Ian Rankin - Midnight and Blue. Rebus number 25 was a good comfort read, nothing new here though, despite Rebus being in a very different location then usually.
What have you read recently?
24 days later
The Fireman by Joe Hill. I bought it when it was published in 2016, and never read it until now. It’s Hill’s most like father like son-book (his father being Stephen King). 750 pages long (it took me 13 days to read it) and it’s about a plague, end of the world sort of thing. Hill must’ve figured everyone would compare it to The Stand anyway, so the book is full of fun references to it. A must read if you love that book (many believe it’s King’s best). In this book however the plague is dragon scale like spore that grows on people and will burn them to death by spontaneus combustion if they don’t learn to control it. Like with The Stand in this one the fellow survivors are the thing worse than the plague, and the real danger. I liked it a lot.
6 days later
Just finished Blood Meridian for the 1st time and loved it, its so random at points but he manages to capture how dark and smelly those times were supposedly. Going to do No Country for Old Men next as I love that story and environment too.
a month later
Bret Easton Ellis - The Shards
Bit on the fence with this one. On the one hand, Ellis is clearly a talented writer and there are some beautiful segments in here. However, there is simply very little story or plot across the 600 pages, apart from the last 50 pages. It is literally the same chapter over and over again - and I detested literally every character (although I get that Ellis probably wants you to). I am glad I read it but I wouldnt read it again.
Michael Connelly - The Waiting
The latest Ballard story (with the usual appearance from Harry Bosch). Connelly is definitely slowing down. Previous books tended to have one main storyline, but the latest books seem to have 4 or 5 different storylines, none of which are linked, and it does feel like they are there so he can get up to the obligatory 400 page mark and then finish it off. Saying that, they are always an enjoyable read - and it surely can’t be long before Bosch gets killed off so I’m intrigued how Connelly will handle that
I loved The Shards and I don’t recognise your criticism of it literally being the same chapter over and over again. Total mindfuck of a book imo. It’s like being inside his head.
C_J let me revise that it; is the same themes over and over again. I just got a little bored with the repetition I think.
This is probably his 3rd best book though (American Psycho is 1, Less Than Zero is 2) however I shoud caveat that by saying Glamourama and Lunar Park were absolutely dreadful so I can’t even rank them
I’m nearly finished Playground by Richard Powers.
Really good 9/10
Halfway through Man Alive by Dr Jeff Foster.
An informitive take on men’s health.
Mad_Cyril I’m not sure I’d give it a full recommendation. It’s one of those “popular/critically acclaimed” books that often land on “best of the year” list which can be a red flag for me. It reminded me a bit of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, last year’s big hit that I strongly disliked despite its popularity.
That said, I really liked this one. It’s deep and thoughtful, with multiple points of view, and explores themes like the ocean, life, friendship, and the human condition. It’s not just light entertainment, but if that’s your thing, it might float your boat.