Preferences

Listening to:

Reading:

Robert Jordan - Crossroads of Twilight

I like reading my fantasy books. It's unpretentious fun, or so it should be. This book is the tenth(!) part of the wheel of time series and unfortunately it is utterly disappointing. No head, no tail, no development whatsoever. I recommend those who follow this series not to buy the book, but just read the last two pages in the bookstore/library. That gives all the information necessary for the next book. Some developments were initiated, but with the level of repetition mr. Jordan seems to using that will be covered again in the next book. Which we will read of course, since I've read nine of them already and now I want to know how it ends. Let's hope it does not take too many parts, because the level of suspense and interest is unfortunately dropping very fast.

Yann Martel - Life of Pi

This is how I like my books. A message that can be understood without having to read a library of other books that are quoted or referred to, but just by combining the various elements presented and a fun story on top of it. The story is about a boy stuck on a lifeboat with a tiger on the Pacific Ocean for about 8 months. Unlikely? Sure, but great fun to read (although this is one book that almost managed to make me vomit while reading it). Definitely recommended.

Jamie O'Neill - Killbrack

This is the first book I read from this author, but not his best-known one, as this author gained some fame with 'At swim, Two boys'. It's a story about a man who has lost his memory in a car-accident , has read a book written by a Nancy Valentine about a village named Killbrack and he completely idolizes Valentine, who noone else seems to have heard of. He decides to write a biography and goes on investigation in Killbrack, a village with very few people, all over-the-top backward and problematic ones on top of that. You could call it a black comedy. It is funny, though not hilarious, but interesting enough to keep on reading. It is good reading for during the holiday. Good, but not great.

Stephen Fry - The Stars' Tennis Balls

A modern version of the story of the Count of Monte Cristo. According to the critics the book has an element of comedy in it, but I would need to stretch my definition of comedy a long way to make this book fit it. The acts described are vile, although descriptions distant enough to eliminate the greates horrors. The story is that of an English college boy denied his youth and taking revenge. The plot is good, but then, if you know the story of the Count of Monte Cristo of course very predictable. Therefore, the acts of revenge tended to become a bit tedious at then end, and that is probably not the way it was intended. Still, the first part of the book is quite good, not only in the way the plot is set up, but also in painting a clear atmosphere. The second half misses all that and does not deliver on the promise of the first half.