Overdue book reviews
I've not done a review of the last few books...
Excavation and The Last Oracle by James Rollins
I discovered Mr Rollins earlier in the year and quiet liked the first book I read - it was a wizz bang non stop global thriller. You know the type where the characters don't spend days in departure lounges or immigration queues so that the plot can move fast from one location to the next.
Both these were very much in the same vein but sadly I now realise Mr Rollins has a formula. That is ... take an ancient legend which has a lost location/temple etc. queue an archaeologist or the like who can find that. However there is always some baddy involved who wants to stop it for some reason.
I preferred Last Oracle largely as I'd recently thought of a book I remember reading that was brilliant called about Savants - I think it was by James Clavell. Anyway I can't find it on Amazon to get it to re-read as I can't remember the title and it doesn't look like it was a Clavell... Anyhow Last Oracle includes kids who are autistic savants and it was some weird connection thing that I'd recently searched for that book then read this one. Gets a "good holiday read" from me.
Conn Iggulden - Bones of the Hills.
Last in his trilogy of Gengis Khan. These have been great reads which have really opened my eyes to the amazing story of this man and the great people he firstly forged into a nation against the background of battling tribes and then conquered a large part of the world. To be frank if he'd have like I'm sure he could have just carried on walking through to the end of Europe if he'd have so chosen. A lot of his life is myth and legend so there is licence to make this a novel but I thoroughly recommend these books as engrossing reads. However this one in particular was pretty savage throughout as it documents his last campaign against the Arabs at the eastern end of it empire.
I'm now reading Bernard Cornwells The Burning Land - which shouldn't take long I can't put it down! He is a great writer for me, he just captures me and takes me straight there. This is the fifth in his life story of a pagan lord who bizarrely has ended up one of pious King Alfred's most trusted generals at the birth of the nation we now know as England. Great stuff.
Excavation and The Last Oracle by James Rollins
I discovered Mr Rollins earlier in the year and quiet liked the first book I read - it was a wizz bang non stop global thriller. You know the type where the characters don't spend days in departure lounges or immigration queues so that the plot can move fast from one location to the next.
Both these were very much in the same vein but sadly I now realise Mr Rollins has a formula. That is ... take an ancient legend which has a lost location/temple etc. queue an archaeologist or the like who can find that. However there is always some baddy involved who wants to stop it for some reason.
I preferred Last Oracle largely as I'd recently thought of a book I remember reading that was brilliant called about Savants - I think it was by James Clavell. Anyway I can't find it on Amazon to get it to re-read as I can't remember the title and it doesn't look like it was a Clavell... Anyhow Last Oracle includes kids who are autistic savants and it was some weird connection thing that I'd recently searched for that book then read this one. Gets a "good holiday read" from me.
Conn Iggulden - Bones of the Hills.
Last in his trilogy of Gengis Khan. These have been great reads which have really opened my eyes to the amazing story of this man and the great people he firstly forged into a nation against the background of battling tribes and then conquered a large part of the world. To be frank if he'd have like I'm sure he could have just carried on walking through to the end of Europe if he'd have so chosen. A lot of his life is myth and legend so there is licence to make this a novel but I thoroughly recommend these books as engrossing reads. However this one in particular was pretty savage throughout as it documents his last campaign against the Arabs at the eastern end of it empire.
I'm now reading Bernard Cornwells The Burning Land - which shouldn't take long I can't put it down! He is a great writer for me, he just captures me and takes me straight there. This is the fifth in his life story of a pagan lord who bizarrely has ended up one of pious King Alfred's most trusted generals at the birth of the nation we now know as England. Great stuff.
I tend to struggle with fiction - and generally end up in a music related rut. However my my recent reads have been
ReplyDeleteThe Longest Cocktail Party - Richard DiLello. Had high hopes for this after lots of positive reviews, but I'm under halfway through and it's hard work. Too loose and too dated
The Right Stuff: Tom Wolfe. Stunning read about the earliest steps (pre-Apollo) space-racers
Moon Dust: Andrew Smith - don't believe the hype more about the author than the moonwalkers.
Attention All Shipping:Charlie Connelly - a journey round the shipping forecast. Entertaining and educational