Time for a more serious read and my next book club book. I have started Stoner: A Novel by John Williams. Here's the blurb:
William Stoner enters the University of Missouri at nineteen to study agriculture. Later, he becomes a teacher. He marries the wrong woman. His life is quiet, and after his death his colleagues remember him rarely.
Yet with truthfulness, compassion and intense power, this novel uncovers a story of universal value. Stoner tells of the conflicts, defeats and victories of the human race that pass unrecorded by history, and reclaims the significance of an individual life. A reading experience like no other, itself a paean to the power of literature, it is a novel to be savoured.
27 Aug 2014
William The Fourth - by Richmal Crompton
As expected, this was an easy read that took no time at all. I enjoyed reading these stories again, being reminded that William was not a bad person. He almost always wanted to do the right thing and to help people, but was a bit misguided and, as a result of a combination of naivety and bad luck, tended to cause mayhem.
I suppose the book is now anachronistic - the world has moved on a lot since it was first published. The core of the stories is still good, as human nature has not changed at all. But the context is now very unfamiliar.
I suppose the book is now anachronistic - the world has moved on a lot since it was first published. The core of the stories is still good, as human nature has not changed at all. But the context is now very unfamiliar.
23 Aug 2014
What I'm reading ...
I have started William The Fourth by Richmal Crompton. This is my next book club book - we thought it might be interesting to revisit one of the books that several of us had read many years ago. Here's the blurb:
There is only one Just William. The loveable imp and his band of Outlaws have been harassing his unfortunate family and delighting hundreds of thousands of readers for years. Here William invents a water race where competitors have to run with a mouth full of water, without swallowing it or spitting it out. It's just a shame he doesn't have time to think before speaking to (and drenching!) Mrs Adolphus Crane during the race!
There is only one Just William. The loveable imp and his band of Outlaws have been harassing his unfortunate family and delighting hundreds of thousands of readers for years. Here William invents a water race where competitors have to run with a mouth full of water, without swallowing it or spitting it out. It's just a shame he doesn't have time to think before speaking to (and drenching!) Mrs Adolphus Crane during the race!
Little Lies - by Liane Moriarty
After enjoying the author's previous books, I had high expectations of this one. I was not disappointed. I think it may be her best yet.
The book is quite long at 450 pages, but the pace is just right, with modest length chapters. From the very start, we are told that a murder has been committed, but we do not know the victim or the perpetrator; this is not revealed until right near the end of the book. The tension builds up steadily, which meant that I read the last 100 or so pages at a sitting.
I guessed at the twist in the story, which meant that I thought I knew who the victim was (and I was right), but I still didn't know the identity of the murderer. This definitely did not spoil anything for me.
The end of the book is tied up neatly, with no loose ends or doubts. It also did not feel rushed, as seems to be the case with many books nowadays.
Overall it is a well written story, which looks at lots of modern issues: bullying, domestic violence and middle class hypocrisy are all addressed.
I look forward to the next book from Liane Moriarty.
The book is quite long at 450 pages, but the pace is just right, with modest length chapters. From the very start, we are told that a murder has been committed, but we do not know the victim or the perpetrator; this is not revealed until right near the end of the book. The tension builds up steadily, which meant that I read the last 100 or so pages at a sitting.
I guessed at the twist in the story, which meant that I thought I knew who the victim was (and I was right), but I still didn't know the identity of the murderer. This definitely did not spoil anything for me.
The end of the book is tied up neatly, with no loose ends or doubts. It also did not feel rushed, as seems to be the case with many books nowadays.
Overall it is a well written story, which looks at lots of modern issues: bullying, domestic violence and middle class hypocrisy are all addressed.
I look forward to the next book from Liane Moriarty.
8 Aug 2014
What I'm reading ...
I have started Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I have enjoy three previous books by this author and this is her latest, so I am looking forward to it. Here's the blurb:
Jane hasn't lived anywhere longer than six months since her son was born five years ago. She keeps moving in an attempt to escape her past. Now the idyllic seaside town of Pirriwee has pulled her to its shores and Jane finally feels like she belongs. She has friends in the feisty Madeline and the incredibly beautiful Celeste - two women with seemingly perfect lives . . . and their own secrets behind closed doors.
But then a small incident involving the children of all three women occurs in the playground causing a rift between them and the other parents of the school. Minor at first but escalating fast, until whispers and rumours become vicious and spiteful. It was always going to end in tears, but no one thought it would end in murder . . .
Jane hasn't lived anywhere longer than six months since her son was born five years ago. She keeps moving in an attempt to escape her past. Now the idyllic seaside town of Pirriwee has pulled her to its shores and Jane finally feels like she belongs. She has friends in the feisty Madeline and the incredibly beautiful Celeste - two women with seemingly perfect lives . . . and their own secrets behind closed doors.
But then a small incident involving the children of all three women occurs in the playground causing a rift between them and the other parents of the school. Minor at first but escalating fast, until whispers and rumours become vicious and spiteful. It was always going to end in tears, but no one thought it would end in murder . . .
The Magic of Reality: How we know what's really true - by Richard Dawkins
This is a really excellent book on the basics of science - or at least it covers many aspects of the world where science has a clear explanation. The author contrasts the myths that have been used to explain things and then looks at the hard facts and puts them in context. I enjoyed the stories. Most of the science I understood quite well, but still learned some nuggets. I also really enjoyed how Dawkins explained much of the stuff, which will help me when I am trying to do the same thing.
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