War and Peace

It`s been awhile since I have updating my reading habits.
I have probable forgotten most of what I have read over the last couple of months.
Mostly short stories on my ebook reader.
But the news is for you Wilbur Smith fans... his new book
"Those in Peril"
Is now on the shelves and has been for a few weeks.
Its another stand alone story with a totally new bunch of characters with a topical subject matter being about pirating on the high seas. Brutal in places it is not for the feint hearted.
I shall propable finish it tonight and then comes the long wait to the next one.

 

Robert, I recently read Wild Justice, Smith's only thriller but writen in his usual style, it was ok, just that.

Next was Ghost (Writer) Robert Harris's Thriller(?) and I have, this evening just finished Matt Reilly's The Six Sacred Stones but found it a little too Mission Imp/A Team style.
I will probably read Smith's new one sometime as I have read nearly all the others.

 

capney Did you finish reading War and Peace?

Val

 

Awhile since I have updated this thread.
Val, yes, I did finish War and Peace. I read it one my Bebook ereader I really don`t think I would have finished it by holding on to the large volume that it must be.
I have recently got a Kindle and I`m glad I did.

At this time I am reading Thomas Hoover.
The Samurai Strategy was his first read. A clever plot to destroy the US financial markets.
You really need some knowledge of the financial world to get the best out of this novel, but apart from that a good read.

Right now I am well into his "THE MOGHUL"
Now this a cracking good read and so far gets 10/10 from me.

THE MOGHUL
Based on real people (ca. 1620) – THE MOGHUL begins in a rip-roaring sea battle north of Bombay in which the vastly out-gunned adventurer, Brian Hawksworth, ship's captain and emissary of King James, blows away a flotilla of Portuguese galleons to gain access to an Indian port. He's come to open trade for “barbaric” England and squeeze out the Portuguese, who try to kill him at every turn. But once on land, he’s captive: the beauty and romance of the exquisite Moghul Empire seduce him from his material goals to a new quest – of supreme sensuality in music, visions, and sacred lovemaking.
Thank to Books - Thomas Hoover

I have also been given ten paper backs by John Grisham to read.
I have not read any of his material, so time will tell if its worth mentioning.

 

Congratulations on finishing War & Peace I have John Grishams' A Time to Kill on DVD if you have that one and it is excellent so I would think the book would be even better.

Val

 

"A time to kill" I do not have.
My listing is.
The Rainmaker
The Chamber
The Brethen
The Partner
The Broker
The Testament
A Painter House
The King of Torts
The Last Juror
The Appeal

 

Finished "The Testament" by John Grisham
A mix of legal suspense and a remarkable adventure in the deepest jungles of Brazil.
A suprise but predictable ending.
My first John Grisham book and I found myself reading for long periods.

Now into a second story of his called "The Last Juror"

 

I think most of John Grishams books are about legal/courtroom cases.

Val

 

I had to reject Johns book "The Last Juror"
For me the story went off in to many directions for me.
Sorry John.
But your story "A painted House" is a different issue.
I am 50% through a most enjoyable read based in the USA in 1952 in the southern cotton growing area of Arkansas.
Luke is just 7 years old and is abruptly transported from childhood innocence to experience.
No legal stuff in this story so far.
If you like a book to paint you a mental picture then this be one for you.

 

"A painted House" Now finished this enjoyable read and if I had to score it it would get a 9/10.. well worth picking up a copy.

Now onto John Grishams "The Brethren"
A presidential nominee, a CIA chief, a crooked lawyer and three judges thats are banged up in a Florida prison.
This story is a tapestry of fraud and deceit and makes you wonder what is real in this world and what is contrived.
Score 8/10

"The Chamber" is my next John Grisham story.
" A twenty year old secret is about to explode"
More on this later.

 

John Grisham
THE PARTNER

How to rate this read on a personnel basis?
This will be the last of Johns books I shall read. As I think I have said before I don't` like the legal story lines of most of his books.
The problem I had with this story was making associations with the multitude of characters and the many diversions the story lines took.
Probable down to my inability to grasp the complex issues involved.
And, regretfully the ending is so predictable.
Sorry John. I shall not be rating this novel to highly.

 

A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic detective ability.
That's the DEAD ZONE by Stephen King.
A book, a film and a TV serious.
Imagine that just by the briefest of touches you can foresee the future of that person and events that happen around them.
The story gathers pace until about the mid point and then Stephen brings some political events into the story line and then John Smith has to make a decision that could change the world.
If you have not read this I shall not spoil the ending for you.
Recommended.....Yes.

 

The Legend of sleepy Hollow by Irving Washington.
Its remarkable how the film makers can produce a movie from such a short story.
In the case of Legend of sleepy Hollow I think it was just as well they did.
As a story a little lacking. As a movie I can imagine a lot more graphic and entertaining.

 

I'm ashamed to say that these days it's rare for me to read a novel all the way through.:o I think it comes of spending years doing Eng Lit and having to speed-read all kinds of guff and then regurgitate it in essay form. Somehow it takes all the joy out of things. However, I really enjoyed Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible. It's the story of white missionaries working in the Congo. Kingsolver writes beautfully and the tale really grips you.

I was horrified, on doing a Google search, to find that you can now buy pass notes, chapter summaries and essay outlines for this book. It was only written in 1998! Kids today etc etc etc. The most modern thing we ever got to read was Virginia Woolf. These days, I admire her writing but as a bolshie teenager I remember thinking that it was a great pity she didn't fill her pockets with stones and jump into the river a good deal sooner.

 

Seen this on DVD, I agree it is very good!!!

Val