Frecossais Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Well, I have now read 3 of Lee Child's Reacher books, (see, I don't do things by halves), and have formed an opinion. I thought after reading two that they were formulaic, typical of the Tough Guy helps rid the world of corruption genre, with professional women totally committed to their work, and dressed for the part, (in silk shirts!) The descriptions of the merits of individual guns bored me, and the situations Reacher finds himself in seemed so beyond the realms of possibility that I shook my head before buying another one. 'Cos that Lee Child can tell a story! They're an easy read, leaving you eager for more. It was a surprise when one book was written in the first person. I had thought that maybe I'd get an insight into his character, but I think Child missed an opportunity there. Reacher was as unreachable as ever.I haven't read them in any order, and am intrigued to read the one that comes after 61 Hours where Reacher doesn't surface after a huge explosion. Please tell me he's ok. Lee Child may not be American, but his books are written in Americanese, where he makes up verbs from their noun forms. I've put my 3 books upstairs on my bookshelf and can't be bothered going up there to find an example, but you'll probably know what I mean.And some good news: whilst I wouldn't buy any more of his books, I've asked my son-in-law to get his ones down from the loft to lend me. Think I could be engaged for a while Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I think you very neatly summed up the appeal of the books. Lee Child certainly can tell a story. I am prepared to put aside all his failings for this crucial element.Every time i finish one i just wish there was another waiting for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I agree about the way Lee Child keeps you hanging. Just read "Killing floor", which sees the introduction of Jack Reacher (1998!) and it was truly gripping. I was quite intrigued to discover that Lee Child is not American, but British, as he has the American thriller genre to a tee.Killing Floor: "In a small town in Georgia, the former military policeman gets off a bus and is thrown into the county jail. For a murder he didn't commit."Excellent airport read, now I can look forward to the other Jack Reachers (I will probably find them on the secondhand stall at the English book Fair for 1 euro each, yipppeeeee!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 They are an easy read, but I suspect many books of this genre are - of course Reacher is fairly unbelievable, but its fiction......I like it when characters come back into his life.......Yes Reacher does survive.....and apparently there is another book expected to be published in the Autumn, for the moment titled 'The Affair'I'm currently into the Bosch books of Micheal Connelly, which have some similarities too, but they are good easy reading. After this one I'm going to read Andrea Levys new book The Long Song, just for a change of genre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I thoroughly enjoyed all the Harry Bosch books. The only one which disappointed me was Nine Dragons because i found it just too far fetched. I think i like Bosch on his own too, without Micky Haller involved in the same book.Rebus, Bosch and Reacher... I'd give a lot to have three new titles drop into my lap this afternoon! This rugby is too difficult to watch!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Agreed about Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch - discovered about 10 years ago, for me it was the first of its genre! I have enjoyed the last few a little less, though.And how about author Robert Crais with his Elvis Cole character?And James Lee Burke?And has anyone mentioned the Millenium Trilogy yet? Such a shame that author Larsson died so early, so it will remain just a trilogy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 [quote user="virginia.c"]I thoroughly enjoyed all the Harry Bosch books. The only one which disappointed me was Nine Dragons because i found it just too far fetched. I think i like Bosch on his own too, without Micky Haller involved in the same book. Rebus, Bosch and Reacher... I'd give a lot to have three new titles drop into my lap this afternoon! This rugby is too difficult to watch!![/quote]I was sent 9 Dragons and The Reversal first, so I have kind of gone in the wrong order - so far only read one with Haller in, The Brass Verdict, but I liked it. Just on the last 100 pages of Trunk Music...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ah, the reversal was good i thought but go back to the beginning RH, i'm sure you will like them.I do like his Haller character but i just prefer both him and Bosch on their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 So far I've read: Black Ice, Black Echo, The Scarecrow, The Reversal, 9 Dragons, The Brass Verdict and now Trunk Music......I'll probably order more once I get my Kindle...luckily I have friends who also like these books so they will be on their way to Normandy very soon ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I'm very jealous, i wish there were some i hadn't read! Now here is a random thought, have you ever read Patrick Gale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 From Patrick Gale, I read "Notes from an Exhibition" - maybe others? Trouble is, I read fast and forget just as fast.[:'(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I'm the same!! He's written a fair few, I am struggling to remember all the titles and most of my books are in France. Cat Sanctuary? Little Bits of Baby? He has written at least ten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Patrick Gale's novels (and I can't remember any of them apart from Notes from an Exhibition. Hmmm. Maybe Friendly Fire. The Aerodynamics of Pork (1986)Ease: An Adventure Story (1986)Kansas in August (1987)Facing the Tank (1988)Little Bits of Baby (1989)The Cat Sanctuary (1990)The Facts of Life (1995)Tree Surgery for Beginners (1998)The Scarlet Boy (1998) (with Tom Wakefield)Rough Music (2000)A Sweet Obscurity (2003)Friendly Fire (2005)Notes from an Exhibition (2007)The Whole Day Through (2009) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 But i can't remember most of what i've read, regardless of author. My excuse is that I've read so much!! Well done with your list by the way! But, i know i enjoyed most of them. Moving on in my random author vein, have you read Colm Toibin's Blackwater Lightship? Beautiful writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Colm Toibin is a familiar name, but would I remember anything I read by him? No.[:D] although I am sure I have. Trouble is, I keep very few books, put them back into circulation after I (or we) have read them.Virginia, no merit for the Patrick Gale list, just copied and pasted[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 [quote user="5-element"]And has anyone mentioned the Millenium Trilogy yet? Such a shame that author Larsson died so early, so it will remain just a trilogy.[/quote]I really enjoyed the books, 5-E. Along with millions of other people. [;-)] And unusually (I think) the each book got better. Normally, the plotting / premise in a third book is stretched out and often hardly worth the effort but the third book in the trilogy was the best. I couldn't put it down. Fortunately OH bought them for me for Christmas so work was not beckoning as I sat in front of the fire with a box of choccies and read. Bliss.One of the best Michael Connolly books is Blood Work. Or maybe I think that because it was one of the first I read years ago - pre-movie.I've been re-reading a few of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books recently and enjoying those. She writes the alphabet series of books and she manages to keep each story fresh and interesting. And I like Lee Childs too. However, a writer I don't bother with nowadays is James Patterson. I'm not surprised he heads the "most borrowed" lists at libraries... I wouldn't bother buying his more recent books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Completely agree about James Patterson - even the covers put me off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I agree too re. Richard Patterson. "Along Came a Spider" was great, and after that it started to go downhill.For sheer suspense I really enjoy Dennis Lehane's books.Have also liked the earlier Jonathan Kellerman's books, (psycho-thrillers are my favourites) - but less so the ones he wrote with his wife Fay. To stay in the Kellerman family, I was impressed with the one (which was it?) written by their son Jesse Kellerman. http://www.jessekellerman.com/new/books/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frecossais Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 Thanks for that list, 5e. I'll give Richard Patterson a try. It's interesting that you say some of the later books in a series are less good. I certainly found that with the Scarpetta books by Patricia Cornwell, for me they became just farcical and I stopped reading them. It's not true of many other series though, to my mind the Brunetti books of Donna Leon are maybe getting darker but are just as absorbing.I'm afraid I forget what I've read too, in fact it's a disgrace how many books I've bought in duplicate, not realising that I've already got them. I've been known to double up before I've even read the first copy. It's those 3 for 2 offers in Waterstones, or 2 for £8 in Tesco and Sainsbury. Greed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I know i've made the comment before on a different thread, but Ian Rankin's Rebus series peaked in his penultimate book for me. He really did buck the trend. Again, only my opinion, but i think Frederick Forsyth and John Le Carre have only churned out pot boilers recently. I loved Forsyth's early stuff and George Smiley because i was (and still am) intrigued by that period of history.As a child i adored Victor Canning and Gavin Lyall, 'Venus with Pistol' anyone?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I am with those who enjoy Michael Connolly’s Harry Bosch (do read Void Moon) and Robert Crais’s Elvis Cole. Where these books have an edge on Lee Childs's Jack Reacher is that Reacher just plods through whatever situation never moved emotionally or hurt. Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone book are written beautifully. I like the way she is trapped in a time bubble but it would be interesting to see her in 2011. Would she be running a bureau with a couple of investigators? Would she have taken over (the late?) Harry's house as an office?I agree that the Scarpetta books by Patricia Cornwell took a real nosedive. I have just finished Jonathan Kellerman's True Detectives which like all his books is hard to put down and has good new protagonists but it has all got a tad mechanical.Like Virginia C I grew up with Gavin Lyall and think the Smiley books the best of Le Carré's work. Recently I have found Catriona McPherson's 1920's books with the heroine Dandy Guiver to be very enjoyable if a bit long and convoluted.Also Tony Hillerman's Navaho detectives have a wonderful sense of Place. I would like to know what those of you who live in France make of the Bruno Courreges books by Martin Walker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I have only read The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker , Which I really enjoyed for its french life feeling, but I wasnt very gripped by the story line , although saying that if I saw another one of his I would probaly buy it ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frecossais Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Renaud, you're right about the lack of emotion of Reacher. He's less real because of it.Le Carre is surely the Master of the spy book. To be read again and again, and savoured. The Smiley series is excellent, and engages our emotions. Page turner even now. Actually there's a new thriller by Alan Furst soon to be reviewed by the TV book club, and apparently if you like Le Carre, you'll like Furst! The book is called Spies of the Balkans and is set in 1940. The same book club reviewed Bleed for Me by Michael Robotham last night. It's a psychological thriller and got the thumbs up from everyone. Two to try, along with some of the suggestions made on this thread?Thought I'd mention that next Saturday 5th March is World Book Day. I signed up for the great British book give-away, so I'll be collecting 48 copies of Dissolution by CJ Sansom and giving them free to all my friends and neighbours. Can't wait. Might celebrate the day by going on Amazon and ordering a few of the books you've recommended here.Happy reading! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Just seen on Amazon that there is new Micheal Connolly book out mid April. Its called the Fifth Witness and is one of the Mickey Haller series Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 But..... He always makes sure the bad guys get what's coming to them! And in the times we live in where even the most terrible crimes seem to go (relatively) unpunished, I for one enjoy the triumph of good over not so good!Some good tips for future reading on this thread, i will be trying some of those mentioned.And wasn't Alec Guiness perfect in the role of George Smiley?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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