The Book thread

[tarantinoed]

Couldn't put this down and can't wait for the sequel she is writing. It's a novel set during Henry VIII's reign about Thomas Cromwell. It turns on its head the traditional view of Cromwell as basically a baddie and Thomas More (as played by Paul Scofield in "A Man for All Seasons", for instance) as the goodie. It won the Booker prize last year but I really loved an earlier book of hers which I can't recommend highly enough: "Beyond Black".

[destresserai]

Not released yet but I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview and to read a few pages - If you like gangs and fairly violent books than I would recommend "Siberian Education" by Nicolai Lilen. The official blurb is:-

"Set in a small and tight-knit community of 'honest criminals' in a remote part of Siberia, this is a tale of an extreme boyhood - exotic, violent and completely unique. Told from the perspective of a boy gaining his 'education' as a member of the Mafia-like Urkas in Transnistria, we get a glimpse inside the strict codes of honour and the rituals of this bizarre community. Besides having a deep distrust of outsiders - especially the police - the community is split into 'honest' and 'dishonest' criminals and crime is all-pervasive. Even their youngest children are taught to understand violence and when it is appropriate to use it. By the age of six, our narrator is given his first 'pike knife' by an uncle and by the age of twelve he has been convicted of attempted murder. A huge bestseller in Lilin's current home country, Italy, Siberian Education is an extraordinary snapshot of a violent world."

Not my normal read but the pages I read makes me want to read the whole thing!

[andrews]

I am now reading The Lovely Bones, before I see the film. I'm finding it very gripping indeed, and one that I don't want to put down. I hope to finish it very soon.

[tarantinoed]

Thanks destresserai - I will definitely read that book when it comes out. I've just started Molly Fox's Birthday by Deirdre Madden and it's really good. Just finished Timbucktoo by Paul Auster which was very funny - a story told from the point of view of a dog called Mr. Bones. Before that I read The Short Day Dying a first novel by Peter Hobbs about a lay preacher in Victorian Cornwall who gradually gets depressed by the poverty and lack of religious belief around him. An interesting novel especially in its use of language - long sentences without punctuation aiming to be realistic records of working class speech of the time. To much religion for me (I suppose I should have been warned by the subject matter). Knowing I would never even look at it again I left it on the train when I finished it in case someone else fancied a go.

[jmd1983]

there's another series about a detective....gosh i can't remember what it is though. i have some of the books at home so will have a look and let you know!

it's by lisa gardner with a detective called Quincy. not all her books have him in i think so have a look first!

[thibaud7]

there's another series about a detective....gosh i can't remember what it is though. i have some of the books at home so will have a look and let you know!

it's by lisa gardner with a detective called Quincy. not all her books have him in i think so have a look first!

Cool, I'l have a look when I finish my current Alex Cross...

[andrews]

Gosh, we haven't been reading much lately have we? Maybe we're watching too many free films!

A friend has lent me the entire Twilight set - I am addicted. That is why I've written so few reviews about the films I've seen recently. So I've read Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and now am two chapters from the end of Breaking Dawn.

I'll be there to watch Eclipse when it is released, though I will not be going to any midnight screenings.

[lovesitx]

Andrews did you enjoy Breaking Dawn? I know they aren't the best books in the world but I really enjoyed Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse. I cannot stand BD as a book though, so many things annoy me about it, I'd rather the series had ended with Eclipse.


Right now I'm reading The Vampire Diaries books i'm on the fourth one. I just love the show but the books are totally different, not a bad thing as it means I know don't know what's coming up.

[anakin]

I'd forgotten about this thread! Just finished the Millenium trilogy which I enjoyed very much - roll on film number 2!

Now I am reading The Splendour of Silence by Indu Sundaresan http://www.indusundaresan.com/Books/SOS/SOS.aspx
It's sent in 40s / WWII India and though I'm only 150 pages in I'm hooked! A really easy and interesting read. Definitely recommend it and would love to know what others think if they pick it up.

[andrews]

I’ve just finished reading Alan Hollinghurst’s book, “The Line of Beauty” – winner of the 2004 man Booker prize.
It was a joy to read, using beautifully descriptive language, and fantastic characterization. Set during the Thatcher years, it follows the story of Nick Grant, caught up in the hedonistic era, and his affairs with a young council worker and then a beautiful millionaire.
It was different. I enjoyed it.