Dragons & Jetpacks discussion

A thread to discuss, suggest or talk about the best books you've read released in 2014.

Please refrain from posting spoilers unless under a spoiler tag



The two best books I've read that were released this year so far are:

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

The story is based around true events from 1829 where a woman, Agnes Magnúsdóttir is due to be executed for murder. Agnes is sent to stay with a family in rural Iceland until the time comes, a family who did not volunteer for this duty. The story is told both in the form of present day events from a number of characters, as well as memories of the past retold.

It's a haunting story, more so knowing that it is based on true events and characters. The story is centred around Agnes and an under qualified priest who is charged with absolving her sin.

It's not for anyone who is looking for a light, happy humorous read. It is the opposite to all these things.

You should read it.


A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride

This book was just unlike anything I've read before - writing style, content... all of it.

It's about a girl who is finding her way in life trying to navigate her way through a series of disturbing and unhappy events.

It definitely took me some time to get my head around the writing style at the start, but it worked. It just works. Somehow. My unconscious brain seemed to do half the work whilst reading it.

It's also a very emotional book... I felt like I was in the narrators head, going through what she was going through, which was disturbing at best.

The synopsis says "This isn't always comfortable - but it is always a revelation." - very accurate.

I'm glad I read it, I think it'll stay with me for a long time.

My two so far would be The Martian which was a group read here and Mark Lawrences Prince of Fools. Both well worth the read and better than my expectations. No point saying much on tge Nartian as there is a thread here but Prince of Fools was brilliant. Same world as the Prince of Thornes series but a much more accesible and likeable coward of a main character and Vikings .