Book Review Year 3 No 5

[smallhobbit]

And my final book review of the year.

The Dry by Jane Harper

A new book in 2017.  I came across this because I did one of those "What book should I read next?" quiz on, I think, Caboodle.  I enjoyed it - another detective novel, this time set in the Australian Outback, in a township where it hasn't rained for the last few years, the streams have dried up, and with it the hopes of the community.  The setting was new and different, for me at least, and I didn't anticipate the outcome.  It's the first in a series about Aaron Falk, the detective, but although I enjoyed the book, I'm not sufficiently taken to want to read more.  However, I'd recommend it to any of my flist who are looking for an escape from traditional British or North American crime stories.


Aunt Dimity's Good Deed by Nancy Atherton

The second present from aome  I am hooked on the stress-free enjoyable stories.  Nothing thought-provoking, but I'm not reading them for that reason.  I've tracked down the next book at Abe Books and it's arriving in a couple of weeks time.


The Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor

A murder in London in 1666, at the time of the Great Fire.  I can't remember who recommended this.  For me there was too much family detail of the protagonists in the way of showing life at the time.  It's also written from two separate POVs - one first person, one third person.  The two meet towards the end of the book.  And the conclusion left me thinking 'Oh, okay'.  I think it would probably appeal to others on my flist.


A Slip of the Keyboard by Terry Pratchett

This is a collection of newspaper articles and speeches by Terry Pratchett over the years.  It was recommended to me by moth2fic  and I would recommend it to any Pratchett fan.  Some of it is repetitive, because inevitably certain facts will be repeated in different articles, especially when they date over a number of years.  And I would have liked to read a bit more about Discworld.  But since I borrowed it from the local library, it didn't cost me anything and I learned a lot.


Golden Age and Other Stories by Naomi Novik

Short stories, and drabbles, about Temeraire and other dragons.  Another new book this year, and a birthday present from my mother.  It was lovely to read some more about the dragons, and, in one case, a retelling of Pride and Prejudice with dragons.  And speaking of fan fiction - there are some excellent Temeraire stories for Yuletide over on AO3.


Which brings us to the end of 2017.  My thanks to Goodreads for encouraging me to continue reading - I look forward to the 2018 Reading Challenge; to my local library for providing some of the books; and to you lot for reading my reviews.  Here's to a book-filled 2018!

Comments

[mafief]

1) I've had multiple people suggest Terry Pratchett to me, so that is on my list of things to read next year.

2) You finished little Holmes! Ah! I can't want to see more pictures of him in the hat. :)

[smallhobbit]

Definitely read some Terry Pratchett - just don't start with the first two Discworld novels - even Pratchett agrees there. I would suggest "Guards! Guards!" which is the first of the City Watch series (my favourite series). Alternatively "Mort" (Death series) or "Equal Rites" (Witches series).

I finished crochet Holmes last night, and it seemed appropriate he appear on a book review.

[moth2fic]

I'm glad you read the Pterry book - I bought it for a friend for Christmas and have recced it far and wide! I think my copy has gone but I will be repurchasing - maybe in e-book format. Thanks for reminding me about the Novik shorts - I had heard about it but had forgotten!

[smallhobbit]

I was fortunate I could borrow it from the library and didn't have to wait for ages to get it. Unless you can get the Novik book on e-book I think it's probably best as a present, since it only came out in the summer - but I think you'll enjoy it.

[vix_spes]

Really interesting to read your reviews ... Golden Age is on my wishlist on Amazon so I'll get to it eventually!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I think you'll enjoy Golden Age when you do get it.

[margaret_r]

I've received the Terry Pratchett book for Christmas from guess who so will be reading it. Have you read Good Omens by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman? It's very good. The Dry looks interesting, I should try it.

[smallhobbit]

I've not read Good Omens although I know it's very popular. They have it at my local library so I may well borrow it once I've finished the books I'm currently reading. Unless I get distracted by something else.

If you do read The Dry I shall be interested to know what you think.

[margaret_r]

Just dropping back to say I've read The Dry now (borrowed from the library) and it was overall a good read. I have a few slight quibbles about the depiction of rural Victoria,although the descriptions were generally very good - heat, flies, drought. I didn't develop enough interest in Aaron to rush out to get the next volume, though I might delve at some future date. Thanks for reviewing it:)

[smallhobbit]

I'm glad you thought The Dry a good read. It's interesting to see your comments on how accurate it was. I agree with you that Aaron wasn't sufficient to encourage me to continue with the series.

By co-incidence I have just finished Good Omens and returned it to the library. I did enjoy it very much, so thank you for the recommendation. It'll be in my next book review.