Off Topic Art & Literature

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Ian Thumwood said:
I finished my first Ian Rankin book last week which was "Rather be the devil." I believe that this is ne of the latest in the series and may not necessarily be reprsentative as the cebtral Rebus character is now retired and no longer working for the police. I think the premise was not realistic but the dialogue and office politics of the story seem really well captured in my opinion. Although there was not too much action, the book was hugely compelling in the way in which the clues were gradually revealed. Rebus is a great character - not exactly a maverick but lacking in the kind of social skills which could jeopardise an investigation. I was very impressed.

Beddy

How did you get along with Bernie Gunther ?
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I enjoy Rankin's Rebus series. Not exceptional by any means but still enjoyable and what I call a nice easy read.

I need to work out which ones I've not read yet to complete it really.
 
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I really find that good writers handle dialogue really well. A lot of Rankin's plot development happens through the conversations people have.
 
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Seems like no one is reading books over the Christmas holiday.

I am 80% through William Boyd's "Any human heart." It was apparently made in to a drama on ITV and is reputed to be his best book . I have to say that itis not as good as "Loveis blind" or "The blue afternoon." although still very difficult toput down.
 
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I have just ended the first of a series by John Blake. Excellent listening author has a sense of humour which come through in his detective series DI Tanner.
 
I am rattling through a series of books about a Detective Sergeant in Exeter.
Decent stories, good banter and dialogue and I am now halfway through book 7 with number 8 already on the kindle.
 
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Ian Thumwood said:
Seems like no one is reading books over the Christmas holiday.

I am 80% through William Boyd's "Any human heart." It was apparently made in to a drama on ITV and is reputed to be his best book . I have to say that itis not as good as "Loveis blind" or "The blue afternoon." although still very difficult toput down.
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Always me of my - literally shelved or canned - Gaston Ramirez faux-tobiography. Hasta Luego Fray Bentos!
 
Beddy said:
Who’s the author?
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Author is Jack Slater.
DS Peter Gayle is the main character.
If I remember you too are a fan of the DCI Ryan series of books. This Gayle series, for me, has a similar feel, although the stories aren’t as dark.
Good camaraderie and familial involvement which runs parallel with the stories.

Edit. MUST be read in order, as one story runs through several books.
 
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St Badger said:
Author is Jack Slater.
DS Peter Gayle is the main character.
If I remember you too are a fan of the DCI Ryan series of books. This Gayle series, for me, has a similar feel, although the stories aren’t as dark.
Good camaraderie and familial involvement which runs parallel with the stories.

Edit. MUST be read in order, as one story runs through several books.
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Must say I enjoy a detective series the most. Another author you might like is LJ Ross. The DCI Ryan series is very good
 
Le Tissier's Laces said:
Just finished A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles. Beautifully written character study. Quite gentle.
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LTL

If you like well wrtten novels, I am wondering if you would enjoy the book I have just finished by Winchester author Claire Fuller. There was an article about her in the Hampshire Chronicle before Christmas which was about her recent novel which has subsequently won a prize for women's literature. I was more intrigued by an earlier book called "Bitter orange" which is about a woman who is employed to carry out a building survey of the buildings in the garden of a large estate which a rather odd couple are similarly surveying the assoicated stately home. The site is based on Northington Grange near Alresford but the obelisk described in the ground is actually the one on Farley Mount!

I could not put this book down. It was clear that something dreadful was going to happen at the end as some of the chapters were set after the main events of the story whilst the protagonist reflected on the main story which was set in 1969. The couple initially seem glamorous yet you start to realise there is something very odd about the woman and that there are some wierd and unsettling things about the house too. Almost from the beginning, you are aware that things are not quite as they should be and , as the story progresses, the characters seem less reliable and are prone to doing things which are going to have consequences and not in the least sensible. All of the three protagonists are not quite "right" and their more cavalier qualities of the couple draw the main character in to a cycle which is only ever going to have a bad outcome. As opposed to having elements of the mystery resolved with each chapter, there just seems to be more and more questions as the book evolves and it is only in the final chapters that everyone comes to a satisfying if shocking conclusion. I thought this book was absolutely fantastic and it would be surprising if this never got made in to a film or TV adaption.
 
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Just started a series by Kerry Wilkinson. A D S Jessica Daniels detective series. 1st book not bad at all heck of a twist at the end
 
Ian Thumwood said:
LTL

If you like well wrtten novels, I am wondering if you would enjoy the book I have just finished by Winchester author Claire Fuller. There was an article about her in the Hampshire Chronicle before Christmas which was about her recent novel which has subsequently won a prize for women's literature. I was more intrigued by an earlier book called "Bitter orange" which is about a woman who is employed to carry out a building survey of the buildings in the garden of a large estate which a rather odd couple are similarly surveying the assoicated stately home. The site is based on Northington Grange near Alresford but the obelisk described in the ground is actually the one on Farley Mount!

I could not put this book down. It was clear that something dreadful was going to happen at the end as some of the chapters were set after the main events of the story whilst the protagonist reflected on the main story which was set in 1969. The couple initially seem glamorous yet you start to realise there is something very odd about the woman and that there are some wierd and unsettling things about the house too. Almost from the beginning, you are aware that things are not quite as they should be and , as the story progresses, the characters seem less reliable and are prone to doing things which are going to have consequences and not in the least sensible. All of the three protagonists are not quite "right" and their more cavalier qualities of the couple draw the main character in to a cycle which is only ever going to have a bad outcome. As opposed to having elements of the mystery resolved with each chapter, there just seems to be more and more questions as the book evolves and it is only in the final chapters that everyone comes to a satisfying if shocking conclusion. I thought this book was absolutely fantastic and it would be surprising if this never got made in to a film or TV adaption.
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Great stuff. Thanks, Ian. Will check it out.

I'm on my non-fiction book at the moment (Max Hastings - Going To The Wars). I always read one fictional book, followed by a non-fiction. But I shall put this on the list. Much appreciated.
 
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