Kategori: Authors

Lost in a Good Book

Mirthful

In which we’re delighted.

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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

Mirthful

In which we get to read Robin Hobb’s latest trilogy at last.

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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?

The Eyre Affair

Mirthful

In which we shout Eureka! (A good book at last!)

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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).

Greatest Hits Vol 1

Mirthful

In which we have good laughs all over again.

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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

Mirthful

In which Robin shouts: Oh, not again!

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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.)

An Ocean Apart

Mirthful

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Linda assured me that An Ocean Apart would have a «proper» ending, so finding it in Oxfam in Aberdeen, I decided to give Robin Pilcher another chance. It ends well, I can affirm that, on the other hand I didn’t find this story anywhere near as engaging as Starting Over, despite the fact that the main characters are involved in the whisky industry. It reads well, and kept me occupied on various trains and buses, but it lacks a certain something to make it really good. So, still not entirely happy. I seem to be in the mood for disapproving of books at the moment. Well, I hope whoever picks it up from where I left it in London will enjoy it more than I did.

Starting Over

Mirthful

In which a new beginning is completely the wrong end.

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Having read and enjoyed all of Rosamund Pilcher’s books, I have been meaning to pick up her son’s novel An Ocean Apart, but never got round to it. In Waterstone’s in Brighton I found his latest volume, Starting over, and thought: «Why not?» So it made its way into my shopping bags (along with, it must be said, rather a lot of other books). I thought this might do well for holiday reading, and I was right. I expected the novel to last me until Scotland (Sunday) at least, as it didn’t seem like I’d read that much earlier on in the week, but I started it on the Thursday in Clonmel and finished it on the bus to Dublin the next day. Once I had been caught up in the story it was well nigh impossible to put it down. Apart from obviously having mastered the design of plots that draw the reader on, Pilcher also creates characters that are believable and sympathetic. Having said that, I was NOT happy with the ending of this book – I still recommend it, but be forewarned that it does not «do what it says on the box» (it being a «they lived happily ever after» sort of box, and to my mind this was not how the story ended – which left me feeling somewhat cheated). I will leave it along the way somewhere…

McCarthy’s Bar

Mirthful

In which we learn about the rules of engagement.

Or was it travel? Having finished Tony Hawks I thought some more travel-in-Ireland was in order and therefore reread Pete McCarthy’s McCarthy’s Bar, where, amongst other things, he lays out a few of the rules of travel. The one that gives the book its name is ‘8. Never pass a bar which has your name on it.’ An admirable sentiment, though somewhat more useful if your name is Pete McCarthy than if it’s Ragnhild Sandlund. Never mind.

Round Ireland with a Fridge

Mirthful

I seem to have concluded that I will not be able to reread both A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses before I go to Ireland. Considering the fact that it’s now only 75 hours before I leave for the airport, this is probably a sensible conclusion to come to (especially as I’ll have to subtract at least 12 hours for work and hopefully 22 for sleep).

So I’ve been rereading Tony Hawks’ Round Ireland with a Fridge instead, which is less intellectually snobbish, but at least as much fun.

Hawks somehow gets himself into a bet that he can’t hitch-hike the circumference of Ireland with a fridge, and as absurdities go, this one’s quite good in itself and should make for an interesting read at least. Add then Hawks’ exemplary ability to get into contact with people and to relate conversations (something certain other travel writers should learn a bit from), and you’re basically in for a craic. Or something.

 

Anyway, I enjoyed it last time round, I enjoyed it this time round, and I’m really looking forward to getting to Ireland.

About a Boy

Mirthful

In which we have growing pains.

Finally got around to rereading About a Boy this weekend. I’ve been planning to ever since the film came out, I didn’t want to see the film before I’d reread the book. So now I can see it, though it’s no longer on at the cinema, obviously, which is a pity, but I guess it’s probably not the sort of film that needs the big screen, so I guess renting the dvd will be ok.

Anyway. It’s a lovely book. No surprises, there, really – well, I already knew I liked it, obviously, having read it before – since I have yet to come across any book of Nick Hornby’s that I don’t like. I suppose I could give you a rundown of the plot, but I don’t think I can be bothered. And I don’t really have anything intelligent to say about it other than that it is lovely and you really should read it if you haven’t. Not doing a very good job of this book review thingamagig, am I? Pathetic, really.