A couple of weeks ago, I finished Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. An excellent debut fantasy novel, and a monster of one at that; it was the largest “first” novel of any author I’ve read, and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I’ve recently picked up Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock again after first reading it about 10 or 15 years ago. Still an excellent story of a haunted wood. I’ve got the next book in the cycle, Lavondyss, on my to-read list.
Once I’m done there, I’ll probably go back to Jack Whyte’s excellent historical fiction series The Camulod Chronicles, which is an historically plausible origin story of the King Arthur legend, with it’s roots in the fall of the Roman empire. I highly recommend picking up The Skystone, which is the first book in the series.
Bejeezuz!! Y,ve just taken me back 50 years
I read: The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915)
Greenmantle (1916)
Mr Standfast (1919)
The Three Hostages (1924)
But never got around to: The Island of Sheep (1936)
But I will now! I’ve just ordered the Omnibus Edition, all five of 'em in one book
I’m in your debt Sir.
Just finished Bill Bryson’s Notes From A Big Country, and I’m halfway through Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full
Vic
By the way, if you like the Hannay books, have you read Erskine Childers’ The Riddle of the Sands? Very much in the same tradition, in fact possibly the “first modern thriller”. And Erskine Childers’ own life story – a conversion from Empire Loyalist to militant Irish nationalist – is interesting too.
I’m reading Silk Parachute, the latest collection of nonfiction stories from John McPhee and something like his 28th book. Among nonfiction writers he is a recognized master, winner of a Pulitzer and many other honors, and he has a fan page on FaceBook. Now cresting 80, he remains highly readable and interesting on almost any subject.
These pieces are often quite personal; the title story is perhaps the best writing I’ve ever read on the venerable topic of mothers. His passion for geology shows in a piece on the chalk region of Britain, where one may grow champagne-quality grapes. Others are on sports, outdoor life, food; all topics McPhee has often tackled and always memorably. For accuracy, wit, and purity of style, he is well worth a look.
Just finished (re)reading Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, and for a 180-degree phase shift Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. Both of which I highly recommend, if you want to come at Jane Eyre from two different directions, brilliant prequel and broad parody (with some healthy sprinkles of Wuthering Heights and Persuasion).
And because my wife says I ought to maybe sometime or other read a novel written in the present century that I haven’t already read, I’ve just started, under her direction, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout to be followed The Corrections by that guy who didn’t like Oprah before he did like Oprah.
Just started Paradise Lost this morning. This is my first time through it. Page one was easier then Beowulf but not what I would call “easy breakfast reading”.
Just down the road from where I’m writing, I believe. Thanks for the recommendation. I haven’t read any of his books; I have heard that he’s a great teacher.
I’m nearing the end of George RR Martin’s A Clash of Kings. I read Game of Thrones a couple of years ago and loved it, but never got around to continuing the series. Watching the HBO series has motivated me to stay ahead of the show.
I’m also reading Makers of Modern Strategy by Peter Paret. This nonfiction book discusses how modern warfare strategies have developed since the Middle Ages, and how other factors like economics and politics have played crucial roles in shaping soldiers as well as war.
And finally, I’ve always wanted to learn how to write, so I’m currently reading How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card. He wrote another book about developing characters that I thought was brilliant, and this book is similarly interesting.
Met Ben very briefly at the Festival of History at Kelmarsh Hall a few weeks back and decided to give it a try. Not my usual subject matter, historical fiction, but enjoying the first one so already downloaded second and third parts to my Kindle.
