dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 151
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I keep looking at the following three books and can’t decide whether they are worth reading (or more to the point, worth buying – they are all hardbacks!).
Remember me … by Melvyn Bragg
Point of Rescue by Sophie Hannah
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland
Has anyone read them? All comments welcome!
Edited by jdm (19/04/2008 21:57)
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nannyconnie
member
Reged: 05/03/2008
Posts: 455
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Hello jdm,Ihave not read any of the books you mention above,but I have read one by Melvyn Bragg and wasnt too keen(so I suppose that sort of put me off any others).Same with Sophie Hannah,I have read "little face"written by her and although it was ok I wouldnt rush to buy any more---certainly not hardback.Not much help to you really but i do feel there are so many good paperbacks out now that I would rarely buy a hardback.
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expatK
member
Reged: 18/01/2008
Posts: 1053
Loc: Frankfurt,Germany
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Sorry, I don't know them, either. But I also read 'Little Face' by Sophie Hannah, and agree it was Ok but I wouldnt rush out to buy it- in spite of what the critics say!!
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 151
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nannyconnie, I agree with you about Melvyn Bragg. Ages ago I read The Maid of Buttermere and more recently I read A Time to Dance. I wasn't too keen on those books. However, according to the blurb Remember me ... is 'a tragic and passionate romance' which suggests potential!
You must think that I am madly extravagant to buy hardbacks but I do look for bargains! At present I can't find any good paperbacks which I haven't read already! Can you suggest any that I might have missed?!
Thanks for your comment too, expatK. It seems there are three of us who were not impressed by Sophie Hannah's Little Face; I disagreed with the critics and thought the plot implausible. Her second book, Hurting Distance was better and I am hoping that Point of Rescue will be better still!
Edited by jdm (19/04/2008 23:16)
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Mayday
member
Reged: 19/01/2008
Posts: 1635
Loc: Gloucestershire/cotswolds
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What about visiting your local library? They will get anything in for you even if they do not have it in stock.....and.....in case you worry about getting fines for not getting the books back in time.....you can renew online in most areas now. Certainly a cheaper option than buying when you are not sure about a book. It costs nothing to join your local library.....most of them have dvds to loan these days too!! (You can see I have been a library assistant!!?)
Mayday
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I may not be rich or famous but my Grandchildren ARE Priceless !!
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jennifer36
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Reged: 16/01/2008
Posts: 444
Loc: West Oxfordshire
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Thanks Mayday for mentioning the library - I keep forgetting to check online to see when mine are due back!!
I use my local library all the time -rarely buy books now as I haven't room to store them. I order books for Book groups and they charge 85p a book -much cheaper than buying -especially if you're not sure you will like it!
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Mayday
member
Reged: 19/01/2008
Posts: 1635
Loc: Gloucestershire/cotswolds
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Gosh.....authorities do vary...in Glos we don't pay anything to order for a book group! But pleased to hear you actually do use the library anyway! I am always amazed at the number of people who don't even think about it!! Use it or Lose it!!
Mayday
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I may not be rich or famous but my Grandchildren ARE Priceless !!
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 151
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Thanks jennifer36 and Mayday for mentioning the local library!
I expect you also think I am madly extravagant to buy hardbacks! As I said in an earlier post, I do shop for bargains. I also borrow and lend books to friends who, like me, get through lots of books.
My local library is very small and, although in the past I have reserved books and eventually received them, I have not really found the service meets my needs. As well as being madly extravagant when buying books, I am also very impatient to get my hands on what I want to read!
Thanks again for your comments.
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emptynest
member
Reged: 10/11/2007
Posts: 502
Loc: South Wales
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Hi jdm
Have only tried Mevyn Bragg and I must admit I gave up - it is just too wordy and difficult to get absorbed in. There are not that many books that I give up on but this was one of them. I could never understand the appeal of Salman Rushdi's books either - completely incomprephensible to me.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 151
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Hi emptynest,
Thanks for your comments about Melvyn Bragg. You also mentioned another author I have been wondering about! I have never read any of Salman Rushdie’s books because the content has not appealed to me. However, his latest – The Enchantress of Florence - is quite different to anything he has written before. I read a newspaper extract which I quite enjoyed but I am not sure if I would enjoy the whole book (368 pages!).
I wonder if anyone has read The Enchantress of Florence. Again it is in hardback (!) but it is on special offer in Waterstone’s and Borders at present.
Thanks again emptynest.
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emptynest
member
Reged: 10/11/2007
Posts: 502
Loc: South Wales
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Would be interested to know if his new book is any more readable. If you would like a few suggestions on authors you could try Ann Tyler or Kate Atkinson. Behind the Scenes at the Museum is one of my favourites by Kate Atkinson
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 151
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Thanks, emptynest. I'll let you know about The Enchantress of Florence, if I ever get round to reading it!
Like you, I enjoy Kate Atkinson and I have read all of her books over the years.
I am not so sure about Anne Tyler. I didn't enjoy the first one I read - Accidental Tourist. However, quite recently I read Amateur Marriage and Breathing Lessons and I did enjoy these. Maybe I should try another one - any suggestions?
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snoopy56
member
Reged: 28/08/2007
Posts: 78
Loc: Norfolk
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Having looked it up on Amazon I can see that Melvyn Bragg's book is the fourth in a semi-autobiographical series. I have read the previous three ( A Son of War, The Soldier's Return and Crossing the Lines) and I thought they were excellent so I would recommend reading these first.
I agree with the posts about Kate Atkinson especially 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum'.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 151
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Hi snoopy56,
Thanks for the information about Melvyn Bragg. I shall look out for the first three in the series when I next shop for books. It makes sense to start with the first one! I assume that they are all in paperback.
I notice that some time ago you submitted a post about 'newbooks' magazine. A year’s subscription (6 issues) was one of my Christmas presents (and a very thoughtful present!). As you know, the magazine features interesting articles about writers and extracts from new books. Also, in every issue you are invited to claim a free paperback (you just pay postage £2.95); you can buy a paperback from the ‘garage sale’ for £2.50 too. All the titles are relatively new (not old rubbish!) and orders are delivered in about a week. This magazine is great for avid readers!
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