More Quick Flicks

Another bash at getting the reading pile down by dipping in to some of the books lying around.

Harriet Lane - Alys, Always

Frances stumbles upon a road traffic accident and is the only witness to the victim's last words. When the dead woman's family get in touch, Frances' life is somewhat upended. A ripping yarn. I wouldn't be surprised to see this made into a one-off TV drama before too long.

Verdict: Can see this doing really well, although it is clearly aimed at a readership with two more breasts than I possess.

Will Eaves - This is Paradise

Domestic drama set in Bath. I found it a bit dry and dull.

Verdict: I am sent so much literary fiction that is just a bit meh, it must be the most hit and miss genre out there.

Laurent Binet - HHhH

A fictional account of the real events surrounding the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, a particularly nasty Nazi, in Prague in 1942 which arrives on the back of huge success in Europe. For once we may have to believe the hype.

Verdict: Really very good so far and I am keen to get cracking with the rest of it.

Jo Nesbo - Phantom

I read the first Harry Hole thriller (which is technically the third but let's not get into that) and really enjoyed it but this one did not start well. To be fair, I have only read a small chunk but if felt very clunky and cliched. I have a few to go in the series before I have to tackle this one properly though.

Verdict: Disappointing.

Paul Hendrickson - Hemingway's Boat: Everything He Loved in Life, and Lost, 1934-1961

Focuses on key years in Hemingway's life which happen to coincide with the period in which he owned his favourite boat.

Verdict: Interesting enough but one for aficionados only, I suspect.

Karl Ove Knausgaard - A Death in the Family

Huge in Norway. Being compared to Proust and/or The Corrections. I am undecided but will soldier on.

Verdict: One of those books that you probably have to spend some time with to really know if it is going to work for you or not.

I post lots of Quick Flick reviews in the sidebars so do please check them out if you get the chance.

Comments

[Matthew]

I loved the 1st (3rd) Harry Hole - Redbreast. The 2nd (4th) was OK too but not as good as the 1st. After that they've descended rapidly into absurd, slasher-thrillers with any good work developing Harry's character lost completely. I expect to read this one too - but as rubber-necker straining to see the wreckage.