Right, this is getting ridiculous. After I finished reading and thoroughly enjoying The Big O by Declan Burke I gazed upon Mount Brennan-Reading-Pile, now seriously competing with the Mourne Mountains as a tourist attraction in my area. I scratched my head and wondered which of the fine books I should read first. I’ve a number of intriguing specimens lined up for the CSNI dissection treatment, but also a stack of other books outside the crime fiction genre that have been neglected since I started this blog. Decisions, decisions.
I picked up Dublin Noir edited by Ken Bruen. Thought I’d read the first story and if it sucked I’d mercilessly toss it over my shoulder. Eoin Colfer got the opening spot, and his hilarious yet brutal tale, Taking On PJ, left me with no doubt that I’d read the whole collection. Of course, I forgot to bring it to work the next day. I had a copy of John Connolly’s Nocturnes in my backpack though. Ach sure, a wee read of that then. Finished the opening novella and now I feel committed to the damn thing.
Two books on the go? Yeah, I can cope with that. Of course, I had a nosey at Ian Sansom’s opening book from The Mobile Library series last night. Read the first two chapters. Very addictive. Now I want to get stuck in to that.
So, as of last night, three books on the go. I’m an intelligent little fellah. I’ll give it a go. Oh, wait! Aren’t I reading Declan Burke’s new internet novel, A Gonzo Noir? Ah come on, people, you’re killing me! Well, at least that’ll be updated once a week... wait a minute! He’s bloody updated it three times since last Thursday! Feck. No worries though. It’s great stuff. I’ll make time. But I’m leaving it at that. Seriously. I’m not even going to read a road sign until I’m done with one of these things.
But guess what? After a rather scary journey to work, a colleague plonked a copy of John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas on my desk. Told me it was great. Said her daughter was going to read it next, but would have taken a long time to read it, so I should just read it first. I took it without thinking. Said I’d get it back to her in a few days. But, I’ve forbidden myself from even reading the blurb.
Curiosity’s killing me though.
I picked up Dublin Noir edited by Ken Bruen. Thought I’d read the first story and if it sucked I’d mercilessly toss it over my shoulder. Eoin Colfer got the opening spot, and his hilarious yet brutal tale, Taking On PJ, left me with no doubt that I’d read the whole collection. Of course, I forgot to bring it to work the next day. I had a copy of John Connolly’s Nocturnes in my backpack though. Ach sure, a wee read of that then. Finished the opening novella and now I feel committed to the damn thing.
Two books on the go? Yeah, I can cope with that. Of course, I had a nosey at Ian Sansom’s opening book from The Mobile Library series last night. Read the first two chapters. Very addictive. Now I want to get stuck in to that.
So, as of last night, three books on the go. I’m an intelligent little fellah. I’ll give it a go. Oh, wait! Aren’t I reading Declan Burke’s new internet novel, A Gonzo Noir? Ah come on, people, you’re killing me! Well, at least that’ll be updated once a week... wait a minute! He’s bloody updated it three times since last Thursday! Feck. No worries though. It’s great stuff. I’ll make time. But I’m leaving it at that. Seriously. I’m not even going to read a road sign until I’m done with one of these things.
But guess what? After a rather scary journey to work, a colleague plonked a copy of John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas on my desk. Told me it was great. Said her daughter was going to read it next, but would have taken a long time to read it, so I should just read it first. I took it without thinking. Said I’d get it back to her in a few days. But, I’ve forbidden myself from even reading the blurb.
Curiosity’s killing me though.
Gah!
11 comments:
I usually have two or three books on the go at any given time, but you're in heroic territory there, mate.
Mike - I usually stick to one book at a time, especially when I'm writing. Guess I'm not writing much this week. Tut.
Think I'll finish Dublin Noir tonight though. Only three short stories left.
gb
Likewise. I've been writing steadily for the past two weeks, and as such have only read about a 100 pages of two books. Tsk.
It's not fair, is it? I wish I had two good-looking heads that could work independently but communicate and share knowledge telepathically. Or, like, more time and a bigger brain in this good-looking head.
gb
It's not like that's not an unreasonable request, is it?!
Sucks is what "Taking On PJ" does anything but. The book will get thrown over no shoulders here.
I laughed my ass off* and turned into an Eoin Colfer fan off that story, and I was disappointed at first when I found he'd written no other "adult" fiction. Then I read Half Moon Investigations and all the Artemis Fowl books and loved them, too.
* -- American for "I burst my shite laughing."
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter - I just finished Dublin Noir, and I agree. It's a book that shouldn't be slung over one's shoulder. Some very strong short stories there.
But that's the only Eoin Colfer grown-up story available at the moment? We have to start some sort of campaign.
In the meantime, I'll acquaint myself with Artemis Fowl. I enjoy a good YA novel from time to time.
gb
That is Eoin Colfer's only "adult" work available to date, as far as I know. I had heard that he was working on an adult crime novel, though, which I await eagerly.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter - He's got an adult crime fiction novel in the works?
Fantastic!
I'll look forward to that. Thanks for the heads up.
gb
I just finished The Case of the Missing Books, and I have you to thank for that. I first heard of Ian Sansom through your blog, recalled the name when I saw it on the shelves in a bookshop, and the rest is history and my latest post.
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter - That's brilliant! I'm delighted that you picked it up. As coincidence would have it, I'm almost 100 pages in to The Case of the Missing Books. We can compare notes in a day or two.
gb
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