John Connolly

[JulieB123]

I am reading the Black Angel by John Connolly at the moment, I am finding it a bit like wading through treacle but very rearly do I give up on a book, I am sure if I could have read it quicker it may have been better.

Anyone else read it? what did you thin?

[JulieB123]

I did mean think??

[Hapus]

I enjoyed it. But I'll read anything as long as I'm told a story!

[JulieB123]

me too but this one It just seems to be taking to long to get through

[mightywease]

I read it a little while ago and really enjoyed it but then it's just the sort of novel Ilike, a bit dark, a bit of a thriller.

Also i have read a number of others by John Connolly in the same series with the same characters so i knew what to expect. I'd say stick with it as it is an interesting , thought provoking and, at times, disburbing book but I know I have been in the same situiation i.e struck with something only to get to the end and wonder why I have ("Jonathanm Strange and Mr. Norrell" had that effect on me!).

I do sympathise but I always feel that, unless you really hate or are offended by a book (I couldn't get through "American Psycho" for instance because I personally found it distasteful) at least if you stick with something it'll inform you in the future even if it is only to say "I'll never read one of so and so's books again"!

[JulieB123]

Thanks Mightywease it does help. Like I say it has to be really bad for me to give up, I do think when I finish it I will probably have enjoyed it.

[TommyC]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you on this one. I just read "The Black Angel" myself a few months ago after being passed it by a friend. I enjoyed the unusual plot overall, but I feel John Connolly has two main faults as a novelist, both of which are very evident in "The Black Angel": 1) He doesn't seem to know whether he wants to write "simple" crime thrillers, or much more involved, thought--provoking, semi-philosophical works about the nature of evil - and so as a result I think he often falls badly between the two. 2) I feel increasingly that his violent set-pieces - which read as if they are written simply for their eventual screenplay value - are more and more extreme, distasteful and disturbing, for no obvious need or reason, and for me at least this detracts badly from his other good writing qualities. I found the endless casual slaughter in "The Black Angel" very disturbing at times - and I have a VERY strong stomach..!! I've read three of his novels now, and I thought the earliest was easily the best - which means for me at least that his inventiveness is deteriorating. I'll probably move on to my next top-of-the-list author next time.

[JulieB123]

Thanks TommyC I think you are right with what you say.

Who is your top of the list author?

I have been reading the James Patterson Womens Murder Club Series, I am onto number three at the moment and find them very good.