Overheard in Dublin Rides Again - April 2011

23. Overheard in Dublin Rides Again - Gerard Kelly & Sinead Kelly

160 Pages, Bought from Charity Shop

This is the second compilation of hilarious anecdotes posted on the website www.overheardindublin.com

Full of examples like...

"I was on the Luas last August, and was standing next to these two Cork guys.

Guy #1: 'Did you hear that some celebrity was stabbed yesterday?'

Guy #2: 'What? Who? What happened?'

Guy #1: 'Well, they were out with your woman Reese ...Reese ...Reese ...Whatsername?'

Guy #2: 'Witherspoon?'

Guy #1: 'With a spoon? No, with a knife! You can't stab someone with a spoon!'

What can I say...I got a few chuckles out of it and when I was finished I donated it to the charity shop I bought it from. If you're not from Dublin (or Ireland for that matter) some of the posts will make no sense at all.

Rather than read the book just go online and read them off the website.

I give this 3.5 "Legally Blonds" out of 5.

When the Tripods Came - April 2011

22. When The Tripods Came - John Christopher

160 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Written by the same guy who wrote "The Death of Grass" this is a prequel, aimed at the Young Adult market, that was written 20 years after the original Tripods trilogy (The White Mountains, The City of Gold & Lead, The Pool of Fire).

I haven't read the original trilogy but I did watch the two series of the BBC TV version in the 1980's.  I was hooked from it's crazy beginning, set in a future where everyone looks like they're living in a pre-industrial past and then getting sucked up into huge three-legged machines to get a metal grill stuck on their heads! The ending of the second series was miserable and depressing too. You can watch the whole two series on Youtube but be warned, it's only available in small chunks :(

This book is different. I figure it's set around the late 1980's - early 1990's and explains how the tripods quickly gained control of the majority of humanity. The story races along and there are a couple of images that really stuck with me after I'd finished it.

A great introduction to the Tripods and has left me eager to read the Trilogy.

I give this 5 "Trippy Shows" out of 5

I Am Legend - April 2011

21. I Am Legend - Richard Matheson

160 Pages, Bought from Charity Shop

How is it that I've seen the Charlton Heston ( The Omega Man) and Will Smith ( I Am Legend) film versions of this book and it's only now that I've actually read the book that the title "I Am Legend" makes any sense!?! [shakes fist at Hollywood sign]

A great book, well plotted, pacy and hard to believe it was written in 1954...that's nearly 60 years ago!

A great Sci-Fi/Horror crossover and well worth the praise that is heaped upon it, and a clever twist on the whole vampire mythology...there's no sign of Dracula in this book!

If none of this praise for the book is reason enough for you, then read it just for the gut-punch ending that Hollywood seems to hate so much.

I award this book 5 "Cloves of Garlic" out of 5.

Teacher Man - April 2011

20. Teacher Man - Frank McCourt

288 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

This is the final book in the "Angela's Ashes" Trilogy. (I think I said this before, but don't read Angela's Ashes while on holiday, especially not on a romantic holiday to Paris. I made that mistake and now have the unshakeable belief that Paris is a miserable, god-forsaken hellhole...some people may agree with that :) but really, I blame this book for distorting my experience!)

In this book, Frank has moved to New York to become a High School teacher. It's more full of humour and teaching anecdotes that the previous books, maybe as he has become happier himself.

It's obviously a tough enough life being a teacher, especially when faced with students that aren't too interested in anything other than hearing their teacher share his childhood reminiscences.

I found this book a really fitting end to the trilogy and feel that having read all three books I now know more about Frank McCourt than I do about myself :)

I give this book 5 "Teachers' Pets" out of 5

March 2011 Round Up

Stephen King

Books Read in March: 8

Total Pages: 2356
Average Pages Read per day: 76

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 2
Library: 6

Genres:
Fantasy: 2
Sci Fi: 2
Non-Fiction: 3
Thriller: 1

Find out more about Stephen King at his site: http://stephenking.com/



2011 so far:

Books Read: 19

Total Pages: 6011

Average Pages Read per day: 66.8

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 5
Library: 13
Amazon: 1

Genres:
Fantasy: 5
Sci Fi: 7
Non-Fiction: 5
Crime: 1
Thriller: 1

Resurrection Day - March 2011

19. Resurrection Day - Brendan DuBois

378 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

What if Kennedy had started World War 3? In this book Russia and America are crippled after the Cuban Missile Crisis goes nuclear and the U.K. is a super power.

Cleverly the book is set in an alternative 1972 where a journalist ( and former soldier) is trying to find out if Kennedy, the man who was responsible for the deaths of millions, is actually still alive.

This reminded me of another very enjoyable alternative history book, "Fatherland" by Robert Harris.

Really makes you think of what could have so easily happened back then and how the world would look as a result.

Great characters, enjoyable plot and satisfying ending. What more could you want!

I give this 5 "London Times Journalists" out of 5

The Martian Chronicles - March 2011

18. The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury

242 Pages, Borrowed from Library ( No more Mobile Library, the local one has reopened after being refurbished...it looks great!)

Back to classic Sci Fi Books! Another top 10 regular on the Top Sci Fi Novels lists.

Sci Fi has a long tradition of holding up a mirror to humanity and society while under the guise of talking about aliens. The Martian Chronicles is the leader of the pack in this regard.

Rather than one long novel, it's a compilation of short stories covering different aspects and different times on Mars, spanning from humans first steps on Mars to their final ones.

I remember seeing the BBC series based on this book when I was a kid. The only thing I can remember (apart from being bored out of my mind by it) was that the Martians had guns that looked like umbrellas.

The book is far superior to the series and well worth reading.

I give this 4.5 "Umbrella Guns" out of 5