#1550

Yep and the day it was announced as a global pandemic I was reading a different book, and I’d gotten to the part where there’s an emergency evacuation of the entire town :+1:

#1551

Just finished The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams, which has been mentioned a bit in the fantasy thread. Really good - nice to read some fantasy with a bit of Studio Ghibli kind of influence.

Now on Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout (follow up to Olive Kitteridge). Been slowly working through Elizabeth Strout’s books the last couple of years. Anne Tyler kinda vibe, possibly a bit better. One of those writers who nail mundane every day life.

#1552

Embarassed to say I’m still only halfway through Jerusalem. I liked the first book but this second one all set in Peter pan ghostly world is a bit of a slog.

#1553

I found that the easiest to get through. Reading the third, several months after, was when my determination and concentration wavered.

#1554

I’ve just finished Girl, Woman, Other and I didn’t quite click with it, which was disappointing as a friend with similar tastes really loved it.
I wasn’t too keen with the writing style, and I found a review online which just described it as a series of Guardian articles, which seemed like an accurate description to me. Plus each time I got to a new chapter about a new character I would then have to hear all their back stories, which felt like a bit of a slog to go through. There were good bits in it, especially at the very end, although even that was rushed and not much of a surprise.

Ahh I don’t know. The Testaments is definitely my favourite of the two Booker winners last year anyhow.

#1555

i’ve only got as far as the prologue but i’m already struggling lol

#1556

My Goodreads ‘currently reading’ list is entirely normal, yeah

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7 Likes
#1557

I read that based on this, and the general blurb I could find. Really enjoyed it.

I ordered their latter, The Deep as well so will give that a read soon. Apparently it’s based on a clipping song.

1 Like
#1558

Glad you enjoyed it, I reckon it is my favourite boom I’ve read this year (and I’ve read at least three Ursula K Le Guin’s, so that’s saying something for me).

I need to get o the other Rivers Solomon one too :+1:

#1559

Another post to say that Boy Parts is brilliant. Absolutely consuming and addictive.

Last 50 or so pages are surreal and nightmarish and so cleverly written. Loved it.

5 Likes
#1560

I’m just over half way through Cloud Atlas.

The second half had better pay off big for having to sit through the middle chapter.

#1561

Recently:

A trio of novellas by Ivan Turgenev, including Asya which I’d never read. He’s my favourite Russian writer. Very romantic and sincere with a touch of humour, is able to describe yearning better than anyone else.

Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor

Got intrigued by it after hearing it was a big influence on PJ Harvey. It’s well written and has some touches of dark surrealism but ultimately I found it hard to really connect to. A little reminiscent of the weird Americana of Confederacy of Dunces, Shirley Jackson and Carson Mccullers.

Now reading Chernobyl Prayer by Svetlana Alexievich

It’s really good so far. Personal accounts of the incident and aftermath from the locals who lived there. Lots of fascinating details and moments of humanity.

1 Like
#1562

just finished Hy Brasil by Margaret Elphinstone. One of those strange, dreamy novels where not much actually happens but the book is so beguiling it doesn’t matter. The setting was one of the richest fictional places I’ve ever encountered in a book - so perfectly imagined and detailed it really did feel real. The Behaviour of Moths by Poppy Adams is up next.

#1563

She says “thanks that’s really nice” and is sending good vibes

1 Like
#1564

Yeah I think the ones of his I rate most - The Shining and Dolores Claiborne - are both examples where he manages to provide a satisfying conclusion as well as having written a story I really enjoyed.

Ironically The Dark Tower was better when it was just four volumes of a never-to-be-finished tale.

I assume the lack of good endings is down to his writing style mentioned in On Writing, where he frequently starts from a good idea, builds his characters, and then has them do what he feels they would do, which doesn’t always lead to a great and interesting conclusion.

#1565

I was thinking it was probably Stephen King but then I remembered there was that uni summer holiday where I made the effort to read every Dick Francis book so the answer is Dick Francis - something like 30 books (I’ve not read a few the final ones before his death).

They’re actually decent I think?

After him it’s likely a toss up between David Eddings or King. I mean it shouldn’t be Eddings because his books aren’t very good but two 5-book series, two 3-book series and one standalone puts him at 17. JFC.

#1566

I am also absolutely storming through Boy Parts. Have read 150 pages in a day. Brilliant stuff.

2 Likes
#1567

i wouldn’t say he’s exactly famed for his realistic characterisations lol.

i’m a little ways into needful things, quite enjoying it in the small town something wrong bubbling underneath the surface thing that suckers me into all his books, even though the opening premise of this one is literally exactly the same as salem’s lot. will try and finish this one though.

#1568

Oh yeah, some characters are great and some aren’t, but I mean he constructs a story around characters unlike schlocky writers who have story foremost do they are building to a specific ending with a lot of setups.

#1569

Studied Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons at uni and, because of the dry, analytical evaluation of it, I was completely turned off him.

Feel that I’ve moved on from that now. What would you recommend for someone who would like to give him another try?