Life Beyond Books

Well, it's been a while since I blogged about anything other than the reading challenge and there has been a very good reason for this. I have spent the last few months just going through the motions. My world has been on auto pilot.
I am sure that anyone who has lost someone close can identify.
I can't seem to focus on anything other than the stuff I have to do. Getting up and going to work is an effort in itself. I would much rather just sit around watching endless hours of television and forget about the world outside.
Clint has been incredibly patient and I can't fault how he has taken care of me.
I know this can't last much longer. There is only so much self-pity you can wallow in. Until then, I'm content to lock myself away from the world and pretend it just isn't there.

The Jackal vs Jason Bourne

BOOK CHALLENGE 51/1000 (59)
I am not big on political thrillers but I was pleasantly surprised with The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth. Although there was a little two much factual history for me and not enough fictional action. I found myself willing on this assassin hoping he would succeed. Not because I have anything against French politicians but because, in this book, there are no other real characters to sympathise with. Whether or not it was the author's intention to create this anti-hero I have no idea.

This novel does seem to have endless paragraphs of description and very little dialogue. This made is quite a slow arduous read for me as it is not a style I particularly enjoy.

The next book I have lined up is a similar theme so I am interested in seeing the difference in writing styles.

BOOK CHALLENGE 52/1000 (60)

Aah. That's better. Much more up my street. This one I did not want to put down. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum is on another level, in my opinion. The pacing is better, the tension greater and, quite frankly, the story and characters are leagues ahead of Jackal.

It has been so long since I have read this book I actually forgot how unlike the film it is. The book is much more involved with twists and turns and I don't think they captured this very well in the film.

Although I have read this trilogy many moons ago, I actually couldn't remember many of the little plot twists and so it was like reading it for the first time. I would like to go on a read the other two books but I don't have the time right now and I am very behind in my reading schedule. It doesn't help that I have bookshelves of other books that I am itching to read.

For instance, I took a little break from the challenge to read a The Black Magician trilogy by Australian Sci-Fi author Trudi Canavan. It was a week I couldn't really afford to lose but I need to indulge my own tastes a little every now and then or this challenge would be dead in the water. Now it's time to get back to the challenge and I'm in the mood for a few period pieces. Bronte and Austen, here I come!