The Rules of Attraction
I started off with high expectations of this book, and at the start I was enjoying the book, but by the end it was a bit of a struggle, thus the three stars.The book was well constructed and well written. The idea of seeing the same scene from different perspectives, and following on one scene to the next from different people’s perspective was good and gave you as a reader a feeling for the intertwined stories. Especially how the same set of actions or happenings are seen and understood differently by different people.
Ultimately though I didn’t really care for any of these people, or their mindless parties, couplings or families. You didn’t get to really know any of the characters, and so you couldn’t care about them, all very 1980’s, empty and pointless. Perhaps that was what the author intended, but I didn’t really get it.
As one of the characters says towards the end of the book “No one will ever know anyone. We just have to deal with each other. You’re not ever gonna know me.”
Making History
Loved this book from the first page, Stephen Fry has a wonderful turn of phrase and the way, which is so easy to read.The story is different take on time travel and results in history being worse after the first bout of time travel than it originally was. However all things end up as they should by the end, or do they?
At times it was very funny, at other times quite serious, but a great read overall.
Jerusalem: A Family Portrait
This looked such an interesting read - Jerusalem in the mid/late 1940's at the time of the end of the British mandate and the first war with neighboring countries, but unfortunately I found it very flat and uninteresting.There was little character development, the story jumped about all over the place, perhaps i missed something, but there seemed to be lots of loose ends when the story finished. It just wasn't a satisfying read.
Perhaps reading it on a kindle wasn't the best idea. I'll certainly try another graphic novel, but next time it will be a physical book.
Waiting for Sunrise
Our “hero” Lysander Rief is an actor, and through out this well written spy story you are never quite sure what is true, what is illusion and when he is being himself. Set just before, and in the early part of World War One, this is a very good yarn, with many twists and turns, ensuring that you continue reading to find out what the truth is. Whether you ever find out the truth is debatable, as right to the end there are twists and more twists.
The evocations of Vienna, Geneva and London are wonderful, and make these cities feel real, especially Vienna.
A good story, well written by a master storyteller.
Wrangler Butts
Great sexy story.Good character definition, a believable and interesting story line and some hot sex scenes.
I'll be looking out for some more of Jon Keys books to read
The Haunted Hotel
Great story, well written and good characters, with the story being told at an enjoyable pace which maintains your interest. It is not until the last couple of chapters that the "truth" is revealed, and then as with all good books of this type you are not quite sure if the "truth" has been told. Great book for reading in front of a fire on a winter's night.Daisy Miller
Good to see that we now live in more enlightened times.Feel sorry for Daisy and how she was treated, she was just enjoying herself, no one would bat an eyelid today.
HHhH
Once I was used to the way in which the narrative was constructed, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Told from both the author’s own and the characters perspectives it really brings to life the true story of the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, chief of the Nazi secret services. Told in mainly very short chapters the pace was quick and maintained throughout the novel, and added to the sense of reality. As they say, the truth is always stranger than fiction and this well written story proves it yet again.
Therese Raquin (Penguin Classics)
Dragged a bit about 2/3 of the way through, but picked up again towards the end.As it was a translated version I'm not sure how close to the original it was.
The Secret Life of France
Great book, with some interesting insights to how the french behave. Particularly interesting as it is told from the perspective of a british lady who was married to a french man, raised two children in France and now loves the country with all of its oddities and endearing characteristics. Bought back many good memories of my trip through France last year.
Blackwater Lightship
It is very difficult to find fault with a book like this. The writing is beautiful, being elegant, restrained, sparse and poetic all at once. In fact Colm Toibin says more in one of his perfectly formed precise sentences, than most other authors can say in whole paragraphs.This is the story of a family that has grown apart over the years, and that is reluctantly brought back together again by a single event. Is not a new premise for a novel, but in Colm’s writing a fresh light is shone on it and the situation is brought to life again, warts and all.
The breakdown in the family relationships is one that most people could relate to, no seismic event occurred, just incidents small and large, which culminated and grew over time, leading to a family being distant, resentful and uncommunicative. The rebuilding of the family relationships, some items being patched up, others being papered over or ignored is moving and realistic and at times painful to read, even if on occasions I wanted to tell them to “get on with it”.
In parallel with the main narrative the evocation of the Irish landscape is terrific, and brings to life the countryside, the sea and the climate, and gives a great background and setting for the story.
A wonderfully written novel, which I am sure I will be revisiting and discovering more of in future reads.
The Book Lovers' Companion: What to Read Next
Some great suggestions of books to read - some that will now go on my to read list.Only minor criticisms of the book are:
1) The majority of the books are recently published - not a lot from prior to 1990
2) There seemed to be a bias towards stories with female lead characters - nothing wrong with this, but a more even balance would have been good