Wellington Reads discussion

Hi everyone!! I am excited to see the start of this month as it means spring is neeeaaarly here. I've also seen the first daffodils of the season (admittedly, it was in my Grandad's garden in the sunny Hawkes Bay) but I still think it's a very positive sign! Hooray for warmer weather!

At the moment I am halfway through Love and Longing in Bombay by Vikram Chandra. I'm really enjoying it - it's a collection of five short stories all set in Bombay. So far there's been a ghost story, a story about a feud between two socialites and now I'm halfway through a murder mystery - so good!! This author has also written some novels, so am interested in reading one of those soon, too.

Am already thinking about what to read next - am considering One Hundred Years of Solitude. Have heard it is hard-going but well worth it, and I've really enjoyed lots of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's other books.

What is everyone else reading this August?

I just finished reading Neil Gaiman's Ocean At the End of the Lane. It was a very compelling read and reminded me a lot of Coraline, even though it is aimed at adult readers and Coraline was for children. The male protagonist is very sympathetic - he is only 7 years old - and you really feel for him when bad things happen. Gaiman also captures the perspective and logic of a child beautifully.

I'm still wading my way through The Windup-Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. I love it but it's so hard to put into words why. I'm not usually a fan of surrealism. His writing is so spare but he creates these intriguing and vivid situations and characters that I want to know more about. Anybody else like Murakami and have any idea why?

Bethlehem wrote: "I'm still wading my way through The Windup-Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. I love it but it's so hard to put into words why. I'm not usually a fan of surrealism. His writing is so spare but h..."

When I say spare, I mean style obviously, not volume ;)

Susannah wrote: "I just finished reading Neil Gaiman's Ocean At the End of the Lane. It was a very compelling read and reminded me a lot of Coraline, even though it is aimed at adult readers and Coraline was for ch..."

I had heard abut this book and was curious about it, and having read your review, I think I'll add it to my To-read list! I enjoyed Coraline and also loved to Kill a Mockingbird, which I think is such a beautiful example of the use of a child's perspective in the narration.

I have finished "Living with mother - right to the very end" by Lyn Hanson (B HAN) and I have to say I really enjoyed it. It is an episodic sort of book, comprising columns Lyn wrote for "The Guardian,'but she has a very droll sense of humour and an attitude to housework which closely mirrors my own. She is particularly funny about the madness of British bureaucracy and the state of some British geriatric hospitals - surely a matter the government there will have to address.
I am now on 'Bertie's guide to life and mothers",the new Scotland Street novel by Alexander McCall Smith.It seems almost sacrilege to say it, but I will say it - AMS seems to be going off the boil. I was very disappointed in his last novel "Trains and lovers" - I was unable to get into that and abandoned it after a couple of chapters. And this one isn't grabbing me as much as his other Scotland Street novels - it seems very dull and strained to date. But we shall see!!
On a brighter note I saw the DVD of ' The No 1. Ladies' Detective agency"(DVD movies/Crime/NUM/Box set)last weekend and really enjoyed that - very faithful to the book, wonderful characters, beautiful African scenery , lots of music and dancing - an absolute delight. Warmly recommended

Stephanie wrote: "Susannah wrote: "I just finished reading Neil Gaiman's Ocean At the End of the Lane. It was a very compelling read and reminded me a lot of Coraline, even though it is aimed at adult readers and Co..."

Thank you for reading my review! I think you will enjoy the book.

Sue wrote: "I have finished "Living with mother - right to the very end" by Lyn Hanson (B HAN) and I have to say I really enjoyed it. It is an episodic sort of book, comprising columns Lyn wrote for "The Guard..."

Ooh, I didn't realise there's a No 1. Ladies' Detective Agency DVD - will have to check it out!! Have been very much enjoying the TV series of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

Yes I have enjoyed this series too - the clothes and the settings particularly.The heroine was very well cast and so unbelievably beautiful in a very wicked way. Very well done . Anyone read the books? I know Joy in Fiction has.

Joy reports that the books are very enjoyable - particularly the descriptions of Phyrne's clothes !! - which of course form a very big part of them. She is very disappointed that Phryne's Chinese lover has been replaced by an Australian detective in the television series. Hard to know why they do these things.

Sue wrote: "Joy reports that the books are very enjoyable - particularly the descriptions of Phyrne's clothes !! - which of course form a very big part of them. She is very disappointed that Phryne's Chinese l..."

That is most odd!! And annoying. I'm keen to try at least one of the books tho - I know Jessie was reading them and thoroughly enjoying them, too.

Yes, I've been having fun reading the books and very definitely loving watching the tv series!