What Did You Just Finish?

[Stew]

I never remember to update and don't like the limit of 50 on the other thread, so I figured a thread where you can put up what you just finished off and whether not not you liked it, maybe a mini review and an out of five rating so that people can get feedback and maybe try something new, rather than just listing the names and authors of books you've read.

I'll start, since it's tradition with new threads.

I finished Michael Chabon's Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay on Monday since it was a Bank Holiday and I'd kept meaning to get round to it. It's just one of those books that I knew that I would love. Even if the writing style was terrible then I knew that the subject matter covered loads of things that I love, and if the subject matter wasn't of interest to me, then on reading a couple of pages I'd know that the writing is incredibly good.

It's not so much that Chabon is good at scene-setting or characterisation. It's that he does these things so well you're absolutely certain Kavalier & Clay are a couple of real guys. The book's set in 1939, and it's not so much that Chabon put a lot of effort into getting the feel right. It's that you're sure the man's got a time machine hidden in his garden shed, and it's still warm from his last trip.

Chabon is the sort of writer who's gotten six-figure advances and has movie deals thrown at him, not to mention the Pulitzer prizes for his work. (Kavalier & Clay picked up that last one.) Needless to say, he deserves it all. Kavalier & Clay is a shining example of what storytelling is all about. Try it.

5/5.

[MarkMono]

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, its like a love letter to comic books.

The comic book The Escapist expands and continues a lot of the same themes (Jews in pop culture, alienation and escapism) though does not personally feature Kavalier and Klay.

[Rowsbette]

I like this concept.

The past two I finished were both Shakespeare plays, but I'd much rather do a mini review of the book I read before them: Dodie Smith - I Capture the Castle. As with Stew, it was one I knew I'd love before I even started it (although I have been disappointed by such expectations in the past). You can find it in the adolescent section but it's apparently been rated as an adult classic too... dunno how I made it 20 years without ever hearing of it!

Its narrator is a likeable 17-year old, Cassandra, who lives with her family in a run-down old castle. They're poverty-stricken due to the father's years of writers block, but Cassandra enjoys her life with sister Rose and eccentric stepmother Topaz. When two rich American brothers appear on the scene, Rose sees it as a good opportunity to escape poverty through marriage, while Cassandra (though disagreeing with the concept) does her best to help her out. But, of course, all does not go to plan... That description makes it sound a bit crap, but it's really a lovely book, that avoids the trap of sticking in any neat happy ending. Closest "if you like x, read this" would probably be Kate Atkinson.

5/5

[Foxglove]

The Divide by Nicholas Evans (author of The Horse Whisperer).

I really enjoyed this novel. Evans is unashamedly emotional and all of his books explore relationships that are torn apart by major events. However, they focus on the emotions of those involved rather than any wider story. I have loved every one of his novels, although I did not enjoy this one as much as The Smoke Jumper. I was surprised to learn that Evans is English as his novels are all based in the mid west of America. His descriptions of the vast US countryside are stunning and his ability to draw me into the lives of his characters is superb. I read loads of throwaway novels, but I can read Evans again and again which, for me, is unusual.

I'd definitely recommend this to anyone.

[Jenpot]

The Search For The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart.

- Harder to get into than the original, but once the dice start rolling again it's almost nostalgic. Really enjoyed this.

I'd reccomend it if you liked the original, or if you like debauchery. Either way, it's good.

Mini review, right?

[Stew]

A Collection of Essays by George Orwell. Obviously, everyone knows Orwell for 1984 and Animal Farm, but he's just a fantastically interesting man no matter what he writes; I normally can barely slog through anything non-fictional or realistic, but I really enjoyed both his Down and Out in Paris and London (which was the former) and Burmese Days (which was the latter.) In those, as with this collection, you get (or at least I got) the sense that he's a perfectly intellectually honest man. He seems willing to admit all of his faults whenever they are relevant to what he writes, and equally willing to lay all of his views out in the open, such that any biases are perfectly honest.

More specifically, in this book of essays, he talks about a number of terribly interesting subjects, most notably the English language and a few of my favorite English authors (well, one English and one American,) Dickens and Henry Miller. I've always felt there was nothing so instructive as literary criticism coming from someone whose writing I already admire, and in Orwell's case, this proves true. I may be gushing here, but honestly, I love his writing so much that I deliberately bought a book of essays. God, he's brilliant.

Can't really give it a rating since it's a collection of essays, but I did love it.

[djtoast]

speak up, i can't hear your black text!

[blondie]

I've just finished The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger.

Its about Henry, and his wife Clare, and how Henry's time travelling affects them. Its not about time travel.

I found it a bit slow to start, as if I was waiting for it to get going, but by the end I was very attached to the characters and found myself liking the way that it didn't really have a 'get-going' moment. It was also worth a cry towards the end. Really enjoyed this book.

4.5/5

__________________________________________________ ______________________

Before that, I finished The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz.

Its basically about this guy called Oscar, and his life. It is a short life, but there's a lot which goes into making it wonderous, and its this which takes up most of the story. You get a lot of footnotes from the author putting things into context. The author, and Oscar's Mum, are from the Dominican Republic, and a lot of the story takes place there, with notes on the political scene of the DR at the time.

The author manages to intertwine fact and fiction, with references to comic books, sci-fi and popular culture. All in all, it is quite a challenging read, but so worth the effort. I thoroughly enjoyed this clever, witty, highly entertaining book and recommend it to anyone with the time and patience to get into it.

5/5

[Witch]

Matthew Reilly - Contest

This book is simply about a contest, one in which 7 people compete in a place to have their life, there can only be one person left alive at the end and there's no way out.

There's not much that i can say about it without giving anything away, sci-fi style writing and a nice bit of action chucked in.

Good book, started off as self publishes due to no one wanting to take it up. Really enjoyed it, so much so that i've borrowed more to read.

3.5/5

[Bunnylingus]

Stardust, by Neil Gaimen.

Fantasy about a young boy who lives in the town of wall, so named because of the wall which seperates his village from another, which is guarded, so that no man may cross unless it is at the time of the fair, which occurs every 7 years. When he sees a shotting star falls, he crosses the wall to find it, in order to win the hand of his beloved, into a land of strange people and things. Cue stars, witches, and general odbods.

Definitely worth a read, and quite different from the film, and much more enojyable. Its easy to read and get lost in - I finished it in a couple of days. Its clever, funny, and a magical tale for grown ups. I love the way he writes, and its encouraged me to find more of his stuff.

5/5.

[Stew]

Just finished Despair by Vladimir Nabokov. Despite the title and plot (a guy wants to murder his doppelgänger because he's bored of his life and wants the insurance money) the whole thing was hilarious. The main character is a self-deluded bastard and has absolutely no regard for human life or the feelings of others; most of the book is about how he manipulates people into his plan, along with some reminiscing and character development. There's a great twist at the end that throws the whole book into new light, and it seems completely logical in the context of everything. Nabokov's has an amazingly sardonic writing style with a great ear for cadence - every word fits perfectly. Definitely recommended.

4/5.

[CHUCK LIDELOL]

This thread's more like it!

Originally Posted by Jenpot

The Search For The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart.

- Harder to get into than the original, but once the dice start rolling again it's almost nostalgic. Really enjoyed this.

I'd reccomend it if you liked the original, or if you like debauchery. Either way, it's good.

Mini review, right?

I'll be borrowing that off you when I finish this Motley Crue book then!

I posted this elsewhere on the Internet, talking about Easton Ellis, might as well paste it here. Contains elements of Mini-Review-ism.

I read American Psycho, years ago, after watching the film. Liked it, save for the annoying yet necessary four-page reviews of Genesis albums... Yeah, I like his way of capturing a feeling of ambivalence, desolation and apathy. It's a theme he obviously carries throughout all his work.

I've attempted to read Glamorama. I didn't enjoy it. It seemed too similar to American Psycho, in tone and dialogue. I really dislike his use of snappy dialogue, all the characters have great one liners and there's a really claustrophobic atmosphere about the book. I haven't finished it. I doubt I will.

The day before yesterday I read Lunar Park. I was intrigued by my flat mate's summary of the novel. A novel-within a novel, self referential third party writing. The beginning 100 or so pages tell the tale of the 'real life' Ellis (though fabricated). It leads us through his life and eventual fall to drugs, sex and booze. The remaining half of the book focuses more on a nightmarish, Stephen King style horror-mystery. This was good. I much preferred the dialogue in this work, it was far less zippy, more self involved. Gave the book more room to breath, if that's the correct term. Interesting story with an interesting twist.

Today I read his first publication, Less Than Zero. This was quite a disturbing book. Again, apathy is the central theme. I enjoyed it, but I doubt I would've persevered with it if it wasn't so short. There is very little in terms of plot and character development. Think of it more as a series of vignettes with an aloof, vacant narrator. Quite fucked up in a lot of ways.

[blondie]

Dead Air - Iain Banks

About a scottish DJ living in London, September 11th happens, things occur, as they do, which don't really have anything to do with the attacks, yet it seems like its supposed to be a pivotal point in this man's life? I think? Its a good story anyhow.

3.5/5

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Blueback by Tim Winton

Short story about this enormous fish, more like a fable than anything else. Mmmm, quite liked it, but I think I read it too fast to see the point.

2/5

[Witch]

Seven Ancient Wonders - Matthew Reilly

Yet another one where he doesnt toddle into the action. Indiana Jones/Nation treasure esque book.

The team of 9 are looking for the 7 ancient wonders of the world, hanging gardens of babylon etc...
Some nice historic accuries in this make it a wonderous read, super fast paced, no faffing book.

I love this writer

5/5

[Ness]

Gardens of the moon - Steven Erikson.

ive read this before, its part of the Malazan series, really good story, keeps you questioning but interested at the same time, without giving you too many answers. jumps straight into the middle of a story and forces you to keep up.

hes doing a signing on the 7th of july in waterstones.

dynamite writer.