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Jamie's 2016 Reads
2) The Quiet American by Graham GreeneTotal Pages 649
I love Gaham Greene. A good read but not my favourite 3/5
Finally Jamie someone else that didn't like The Bees! This story had so much potential and I thought it was so boring.
Erica wrote: "Finally Jamie someone else that didn't like The Bees! This story had so much potential and I thought it was so boring."I wish I had given up after the first 50 pages Erica!
4) Life or Death by Michael RobothamTotal Pages 1430
A good thriller but I found the writing style annoying 3/5
5) The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire NorthTotal Pages 1835
I struggled at times with this one but the final quarter kept me very entertained. 4/5
Jamie wrote: "6) The Third Man & The Fallen Idol by Graham GreeneTotal Pages 1965
A quick read 3/5"
Did you read both? I only read The Third Man...
Leslie wrote: "Jamie wrote: "6) The Third Man & The Fallen Idol by Graham GreeneTotal Pages 1965
A quick read 3/5"
Did you read both? I only read The Third Man..."
Morning Leslie, I suppose I was interested in both knowing that they had been made into films. In the last two years where I've started reading again I haven't really read many short stories. It took me a week to read The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August so it was nice to have a quick read after that.
Jamie wrote: "I suppose I was interested in both knowing that they had been made into films..."I hadn't realized until I read the preface to my (library) copy of The Third Man and The Fallen Idol that both were first films and only later did Greene adapt the screenplays into books. It was pretty interesting to read about some of the discussions he and director Carol Reed had about both the script & casting.
7) The Outcast by Sadie JonesTotal Pages 2406
I'm not a big fan of these types of English upper middle class novels but the story was good so I think it's worth a 3/5
10) Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWittTotal Pages 3235
Entertaining but I preferred The Sisters Brothers more. 3/5
11) Born Free: The Full Story by Joy AdamsonTotal Pages 3652
Can't remember whether I had seen the film or not. 3/5
Jamie wrote: "11) Born Free: The Full Story by Joy AdamsonTotal Pages 3652
Can't remember whether I had seen the film or not. 3/5"
Then it is time for a rewatch -- gorgeous film! The cinematography really adds to the story.
12) Levels of Lifeby Julian BarnesTotal Pages 3770
This is the second book I've read by Julian Barnes. He's such an amazing writer. 4/5
Leslie wrote: "Jamie wrote: "11) Born Free: The Full Story by Joy AdamsonTotal Pages 3652
Can't remember whether I had seen the film or not. 3/5"
Then it is time for a rewatch ..."
I think you're right
13) Kafka on the Shore by Haruki MurakamiTotal Pages 4275
A good long read full of interesting perspectives. I'm not sure I'll ever properly absorb it. 4/5
14) Black Swan Green by David MitchellTotal Pages 4570
The book was ok and it was interesting being back in 1982 again. 3/5
15) Fallen Land by Patrick FlaneryTotal Pages 5115
I wanted to like this book but I found it somewhat boring. 2/5
16) Child 44 by Tom Rob SmithTotal Pages 5593
Really good read and looking forward to the next two. 4/5
I just picked up Child 44 from a charity shop yesterday for $2. Glad you liked it. I can't wait to read it.
Erica wrote: "I just picked up Child 44 from a charity shop yesterday for $2. Glad you liked it. I can't wait to read it."Bargain!!
18) A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo IshiguroTotal Pages 6248
A good read but it'll keep me up now thinking about it. 3/5
22) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John BoyneTotal Pages 7460
A different perspective of The Holocaust. I need to read more of John Boyne 4/5
23) Finders Keepers by Stephen KingTotal Pages 7830
This is part 2 to the Bill Hodges Trilogy. Very entertaining 4/5
24) Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthyTotal Pages 8082
Probably my least favourite Cormac McCarthy so far but not bad 3/5
25) The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel JoyceTotal Pages 8434
Really loved this just as much as Harold Fry. 5/5
26) Arcadia by Iain PearsTotal Pages 9035
I was going to rate this long multi-genre book a 3/5 but the ideology of a new or repaired earth inspired me so I'll give it 4/5
28) Slade House by David MitchellTotal Pages 9559
I found the final chapter a little disappointing 3/5
29) Not Dead Enough by Peter JamesTotal Pages 10169
This third DCI Grace book is the most enjoyable so far 4/5
32) A Little Life by Hanya YanagiharaTotal Pages 11653
Very long, very sad. I shall give it 3/5 however I might change it to 4/5 at some point in the near future.
38) A History of Loneliness by John BoyneTotal Pages 14665
What a powerful book by an excellent author 5/5
39) Child of God by Cormac McCarthyTotal Pages 14851
Violent, shocking, and desolate. It's what you'd expect from McCarthy 4/5
40) The Bat by Jo NesbøTotal Pages 15276
The first Harry Hole thriller. I'll be looking forward to reading more 4/5
All About Books
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Authors mentioned in this topic
J.G. Ballard (other topics)Peter James (other topics)
Peter James (other topics)
Peter James (other topics)
Jim Quillen (other topics)
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Total Pages 469
Very funny book. I give it 4/5