Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
lauda said:
I’ve just finished this. Overall I did enjoy it, particularly towards the end as it built to the conclusion and it felt there was some good momentum. Some of it came across as a bit clunky, particularly the dialogue in the sections focused on the London street gang.
I liked it enough to add his previous move, Mayflies, to the reading list.
MC Bodge said:
lauda said:
I’ve just finished this. Overall I did enjoy it, particularly towards the end as it built to the conclusion and it felt there was some good momentum. Some of it came across as a bit clunky, particularly the dialogue in the sections focused on the London street gang.
I liked it enough to add his previous move, Mayflies, to the reading list.
towser said:
Have to agree - I gave up on Mayflies a quarter of the way in and didn't even get that far with Caledonia Road - not sure why, just couldn't get behind the characters or the writing style.
MC Bodge said:
I have just read Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan.
It was a quick, easy read.
Whilst it was interesting in places (1980s Manchester), I don't believe that the book matches the hype at all. It also reinforces the idea that the Scottish Central Belt is/was a relentlessly bleak and miserable place.
It is very much two separate, short, books that do not quite fit together.
The main issue I had is with the fact that the characters were not appealing or as interesting as the author seemed to think they were (semi-autobiographical). I struggled to remember who the various lads, other than Tully and Noodles, were.
Having said that, some of the final chapters are thought-provoking, despite the fact that Tully is not very likeable (no matter what the book says).
It was a quick, easy read.
Whilst it was interesting in places (1980s Manchester), I don't believe that the book matches the hype at all. It also reinforces the idea that the Scottish Central Belt is/was a relentlessly bleak and miserable place.
It is very much two separate, short, books that do not quite fit together.
The main issue I had is with the fact that the characters were not appealing or as interesting as the author seemed to think they were (semi-autobiographical). I struggled to remember who the various lads, other than Tully and Noodles, were.
Having said that, some of the final chapters are thought-provoking, despite the fact that Tully is not very likeable (no matter what the book says).
I'm re-reading Iain M Banks' 'Look to Windward'.
I just read Cixin Liu's 'Three Body Problem' and didn't rate it, a bit anticlimactic. I know there's a sequel, but I won't bother. I think a story should be resolved in one book. I know other authors like William Gibson write 'trilogies' but each book is a separate story and stands on its own.
I just read Cixin Liu's 'Three Body Problem' and didn't rate it, a bit anticlimactic. I know there's a sequel, but I won't bother. I think a story should be resolved in one book. I know other authors like William Gibson write 'trilogies' but each book is a separate story and stands on its own.
I'm now 90% through Ian M Banks's Consider Phlebas. I kind of feel it hasn't aged well since it was written and I'm a bit confused that I still don't know who or what a Phlebas is, and who or what should be considering it/them. Feels like a slightly more serious Blakes 7, but doesn't reach any particularly cerebral heights either.
Anyway, I'll finish it shortly so no spoilers or mainsplainers please. I'll come back and ask once I've finished the book, if all hasn't been revealed in the last 10%.
Can't say I'm motivated to pursue the series.
Anyway, I'll finish it shortly so no spoilers or mainsplainers please. I'll come back and ask once I've finished the book, if all hasn't been revealed in the last 10%.
Can't say I'm motivated to pursue the series.
CivicDuties said:
I'm now 90% through Ian M Banks's Consider Phlebas. I kind of feel it hasn't aged well since it was written and I'm a bit confused that I still don't know who or what a Phlebas is, and who or what should be considering it/them. Feels like a slightly more serious Blakes 7, but doesn't reach any particularly cerebral heights either.
Anyway, I'll finish it shortly so no spoilers or mainsplainers please. I'll come back and ask once I've finished the book, if all hasn't been revealed in the last 10%.
Can't say I'm motivated to pursue the series.
Typically Banks does save it all up and reveal everything in a deus ex machina fashion right at the end. One of the reasons I don't really enjoy his stuff.Anyway, I'll finish it shortly so no spoilers or mainsplainers please. I'll come back and ask once I've finished the book, if all hasn't been revealed in the last 10%.
Can't say I'm motivated to pursue the series.
Though as I recall Consider Phlebas does not have an ending like that.
tertius said:
Typically Banks does save it all up and reveal everything in a deus ex machina fashion right at the end. One of the reasons I don't really enjoy his stuff.
Though as I recall Consider Phlebas does not have an ending like that.
I've only read one of his books (Against a Dark Background) and I felt the same - it was plodding along slowly, built up to a crescendo then out of nowhere the ending happened which people coming out explaining how it all went down but none of it the reader had any hint of.Though as I recall Consider Phlebas does not have an ending like that.
Limited market but a fascinating book, for me anyway as the line passed through the village I now live although it was pulled up close to 60 years ago.
Extremely well written, the author started his engineering career working on the construction of the line, at the turn of the last century.
What got me was the terms and methodology then was similar to when I started in engineering 70 years later. It's very different now with setting out using GPS & total stations etc.
It's not too technical, more a series of recollections of engineering in a bygone age which I thoroughly enjoyed
The Connel Bridge still exists, converted now to road traffic (and traffic lights), Creagan Bridge was rebuilt as a road bridge after the line was pulled up and the majority of the old line has been repurposed as a cycleway from Connel to Ballachulish (and onward to Glencoe and Fort William).
I've just finished "The Raging Storm" by Anne Cleeves. A local celebrity is found dead, followed shortly by one of the suspects in his murder, and cop Matthew Venn has to figure out what's gone on. A decent enough story, I've read most of her "Vera" novels and of course the Shetland series and enjoyed them, and this is good too.
havoc said:
Just finishing this
Really easy read, very engrossing. A little superficial in parts, but still quite eye opening and honest.
Excellent stuff considering most of it came from Geoffrey himself-James Holland was instrumental in this being published-he met him in a pub to interview him and in his own words “ he was as poor as a church mouse” and helped Geoff to get his memoirs published.Really easy read, very engrossing. A little superficial in parts, but still quite eye opening and honest.
I love the bit in the book “ a spitfire has just landed with Geoff wellIum in it”
and31 said:
havoc said:
Just finishing this
Really easy read, very engrossing. A little superficial in parts, but still quite eye opening and honest.
Excellent stuff considering most of it came from Geoffrey himself-James Holland was instrumental in this being published-he met him in a pub to interview him and in his own words “ he was as poor as a church mouse” and helped Geoff to get his memoirs published.Really easy read, very engrossing. A little superficial in parts, but still quite eye opening and honest.
I love the bit in the book “ a spitfire has just landed with Geoff wellIum in it”
Found it excellent
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