skin. Do you understand? Do you know what this is like? .... I am going mad. I am. ... And your kiss is like sweet fire. Like this unreachable sweet, sweet ache deep inside me. How trite and stupid it all sounds. God, I cannot write it. I cannot even get near it. O Isabel. Isabel, is a bel. Please. I want. I want ...
Please please please write to me write to me please
N."

[Whitebeard]

..... and Clive James - utterly brilliant!

Yes, fantastic and a joy at the time. Then I saw the bloke on TV and that pricked the bubble.

[DangerousCurves]

I'd like to recommend "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell to fellow bibliophiles.

The book is very unusual in structure - it follows six lives which interlock. It opens with extracts from a diary written by a 19th Century attorney travelling on a sailing ship from Australia to America, and then breaks off mid story, indeed midsentence to cut to the next section, written in a completely different style, taking the form of a series of letters written in the 1930's. As the reader becomes engrossed in the second story, the narrator almost casually refers to a diary which he has been reading written by a 19th Century attorney travelling on a sailing ship etc etc....

This second story is interupted by a third, itself interupted by a fourth and so on. The final story is set way into the future, and each story references those before it.

Each new section is written in a very different style - it genuinely feels like you have picked up another book. However, the book as a whole is immensely satisfying and achieves great unity, not least due to the common themes that run through the very different tales focusing on humanity's "will to power" and where that could lead us.

I'd be interested to hear what anyone else who read it thought of it. I think its one of the best and most original works that I've read in a while.

[Baby Peaches]

Ceclia Ahern PS I Love you - v. girly book but so so good - it really has you thinking about life, love etc... Bit of a sad topic I know but so well written. definately gets my recommendation.

Currently devouring The curious incident of the dog in the night time - but not very far through it - that pesky work stuff keeps getting in the way.

If you liked the first one PS I Love You (must admit have not read yet, can't find it) then I think you will really like her next book Where Rainbows End. I couldn't put it down. A real girlie book but I ended myself laughing one minute and bawled my eyes out the next. Superb!

As for The curious incident of the dog in the night time, I just can't seem to get into this one. Will give it another go!

[Tessalicious]

I'd like to recommend "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell to fellow bibliophiles.

The book is very unusual in structure - it follows six lives which interlock. It opens with extracts from a diary written by a 19th Century attorney travelling on a sailing ship from Australia to America, and then breaks off mid story, indeed midsentence to cut to the next section, written in a completely different style, taking the form of a series of letters written in the 1930's. As the reader becomes engrossed in the second story, the narrator almost casually refers to a diary which he has been reading written by a 19th Century attorney travelling on a sailing ship etc etc....

This second story is interupted by a third, itself interupted by a fourth and so on. The final story is set way into the future, and each story references those before it.

Each new section is written in a very different style - it genuinely feels like you have picked up another book. However, the book as a whole is immensely satisfying and achieves great unity, not least due to the common themes that run through the very different tales focusing on humanity's "will to power" and where that could lead us.

I'd be interested to hear what anyone else who read it thought of it. I think its one of the best and most original works that I've read in a while.

I agree, this is a very thought-provoking and intelligently written novel (unfortunately I rushed through the last section because Harry Potter was out so I think I spoilt the end for myself ). But it was very clever how the stories relate, the themes of reincarnation and persecution through different ages were intriguing. Definitely one to recommend, but I would suggest if you are not a fast reader or don't have a good memory, take some time out specifically to read it - otherwise it would be quite easy to get lost in each of the different storylines and lose track of what happened in the others!

[LMC]

I'd like to recommend "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell to fellow bibliophiles.

< snips, 'cos the rest is only just up there ^^^ >

I'd be interested to hear what anyone else who read it thought of it. I think its one of the best and most original works that I've read in a while.

Eeerie, I was going to post about this one 'anyway'.

One of those books which you can read at so many different levels: for enjoyment but also very thought-provoking. At some points, the consistency of human nature through the timescale of the stories is depressing (timescale unspecified, but at least "hundreds of years"). Depressing, because of the themes of desire for power, sacrifice of truth to egotism, greed, amongst others. But ultimately, I actually found the book very uplifting - showing how love, imagination, and creativity cannot be wholly or permanently suppressed and demonstrating the importance of and our constant hunger for human interaction - at whatever level.

There's not many books that I finish and then start reading all over again, to make sure I didn't miss anything - but this is one of them. The six interlinked stories are, on the surface, stories. But some of the underlying connections and themes are not immediately obvious on a first reading: I'm sure that they were there but if you don't know what's coming they could be easily missed.

Highly recommended.

[Angelina]

Da Vinci Code
Actually read it in March 2005 and have been doing the trail ever since, whilst holidaying in April in Paris we visited all the attractions including the louve!

On the way home from the ceroc competition last weekend we called to see Rosslyn Chapel it was amazing

i can give it uo honest!

[philsmove]

Just reading “Adrian Mole and the weapons of mass destruction”

He is is trouble for selling Train Spotting by Irving Welsh to a 75 year old railway enthusiast

But I’m gutted to discover our hero confesses to not understanding the rules of Mornington crescent

And no he still has not got it away with Pandora (but then I have not finished the book yet )

[Trousers]

I just finished 'Going Postal' another Pratchett book.

I can hear the groans and I agree there is a limit to the amount of Terry Pratchett one can consume. But I haven't read a Pratchett for over 3 years and I just couldn't resist the title after spending a year and a half working in the states and Canada (Going Postal is the term given to 'Disgruntled' workers ((most often Postal Workers)) that crack under stress and strain of the job or life in general and decided one day to take their guns to work and settle a few scores!)

But back to the book - Yes its Pratchett - Yes its a Disk World Novel - Yes Carrot makes a fleeting cameo appearance - but boy is it funny. Ankh Morpork gets Mail! I'll say no more.

I tittered quite happily in the pub reading this and whilst at work on night shift and found the humour uplifting and the story engaging.

If you like Pratchett or you used to and got tired of it like me you will love this. If you are new to Pratchetts fantastic sense of humour ask your friends for their old ones you really do need to start the Pratchett ride from the beginning rather than leaping in at novel 30 or what ever it is now.

[Clive Long]

I just finished 'Going Postal' another Pratchett book.
<< snip >>

Never having read Pratchett, can you capture what it is about his stories that have made him a global phenomenon (da, daaaah, da, da-da)?

I must admit his smiley-bearded-West-country-weekend-organic-farmer look puts me right off.


Clive

[Tessalicious]

The appeal is along the lines of:

-Ridiculous settings for the stories, that serve as a complete release from real-life (which is why I haven't felt the need to read Terry Pratchett since joining the forum)

-Characters that are more like characatures of people you're really glad you don't know anymore, that have developed through the series but are still very recognisable in each book

-Rolling storylines aren't too complex for 'five-minutes-here-and-there' reading but still feel satisfying at the end

and of course

-Extremely British sarcastic wit that even DavidJames would struggle to imitate

Unfortunately, I haven't got the early ones to lend you, but try them, and see what you think.

[El Salsero Gringo]

Ridiculous settings for the stories, that serve as a complete release from real-life (which is why I haven't felt the need to read Terry Pratchett since joining the forum)

hehehehe