Tuesday, April 20, 2004
I had a bit of an old book/children's book binge over Easter and am unlikely to ever catch up the backlog of books to blog. So in no particular order, they included:
Holes by Louis Sachar
I had to lean past a mini girl of about 10 to get this book. That made me feel old, and slightly freaky! Quickly rushed out of the children's section once I got my mitts on this and devoured it quickly. It's a very lovely tale that mixes past, present, myth and reality and provides some rather poignant points about American society. And it's funny, too. But while it's a balanced book I would recommend to any kid of the right age (no idea what but could probably indicate the rough height of such a child) I probably wouldn't pass it on to anyone else.
Bridget Jones 2: The edge of reason by Helen Fielding
This occupied a Saturday morning that needed filling. A reread and a happy return to romance that I'm not finding in my life. Nor searching for, either. According to Helen Fielding, I've got another 10 years or so before I have to worry. So I'll wait until then. [Looking forward to the film though!]
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowtiz
JUST DISCOVERED THAT ANTHONY HOROWITZ IS YORK UNIVERSITY ALUMNI! WOW! FINALLY AN ALUMNI I'VE HEARD OF AND RESPECT!!!
After re-discovering Anthony Horowitz's literary genius (ok, humour, but it's almost the same thing) I saw an advert on a London bus about the latest in his spy triller Alex Rider series. Never heard of them, but went straight to the library to reserve as many as I could. Nearly bought three in my impatience - and I only had to wait a week! (Although of course, I didn't know that while I was waiting.) However although I liked them, how could I not, I found myself a little bored. I don't like James Bond and this is a version of that. Outlandish, often international spy stories when the hero can never die don't seem to grab my attention although it's a very well written book. Just outside of my genre. Private-eye novels are my new trash.
This was the first of the series, where Alex Rider, the fourteen year old orphan discovers his unusual inheritance. Horowitz cleverly exploits the dichotomy between the common fantasy of teenagers of a new, exciting life behind the mundane, compulsory rote of school (I certainly remember wishing it would happen to me) and the reality of the tension between those under 18 and 'adults'. These themes are continued in Point Blanc, the second in the series and probably the others too - I don't know yet as they've not arrived through the library services.
LA Requiem by Robert Crais
For a long while, Robert Crais was probably my favourite 'easy' author. Not literature but well written PI novels that are like a fantastic treat, a good read that last a whole day and provide distraction from life. I don't know when I kind of lost interest - although I remember waiting for this particular book so enthusiastically that the disappointment was tangible. Perhaps it was the last novel he wrote - when the women started becoming charactures. I don't know. Either way I was on a role of rereading old books and had to include this one which in it's oversized state (I couldn't wait for the smaller paperback to arrive since I wanted to take it with me to Vietnam) has been catching my eye for a while now.
I still like his books. I think I always will. Even if I'm a bit suspicious they are still some of the best PI novels I've ever read that benefit for the fact that the protagnist is neither a alcoholic, or policeman and can both cook and has a sense of humour. Completely misremembered the end of the book which was a nice surprise.
Three of Diamonds by Anthony Horowitz
Private eye novels written by thirteen year old sarky narrators are brilliant. There's no doubt about that although the true comic genius does have to be the Tim and his award winning needlework. Fabulous. Yet, even when I want to like something I generally have to accept the truth of the situation which is difficult in short stories as the absurdness generally becomes too apparent to avoid. So this nice new book wasn't the joy I was hoping for, not that I'm going to knock the laughs it gave me.
I'm going to continue catching up later..... I think I've forgotten the other books anyway. Thankfully!
Holes by Louis Sachar
I had to lean past a mini girl of about 10 to get this book. That made me feel old, and slightly freaky! Quickly rushed out of the children's section once I got my mitts on this and devoured it quickly. It's a very lovely tale that mixes past, present, myth and reality and provides some rather poignant points about American society. And it's funny, too. But while it's a balanced book I would recommend to any kid of the right age (no idea what but could probably indicate the rough height of such a child) I probably wouldn't pass it on to anyone else.
Bridget Jones 2: The edge of reason by Helen Fielding
This occupied a Saturday morning that needed filling. A reread and a happy return to romance that I'm not finding in my life. Nor searching for, either. According to Helen Fielding, I've got another 10 years or so before I have to worry. So I'll wait until then. [Looking forward to the film though!]
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowtiz
JUST DISCOVERED THAT ANTHONY HOROWITZ IS YORK UNIVERSITY ALUMNI! WOW! FINALLY AN ALUMNI I'VE HEARD OF AND RESPECT!!!
After re-discovering Anthony Horowitz's literary genius (ok, humour, but it's almost the same thing) I saw an advert on a London bus about the latest in his spy triller Alex Rider series. Never heard of them, but went straight to the library to reserve as many as I could. Nearly bought three in my impatience - and I only had to wait a week! (Although of course, I didn't know that while I was waiting.) However although I liked them, how could I not, I found myself a little bored. I don't like James Bond and this is a version of that. Outlandish, often international spy stories when the hero can never die don't seem to grab my attention although it's a very well written book. Just outside of my genre. Private-eye novels are my new trash.
This was the first of the series, where Alex Rider, the fourteen year old orphan discovers his unusual inheritance. Horowitz cleverly exploits the dichotomy between the common fantasy of teenagers of a new, exciting life behind the mundane, compulsory rote of school (I certainly remember wishing it would happen to me) and the reality of the tension between those under 18 and 'adults'. These themes are continued in Point Blanc, the second in the series and probably the others too - I don't know yet as they've not arrived through the library services.
LA Requiem by Robert Crais
For a long while, Robert Crais was probably my favourite 'easy' author. Not literature but well written PI novels that are like a fantastic treat, a good read that last a whole day and provide distraction from life. I don't know when I kind of lost interest - although I remember waiting for this particular book so enthusiastically that the disappointment was tangible. Perhaps it was the last novel he wrote - when the women started becoming charactures. I don't know. Either way I was on a role of rereading old books and had to include this one which in it's oversized state (I couldn't wait for the smaller paperback to arrive since I wanted to take it with me to Vietnam) has been catching my eye for a while now.
I still like his books. I think I always will. Even if I'm a bit suspicious they are still some of the best PI novels I've ever read that benefit for the fact that the protagnist is neither a alcoholic, or policeman and can both cook and has a sense of humour. Completely misremembered the end of the book which was a nice surprise.
Three of Diamonds by Anthony Horowitz
Private eye novels written by thirteen year old sarky narrators are brilliant. There's no doubt about that although the true comic genius does have to be the Tim and his award winning needlework. Fabulous. Yet, even when I want to like something I generally have to accept the truth of the situation which is difficult in short stories as the absurdness generally becomes too apparent to avoid. So this nice new book wasn't the joy I was hoping for, not that I'm going to knock the laughs it gave me.
I'm going to continue catching up later..... I think I've forgotten the other books anyway. Thankfully!
Friday, April 09, 2004
Public Enemy Number Two by Anthony Horowitz
One of Horowitz's Diamond brother series, this is the follow-up to South by South-east is every bit as funny as the first one, and as funny as when I read it ten years ago. Good humour doesn't age badly.
One of Horowitz's Diamond brother series, this is the follow-up to South by South-east is every bit as funny as the first one, and as funny as when I read it ten years ago. Good humour doesn't age badly.
A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle
While I may curse my appalling memory, I actually felt blessed by it when I picked up this book. I had forgotten how much I loved reading it the first time and just picked it off the shelf for want of starting something new. However the experience of reading it was as fabulous the second time (probably the third as I have a recollection of beginning it again the moment that I finished it the first time through). I adore Roddy Doyle's poetic prose and the blunt, truthful descriptions. There was a moment while reading the first description of Henry Smart in adulthood, the amazingly piercing eyes and broad shoulders when I decided that that was who Ronan O'Gara, the Irish flyhalf, reminded me of. His literary doppelganger.
This book also made me appreciate what it means to own a book. Although I'm an avid fan of libraries there is something fantastic about being able to pick up something this amazing whenever you feel like.
While I may curse my appalling memory, I actually felt blessed by it when I picked up this book. I had forgotten how much I loved reading it the first time and just picked it off the shelf for want of starting something new. However the experience of reading it was as fabulous the second time (probably the third as I have a recollection of beginning it again the moment that I finished it the first time through). I adore Roddy Doyle's poetic prose and the blunt, truthful descriptions. There was a moment while reading the first description of Henry Smart in adulthood, the amazingly piercing eyes and broad shoulders when I decided that that was who Ronan O'Gara, the Irish flyhalf, reminded me of. His literary doppelganger.
This book also made me appreciate what it means to own a book. Although I'm an avid fan of libraries there is something fantastic about being able to pick up something this amazing whenever you feel like.
The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night-time by Mark Haddon
I read and finished this before I began the Donna Tartt novel and somehow managed to entirely forget about blogging it. This is not because the book is forgettable. Far from it, it's an amazingly sensitive account of the world from an Asperger's sufferers point of view, which made me feel like I could understand what it was like and not just sympathise but empathise. It's funny without being cruel and smart without being patronising. The lives of those around him, who also suffer for his syndrome, were well drawn as well.
I read and finished this before I began the Donna Tartt novel and somehow managed to entirely forget about blogging it. This is not because the book is forgettable. Far from it, it's an amazingly sensitive account of the world from an Asperger's sufferers point of view, which made me feel like I could understand what it was like and not just sympathise but empathise. It's funny without being cruel and smart without being patronising. The lives of those around him, who also suffer for his syndrome, were well drawn as well.
