The B&B Book Review - The Bear and Badger

tigersgogrrr

Brooks wrote:

Lord_Griff wrote:

The city and the city. Not the finest idea, nor all that well thought out. Lacked the magic of previous books. All in all 2 mehs out of 5.

This is the only Mieville I tried all the way through, and it did not sell me on the guy whatsoever.

It's pretty different to most of his stuff. I doubt you'd like any of it.

Gremill

Nina wrote:

Gremill wrote:

Reading Authority, after re-reading (and enjoying more the second time around) Annihilation. It’s both not what I was expecting and not as poor as I’d heard - I’m actually really enjoying it.

I enjoyed that one too. Just started the last one the other day (keep forgetting the names), which has a solid first two chapters. That's as far as I got.

Will reread Annihilation at some point too, think I had wrong expectations going on and feel like I'll appreciate it more the second time.

That’s definitely my thoughts on Anni

Bollockoff

I'm trying to read Umbrella, my first Will Self, for book club but the opening is so stodgy I'm bordering on just taking it back to the library early.

Lord_Griff

tigerswiftly wrote:

Brooks wrote:

Lord_Griff wrote:

The city and the city. Not the finest idea, nor all that well thought out. Lacked the magic of previous books. All in all 2 mehs out of 5.

This is the only Mieville I tried all the way through, and it did not sell me on the guy whatsoever.

It's pretty different to most of his stuff. I doubt you'd like any of it.

I suppose the only one I actually liked was the one with the moth. Thought there were some interesting ideas which weren't ultimately driven to completion, which I hoped was by design.

In other news I am cracking on with Theogony by Hesiod the the library by Appolodorus (not a dinosaur). This will scratch my Greek itch.

tigersgogrrr

Perdido? Did you try The Scar or Iron Council (same setting)?

Lord_Griff

The one on the ship was alright but the train one only had a good last 5 pages.

Lord_Griff

Also, you recommended uprooted right. Never has a book repeated the word "rivuelt" more. It was as annoying as hearing a teenage girl say "like".

tigersgogrrr

Heh, I noticed that too. Weird that it got through editing.

Lord_Griff

Brooks wrote:

Lord_Griff wrote:

The city and the city. Not the finest idea, nor all that well thought out. Lacked the magic of previous books. All in all 2 mehs out of 5.

This is the only Mieville I tried all the way through, and it did not sell me on the guy whatsoever.

Did you read or was it audible. Lad narrating can only do one voice, so I gave up on it and went for the book.

Brooks

Booked it during train rides. But yeah I only audio stuff now, it's a better use of my time.

Vela

Brooks wrote:

Lord_Griff wrote:

The city and the city. Not the finest idea, nor all that well thought out. Lacked the magic of previous books. All in all 2 mehs out of 5.

This is the only Mieville I tried all the way through, and it did not sell me on the guy whatsoever.

I quite enjoyed it. It was a mix between 1984 and a semi-plausible two-state solution for Israel/Palestine.

Lord_Griff

I thought the writing and concept were super clunky. Also reading King Rat now and can see the kernel of the idea there but poorly realised in his new book. Shame.

Vela

Which kernel are you referring to? Last days of new paris?

Lord_Griff

City and the city. Rat king does similar.

Bollockoff

I enjoyed King Rat. It'd make a good YA book.

Vela

Yeah I can see what you mean.

Skondo

Just finished The Circle by Dave Eggers which was very kindly sent to me by Stopharage, you lovely man.

Very much a novel of our time. It builds the tension very slowly and while it is intriguing, sometimes you do wish it would increase the pace. The descriptions of the daily grind are almost too detailed, but I’m sure that’s for greater emphasis and to highlight the world the lead character (Mae) is becoming a part of. Unfortunately I don’t think the tension builds to anything surprising or significant. There are a couple of intended shocks, which are not shocks at all and there is one metaphor that Mr Eggers keeps smacking you over the head with as if he’s saying ‘do you get it yet? I’m not sure you do’ Whack! ‘How about now?’

The conclusion was extremely predictable and given the subject matter, the last paragraph which was perhaps intended to make the reader think ‘no, they can’t go there, how immoral, how unethical’, but it’s actually simply a natural progression.

Enjoyed the majority of the build up, but the conclusion was very unsatisfactory and completely unsurprising.

Scout

Started Robinson Crusoe. I don't mind the old timey language but the entire book is one long unbroken passage of prose. No chapters. No breaks. 240 pages. Geez a break, Dan.

Tempy

It's shit, don't bother.

Scout

To be honest I probably wouldn't but it was a gift and I feel obliged. It's been a long standing tradition with one of my uncles that every Christmas he gives me a book. Last year was East of Eden. Loved it. This year, well it's gonna be a slog.

regmcfly

I read it as a kid and liked it

Tempy

The version I read as a kid I enjoyed too, but that isn't the version I read as an adult that was fuckin' baws.

regmcfly

I think that might be right

Tempy

There's like 100 pages of him talking about making a pot.

regmcfly

That sounds legit

Lord_Griff

Reading Strange stories from a Chinese studio by Pu Songling. Anyone else read it?

Each story might have a moral or lesson to teach, but by fuck are the majority a complete head scratcher. It is like some of the stories just stop.

Mr Wang got up early for breakfast. He had eggs and bacon. There was a strange light in the sky. Mr Wang finished his breakfast. End.

Tempy

Sounds great. Reads like a Murakami synopsis.

Silke

The Complete Essays by Michel de Montaigne.

The only blogger you'll ever need.

TheBoyRoberts

Just finished Time Was by Ian McDonald.

Simply fantastic, tells the story of two lovers trapped in time following an experiment in WWII.

One of the best pieces of fiction I’ve read - honestly can’t recommend it enough.

Stopharage

Recently finished The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Best to go into it knowing as little as possible. It's probably the most original bit of writing I've seen in years. It's extremely disorientating and for much of the first half of the book you'll be utterly flummoxed by what on earth is going on. It's a (possible) murder-mystery set in a Cluedo-esque setting with a wide cast of characters, most of whom are deeply unlikeable. There is also a consistently shifting narrative and the whole thing has a touch of Sexy Brutale. Recommended.

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