50 books - I WILL succeed
Lets try this again. I used to manage nearly 100 books in a year. Now I'm lucky if it hits 25. Damned internet.
1 = Far side of the World - Patrick O'Brien
So, I've been reading these for a while. Obviously. And I like them. I like Jack, I like Stephen and Jack and I love Stephen. But, earlier it was all a bit "blah blah ship fight blah blah skip to the interaction". Not anymore. I don't know if I am just getting used to the language and the humour or if the writing has actually altered cause I laughed out loud at several bits (Stephen falls out of the window).
I'd been expecting that having seen the movie (yes yes, film came first) that I knew what was going to happen here - but no, not at all. Which was great, lots of surprise (ahem). Oddly, despite the crew problems, murders, addiction and near death this felt like a light read. And it zoomed along for a M&C book.
I had always anticipated that I would reread the series once I finished (and given it has taken me 4 years to get this far this seemed like it would not be for a while). Now I am sure I will reread. Over and over again I suspect.
2 = Amber - Stephen Collishaw
For a fairy somber subject (Afghanistan veterans in Lithuania, haunted by the war, the main character finding revelations about events he had tried desperately to suppress following the death of his mentor) this zipped along. The mystery element resolves itself too rapidly and feels almost pasted on so the novel has a "point" and a way of tying together the, excellent, descriptions of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and aftermath and the tales about Amber.
It is worth a read and was an interesting contrast to the next read.
3 = A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
Again Hosseini succeeds in creating a character I found very difficult to like. Subsequently I was not invested in Miriam's story and ultimate sacrifice. However the supporting cast was vividly brought to life with the story of Laila's mother being especially poignant.
Overall The book lacked the imagery and originality of Kite Runner but did manage to draw me in - I finished it in an evening.
1 = Far side of the World - Patrick O'Brien
So, I've been reading these for a while. Obviously. And I like them. I like Jack, I like Stephen and Jack and I love Stephen. But, earlier it was all a bit "blah blah ship fight blah blah skip to the interaction". Not anymore. I don't know if I am just getting used to the language and the humour or if the writing has actually altered cause I laughed out loud at several bits (Stephen falls out of the window).
I'd been expecting that having seen the movie (yes yes, film came first) that I knew what was going to happen here - but no, not at all. Which was great, lots of surprise (ahem). Oddly, despite the crew problems, murders, addiction and near death this felt like a light read. And it zoomed along for a M&C book.
I had always anticipated that I would reread the series once I finished (and given it has taken me 4 years to get this far this seemed like it would not be for a while). Now I am sure I will reread. Over and over again I suspect.
2 = Amber - Stephen Collishaw
For a fairy somber subject (Afghanistan veterans in Lithuania, haunted by the war, the main character finding revelations about events he had tried desperately to suppress following the death of his mentor) this zipped along. The mystery element resolves itself too rapidly and feels almost pasted on so the novel has a "point" and a way of tying together the, excellent, descriptions of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and aftermath and the tales about Amber.
It is worth a read and was an interesting contrast to the next read.
3 = A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
Again Hosseini succeeds in creating a character I found very difficult to like. Subsequently I was not invested in Miriam's story and ultimate sacrifice. However the supporting cast was vividly brought to life with the story of Laila's mother being especially poignant.
Overall The book lacked the imagery and originality of Kite Runner but did manage to draw me in - I finished it in an evening.