The Book: Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
The Quote: "I read my eyes out"
The Reviewer: Anne McCaffrey
The Verdict: It wasn't until I was halfway through the book that I noticed this quote at which point I became distinctly worried. There was still too much I wished to read. I'm too young to lose my sight.
Having now finished the book i'm happy to say that while I enjoyed it immensely I did not 'read my eyes out'. There is still 5 books to go however . . .
Monday, 25 July 2011
Monday, 18 July 2011
Less effort, please
The Book: The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
The Quote: "If this does not win the Booker Prize for Fiction it will be because it is too good."
The Reviewer: Scotland on Sunday
The Verdict: Ah ok, Carol can rest assured that that is the reason she didn't win then - must try not as hard next time Carol!
I wonder what Roddy Doyle, author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha - which actually did win the 1993 Booker prize that Carol Shields was shortlisted for - would have to say about this speculation.
The Quote: "If this does not win the Booker Prize for Fiction it will be because it is too good."
The Reviewer: Scotland on Sunday
The Verdict: Ah ok, Carol can rest assured that that is the reason she didn't win then - must try not as hard next time Carol!
I wonder what Roddy Doyle, author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha - which actually did win the 1993 Booker prize that Carol Shields was shortlisted for - would have to say about this speculation.
Friday, 8 July 2011
Come Again?
The Book: Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
The Review: "You want to know what this terrific book is like? It's like the Osbournes invited the Simpsons round for a root beer, and Don DeLillo dropped by to help them write a new song for Eminem."
The Reviewer: Andrew O'Hagan
The Verdict: What? I mean really, what? If you do want to know what this fantastic, Booker prize winning, novel is like I suggest ignoring this trippy outburst from Andrew O'Hagan and simply picking up the novel. Afterall, it's like Holden Caulfield and Jack Kerouac are trapped in a Hunter S. Thompson novel by Skeletor, or something like that!
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
All that is certain
The Book: The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin
The Review: "Certain to become a classic"
The Reviewer: Science Fiction Monthly
The Verdict: This book is in every science fiction fans pantheon of great books alongside I, Robot, Day of the Triffids and Dune. Hang on...
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(Look - slap bang on the cover!)
(More great 70s sci-fi covers here)
The Review: "Certain to become a classic"
The Reviewer: Science Fiction Monthly
The Verdict: This book is in every science fiction fans pantheon of great books alongside I, Robot, Day of the Triffids and Dune. Hang on...
(Look - slap bang on the cover!)
(More great 70s sci-fi covers here)
Spaced out
The Book: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Review: "Speeds across the sky like a new-century comet heralding great events in the asteroid belt of fiction."
The Reviewer: Financial Times
The Verdict: I'm sorry, what now? The book speeds across the sky? The asteroid belt of fiction?
This book was only ok. Has this nameless reviewer been up there with Lucy in that sky full of diamonds?
The Review: "Speeds across the sky like a new-century comet heralding great events in the asteroid belt of fiction."
The Reviewer: Financial Times
The Verdict: I'm sorry, what now? The book speeds across the sky? The asteroid belt of fiction?
This book was only ok. Has this nameless reviewer been up there with Lucy in that sky full of diamonds?
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Being brutally honest
Breaking away from our usual mould for a brief picture post. This is the back of the book I have just finished reading: This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper.
Yes, those are little quips from critics and yes, the 'find out more inside' is infact a key that tells you the poor peoples' names who couldn't even fit onto the cover, because there was just too much praise for Mr Tropper.
Although maybe 'praise' is the wrong word. For all we know, these tiny little words have been fully taken out of context.
Perhaps number 15 said, "To be brutally honest, I couldn't get past the first chapter."
Or maybe number 2 wrote, "If you're smart, you won't pick this book up."
Or even number 11, "I'll give the book some credit: it made a very graceful arc as I threw it into the bin."
Actually, Jonathan Tropper is one of my favourite writers, but whichever publisher decided this was a good way to market him should be shamed.
Yes, those are little quips from critics and yes, the 'find out more inside' is infact a key that tells you the poor peoples' names who couldn't even fit onto the cover, because there was just too much praise for Mr Tropper.
Although maybe 'praise' is the wrong word. For all we know, these tiny little words have been fully taken out of context.
Perhaps number 15 said, "To be brutally honest, I couldn't get past the first chapter."
Or maybe number 2 wrote, "If you're smart, you won't pick this book up."
Or even number 11, "I'll give the book some credit: it made a very graceful arc as I threw it into the bin."
Actually, Jonathan Tropper is one of my favourite writers, but whichever publisher decided this was a good way to market him should be shamed.
Friday, 10 June 2011
The Stieg Larsson of Swedish crime writers
The book: Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The review: "Swedish crime fiction, like the country itself, has both class and a social conscience. It was only a matter of time before it produced its own War and Peace."
The reviewer: Robert Dessaix, Sydney Morning Herald
The verdict: Let's not even entertain the notion of comparing this titillating little thriller to Tolstoy. (Were Tolstoy's protagonists a shameless proxy for the author? Did Anna Karenina tell you the model name of her Ikea bookcase?) No, the real question is, what does it mean for a book to be the War and Peace of Swedish crime fiction? Does that make the BT building in Cardiff the 'Empire State Building of Wales'? Is Kung Fu Panda the Citizen Kane of Jack Black movies?
The review: "Swedish crime fiction, like the country itself, has both class and a social conscience. It was only a matter of time before it produced its own War and Peace."
The reviewer: Robert Dessaix, Sydney Morning Herald
The verdict: Let's not even entertain the notion of comparing this titillating little thriller to Tolstoy. (Were Tolstoy's protagonists a shameless proxy for the author? Did Anna Karenina tell you the model name of her Ikea bookcase?) No, the real question is, what does it mean for a book to be the War and Peace of Swedish crime fiction? Does that make the BT building in Cardiff the 'Empire State Building of Wales'? Is Kung Fu Panda the Citizen Kane of Jack Black movies?
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