Easily the best one this far! A double scare, as cover reveals. A child is taken. A ransom demand. At the same time, a young boy steps into a French pEasily the best one this far! A double scare, as cover reveals. A child is taken. A ransom demand. At the same time, a young boy steps into a French police station claiming to be the lost Carl that has defined so much of our heroines life…
This would have been a five if only the annoying odd spelling and grammar errors hadn’t been in here causing me to do a number of double takes throughout. I’m a bit concerned with the ultimate ending as well, can this continuing story be made to make sense?...more
With book #5, Wood is inching his way upwards a strong 4. This one has a great storyline with only a few annoying points (Matilda ‘knowing’ the killerWith book #5, Wood is inching his way upwards a strong 4. This one has a great storyline with only a few annoying points (Matilda ‘knowing’ the killer’s identity at half way point, never again mentioned being top). Also, it feels a bit rushed, with two books per year, this is perhaps not surprising, but a few annoying mistakes that an editor really should have caught is still in the version I read. 5 star material it’s not, great crime thriller reading it is!...more
Rapidly becoming a new favourite, number 4 in the DCI Matilada Darke at Sheffield police-series only downside was the contrived ending. The story was Rapidly becoming a new favourite, number 4 in the DCI Matilada Darke at Sheffield police-series only downside was the contrived ending. The story was suspenseful and the resolution satisfying though, so all in all a good read....more
Like I said in my halfway update, I had a good feeling about this series from the start. Intriguing plot lines and good set of characters are now in bLike I said in my halfway update, I had a good feeling about this series from the start. Intriguing plot lines and good set of characters are now in book 3 accompanied by a really good narrative. I will be back for more!...more
Was very hesitant about this story until around half way, but then it grew on me. It is a rather straightforward story about science and pseudoscienceWas very hesitant about this story until around half way, but then it grew on me. It is a rather straightforward story about science and pseudoscience, but Brookmyre complicates things quite a lot by serving us deceiving facts, alternating narrators and setting it all non-linearly. It works - well enough - and the overall results is better than you'd think after 100 or so pages. The missing start is because of this confusing start and also because it moves surprisingly slowly at times.
The basis here is the thought "what if the age old argument put to science by woo-woo'ists that 'your method prescribes that you keep an open mind, so the scientific method must mean that you take us into account, no matter the fact that we don't follow it' took hold?"
In the current, sorry, state of lack of understanding and disinformation, this is not so far-fetched. Especially since the woo-woo people in this story takes it one step further and actually agrees to adhere to science (apart from the fact that they set out to find any, even though fluctuating, support for their ready-made hypothesis, which is actually the opposite of the scientific method, but who'd understand that on a diet of 'X' and modern media?)
I don't mind fantasy at all, but had a hard time with squaring this with the 5th Parlabane story. It all worked out though and amounted to a quite enjoyable read. ...more
At times a proper page turner and it worked well on an airplane. Writing this review a week after reading, though, I realise my memory of it really faAt times a proper page turner and it worked well on an airplane. Writing this review a week after reading, though, I realise my memory of it really fading already.
Some odd pieces of narrative or dialog has gotten by the editor and may throw you quite a bit when reading, but the overall story works well as a few hours’ entertainment. I have no idea how it can have so high average rating here, but I’d be ok to pick up more in the series in the future....more
I know I tried to start this book some time ago and decided a couple of pages in that it was not time for it. Picture my surprise when I this time gotI know I tried to start this book some time ago and decided a couple of pages in that it was not time for it. Picture my surprise when I this time got instantly sucked in, lived in it (rather than with it) for a week and a half and ended up putting it on my favourite shelf as the first one for ages to fight it's way up there.
The stories about a mother and daughter, Elise and Rose, in 1980-1982 and 2017, linked by a third woman, the author Constance, had me in a constant vice struggling to understand and struggling to know more.
Brilliant characters, brilliant dialogue, brilliant narrative. I won't say anything more about "what it is about", just read it, it's brilliant....more
I may be nearing the end of "essential books about JD/NO" now. This one was perfectly readable and obviously gives a few "Bernard unique" points of viI may be nearing the end of "essential books about JD/NO" now. This one was perfectly readable and obviously gives a few "Bernard unique" points of view and focus points. Hardly anything new though. The narrative is ok, oddly repetitive at times and giving an oddly 'naïve' impression at others.
No big reveals, but do read it if you are a fan....more
My favourite musician autobiography ever. I was going to say “easily my favourite….” but I suddenly remembered Tracey Thorn’s ‘Bedsit Disco Queen’. UnMy favourite musician autobiography ever. I was going to say “easily my favourite….” but I suddenly remembered Tracey Thorn’s ‘Bedsit Disco Queen’. Unfairly to her though, Mr Morris has the advantage of having played in my favourite band and then went on to play in my second favourite band. Other than that, it’d be a tight match. Both seem to be very nice people to be around and both are good storytellers.
Ok, so focus on this one, shall we? I have read a bit on Joy Division/New Order in the last 38 or so years, but I’m not in any way a scholar. Even so, Stephen Morris’ own take is in many ways a nice perspective (and in quite a few ways verification of earlier accounts).
I really like his take on things, what he choses to focus on and puts emphasis on. The mostly healthy dose of humbleness and self criticism feels all ok (even if I doubt the narrative that seems to suggest that sometimes coincidence, awkwardness and luck combined with goofing around makes you become the best drummer in the world).
Some things around the origins of Joy Division still after this book seem a bit shrouded in fog. Especially with the death of Ian and all that tells about the dynamics and certainly the relationships between the involved. For me, it has always been a bit like trying to catch a whiff of smoke with your hands. Maybe we’ve been given the truth and the full story, bleak and common as it is many times now and are just holding out hope that is has to be more to it.
Anyway - this book is about Steve and it’s brilliant....more
Oh boy, I wonder if I will ever learn and just re-read Boy's Life whenever I feel the compulsion to read some McCammon. This, his first book, came witOh boy, I wonder if I will ever learn and just re-read Boy's Life whenever I feel the compulsion to read some McCammon. This, his first book, came with quite a few warnings upfront by friends and others, but honestly not enough.
For a late 80's horror and including the atrocities, this is just so boring. I wonder what the cardboard god wanted with the cardboard characters? I wonder why Baal is affected by the cross that he predates by a couple of millennia at least - and that is a man-invented symbol of a god he predates by a thousand years at least. A god he does not seem very impressed with to begin with? I wonder how many times you can write out the first names of two protagonists? I wonder why I finished this?...more
I have no idea how come I missed logging this one. It's quite an impressive debut without being ground breaking in any way. A good read. I have no idea how come I missed logging this one. It's quite an impressive debut without being ground breaking in any way. A good read. ...more
In the 90's I'm sure this would have gotten an unquestioned 5 stars from me - it's still a very clever, intelligent and often hard hitting mirror heldIn the 90's I'm sure this would have gotten an unquestioned 5 stars from me - it's still a very clever, intelligent and often hard hitting mirror held up to society. It may have aged (or maybe I simply aged), it's still very good. ...more
My great-grandfather's world atlas. A very nice looking book (as they tended to be in the 1930's) and a wonderful time document. Very factual languageMy great-grandfather's world atlas. A very nice looking book (as they tended to be in the 1930's) and a wonderful time document. Very factual language and no opinions or judgemental mindset, which is quite common in any other text written at the time I've found....more
So I've finally finished all the reading wonder that is the material published under the name "Edward Lorn". Starting with Bay's End in New Year's 201So I've finally finished all the reading wonder that is the material published under the name "Edward Lorn". Starting with Bay's End in New Year's 2014, I realise it has only been 8 years, which is way too little... It has been a brilliant journey and one I'm definitely looking forward to embark upon again!
So this book of odds and bits is a great treat for a completist, quick rundown follows:
There Were Other Versions Of Us 4* I had the great privilege and pleasure of beta reading this one. Not much changed and it certainly held up! Chilling cosmic horror.
Untitled 3* This is a tough one, a bold experiment and not an easy read - 5 for effort, loses some because of the rough content.
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind 3* "Dead Ringers" and future noir echoing chilling piece.
Key 4* This is an escape room so weird you'll doubt your comprehension.
A Drawer Full Of Pretty 3* Shape-shifting weirdness.
Cupid 3* Not bad, too short and a bit too obvious for me.
A Sound That Haunts 3* I really liked this one all up to the ending. really 3.5, but graded to a very high (Lorn) standard.
Hangman 4* This betters "High Plains Drifter" - loved the ending!
Something Else 4* This one lands it's 4 stars mainly on originality, a great accomplishment.
Give Him To Us 3* Packs a punch. Short, brutal. Bit obvious.
Freedom 4* This is another really hard read, manages better than "Untitled" I thought, but quite tough.
Popsicle 3* Absurd, unique, dark (humour)
Oh Holy Shit 4* This one is just loads of fun.
Uncle Boobs 4* Not sure what I read, this could have been a late 'Bay's End' short - or a 'Cruelty' connected one - or a trial run for either. It's a good read either way. ...more
Oh, where to start? I’ll just go with the angst first; this is the next-to-last Edward Lorn writing I had unread and I just killed it on a lovely SundOh, where to start? I’ll just go with the angst first; this is the next-to-last Edward Lorn writing I had unread and I just killed it on a lovely Sunday morning waking up, reaching for the book and putting it back down read cover to cover.
Again, Edward goes into Joyce Carol Oates territory in my mind, but it’s definitely south of JCO at her darkest, much as expected. The writing is brilliant, as always, the story is unflinching, raw and hard to look away from. Characters are pitiful, awful, unsympathetic, evil, sad, bad and all rang true.
I’m a tiny bit undecided on this still, I think it’s a bit short, at the same time that’s a relief because of the topic and story. And it certainly does not lack the pieces that a story you’d say being too short would, character portraits or story developments.
Bottom line - a very good read, a quite tough read. 4 strong stars.
Postscript: only ‘Something Estranged’ to go now, the ongoing boring DCI Banks suggests this will be soon, but at least I can take comfort in the early books are some time ago and certainly up for a re-read. I’ve been longing for a full Bay’s End reading for a while, that will certainly be up soon. ...more
Kokboken - The Cookbook in Swedish. Gifted to me by my mom when she thought it was high time for me to move out. Modern as she is, born in a tiny workKokboken - The Cookbook in Swedish. Gifted to me by my mom when she thought it was high time for me to move out. Modern as she is, born in a tiny working class town in north Sweden in 1946, she was not worried about anyone 'taking care' of me. She knew far well that my girlfriends around the time were nice girls - but that none of us would last. And in this respect that mattered little, because worries about me not taking care of my own person and house never entered the equation. Either I knew how to drill a hole, mend my clothes, iron my shirts, fix my bike and cook my food - or - she and my dad had done something wrong. And like I said - this never entered the equation.
The book you say? It's brilliant. It does not reveal any Michelin stars worthy magic, but it tells you how to boil an egg (yes, seriously). It also provides all inner temperatures of any meat cooked in any way and plenty of other things worth knowing when you're setting up nest - and crucial reference throughout rest of life....more
Even aside from the bigotry and animal cruelty the "story" is nothing short of ridiculous and is built entirely of random absurd situations, one afterEven aside from the bigotry and animal cruelty the "story" is nothing short of ridiculous and is built entirely of random absurd situations, one after another....more
Found a near mint copy for next to nothing at my favourite charity shop and celebrated with a re-read. The original English text is far superior compaFound a near mint copy for next to nothing at my favourite charity shop and celebrated with a re-read. The original English text is far superior compared to the Swedish edition I read when internet was new....more
If you are to undertake a retelling of the Bowie saga one more time, you really need a unique vision and idea for a new format. This is what Goddard hIf you are to undertake a retelling of the Bowie saga one more time, you really need a unique vision and idea for a new format. This is what Goddard has, and he undertook it almost perfectly. His narrative is storytelling, almost stage play and dreamlike poetic and flowing. Picks up feelings of the times and emotions of the protagonists easily while all the time staying as an outside observer. A book to enjoy whether you are a Bowie fan or not. ...more
Bit bothered with how this was released, together with an avalanche of Bowie material, in the year after his passing away and I don't know, but I do gBit bothered with how this was released, together with an avalanche of Bowie material, in the year after his passing away and I don't know, but I do get the feeling that "friendship" is a bit of a stretch here. In the introduction and in selected sections, "my friend" is scattered liberally around and in the final section Bell notes that "in another life or another world, we could have been friends" (not verbatim, but I'm not doubling back to check). In reality, Bell created the artwork for Scary Monsters (1980) and then Tin Machine a decade+ later (after a "chance encounter").
Then there's the fact that Bell muses about how Bowie never authored a book, but now he's "ghost writing" this one. By this self-aggrandization logic, would that not mean he "co-authored" all the biographies (that ought to count in triple digits now)?
Apart from that, it's a nice enough book, basically filled with (very brief) anecdotes and graphics. I'm not sorry to have it or to have read it, but it's by no means a "must". ...more
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