Books!

[caffyolay]

A couple of book reviews for a quiet Sunday:

http://read-warbler.livejournal.com/84430.html

So... tell me what you're reading at the moment. If you feel like it. :-) Fanfic? A mainstream book? Is it any good?

Comments

[nakeisha]

I've literally just finished a set of books (not a series, just books by the same author - you know me *g*) of Sophie Kinsella writing as Madeline Wickham (are you confused yet? *g*) books.

Tonight I am going to start the series by Carolo Dunn which is set in Cornwell. J is already on book three (the last one, I think) and really enjoying them.

[caffyolay]

No not confused as I knew she'd written some books as Madeline Brent... but never read any of them. Any good?

Ah yes, W recced those Cornish CD books to me. I shall get around to those too. :-)

[nakeisha]

Oh, good. They are quite different from her Sophie Kinsella books. Darker in away insofar as they touch less 'fluffy' (for want of a better word) topics. I don't enjoy them as much as her writing as SK.

So many books - so little time. Interestingly I'm not enjoying the first book that much. Put it this way had it not been for J saying how good they are I'd have given up by now. Although the characters are (as in Daisy) really well rounded and written characters I'm finding the main character more than a bit irritating. But I'll keep going for a bit longer and see if I can overcome it as the story & setting & characters generally are jolly good.

[caffyolay]

Oh that's interesting about the MB books as opposed to her SK ones. I shall bear that in mind.

*Brain storm* moment. When you said you weren't enjoying the Cornish CD book that much I remembered that I got it out of the library and started to read it too. (Or maybe W saved it and passed it on...) Anyway, I got about 50 pages in and gave up as I too didn't like the main character. GMTA. Perhaps I *won't* be getting back to them. *g*

[kiwiria]

I've been in the mood for some comfort reading, so I'm currently rereading some of my favourite Tamora Pierce books :-)

[caffyolay]

TP is an author I plan to read at some stage, I even own one of the books, Alanna, The First Adventure. If I'm quick I might even be able to read it before the end of the Once Upon A Time fantasy challenge in 3 weeks!

I too am comfort reading from my childhood - Enid Blyton. :-)

[kiwiria]

You've never read TP? Oooh, you're in for a treat! Alanna is my favourite :)

Enid Blyton is great for comfort reading as well. I still reread the entire Famous Five series on a semi-regular basis.

[caffyolay]

Nope, never read any TP and I need to put that right as I believe there are loads of goods books by her.

My grand-daughter has the entire collection of Famous Five books (I love the fact that modern children still read her) and I might grab a few off her and take a trip down memory lane in the summer. :-)

[guinnevere_b]

I've been resisting the urge to re-read one of my old favorites, by Terry Pratchett or anybody, while trying to get into a science fiction novel: Stargate Reconnaissance, by Bill McCay. It's based (from what I can make of it) on the TV series by that name, and it's not easy for me to suspend disbelief here. Not that the writing is inept or anything, but I never got into the TV series either. It's a book from my late sister's collection, and she loved TV nearly as much as she loved books. Some of her choices are way outside my tastes, but she actually introduced me to most of my favorites, and I owe her a debt of gratitude for that.

Oh, yes: and it has weird, made-up names in it. =)

[caffyolay]

I tried and tried to get into a couple of different series of Stargate on the TV. I enjoyed the original film but the none of the TV series appealed, even though my daughter almost insisted I should watch. Oh well, impossible for us all to like the same thing.

Ah yes... the weird, made up names. *g* 'nuff said.

[gaycrow]

I've been having a break from my normal gay fiction reading. I've just finished an interesting library book about growing up in Adelaide in the 1950's. I could relate to many of the stories - there's even a picture of a class of students from my primary school, which I think includes my sister (she couldn't remember or recognise herself and is going to check Mum's old photo album).

I'm currently browsing two other library books, one about the Duchess of Windsor, and the other about the history of the Barossa Valley, which is one of my favourite places to visit.

History seems to be my thing at the moment.

[caffyolay]

It's great to find books that are set where you were brought up, I hope you sister can find herself. LOL!

We've been watching Coast Australia on the BBC. It's been going for years, mainly foccussing on the UK and Europe but this series they've done Australia. First week the coast around the Kimberley range and it was utterly stunning. I won't let my husband delete it off the Humax machine. *g* Second week, Sydney, and again interesting and stunning aerial shots. I assume you might get this at some stage.

I always say that all my reading is connected in some way or other with either history or geography. Even the sci-fi. LOL!

[gaycrow]

Oooh, yes, the Coast series is one of my husband's favourites. He watched a few of the UK episodes, and was pleased when the Aussie version came up. Unfortunately I believe they completely left South Australia off. It's like we don't exist sometimes. We have quite a few big concert acts leave us out of tours too, e.g. Queen's upcoming concerts.

History and geography reading combined is extra good. I seem to remember a very good series set in Cornwall, to do with birdwatching ... ;)

[caffyolay]

Well what a shame that they left out South Australia! I don't honestly know how many there are going to be in the series but next week is The Great Barrier Reef. Which is a predictable place for them to visit I suppose, as is Sydney. I'm hoping it's not just the three eps and that they might show us somewhere a bit less well-known... more like The Kimberleys perhaps.

I seem to remember a very good series set in Cornwall, to do with birdwatching ... ;)

I couldn't think what you meant for a moment and then the light came on. *G*