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    Lazy Llama

*What book are you reading? (part 2)

Tai Pan - The sequel to Shogun by James Clavell. Not as immersive as the Samurai era one but still nicely consuming if you like a bit of historical/political scheming. Can get a bit heavy though, not the prose or subject matter, just the lack of any lighter moments amidst the drama. Apparently there's another 4 books after this one too, although one more might be my limit for now. Consumed Shogun in about 2 days though, so that's well worth a look.
 
stockwelljonny said:
on the lighter side of Steinbeck but I loved Travels with Charlie, him driving round the states in 1960 in a camper truck with loads of booze and his dog, chatting to people he met to try and get a feel for the country he lived in.
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Just started this. First chapter on why anyone decides to travel is superb. Proper soul-stirring stuff. Can see myself rattling through this very quickly. :)
 
Read 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' by Neil Gaiman on Saturday. Loved it. Brilliant story-telling, and so close to those feelings of childhood trauma.

Now reading 'The Heart Goes Last' by Margaret Atwood. More fantastic story-telling - am gripped.
 
I've just finished Atonement by Ian McEwan. Just brilliant.

It's elegantly written and the way the plot wraps up at the end is masterful

Is it as good as Saturday? That was read 15 years or more ago and my recollection of is dimmed.
 
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Also, I've decided not to finish The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Like Ian McEwan she tells great stories in a beautiful way. I read most of the book ages ago but stopped when I was ill. I've gone back to it and have only about five pages left. But I'm not going to read them. Not yet anyway.

Like all her books she has larger than life characters, absorbing plots and a delicious lightness with language She's only written three novels in the last twenty years and the next one could be years/decades off. I don't want to feel that I have nothing fresh of hers to read, so I'm leaving that last sliver unread. I don't know how the plot wraps up. But that's a price worth paying
 
rubbershoes said:
Also, I've decided not to finish The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Like Ian McEwan she tells great stories in a beautiful way. I read most of the book ages ago but stopped when I was ill. I've gone back to it and have only about five pages left. But I'm not going to read them. Not yet anyway.

Like all her books she has larger than life characters, absorbing plots and a delicious lightness with language She's only written three novels in the last twenty years and the next one could be years/decades off. I don't want to feel that I have nothing fresh of hers to read, so I'm leaving that last sliver unread. I don't know how the plot wraps up. But that's a price worth paying
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I only ever read Secret History but its stayed with me for a long time.

I have this on download for my next history book, hoping its more in depth than the Plantagenets one I last read, a lightweight history was that. No meat to it just x did y.

The Borgias and Their Enemies: 1431-1519 by christopher hibbert
 
Finished Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. The book was so rich and well written, I enjoyed it so much, a little indifferent to the ending but I recommend it.

Also just finished Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich. At the start I thought I was not going to like it as after Cold Mountain the prose seemed too simplistic but I soon got into it and it was a fun and quick read.
 
I'm reading Finnegans Wake, but I'm struggling to stay motivated to keep going; it seems to have strayed over the line into difficult for the sake of being difficult.
 
Empire Of The Sun - JG Ballard

Inspired by the opening lines thread, and also having enjoyed a lot of his fiction. 2/3 of the way through it. A bit slow in places but the writing is phenomenal at times so well worth sticking with it for the more than occasional flashes of brilliance.
 
ringo said:
Empire Of The Sun - JG Ballard

Inspired by the opening lines thread, and also having enjoyed a lot of his fiction. 2/3 of the way through it. A bit slow in places but the writing is phenomenal at times so well worth sticking with it for the more than occasional flashes of brilliance.
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Brilliant book! Been trying to get my Dad to read it for ages now. Reckon he'd love it.
 
Only 10 pages in, because no time to read, but it feels familiar (and I'm reading it in her voice :oops:).

Edit: not reading it, but hearing the words. If that makes any sense... when you know someone's voice you hear the text in their voice. Is that just me? :hmm:
 
Biddlybee said:
Only 10 pages in, because no time to read, but it feels familiar (and I'm reading it in her voice :oops:).

Edit: not reading it, but hearing the words. If that makes any sense... when you know someone's voice you hear the text in their voice. Is that just me? :hmm:
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It's not just you :D Especially not with a voice as distinct as hers :)
 
Reading Allowed, by Chris Paling.

He worked in a library and this is a collection of stories about the various people, books, history etc in his library and surrounding branch libraries. He's very strong on why we need libraries. It's very topical for me right now as our local council are currently doing a survey about library usage, to 'transform' the libraries, but I reckon it's a sneaky way of trying to prove disinterest and therefore provides a good reason to close them.

It's a quirky and entertaining collection of little tales, with plenty of pathos and politics.
 
Thus Bad Begins by Javier Marías - Novel set in Madrid years following death of Franco, very readable mix of thriller and entertaining digressions and musings on growing up, sex, morals, art. Hadn't heard of this writer before and was a bookshop recommendation but enjoying a lot. Lots of really good characters and I love reading about Madrid in the late 70's and early 80's with people getting up to no good. Also features a very credible cameo by Herbert Lom :cool:
 
Just finished Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian. It is the fifth in his series and the fifth I have read. I find them easy reading and a little like boys own cartoons of heros and daring do on the high seas. Now starting The Fortunes of War.
 
downloaded the works of Stephen King. Going to work my way through from beginning as I haven't read those books since I was a kid.

Read Rage on Tuesday and Carrie today. Carrie is much better than I expected. A beautiful book - and before while i identified with the bullying aspect, this time there was a whole different level of appreciation. Also, I'd forgotten how much I used to enjoy King's work before he became so long winded. So, I have Salem's Lot lined up for tomorrow.
Voley said:
Girl In A Band - Kim Gordon. Like what I've read so far. I've always thought she was cool as fuck mind.
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yeah - read that last year. It's a good book. And yes. cool. as. fuck. :cool:

oh, and i read Lou Reed biog, followed by Patti smith, followed by the Kim Gordon book and what I was struck by was the common elements. All more interested in art than pop music, all inhabiting the same geography, even some of the personalities involved overlapped.
 
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AuntiStella said:
downloaded the works of Stephen King. Going to work my way through from beginning as I haven't read those books since I was a kid.

Read Rage on Tuesday and Carrie today. Carrie is much better than I expected. A beautiful book - and before while i identified with the bullying aspect, this time there was a whole different level of appreciation. Also, I'd forgotten how much I used to enjoy King's work before he became so long winded. So, I have Salem's Lot lined up for tomorrow.

yeah - read that last year. It's a good book. And yes. cool. as. fuck. :cool:

oh, and i read Lou Reed biog, followed by Patti smith, followed by the Kim Gordon book and what I was struck by was the common elements. All more interested in art than pop music, all inhabiting the same geography, even some of the personalities involved overlapped.
Click to expand...

On New York 70s tip, really enjoyed Inside the-dream-palace, about the Chelsea hotel. Was expecting stories of excess and a great range of ny characters, which it does really well, but also has some really interesting bits about New York before the hotel was built, unexpected social history stuff. A really good read, well researched and not cheesy. Saw that Stanley Bard, the owner of the Chelsea died recently. Worse jobs to have had... :cool:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/...l?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share
 
The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt. Really good so far. Great characters, plot that could go anywhere, good descriptions of New York. It's over a decade since I read 'The Secret History' and I'd forgotten her knack for conveying complex characters in just a few brief sentences. Very enjoyable so far.
 
Voley said:
The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt. Really good so far. Great characters, plot that could go anywhere, good descriptions of New York. It's over a decade since I read 'The Secret History' and I'd forgotten her knack for conveying complex characters in just a few brief sentences. Very enjoyable so far.
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I heart Boris
 
Started 'Moonglow' by Michael Chabon last night. He doesn't write with the same luscious flow as David Mitchell, Ray Bradbury, or Neil Gaiman, but some of his lines are breathtakingly good, and I love the way he subtly slides ideas over, so you have to backtrack a bit when you realise what's going on.
 
sojourner said:
Started 'Moonglow' by Michael Chabon last night. He doesn't write with the same luscious flow as David Mitchell, Ray Bradbury, or Neil Gaiman, but some of his lines are breathtakingly good, and I love the way he subtly slides ideas over, so you have to backtrack a bit when you realise what's going on.
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Have you read The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier & Clay? One of the most satisfying reads ever.
 
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