Search
Search results
This one's a bit too close for comfort...
Well, this was a bit of a disconcerting and frankly worrying book. but it's one that made me really think.
Set in present day, it follows Jon Keller, an American Historian, and his fellow guests at a hotel in Switzerland, following a nuclear war. Pretty much every major city in the world has been bombed. The majority of guests have left, trying to get back to their homes even thought the media has advised them against doing so (no aeroplanes, no public transport). Jon and a small group of other guests decide to stay and make the best of it.
Whilst checking water supplies in the roof storage tanks, they find the body of a child, and Jon decides to investigate.
The book is written in Jon's voice as he writes a diary, a history, of his and the other guests survival, and his investigation.
I really liked this. It wasn't sensationalised, it all seemed so reasonable, and in our current worldwide political climate, so plausible - which is what made it really scary. It did have a bit of the "Huis Clos" (a play by Jean Paul Sartre) feeling about it: a feeling of being trapped with the same day coming around again and again, no escape, stuck with the same people that you neither particularly like or trust. And I liked that about it.
By the way, in the advent of a nuclear holocaust, Switzerland would seem to be a pretty civilised place to be 'stuck'.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for the copy of this book to read and review!
Set in present day, it follows Jon Keller, an American Historian, and his fellow guests at a hotel in Switzerland, following a nuclear war. Pretty much every major city in the world has been bombed. The majority of guests have left, trying to get back to their homes even thought the media has advised them against doing so (no aeroplanes, no public transport). Jon and a small group of other guests decide to stay and make the best of it.
Whilst checking water supplies in the roof storage tanks, they find the body of a child, and Jon decides to investigate.
The book is written in Jon's voice as he writes a diary, a history, of his and the other guests survival, and his investigation.
I really liked this. It wasn't sensationalised, it all seemed so reasonable, and in our current worldwide political climate, so plausible - which is what made it really scary. It did have a bit of the "Huis Clos" (a play by Jean Paul Sartre) feeling about it: a feeling of being trapped with the same day coming around again and again, no escape, stuck with the same people that you neither particularly like or trust. And I liked that about it.
By the way, in the advent of a nuclear holocaust, Switzerland would seem to be a pretty civilised place to be 'stuck'.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for the copy of this book to read and review!
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated Christmas in London: A Novel in Books
Dec 19, 2019
This book I thought would be more about one couple getting to know each other and the other being a young man they get together and see more of London at Christmas. This did somewhat happen though not the way I pictured it.
It about two women, one a pastry chef and the other network producer. The one named Kate was a better story line that kept me reading. I was half attempting to not complete reading it and making it DNF. It was boring to read. It was a romance. There was not much going on about this cooking show. The woman Louisa was more worried about her dreams. She did not see that she had two men falling for her. If the author had made it more about cooking and her recipes. I would then see how Louisa was acting. No, that not what I got.
The subplot with Kate seems more like what I was expecting. Her penning for her love and see London with her lost love. She runs into him at the hotel and spends the week sightseeing. This story is a better storyline and more enjoyable. I enjoy meeting Trevor. Their story was more of a love story and seeing their experience in London at Christmas.
I enjoyed hearing about some of the places in London. Imaging the couples there experiencing London during Christmas. Kate and Trevor's story is one that I would have read more about. Trevor and Kate have a history together. Reading about St. Andrews and their past. I may be happy to read. I was could picture the area. Scotland and some of the landmark the best parts.
It about two women, one a pastry chef and the other network producer. The one named Kate was a better story line that kept me reading. I was half attempting to not complete reading it and making it DNF. It was boring to read. It was a romance. There was not much going on about this cooking show. The woman Louisa was more worried about her dreams. She did not see that she had two men falling for her. If the author had made it more about cooking and her recipes. I would then see how Louisa was acting. No, that not what I got.
The subplot with Kate seems more like what I was expecting. Her penning for her love and see London with her lost love. She runs into him at the hotel and spends the week sightseeing. This story is a better storyline and more enjoyable. I enjoy meeting Trevor. Their story was more of a love story and seeing their experience in London at Christmas.
I enjoyed hearing about some of the places in London. Imaging the couples there experiencing London during Christmas. Kate and Trevor's story is one that I would have read more about. Trevor and Kate have a history together. Reading about St. Andrews and their past. I may be happy to read. I was could picture the area. Scotland and some of the landmark the best parts.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Perfect Kill in Books
Feb 7, 2020
Superb, a real return to form
Thanks to the publishers Avon and NetGalley for the chance to read a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This, the 6th of Fields' Edinburgh crime thrillers has a different feel to it. These books had started to feel a little formulaic, with one major investigation, one minor one and personal issues lurking in the background. Here the story is for once fully focused on (what turns out to be) one large-scale linked crime.
Luc Callanach, who has taken something of a back seat in the recent books, is back in his native Paris, as Scottish liaison to Interpol. He is working to uncover a suspected organ theft operation with potential Scottish victims. Meanwhile back in Edinburgh, Ava Turner is embroiled in missing persons cases, apparently unconnected murders and a few bone fragments left by pigs, trying to piece it all together.
The underlying story is strong as usual, with clear and believable twists and discoveries. The new characters introduced are all well-formed and distinct, and the dialogue much stronger than in previous books (I have at times had issues with the form of swearing in the books - living in Edinburgh and taking public transport I hear a fair amount of it!).
I absolutely rattled through this book in under 4 days - pretty much unheard of for me - partly due to being away on business and with no English TV channels in my hotel room, but also due to the superb rolling storyline which makes you want to read one more chapter.
A superbly told and imagined crime thriller.
This, the 6th of Fields' Edinburgh crime thrillers has a different feel to it. These books had started to feel a little formulaic, with one major investigation, one minor one and personal issues lurking in the background. Here the story is for once fully focused on (what turns out to be) one large-scale linked crime.
Luc Callanach, who has taken something of a back seat in the recent books, is back in his native Paris, as Scottish liaison to Interpol. He is working to uncover a suspected organ theft operation with potential Scottish victims. Meanwhile back in Edinburgh, Ava Turner is embroiled in missing persons cases, apparently unconnected murders and a few bone fragments left by pigs, trying to piece it all together.
The underlying story is strong as usual, with clear and believable twists and discoveries. The new characters introduced are all well-formed and distinct, and the dialogue much stronger than in previous books (I have at times had issues with the form of swearing in the books - living in Edinburgh and taking public transport I hear a fair amount of it!).
I absolutely rattled through this book in under 4 days - pretty much unheard of for me - partly due to being away on business and with no English TV channels in my hotel room, but also due to the superb rolling storyline which makes you want to read one more chapter.
A superbly told and imagined crime thriller.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated American Horror Story - Season 8 in TV
Apr 29, 2020 (Updated Sep 10, 2020)
Season 8 of AHS is one that I honestly struggled with.
Subtitled "Apocalypse", the show deals with the end of the world and endeavours to bring the antichrist, a now grown Michael Langdon (born at the end of season 1) face to face with the coven of witches from season 3.
I can't fault the ambition on display. I really like when different seasons reference each other so this first fully fledged crossover is enticing.
The execution is just a bit boring unfortunately.
I didn't really like any of the new characters. I like both Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson very much, but the characters written for them are so over the top. AHS had always had a hammy side, but this was just a little too much. The comedy aspect just didn't stick this time around. Even Kathy Bates get a pretty uninspired story arc, really nothing too different from her "right hand man" relegation in Freak Show and Hotel.
As I've said before, I'm also not a huge fan of Coven, so when they eventually turn up, I surprisingly felt relieved.
Michael Langdon is an exception. Cody Fern plays him with a genuine sense of evil, and was the highlight for me.
It's not all bad however, the return to Murder House was a great touch and it was great to see Jessica Lange and other season 1 characters return, even if it was all too brief.
It's hard to hate on it too much, as AHS always has it's tongue firmly in cheek, but Apocalypse just felt like a misfire - a great idea, but fumbled in practice.
Subtitled "Apocalypse", the show deals with the end of the world and endeavours to bring the antichrist, a now grown Michael Langdon (born at the end of season 1) face to face with the coven of witches from season 3.
I can't fault the ambition on display. I really like when different seasons reference each other so this first fully fledged crossover is enticing.
The execution is just a bit boring unfortunately.
I didn't really like any of the new characters. I like both Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson very much, but the characters written for them are so over the top. AHS had always had a hammy side, but this was just a little too much. The comedy aspect just didn't stick this time around. Even Kathy Bates get a pretty uninspired story arc, really nothing too different from her "right hand man" relegation in Freak Show and Hotel.
As I've said before, I'm also not a huge fan of Coven, so when they eventually turn up, I surprisingly felt relieved.
Michael Langdon is an exception. Cody Fern plays him with a genuine sense of evil, and was the highlight for me.
It's not all bad however, the return to Murder House was a great touch and it was great to see Jessica Lange and other season 1 characters return, even if it was all too brief.
It's hard to hate on it too much, as AHS always has it's tongue firmly in cheek, but Apocalypse just felt like a misfire - a great idea, but fumbled in practice.
Groupon Asia - Deals, Coupons & Shopping
Shopping and Lifestyle
App
Groupon delivers unbeatable deals for 50—90% off the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy from...
GentingRewards
Shopping and Lifestyle
App
Genting Rewards Alliance (www.gentingrewards.com) is a global online loyalty platform for Resorts...
Letters from a Nut: With an Introduction by Jerry Seinfeld
Ted L. Nancy and Jerry Seinfeld
Book
Spoof letter writing has a long history from Lazlo Toth to Henry Root but nothing can prepare you...
The Girl You Left Behind
9.0
Rate It
Book
The Girl You Left Behind is a hauntingly romantic and utterly irresistible new weepy from Jojo...
How to be Both
Book
How to be both is the dazzling new novel by Ali Smith. Winner Of The Goldsmiths Prize 2014....
