Rants about reading and cycling
By Mark Jolly
If knowing some details of a book’s plot before you read it ruins it for you, it’s probably not that good a book.
It’s an indication that the book is over-reliant on plot, and niceties such as characterisation, quality of writing and a unique view of the world are not there.
In the world of reviews, they are called spoilers.
But there’s always an exception to the rule and Sydney Bridge Upside Down is it.
[Read more…] about Sydney Bridge Upside Down by David BallantyneBy Mark Jolly
I have to admit rather cynical motives for reading this book. I did so purely so I could write a review of a more popular book than I would generally read, so that review would be widely read and drive people towards my own website.
It won’t be easy because there are already more than 2,000 reviews of it on Goodreads, and most seem to agree with me — Manhattan Beach is well written, well researched, blah blah blah, but it’s still not great. [Read more…] about Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
