what are you reading (thread 4)

[jockosjungle]

I'm reading Dracula, trying to read a few classics on the Kindle for free

[Rob]

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. A non-fiction account that weaves the stories of the building of the world's fair in Chicago in 1893 and that of HH Holmes, a notorious serial killer. I found it thoroughly engrossing and I can't wait to see what Scorsese and Di Caprio do with the film.

[dunkle]

Just started the "first" Mitch Rapp, American Assassin, I recall reading what I think was the real first book, the White House takeover one, when it first came out.

[mnementh]

Just finished Night School - the latest Reacher book. Better then the last few books but still not great. Reacher seemed to be just along for the ride in this one rather than the driving force

[SimonI]

Moved on to the next Russell Hoban novel, Linger Awhile.

It has the same format and some locations of the previous, but is a totally different story, being a very funny cross between an OAP Weird Science and the Frankenstein story. Rude and very entertaining, with a sombre seam in the middle.

[dbilsborough]

Originally Posted by mnementh

Just finished Night School - the latest Reacher book. Better then the last few books but still not great. Reacher seemed to be just along for the ride in this one rather than the driving force

pretty much what I thought, plus I didn't really like the style of this one with the time in one place, meaning different time in another place....location of one person and 100 yards away was another.

[SimonI]

Reading Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast, a Radio 4 Book of the Week by Charlie Connelly. Light and entertaining - the author is obviously a fan of Douglas Adams' style of humour.

[dunkle]

Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz

It's what Jack Reacher would be if Matthew Reilly wrote him and Bruckhiemer produced.

I was put off initially as thought was a teenage style book and also found the first couple chapters a little silly but then settled in for the ride

Yes it's been done before. Yes it is Jack Reacher mixed with Jason Bourne. Yes it's a bit silly and fanciful but it's bloody good fun.

Once I got those first few chapters out of the way I've been hooked and just at fifty percent in little over a day and half.

If stays like this it's defiantly a series I will stay with

[KeyserSoze]

Just finished Moomin Midwinter.

Going to continue with Moby Dick. It's a long slog, hope it pays off.

[allan175]

Just finished Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Really enjoyed it.

[SimonI]

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

... Going to continue with Moby Dick. It's a long slog, hope it pays off.

It should do - I read it a couple of years ago and was amazed by it.

Just finished William Boyd's An Ice-cream War - a tremendous piece of storytelling.

Started Conrad's Chance: A Tale in Two Parts - I have loved everthing I've read by him and this is shaping up early on to being just as good.

[gjkendall]

I'm half way through D.Melhoffs Grim Woods..I had heard good things about the authors debut novel, I've not read it myself, but chose the follow up as the blurb appealed to me more.

The opening chapters sprint along at a steady pace. It's an odd set up, because the author didn't initially reference things to give this a time setting, you'd easily think it was in the 80's. So it's quite jarring when he talks about modern musicians and smartphones. This book reads exactly like those old slasher movies of the 80's. You have teenagers having sex all over the place, people being killed in ott gory ways, and teenagers having sex all over the place. It's bound to be a plot point later on, but people are making very odd choices throughout the book and seem to have earth shattering moments of convenient plotting...again like an old 80's slasher movie. I'm currently stuck in a very sticky middle section, characters are acting too oddly and unnatural. Again, I am unsure if this is a plot point or if the book is indeed an homage so i'm trying to stick with it. I have everything crossed it picks up soon.

EDIT: it didn't really...finished it, but it was a chore.

[gjkendall]

Just finished 'Behind Her Eyes' by Sarah Pinborough...the publicity for this is focusing primarily on the books ending, which is, as they rightly say, a proper WTF moment. I'd be pretty impressed if anyone worked it out. It's a well written book, that you can't really discuss for fear of spoilers.

[sleep4ever]

Originally Posted by gjkendall

Just finished 'Behind Her Eyes' by Sarah Pinborough...the publicity for this is focusing primarily on the books ending, which is, as they rightly say, a proper WTF moment. I'd be pretty impressed if anyone worked it out. It's a well written book, that you can't really discuss for fear of spoilers.

I bought this based on your review, and initially thought the twist was the daftest thing I'd read in a long while (I'd guessed it quite a way in advance). However the ending completely reedemed it. Very clever.

[gjkendall]

Originally Posted by sleep4ever

I bought this based on your review, and initially thought the twist was the daftest thing I'd read in a long while (I'd guessed it quite a way in advance). However the ending completely reedemed it. Very clever.

I got the first part but missed the final reveal. I can see how people could think it daft, it is a bit of a genre cheat I guess (Maybe I've said too much)

[dbilsborough]

The DCI Ryan Mysteries

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Island...hedvdforums-21

Reading this series at the moment, am on book 3 currently. Fairly easy to read crime fiction, based around Holy Island in the UK.

Reduced to Ł1.99 each at the moment too

[gjkendall]

Just finished Hekla's Children by James Brogden. An interesting story of 4 missing children, a bog man, spirit worlds and cannibalistic demons! Recommended!

[TonyG]

Originally Posted by gjkendall

Just finished 'Behind Her Eyes' by Sarah Pinborough...the publicity for this is focusing primarily on the books ending, which is, as they rightly say, a proper WTF moment. I'd be pretty impressed if anyone worked it out. It's a well written book, that you can't really discuss for fear of spoilers.

I fell for the hype & gave this a go.

It's a well-written "love triangle" tale that midway through, introduces an element from another genre that you just know will be part of the WTF ending.

Saying anymore will ruin things but I had guessed what the first twist would be but it was still effective. I was also sure I had worked out the final twist but was completely wrong & it was a proper kick-to-the-nuts ending that left me very satisfied & ultimately it did live up to the hype.

However, I can fully understand it will be a Marmite book as that other Genre element creeping in will annoy many. My mum is reading it soon & I just know she will not be impressed...

[gjkendall]

Originally Posted by TonyG

I fell for the hype & gave this a go.

It's a well-written "love triangle" tale that midway through, introduces an element from another genre that you just know will be part of the WTF ending.

Saying anymore will ruin things but I had guessed what the first twist would be but it was still effective. I was also sure I had worked out the final twist but was completely wrong & it was a proper kick-to-the-nuts ending that left me very satisfied & ultimately it did live up to the hype.

However, I can fully understand it will be a Marmite book as that other Genre element creeping in will annoy many. My mum is reading it soon & I just know she will not be impressed...

lol, I'd be interested in your Mums response. The genre shift could be classed as a cheat, but for me it worked really well in a Tales OF The Unexpected kind of way. Again, difficult to say much without spoiling anything.

[gjkendall]

I'm now reading Final Girls by Riley Sager. It's not published till July, but tells the story of the sole survivors of three separate killing sprees. Think Friday the 13ths Ginny Field, Halloweens Laurie Strode & Sidney Prescott from Scream meeting up...there's going to be issues.