tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post3488680727706021542..comments2024-03-18T11:01:42.459-05:00Comments on Pretty Sinister Books: NEW STUFF: The Readers' Room - Antoine LaurainJ F Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-25293647268038981942021-02-07T13:42:23.621-06:002021-02-07T13:42:23.621-06:00Hope you enjoy it a much as I did.Hope you enjoy it a much as I did.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-91996782511302026452021-02-07T13:42:05.371-06:002021-02-07T13:42:05.371-06:00A valid criticism, but I got a lot more out of it ...A valid criticism, but I got a lot more out of it than just the murder mystery angel which admittedly is rather slight. I was more fascinated with the metafiction aspect and the idea that the book might actually be creating reality which I think was definitely one of the themes Laurain addressed. His books are entertaining, but they are deceptively profound, chockful of evocative ideas slyly presented and discussed pithily.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-57071634052432353062021-02-07T13:37:07.368-06:002021-02-07T13:37:07.368-06:00Just read his first novel published in France back...Just read his first novel published in France back in 2007. Was only recently translated into English as <i>The Portrait.</i> I think I liked it even more! It’s about an obsessive antiques collector who discovers an 18th century pastel portrait of an unnamed man by an unknown artist. The face of the man is his own! Delightful and whimsical and a little sad at times. I’m planning to read all his books this year but have to pace myself. They're very quick reads as the books are so short (but densely packed and vivid) and I'm sure I might easily read his entire output in one month. Instead, I think I’ll read just one a month until I’ve gone though the remaining five novels.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-2367819463124507002021-02-07T11:47:38.112-06:002021-02-07T11:47:38.112-06:00Well this is another book on my list, between you ...Well this is another book on my list, between you and Christopher Fowler I've read some wonderful books I never would have found. Cheers, Wayne.Wayne Mookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09050128967881434208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-54808034535107447502021-02-05T18:24:13.148-06:002021-02-05T18:24:13.148-06:00“Novels have to be better than real life”
That...<em>“Novels have to be better than real life”</em><br /><br />That's something that all novelists should repeat to themselves every time they sit down to write. dfordoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306293859869179118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-42995719150703098632021-02-03T11:04:46.214-06:002021-02-03T11:04:46.214-06:00When I saw the title, I was intrigued to see what ...When I saw the title, I was intrigued to see what you made of it, as I reviewed it last September when it came out. I have enjoyed a few by this author already. The President's Hat and The Red Notebook are my favourites. Alas this one did not go down well with me. I was somewhat polar opposite to you. The insertion of the detective/crime plot really didn't work for me, and I felt the book might have been better if it hadn't of been shoe horned in. Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05616800837907092489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-2508966484524641992021-02-02T18:17:04.256-06:002021-02-02T18:17:04.256-06:00wow. This sounds really interesting. Will be off t...wow. This sounds really interesting. Will be off the the local brick and mortar to track down a copy in the morning.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02850416096438018835noreply@blogger.com