novels i am reading

[lobelia321]

I read:

Ann-Marie MacDonald, The Way the Crow Flies. It's what gave me back my lust to write. And it still lives in my head. It's even better than Fall to Your Knees, if such a thing be possible. It is so *intense*. And so fantastically written.

Donna Tartt, The Little Friend. OK, I ploughed on valiantly for about 120 pages and now I'm giving up. It is crap. Never mind the laudations on the cover; I am bored, bored, bored. So woodenly written, too. What a contrast to Ann-Marie MacDonald! I liked Tartt's The Secret History but is there anyone who's read this one and liked it? And why?

Now I'm onto Lian Hearn's Grass for his Pillow. Don't spoiler me because I'm only on chapter 2. But so far it's as good as the first one. Straightforward, unobtrusive prose. And a merry pace. And such a *girl's* book (I knew Lian Hearn was a woman, and the end of the last book -- the slashy scene!!!! -- clinched it).

Comments

[crazybutsound]

Oh, glad your posted these thoughts because I LOVED The Secret History and had been waiting forever for a new one by her. But then, The Little Friend came out, and apart from the reviews on its cover, all I read about it was that it was pure crap. So if you confirm it, then I just won't bother buying it.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Aha. I haven't read reviews, of course, because I don't like to be spoilered but sometimes it's good to know that one doesn't need to bother soldiering on...

Well, that one will go to Oxfam.

[oneangrykate.livejournal.com]

Go ahead and stop reading The Little Friend. It gets even more boring and wooden, and the ending is completely unsatisfying and out of left field. Ugh.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Confirmation! It's Oxfam fodder already.

Goodbye, little friend.

[bunnysquee.livejournal.com]

i haven't read any ann-marie macdonald - and will now do so at your recommendation.

i tend to read few things on bestsellers list. the last thing i read was confessions of a shopaholic by sophie kinsella which, while fairly interesting, was a bridget jones wanna-be without the breath-of-fresh-air-ness to it.

the thing i read before that was under the tuscan sun by frances mayle which i loved loved loved and which made me want to frolic in the sun and eat tomatoes dipped in olive oil. i saw the trailer for the movie into which the book was made and was horrified. i haven't seen the movie.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the two books you mention but the Mayle doesn't sound like the sort of book that Ann-Marie MacDonald writes, so you may not like her. She is very intense. I love it. And, of course, she is your countrywoman. :-)

[bunnysquee.livejournal.com]

hmm, i'll give her a shot then, if you like her.