Sally Rooney - Normal People

When our book club selected this as a book club selection I was somewhat disappointed as I do not tend to go for books of this type. A friend was judging the book as part of a book prize and kindly lent me her copy.

I sat down and read it in two sittings over the next 48 hours. I was very much drawn to the two characters. I enjoyed the book, but it did make me miserable. The outcome was not one I wanted for the two lead characters.

The writing was good, but I found the lack of punctuation annoying. It is accomplished in its ability to spark your interest the two characters, Connell and Marianne. This is a love story and (a bit of a spoiler) I am not sure it is a romance. I was continually frustrated by the fact they were too cynical, educated and  intelligent to follow their hearts and see what was in front of them. I felt their lack of communication was very realistic given their histories and social backgrounds.The book is about two people, everyone else is something of a shadow in terms of motivations and characterisation.

One aspect of the story I found slightly repugnant was an aspect of the sexual relationship Marianne develops.

Not the ending I wanted, but I could not stop thinking about the book. Given this and the fact I could not put it down I have to say that this was a very good read.

Jack McDevitt - The Long Sunset (Academy #8)

I have read a few of McDevitt's Academy books, Engines of God being the book to note. Overall he creates a believable framework of characters and politics in The Long Sunset. We see our hero Priscilla Hutchins, or Hutch, adapting to life on an earth where mankind is becoming afraid of what horrors interstellar travel may unleash (Sound  like the USA today?). A small group are drawn to investigate an unusual broadcast deeper in the Milky Way.

This leads to an enjoyable read as our protagonists rush to investigate. While I enjoyed the book and found the prose easy to read, couldn't help thinking that the plot meanders a bit and the big surprises always remain something of an enigma. With a well established character, Hutch, McDevitt does not put much into the plot. Instead he gives us something of a wonderful story of discovery.

However, what we discover are really just aliens, who are human beings in costume. The aliens are just too human and McDevitt's worlds are just like earth.

Overall an enjoyable read.

Try It & See What Happens

Hello,
I have never done this sort of thing before and if I am honest I am not even sure about my motivations. As much as anything I want to share my reading experiences and do a bit of promotion for  Super Relaxed Fantasy Club. A regular London (UK) event for writers, readers, publishers and agents. Anyway, I suppose this is something of a blog.

I am probably starting at the wrong end of the curve as, I am told, blogs are in decline, but I read a fair bit and want to share those books I enjoy. I read quite a variety of stuff, but it is primarily genre: SF, fantasy, crime, thrillers a dashing of horror, biography, history and science.

I am conscious that what I read could become constrained, so I try and read outside my comfortable frame of reference. I belong to a book group and so get surprised with new tomes from time to time. I also have quite a diverse group of friends and contacts who cause me to open my eyes to things that I may be blind to.

So I shall see how I get on. Your comments are always welcome.
Cheers
Phil