I am your hostess for Fun Monday this week and this is the assignment I set you:
Firstly tell me what book you are reading now. What's it about? Are you enjoying it and why? If not, why not?
And secondly, if you were to be stranded on a desert island, what one book would you take with you.
PLEASE SEE THE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE BAR TO THE RIGHT OF THE BLOG
At the moment I am reading Sepulchre by Kate Mosse.
This is what I call a split-story. Part of it is set in the 1890s and the rest is contemporary and the story flits between the two. Although I'm half way through, I haven't quite figured out what the story is yet. There seem to be several threads which I presume will come together at some point. The historical aspect of the story seems to focus on Tarot cards and evil goings-on associated with them, including the calling of demons. The modern aspect is more confusing. The heroine is an American travelling in France carrying out research for a book she is writing about Debussy. At the same time she is researching her family history. Neither aspect of her story is dominant and the author seems to be linking the two but why escapes me for the moment and the Debussy aspect is, I suspect, a bit of a red herring. What is obvious is that you know that three of the characters in the historical part all die on the same day and their story is leading up to that. Slowly. Very very slowly.
Am I enjoying it? No.
I've been having a problem for a few months now in that I've found it difficult to stay with the books I've been reading. Consequently I have a pile of half-read books. So I've been determined that I would stick with Sepulchre until the end, thinking that the problem was with me and not with the book. But whilst getting the Amazon link I scrolled down to read the reviews. It seems I am not the only person having a problem with the book. The reviews give it a serious slating.
Kate Mosse's first novel was a good yarn, Labyrinth, and the story held together even if the writing style left something to be desired. Ms Mosse's characters don't develop terribly well so you don't engage or feel anything for any of them. And in Sepulchre it's even worse. Now I know it's not just me, I may well stop torturing myself and get stuck in to the Twilight series which is burning a hole on my shelf!
As to the second part of Fun Monday - what book would I take with me to a desert island. No question it would be The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I've mentioned a few times that this is my all time favourite book and it's one I could read over and over again and always continue to find something new in it. Always a good recommendation in a book!
Firstly tell me what book you are reading now. What's it about? Are you enjoying it and why? If not, why not?
And secondly, if you were to be stranded on a desert island, what one book would you take with you.
PLEASE SEE THE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE BAR TO THE RIGHT OF THE BLOG
At the moment I am reading Sepulchre by Kate Mosse.
This is what I call a split-story. Part of it is set in the 1890s and the rest is contemporary and the story flits between the two. Although I'm half way through, I haven't quite figured out what the story is yet. There seem to be several threads which I presume will come together at some point. The historical aspect of the story seems to focus on Tarot cards and evil goings-on associated with them, including the calling of demons. The modern aspect is more confusing. The heroine is an American travelling in France carrying out research for a book she is writing about Debussy. At the same time she is researching her family history. Neither aspect of her story is dominant and the author seems to be linking the two but why escapes me for the moment and the Debussy aspect is, I suspect, a bit of a red herring. What is obvious is that you know that three of the characters in the historical part all die on the same day and their story is leading up to that. Slowly. Very very slowly.
Am I enjoying it? No.
I've been having a problem for a few months now in that I've found it difficult to stay with the books I've been reading. Consequently I have a pile of half-read books. So I've been determined that I would stick with Sepulchre until the end, thinking that the problem was with me and not with the book. But whilst getting the Amazon link I scrolled down to read the reviews. It seems I am not the only person having a problem with the book. The reviews give it a serious slating.
Kate Mosse's first novel was a good yarn, Labyrinth, and the story held together even if the writing style left something to be desired. Ms Mosse's characters don't develop terribly well so you don't engage or feel anything for any of them. And in Sepulchre it's even worse. Now I know it's not just me, I may well stop torturing myself and get stuck in to the Twilight series which is burning a hole on my shelf!
As to the second part of Fun Monday - what book would I take with me to a desert island. No question it would be The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I've mentioned a few times that this is my all time favourite book and it's one I could read over and over again and always continue to find something new in it. Always a good recommendation in a book!
Mine is posted!!! Come on over. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Is there a list of those participating or a Mr. Linky for this week?
ps....never mind, I found the participants on your sidebar...duh!!! :o)
ReplyDeleteI am having a hard time sticking with my book, too. Great minds work alike! And I love, love, love The Time Traveller's Wife - I was going to bring that one for my choice, but I went practical.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Time Traveler's Wife when I read it. I had to read it slowly so that I could pull the whole thing together. I like books that slow me down and make me think about them.
ReplyDeleteBut not to the point of stand-still. Salmon Rushdie's books do that. I have yet to finish one of his. And now I know to avoid Ms. Mosse as well!
I only read books that get my interest in the first chapter. Looks like Ms Mosse is off my list.
ReplyDeleteWhen I feel that a book doesn't catch my full attention, I put it away and never touch it again ! I never force myself to read something which bores me or I don't like.
ReplyDeleteI definitely enjoyed reading the Time Traveller's Wife, a recommendation from my mother-in-law. She also lent me some of Alan Titchmarsh's books which got returned unread...
ReplyDeleteThank you Angela for hosting this week's Fun Monday. With so little time to read, it may be difficult to enjoy any book. However, if we were on a luxury resort island with few responsiblities and worries (not a desert island), we might have plenty of time to read. Both of your book choices do seem intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Angela for hosting this week's Fun Monday. With so little time to read, it may be difficult to enjoy any book. However, if we were on a luxury resort island with few responsiblities and worries (not a desert island), we might have plenty of time to read. Both of your book choices do seem intriguing.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't care for book get rid of it. There are some authors and/or certain books that just aren't worth the time. There is so much out there that is grand reading!
ReplyDeleteI worked on my post so late last night I forgot about my book for a desert island.
I loved the Time Traveller's Wife but I'd take one of Elizabeth Berg's books with me on a desert island. I'm reading Rough Music by Patrick Gale at the moment and while he writes very well, I'm not entirely convinced by the characters or the plot.
ReplyDeleteYour books sound very interesting. I would be interested in the one on Debussy because I wrote a college paper on him. But if the story is difficult, maybe not. I finally got my post up, except I forgot to include my book if I were stranded on a desert island. I will go back and add that later.
ReplyDeleteAngela - sorry I bent the rules a bit on this one.
ReplyDeleteI read a mixed review on this book recently (can't remember which Sunday paper is was now). I was thinking about getting it for my mother as she has read Labyrinth(haven't got around to reading yet!) but now I'm not so sure.
I agree Time Traveller's wife is a great book.
I thought for a min I wasn't on your list then realised I'm there as supergran alias.
Interesting, I didn't like Labyrinth at all and have not desire to try this book. Even less now!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Kate Moss, but applaud your choice for the desert island. Love the Time Travelers Wife. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston bought the movie rights, when they were married. Now, I bet it'll never be made into a movie, too bad.
ReplyDeleteAngela, this was a fun topic.
I haven't read Kate Moss, but applaud your choice for the desert island. Love the Time Travelers Wife. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston bought the movie rights, when they were married. Now, I bet it'll never be made into a movie, too bad.
ReplyDeleteAngela, this was a fun topic.
Hmn... I have several half-read books on my night table. They are all boring books though. I need to find me a good book to read and ignore all the other ones.
ReplyDeleteI hope you reach the end.
Great topic.
MommyWizdom
I guess I am not the only having a hard time reading my book, but I am determined to read it. thanks for hosting and your topic, books tell a lot about people
ReplyDeleteLife's too short and there are too many good books out there to waste time reading one you simply don't enjoy.
ReplyDelete'The Time Traveller's Wife' sounds interesting though. I'll have to check it out on Amazon.
You're in London? The snow you've been having has made the news here in Australia. And maybe our horrible heatwaves (particularly in the southern states) have made your news?!
Finally caught up with your Fun Monday ~ been having connection problems & not-enough-time problems. The Time Traveller's Wife was a BCIE book of the month before I moved here, but as I can't get to the Dublin meets, I didn't read it, sounds like I'll have to find a copy & add it to my Mount NeverRead & the To-Be-Read Range. (I'm too embarrassed to photograph & post the photo of the fraction of unread books piled high in my bedroom (the rest are still packed ~ around 3000 at a guess)
ReplyDelete