I was so sorry to miss July' s meeting as I would have liked to hear views on Northern Lights. I re-read it and was again bound up in it all, and ended up reading the trilogy again. Loved the first part, enjoyed the second even more, but do find part three too long in parts.
Why is there a tendency for sequel books to get longer as these multi-part sagas develop? It's the same with Harry Potter. A good editor's red pen would have helped hold the Dark Materials trilogy together better at the end, I feel. But these are three wonderful imaginative books, and really poignant on several occasions. For those who stopped after Northern Lights, the real hero of the books for me is Will, who is introduced in The Subtle Knife, a good foil to Lyra. And I will confess to an abiding affection for Lee Scorsby. Oh well....
On the topic of length, the same is true of some biographies, including Claire Tomalin on Hardy, I fear. Her recent books are much fatter than the earlier ones! Like Paula, I am keeping that to read again in September. I saw Claire Tomalin at Ways with Words as one of four biographers, with Patrick French amongst others. Thought she was a bit conscious of her position as the "elder statesman" of biography there, but liked Patrick French very much. I enjoyed reading him on Younghusband - his first book, I think, on one of the participants in the Great Game carried out by Russia, GB etc in places like Afghanistan and Tibet at the end of the 19th Century. Seems we still haven't learnt the lessons of history.
My faourite speaker at Dartington? Gavin Menzies, who wrote 1421, which is subtitled The Year China Discovered the World. It too is rather fat, and I am still to get round to actually reading it.
Some recent reads:
The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney.
This is a page turner, it really reeks of the period and place, as far as I can judge anyway. One of the best books I've read in ages. Highly recommended.
Bless'Em All, Allan Saddler.
Cathy mentioned this local author, who might be wiling to come and talk to us as a group. This is a novel of the second world war, set in the Blitz in London. I enjoyed it, it is quite evocative of the period too, lots of authentic detail, but ultimately unmemorable. Probably good as nostalgia, or social history even, but I did not warm to any of the characters or really care about what happened to them, which is why it hasn't stuck with me.
Jill T
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Jill, Its great to see someone else blogging.
Confession _ I didnt read Northern Lights - I know it's not in the spirit of the reading group and I promise not to do it again but I really couldn't face it.
I agree with you about The Tenderness of Wolves I liked the characters and descriptions of life in that bleak landscape very much.
I have recently read Small Wars Permitted by Christina Lamb. She was really interesting at Ways with Words as well and this book is a collection of articles and recollections from her career as a war corerespondent in almost every conflict in the last 20 years.
I have also really enjoyed Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. this would make a great reading group book. I am also renting the dvd this week so hopefuly that won't be too disappointing. Paula
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