The Talking Balls Book Club

[The Major]

The Fifth Witness-Michael Connelly

Although I reckon MC is about the best crime writer around atm I wasn't that impressed with his last Harry Bosch novel but he's back on form with this Mickey Haller story.
I was up until this 1 this morning reading this, I just couldn't put it down. Great read.

 

[From Gradel to Grave]

Finished 'The Pregnant Widow'. This is the second Martin Amis book I've read and couldn't be more different to 'Money'. Have to say I enjoyed it just as much.

Starting on Annie Proulx 'Shipping News' now.

 

[fosseboy83]

just starting the new Peter James 'Roy grace' novel. looking forward to it, a great series if you've not read any

 

[H T B]

just starting the new Peter James 'Roy grace' novel. looking forward to it, a great series if you've not read any

Is he the one based in Brighton?
What's the new one called?

 

[fosseboy83]

Is he the one based in Brighton?
What's the new one called?

It is, Called 'Dead man's grip'

got the HB version in Tescopoly for £9.50

 

[Hector]

Must get that. i've just read the first six in quick succession (but in the wrong order!).

 

[Motown Fox]

Here is a book for all you new parents wanting to get the kids to sleep, :icon_bigg:icon_bigg which has just been issued.
http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780857862655

 

[Han]

Having enjoyed the Game of Thrones TV series I've downloaded the Song of Ice and Fire audio books. Can't wait to get into them.

 

[Hazzman]

Reading Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

I like.

 

[Macky]

Reading Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

I like.

So, what you're saying is you like Norwegian wood?

 

[fosseboy83]

Reading Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

I like.

you rread any of his other stuff?
pts much better imho

 

[Hazzman]

you rread any of his other stuff? pts much better imho

No. I picked this up mainly cos of the film which is about to be released on DVD. Bout 100 left of NW and I've really enjoyed it. Bought 'Things I talk...' which I know is autobiographical but the bits I read are brilliant. Any recommendation how which book next? Kafta?

 

[fosseboy83]

No. I picked this up mainly cos of the film which is about to be released on DVD. Bout 100 left of NW and I've really enjoyed it. Bought 'Things I talk...' which I know is autobiographical but the bits I read are brilliant. Any recommendation how which book next? Kafta?

Kafka is brilliant, the wind-up bird chronical is amazing

 

[From Gradel to Grave]

Finished the Annie Proulx book while on holiday. Bearing in mind she is famous for writing 'Brokeback Mountain' I half expected a comment. :icon_bigg

It was odd reading such an ice bound novel when in the high 30s in Cyprus.

Then read Howard Jacobson's 'The Finkler Question'. Having heard the controversy that surrounded a comic novel winning the Booker I expected more laughs. It was, in fact, an extremely dark novel.

 

[glyn]

Read "The Slap" after seeing so many rave reviews about it.

Just dull, full of unlikeable characters, went nowhere.

 

[Blue Maniac]

Read "The Slap" after seeing so many rave reviews about it.

Just dull, full of unlikeable characters, went nowhere.

Never heard of it.

Just looked at a description of it.

Sounds like pretentious bollocks.

No ta.

 

[glyn]

Never heard of it.

Just looked at a description of it.

Sounds like pretentious bollocks.

No ta.

You'd be right.

 

[From Gradel to Grave]

Read "The Slap" after seeing so many rave reviews about it.

Just dull, full of unlikeable characters, went nowhere.

'Nothing short of a tour de force. Tsiolkas outs a microscope to family life and presents us with a vision both of unflinching honesty and great tenderness. Here is a novel of immense power and scope, reminiscent of Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections and Don De Lillo's Underworld.' --Colm Toibin

`Once in a while a novel comes along that reminds me why I love to read: The Slap is such a book... Honestly, one of the three or four truly great novels of the new millennium.'
--John Boyne.

Sounds good :icon_lol:

 

[SwedeFox]

Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Great book - by far the best I've read in terms of quality (I'm not that well-read admittedly). I had a fairly new translation (read it in Swedish) so it wasn't very difficult to read either. Raises many ethical questions as well if that's your kind of thing.

The Perfume - Patrick Süskind.

It was always going to feel under-dimensioned after Crime and Punishment, but that is actually the strength of this book; it's easy to follow but still doesn't get boring. Pleasant book, and you find yourself smelling everything (well, at least things with a nice scent) after you've read it.

 

[From Gradel to Grave]

Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Great book - by far the best I've read in terms of quality (I'm not that well-read admittedly). I had a fairly new translation (read it in Swedish) so it wasn't very difficult to read either. Raises many ethical questions as well if that's your kind of thing.

Read this about fifteen years ago. Really enjoyed it at the time.

I'm getting more out of books I read now and it's one of many I wish I was reading for the first time. There are so many books I have yet to read that I have never re-read a book.