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Original poster

Right, i have four books on my desk beside me and i can't decide what to read, not sure they are all well known but here goes.

43 replies

lucyellensmum · 07/07/2008 23:37

So, i have just finished Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks - Didn't like it that much, found it a bit preachy and it took me AGES to finish it. I did enjoy Johnathan STrange and MR Norrel. I seem to be enjoying historical novels right now. I absolutely loved the Historian by Kristina Katonova (is that her name?)>

So....i have:-

The Dante Club by matthew pearl - not sure about this, it looks a bit intellectual and the font is shite and it might irritate me. Plus i have never even read an ounce of anything written by or about dante, but know that he wrote stuff about death and punishment? See, i know nuthin!

An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears - looks like a historical detective novel, 17th century

The meaning of night - micheal cox, victorian chick lit?? (odd on favourite at the moment)

Or

The life of Pi - yann martel

or, not on my desk (i wonder what i did with it) Salmon fishing in the yemen, but i cant remember who.

So..........i want something substantial but that i can read quickly and not feel like i "have to" finish it. I couldnt put down JS&MN, but Human Traces was a chore and took me twice as long to read.

Or do i give up and go and buy something on recommendation.

OP posts:
Original poster
lucyellensmum · 07/07/2008 23:59

zippi, im so tired these days that it might take me a month to give you a verdict. nite nite x

OP posts:
Original poster
lucyellensmum · 07/07/2008 23:58

im going to bed now, ellbell, you could give me a breif synopsis, really - im interested. Im sure it would be waaaaay to highbrow for me though.

OP posts:
Ellbell · 07/07/2008 23:56

I keep meaning to read The Dante Club but haven't done so (so I'm worse than useless, really, aren't I?). I think, though, that it's about American academics in the C19th (when Dante was very popular and being translated into English). I could tell you what Dante's all about, but really you don't want me to. Once I get started, I can't stop. Let's just say that he is the greatest writer in Western literature. Ever.

OMDB... You studied Dante? Are you an Italianist?

zippitippitoes · 07/07/2008 23:55

i am the same...not finishing a book leaves me streanded fopr ages

zippitippitoes · 07/07/2008 23:55

well meaning of night is tedious for the first 146 pages at least lol

Original poster
lucyellensmum · 07/07/2008 23:54

I dont know why this is, but if i get stuck, im stuck, its like i can't start another book until that one is either finished or long forgotten about. It has honestly stopped me in my tracks before - Donna tarrt completely stopped me, i would find that too upsetting now though. I do like to think, if this doesnt sound a bit pretentious, that im trying to read "better" these days. I used to be a horror novel and chick lit girl, now im too squeemish (i get upset ) for horrors and would rather stick a fork in my eye than read chick lit.

OP posts:
Original poster
lucyellensmum · 07/07/2008 23:51

oh the dillema, i had made my mind up, the meaning of night, but now quattro send fingerpost made her feel dirty - so, obviously, im swaying more towards that though - but meaning of night seems the less work, and after human traces (at least i read this one, abandonned Birdsong halfway through, despite loving the way it was written, i think i was put off by the graphic violence in the war bit but it was AGES since i read it). Oh, what to do what to do

OK, so its down to two, fingers or meanings.

OP posts:
Quattrocento · 07/07/2008 23:45

three of the four

Sorry late

Califrau · 07/07/2008 23:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Quattrocento · 07/07/2008 23:44

I've read four of the three books on your table but sadly not your odds-on favourite.

Life of Pi was good actually. That Fingerpost is okayish but I did feel vaguely dirty after reading it (bit trashy tbh). The Dante Club is vg but there was an awful lot of Dante

AnyFuleKno · 07/07/2008 23:44

Can't help as I have studiously avoided reading all of these, they sound like a bit of a snore to me. Read The Devil Wears Prada and be done with it woman

zippitippitoes · 07/07/2008 23:44

i hve just looked i gtot to page 146 lol

but i am either a read it quick or get stuck and start somewthing else person

claricebeansmum · 07/07/2008 23:43

Ooo Woman in White is fab

zippitippitoes · 07/07/2008 23:43

the only onew i have heard of and started was the meaning of night but i got stuck with it and it is unfinished some time ago

have you read the woman in white

snice · 07/07/2008 23:41

I would go for The Meaning of Night-its not chick-lit though

OverMyDeadBody · 07/07/2008 23:41

Life of Pie is very good though, you have to read it at some point.

OverMyDeadBody · 07/07/2008 23:40

I'd recommend the Life of Pie, but that's cos it's the only one I've actually read!

Dante I had to study at uni so would probably go for that one next if it is indeed aboput Dante.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen sounds great, I would definately read that, put probably because I spent three months travelling round the Yemen with my parents when I was ten, so would want to read it for nostalgic reasons.

claricebeansmum · 07/07/2008 23:39

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen will be the perfect antidote to Human Traces. Very amusing and fairly easy read

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