For a while, Grisham's novels felt like he was working on a word count only -- writing good stories, and finishing them badly. The last couple, however, are more in keeping with his early stuff. I still have yet to read a Grisham novel that is as good as Time To Kill or The Firm -- both of which are still my top Grisham books - although Testament, The Partner, and Runaway Jury are still up there as well.brothers wrote:I'm still enjoying The Litigators by John Grisham. I'm halfway through, and it's an easy read. It's a current release, and very believable. I can already "see" the movie in my mind, as I'm reading it. Grisham is totally in the groove. As I'm reading, I'm trying to visualize which actors will be used in the movie. Of course, I'm just presuming there'll be a movie. I'd go see it!
What are you reading?
Finished my annual foray into Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher - one of my favorite modern novels.
Am now re-reading Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by le Carré. Love that book --- I remember when I first read it when I was a teen -- it was definitely a tough read, but now as a full-blown adult anglophile -- I get the imagery and dialogue --- which makes the book all that much better. George Smiley -- a regular guy spy -- if there ever was one ..... kind of like one of us, perhaps.
Am now re-reading Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by le Carré. Love that book --- I remember when I first read it when I was a teen -- it was definitely a tough read, but now as a full-blown adult anglophile -- I get the imagery and dialogue --- which makes the book all that much better. George Smiley -- a regular guy spy -- if there ever was one ..... kind of like one of us, perhaps.
Last edited by jww on Sat Nov 26, 2011 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm between books right now, but unless I change my mind, the next one is going to be Killing Rommel, by Steven Pressfield. A bit of history.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
I'm just back from a long motor trip to the Carolinas. Unfortunately, the audio book I had with me for the trip was Terry Goodkin's "The Law of Nines". I don't know which annoyed me more, the cardboard characters or the leaden prose. The plot was no prize either, being a inelegant combination of Robert Ludlum intrigue and Goodkin's "Sword of Truth" series. I listened to it all expecting that an author as popular as Goodkin would eventually reward my persistence. He never did.
Detroit - You wouldn't last a week here.
My Blog - shaving product reviews and more
My Blog - shaving product reviews and more
Just in case anyone's interested, all the John Gardner Bond novels are being republished on Kindle. They're a mixed bag, but the first one — Licence Renewed — is terrific.Seamaster wrote:I'm revisiting all the Fleming Bonds in chronological order on my Kindle. I'm about half way through — I haven't read them since I was a teenager and I'm thoroughly enjoying them.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Gardner/e/ ... r_dp_pel_1
These are classic, and I have them all on my Kobo Touch (free from Kobo directly). I would say that Holmes is probably less whodunit and more plays-with-your-head mystery. The best whodunits have to be from PD James, and Colin Dexter.kronos9 wrote:Picking up the complete Sherlock Holmes collection tomorrow (free, at the library). Never read a whodunnit novel so this should be an interesting exploration.
- fallingwickets
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may or may not be of interest:Never read a whodunnit novel
In most of its manifestations, the detective story is a modern morality tale with the heroes of good battling the forces of evil. The detective story is the conservative literary genre par excellence, which is why it has appealed for decades to readers across the world.
The genre’s critics say its conservatism is tied to an outdated, class-ridden structure as well as a reluctance to embrace modern ideas or left-wing points of view (loosely referred to as “social justice”).
more at:
http://takimag.com/article/the_eternal_ ... _whodunits
clive
de gustibus non est disputandum
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- fallingwickets
- Clive the Thumb
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Clive wrote: [/quote]
In most of its manifestations, the detective story is a modern morality tale with the heroes of good battling the forces of evil. The detective story is the conservative literary genre par excellence, which is why it has appealed for decades to readers across the world.
The genre’s critics say its conservatism is tied to an outdated, class-ridden structure as well as a reluctance to embrace modern ideas or left-wing points of view (loosely referred to as “social justice”).
more at:
http://takimag.com/article/the_eternal_ ... _whodunits
clive[/quote]
I think the situation is much more complex than the cited piece makes it out to be. You might want to look at Julian Symon's book "Bloody Murder." Also the "Oxford Companion to Crime & Mystery Writing" has number of entries related to the subject. A good one to start with is the article entitled "Conservative vs. Radical Worldview."
Ken
In most of its manifestations, the detective story is a modern morality tale with the heroes of good battling the forces of evil. The detective story is the conservative literary genre par excellence, which is why it has appealed for decades to readers across the world.
The genre’s critics say its conservatism is tied to an outdated, class-ridden structure as well as a reluctance to embrace modern ideas or left-wing points of view (loosely referred to as “social justice”).
more at:
http://takimag.com/article/the_eternal_ ... _whodunits
clive[/quote]
I think the situation is much more complex than the cited piece makes it out to be. You might want to look at Julian Symon's book "Bloody Murder." Also the "Oxford Companion to Crime & Mystery Writing" has number of entries related to the subject. A good one to start with is the article entitled "Conservative vs. Radical Worldview."
Ken
Wendell, did you know there is a new TTSS movie out? Gary Oldman as Smiley, John Hurt as Control and Colin Firth as Bill Haydon. It's getting great reviews. Unfortunately, I read that the great beauty Lady Ann is never fully shown on camera. Pity.
Do you not feel like continuing on to The Honourable Schoolboy?
Do you not feel like continuing on to The Honourable Schoolboy?
Jim
Jim -- after reading the reviews on TTSS, I was very disappointed at the liberties taken with script, and probably won't be seeing it. Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People lined up for 2012 sometime.
At the moment, I finished Winter Solstice (2nd time this year), with a calculated decision to finish it on Christmas Eve -- which I did yesterday morning.
I have now turned to Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy, which I am enjoying immensely -- I couldn't put it down the first installment last night, and only have about 80 pages to finish it - which I will probably do tomorrow -- then onto Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I anticipate all three to be done well before the holidays are out.
At the moment, I finished Winter Solstice (2nd time this year), with a calculated decision to finish it on Christmas Eve -- which I did yesterday morning.
I have now turned to Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy, which I am enjoying immensely -- I couldn't put it down the first installment last night, and only have about 80 pages to finish it - which I will probably do tomorrow -- then onto Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I anticipate all three to be done well before the holidays are out.
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