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michaelcattigan's reviews
469 reviews
Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter
2.0
Great start, Fevvers is a fantastic character and a brilliant voice in the opening part, usurping brilliantly the male narrator... but then it lost its way...
Somehow I feel guilty not liking it!
Somehow I feel guilty not liking it!
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
4.0
A long slow start to both this and Game of Thrones... it feels like you are watching history unfolding in realtime which could put some readers off. Personally I found it very apt for the style of the novel. Pace picks up in the final 300 pages and all the storylines were able to maintain interest pace and attention.
Personally I tire a little of the Daenerys thread: whilst I acknowledge her as probably the most tragic character in the story and had high hopes for her throughout and especially at the end of Game of Thrones when the dragons were born, the only progress on her story seemed to be to constantly remind the reader of how feeble her dragons are!
I am going to have to add my voice to those claiming that these are exceptionally good books within the genre (which has always been something of a guilty pleasure of mine). The language in them is good although not great and there are times when passages lacked some of the detailed atmospheric language needed to create the right tone and dream sequences are very difficult to do well (and there are an awful lot of them in this book). What I did find effective was Theon's paranoia in Winterfell and the feeling that the very stones were conspiring against him. In fact, Winterfell is an extremely well crafted environment and as much a character in the book as Eddard Stark (whose presence persists despite his death in Game of Thrones), Catelyn, Arya, Bran, Jon Snow or Tyrion.
It is, in fact, in the creation of character that Martin excels and his shamelessly unsentimental treatment of major characters. And the integration of the more magical, sinister and otherworldly elements was more successful in this book that in Game of Thrones in my opinion.
Well worth continuing with the series.
Personally I tire a little of the Daenerys thread: whilst I acknowledge her as probably the most tragic character in the story and had high hopes for her throughout and especially at the end of Game of Thrones when the dragons were born, the only progress on her story seemed to be to constantly remind the reader of how feeble her dragons are!
I am going to have to add my voice to those claiming that these are exceptionally good books within the genre (which has always been something of a guilty pleasure of mine). The language in them is good although not great and there are times when passages lacked some of the detailed atmospheric language needed to create the right tone and dream sequences are very difficult to do well (and there are an awful lot of them in this book). What I did find effective was Theon's paranoia in Winterfell and the feeling that the very stones were conspiring against him. In fact, Winterfell is an extremely well crafted environment and as much a character in the book as Eddard Stark (whose presence persists despite his death in Game of Thrones), Catelyn, Arya, Bran, Jon Snow or Tyrion.
It is, in fact, in the creation of character that Martin excels and his shamelessly unsentimental treatment of major characters. And the integration of the more magical, sinister and otherworldly elements was more successful in this book that in Game of Thrones in my opinion.
Well worth continuing with the series.
Snuff by Terry Pratchett
4.0
Pratchett is always a good enjoyable read hence the 4 stars rating. Personally, I found this a little too plodding: Sam Vimes comes into contact with another non-human species that has been subjected to prejudice and persecution.... and makes everyone accept them.... And along the way inspires the local cops.
It just didn't quite gel together for me; there was no moment of sublime writing or thought... Jolly good read and enjoyable but not one of his best....
It just didn't quite gel together for me; there was no moment of sublime writing or thought... Jolly good read and enjoyable but not one of his best....
Snowdrops by A.D. Miller
5.0
I really liked this book!
Read it as part of the annual attempt to read at least some of the Booker books before the winner is announced and was really impressed. It is well written and the monologue voice is actually really compelling (although part of me would have liked to have seen his fiancee's - increasingly horrified I hope - reaction to his revelations!).
Set in 200s Russia, it revolves around a lawyer, his relationship with a local Russian girl (described in more detail than I'd have thought his current English fiancee would appreciate) and a rather shady business deal.
The story is not hard to predict but I think that is part of its charm: Nicholas the lawyer and narrator is increasingly aware of the shades of grey into which he is allowing himself to be drawn and the unreality of his apparent relationship and we almost share his willing self-deception. There was the potential for a twist at the end but Miller chose not to go down that route and concluded the story in a very quiet personal manner which I found to be really effective.
The story does revolve around that central image of the snowdrop: the corpse dumped in winter, covered with snow and only discovered with the thaw. repeatedly the layers of the Moscow and Russian landscape are discussed as the snow covers, blankets and hides with apparent purity the grime beneath.
Great book!
Read it as part of the annual attempt to read at least some of the Booker books before the winner is announced and was really impressed. It is well written and the monologue voice is actually really compelling (although part of me would have liked to have seen his fiancee's - increasingly horrified I hope - reaction to his revelations!).
Set in 200s Russia, it revolves around a lawyer, his relationship with a local Russian girl (described in more detail than I'd have thought his current English fiancee would appreciate) and a rather shady business deal.
The story is not hard to predict but I think that is part of its charm: Nicholas the lawyer and narrator is increasingly aware of the shades of grey into which he is allowing himself to be drawn and the unreality of his apparent relationship and we almost share his willing self-deception. There was the potential for a twist at the end but Miller chose not to go down that route and concluded the story in a very quiet personal manner which I found to be really effective.
The story does revolve around that central image of the snowdrop: the corpse dumped in winter, covered with snow and only discovered with the thaw. repeatedly the layers of the Moscow and Russian landscape are discussed as the snow covers, blankets and hides with apparent purity the grime beneath.
Great book!