April already!

 It is spring already and the UK is opening up from third lockdown. I have been busy with work while everyone complains about boredom and no where to go. Still managed to read the books below. 

Just finished the next Jack Reacher novel. Was different as was in freezing South Dakota winter and started with a bus crash with a bunch of OAPs on a tour to Mt Rushmore (been there, but in the summertime!). Seems crazy to go there in middle of winter!

Latest books up to end of December 2020

 It is 2021 already and my 60th birthday is just gone by already.   Still reading, exercising and playing guitar while I take a well deserved four week break from work!!  These two latest books are detectives that M&D finished and gave to me.  They were good,  

Finished Raven Black in December.  Its a detective novel based in the Shetlands of all places. I believe there is a new TV series on it too.  The author has written other books with the same characters and this is the first one.  It was a good read, but would not go out to buy it.  The twist at the end I did not figure out, so that was a good thing.   

After that read another Jack Reacher book, which was really good and was through it in a week. It was 'Gone Tomorrow', about a woman who killed herself on the NY subway and the events that followed as Reacher witnessed it.  Very gory, but the story and the twist was realistic and I never guessed it!! Next one is '61 Hours' which Michelle's Dad has already lent to me.   After that I read Lemmy autobiography 'White Line Fever'.  Plenty of rock n rollocking.  He had an amazing life and plenty of women, but died alone.  Always enjoy rock autobiographies!  The racier the better!!

'Corpus' was the other mystery novel from the parents. The character in this was not a detective but a professor at Cambridge and it was set in 1936 so was full of Nazi intrigue of the time.  Definitely had the feel of the 1930s and the story was good, though you could figure out easily who did what.  Had the impression that the author was not trying to be clever about it on purpose.  No clever twist at the endt though the characters were good.  There are other novels in the series, but probably will not bother.  Enjoyable read and would recommend both this and the Shetland one to others.  Will be giving these away to friends whenever I manage to see any!!

One book I did buy on a recommendation that was so dense to read as over 1,200 pages in very small print was 'Quicksilver' by Neal Stephenson.  Was told it was a fantasy book, but appears to be a historical fiction novel.  Its three books in one and really should have figured that out and only bought the first one.  The print was so small and it started in the 16th century and then jumped to US year of independence with the same character and he seemed not to age!!  There must have been 70 years between two scenes in the story in the first 80 pages!! If it was time travel that would have been interesting, but was more of a history text book as it was looking at real events.  Gave it a go, but had to give it up and left it at a charity shop.  Luckily it was a second hand book from Amazon.  Happy to pass it on to someone who might enjoy it if they have good vision!!   So I am not recommending the Quicksilver: Baroque Cycle.  

Books read: The Divergent series by Veronica Roth and other teen classics

 I managed to pick up the whole series at a charity shop basically unread for £5! What a deal! Had seen one or two of the movies too, so had an idea what it was about.  I know its a teenagers book but some of these kids books are really good!! Often these types of books were read by my daughter first. She likes to read because of me!! After finishing the Divergent series when on to get all the movies on DVD. Unfortunately they never finished the last one. I like dystopian stories about the end of civilisation!! Given these to Abbey to read. 

Another example is Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.  Read all of them too.  The Golden Compass movie is good, but again no sequal to the other books.  It has been made into a TV series too.  

Currenlty reading the prequel 'Book of Dust' vol 1 La Belle Sauvage, which is good too.  The whole premise about alternate universes is great sci-fi. Will be giving La Belle Sauvage to Abbey too.

Another series I liked was Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve.  This was very steam punk and dystopian again!

I have also read all the Harry Potter books too, when Abbey was a teen. They were good too!!

My preferred novels

I will read any genre of novels, but I do have preferences.   I have noted that I prefer books that make a series and have reoccurring characters and worlds.  

I like thrillers, thanks to my grandfather introducing me to them back when I was a teenager.  I still remember my first.  'The Vivero Letter' by Desmond Bagley.

 

I wonder where that book is now?? (Since writing this have found it!) My current favourite thriller author is Lee Child and the Jack Reacher series.  Have started at the begining and am currently reading  'The Hard Way'.

I am a big science fiction reader too, both the classics like Jules Verne and HG Wells and more modern reads. Particularly like Philip K Dick.  Fantasy novels are another favourite, like the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, CS Lewis and all the Narnia books.  Have read them over and over when I was a kid!!

Going to include autobiographies and biographies, as I like reading the ones about debauched rock stars the best as I am a guitar player!! Read the occasional political and actor biography too. Sometimes these types of books are practially fiction as they obviously over exaggerate events!  I want this blog to reflect the reading I undertake for fun, as I spend much of my time as a consultant and university lecturer reading fact, news, journals and text books too!!

Fiction books journal - Introduction and why bother?

Decided to keep a journal of fiction books I have read. The main reason is I am decluttering my home in Kenilworth so I can rent it and pay off mortgages quickly. Moving in with my wonderful girlfriend, following our trial living together during the COVID pandemic since late March.

I am probably going to data capture the covers using Office Lens, and write minimal comments on what I thought of the book.  Will write another blog regarding my taste in fiction.