Thursday 4 October 2018

A Book or Two

Although I have a long reading wish list, I'm trying to read some of the books I have around the house or those I pick up in charity shops rather than buying more new books. A few years ago I discovered the writer Douglas Kennedy with his book State of the Union. It was an easy and engaging read and I was especially intrigued by Kennedy's ability to write so well from the female perspective. I then picked up his short novel The Dead Heart which I found totally gripping. It's a fast paced, gruesome thriller, interspersed with humour, set in the Australian outback. It's a real page turner. On the back of those two books I received a pile of Douglas Kennedy books one Christmas. I think I probably read a couple of them which were not great but entertaining. So when I picked up The Woman in the Fifth I hoped it might be okay. Unfortunately I thought it was awful! Moderately entertaining to start with, it is an easy, although somewhat far fetched read, telling the story of American Harry Ricks who arrives in Paris having run away from a failed marriage and a scandal that ruined his career. With no money and nowhere to live, Harry unwittingly falls in with the city’s underclass. When he meets and falls in love with a mysterious woman it looks like his future might improve. The plot thickens and the mysteries deepen and then about 75 pages from the end it feels as though Kennedy couldn't work out how to tie up all the loose ends (Spoiler alert... but I don't care if it prevents anyone else wasting several hours reading this nonsense) so he explains everything by making the woman a ghost, without so much as a previous hint at anything supernatural, which was complete and utter nonsense. What a waste of reading time!


Fortunately I found the next book I picked up was far more entertaining. I have read Any Human Heart by William Boyd which I really enjoyed, so when I spotted  Waiting for Sunrise from the same author in the charity shop I thought it was worth picking up. And it didn't disappoint. I found the main character Lysander Rief, very similar to the hapless anti hero Logan Mountstuart of Any Human Heart, and it also has the same easy flowing style, but the story was very different charting Lysander's life from Vienna to London via the battlefields of France during wartime Europe, as he gets embroiled in a life of sex, scandal and spies!


At the same time I also picked up The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel from the same charity shop. I enjoyed the film so was looking forward to reading the book especially since the news that I could be going to India next year. The book isn't quite the same as the film - the basic premise of a retirement home for the elderly is still there and the characters names are the same but that is where the similarity ends. The actual characters and the story line is totally different, so although it is still  enjoyable I'm finding it difficult to remove myself from the mental image of the film as I read.


I thought it was worth reading though to get me in the right frame of mind for my Indian holiday with Colouricious Holidays next year, although it hasn't really conjured up the atmosphere of India I had expected. I'm looking forward to experiencing it first hand for myself instead. If you fancy joining me you can find all the information right here if you click on the link below. It would be so much fun to have blog readers join me on this trip.

11 comments:

  1. My experience of the book of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was the same as yours. I did enjoy it but the characters from the film seemed so much stronger. Your own trip to India sounds so exciting.

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    1. I'm not sure if I am enjoying the book or not. Might have been better to have read the book before seeing the film.

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  2. I am always on the lookout for new reading material. I have read William Boyd before and enjoyed it. I have just finished "The queen of bloody everything", which I found immensely enjoyable. x

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    1. I'll add that to my ever growing list! Xx

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  3. I too like Douglas Kennedy and have read 5 or 6 of his books. I read 'The Woman in the Fifth' some time ago and, as far as I can recall, really enjoyed it. I think sometimes we are influenced by our life circumstances at the time of reading a book as to whether it resonates or not - at least that certainly happens with the members of my book club.

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    1. I'm afraid I am more and more disappointed with Douglas Kennedy books and I'm not sure it has much to do with circumstances. But it is good that we all like different books. I am always amazed at the different opinions in our reading group.

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  4. I feel that one should either read the book or watch the film, something is always lost if both are done.

    I just had a week in Scotland and didn't even turn on my Kindle or open a book!

    Much as I would love to go to India, it will not happen unfortunately but I hope you have a truly wonderful experience there.

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    1. I think you right about either book or film but not both... although there have been a few films I have enjoyed after reading the book, it generally doesn't happen.

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  5. Gina, I know it takes some time to review books so I admire you for including reviews on your blog. I do needlework ones for our Embroiderers' Guild (AEG.org.nz). Personally I am not into thrillers. I have just finished reading Happiness by Aminatta Forna and loved it.
    India? It's not a country I have any great desire to visit - I would love to visit the UK again though; one day, or in my dreams!

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  6. Hi, I enjoyed reading your comments, I have just started reading Any Human Heart and I will push on with it now. At first I thought is it all a bit old boys school for me but well written just the same. x

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    1. I guess it is a bit old boys school now you mention it but still an entertaining read!

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