Finished Moscow Stations ,it got quite good towards the end, with non-cliche' elements being introduced and I quite enjoyed the nature of the ending, the culmination of the build-up of the whole book. Highly recommend.
"Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won’t see the tree. Preoccupied with a single tree, you’ll miss the entire forest. Don't be preoccupied with a single spot. See everything in its entirety...effortlessly. That is what it means...to truly "see." "
@MightyDemon82 I would have to say that my trips to Edinburgh are mostly "touristy things to do" related, but I can relate to going with a strict band/alcohol agenda: flew over for Emilie Autumn/Sieben in 2008 and The Birthday Massacre in 2017, both excellent, and far from dry, long weekends. (Also went to see Scotland's own Capercaillie in St. Andrews Botanical Gardens in 2016, another brilliant trip)
I also just remembered that I have indeed experienced Edinburgh's cinemas, but that was back when "The Phantom Menace" and "Austin Powers 2" screened, so I expect things have changed since then
I'm glad you mentioned bookstores; reminds me that I must try to remember visiting the Waterstones on Princes Street if it's still there. I have really fond memories of it from my very first visit to Edinburgh. Will add it to my "must do when in Edinburgh" checklist (with the ambition of picking up at least one book), along with "cocktails at Voodoo Rooms" and "haggis at Black Rose Tavern".
Good grief, I'm so ready to go now that I'm fit to burst! Just another week or so left
I just finished Nick Cutter's The Deep (Goodreads page), which is not a biography of everyone's favourite waterlogged supe, but rather a horror novel set at the very bottom of the ocean. It wasn't bad, but I really couldn't connect with it and, as a result, couldn't really muster any enthusiasm reading it. Your mileage may vary, but for me it only merited two stars in my Goodreads review.
It didn't sour me on the author or anything, but with all the books out there desperately needing to be read, I probably won't prioritize his other novels, unless one of them should come highly recommended from any of my trusted sources
Having recently finished Peter May's "China Thrillers", it's time to start in on a new series and I've chosen Dan Wells' "John Cleaver" series, starting with I Am Not a Serial Killer (Goodreads page), which looks interesting
Wow! Just a little over a day later and I've already finished I Am Not a Serial Killer (Goodreads page). This is definitely a record for me for a novel close to 300 pages long, and I obviously loved it! The protagonist, John Wayne Cleaver, is a teenager living with his mother, a mortician, in an apartment above the mortuary in the small town of Clayton, also referred to as "Nowhere, USA". He is obsessed with serial killers and in addition to all the things a normal teenager struggles with, he is also a sociopath who has erected a mental wall, behind which he works hard to contain his very own serial killer. So when a real serial killer comes to town, things get... interesting...
I typically don't bother writing up synopses for these posts, figuring that interested parties will click through the links and find out for themselves, but this one was just too good to pass up
The novel is incredibly compelling and you keep wondering where it will go with its troubled protagonist, who is both likeable and frightening, with a lovely dark sense of humour. Easy five stars, this.
Next up is Neil Gaiman's Coraline (Goodreads page).
I was originally going to go with my next non-fiction read, but my recent conversation with @MightyDemon82 about Gaiman and Coraline made me intent on watching the movie. Then, seeing as the novel was a somewhat short one at a mere 200 pages, I decided to slip it in here and finish that before moving on to the movie
Just started The Plague by Albert Camus, very famous novel in literary circles, I believe. It's promising so far. Apparently an allegory for the Nazi occupation of France during the Second World War.
"Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won’t see the tree. Preoccupied with a single tree, you’ll miss the entire forest. Don't be preoccupied with a single spot. See everything in its entirety...effortlessly. That is what it means...to truly "see." "
Finished Coraline (Goodreads page), a very charming little children's book from the excellent mind of Neil Gaiman, which I slipped in on the top of my TBR pile. I had neither read the book, nor seen the movie,, but now that I've finished the fairly short novel, it's on to the movie. Hopefully I'll enjoy that just as much as I did this, which I gave five stars in my Goodreads review.
Next up it's back to my regularly scheduled programming (I have a convoluted system for my TBR list ) and it's time for some non-fiction again. This time, Rutger Bregman will attempt the Herculean task of convincing me that humans are basically kind, with Humankind: A Hopeful History (Goodreads page). I was recommended this by a fellow misanthrope, who claimed it might restore a tiny bit of faith in humanity. We'll see
@FuriousMachine I finally got around to finishing The Once and Future King. It was a bit of a disappointment, if I'm honest. The focus on the characters and their relationships was great, but The fantastical side of things was lacking. (Excalibur was only mentioned once throughout the story).
I will keep looking for other works that maybe lean more into the fantasy side of things within Aurthurian legend!
Not sure what to read next, maybe some Comics or manga for a change of pace!.
@Jimmer-jammer Jeff is one of my favourites, I collect all his works in hardcover collections. Met him at a con once where he signed and sketched in my copy of Sweet Tooth volume 1. A lovely chap to to talk to. I still have to read the second library edition of Black Hammer, so that's a good shout!
@MightyDemon82 Right, seems like those were not the droids I'm looking for, then.
Might still give it a look down the line, but won't prioritise it.
Picked up a physical paperback of Scottish Folk Tales on the ferry from Tarbert to Uig today, so I jumped the gun a little bit Doesn't preclude a stop at Waterstones on Princes Street next week, though
@MightyDemon82 Thanks mate, seems like the rain has been following us around the first week, but that's not anything we're not used to from home and some cranky weather can't take away from the joy of being back here
Birthday party on Skye today, recuperation tomorrow and then we head for the NC500 on Monday.
Don't know if you're a fan of The Expanse? I've just started the brand new book by the authors and it is very promising so far. Will post my thoughts on it when I get home
@MightyDemon82 Thanks, the celebration was magical Whenever someone decides it"s worth it to spend their summer holiday to travel to a different country to celebrate your birthday, it is wonderful. When eight people do it, it is downright humbling. I am a lucky man
Back on topic, did you see the Prime show or are you completely "blank" on the Expanse?
About halfway through The Plague by Camus now, it's proving quite claustrophobic but still an edifying read, anyway, that said about it being claustrophobic, I have just entered into the third section of the book now and things are opening up a bit. Still say I would highly recommend it. Thus far there have been references to philosophical concepts and football sprinkled in with all the nihlistic plot developments!
"Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won’t see the tree. Preoccupied with a single tree, you’ll miss the entire forest. Don't be preoccupied with a single spot. See everything in its entirety...effortlessly. That is what it means...to truly "see." "
@MightyDemon82 Hope you'll enjoy them when you get to them
Just came out of Waterstones and picked up the hardback of Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning, based solely on the title and the cover (yup, I apparently do judge books by their cover )
It's an homage to 80's slashers and the cover screamed 80's VHS cover, so I had to get it. Hope it's readable
Just finished The Plague by Albert Camus. It was amazing, had some great episodes but dragged a bit in one place. Truly a flawed masterpiece.
"Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won’t see the tree. Preoccupied with a single tree, you’ll miss the entire forest. Don't be preoccupied with a single spot. See everything in its entirety...effortlessly. That is what it means...to truly "see." "
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