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blue_ant66. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
This is the first book in Mankell's Wallander series. I thought, since I'm such a big fan of Scandinavian mysteries, I ought to give it a try (especially if I'm eventually going to watch the BBC/PBS show based on the books). I guess I liked the book. The mystery was engrossing, but I'm not sure I liked Wallander. I definitely see why the books are popular, Wallander is a very flawed detective who is good as his job. But in this book, there were certain things that he did that I just didn't like and I don't think I'm going to read any of the other books. I might still watch the series, but one Mankell is enough for me.
67. Roar by Emma Clayton
I was looking at new YA books and came across Roar, read the synopsis and was curious. It turns out that Clayton's book is yet another dystopian take on our future. Set in a world without plants or animals, Mika lives in a world behind a wall. After the animal plague, it was too dangerous for people to survive and so everyone moved behind the wall. One day, Mika's twin sister Ellie disappears. Everyone expect Mika believe that Ellie's dead and he's right. The story is told through Mika's eyes as he tries to find a way to his sister and Ellie's as she fights her kidnappers to get back home. In story that's both science fiction and fantasy, Clayton creates a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. I really hope she writes a sequel!
68. The Man in the Window by K.O. Dahl
I was a big fan of Dahl's first book, The Fourth Man and was excited to finally get a copy of this next book. The Man in the Window is a good book, but as it was written before The Fourth Man, it's quite different. I completely enjoyed the book, though Frank Frølich was slightly irritating while Inspector Gunnarstranda was not. There's been some criticism of this book as compared to The Fourth Man, but it's important to remember that The Man in the Window is an earlier book.
69. American Studies by Mark Merlis
I picked this up on a general recommendation from a friend of mine. Merlis' book is a powerful story of growing up and growing old. Told through the eyes of a gay man in his 60s, we're treated to a fascinating look at what being gay was like in the 30s onward. Merlis' writing is brilliant, the story is fascinating and less depressing than I expected. Our narrator is Reeve, who remembers his past while laid up in the hospital after being beaten up. The story is at times depressing, but also uplifting, especially near the end. Merlis' words are beautiful, breathtaking and quite brilliant. Highly recommended.
70. The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo
While it was the first book of Nesbø's to be translated, it's actually the fifth book in the series. I was lucky because I figured this out before I read it, since there are major events in the previous two books (and probably the first two as well, but those aren't available in English) that lead up to and explain what happens in The Devil's Star. It is a brilliant, engrossing and thrilling novel. I simply adore Detective Harry Hole, even with all his flaws, because he is such a great character. I long for the day all the books in Nesbø's Harry Hole series are translated into English. The Devil's Star has three subplots, the obvious one of murder(s) and two continued from previous books: the first, involving Harry and a woman who is in and out of his life (the first set of spoilers that would ruin earlier novels) and a long-standing battle with his nemesis that eventually comes to a head (which would make no sense without having read the previous books). I can definitely see why they translated The Devil's Star first, but if you can, read them in the correct order (translated titles available: The Redbreast, Nemesis and then The Devil's Star). I think that Nesbø's series is one the best.
70 / 100 books. 70% read!
This is the first book in Mankell's Wallander series. I thought, since I'm such a big fan of Scandinavian mysteries, I ought to give it a try (especially if I'm eventually going to watch the BBC/PBS show based on the books). I guess I liked the book. The mystery was engrossing, but I'm not sure I liked Wallander. I definitely see why the books are popular, Wallander is a very flawed detective who is good as his job. But in this book, there were certain things that he did that I just didn't like and I don't think I'm going to read any of the other books. I might still watch the series, but one Mankell is enough for me.
67. Roar by Emma Clayton
I was looking at new YA books and came across Roar, read the synopsis and was curious. It turns out that Clayton's book is yet another dystopian take on our future. Set in a world without plants or animals, Mika lives in a world behind a wall. After the animal plague, it was too dangerous for people to survive and so everyone moved behind the wall. One day, Mika's twin sister Ellie disappears. Everyone expect Mika believe that Ellie's dead and he's right. The story is told through Mika's eyes as he tries to find a way to his sister and Ellie's as she fights her kidnappers to get back home. In story that's both science fiction and fantasy, Clayton creates a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. I really hope she writes a sequel!
68. The Man in the Window by K.O. Dahl
I was a big fan of Dahl's first book, The Fourth Man and was excited to finally get a copy of this next book. The Man in the Window is a good book, but as it was written before The Fourth Man, it's quite different. I completely enjoyed the book, though Frank Frølich was slightly irritating while Inspector Gunnarstranda was not. There's been some criticism of this book as compared to The Fourth Man, but it's important to remember that The Man in the Window is an earlier book.
69. American Studies by Mark Merlis
I picked this up on a general recommendation from a friend of mine. Merlis' book is a powerful story of growing up and growing old. Told through the eyes of a gay man in his 60s, we're treated to a fascinating look at what being gay was like in the 30s onward. Merlis' writing is brilliant, the story is fascinating and less depressing than I expected. Our narrator is Reeve, who remembers his past while laid up in the hospital after being beaten up. The story is at times depressing, but also uplifting, especially near the end. Merlis' words are beautiful, breathtaking and quite brilliant. Highly recommended.
70. The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo
While it was the first book of Nesbø's to be translated, it's actually the fifth book in the series. I was lucky because I figured this out before I read it, since there are major events in the previous two books (and probably the first two as well, but those aren't available in English) that lead up to and explain what happens in The Devil's Star. It is a brilliant, engrossing and thrilling novel. I simply adore Detective Harry Hole, even with all his flaws, because he is such a great character. I long for the day all the books in Nesbø's Harry Hole series are translated into English. The Devil's Star has three subplots, the obvious one of murder(s) and two continued from previous books: the first, involving Harry and a woman who is in and out of his life (the first set of spoilers that would ruin earlier novels) and a long-standing battle with his nemesis that eventually comes to a head (which would make no sense without having read the previous books). I can definitely see why they translated The Devil's Star first, but if you can, read them in the correct order (translated titles available: The Redbreast, Nemesis and then The Devil's Star). I think that Nesbø's series is one the best.
