The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks
Life of Pi, Yann Martel
Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis
On the Road, Jack Kerouac
Metamorphoses, Ovid
Old Goriot, Honore de Balzac
And I'm not satisfied. When I got home, I jumped on the Book Depository's site, and lo and behold, I could have purchased some of those books brand new for the same price! Grrrr. I think I was blinded by previous positive experiences buying used books from some little shops in Launceston, Tasmania where you can walk away with a leather-bound copy of Robert Browning's poetry in good nick for $4. Damn the Bass Strait separating me from book bargain bliss!
On another note, I am halfway through 'Revolutionary Road' (trust me, getting this far deserves applause), have finished 'Assassin's Apprentice' (around the time I finished 'Lovely Bones'), and am also reading Charles Dicken's classic 'A Christmas Carol'. Despite the delicious literary experience 'Revolutionary Road' provides, it is not a book I am likely to re-read, and am anxious to finish. It'll make for an interesting review. Also, Robin Hobb's 'Assassin's Apprentice' was the first book in the Farseer Trilogy, and I will wait until I have read all three to review them, unless anyone wants me to review it now? Let me know. 'Christmas Carol' is really enjoyable - having seen a dozen adaptations of this tale, courtesy of the Muppets and the movies it's wonderful to read the original tale, although I can't help but feel that the novelty of the concept is spoiled somewhat by its widespread use as the basis for many a B-grade movie ('Ghosts of Girlfriends Past' I'm talking about you). Still, it makes for a great read, nonetheless.
I have to say though, I AM STARVING for an un-put-downable read. I want to read something that I can't wait to pick up, and don't want to put down; the kind of book that makes my husband have to turn off my lamp at 2am when I've fallen asleep reading, because I couldn't bring myself to stop (despite the minor handicap of being unconscious). I found that Feist's books fit this category, as did Austen's, Brontë's (all of them), and Helen Fielding's (author extraodinaire of the Bridget Jone's Diary books). I need recommendations, folks. No crime, horror, or philosophical stuff please. Not at the moment anyway. I need all my 'thinkin' energy for Rev Rd.
Incidentally, has anyone tallied up their Fantasy book list reads? I'm so curious to see where other people are at. The Literature List is still a work in progress (there are so many pretty, pretty books...). Since my last post, I have found my original list and it is in need of review. Some to be eliminated, and some to be added. In short, I have found it insufficient for my present literary appetites. This is good news (kinda, except for seeing all my previous efforts spiralling down the proverbial drain), since the version I post here will be the plenary booklist for my challenge. I'll keep working on it once I've finished Rev Rd, (can you love and hate a book at the same time? Doesn't it undermine your enjoyment of a novel when all you want to do is slap some sense into the protagonist that you're supposed to feel some kinship with? Thanks to Richard Yates for forcing me to think about such things! Grr, grr). I am determined to be three quarters of the way through this book by Wednesday, so I'd better get cracking. Until next time, -L
Amazing. I like reading, but I am one of those people who need to read something that I can't put down. It was this way with Harry Potter for some reason. I think perhaps it was the relationships between the main niche of characters. I liked following a handful of characters at once. It kept my mind busy. Lol. Any suggestions oh Bookworm Queen?? =)
ReplyDeleteI would like a review of Assassin's Apprentice as I own it, but have yet to dive into it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Matthew Reilly is a really good 'can't-put-down' author. Dan Brown Style. Also Dan Brown for that matter! :P I highly recommend started with either Reilly's Ice Station or Seven Ancient Wonders.
I would also put forth King's Dark Tower series (as I have asserted for a while) however, you must plod through the first book and a bit before it becomes unputdownable.
Kirei, are you into fantasy books at all? If so, you can't go past Raymond Feist's 'Magician' series (trust me, slog through the first chapter and you'll be hooked for life). Or possibly Robert Jordan's 'Wheel of Time' saga - there are loads of characters with their own storyline and the overall concept is great; as long as you don't mind poor grammar and long wandering paragraphs that never seem to go anywhere.... :>
ReplyDeleteMike, thanks for the recommendations. Dan Brown is good, should give 'Deception Point' another go. I'll get onto Matt Reilly, and I swear, I have been trying to get a hold of the Dark Tower books, but something newer or cheaper or shinier always gets in the way. Robin Hobb review is on its way - let me just say for now...read it. You'll like it.
Thanks guys!
book depository will be the end of the precious find at a jumble sale!
ReplyDeletei am with you on revolutionary road, i read a few reviews that said it's brilliant but i may want to top myself - i haven't been brave enough.
i also am looking for something to read - i haven't been into it for some years (something to do with the chemicals you secrete while breastfeeding that causes you to fall asleep at the edge of the page)
The last time i read something un-put-downable was the Paullina Simons trilogy The Bronze Horseman, Bridge to Holy Cross and The Summer Garden. its about a relationship that grows between a girl and a soldier thru the siege of Leningrad.
I have some of the titles on your list and would be interesting in reading some of the ones you've read...would you be interested in a book swap? :o) my finances dont stretch to the Search for a Good Read at the moment
p.s. http://www.readings.com.au/news/readings-warehouse-sale2
Thanks Kate, it's always nice to know that someone else feels the same way about an otherwise 'critically acclaimed' book.
ReplyDeleteI am always interested in a book swap, but only as a loan, I'm trying to collect the books on my list too (unless I loathe them). Also, there are some free downloadable books online, starting with the ever-reliable book depository (under the free ebooks section).
Also, I'll look into Paulina Simons work, I think a friend has recommended this to me before, sounds good! Thanks again, -L
The annoyance you describe feeling with the protagonist of Revolutionary Road is the main problem I find with almost any story I journey through, whether it be in book or film or TV series form. I'm constantly screaming in my head at the character/s, and constantly thinking of ways in which, had I written it, I could have done it differently. TV series are by far the worst, but interestingly books are the next biggest culprit. It's the reason why I've never read more than half - 2/3s of LOTR, and why I never recommended the first Harry Potter book to anyone after I read it - what must have been a full year - before it's popularity exploded. John Marsden's 'Tomorrow' series also drove me crazy, but being a teen the same age as the main characters and being into Goldeneye on Nintendo 64 at the time helped to keep my disbelief suspended.
ReplyDeleteThe only book I can think of that didn't do this to me is David Gemmell's 'Winter Warriors', which I only later found out was the 6th or 7th or something book of his Drenai series, of which I have been slowly tracking down other books since. So, I can't vouch for the other books in the series yet, but if theyre half as good as 'Winter Warriors' I'd definately recommend them to you.
I know what you mean about annoying characters, but I don't find it to be such a frequent phenomenon for myself. I definitely spot the flaws in characters, but isn't that what we all are? Flawed? Sometimes, I think it's the mistakes the characters make that make them more real, not less. But, what I experienced in Rev. Rd was characters that did not have any redeeming qualities, they ONLY made mistakes and ONLY had flaws; unbalanced the other way, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot of high praise for David Gemmell's work. Methinks his books will soon be joining my bookshelves, particularly if you were impressed by his stuff and have high standards (I've always LOVED LOTR, and don't mind Harry Potter). Thanks for the heads up! -L