The Bookworm’s Thread 2018

[Deleted User]

timehastoldme wrote: »

John Christopher - Empty World not the best I've read by him. An illness kills the old people, eventually mutating to kill nearly everyone. A lad is left behind and is hoping to find other people to help with the loneliness. I think this is a YA book, but it feels unformed compared to some of the others. It's no 'The Stand' for sure.

Anna Kavan - Ice ice age approached, wars and rumours of wars and all he can think about is the girl and finding her. Weird stream of consciousness style with literary prose leanings, vastly unlikable characters, interesting intertwining of threats and situations both real and perceived. Genuinely don't know if I liked it (gave it 3/5 on good reads).

Just picked up Ursula Le Guin Earthsea quartet. , new to me.

My favourite John Christopher is Death of Grass. I was pleased when it came back into print about 10 years ago.

VfM4meplse

Book 25:



9.5/10, it's just mind-blowing! A must-read for any fair-minded person, although I doubt that every last detail in there is 100% accurate the gist is. How the author has escaped with her life, I have no idea.

I read the first part of this book over 3 months ago, and then put it down. It was just too much horror to digest in one go! I picked it up again last night and finished it, OMG how revealing. It could have been very depressing but the last part is actually very positive. It's also so relevant given the G6+1 summit:

peachyprice

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Hopefully you'll be able to avoid the stupidly placed diversion signs at Gallows Corner in the process! Use common sense and local knowledge to re-route rather than following the "helpful" yellow signs as I did yesterday.

Are they finally putting the second piece of bridge in? I drove through the lanes to Stansted so thankfully missed the A127 last week, flying out of LCY on Wednesday so can take the tube. I nearly booked a flight from Gatwick, sounds like a lucky escape from the A127!

Hobsons_Choice wrote: »

Syman: What did you think of the B.A. Paris book? I've just finished "Behind Closed Doors" and was thinking of getting "Bring Me Back".

I've nearly finished 'Bring Me Back', it's very unputdownable, I didn't get a hint of a plot twist until chapter 53, the hints are very subtle and well disguised as minutiae of the story.

I'm picking up 'Behind Closed Doors' tomorrow ready to take away with me, I hope it's as good as 'Bring Me Back'.

VfM4meplse

Book 26:



6.5/10. I'd been looking forward to reading this as it was released relatively recently, and the authors were on the usual press junkets, including R4s Woman's Hour. There were a lot of truths in this, and many things I agree with in principle but it was written in such a twee fashion, it was embarrassing to read at times (eg talk of lighting a candle. We all like candles, but....come on!). The last chapter which was basically a lesson in common sense and decency saved it. Anyone in their 40s will have learnt these life lessons independently, but I suppose there is some benefit in having it collated into one book.

peachyprice wrote: »

Are they finally putting the second piece of bridge in? I drove through the lanes to Stansted so thankfully missed the A127 last week, flying out of LCY on Wednesday so can take the tube. I nearly booked a flight from Gatwick, sounds like a lucky escape from the A127!

It was just a weekend phenomenon I think. Things do seem to be improving along that stretch.

timehastoldme

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

My favourite John Christopher is Death of Grass. I was pleased when it came back into print about 10 years ago.

Really enjoyed this one, think wrinkle in the skin is mine, it was utterly arresting.

Understand the soft spot for firsts too, day of the triffids was my first dystopia (have worn out at least two copies since), dune was my first sci fi - likewise worn out copies. They're old friends

Did enjoy empty world, I think because I'm new to John Christopher and have read a few together, it's hard not to compare.

timehastoldme

Ursula K. Le Guin - A Wizard of Earthsea a goat herder discovers power over nature that eventually leads to his training in sorcery. Powerful but also prideful, this pride causes a slip that nearly leads to his undoing, and definitely leads to some very hard lessons.

I'd read on twitter that this series was better than Lord of th Rings. As a big Tolkien fan that's enough to pique my curiosity. I enjoyed this first book, but read it too fast, it ended up feeling like 'first this happened, then this happened, then this other thing, then the end' without much depth, but think that's more to do with me (busy period, students all doing exams, poor mental health in general). Will keep at it.

alfsmum

VfM4meplse wrote: »

You might also like Atul Gawande and Henry Marsh.

I liked the Kalinathi book, but I did find his decision to continue working whilst he was clearly so unwell difficult to understand. At that point most people would have drawn a line and put themselves and their families first.

Finding the Kalanithi book hard to put down.

[Deleted User]

timehastoldme wrote: »

Ursula K. Le Guin - A Wizard of Earthsea a goat herder discovers power over nature that eventually leads to his training in sorcery. Powerful but also prideful, this pride causes a slip that nearly leads to his undoing, and definitely leads to some very hard lessons.

I'd read on twitter that this series was better than Lord of th Rings. As a big Tolkien fan that's enough to pique my curiosity. I enjoyed this first book, but read it too fast, it ended up feeling like 'first this happened, then this happened, then this other thing, then the end' without much depth, but think that's more to do with me (busy period, students all doing exams, poor mental health in general). Will keep at it.

Have you read any Terry Brooks?

I have read quite a few now and enjoyed them. His books are at the lightweight end of si-fi / fantasy. A great read if you want something fun and with good pace, but are tired / not feeling well and don't want to read anything heavy, or too complex.

pollypenny

timehastoldme wrote: »

John Christopher - Empty World not the best I've read by him. An illness kills the old people, eventually mutating to kill nearly everyone. A lad is left behind and is hoping to find other people to help with the loneliness. I think this is a YA book, but it feels unformed compared to some of the others. It's no 'The Stand' for sure.

Anna Kavan - Ice ice age approached, wars and rumours of wars and all he can think about is the girl and finding her. Weird stream of consciousness style with literary prose leanings, vastly unlikable characters, interesting intertwining of threats and situations both real and perceived. Genuinely don't know if I liked it (gave it 3/5 on good reads).

Just picked up Ursula Le Guin Earthsea quartet. , new to me.

I loved Empty World so much that a bought a set of it when I took over a bottom set, Form 5 as it was, out of my own money.

Aged 11, my son wrote to John Christopher after finishing the Luke trilogy. He was delighted to have a prompt reply

VfM4meplse

Book 27:



9/10. I didn't know much about this chap, apart form the fact he's the comedian that succeeded Jon Stewart in his much-coveted TV Show but thought it might be worth reading. I really enjoyed this book, the childhood anecdotes just got better as the book progressed. What I liked the most about it though was interspersing the humour in each chapter with much shorter, but incredible accounts of how apartheid was constructed, it's impact on him and its legacy on the new South Africa. Highly recommended.