Tags
aleksandr solzhenitsyn, alexandre dumas, ian fleming, Its monday what are you reading?, meme, salman rushdie
A new year brings new books. And I’ve got some really good ones lined up to take me through to February. This years going to be all about clearing that TBR pile (and chasing up on those half-read fat classics that are beginning to weigh heavy on my conscience).
Books Read
‘Midnights Children’ by Salman Rushdie
3/5 stars for this one. I really enjoyed it and it had some very funny moments and memorable characters. Word of warning though, it’s a hefty book (600+ pages) and took me about a month to get through. It was well worth the while.
‘Octopussy and The Living Daylights’ by Ian Fleming
Another 3/5′er. This collection of short stories, or rather ‘scraps’ of stories is perfect for those who want to get a taste of the original 007 action. My favourite was ‘The Living Daylights’, which actually had a half-decent ending. Back in the day, the world of espionage was very glamorous.
Currently Reading
‘One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich’ by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Ever wonder what life was like in a Soviet gulag? I do. And guess what, it was no picnic in the park. This week I decided to put myself in the freezing-wet ‘valenki’ boots of a prisoner of war. My teeth chatter as I read on…
‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by Alexandre Dumas
One of my ‘fat fiction’ reads that I left off at page 800-something. Great book, fantastic characters. Good to be getting re-acquainted with it at last. An absolute must-read. Get it on your TBR list if you haven’t already.
That cover is gorgeous … then I saw it was Salman Rushdie whom I’ve never wanted to read a book by – I can’t stand the poor man’s face and that is my only objection so absolutely silly! Now I also judge a book by the cover and I think that weighs heavier… so I just may read this book sometime!
I loved Ivan Denisovitch!
I enjoyed several of Solzhenitsyn’s books. They can be depressing because the situations are so horrible but they really let you feel what it was like to live in that system.
Midnight’s Children has a great cover…I don’t know, though. I’ll have to think about it! LOL
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Since I’m currently in a phase where I’m reading first novels, the one I’m immersed in now is Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes. The book’s setting is the Vietnam War, and because I never read war novels, this is a new experience for me. But Marlantes is 65 and this is his first book (which has been on the NY Times bestseller list), information that should inspire fresh hope in all of us. I’ll let you know what I think when I get through the book. It’s quite long–566 pages, not counting the Glossary–another fact that I find quite surprising for a first novel that isn’t even on a subject that’s particularly topical anymore. Just proves that anything is possible if you hone your craft, write a great story, and then find professionals (aka agent/editor) who believe in you. Stay tuned …
Wow, those are some great titles! I’m envious
I call reading ‘researching’ and am diving through a whole lot of action thrillers–Robert Parker and Robert Crais to mention a few. I love it when work is your hobby (or vice versa).
I’ve never read The Count of Monte Cristo and I’ll admit that the page count frightens me a bit. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, though!
Midnights Children sounds good but wow…. 600 pages? Yipes!
Oooh, I so want to read Dumas some day, maybe when I get myself through some Tolstoy