Like, I'm sure, many of you, I've been a big fan of Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse, and it's spin-offs on TV over the last thirty or so years.
Well I've finally got around to actually doing the decent thing for a book lover and delving into the novels upon which the TV series was based. I bought the boxed set of 'Morse' novels, published by Pan, during my UK trip earlier this year, and having recently run out of my favourite detective fiction... decided to give this a go.
I have to say I've ploughed through 'Last Bus To Woodstock', the first in the Morse series, in less than two days. Always a good sign. The writing of Mr Dexter allows reading to flow very easily. It is uncomplicated yet descriptive, erudite yet not elaborate.
As to the story itself, aside from a slight personal discomfort in the way the issue of a rape is addressed, (this was written in 1975, whether we like it or not, sensibilities were different then) it is a throughly gripping story with, of course the required twist in the tail.
I'd definitely recommend giving it a go!
Stevie at BLM
So, here we are once again dear reader, at that festive time of year when even atheists like me like to eat drink and be merry, think of friends close and afar and take a look back over the year.
That being the case it's time for a quick review of my favourites from 2015, which I sit typing with a glass of decent Cab Sav to my left and a growing pile of food, pressies and relatives to my right!
I've not read anywhere near as many books this year as I would like, only forty two, which is a lot for some, not many for others, but it was all I managed to squeeze in. Must try harder next year!
I diarise and rate all my reading (lucky for you I spare you all that particularly geeky, detailed information) so it makes it quite easy to go back over the year and figure out a few highlights.
Out of the 42, only three achieved a 10/10 rating from me, though there were six that I gave a 9/10.
The '10s' were, in order of reading:
Time And Time Again by Ben Elton (Jan)
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway (May)
Seventy Seven Clocks by Christopher Fowler (May).
All recommended reading as far as I'm concerned, and wide-ranging enough in topics that there is something there to please everyone.
Of the six that received a '9' three were also from the Bryant & May stories by Christopher Fowler, who, by any sort of reckoning, has to be my Author of the Year. I've worked my way through all but one of his Bryant & May series this year, (having read the first in 2014) and have now, sadly caught up with the author who is busily working on the next instalment.
Finally...
I'd like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to the thousands who follow us on our Facebook page, and the considerably less who follow this, the less popular, less often written but more verbose version of Book Lovers Melbourne. your kind comments and input through the year has been much appreciated.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!
