Mouse - I totally agree about Catcher in the Rye - massive let down for me. I thought it was meant to be something to rival "To Kill a Mockingbird" but seemed more in the same genre as "Run Spot Run".
I loved To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, all my set books in school were pretty good. Cry, the Beloved Country was another one. Just reading Nelson Mandela now and the descriptions are very similar of the Transkei and Natal. Well written books!
I am a fan of crime and thriller books and sometimes a good courtroom drama, I love Ruth Rendell, Scott Turow, Grisham, Lee Child...the usual suspects I guess.
Currently just starting to read Out by Natsuo Kirino which I am really intrigued with. Confessions of a Fallen Angel by Ronan O Brien was beautiful (rough!) and tragic. I admit to having a peek through Richard and Judy's reading list to see if there is anything outside my usual genre and have found some fantastic books (like How To Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper which was hilarious and also The Lovely Bones which I probably wouldn't have considered and also The Secret History by Donna Tartt which was magnificent!)
All time favourite Vanity Fair by William Thackery.
DM - the Count of Monte Cristo is a great read - gets a bit stale in the middle but picks up again.
Bryan - I agree that the first part of Don Quixote is much better. The second half gets bogged down in trying to have digs at the 'unofficial' second book. I personally wouldn't read it again, at least not for a good few years.
My schooling was inadequate - I've never read Cathcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mockingbird. But I do have a recipe for a Tequila Mockingbird.
My 'guilty pleasures' would probably be Grisham and Patterson. Quick reads, entertaining, but not to be consumed in quick succession or you'll realise how similar each new book is to its predecessor.
You know what? I got two A's in English at GCSE (in the days when it was 100% coursework) and I don't think we read a single book to completion. I think half of 'Brave New World' was about it. It's rubbish now I think back on it - no wonder so many people stop reading books when they leave school.
heh heh! In my English Literature A level, I deliberately didn't read all of Beloved, I hated it that much. In my mock exam, I scored quite highly because the question was on the first 20 pages (which I'd read) but in the actual exam it wasn't... Resulting in a somewhat "disappointing" mark!
I'm not sure that studying e.g. English helps enjoyment of literature because you're always aware that you will have to answer questions on the book. I know that doing a History degree put me off Historical Fiction for years because of that (and because some of it is terrible).
I was fortunate. I loved reading and always have done. So in school, I actually read the books and enjoyed them. I suppose it helps that I am a really fast reader anyway and tests showed that I borderline skim, but still take everything in. Means you get through more books quicker
Oooh luck you PloddingOn. I have always loved reading and got through loads of books as a child but probably not as good at taking things in (which is probably why I don't like exam questions!)
I'm reading Romeo and Juliet again at the minute...only cos a jrGFB is doing it for GCSE and needs help with the course work!!I honestly don't think the kids were given a complete book to read...all I see is various photocopies of transcripts!
my fave author of ALL time is Robert Goddard. He mixes thriller into real history and usually the stories span decades. he is also from the south west so some of the towns are familiar to me.
I'm a fan of Patterson too, but yes it doesn't do to read them too closely together - I find the same with Natalie Cole - you just know what is going to happen next after a couple of books.
I did Eng Lang and Lit at school and got A's for both - much to the angst of my teacher who hated me mostly cos I was probably better read than her! My Mum was a big one for reading to us when were little but didn't bother with kiddy books - oh no, we were straight into the Classics. Pride and Prejudice at 3 yro anyone? It worked though - we're all voracious readers with wide vocabs.
Comments
I am a fan of crime and thriller books and sometimes a good courtroom drama, I love Ruth Rendell, Scott Turow, Grisham, Lee Child...the usual suspects I guess.
Currently just starting to read Out by Natsuo Kirino which I am really intrigued with. Confessions of a Fallen Angel by Ronan O Brien was beautiful (rough!) and tragic. I admit to having a peek through Richard and Judy's reading list to see if there is anything outside my usual genre and have found some fantastic books (like How To Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper which was hilarious and also The Lovely Bones which I probably wouldn't have considered and also The Secret History by Donna Tartt which was magnificent!)
All time favourite Vanity Fair by William Thackery.
DM - the Count of Monte Cristo is a great read - gets a bit stale in the middle but picks up again.
Bryan - I agree that the first part of Don Quixote is much better. The second half gets bogged down in trying to have digs at the 'unofficial' second book. I personally wouldn't read it again, at least not for a good few years.
My schooling was inadequate - I've never read Cathcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mockingbird. But I do have a recipe for a Tequila Mockingbird.
I didn't read the Catcher in the Rye at school.
But there was so much hype around it, that I took it out of the library and read it.
Was rubbish
Also - Yann Martel and the "Life of Pi"
My 'guilty pleasures' would probably be Grisham and Patterson. Quick reads, entertaining, but not to be consumed in quick succession or you'll realise how similar each new book is to its predecessor.
I'm not sure that studying e.g. English helps enjoyment of literature because you're always aware that you will have to answer questions on the book. I know that doing a History degree put me off Historical Fiction for years because of that (and because some of it is terrible).
my fave author of ALL time is Robert Goddard. He mixes thriller into real history and usually the stories span decades. he is also from the south west so some of the towns are familiar to me.
Sick.
Right, I'm off. Laters.
You deserve it after a busy morning.
I too am all forummed out for a while and am going for an early lunch to recharge my batteries.
Ballini - I also like Robert Goddard a lot.
oooh - someone else has actually heard of him!!!
love em all!!
I'm a fan of Patterson too, but yes it doesn't do to read them too closely together - I find the same with Natalie Cole - you just know what is going to happen next after a couple of books.
I did Eng Lang and Lit at school and got A's for both - much to the angst of my teacher who hated me mostly cos I was probably better read than her! My Mum was a big one for reading to us when were little but didn't bother with kiddy books - oh no, we were straight into the Classics. Pride and Prejudice at 3 yro anyone? It worked though - we're all voracious readers with wide vocabs.
Min - that means you need to read some Mallory Towers and Famous Five or you're missing out.
Jolly hockey sticks, spiffing good reads.