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Review
'Literate and thought-provoking...Kellerman is a master of menace' Daily Mail 'A most accomplished novel by a writer of great imagination and skill' Sunday Telegraph 'An enthralling, character-driven drama' Daily Record 'Kellerman has a gift for creating compelling characters as well as for crafting an ingenious plot that grabs the reader and refuses to let go.' Publishers Weekly


Picked it up from WH Smiths. £7.99

OR use the blonde link for amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/?&camp=2486&linkCode=wsw&tag=blondepoker-21&creative=8918 and get much cheapness ;)

blimey, well done kev. what time scale you looking at for this? need to decide whether to join in or not.

and how much in smiths?

 ;)

Well depends on what sort of take up we get ... Hopefully a Month will be plenty long enough for everyone to get through.

will give it a week for people to get hold of a copy and go from there.

ordered online

loads available on amazon for 1p. what's the catch?

No idea, apart from that they are used copies. Having never purchased second hand books from there before, I can't say if it's either good or bad.

usually a hefty p&p charge

love this idea

i never books i am more a surfing type of guy

going to nip to library and pick up a copy next week

p&p is standard on Amazon (£2.75 for a book). I've ordered several books for a penny, end up costing about £3 and all have been fine.

Gatso is going to have to improve his reading skills slightly if he's going to get anything out of book club.

sigh. post sure wasn't edited after I clicked on reply

I bought one for 1p yesterday so should be here soon

Anyone else taking part ??

Off to order it now.

How much was it in Smiths?

new thread for a new book imo. this one ran for ages and nothing happened so peeps not checking it

Orderised.

Apparently it has pictures, so it should be OK.

I have split this off from main thread.

I think some book warehouses get rid of excess stock this way - effectively I think they're just looking to cover the cost (or a min. profit) so that they can make space for new stock.

what is the idea here please?

everyone reads it then discussed on a thread at the end of the month?

take it in turns to select the books?

going in to town after work tommorow to get a copy

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=36130.msg785920#msg785920

Random selection from the people who are participating (exclude anyone who has already made a choice) they then choose a book and we go from there?

Yes, First book is in the first post of this thread.

Once we have finished this one, I will pick a name at random from those who participated and they chose the next book .... then that person repeats the process when his book has been read.

I'll be very disappointed if this book isn't a shocking exposé of what really went on in Simon & Garfunkel.

It's taken 9 months to choose a book, how long will it take to read it?

About 3-4 days on average

On it's way from Amazon £2.76.

RSQ about the book FTW

just got my 1p 2nd hand book and it's a brand spanking new copy. well pleased with that, gonna start it tonight

Right, got the thing read. When does the guff talking start? Not a bad choice from Kev, there's a few things that can be discussed in that probs. A few thing I liked, a few thing I didn't like etc etc.

I'm guessing we don't crack into the guff talk straight away as it'll spoil things for those reading it the now. Do we all go go go power rangers at the start of the month or wot, wots the gig?

I just got this for £2.76 from Amazon, hopefully it will arrive just as I finish the book I'm currently reading.

I still have about 20 penguin classics to read too!

will start reading tonight so will be finished after w/e

Will start reading it when it arrives...

can we please specify how many pages the book has before i go out and buy it?

if it's more than 46(front and back) and has no pictures in it i'm out.

let me know when we get to something where you have to kill dragons and go from page 6 to page 212 in one go!

My copy has arrived and will be started on this weekend, once I've removed the Richard and Judy Book Club label

is there a film out about this book cos i might be able to catch that?

This one is pretty hefty, ~120,000 words.

A typical novel size is ~50,000 words

are they big words?

Not really, it's not a heavy read.

droit moral was the only one where I remeber thinking wtf is that?

Mine arrived yesterday,looks like it got dropped in a moat or something... still readable though.

When are we aiming to have the book read?

I think for the end of the month is the plan, with the discussion and that starting on the thread at the beginning of next month.

BUMP

Are we going to do this soon? I have a great book lined up for when it comes to my turn.

I've not read it yet. I'll do it by the weekend

I still need to read it too. 

lol, i have read 2 books since that one and i only got it a few weeks ago

I'm gonna go to blockbuster later, see if I can rent the video

I finished it a while ago.Meh

I am half way through it .... enjoying it tbh .... will probs finish it on the train home on monday.

It's worth starting then?

Haven't had much time to read recently but still over half way through the book so hopefully will have it finished at the same time as everyone else :)

I'll start spamming the thread with guff aboot the book on Saturday.

If y'all want to start before then, I'm no bothered, fire on I reckon.

Saturday sounds good t me, should have finished it by then ... 

I will reread it this week so I can remember the finer points

I'll try to start it by then. I'll need to find the thing first.  It's packed in a box, somewhere....

Okay, here's a question to kick us off.

What role do you think New York the city plays in the novel?

Throughout the novel there is a common theme of people to New York and quickly achieving the success that was denied them elsewhere. Solomon's friend Singer in one era, the narrators girlfiend Marilyn in another. it is not until Victor reaches New York that he is able to express himself freely and create the work of art that is the impetus for the story.

This common theme, do you think it is a deliberate use of symbolism on the part of the author? The city as some sort of live giving force on which humanity can suckle if it so chooses to make it's way there? If so, is there a way the continual references to the 9/11 terrorist attacks play a part in this symbolism, or do you think the author just happens to be a big fan of New York?

Finished it at the weekend ..

The 9/11 references being plentiful made me think the book was being written in the months after the event ... and the writer felt he had to include them in the book.

I Loved the way the book was written, the "interlude" chapters were genius imo.


I have always been good with being able to put faces to characters in my imagination, but i really struggled to put a face to Marilyn... strange.

Wont go into too much more detail at the mo, because I know people are still reading.

managed to pick it up from libary today

membership card was 5 years out of date wtf?

I really have been useless with this, still have 60 pages to go. will do it v. soon


this line interested me as I had real issues but with Ethan. for at least half the book everytime I started reading a bit I'd picture the narrator as a woman for a bit then I'd remember it was a bloke. not too sure why though, something in the author's style just seems a bit feminine to me

I felt that a little bit of that too, especially in the first half of the book.
Perhaps it was because of some amount of gender bias in the characters with positive traits.

If you consider the narrators half brother against his half sister. It's the sister who is the compassionate and understanding one. Then obviously there's the relationship the narrator had with his mother vs that of his father.

The Marilyn character is a strong woman in control of her enviroment, and Bertha in the flashback being something of a puppet master too. Another female character who comes across positively is McGrath's daughter.

Indeed, it's not until after McGrath's death when we are introduced to his ex-wife that we come across a female character for whom the balance of her virtues and vices is skewed towards the negative.

Some stuff I liked.

I liked a lot of the background and authenticating detail that the author drew of the narrator and the art world that he was a part of. 'Deathbucks' in particular sounded like a genuine but of New York performance art.

The whole idea behind Victor's great big drawing.

I enjoyed the Marilyn character, such phrases as "You're the only guy here I've not fired or fucked" and the perspective that rape and murder is "just sex and violence"
(Her emotional collapse I found utterly unconvincing and somewhat cliched, but this is the stuff I liked part so less about that.)



Stuff I didn't like

Throughout the whole book, I didn't like the authors economy of language (or lack of it)
It's a delicate balance to strike, (telling us not enough vs telling us too much) but I thought that the author got it wrong for my tastes in this book. All too often I felt like I was being spoon fed information that could have better been conveyed subtely. (stuff about the plot, about atmosphere and about character)

Just not my thing I guess.

I should really start reading this book...

thats because the first line of the book starts with "the Heroine" or something similar so it puts you in the mindset of a woman, the author doesnt actual state that is a man until around page 50 i think.

narrator actually introduces himself as ethan on page 2 but I see what you mean about the heroine bit

i didnt think of it until after this comment but it seems to paint the picture that you can prosper in New York but it has a adverse effect on you, all the side characters seem to be sucsessfull but not nice people, the father, the family going back all seem to be diferent stages of fucked up, while he seems to adore the city and praise it for handling the 9/11 he seems to show the inhabitants ina bad light.

but not as he or she.

The author tried to push the gay side of this book by going into greater detail of the homosexual side of peoples relationships and skirting over the sex scene betwenn the lead and the cops daughter, is this showing maybe the author being homosexual or just trying to add a little shock to the pages? The way he seems to empower the woman throughout the book except the cops ex wife who he puts to a cheating drunk, again is it a history that he is bringing to the pages or shock factor?

Would make a good movie imo.

I definately don't think we can infer anything about the author's sexuality from this. A straight person could just have easily have written this.
He possibly might have just wanted to shock but there could be other reasons.

You could argue that it warranted more explanation because most people are familiar with what happens between an art dealer and a detectives daughter of opposing genders in bed, but less familiar with what goes on in a same sex relationship between an adolescent mogoloid and a sociopath.

I don't think it was in there just to shock tbh, will give the author the benefit of the doubt on that one. Personally, I think the additional detail was warranted because the gay relationship was far more central to the plot and an integral part of Victor's motivation, it explained the power that (can't remember his name, the baddy) had over him.

I liked the way the book was written with lots of dialogue passages, very easy to read in characters voices.

I posted earlier about the problem I had putting a face to Marilyn, that still bothers me tbh ...

Krystiana (sp) was a good character ... she was obv a fruit loop and some of the references to her work made me LOL

Tank mentioned the "Deathbucks", that was quality ... but the "Jizz or salon secrets" one was just LOL funny and yet wholly believable in these types of art exhibitions.


Pleased with the book overall, and cant wait to start discussing the storyline proper.

Cant believe only 4 people have read the book ...

[ ] Rip roaring success

What's the book for next month?

Maybe if we try something under 120,000 words we might have more uptake.

I've started reading it, and intended to finish it long ago.

Exams come first though, another 2 weeks (and a house move) and I can read as many of these book club books that you can throw at me - Kev, that isn't an invitation!

Invitation is useless until we start reading hardbacked books :)

finished it last night. not too sure why the author felt the need to squeeze 1/2 the story into the last 30 pages. had victor used up all his paper drawing pictures?

bit disappointed tbh, I assume the ending was supposed to be some sort of twist but by the time I got to it I didn't care anymore

I was disappointed by this. It set off with great promise and the concept of the mulit-piece of art discovered in an empty apartment gave it a twist. But after that...

I found the characterisation to be somewhat poor and the cheap cracks about what is and what isn't modern art felt out of place.

The use of the double narrative helped to keep interest in the plot but there was no sense of feeling connected to any character other than the retired cop whose name I can't recall(not that connected then!)

Was the New York setting in any way symbolic? I don't think so, it could, as easily, have been set in London. Probably would have been if it had been written by Jeffrey Archer. Or Rome if by Dan Brown.

Overall, I'm glad I finished it.

Differing opinions are great, dont be afraid to say you hated it.

I liked the old cop too ... He came across as a tough fella, but fair and upstanding.

I really enjoyed the book as i have said, I felt the interlude chapters were superb, it was the authors way of gently releasing the history of the family and their hidden secrets, without fracturing the flow of the story through Ethans eyes.

I hope the book club thrives, because it means picking up books that you would normally ignore ... that can only be a good thing.

+1

   Well i read the book last month and found it quite dull.The lead character never "grabbed me" and i struggled to imagine how the artwork could have such a dramatic effect on on him and those around him.The arrival of the interludes added a little interest but you could immediately see which path the storyline was going along.I barely remember some of the minor characters as the book hasn't lived with me,however it was far from terrible.

There were a few points of interest but I agree with cdw on the whole.

Probably not helped by having just read "everything is illuminated" which had a similar investigation-interlude-omg they're related type thing going on.

Time for a new book then ??


I pick Phatomch to choose it ... when his is done, he will select the next person... and so on.

Got this for my train journey couple of weeks ago and must admit i struggled with it from the beginning. It was easy enough read and he kept it moving along okay but never really got into any of the characters. The flashbacks i felt began to become far too long winded and somewhat unnecessary in it's detail. I still haven't finished it but will though don't hold out a lot of faith that it will surprise me in any way.

Will try to post again if i get it finished as i do tend to leave books unfinished if i don't reallly get into them.

the ultimate test of a novel imo is the simple question 'would I read something else by the same author?'

the answer in this case is a resounding NOOOOO

bump...

sorry been meaning to do this , but my grandad has been very ill in the hdu unit of local hospital for the last week so been there or at work everyday, going into town on Tuesday so will pick up the book then.

hope he's on the mend soon x

New book for this month, it's not the one i wanted but sounds like a good read anyway.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Tiger-Aravind-Adiga/dp/1843547228?&camp=2486&linkCode=wsw&tag=blondepoker-21&creative=8942


   
 

 
 
 
 

That won the Booker prize last year.

oh and make sure you use the blonde linky thing, feel free to change my link over any mods..

I've editted the code, I bought a new hard back for £4.75 (inc p&p) from the amazon market place.

Hopefully it will come by the time I've finished Cold Comfort Farm.

Anyone else reading this?  ;booder;

I'm about half way through and it's been entertaining so far.

What was the book you actually wanted Phatomach? I might give that a read too.

Just finished it and would say its one of the best books I have read for a while. Wasn't sure what to expect but became thoroughly engrossed. Will try to post my thoughts on it later as we have to head to the Rio as were playing in this team thing today (watch out for team name  :D )

Havent even bought a copy yet, will get round to it this week sometime.

Haven't bought my copy yet either.  ;ashamed;

Will get on to that sharpish though if some of you have read it already.

I'm a bit behind the rest of you.

Just ordered it 1p plus £2.75 p+p (blonde link used), I'm trying not to read the whole thread before it arrives :)

this (apart from the bit about heading off t the Rio ...)

"The White Tiger" arrived this morning and i am about 100 pages in so far(quiet day at work)got to say i'am loving it.So different from the normally novels i've read.Will hold fire till more have read it.....

at the exact same stage myself, really enjoying it so far!

Embarrassed from Pompey here ... still havent bought a copy.

Will nip down to Tesco later and see if I can get one there.

It's £2.50 for a brand new hardback on the book people
http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/

Postage is £3.50 but free if you order > £25.

I bought the Life of Pi (also won the booker prize) in hardback for £2.50 and a couple of their collections. 24 books for £25!

Just finished it today, what a cracking read!

Defo going to start using the term - 'dip my beak'.

When do we get to discuss it?

I finished it yesterday,thoughly enjoyed it.This a is book i would have never read mainly due to the sleeve artwork which kinda put me off.
Is anyone still reading it or can we discuss it and someone pick a new title?

never judge a book by its cover

ive read, what page you on Kev?

are we any near getting a review/new book?  cant wait to dip my beak into something new!

Book bought ... Still in bag ... moving house into a shell which needs everything doing hasnt left much time for reading, even though I am making Jane do 99% of the work :(

Finished the Kellerman  book yesterday at hospital ( I tend to do most of my reading at the dialysis unit 4 hours x 3 times per week).

I thought it was very easy to see where it was going to lead in the flashbacks, but was well worth £2.76 :)

Have you read it yet Kev?

The White Tiger? Is this the next one? Many reading it?

Ordered The White Tiger from the Blonde amazon link..

That's the problem with books, £2.76!!!!! how am i going to pay that for a book when i can get 3 stellas for that, not going to happen is it?

and it's not like i dont have to do enough reading around here i'm supposed to read as well when i turn off the computer?  gtfo!

Yeah read this one ages ago ....


Have "White Tiger" ... but just been so busy recently, havent even taken it out of the bag yet .

Book worms, has anyone read or heard about Logicomix:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logicomix-Search-Truth-Apostolos-Doxiadis/dp/0747597200

Am just about to order it...

Not heard of the book but Bertrand Russel was an intersting chap so it's got the potential to be rather interesting.

  Just started reading "The moon is a balloon",David Niven's auto biography after it was recommended by a friend.Very amusing,so far he's been expelled,got a girlfriend who's a prostitute and is just about to enter Sandhurst,hasn't even got to Hollywood yet!

Slow start then?

:D

A fascinating character and a brilliant mind (despite being Welsh). 

It's the format of the book that's interesting as well. 

The lost symbol by dan brown

not very good imo

just finished what might actually be the greatest trilogy in modern literature.

Bloods a Rover is the 3rd part of the James Ellroy American trilogy, which in total charts a course from 1958 all the way thru to 1972, taking in such events as the kennedy's, j edgar hoover, the mafia, vegas, howard hughes, martin luther king, vietnam, cuba, and nixon, along with a whole host of other events.

they are works of fiction, intertwined with real life events. the interesting question is, how much is truth and what is fiction.

in total the three books total almost 2500 pages. it is written in an unusual style, which takes a bit of getting used to.

but it is worth it. epic is an oft overused word, but is appropriate in this case

Shame this book club thing died.

Normally struggle to find books that keep my interest, but just battered the Millenium Trilogy in about 6 weeks.

Might order The White Tiger, need to find something to keep the reading levels up.

White Tiger was pretty decent. Don't be put off by the booker win, it's very readable.

finally got round to reading 'Blood Lines' by Mark Billingham, the latest in his DI Tom Thorne series.

This book was 'long awaited' after he took a break from the series to write another novel. I cant help but think it has lost its momentum, which is a shame after only 4-5 books. The twist was pretty obvious to anyone who has read a lot of this kind of stuff before, and the characters feel tired and cliched already. I'll give it a 6/10 for keeping me mildly entertained while in the air yesterday.


I am a bit worried about the 'crime novel scene' these days. Rebus has gone, and Peter Robinsons Alan Banks has gone completely off the boil. It seems to be left to Peter James and Stuart MacBride to fill the gap....

Just ordered the two books off here and The Zen Omnibus? The first three books by Michael Dibdin in his Zen series?

Thoughts?

lol

[  ] stu hopkin can read

White Tiger was a good read would recommend it.

Just went through a WWII phase and read Anthony Beevor's Berlin and Stalingrad and Stephen Ambrose's D-Day and Band of Brothers.

Think I need to find something a little lighter for a bit :)

i havent read this thread - as i read about 2 books a year.............. and depending upon what you want from a book

"Freakonomics" and its follow up "superfreakonomics" are both good reads

Almost bought Superfreakonomics last weekend?
Quick description of content Guy?

They are both great books - really interesting reads - but you should read freakonomics first

The idea is to take a modern day situation, apply economic principles and give you a different slant on what is the accpeted norm - that sabout as good a description as i can get without spoiling it

Basically they are 2 ecomomists (ivy league) who take economic priciples and apply them to everyday situations

I cant give examples without spoilers, but if you read the chapter headings you will get the drift. THings like why are sumo wrestlers like estate agents.

It is done on both a serous level but has humour twisted in too.

They are both great reads

you dont need a degree in economics to understand btw

oh yes, and "bringing down the house" is a great book - about the MIT kids who took vegas for $$$$$ playing blackjack and couting cards. Much better than the film "21" which veers widely from the story

I also enjoyed White tiger. Currently Reading animal farm. It's not as good as the film...