I finished reading "Cold In Hand" by John Harvey this morning. Cold In Hand is the latest Charlie Resnick novel, set 10 years after the rest of the series. John Harvey decided to stop writing about Resnick, as he had moved away from Nottinghma where the books are set, and also didin't want to be rehashing storylines etc. For some reason, however, he has decided to write this nover, although it looks as if it could be the last one featuring Charlie Resnick as the main character.
This novel finds Resnick looking towards the possibilty of retirement from the police as he is coming up for thirty years on the force. He is now in a relationship with Lynn Kellog, and appears to be in a happy domestic situation although he seems to be a bit disenchanted with his career.
At first while reading this, it didn't really feel like one of the Resnick books, but this could be down to the space between the previous Resnick stories and this one. However, theplot started to pick up and from there on, it was quite hard to put the book down. This was a very enjoyable book which I would recommend.
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Friday's Purchases
Today's purchases were "The Girl Who Played With Fire" by Stieg Larrson, and the deluxe edition of the Housemartin's debut album "London 0, Hull 4".
The Stieg Larrson book is the second book of the Millenium Trilogy. I read the first part last summer, and have been waiting for the second book to come out in paperback. This series will definately only be a trilogy, as the author Stieg Larrson died shortly after completing the trilogy.
The Housemartin's cd is a double disc edition of their debut album from 1986. The first cd is the original album remastered, with the second disc being made up of unreleased tracks, live versions, single versions and demo tracks. Well worth it for anyone who was a fan of this band from the late 1980's.
The Stieg Larrson book is the second book of the Millenium Trilogy. I read the first part last summer, and have been waiting for the second book to come out in paperback. This series will definately only be a trilogy, as the author Stieg Larrson died shortly after completing the trilogy.
The Housemartin's cd is a double disc edition of their debut album from 1986. The first cd is the original album remastered, with the second disc being made up of unreleased tracks, live versions, single versions and demo tracks. Well worth it for anyone who was a fan of this band from the late 1980's.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
The Lovers by John Connolly
Today's purchase was the hardback edition of "The Lovers" by John Connolly. This is the latest book in the Charlie Parker series. This series started out as an almost straight ahead crime/thriller with the private detective Charlie Parker, but has taken a sort of supernatural twist more recently.
Bought it hardback as I only really paid £2.99 for it - it retailed at £17.99, but Waterstones was selling it with a £5 reduction, and I had a £10.00 book token left over from my birthday in March.
It has been added to the ever increasing pile of books until I get round to reading it.
Bought it hardback as I only really paid £2.99 for it - it retailed at £17.99, but Waterstones was selling it with a £5 reduction, and I had a £10.00 book token left over from my birthday in March.
It has been added to the ever increasing pile of books until I get round to reading it.
Springsteen
Saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Hampden last night - only one thing to say -FANTASTIC.
I have wanted to see Springsteen live for years but had never managed it, I have heard countless stories about how great he is live, and watched the BBC coverage of his set at Glastonbury this year, so I was slightly apprehensive about seeing him - would it be as good as I thought it would be or would it be a let down? Shouldn't have worried, as it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Bruce was in fine voice, playing for three hours, and the E Street Band were brilliant. A good selection of songs from the Springsteen catalogue was played. Even the heavy rain prior to the gig starting, and the slight showers during the concert could not ruin the atmosphere.
The only downside was the length of time it took me to get back home (concert finished at 11pm, got home to Penicuik about 1:40am).
I have wanted to see Springsteen live for years but had never managed it, I have heard countless stories about how great he is live, and watched the BBC coverage of his set at Glastonbury this year, so I was slightly apprehensive about seeing him - would it be as good as I thought it would be or would it be a let down? Shouldn't have worried, as it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Bruce was in fine voice, playing for three hours, and the E Street Band were brilliant. A good selection of songs from the Springsteen catalogue was played. Even the heavy rain prior to the gig starting, and the slight showers during the concert could not ruin the atmosphere.
The only downside was the length of time it took me to get back home (concert finished at 11pm, got home to Penicuik about 1:40am).
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Peter James
Finished the latest Peter James book today. The book "Dead Tomorrow" is the fifth in the Roy Grace series. The plot behind "Dead Tomorrow" is to do with human trafficking from Eastern urope (Romania) to provide organs for private transplant operations. A corpse is brought up by a dredging ship from the sea of the coast of Brighton. Roy Grace and his team are called into investigate and discover that the corpse along with others which are discovered have had their internal organs removed. The action takes place between England Germany and Romania. I enjoyed this book but due to the way it is written (the storyline is split between the police investigation, and the story of a mother whose daughter is suffering from liver failure and needs a transplant, with the threads tying up as the book progresses) it took me a while to get into it.
Now that I have finished this one, I am starting the book of Resnick short stories (Now's the Time) by John Harvey. Reading the introduction to this book by the author, it turns out that the titles of all the short stories are titles of Charlie Parker tracks.
Another Purchase
Bought the new Jack Kerley paperback yesterday. A snip at £2.99. The problem now is finding the time to read it. It has been consigned to the two crates of unread titles.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Today's purchases
After buying three cd's at last nights concert by the Wilders, I didn't pick up any discs today during my weekly trawl through the charity shops of Leith.
However, on arriving home today, there were a number of packages lying on the hall floor that had been delivered by the post. First of all there was a copy of "Nows The Time" by John Harvey bought through Amazon marketplace. This is a collection of short stories featuring John Harvey's detective Charlie Resnick. Resnick is a Nottingham Police Officer of Polish extraction, who listens to jazz (not that there is anything wrong with that). If you have not come across any of the Resnick books (or any of John Harvey's other works) then I would certainly recommend them to you.
There were also three other packages, which were a trilogy of Arthurian novels by a writer by the name of Simon Lister. The premise of these books is that some time in the future the Earth has suffered some sort of catastrophe which has stopped the Earth spinning on its axis, resulting in civilisation being destroyed. Humanity has got back to the level of the Dark Ages, and king Arthur has been reborn - that's about as far as I have gotten. This series of books has been published by the author (Simon Lister). The books are available from Mr Listers website, where he has a sample chapter available for download. The series of books are known as the Shadowlands trilogy. Don't know when I'll get round to reading them, but I will post some more thoughts on them when I start reading them. Check it out at www.simonlister.co.uk
However, on arriving home today, there were a number of packages lying on the hall floor that had been delivered by the post. First of all there was a copy of "Nows The Time" by John Harvey bought through Amazon marketplace. This is a collection of short stories featuring John Harvey's detective Charlie Resnick. Resnick is a Nottingham Police Officer of Polish extraction, who listens to jazz (not that there is anything wrong with that). If you have not come across any of the Resnick books (or any of John Harvey's other works) then I would certainly recommend them to you.
There were also three other packages, which were a trilogy of Arthurian novels by a writer by the name of Simon Lister. The premise of these books is that some time in the future the Earth has suffered some sort of catastrophe which has stopped the Earth spinning on its axis, resulting in civilisation being destroyed. Humanity has got back to the level of the Dark Ages, and king Arthur has been reborn - that's about as far as I have gotten. This series of books has been published by the author (Simon Lister). The books are available from Mr Listers website, where he has a sample chapter available for download. The series of books are known as the Shadowlands trilogy. Don't know when I'll get round to reading them, but I will post some more thoughts on them when I start reading them. Check it out at www.simonlister.co.uk
The Wilders
Last night, I saw the Wilders at the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles. For those who have not heard of this band, the Wilders are a four piece band from Kansas City in Missouri in the USA. They play what they term "new time,old time", which is basically a bit of Bluegrass, a bit Honky tonk, a bit rockabilly and a bit country swing.
Last night's concert appeared to be a sell out, with the Eastgate theatre being alot busier than the previous time that I went there. The band seemed to enjoy performing, and the audience definately enjoyed the gig (although I am not so sure about the four ladies who ended up covering their ears during the bands noisy version of Johnny Cash's "Going to Memphis".
A great gig by a band who were extremely talented performers (and in the case of Phil Wade, a talented dancer/shuffler).
I enjoyed the band that much, I bought three of their cds.
Check out the band's website at www.wilderscountry.com
Last night's concert appeared to be a sell out, with the Eastgate theatre being alot busier than the previous time that I went there. The band seemed to enjoy performing, and the audience definately enjoyed the gig (although I am not so sure about the four ladies who ended up covering their ears during the bands noisy version of Johnny Cash's "Going to Memphis".
A great gig by a band who were extremely talented performers (and in the case of Phil Wade, a talented dancer/shuffler).
I enjoyed the band that much, I bought three of their cds.
Check out the band's website at www.wilderscountry.com
First Post
After talking about it for ages, I am finally starting my blog. To begin with this blog will be concerned with the music that I listen and go to see, and the books that I read.
If you are sitting comfortably, I will begin.......
If you are sitting comfortably, I will begin.......
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