Books.

Just reading The Hidden Oasis by Paul Sussman. Proper lightweight - the guy writes like a Hollywood film script - or rather that it comes across as if he's desperate for somebody to make it into a film - and it's a cliche ridden archaeological/Egyptological romp vaguely reminiscent of the Indiana Jones style.

An easy read and a bit of fun but no more.

I never read more than the first two books by an author because they are all shit.

The first book has to be good to get it published, the second book equally good to get a long term deal. Then the author just writes any old shit and the "fans" go out and buy it regardless.

By book 10 the "fans" finally cotton on that the author is taking the piss - but by then the author is a very rich person and no longer gives a shit.

Natasha Whittam wrote:I never read more than the first two books by an author because they are all shit.

The first book has to be good to get it published, the second book equally good to get a long term deal. Then the author just writes any old shit and the "fans" go out and buy it regardless.

By book 10 the "fans" finally cotton on that the author is taking the piss - but by then the author is a very rich person and no longer gives a shit.

The Mr Men books are quality. Bit of a dip around number 34 to 36, but you can't have everything.

Natasha Whittam wrote:I never read more than the first two books by an author because they are all shit.

The first book has to be good to get it published, the second book equally good to get a long term deal. Then the author just writes any old shit and the "fans" go out and buy it regardless.

By book 10 the "fans" finally cotton on that the author is taking the piss - but by then the author is a very rich person and no longer gives a shit.

Lee Child has been pretty consistent with his Jack Reacher novels. His first novel, the Killing Floor was a best seller and all his subsequent books have been on point. Michael Connolly is another crime writer who has made Harry Bosch into a household name.

The Harry Potter books are massively overrated,but JK has done very well out of them.

Reebok Trotter wrote:

Natasha Whittam wrote:I never read more than the first two books by an author because they are all shit.

The first book has to be good to get it published, the second book equally good to get a long term deal. Then the author just writes any old shit and the "fans" go out and buy it regardless.

By book 10 the "fans" finally cotton on that the author is taking the piss - but by then the author is a very rich person and no longer gives a shit.

Lee Child has been pretty consistent with his Jack Reacher novels. His first novel, the Killing Floor was a best seller and all his subsequent books have been on point. Michael Connolly is another crime writer who has made Harry Bosch into a household name.

I like Jack Reacher for a holiday read because it moves along quickly and the writing is stylish even if the story lines are a bit predictable, but I've never read Connolly and the name Harry Bosch isn't really known in this particular household. I do have one of his on my Kindle though - The Black Echo - so I might give that a try next.

Anyone read 'The Moving Toyshop' by Edmund Crispin?  Classic detective fiction from 1946.

Natasha Whittam wrote:I never read more than the first two books by an author because they are all shit.

The first book has to be good to get it published, the second book equally good to get a long term deal. Then the author just writes any old shit and the "fans" go out and buy it regardless.

By book 10 the "fans" finally cotton on that the author is taking the piss - but by then the author is a very rich person and no longer gives a shit.

George Orwell's first two novels were Burmese Days and A Clergyman's Daughter. His fifth and sixth were Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four but I guess you haven't read them.

xmiles wrote:George Orwell's first two novels were Burmese Days and A Clergyman's Daughter. His fifth and sixth were Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four but I guess you haven't read them.

I only read books written post-2000.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

xmiles wrote:George Orwell's first two novels were Burmese Days and A Clergyman's Daughter. His fifth and sixth were Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four but I guess you haven't read them.

I only read books written post-2000.

Why?

Reebok Trotter wrote:Lee Child has been pretty consistent with his Jack Reacher novels. His first novel, the Killing Floor was a best seller and all his subsequent books have been on point. Michael Connolly is another crime writer who has made Harry Bosch into a household name.

Michael Connelly I will give you, he has written some good books.

boltonbonce wrote:Why?

Because anything written previous has no relevance to my life today.

How is a book about farm animals written 70-odd years ago going to impact my life today? Or a book about 1984? I was only a baby.

Fair enough. That's why I never read The Bible.

boltonbonce wrote:Fair enough. That's why I never read The Bible.

Because you were a baby when it was written?

Natasha Whittam wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:Fair enough. That's why I never read The Bible.

Because you were a baby when it was written?

No. Because it's got a sad ending.

Blasphemy.

Natasha Whittam wrote:Blasphemy.

I quite agree. Mind you,the critics were harsher in those days.

wanderlust wrote:

Reebok Trotter wrote:

Natasha Whittam wrote:I never read more than the first two books by an author because they are all shit.

The first book has to be good to get it published, the second book equally good to get a long term deal. Then the author just writes any old shit and the "fans" go out and buy it regardless.

By book 10 the "fans" finally cotton on that the author is taking the piss - but by then the author is a very rich person and no longer gives a shit.

Lee Child has been pretty consistent with his Jack Reacher novels. His first novel, the Killing Floor was a best seller and all his subsequent books have been on point. Michael Connolly is another crime writer who has made Harry Bosch into a household name.

I like Jack Reacher for a holiday read because it moves along quickly and the writing is stylish even if the story lines are a bit predictable, but I've never read Connolly and the name Harry Bosch isn't really known in this particular household. I do have one of his on my Kindle though - The Black Echo - so I might give that a try next.

Iirc The Black Echo was his very first novel and it got me hooked. Give it a try Wander and you won't be disappointed. As well as Jack Reacher for holiday reading I enjoy the Harlen Coben stand alone novels, not the Myron Bolitar series. Also Greg Iles and Linwood Barclay are very good thriller writers as well.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:Why?

Because anything written previous has no relevance to my life today.

How is a book about farm animals written 70-odd years ago going to impact my life today? Or a book about 1984? I was only a baby.

Have you ever read a Wilbur Smith novel? He does his research well and his description of Africa back in the day is very good. I started reading Wilbur Smith in my teens and I'm nearly sixty and Smith is still going strong. 

I used to like Tom Sharpe. His earlier stuff like Riotous Assembly, Indecent Exposure, The Throwback, Vintage Stuff, Wilt etc were hilarious but his later stuff was nowhere near as funny.