- Awards
- 14
These past few weeks I have read two "horror" books. The first Carmilla by J. Sheridan LeFanu which is more of a novella really, a short little read. A Victorian gothic vampire tale. It's had a few film versions that weren't that great including a Hammer film with Kate O'Mara and Peter Cushing. I like vampire novels, but not the sparkly kind. I was a fan of the Anne Rice books series. I liked Carmilla, it is strange in that it presents a clearly lesbian subtext as the relationship between the vampire and the victim is that of two females.
What I liked about it was it's Victorian melodramatics, it played out like a beautiful film in my head. Which bothered me as nobody has been able to make such a film when it would seem a no brainer. Something that I maybe disliked a little was the book was told from the perspective of a young female and it didn't always feel that way. Though that could have been to do with the way writers wrote at the time. The writing was very flowery at times.
I don't know how to grade it but I liked it very much.
The second book was I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, also a vampire novel, though this time post apocalyptic. And also one with a few film versions. I have seen two of the films, one with Will Smyth and one with Charlton Heston. Both not as good as the excellent novel. The book is very dark and very sad at times, but also has strange comical parts in it. I enjoyed it very much. Both films didn't present the monsters as they are in the book, as vampires. More as Zombies. Although a horror story it was one that was beautifully written and I couldn't put it down. I really do recommend the book. I loved everything about it.
I would give it ten out of ten.
What I liked about it was it's Victorian melodramatics, it played out like a beautiful film in my head. Which bothered me as nobody has been able to make such a film when it would seem a no brainer. Something that I maybe disliked a little was the book was told from the perspective of a young female and it didn't always feel that way. Though that could have been to do with the way writers wrote at the time. The writing was very flowery at times.
I don't know how to grade it but I liked it very much.
The second book was I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, also a vampire novel, though this time post apocalyptic. And also one with a few film versions. I have seen two of the films, one with Will Smyth and one with Charlton Heston. Both not as good as the excellent novel. The book is very dark and very sad at times, but also has strange comical parts in it. I enjoyed it very much. Both films didn't present the monsters as they are in the book, as vampires. More as Zombies. Although a horror story it was one that was beautifully written and I couldn't put it down. I really do recommend the book. I loved everything about it.
I would give it ten out of ten.
For me, it's been (author) Patricia Cornwell.
Love her writing style and ability to build and grow each character.
I particularly like "All That Remains" one of her best books and I also enjoyed, "Point of Origin".
My latest reads have been Stephen King. His recent trilogy, "Mr Mercedes", "Finders Keepers" & "End of Watch" were very good....
Love her writing style and ability to build and grow each character.
I particularly like "All That Remains" one of her best books and I also enjoyed, "Point of Origin".
My latest reads have been Stephen King. His recent trilogy, "Mr Mercedes", "Finders Keepers" & "End of Watch" were very good....
- Awards
- 14
I have also started a non fiction book on the life of Phil Spector, Tearing Down The Wall of Sound, The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector by Mick Brown.
It's quite a big book so probably one I will read over a longer period of time. Going back to every now and again. I have read quite a bit and haven't even got to him being a producer yet. He seems to have had quite an unbelievable life.
It's quite a big book so probably one I will read over a longer period of time. Going back to every now and again. I have read quite a bit and haven't even got to him being a producer yet. He seems to have had quite an unbelievable life.
Submission by Michel Houellebecq
Short plot review:
In the year 2022 a Muslim president is elected in France and slowly but surely ( or maybe not so slowly..) the country is transformed. Islamic law soon takes over and the secular nature of the country is diminished until it seems that it may no longer exist...
The story is narrated by a French Literature professor who depicts the gradual change his country is going through, which is parallel to the personal change he is going through, in a very clever way. Both ( the country and the narrator) are heading in the direction of a total submission, but will they get there????
What I didn't like: that it seems politically unrealistic.
What I did like: that it is very politically realistic.
Or the other way around.. I'm not sure
Something that I personally found interesting: spoiler.....
That the fact that his Jewish girlfriend is leaving him to go to Israel is a metaphor to the fact that many Jews are leaving France these days to go to Israel ( for similar reasons...)
Grade: I don't know how to give a grade...
I can just say that it's a readable book which may sometimes appear superficial but is in fact very clever and makes you think about the reality in specific countries and in the world in general.
Short plot review:
In the year 2022 a Muslim president is elected in France and slowly but surely ( or maybe not so slowly..) the country is transformed. Islamic law soon takes over and the secular nature of the country is diminished until it seems that it may no longer exist...
The story is narrated by a French Literature professor who depicts the gradual change his country is going through, which is parallel to the personal change he is going through, in a very clever way. Both ( the country and the narrator) are heading in the direction of a total submission, but will they get there????
What I didn't like: that it seems politically unrealistic.
What I did like: that it is very politically realistic.
Or the other way around.. I'm not sure
Something that I personally found interesting: spoiler.....
That the fact that his Jewish girlfriend is leaving him to go to Israel is a metaphor to the fact that many Jews are leaving France these days to go to Israel ( for similar reasons...)
Grade: I don't know how to give a grade...
I can just say that it's a readable book which may sometimes appear superficial but is in fact very clever and makes you think about the reality in specific countries and in the world in general.
- Awards
- 16
I am currently reading the crime novels by Leif GW Persson. What I like about them is that the stories feel very realistic. More so than any other crime novels, except maybe Maj Sjöwall's & Per Wahlöö's Martin Beck series.
The reason is of course that Leif GW Persson is a professor in crimonology. What he doesn't know about criminals, police work and crime history isn't worth mentioning.
The reason is of course that Leif GW Persson is a professor in crimonology. What he doesn't know about criminals, police work and crime history isn't worth mentioning.
- 1978; The Pig Party - (Lars-Martin Johansson & Bo Jarnebring book 1)
- 1979; The Profiteers - (Lars-Martin Johansson & Bo Jarnebring book 2)
- 1982; The Pillars of Society - (Lars-Martin Johansson & Bo Jarnebring book 3)
- 2002; Between Summer's Longing and Winter's Cold - (first volume in a trilogy which deals with Sweden in the cold war era, which has as a common element, events related to the yet unsolved 1986 murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. Lars-Martin Johansson & Bo Jarnebring book 4)
- 2003; Another Time, Another Life - (second volume in trilogy. Lars-Martin Johansson & Bo Jarnebring book 5)
- 2005; Linda - as in the Linda Murder Case - (Evert Bäckström book 1).
- 2007; Falling Freely, as if in a Dream - (third volume in trilogy. Lars-Martin Johansson & Bo Jarnebring book 6)
- 2008; He Who Kills the Dragon - (Evert Bäckström book 2).
- 2010; The Dying Detective - (Lars-Martin Johansson & Bo Jarnebring book 7)
- 2013; The Sword of Justice a.k.a. The True Story of Pinocchio's Nose - (Evert Bäckström book 3)
- 2015; The Bomb Maker and his Woman - (Evert Bäckström book 4).
- 2016; Can You Die Twice? - (Evert Bäckström book 5).