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Original poster

Kate Atkinson's new book: Started early, took my dog

26 replies

boogiewoogie · 20/08/2010 20:19

Is out now for those who enjoyed the other Jackson Brodie titles.
I haven't read it yet but read the review yesterday and have ordered it from the library. Others have asked for it already! Can't wait!

OP posts:
basildonbond · 20/08/2010 22:37

I tried to reserve it yesterday, but the library has 3 copies and 93 (!) reservations ... not sure if I can wait that long ...

LaDiDaDi · 20/08/2010 23:33

Needto dig out my receipt for it as I reserved it ages ago at Waterstones. Hope it's good!

stleger · 20/08/2010 23:48

Mine is waiting for me in the shop, I hope it's as good as the rest. They are the only crime/detective books I read.

MollysChambers · 20/08/2010 23:51

Ooh I love her books. I feel an Amazon order is imminent...

Ephiny · 22/08/2010 17:03

I haven't read any of her work since she started writing 'detective novels', the concept really put me off though I enjoyed her earlier books (Emotionally Weird was fantastic). Are they worth a try then?

BelligerentGhoul · 22/08/2010 17:10

I like Brodie but find that the books irritate me a lot - too many coincidences and silly female characters.

I read Human Croquet on holiday and was not very taken with it.

Will probably still read this one though, as the cover is so pretty!

NoahAndTheWhale · 22/08/2010 17:17

I have reserved it from the library. Do enjoy her books a lot.

Original poster
boogiewoogie · 22/08/2010 17:28

Ephiny

I can't comment on Emotionally Weird as I have not read that one. I have read Behind the scenes of the museum which I was really gripped by and Not the end of the world which was okay.

The Jackson Brodie books are definitely worth reading. They are quite different to her earlier works but true to her style, there are secrets and twists at the end. Start with Case Histories which is the first in the series. It is quite dark in places but I thought her geography of Cambridge was well researched and one could visualise the events as it is vividly written imo.

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 22/08/2010 17:39

Just finished it and liked it very much indeed Grin.
The characterisation of her characters is just brilliant. It helped to have read the previous Jackson Brodie ones as she referred frequently to his previous (love) life.
Am a bit frustrated though as there are lose ends left at the end and I Do Not Approve of lose ends .
IMO her books are much more novels than crime novels although crime does feature.

Quattrocento · 22/08/2010 17:45

The novel's a bit of a mess structurally

Also I ROFLd when she suggested that one character would go from Roundhay Park to Batley Toys R Us (passing at least 4 more conveniently located stores) and then return to Headingley. It just would never happen that you would do that.

Bit feeble IMO. Serious modern literature it ain't but I think it fails even on the entertainment front.

EgyptVanGogh · 22/08/2010 18:38

Ooh didn't know it was out - can't wait!

EricNorthmansmistress · 22/08/2010 20:27

just finished it today. It didn't 'come together' quite as well as the other JB books but I still really enjoyed it. Was very frustrated at the end.....SPOILER

who was Courtney?

who

EricNorthmansmistress · 22/08/2010 20:28

oops extra 'who' somehow...

PacificDogwood · 22/08/2010 20:33

Yep, see, that's what I ment: lose ends, gah!

NoahAndTheWhale · 22/08/2010 20:57

Ooh I used to live near Roundhay park when I was little (not that I remember much about it as we moved when I was 5)

5Foot5 · 26/08/2010 12:56

I thought the first Jackson Brodie nove1 - "Case Histories" was very good.

The next one "One Good Turn" I found a great big let down, so much so thay I wasn't going to bother with anymore of these and resisted getting "When Will There Be Good News" for quite a while.

In the end I gave WWTBGN a try and absolutely loved it.

On that basis I suppose I better try the new one. s it in paperback yet?

polkadottytotty · 26/08/2010 13:01

Its been on my amazon wishlist for ages - got all 3 other JB novels and a few of her others. Just got my Mum hooked on them too although she can't get into One Good Turn.

BelleDameSansMerci · 26/08/2010 13:02

I've just finished "Started Early" too. I really enjoyed it but I don't think it was as good as "When Will There Be Good News". I galloped through it rather though so it may require a second reading Grin

moulesfrites · 26/08/2010 13:13

I got mine delivered on Mon but have't started it yet. I loved all her other stuff - think One Good Turn was my favourite actually. I know there are loads of coincidences but i at the end I always marvel at how intricate and clever the plottig has been. I think becoming a crime writer has actually made her better ephiny - I think her latest books are an improvement on Emotionally Wierd etc, which I enjoyed but didn't love. I think sometimes people can be unncessarily snobby about other crime and genre fiction whereas actually I think some of the best modern writers are crime writers.

Can't wait to start it!

Ephiny · 26/08/2010 20:29

Maybe I'll give her new books a try then. Certainly don't mean to be all snobby about crime fiction (I love sci-fi and fantasy so have no issues with 'genre fiction', I agree people create a false division between this and 'proper' literature, and there are lots of excellent writers on the genre side), just something I've never really been into so was a bit offputting.

I'll probably start with getting Case Histories from the library and see how I get on with it...

Isla77 · 01/09/2010 15:00

Just Got Kate Atkinsons newest book "Started Early Took My Dog" and intend to start reading it tonight. Love all her books.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 01/09/2010 15:20

I've got my copy as well but not started it yet. I really loved Behind the Scenes at the Museum & Human Croquet, not so much the others (except short stories Not the End of the World which was great), but the most recent one When Will There Be Good News was really enjoyable.

Can't do spoilers on here really but in WWTBGN I really loved the fact that the expected "victims" had a bit of a turn about.

Apollinare · 01/09/2010 22:00

Have just finished it in one sitting, snarling at anybody who spoke....grew up in the Leeds/Bradford area in the 70s, so quite disconcerting. But am with EricNM on her spoiler question.... why the niggling question for Jackson about the African shaped birthmark. I have missed a vital sentence and can't backtrack to it!

taffetacat · 01/09/2010 22:11

Ooh I discovered Kate Atkinson recently having had a reading drought during my DC's early years, read WWTBGN as a book group book, loved it, read Case Histories on holiday last month, loved it and just have One Good Turn out from library. Will move onto the new one after this.

Its easy reading. I am also enjoying Sophie Hannah and Rachel Cusk, both are undemanding and a good reintroduction to reading for me.

LaDiDaDi · 05/09/2010 23:46

I finished it today and loved it. Enjoyed it more than WWTBGN, I think that I liked Tracy more than Louise.

Don't know who Courtney was, or who the serial killer was. Were we meant to know???