Count Otto Black
New member
- Jul 22, 2015
- 134
just started lord of the rings trilogy.
A return to form, I thought. Up there with The Black Dahlia, LA Confidential and American Tabloid.
Dudley Smith is extraordinary anti-hero.
I've just finished the latest Peter James novel...I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed with this book or the previous one. I fear he's running out of ideas, as the stories seem to be getting rather ridiculous!
Reading SPQR by Mary Beard. She's very good. Before that read Ishiguro's Buried Giant. Which was ok but i expected more. Not up there with Remains of th Day or my favourite, An Artist of the Floating World.
I have All the Light we cannot see to read next which judging by this thread should be something to look forward to
And books that I'm currently reading...
I'm back to working my way through the Lee Child 'Jack Reacher' series. Finished 'The Hard Way' last night. It's a bit formulaic but good fun and a very easy read. And after I finished my Man Booker longlist challenge I finally got round to reading Haruki Murakami's 'Kafka on the Shore'. After so many mediocre books this was an absolute joy, I just wish I'd gotten round to reading it earlier, much earlier. His style is so warm and engaging and the quirky but quite brilliant plot moves at a canter. This is definitely a book that I am going to re-read in the future.
Just finished rereading the 19 Reacher books, halfway through the 20th, Make me. Lee Child.
I'm mellowing out to The South Country by Edward Thomas..
I love the Jack Reacher series (shame about the film), however i believe he has brought out two in the last 18 months while i've been away, so looking forward to coming back next month to get these.
Have you tried Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series? similar amount of books, 15 i think, Lee Child actually recommends them, i personally prefer them.
And books that I'm currently reading...
I'm back to working my way through the Lee Child 'Jack Reacher' series. Finished 'The Hard Way' last night. It's a bit formulaic but good fun and a very easy read. And after I finished my Man Booker longlist challenge I finally got round to reading Haruki Murakami's 'Kafka on the Shore'. After so many mediocre books this was an absolute joy, I just wish I'd gotten round to reading it earlier, much earlier. His style is so warm and engaging and the quirky but quite brilliant plot moves at a canter. This is definitely a book that I am going to re-read in the future.
I've tried most of Lee Childs recommendations usually disappointed, they don't have the elusive Reacher thing. Unfortunately they are making /have made another film. Best to look upon them as a Tom Cruise vehicle with a slight reference to a Reacher story.
I'll probably watch it anyway, i expected to be disappointed last time, im sure this one wont fail to disappoint either, Tom Cruise just isnt Jack Reacher
If you haven't tried Vince Flynn, Give it a go, the first in the series is called American Assassin, I expected to be meh about it after Jack Reacher, but was very pleasantly surprised, it is another bad boy American hero type, but thats pretty much where the similarity ends. Oh and Tom Cruise probably could get awat with playing Mitch Rapp
I'm pleased that there's been a renewed interest in Thomas over the past few years - he's an inspiring writer. I used to cycle past the house where he was born on my daily commute to and from work: it was a contrast between his drab, urban upbringing and the countryside about which he wrote so vividly. I always think of him a literary equivalent of Eric Ravilious - there's the same love of nature, the same appreciation of this island's history and the beauty of the countryside. Only read extracts of The South Country but it's a work I mean to read
I don't mind Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that I've never seen a Tom Cruise action film that I didn't like. He's good value for money and height difference aside, he's not a bad Jack Reacher.
Finished H Is For Hawk by Helen MacDonald - very good, interesting read, even though I have no interest in birds of prey - it's all about the emotional attachment/impact of training the bird and dealing with grief. Now on Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household - a classic spy hunting novel. Gripping stuff, for fans of The 39 Steps.