September 2011 Reads and Recommendations

[eldog]

So what did everyone read in September and if they had to recommend one of the these books, which would it be?

I knocked over:

Solar - Ian McEwan

The Skook - J P Miller

First Blood - David Morrell

Killer Instinct - Joseph Finder

Soul Kitchen - Poppy Z Brite

Top Read for the Month: First Blood closely followed by Killer Instinct.

 

[beer good]

Solar - Ian McEwan

I keep putting this one off - I love some of the McEwan novels I've read, but everything I've heard about Solar makes it sound like I'd be disappointed with it.

Is that First Blood the Rambo novel, or some other First Blood?

Moderspassion - Axelsson, Majgull 5/5
Meg: A Novel Of Deep Terror - Alten, Steve 2/5
The Diamond Age - Stephenson, Neal 4/5
The Zombie Survival Guide - Brooks, Max 3/5
Med Stalin som gud - Utvik, Magnus 3/5
The Bastard of Istanbul - Shafak, Elif 3/5

 

[Anamnesis]

I moved this thread to General Books and Discussions since that's where we usually discuss our reads for the past month.

Anyway . . . I tried slogging through David Copperfield for most of September. I then came to the conclusion that I didn't care about the story or characters. I also re-read Anne Rice's last two Mayfair Witch novels.

 

[pontalba]

My September reads completed were:


A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny 5/5
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 4/5
Doc by Mary Doria Russell 4/5
Baronne Street by Kirk Westmorland 3/5 e book
The Pedersen Kid by William Gass [short story] 5/5
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt 4/5 library book
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst 3/5
Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton 5/5 #70
Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley 3/5
253 by Geoff Ryman 2/5
Dracula by Bram Stoker 3.5/5
Dracula in Love by Karen Essex 4/5

Of the above, I really loved Doc and The Sisters Brothers and the Penny. Her series is excellent.

I've read elsewhere that in general, those that love Wuthering Heights don't care for Jane Eyre, and vice versa. Well, Jane Eyre is one of my All Time Favorites, and while WH is an excellent read, it failed to engage me as JE did.

I wonder if that is a product of having read JE first, and very early in life? IOW in my formative years.

 

[Fantasy Moon]

I didn't get a whole lot of books finished in the month of September, but the one worth recommending to people would be The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd.

 

[eldog]

I moved this thread to General Books and Discussions since that's where we usually discuss our reads for the past month.

Sorry, my bad :sad:

 

[eldog]

Oops, forgot the ratings:

Solar - Ian McEwan

The Skook - J P Miller

First Blood - David Morrell +

Killer Instinct - Joseph Finder

Soul Kitchen - Poppy Z Brite

 

[eldog]

I keep putting this one off - I love some of the McEwan novels I've read, but everything I've heard about Solar makes it sound like I'd be disappointed with it.

I had enjoyed all three of the previous McEwan novels that I had read also...

Is that First Blood the Rambo novel, or some other First Blood?

Yes, it is the novel that the movie was based on - it was written in 1972 and the movie was released in 1982.

The book is very different from the film. I grew up on the film and still enjoy it today (btw, IMDB rating = 7.5). The Rambo and Sheriff characters in the book are explored it far greater depth than in the film and almost represent good vs evil but with very blurred edges. I found the book version of Rambo to be more plausible than the almost superhuman movie version.

Definitely recommend!

 

[brk_3]

To The Last Man - Jeff Shaara
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, military, thrillers, etc. This book was Awesome.

Bag of Bones - Stephen King
Not a very good King book, probably the worst I have read from him.

Worst Fear Realized - Stuart Woods
Typical Stuart Woods novel, quick and easy read, not great but not bad either.

 

[shadforth]

Room by Emma Donoghue 5/5
The Railway Viaduct by Edward Marston 3/5
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney 4/5
Blackmoor by Edward Hogan 4/5
Raven: Blood Eye by Giles Kristian

I'd have to recommend Room by Emma Donoghue,which I put off reading for over a year because the story's told from a 5yr old boy's viewpoint,but that's what makes it!