Books #40

[Merpedy]

Still reading Solenoid

I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t understand the critical acclaim this book has received. Ive read 200+ pages and there’s only ONE chapter that I actually enjoyed and think back to often because I think there’s some interesting commentary and symbolism. There’s a few where I enjoyed them and I enjoyed the imagery but that’s about it

Very little has happened. Very little of interest has been said. A lot of questionable passages about women though. I just don’t understand

I read Satantango a bit ago and a lot of reviews for that were also “nothing happens” and I still enjoyed the book, so its not that I have a problem with nothing happening but Solenoid just has no narrative or anything interesting to say. I fully believe that the author didn’t plan any of this out and just meandered for 600 pages because he likes how smart he sounds on paper

A part of me wants to put the book down but there are parts of the book that I do enjoy at the moment, however if he continues on about his boring dreams for another 5 pages it’s going to have to be a DNF

 

[LaBlonde]

id maybe also consider writers and lovers only because @LaBlonde also enjoyed the book I will never shut up about and that means I tried her judgment.

i love that this is my branding i would never judge you kerrie! or i would at least hide it 🥲

I recently read Heart the lover and hated it, but had this on my TBR to read for ages, i’ve heard its linked? Have you read it and would you say its similar or different and I might enjoy it?

i haven’t read it! but the one person i successfully recommended writers and lovers to read it and HATED it too, so maybe you would like one and dislike the other. i like her writing style a lot though so i’ll definitely end up reading it.

 

[Kerrie86]

What a bloody typo. Trust your judgment obv!
it’s just in my very nature to want someone to make decisions for me so I can blame them for it if they are bad

 

[LaBlonde]

What a bloody typo. Trust your judgment obv!
it’s just in my very nature to want someone to make decisions for me so I can blame them for it if they are bad

ooohhh! i didn’t realise it was a typo i thought you were joking about my never recommending my five star reads to people because i’m scared of them not liking it nonsense i was like “well that makes sense!”

honestly; give it a try. for me it was like reading a wes anderson movie and i love those (if you do not love those you may not love it).

 

[anniemouse]

I thought to myself this morning that I must have a nose at the January deals to see if there’s anything else I want to pick up!
Potentials are
Riley sagar - the only one left
Lucy score - things we never get over
Margaret Atwood - maddaddam

id maybe also consider writers and lovers only because @LaBlonde also enjoyed the book I will never shut up about and that means I tried her judgment.

but I CANNOT buy another four. I’ve read four books so far this month, and I still have thirty unread on my kindle. The Margaret Atwood one is the third in a series and I loved the first book (Oryx and Crake) but haven’t read it in years, and the second is obviously still full price

I got the Riley Sagar one from the library. I look at what’s 99p and get them from the library instead

 

[Pinkii]

i love that this is my branding i would never judge you kerrie! or i would at least hide it 🥲



i haven’t read it! but the one person i successfully recommended writers and lovers to read it and HATED it too, so maybe you would like one and dislike the other. i like her writing style a lot though so i’ll definitely end up reading it.

I did enjoy her writing, but i just felt the storyline felt unrealistic and poorly grounded and the main character frustratingly self-absorbed considering the latter part of the story.

 

[OwlHen]

I was trying to clear my Kindle backlog but found Kill For Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh in the charity shop today and felt compelled to donate!

 

[Pinkii]

I was trying to clear my Kindle backlog but found Kill For Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh in the charity shop today and felt compelled to donate!

Do let us know your verdict when you read this ( another book I hated ) last year was not a good reading year it seems

 

[wishiniwasskinny]

I’m currently rereading my favourite book - Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. I re read it every December/January as it’s just such a cosy read for me. Then I’m going to foray into fantasy with Fourth Wing.

 

[ahkrin]

I thought to myself this morning that I must have a nose at the January deals to see if there’s anything else I want to pick up!
Potentials are
Riley sagar - the only one left
Lucy score - things we never get over
Margaret Atwood - maddaddam

id maybe also consider writers and lovers only because @LaBlonde also enjoyed the book I will never shut up about and that means I tried her judgment.

but I CANNOT buy another four. I’ve read four books so far this month, and I still have thirty unread on my kindle. The Margaret Atwood one is the third in a series and I loved the first book (Oryx and Crake) but haven’t read it in years, and the second is obviously still full price

If it helps, I loved Oryx and Crake and didn't like Maddadam at all

 

[TreeBranch]

I am now attempting to read The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang as I really enjoyed Yellowface and quite enjoyed Katabasis, but I’m struggling to get into it..

My book club from pre-covid is rebooting at the end of this month and I am super excited! We are reading The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4, which I loved growing up, but I need to refresh my memory and reread. I loved Adrian Mole growing up and have read the series several times, and enjoyed it so much I even completed a NaNoWriMo novel one year set after The Prostrate Years

 

[Hannahebee]

I am currently reading this and by heck is it a heartbreaking read.

 

[LaBlonde]

I am now attempting to read The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang as I really enjoyed Yellowface and quite enjoyed Katabasis, but I’m struggling to get into it..

My book club from pre-covid is rebooting at the end of this month and I am super excited! We are reading The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4, which I loved growing up, but I need to refresh my memory and reread. I loved Adrian Mole growing up and have read the series several times, and enjoyed it so much I even completed a NaNoWriMo novel one year set after The Prostrate Years

huge props from me for completing NaNoWriMo! i tried so many times came really close one year but never managed it!

the cappuccino years remains my favourite adrian mole but they’re all so witty. also r f kuang just seems very hit or miss overall: i liked yellowface for the most part but HATED babel.

 

[Kerrie86]

If it helps, I loved Oryx and Crake and didn't like Maddadam at all

Thank you! If I bought it I would want to read oryx and crake again, and I’d need to buy the second one so I might give it a swerve.

 

[aalmaalm]

I’m currently on a roll with the DCI Jack Logan books by JD Kirk. I normally break them up by reading a couple of other ones in between but I’m on my 3rd in a row (currently number 12 of the series). They just keep me hooked I really enjoy them!

 

[emmer_moans]

I am now attempting to read The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang as I really enjoyed Yellowface and quite enjoyed Katabasis, but I’m struggling to get into it..

My book club from pre-covid is rebooting at the end of this month and I am super excited! We are reading The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4, which I loved growing up, but I need to refresh my memory and reread. I loved Adrian Mole growing up and have read the series several times, and enjoyed it so much I even completed a NaNoWriMo novel one year set after The Prostrate Years

I love Adrian Mole, and I read it around that age (13-14). Now I'm mid-30s it might be time for a reread, actually.

 

[Ceebee]

Tbh, I'm racing through it but don't want to spoil anything so

I've read one or two of his other books and liked those, too.

I'm at around 23% so far. It's my first book of his but it definitely won't be my last!

 

[JJBS]

huge props from me for completing NaNoWriMo! i tried so many times came really close one year but never managed it!

the cappuccino years remains my favourite adrian mole but they’re all so witty. also r f kuang just seems very hit or miss overall: i liked yellowface for the most part but HATED babel.

Here for the Babel slander!

 

[StephenTJackson]

Just read The Distinctly Competent District Councillor, the new Jonas Jonasson book. Really short, less than 150pages, but such a fun little romp of a book.

 

[RedFlagsAhoy]

Just read The Distinctly Competent District Councillor, the new Jonas Jonasson book. Really short, less than 150pages, but such a fun little romp of a book.

Ooooh I'm almost finished with The Prophet and The Idiot so will have to borrow this one next! Thanks for the heads-up!