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David McK (3562 KP) rated Under Enemy Colours: Charles Hayden Book 1 in Books

Jan 30, 2019

Apparently the first in a new series, and (for once) the comparison on the back of the book - which reads something like "in the tradition of Patrick O'Brian and Bernard Cornwell" - is actually pretty accurate!

Having said that, I would've replaced O'Brian reference with CS Forester: some of the events contained in the book have more than a passing resemblance to some of those in the Hornblower novels! The Cornwell reference, though, is pretty much spot on: an outsider officer (naval, in this case) who must contend with both his own immediate superiors as well as the enemy ... sound familiar at all?

Still, I'll be keeping an eye out for the sequel!

Kudos

Otway93 (580 KP) rated Call for the Dead in Books

Oct 21, 2019

Call for the Dead

John Le Carre | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry

9.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Story (2 more)

Length

Characters

One of the finest debuts of all time...

One of the finest debuts of all time, and thanks to John le Carré, a fine writer and real life secret service employee, one of the most realistic spy novels written.

Not only is this an excellent debut from le Carré, but an introduction to one of the greatest fictional spies, George Smiley, best known from "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy".

This may seem a strange one, but the book is quite short, which is a good thing. I enjoy books short and long, but this is excellent for some light reading, and the best place to start with le Carré's books is definitely at the start!

Kudos

Milleen (47 KP) rated The Tattooist of Auschwitz in Books

Jan 14, 2019

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Heather Morris | 2018 | Biography, History & Politics, Religion

8.7

(74 Ratings)

Book Rating

The beautiful narrative follows the life of Lale, a Slovakian linguist who finds himself labouring as a ‘Tätowierer‘ within a concentration camp. The interactions of the prisoners and their captors portrays the full spectrum of humanity. Knowing that the cast of real life characters may not survive the war, is a stark reminder that every one of the seventeen million people who died during the Holocaust, had a story of their own. There are a number of formidable novels that depict this harrowing time, they ensure we never forget the strength and tenacity it took to live and love in the harshest of circumstances. Definitely one to read before the film is released.