Reading Challenge 2022

[RobMCFC]

1. Winter - Len Deighton - 7/10
2. The Last Great Mountain - Mick Conefrey - 6/10
3. Pegasus Bridge - Stephen E. Ambrose - 6/10

American historian Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of the D-Day campaign by the British to take Pegasus Bridge (known at the time as Benouville Bridge) in Normandy from the Germans, making sure it wasn't blown up. They did it.

It's a well researched book, written back in the 1984 in time for the 40th anniversary of the campaign, when many of the soldiers from both sides were still alive. Some of the Germans and British soldiers back then have gone on to become good friends.

I've scored it a six. Although it is well written and well researched, it doesn't quite generate the same level of connection with the characters that is covered by Band of Brothers, another book by the same author. This is probably because we don't stay with the characters for as long as we do in the other book. Also because only one mission is described, whereas we get to know the characters in Band of Brothers over a long period of time.

I wouldn't take this as my first dip into WWII, if you are new to the genre. (I also reassessed the mark I gave to the second in my list.)

Yes, the “Band of Brothers” book (and of course the series that was based on it) are both superb.

 

[JRockBlues]

Nemesis Games by James S. A. Corey

Book 5 of The Expanse series continues the story of James Holden & crew of the Rocinante after they have returned back through the gate and with the ship in need of major repairs they each decide it’s time to take care of some personal business and head out their separate ways. Alex heads to Mars to try to at leas apologise to his ex-eife for how things turned out, Amos heads back to Earth and the life he left behind to check somebody’s death was as natural as it has been recorded as. If not then he’s prepared to add to the body count to get to who was responsible. Naomi gets a message that the son she left behind, and hasn’t told Jim about, is in trouble and she might be the one to save him. Promising Jim an explanation when she gets back she sets off to do just that. Jim is left behind to oversee the ship’s repairs. Meanwhile, the military arm of the Outer Planets Alliance begins to flex their new-found muscle and begins a campaign against Earth and Mars as the gates being open to so many new worlds has left them as the forgotten members of the human race.

We get to follow along with the 4 separate storylines as they each deal with their individual struggles as conflict rages throughout the solar system as well as hearing from Avisarala & Bobbie Draper for their respective parts too. Not only do we get the usual action oriented storyline and social commentary but also it could be said that this book uses the Belters struggle as an analogy for making certain sections of the workforce redundant through technological developments. One thing is for sure, it’s never dull catching up with these characters. 4½★'s


Babylon's Ashes by James S. A. Corey

Continues on from the previous book (see above) and completes the story arc of the war between the forces led by Marco Inaros against Earth and Mars. A few additional POV characters are added in order to see how events are unfolding at different places but otherwise it's more of the same. Not a bad thing considering my rating for Nemesis Games. 4½★'s

 

[RobMCFC]

Nemesis Games by James S. A. Corey

Book 5 of The Expanse series continues the story of James Holden & crew of the Rocinante after they have returned back through the gate and with the ship in need of major repairs they each decide it’s time to take care of some personal business and head out their separate ways. Alex heads to Mars to try to at leas apologise to his ex-eife for how things turned out, Amos heads back to Earth and the life he left behind to check somebody’s death was as natural as it has been recorded as. If not then he’s prepared to add to the body count to get to who was responsible. Naomi gets a message that the son she left behind, and hasn’t told Jim about, is in trouble and she might be the one to save him. Promising Jim an explanation when she gets back she sets off to do just that. Jim is left behind to oversee the ship’s repairs. Meanwhile, the military arm of the Outer Planets Alliance begins to flex their new-found muscle and begins a campaign against Earth and Mars as the gates being open to so many new worlds has left them as the forgotten members of the human race.

We get to follow along with the 4 separate storylines as they each deal with their individual struggles as conflict rages throughout the solar system as well as hearing from Avisarala & Bobbie Draper for their respective parts too. Not only do we get the usual action oriented storyline and social commentary but also it could be said that this book uses the Belters struggle as an analogy for making certain sections of the workforce redundant through technological developments. One thing is for sure, it’s never dull catching up with these characters. 4½★'s

I read the first book in this series, Leviathan Wakes, several years ago. I enjoyed it, thought it was really well put together but then didn't feel the need to carry on. Whilst I like epic long fantasy books, for some reason I can't put my finger on, I don't have to same love of reading doorstep-sized sci-fi.

I have read Daniel Abraham's "Dagger and the Coin" series and he is a great writer (he is one half of the James S.A.Corey penname) and will probably read his new fantasy book at some point this year.

 

[journolud]

I’m well behind on my reading. Read a couple of Steinbecks but then somehow misplaced Sweet Thursday half way through, thought I might have left it at work on a night shift but seemingly not…

So I picked up To Kill a Mockingbird from a charity shop. Not quite what I was expecting being written from a child’s point of view but very good anyway, I can see what all the fuss is about.

I like courtroom based books as a rule but have become a bit tired of Grisham’s melodrama, have read all the Lincoln Lawyer series which are very good, especially when there is interplay with Bosch (Michael Connolly for those who don’t know). Any recommendations for courtroom books would be appreciated.

I’m currently reading Ruins by Mat Osman, bass player in Suede and brother of Richard Osman. I had no idea he’d written a book till I saw it in a book shop. It’s well written, dual narrative about a washed up rock star who gets shot and killed and his autistic brother attempting to unravel what happened.

Think I’ll have a look at Monkey Arkwright next, will download to the kindle. I’ve heard it’s OK

 

[Out on blue 6]

I’m well behind on my reading. Read a couple of Steinbecks but then somehow misplaced Sweet Thursday half way through, thought I might have left it at work on a night shift but seemingly not…

So I picked up To Kill a Mockingbird from a charity shop. Not quite what I was expecting being written from a child’s point of view but very good anyway, I can see what all the fuss is about.

I like courtroom based books as a rule but have become a bit tired of Grisham’s melodrama, have read all the Lincoln Lawyer series which are very good, especially when there is interplay with Bosch (Michael Connolly for those who don’t know). Any recommendations for courtroom books would be appreciated.

I’m currently reading Ruins by Mat Osman, bass player in Suede and brother of Richard Osman. I had no idea he’d written a book till I saw it in a book shop. It’s well written, dual narrative about a washed up rock star who gets shot and killed and his autistic brother attempting to unravel what happened.

Think I’ll have a look at Monkey Arkwright next, will download to the kindle. I’ve heard it’s OK

Steve Cavenaghs Eddie Flynn books are decent for courtroom stuff

 

[JRockBlues]

I read the first book in this series, Leviathan Wakes, several years ago. I enjoyed it, thought it was really well put together but then didn't feel the need to carry on. Whilst I like epic long fantasy books, for some reason I can't put my finger on, I don't have to same love of reading doorstep-sized sci-fi.

I have read Daniel Abraham's "Dagger and the Coin" series and he is a great writer (he is one half of the James S.A.Corey penname) and will probably read his new fantasy book at some point this year.

They did a good job of adapting the TV series from the books. Shame it got canned bofore they got around to all the books though.

I have the omnibus editions of Abraham's Long Price Quartet to get to at some point. Will probably be sometime after I finish this series first though.

 

[RobMCFC]

1. The Spirit Engineer - A.J.West - 7/10
2. The Lost Man - Jane Harper - 8/10
3. The Fall of Babel – Josiah Bancroft - 5/10
4. The Forest – Michaelbrent Collings – 3/10
5. Black River – Will Dean – 7/10



After the dreadful slog of my last two reads, it’s nice to say something positive about this book. It’s the third in a Scandanavian crime series featuring deaf newspaper reporter, Tuva Moodyson. Having accepted a job in Malmo, Tuva immediately returns to the setting of the last two books, Gavrik, when her best friend and then a second woman go missing.

The author has been clever here in that whilst the setting remains the same, he’s introduced some interesting new elements. This time the action takes place in the summer, so instead of the deathly cold and almost perpetual winter darkness, the characters have to deal with the brooding menace of the Utgard forest in summer, complete with ticks, mosquitoes and vipers. There’s also an additional community on the edge of the forest where a snake breeder, her son who sells car parts on e-bay and a couple of cousins who make their living converting shipping containers into bespoke homes all seem like they might be hiding something. There’s plenty of oddball characters back in town for Tuva to investigate as well, including some returning characters from the previous books, and when you mix all this up with the weirdness of the Swedish festival of Midsommar, it makes for a book that is never dull.

Funny that when I reviewed the second book, I said that I found some of the writing jarring, but in this case, the first-person narrative flowed, and I felt immediately wrapped up in the story. I don’t usually like to read long detective/reporter investigations series, but I have to say that I’ll be back for more of this.

 

[ob]

Just finished The Quaker by Liam McIlvanney. It's about a serial killer in Glasgow during late 1960s. Enjoyed it and thought was ok. Struggled to get into it at times but might be due to so much other stuff going on in my personal life at moment so was just snatching few pages here and there when had time. Next book on horizon is Black Hearts Rising by our very own Rob Campbell

 

[RobMCFC]

Just finished The Quaker by Liam McIlvanney. It's about a serial killer in Glasgow during late 1960s. Enjoyed it and thought was ok. Struggled to get into it at times but might be due to so much other stuff going on in my personal life at moment so was just snatching few pages here and there when had time. Next book on horizon is Black Hearts Rising by our very own Rob Campbell

I know you've mentioned stuff that's going on in other threads and I just wanted to wish you all the best.

How do you find reading or listening to music or whatever with everything else going on? Do you find it a comfort that helps or is it hard to concentrate.

 

[ob]

I know you've mentioned stuff that's going on in other threads and I just wanted to wish you all the best.

How do you find reading or listening to music or whatever with everything else going on? Do you find it a comfort that helps or is it hard to concentrate.

Thanks Rob, just seems to be one thing after another at moment. Not wanting to highjack thread. Running is my go to thing at present, on 'rest days' walking while listening to podcasts and reading are what I try to do. Not had much free time recently and do find it difficult to switch off also finding it hard to concentrate. On those days when working from home just have radio on in background.