Books and things with words in them!

Wolvieware wrote:

cal_el wrote:

Wolvieware wrote:Let us know what you think of it - I'd be interested in reading that too.

I don't have a good track record with finishing the books I read  but I'll let you know what I think as I go!

Is that because they don't have pictures...

I need to brush up on my reading skills!

dste01 wrote:Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben.

It's the first in his Myron Bolitar series and is doing the job so far. I've read one of them already so know what to expect and have read most of Coben's other books so know the formula of missing person/returns/plot twist etc.

Well since I posted this I've read five of the first six books (had already read book two) and as to be expected they were pretty bad. I'm missing books 7,9,10 so going to get them from the Library and finish off the series.

Just finished Assassins Creed: Unity by Oliver Bowden. I was intrigued by this as it's the story told by Elise's point of view and thought it would make a nice accompaniment to the game which is told by Arno's point of view. But actually the book was so much more than that - it really created a whole backstory and new adventures and characters. In fact the events of the game don't really start until page 250, and even then gloss over them quickly to the extent that if you haven't played the game it might be a bit confusing with large gaps of unexplained story. This does bring my criticism that the book feels very rushed, is simply written and contained many errors and grammar issues. But as an expansion to the AC world it was very good.

Finally finished the last 50 pages of The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin (I'd read most of it last autumn but got sidetracked by newer books).  It's about football scouts and the clash between old school ex-pro flat cap scouts and newer, data-driven Moneyball style scouts.  Very good, very well-written and highly recommended (if you like football).

I travelled with my fiancee to an interview she was having for a placment, it was in southwell and when I was there I ended up going in to charity shops to hunt for retro games to pass the time, got a few games and then brought a second hand copy of To Kill a Mocking Bird. I am a couple of chapters in to it, I read it as a kid and wanted to read it again.

The Red House by Mark Haddon who wrote The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

Thought it was pants, didn't like the structure at all and never really got going.

Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho.

I kind of liked this despite it not being that great a written book. Short and interesting but could have been better.

Just finished reading Joss Whedon: Geek King of the Universe by Amy Pascale. I couldn't put this book down and was fascinated throughout. I had never realised how much of a fan of his I was as I have seen the majority of his work. The book may not hold much surprises or new information, but it recounts important moments in Joss's life and is full of interviews with the man himself and colleagues. It does well in conveying why he has been successful and what keeps his workers such a close knit family. It's mostly up to date too as it came out last year but there was a focus on Buffy and some other projects had less time spent on them which would be my only criticism.

Just finished Personal by Lee Child, the latest Jack Reacher. A few have mentioned the decline in the series earlier in this thread and I would have to agree as this is the worst I've read out of the five or so I've read. It was the typical Jack Reacher book but the story is a bit dull and nonexistent. It also doesn't make the most of the London setting. It all felt very low key and pointless. I'd still pick up others in the series though.

I am literally watching the Jack Reacher film now. It's a bit boring.

Half the World by Joe Abercrombie

After a small decline in quality with the last book, this is Abercrombie back on form.  The main characters are both incredibly likeable yet interesting and flawed.  The use of main characters from the first book as secondary characters in this book was great and the plot whisked along at a fair old pace. 

Really feeling the fantasy at the moment so i am going to read King of Thorns next.

Got the last few Harlan Coben books from the Library so working through them.

Started one yesterday and on the last couple of chapters already.

Finished the Myron Bolitar series and whilst some were pretty bad and one absolutely atrocious it was still a little sad to finish off the last book.

Ive been reading a book on murders and other horrible things that happened in and around Nottingham recently...mainly because that's where I live and because well I like writing horror so soaking in a bit of the real life stuff that's happened near me might give me some ideas.

Just finished The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski. Proudly boasting it as the novel that inspired The Witcher, it perhaps wasn't a great idea to read this and play the game at the same time as I found that I started getting my stories mixed up. But that's a big plus for the game though, as they have done a brilliant job of recreating that works from page to pad. 

But the book isn't really a novel. It's more a selection of shorter stories that only vaguely link. It's interesting, and plays with classic fairy tales. My favourite was an alternate beauty and the beast. But j missed having a deeper storyline and although the world is rich, the game is superior.

I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.

Nearly 900 pages long but honestly didn't feel like it. Started of a bit meh but then really clicked and I couldn't put it down.

Finished Bryant and May and the Bleeding Heart by Christopher Fowler.  Good stuff again, but not the best entry in the series (elderly police detectives in an unconventional police unit (the Peculiar Crimes Unit)).

Just finished To Kill a Mocking Bird.. I had read it as a youngster but wanted to give it another go.. It is a good book but its a slow starter... gets good about mid way in.

Finished Going Off Alarming, vol 2 of Danny Baker's autobiography. Covers the period when he became ubiquitous on TV (and consequently disliked). I think I preferred vol 1 but decent nonetheless

Ten Weeks in Afric by J M Shaw - Quite a decent read. A little odd in the way the storylines go but still worth a read.

The Doomsday Equation by Matt Richtel - Terrible. I think the main character is supposed to be an autistic computer genius but over the course of the book the writer just makes him an annoying asshat. Also it's a bit daft.

Captured by Neil Cross - Short at only around 245 pages but quite a decent read. Events escalate and spiral out of control and leaves you wanting to read it.

Kingdom: Call of the Wild graphic novel by Dan Abnett and Richard Elson - Originally published in 2000 AD. and is a decent read.

So I've finished Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel, and in a decision that might disappoint some on here, I really didn't like it. Which actually really disappoints me as well, as the concept of the book is one that I think is great, but its taken in a direction that I didn't expect and didn't enjoy. Not to say its a bad book. It's well written, meticulously plotted, and does have a great ending (I read the last 200 pages in about three days as I wanted to know what happened). The writing style is unique as well, mimicing the Victorian style of the time, but after 1000 pages does get a bit tedious. I liked the copious noted as well. But there was something about the book, about its dark story, that I found rather disturbing, and I never really found myself enjoying it. I persevered with the book, but I never got into it, and found some of its tone and vivid imagery quite malevolent and creepy.

Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka.

I liked this, thought it was a good read. A bit of suspension in disbelief near the end in my opinion but apart from that it was worth reading.

Finished Batman Arkham Knight: The Riddler's Gambit by Alex Levine. It's a prologue story to the game, but it might as well have nothing to do with it. But its not that bad, actually. It tells a good story of The Riddler setting a big chess game style series of puzzles for Batman and Robin to pass. It was fast moving, a quick fun read. It does a good job of including all the elements of the game that we love, like explosive gel, and glowing green Riddler icons. Recommended if you love the games, but not as essential to the overall storyline as I perhaps was hoping.

Remember Me This Way by Sabine Durrant.

Won this in a Tombola about a year ago and nearly gave it straight to charity without reading it but never got round to it. Glad I didn't though as I thought it was a damn good book.

It's about a woman who loses her husband in a car crash and a year later starts looking into who he was. Not going to say more than that as I would recommend it.

Just finished My Autobiography by Guy Martin. I really like the guy, and think he is quirky, a maverick and entertaining. His TV shows are educational and fun and all have a unique angle. His motorbike racing is top class, and he is fascinating to watch. It's a shame he still hasn't won a TT. His attitude to the rules and modern day PR are refreshing. So it was a bit of a shame the book is a bit boring. It drags, with long sections on the tech of bikes and trucks, with details on the modifications he made. It floats his boat, but its boring to read. There were enough anecdotes to keep me reading though, particularly with his many altercations with the law, other racers and his TV shows being the standouts.