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Saturday June 30, 2018
Books in June
- H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald [read by the author]
I heard about this acclaimed book and thought I should read it, but was very nervous as it was said to be about "loss", which did not appeal so much. However, it is a wonderful book - so everyone was right.
And, if I had to say what it was about, I would probably say "loss" - and also "a goshawk" - which is fairly evident. I did not realise until after listening to it, that it is narrated by the author - which makes it even more special as she is (presumably) reading it exactly as she meant to write it - perfect.
- The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear
[read by Julie Teal]
I moved back to a Maisie Dobbs novel somewhat earlier in the series.
Although the books do revolve around Maisie's personal life as well
as the mystery plotline, I did not feel victim of any major spoilers.
It does seem to be a thing, though, that the murder victims are always
presented as highly sympathetic characters and you are regretful all
the way through that they are so definitively.... gone. I remember a
friend having trouble coping with Requiem for a Wren for the
same reason; (Nevil Shute - now there's an author I have not thought
about for a long time... and the friend... I haven't thought about him
for a long time either...) .
- Want You Gone by Christopher Brookmyre
[read by Avita Jay, and Angus King]
This is the latest (8th) book "starring" Jack Parlabane - and make no mistake - he is a star. Far from being stale, this book is very lively - very thrilling and very humorous.
It involved a lot of computer hacking and scamming techniques which I really enjoyed - proving the point (in spades) that it's people that are the weak link in any security system. - Unnatural Death, Strong Poison, and Have His Carcase
by Dorothy L Sayers [Dramatisation]
I downloaded this little collection of Lord Peter Wimsey plays to listen to at bedtime.
I found Unnatural Death a bit complicated to follow just before sleeping, but the other two I am well familiar with. As I had just seen a reprise of the TV adaptations, I know them almost backwards - and in fact to my surprise the scenes, plotting, and scripts seemed almost identical. With my eyes shut I could even will myself to imagine that it was Edward Petherbridge providing the dialogue rather than Ian Carmichael, so similar was the performance, even though previously I always thought Carmichael was a bit more over the top (don't ye know).
Posted by Christina at 12:58 PM. Category: Books of the Month
