In which we start waiting.
So that’s it. That’s The Well of Lost Plots finished and all I can do now is sit down and wait for the next book to appear. Anyone know when this is likely to happen?
Forfatter: Mirthful
Lost in a Good Book
In which we’re delighted.
Jasper Fforde has to be the best thing that’s happened to book-freaks in recent years. Not only are his novels «ripping good yarns» of the sort that you really can’t put down, but the way he weaves his way through literary history is fascinating to watch and also makes for laugh-out-loud moments too frequently to make this safe reading on the bus (that is, if you care when people stare at you, which I, personally, don’t).
Lost in a Good Book is every bit as good as The Eyre Affair, which means I’m now dreading coming to the end of The Well of Lost Plots – currently the last book in the series. I could always hang around thursdaynext.com for a bit, but waiting for another book is going to be just as bas as it usually is. Well, we’re not quite there yet – a few more hours of enjoyment before we arrive in waiting hell.
The Tawny Man
In which we get to read Robin Hobb’s latest trilogy at last.
Shortly after I finished Cullimore, the last book in Robin Hobb‘s trilogy The Tawny Man – Fool’s Fate – arrived, and I could finally start reading it. I’ve been pre-ordering the books from amazon as they’ve been published, which means I’ve had the first one – Fool’s Errand – since November 2001 and the second – The Golden Fool – since November last year. I learnt my lesson when reading The Liveship Traders trilogy, though – starting on a Robin Hobb trilogy without having all the books available is (emphatically) not a Good Idea.
Normally, I’d have devoured this series in a weekend or so, but I seem to have had little time to read of late (a lot of it being a certain person‘s fault), so it’s taken me about a month to finish all three books.
And how were they? Well, brilliant, of course.
We’re back to Fitz, the hero of the Assassin trilogy – and I was pleased to have some of my suspicions regarding links between the Assassin and Liveship Traders plots confirmed (especially regarding the time-scale and the identity of Amber, my theories having been loudly disputed by another Hobb-fan recently – I like being right…). Further links also become apparent now, and I have to hope Hobb keeps going and lets us know what happens next. Fitz, and the Fool, are off to save the world again – this time with less regard for the Farseer reign, though that cannot be ignored, obviously. Hobb still writes with the same flair for creating characters – even very minor ones – that become real people while you read.
So, when’s the next book coming?
Small-Town Girl – Claudine Cullimore
In which we become clairvoyant.
Claudine Cullimore’s Small-Town Girl is a pleasant read. There is really not much more to be said about it.
Oh, go on then. It’s got the right mix of romance, friendship, character growth and serves-you-right-ness. The language is flawless, and never intrudes upon the flow of the story with odd springs (whether on purpose or mistakenly). The only negative thing about it is the predictability (I guessed all the major twists of plot way in advance of the «reveal»), but what can you expect?
Perhaps I should have left it at «a pleasant read» after all.
Swahili for the Broken-Hearted – Peter Moore
In which we ramble through Africa.
I picked up Peter Moore’s Swahili for the Broken-Hearted in the aforementioned 3 for 2 sale at Waterstone’s in Brighton, and started it shortly after finishing Fforde back in July. So why haven’t I reviewed before now? Well, things have been happening and book reviews haven’t exactly been my top priority.
Anyway. It’s pretty good. Nothing spectacular, but a decent, mildly entertaining read. I won’t ruch out to buy any more of Moore’s books, but if I come across one of them in another three-for-two sale, I might just buy it.
The Eyre Affair
In which we shout Eureka! (A good book at last!)
I had been intrigued by the titles of Jasper Fforde’s books before, so when I was at a loose end for something to read while waiting to see a doctor the other day, I picked up The Eyre Affair. This is just great! Finally another series of ‘sci-fi’ books that I can really get into! And how – just need to go buy the two other ones, now. The only problem with The Eyre Affair was I found myself wishing I lived in that world – especially when Thursday (the main character’s called Thursday Next, and even that makes my day) and Landen go to a performance of Richard III. It’s a bit like The Rocky Horror Show in our world. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with Rocky Horror, but Richard III it ain’t. Suffering from Thursday-envy.
Oh, and best of all: I finally got a happy ending. (Except, of course, it’s not really an ending as the story continues, but still, I’m happy.)
There’s even a website, in case the novels leave you wanting more (which they probably will).
The Memory of All That – Bryan Forbes
In which we find that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
The clothes do make a man. I picked The Memory of All That up in a charity shop in Prestwick because I found the cover attractive. That was probably related to me and Linda having spent a lot of time talking about Audrey Hepburn lately.
Well, they do say not to judge a book by it’s cover, and maybe they’re right. This was a very readable novel, no doubt about that, and the main character (who is also the narrator) definitely holds the reader’s attention while the novel lasts. However, once I’d turned the last page yesterday and shut the book, it seemed to fade very quickly from my mind. I can remember the plot all right, it just doesn’t seem to have any significance whatsoever beyond entertainment value for a few hours. I don’t know.
I Capture the Castle – Dodie Smith
In which we wonder: What’s with the realism?
The good ladies at Pemberley have talked so much about I Capture the Castle that when I found it at Waterstone’s 3 for 2 sale, I obviously jumped at the chance to finally read it. I’d like to say I was not disappointed, unfortunately that would not be entirely true.
All they have said about the story is correct. The narrator is captivating. The characters deliciously eccentric and real. The story flows along and drags you ever onwards – it’s not a book you want to put down.
And then it ends. Realistically ambigiously, no doubt about that, but not on the ‘they lived happily ever after’ note that I was hoping for. Hang realism, I like ‘they lived happily ever after’.
If this continues I am going to have to start reading Mills&Boons.
Greatest Hits Vol 1
In which we have good laughs all over again.
I just had to buy Are Kalvø’s Greatest Hits Vol 1 when I saw it. I’ve laughed a lot at Kalvø (he’s a stand-up comedian as well), and I’d only read the second of the three books contained in this volume previously, so there was great potential here. And I wasn’t disappointed.
Social criticism can feel very dated after just a short time, but I didn’t find that to be a problem with this volume. Maybe the world hasn’t changed much. The way the tabloids present news (alleged) certainly hasn’t. Nor has the contents of the average evening’s scheduled tv-programmes. This is kind of sad. On the other hand, it made the basis for good entertainment while reading this book, so I can’t feel too sorry just now.
Angels
In which Robin shouts: Oh, not again!
Why do these people keep doing this to me? Why do they keep spoiling a perfectly good read with a crappy ending? Why?
I like Marian Keyes’ books, I really do. And getting to know more of the Walsh’s – though I must admit to not realising Watermelon and Rachel’s Holiday were connected until bits of Angels started sounding very familiar – is a good thing. However, that is no sort of excuse for this behaviour. Having a «happy ending» that involves forgiving adultery is a bit alien to me (it’s what Pilcher did, too, in Starting Over), but at least I can accept that people think differently on that subject, but from a narrative structure point of view you can’t have a happy ending which involves someone the reader never has a chance to get to know (also alarmingly like Pilcher), I’m sorry, you just can’t.
Get a grip, Keyes (and Pilcher).
(To be left in London, I’m not carrying this home for love or money.)