The Thursday Murder Club ...

[naomi24]

... Richard Osman’s first
novel - a number one best seller, the film rights of which have already been sold to Spielberg, I believe.

A Christmas gift, I’ve read a bit - but I’m
not that impressed. It seems quite childishly written. I’ll persevere and hope to be pleasantly surprised but in the meantime, has anyone else read it and if so what are your thoughts?

[ichkeria]

I’ve got it and I’ll be annoyed if it’s not as good as they say :-)

[sadielady]

I'm finding it very slow, I'm about half way through but it's not holding my attention

[ubasses]

I thought that I had posted on another thread about this book. You will get some other views on here:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Arts-and-Literature/Books-and-Authors/Question1720746.html

[tearinghair]

I found it slightly difficult to keep track because the narration changes constantly between characters. But I didn't work out whodunit.

[Buenchico]

There are nearly 25,000 reviews on Amazon, with 87% of them awarding the book either 4 or 5 stars. However there are still quite a few people who agree with you:
https://tinyurl.com/y48jlnwp

[TheChair]

I started it and gave up. Very disappointing.

[Cloverjo]

I also started and gave up.

[Atheist]

Very difficult to write a first novel with literary merit. First novel that's a best seller is easier (although exceedingly difficult - like winning the lottery). Girl on the Train I found unfinishable - I have an aversion to multiple narrators.

[MallyJ]

I read it and did find it didn't flow as easily as one might expect but having said that I sat myself down for an hour of uninterupted reading and that sorted it out for me. Afterwards I could pop in and out and follow the flow of the story. A bit different from the usual murder story.

[naomi24]

I enjoyed Girl on a Train. Easy reading and the story line kept me interested.

With Richard Osman's book I get the impression that he's trying too hard to be humorous - and it shows. He doesn't come across as a natural writer. If he wasn't who he is, I have my doubts that any publisher would have looked twice at his effort.

[Atheist]

Naomi. Do you read much fiction? What books have you enjoyed recently (i.e. in the last 20 years)?

[naomi24]

Having an interest in science and the history and psychology of religion I read mostly non-fiction - although the category into which the holy texts and books of various religions together with associated literature falls is debateable.

A few memorable fictional works from the past 20 years are:

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee - I wasn’t so impressed with its sequel, Go Set a Watchman.

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger.

1984 and Animal Farm by Georgor Orwell.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

All Harry Potters by J K Rowling - read several times.

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien

Mythos by Stephen Fry - re-telling the story of the Greek Gods (another that could fit into the ‘debateable’ category). His next two in the series - ‘Heroes’ and ‘Troy’ - have been sitting on my shelf since Christmas awaiting attention.

Dr Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - all read many times.


The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón - one which, after being asked by a book club for a recommendation, I offered with great enthusiasm - only to discover upon receiving their feedback that they hated it! Oops!

[sadielady]

Following on from my last post, I persevered and I must say the last third wasn't bad. A twist at the end......I do like a twist at the end of a book

[drmorgans]

Naomi, I have been reading a few classics over the lockdowns. One recommendation, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. I read it a little after Wuthering Heights and thought it was a better book, less hysterical and melodramatic.

P.s. I learned the lesson of recommending books to my readers' group. Either they like it and you get a tepid "thanks" or they hate it and you are beyond the pale.

[naomi24]

Thanks, sadie. I’ll plough on.

drmorgans, I’ve read all the Brontes includingThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and I agree with you. A superb book - very different from Ann's 'Agnes Grey' and surprisingly shocking for its time.

I’ve never belonged to a reading group - they just asked me to recommend a book - something I have since been hesitant to do. :o)

[naomi24]

I guess atheist didn't really want to know.

[margarettom]

I was given it for Christmas too and I agree with you naomi. However,
as it was a present I will skim read it, so I can talk about it with the person who gave it to me. She really liked it.

[naomi24]

Margaret. It’s disappointing when books are lauded so loudly and subsequently fail to meet expectation. Another one I read in recent years was The Tattooist of Auschwitz - an opportunity to relate an important insight into the most unforgiveable crime in history wasted by being offered to the less than capable author, Heather Morris. I didn’t bother with the follow-up.

[Atheist]

Naomi 9:15
Sorry if you think I wasn't interested. You gave quite a good list and I am impressed.

[naomi24]

Ah, there you are, atheist. I forgot to add ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Attwood. If I think of any more I’ll tack them on.