(At last a proper) 2015 Challenge from me

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(At last a proper) 2015 Challenge from me

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1IrishHolger
gen. 8, 2015, 10:11 am

I always love those annual challenges though admittedly over the last few years came up with a lot of workarounds/excuses rather than set up "proper" categories as I simply preferred to enjoy the reading (and the writing about the reading!) without needing to put myself under some categorical pressure.

This year, however, I think I am going to opt for some more traditional categories. In the majority of cases I am not going to force certain numbers on each categories. Would love to end up with 52 books throughout the year (so about 3-4 books per category) but if it just works out that I covered each category without hitting that number, then so be it.

So without further ado, my categories are:

1. Started but not finished
Pretty straight forward: Finally finishing (some of the) books I had started last year/the year before that/10 years ago.

2. Fu Manchu
I own (and have read) about half of the Fu Manchu books. The ones in my possession are the Pyramid editions from way back when and I have started getting picky about my Fu-choices and will now insist that I can only read those editions. That's how much I love the covers. So this year I want to obtain the remaining Pyramid Fu Manchus (which cover a lot of the earlier parts of the saga). And of course read them.

3. Fredric Brown
One of the most unknown and underappreciated Noir and Sci Fi writers. I gotta get at least a few more of his Noir books under my belt this year.

4. Books on Cinema
I love movies just as much as I love books. Which means that I love books about the movies I love (mainly cult and genre productions). Which means that I have lots of those piling up waiting to be read. Which strangely enough means that I barely actually read them! So this year need to read more of those.

5. Casanova
As a teenager I had read half of the 12 books of Casanova's autobiography. Over the years I have slowly re-acquainted myself with them but want to really finish with the lot this year.

6. Around the World
Want to add a few more new countries to my Around the World reading trip.

7. 1001 Books
At latest count I have read 132 of the original 1001 Book list. (Never bothered updating the list over the years.) Clearly not enough

8. The Horror of it All
Horror genre books.

9. Adventures in Space and Time
Sci Fi books. Maybe even Fantasy. But definitely some Sci Fi.

10. Sherlock Holmes/Arthur Conan Doyle
Either Sherlock Holmes books and pastiches by everyone and their mother or books by its original creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

11. Poetry
Not the greatest fan of poetry in general but there is some stuff I like and the books are generally slim enough for a quick read to pile up the numbers.

12. Pulp Fiction 1970s style
I love those Men's Adventure novels from around the 1970s, y'know the likes of Mack Bolan, The Executioner & Co. And I still have at least one shelf with unread books of this kind. 2015 is just the right year for this.

13. Series (not yet covered)
Great fan of fictional book series. The previous categories covered some but there is always room for more.

14. Other
My most important category. All that stuff I read that doesn't belong into any one of the previous categories.

15. Comics/Graphic Novels
I always loved comics but used to be anal about them featuring in annual book counts. I have changed my mind about this lately so need to have this also reflected in the list.

So here we are. Looking forward to a good reading year. No doubt there'll be some overlap between some of the categories but I'll worry about this when the time comes.

2IrishHolger
gen. 8, 2015, 10:12 am

1. Started but not finished

3IrishHolger
Editat: des. 11, 2015, 9:32 am

2. Fu Manchu

Sax Rohmer: Emperor Fu Manchu
Sax Rohmer: The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu

4IrishHolger
Editat: oct. 23, 2015, 3:10 pm

3. Fredric Brown

Fredric Brown: Nightmares and Geezenstacks
Fredric Brown: The Deep End

5IrishHolger
Editat: ag. 24, 2015, 10:12 am

4. Books on Cinema

David Hofstede: Planet of the Apes: An Unofficial Companion
Bruce G Hallenbeck: The Amicus Anthology
Wayne Kinsey: Fantastic Films of the Decades - Volume 1, The Silent Era

6IrishHolger
gen. 8, 2015, 10:13 am

5. Casanova

7IrishHolger
Editat: jul. 20, 2015, 8:11 am

6. Around the World

Marek Krajewski: Gespenster in Breslau - Poland

8IrishHolger
Editat: ag. 24, 2015, 10:39 am

7. 1001 Books

Jean Cocteau: Les Enfants Terribles
Franz Kafka: Der Prozess
Fjodor Dostoevskij: Notes from Underground

9IrishHolger
Editat: jul. 14, 2015, 11:52 am

8. The Horror of it All

H.P. Lovecraft: The Tomb and other tales
A. Merritt: Burn Witch Burn

10IrishHolger
Editat: oct. 6, 2015, 12:00 pm

9. Adventures in Space and Time

John Scalzi: Old Man's War

11IrishHolger
Editat: gen. 30, 2015, 12:50 pm

10. Sherlock Holmes/Arthur Conan Doyle

Franziska Franke: Sherlock Holmes und der Fluch des grünen Diamanten

12IrishHolger
Editat: ag. 8, 2015, 2:16 pm

11. Poetry

Beau Taplin: Playing with Fire
Beau Taplin: The Wild Heart
Beau Taplin: Hunting Season
Beau Taplin: The New Human Beings
Charles Bukowski: Love is a Dog from Hell

13IrishHolger
Editat: jul. 20, 2015, 7:44 am

12. Pulp Fiction 1970s style

Mack Bolan - The Libya Connection
Marshall Macao: K'ing Kung Fu - Son of Flying Tiger

14IrishHolger
Editat: abr. 10, 2015, 5:19 pm

13. Series (not yet covered)

Jo Nesbo: The Devil's Star (Harry Hole)
Ian Fleming: Casino Royale (James Bond)

15IrishHolger
Editat: des. 11, 2015, 9:31 am

14. Other

Stephen King: Joyland
A. Merritt: Seven Footprints to Satan
Hape Kerkeling: Ich bin dann mal weg
Angelika Davey: The A-Z of Learning German
Sean Egan: The Mammoth Book of Bob Dylan

16IrishHolger
Editat: oct. 6, 2015, 12:00 pm

15. Comics/Graphic Novels

Modesty Blaise - The Young Mistress
Savage Sword of Conan Volume 6
Revolution 1-4
Juan Diaz Canales, Juanjo Guarnido: Blacksad

17mamzel
gen. 8, 2015, 3:06 pm

Some of your categories are very intriguing and I have to admit that I don't know much about them. For instance, I know vaguely about Fu Manchu but you might be introducing me to a whole new addiction! I look forward to your comments.

18IrishHolger
gen. 8, 2015, 4:51 pm

The series started off with some Holmes/Watson-like sleuths investigating an omnipotent Asian criminal mastermind with the secret of quasi-eternal life and over the course of its time had a number of different protagonists, some more action than deduction focused. I am more familiar with some of the later books so far though I know the origin stories from various radio and movie adaptations. Really like the whole atmosphere of these books.

19LauraBrook
gen. 8, 2015, 5:48 pm

You've got some great categories this year! Can't wait to see what you read first. :)

20rabbitprincess
gen. 8, 2015, 8:42 pm

My local library has just ordered two books of Fredric Brown stories. Might have to pick one up and give him a try!

Good luck with your challenge!

21-Eva-
gen. 9, 2015, 2:02 am

Great to see you here and looking forward to seeing some off-the-beaten-path books as usual! :)

22IrishHolger
gen. 9, 2015, 5:25 am

Well, well, thanks, everyone. Also looking forward to seeing what 2015 will have to bring for myself and all of you!

23AHS-Wolfy
gen. 9, 2015, 11:44 am

Going to be following along with your reading again for sure. Some very interesting categories to look forward to there.

24paruline
gen. 11, 2015, 6:22 pm

Love your categories and will be following along!

25lkernagh
gen. 14, 2015, 10:31 pm

Welcome back! Great categories choices. "Started but not finished' would loom dangerously at me as my personal albatross is War and Peace. ;-)

26IrishHolger
gen. 26, 2015, 5:09 am

My own personal albatros is DON QUIJOTE. I think with this one I give up and admit it was not my cup of tea.

Slow start of the reading year. Just on the verge of finishing my second book. Need to update soon.

27IrishHolger
gen. 30, 2015, 1:07 pm

Only read two books this month, none of which really caught my attention which may explain why the year started to damn slow on the reading front:



Franziska Franke: Sherlock Holmes und der Fluch des grünen Diamanten

For the last few years Franziska Franke has published one German language Sherlock Holmes pastiche a year. Set in the time after Reichenbach, Holmes is on hiatus travelling Europe under pseudonym and befriending another expat living in Italy.

This is book #4 of the series and this time the two are investigating a murder during the World Fair in Antwerp. As usual the description of the local atmosphere is entertaining but by the time the solution came I had already lost interest.

We also have a cameo appearance of another Belgian detective who is left nameless.

The book is reasonably entertaining just like its predecessors and over time I'll probably read the remaining ones but it's not a Must Have. Reason I am getting those is because they are convenient presents for me from my family in Germany. ;-)

Book # 1 (Sherlock Holmes/Arthur Conan Doyle)

28mamzel
gen. 30, 2015, 5:29 pm

A Belgian detective, um? My little gray cells are spinning!

29IrishHolger
gen. 31, 2015, 4:00 am

That's the one. ;-)

It's a strange cameo that as it's kind of like Poirot.... but then again it isn't. Utterly strange. Could have been handled much better.

30hailelib
gen. 31, 2015, 2:08 pm

Maybe February will bring more interesting books your way.

31-Eva-
feb. 1, 2015, 12:11 am

>26 IrishHolger:
That's one I've vowed to finish at some point. Let's see for how long I can postpone it. :)

32IrishHolger
feb. 9, 2015, 7:05 am



Jean Cocteau: Les Enfants Terribles

Watched a few of Jean Cocteau's films and liked them.

Seen a few of his drawings and liked them.

Read this one book... and didn't like it all that much.

This is one of the 1001 Books you're supposed to read before you die. Me, I just couldn't get into it. It's a thin volume and I should have been able to rush through it but, man, did it feel like a drag at times.

The best part are some of Cocteau's drawings that were also included. There are some beautiful phrases but I just couldn't connect with the story of two teenage brothers and sisters living alone and playing some kind of apparently important but ultimately elusive and self-destroying "game" that for the life of me I could never figure out.

This could be one of those works where the film version *is* indeed better than the book.

Book # 2 (1001 Books)

33IrishHolger
feb. 9, 2015, 7:16 am



David Hofstede: Planet of the Apes: An Unofficial Companion

I love the Planet of the Apes franchise, at least the classic ones. The first film is one of my absolute favourites and I never tire of it.

This book was published shortly before the Tim Burton version came out, full of hopes for this revamp. (Yeah, we know where this went.)

It's a quick read. First 100 pages a good overview over all the classic films and TV series incl episode by episode run down. The last 50 pages not that essential, more of a compilation of lists of memorabilia and PotA references in other flicks, interviews with fellow fans etc.

Overall definitely a worthwhile addition to the PotA shelves if you manage to get a cheap version second hand like I did.

Book # 3 (Books on Cinema)

34IrishHolger
feb. 21, 2015, 6:59 am



Bruce G Hallenbeck: The Amicus Anthology

British based Hemlock Publishers are currently one of my favourite publishing houses dedicated to cinema. Their British Cult Cinema line has a number of fab books covering predominantly 1960/70s horror productions and Bruce Hallenbeck is one their best authors.

He has previously written three books about Hammer Studio's Vampire, Frankenstein and Sci fi/Fantasy movies.

With this tome he is shifting focus to Amicus, one of Hammer's main rivals. They were mainly known for their collection of anthology horror productions but though this is his main subject, he also gives an excellent overview over Amicus' general history and about the concept of portmanteau horror films through the decades.

Book # 4 (Books on Cinema)

35IrishHolger
Editat: feb. 21, 2015, 7:45 am



Stephen King: Joyland

Stephen King is one of those authors that I should like but somehow never got into. All I have read by him are one or two short story collections (and only really liked and remembered the ones about the guy giving up smoking and another one about someone forced to walk around the ledge of a high rise), one of his non-fiction books (Danse Macabre) and finally The Green Mile when it first came out and sold in weekly or monthly installments (can't remember which it was).

The last one finally made me give up on King for quite some time. Hated both book and film equally as overblown superficial kitsch. Regardless of what I had approached by him my lasting impression was always that of an overbearingly sentimental author who goes overboard with memories of boys going out for an ice-cream with their dads, mourning lost ones and moaning over the passing of time.

King of Horror? King of Schmalz was more like it.

I have long wanted to re-acquaint myself with him and this book stirred my interest when I was first spotted it. Loved the cover and only noticed that it was by King afterwards. King fans seem to rave about it and it had the right size as there was no way I was going to start one of his oversized series. (Seriously, is he being paid by the word these days?)

So when it became available for very little on the Kindle I thought: "I'd buy this for a dollah!" and started.

And guess what?

It starts of with more memories of unrequited first love, the passing of time yadda yadda.

What is it with this guy?

The first third of the book is very much focused on the narrator's first crush and how she deserted him, a character that then disappears and has no real bearing on the main plot!

We then get introduced to another couple he meets during a fateful summer at a funfair who then all but vanish after the first half of the book but at least briefly reappear with some important clues to a murder.

Then we get introduced to some more new characters who at least are of more interest to the actual plot.

Be patient as there is a bit of a murder mystery/ghost story in it even though it takes us two thirds into the book before this becomes a bit more predominant (at least briefly). It's only in the last tenth of this novel that the focus actually shifts to what King readers (I suppose) expect. In between we have interminably long descriptions of a visit to the fun fair and all those rides one can take and the enjoyment one can get and carny lingo that may or may not be genuine.

Don't get me wrong: Couldn't give a toss if a book follows genre conventions or not if it's well written. There are some novels where the main character takes 100 pages just to make it out of bed but his inner world is so rich it doesn't matter. With King, however, it is all Reader's Digest style characterisation, Reader's Digest style character development, Reader's Digest style morality lessons about the passing of time etc etc. All very shallow.

Even the genre aspects of this book suck.

On the one hand it is a bit of a Whodunnit, however, the solution is based on photographic evidence that we as readers can't see and the vital clues are so subtle in that visual evidence, there is no way on Earth anyone can properly guess the killer. Then again by the time all that is important most of the characters have come and gone anyway and there are only two real suspects left so take a pick.

The ghost/psychic strand is equally annoying as its main raison d'être seems to be to give us an otherwise impossible to pull off Deus Ex Machina/The Cavalry Unexpectedly Arrives style save for the main character and narrator when he is finally and at last actually threatened and in a position that is otherwise virtually impossible to escape from.

I am sure one of these days I may indeed unearth a King book I actually like but I guess for the time being I'll be on yet another King hiatus.

Book # 5 (Other)

36lkernagh
feb. 21, 2015, 10:03 am

I have yet to read any Stephen King - although I do own and look forward to reading my copy of 11/22/63 at some point. That cover for Joyland cracks me up every time I see it.... it has such a retro pulp fiction feel to it. ;-)

37IrishHolger
feb. 22, 2015, 5:49 am

It is one of the few good covers on a recent novel. Little wonder that its style reverts back to a time when cover design was still an art and not the last marketing element done on the cheap by a photoshop novice.

38IrishHolger
març 16, 2015, 5:18 am



Mack Bolan - The Libya Connection

Recently learnt that the Mack Bolan/Executioner series will cease being produced later on this year and my initial reaction was: They are still around???? I generally identify them with the 70s/80s genres of violent men's fiction and had assumed that they are long gone but I guess they must be pretty much the only one of those at the time extremely popular series of cheaply produced pulp fiction that have survived for this long.

My second reaction was to go to my book shelf and see if I still have some unread ones around and lo and behold there was a THE LIBYA CONNECTION, a relatively early entry into the series where Bolan had just been pardoned by the US government for his Mafia killings in exchange for doing risky underground missions with them. In this book he goes to Libya on a personal mission to rescue a former love interest. As can be guessed with those type of at times cynical books, things may not necessarily go according to plan.

The Mack Bolans like most of the other 1970s men's fiction series are the literary equivalent of watching a new direct-to-video Jean-Claude Van Damme or Dolph Lundgren movie. They deliver action fast and furiously but won't stay around for too long. Disposable bubblegum action. Nothing wrong with that.

Book # 6 (Pulp Fiction 1970s style)

39IrishHolger
març 16, 2015, 5:32 am



Jo Nesbo: The Devil's Star

I was first introduced to Harry Hole two or three years ago and really loved the initial book, REDBREAST, probably still one of the very best in the series. Then last year read a few more and still liked them a lot: great narration and one of the best fictional characters in quite some time but I needed a bit of a break as the format was starting to wear thin on me. How many times can I watch someone being on the wagon/off the wagon, a member of the police force/dismissed (or under threat of dismissal) from the police force, reading about two or three different separate investigations that are ultimately strangely linked together.

The break was long enough and I decided to revisit the books and liked this one a lot. Yes, it's still pretty much the usual Harry Hole formula but after all this *is* something that I loved the first time round so I think I've come to the conclusion that these books are best read with a bit of distance between them.

Mind you, I have at least one more unread book lying around and staring at me so not too sure how long the break will be this time round.

Book # 7 (Series (not yet covered): Harry Hole)

40mamzel
març 16, 2015, 3:10 pm

>39 IrishHolger: I love how the cover proclaims him to be "the next Steig Larsson" when Nesbo's first book came out in 1997 and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo came out in 2005! Maybe it should be the other way around!!

41IrishHolger
març 16, 2015, 4:41 pm

>40 mamzel: Haha, spot on. I guess it's all a question of perception. LOL

42-Eva-
març 16, 2015, 5:02 pm

I think they put that sticker on any Scandinavian book nowadays, regardless of genre! :)

43mamzel
març 16, 2015, 5:27 pm

I'm picturing a group of people (probably mostly men) sitting around a table saying, "Darn, we can't get a quote from Larsson. What else can we do instead?"

44IrishHolger
març 17, 2015, 5:46 am

Yeah, I guess it's a few decades too late to write: the next Sjowall/Wahlo (or whatever they are spelt).

45IrishHolger
març 29, 2015, 5:21 pm



A. Merritt: Seven Footprints to Satan

Nice to see that there are still discoveries (or better: rediscoveries) to be made.

One of my favourite cinematic finds of last year was SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN, one of the last, if not: THE last silent movie to be made, an incredibly fast paced production with a quasi-modern sensibility for its pulp fiction imagery:

A would-be African explorer discovers that adventure is just a few steps away from his New York home when he together with his fiancee gets kidnapped and they are both forced to take part in black magic and satanic rituals in a vast mansion.

The film is chockablock with pulpy tropes and imagery: dwarves and carney freaks, sliding doors and hidden traps, gorillas and half humans (fresh from an encounter with a certain Dr Moreau one would assume), hooded villains and whipped maidens, Fu Manchu style baddies and even a strangely deformed Dr Moriarty (who is actually one of the good guys) all meet up in a lusciously designed suburban residence surrounded by a wealthy elite celebrating satanic rituals.

At times very Indiana Jones-y in feel and pacing, the eponymous Seven Footprints challenge alone is a masterpiece of stunning set design. Though shot during a time when pulp fiction was still alive and kicking this is also very much a self-reverential homage to its familiar tropes and themes, maybe the very first of its kind. And I have no doubt that a lot of its images have influenced later, more better known movies from the 1930s.

The film was based on a novel by A. Merritt, an author I had previously heard nothing about but who seems to have been immensely successful at the time. He has been called the "Stephen King of the Depression Era" and appears to have been one of the few individuals at the time to rake in a fortune with writing.

Most of his books seem to be Sci Fi/Fantasy based pulp fiction stories though this novel is somewhat more down to Earth. Well, if you consider the idea of being invited by Satan (is he real or an impostor?) to partake in his quest for world domination and search for rare artefacts a down to Earth approach.

The book's first half is somewhat in line with the cinematic adaptation but does differ in lots of areas: the hero is a genuine (not would-be) adventurer, there is no fiancée (though a potential love interest) and there are less chases but a much bigger focus on the philosophical background behind the 7 Footprints challenge (in short: depending on what combination of steps you hit you may get away financially sorted for life, owe Satan favours or die a cruel death and go straight to hell). There is also a surprise twist in the film that would have been out of the place in the novel.

In the second half of the book our hero James Kirkham (who at times does somehow resemble a similarly named character from a popular TV show) is at service to Satan and required to be involved in some stunning heists.

The plot is wonderfully ridiculous in the tradition of some of the best pulps of the time. The initial kidnapping in broad daylight under the eyes of scores of New Yorkers is so imaginatively gaga, it's gotta be seen (pardon: read) to be believed.

I'm always amazed to see how once extremely popular authors easily fall out of favour and get largely forgotten about. If any of Merritt's other books are only half as enjoyable as this one, then I'll have found a new author to obsess about. There is a Kindle Megapack of most of his oeuvre cheaply available and I am sure it will be well thumbed (digitally at least) by the time I'm through with him.

Methinks, the next book of his that I'll approach will be BURN, WITCH, BURN, the basis of THE DEVIL DOLL featuring Lionel Barrymore.

Book # 8 (Other)

46IrishHolger
març 29, 2015, 7:10 pm



Sax Rohmer: Emperor Fu Manchu

The last Fu Manchu novel published in Sax Rohmer's lifetime. The Wrath of Fu Manchu was a posthumous collection and then there are some Fu Manchu novels written by other authors.

This is also the last Fu Manchu book I had in my collection. I intend to close the remaining gaps this year, at least with regards to Rohmer's official novels. So will be on the look out for copies of the Pyramid publications with their distinctive cover design as I want to have a full collection of those.

I always associate the character with the 1920s and 30s so I still find it somewhat unusual in a late 1950s setting. This book sees him working on plans to establish a classic Chinese Empire within the confines of Communist China. The catch in this novel is that in order to do so he will need to work on plans to battle some germ warfare produced by the Russians which actually puts him tangentially on a par with his old adversary Nayland Smith working for the British Secret Service and also intent to destroy the threat of germ warfare while at the same time hunting down Fu Manchu.

Book # 9 (Fu Manchu)

47IrishHolger
abr. 4, 2015, 5:25 pm



H.P. Lovecraft: The Tomb and other tales

This is a collection of some of Lovecraft's lesser known stories, collaborations (one with Houdini), some early pieces and fragments.

They all display the typical Lovecraft style: very verbose and descriptive yet with very little actual dialogue or typical "action". It's a very moody kind of horror that you either love or hate. What can I say? I love it.

Book # 10 (The Horror of it all)

48IrishHolger
abr. 10, 2015, 5:24 pm



James Bond: Casino Royale

One of my favourite books, always worth a re-read. Or in this case a re-listen as I listened to a German language audio book that I purchased for the princely sum of a €1 last time I was back in the Fatherland. The book is read by Hannes Jaenicke and he does a good job though hearing a rather softly spoken somewhat explanatory "Das Biest ist nämlich tot" is not quite the same as a bitter and cynical "The bitch is dead now".

It's probably the only book that manages to make entire chapters on gambling tactics sound really exciting. Love it...

Book # 11 (Series not yet covered: James Bond)

49mamzel
abr. 10, 2015, 5:57 pm

Your reads form a most interesting list. And your comments are always fascinating. I wish I had time to read all of them!

50IrishHolger
abr. 11, 2015, 7:29 pm

Wow thanks. :-)

Ha, I wish I had time to read more of them myself. LOL

51christina_reads
abr. 13, 2015, 10:48 pm

You've reminded me that I need to continue with the James Bond books, because I liked Casino Royale a lot as well! It was fun learning how to play baccarat.

52-Eva-
abr. 15, 2015, 12:41 am

I've only watched the James Bond movies, but I've put the new audio-versions of the books on the wishlist.

53IrishHolger
abr. 18, 2015, 3:58 pm

>51 christina_reads:/52

Oh, do continue/commence with the original Bond books. Would be curious to read what you think of them. Kingsley Amis' COLONEL SUN is also worth a read, the only non-Fleming Bond I've read that totally got it right.

54IrishHolger
Editat: ag. 24, 2015, 9:56 am



Modesty Blaise - The Young Mistress

Another three Modesty Blaise comics originally published in a daily newspaper. Having already read all the novels it's always good to know there are still a good number of her adventures left for me to read in comic format. Definitely one of my favourite heroines.

Book # 12 (Comics/Graphic Novels)

55IrishHolger
maig 3, 2015, 10:18 am



Hape Kerkeling: Ich bin dann mal weg

Hape Kerkeling is a German entertainer and comedian (yeah, I know) and this is a diary of his 6-week journey on the Santiago de Compostela way.

It's a book that's been well received in Germany (and apparently also translated into English) and some of my German friends and family were raving on about it but must admit that I didn't find it very well written.

I have often pondered the idea of walking the Camino myself but can't say I am feeling very inspired about it after reading this. Luckily I know a few folks who have done the walk and they all have better stories to tell than him.

For a funny man his writing is surprisingly strained and laborious. Not really witty or interesting. For large parts of the early stages he refuses to even communicate with others but then complains about feeling lonely. Complaining makes up a large part of the book: about the way, about the people, about the locals and their apparent cruelty to dogs etc. Being a somewhat well known face he is occasionally confronted by strangers who recognise him and his attitude is schizophrenic: pretending he doesn't like the attention, he also seems to be surprised when he doesn't get recognised, and goes to lengths to hide his "fame" from foreigners who would never have heard of him.

He often is on the verge of throwing in the towel and sometimes one hopes he had. For him (as well as loads of others of course) this is also a religious walk and he often ponders his beliefs and claims that the walk changed him, yet it's never quite clear what it is that caused the change as his thoughts are hardly deep or original but pretty much standard middle-of-the-road musings that have been regurgitated since time immemorial.

Worst of all his short daily sum ups of what he learnt that are utterly banal:
Follow your heart.
Relax.
The heart is always right.
Sometimes the sanest thing is to go crazy every once in while.

Sheesh...

Speaking of crazy, he often describes characters he comes across as crazy, original, wise or whatever though they hardly ever are with one exception and his encounter with that person often misses the right punch line.

Oh, and for everyone who knows him it is blatantly obvious that he is gay but according to his book he had to fend off numerous advances from the females on the track and seems a real babe magnet which is hard to believe or if the case leaves deep question marks over the perception of these ladies.

The book is probably not as bad as I make it sound like but it is quite a disappointment overall. Then again a look at the book cover should have warned me that I was going to be faced with a narrative by a neatly dressed and well prepared good natured German with the right intentions but little street smarts as his outfit alone doesn't exactly scream out "adventurer" or "sophisticated man of the world'.

Book # 13 (Other)

56-Eva-
maig 31, 2015, 11:26 pm

I grew up reading Modesty Blaise comics and they don't get old - I still reread them and they're just as good.

57IrishHolger
juny 18, 2015, 7:55 am



Beau Taplin: Playing with Fire



Beau Taplin: The Wild Heart



Beau Taplin: Hunting Season



Beau Taplin: The New Human Beings

Chalk this down as discovery of the year so far.

Never heard of him before but a 19-year old young'un I know posted a Facebook message asking where she could download his books (for free, obviously).

That made me curious.

Even curiouser when I discovered that there wasn't even a Wikipedia entry about him yet (though I am sure that will soon change). I guess nothing describes hip more than seeing young readers wanting to get a hold of an author who hasn't even made it big enough to feature in a Wiki yet. (He also doesn't seem to be on LT yet.)

Looking further I discovered that this is an Australian poet who sells his books through his website and also offers personalised poems for sale to individuals. He also uses social networking very effectively and publishes his work on Twitter and Tumblr first.

As I wanted to get more into poetry this year I did the decent thing, properly bought his books, supported a starving artist and also got a copy for the girl who had made me aware of him.

Really love his stuff. Not all is pure poetry. The first one I read - Playing with Fire - is probably the closest to traditional poetry. Other things also lean heavily on poetic prose, one or two page "stories" written in a free flowing poetic style.

They're generally works about confused young love, hopeful beginnings and broken relationships. His metaphors over time become a bit repetitive and with four books in a row I may have overindulged a bit. There are only so many references about smokey kisses and calling it "falling in love" cause you end up crashing on the ground that you can handle but these are small niggles.

It's definitely someone to watch out for. Remember you heard it here first.

(Feeling slightly smug at for once being one of the first to uncover a talent.)

Book # 14-17 (Poetry)

58IrishHolger
juny 18, 2015, 7:57 am

>56 -Eva-: Oh, I love Modesty Blaise. She is one of my favourite literary characters ever. I first came across her as a teen in comics, then read the books and am now trying to collect the comics again. It all comes full circle.

59MissWatson
juny 18, 2015, 10:07 am

>56 -Eva-: >58 IrishHolger: I came rather late to the comics, having read the novels first. Do you collect all the comics? I've read somewhere that purists prefer the ones Jim Holloway illustrated?

60mamzel
juny 19, 2015, 11:41 am

>57 IrishHolger: (Feeling slightly smug at for once being one of the first to uncover a talent.)

That is a grand feeling (I can only imagine since I havn't discovered anyone new yet). Unfortunately, they don't sound like my cup of tea. Not a fan of poetry. From your description it sounds like this author is really targeting young women.

61Chrischi_HH
juny 19, 2015, 3:24 pm

Very interesting list of books in your thread! I also love the Harry Hole series (and agree with you that they are best read with breaks in between) and an audiobook read by Hannes Jaenicke must be nice, too.

62IrishHolger
juny 24, 2015, 1:54 pm

>59 MissWatson: Oh, I buy the Titan collections in random order on and off. The Jim Holdaway ones are definitely classics but I may be the lone voice who also rather enjoys the Romero versions, maybe because they were mainly the ones I was exposed to first of all as a teenager.

>60 mamzel: Yeah, poetry in general is not always my cup of tea but over the last few years have felt the occasional hankering for it. Beau Taplin is indeed a poet I can stomach and feel inspired by. You may have a point about it being targeted to young women. Don't know what this says about me as a middle-aged bloke. LOL

>61 Chrischi_HH: Thanks for the kind comments. If only I could manage to read more this year. So busy these days that both my reading and film viewing is suffering badly.

63-Eva-
Editat: juny 28, 2015, 5:54 pm

>59 MissWatson:
My older brothers bought them when I was a kid, so there are bunches of them still at my mum's house, but I am not a proper collector and don't have a favorite artist.

64MissWatson
juny 29, 2015, 6:29 am

>62 IrishHolger: >63 -Eva-: I think I'll have a look at the other artists, then. One cannot have too much Modesty.

65IrishHolger
Editat: jul. 14, 2015, 12:09 pm



A. Merritt: Burn Witch Burn

Continuing my exploration of now forgotten about but once bestselling pulp author A. Merritt.

There is an excellent collection of his novels available in eBook format for very little and following his 7 Footprints to Satan I decided to read Burn Witch Burn next and again wasn't disappointed.

It's again set in a contemporary American metropolis and not in some Gothic surroundings that his very modern take on a horror story unfolds. A hospital doctor and a charming but nonetheless dangerous Mafia gangster unearth the secrets behind a series of lifelike dolls that are being manufactured by an overweight old drone with shapeshifting abilities in a side street shop and that seem to have the ability to cause the feeling of utter, defenceless horror for their victims before succumbing to an often violent death.

Killer dolls aren't exactly standard horror fare but this book has a range of different ones not unlike those in the PUPPETMASTER movies from a few decades later. This book is also notable for being the only one of his novels other than 7 FOOTPRINTS to have been adapted for the movie screen, even though a lot of liberties were taken with THE DEVIL DOLL set in France, with most of the characters missing, the motivations completely changed and the female character even played by a cross dressing Lionel Barrymore.

Nevertheless, both the film and the book are worth exploring and I can't wait to explore A. Merritt's works a bit further soon. Not sure which book to focus on next.

Book # 18 (The Horror of it All)

66IrishHolger
Editat: ag. 24, 2015, 9:56 am



Savage Sword of Conan Volume 6

Continuing my annual-ish trawl through the Savage Sword of Conan collections. There are still a lot more ahead of me so I should probably speed up the reading process up but so far it feels just the right speed.

Preferred this volume to the previous one, mainly because there are no King Conan stories in this one and in one story ("The Dweller in the Depths") Conan even displays a somewhat unusual madcap, screwball sense of humour.

Book # 19 (Comics/Graphic Novels)

67IrishHolger
jul. 20, 2015, 7:35 am



Fredric Brown: Nightmares and Geezenstacks

Fredric Brown - if he is known at all these days - is probably better known for his Sci Fi work than through his Noir novels, however, I was always a much bigger fan of Crime Fiction and had decided to read more of him this year.

Given that I have even less time available to read this year than ever before (common complaint for me every year), this came in handy: 47 stories, 160-odd pages so you do the maths. Each story is barely more than 3 pages long, some are barely more than a paragraph or two. Ideal to dip in and out of.

They cover Sci Fi, crime and the occasional piece of horror fiction and generally have a surprise twist. Some of those twists are based on at times painful puns.

Liked the book but can't say I loved it. I am just not big into short stories and prefer novels as I favour some decent character and plot development to twist endings.

So will defo need to continue with his Noir novels again for my next Brown read.

Book # 20 (Fredric Brown)

68IrishHolger
jul. 20, 2015, 7:52 am



Marshall Macao: K'ing Kung Fu - Son of Flying Tiger

Another piece of 1970s action pulp. I had read two other books of the series before. They can be read out of sequence but do ultimately have a narrative thread and this is the first book that describes the early training of Chong Fei K'ing, his relationship with Kak, first friend then mortal enemy, and the murder of his master; events that ultimately determine all the events of the future books.

The book is clearly influenced by the then current fad in Martial Arts (e.g. the KUNG FU TV-series) and it is clear that the author at least has a decent background in it as the fight scenes read more convincingly than in some of the other 70s series. There is also a good amount of pop-Zen philosophy immersed in it.

Book # 21 (Pulp Fiction 1970s style)

69IrishHolger
Editat: jul. 20, 2015, 9:14 am



Marek Krajewski: Phantoms of Breslau

Now here is a series that deserves better recognition in the English speaking world. This Polish series is reasonably successful in Germany but though there are translations into English I can't remember ever seeing them in book stores here.

The books are crime fiction set in Breslau/Wroclaw during the two World Wars when the city was under German rule. Earlier books featured anti-hero Eberhard Mock negotiating with the Nazis and dishing out his brand of judgement to freakish serial killers.

Mock is not a nice guy and though he has his code of honour and fits of conscience, he is prone to drinking, whoring and (in earlier books) even raping.

This book is set in 1919. Mock is haunted by memories of WW1 and facing an occult killer who only promises to stop killing once Mock confesses to a non-descript error that he just cannot recall.

As usual there is a great Noirish sense of time and place and wonderfully decadent descriptions of the night life. Definitely something I will continue especially seeing that I have another German translation on my TBR pile.

Part of my Around the World trip.

Book # 22 (Around the World - Poland)

70lkernagh
jul. 20, 2015, 9:38 am

The Krajewski book sounds interesting.

71IrishHolger
jul. 20, 2015, 12:36 pm

>71 IrishHolger::

The books don't need to be read in sequence but I recommend to still start with the first one, Death in Breslau

72lkernagh
jul. 20, 2015, 3:58 pm

>71 IrishHolger: - Just checked and my local library has that one, along with The End of the World in Breslau and Phantoms of Breslau in their catalogue.

73IrishHolger
jul. 20, 2015, 5:28 pm

Wow, that's a great library. From what I can tell these are the only three that were translated into English. The forth book has also been translated into German and I believe there is a fifth one that hasn't been translated yet into either language.

Really curious to hear what you think of them.

74lkernagh
jul. 20, 2015, 8:38 pm

I love my local library. They have both downloadable e-books and a print copy version available for each book. They also have The Minotaur's Head, which, thanks to LT, I now know to be the fourth book you mentioned, which appears to also have been translated into English. I am so excited, I just place a hold for Death in Breslau!

75IrishHolger
jul. 21, 2015, 10:16 am

Fantastic. Keep me posted. :-)

76IrishHolger
jul. 21, 2015, 11:53 am



Franz Kafka: The Trial

Always loved Franz Kafka and could have sworn I had already read this book until I recently watched the Orson Welles adaptation and noticed that I had The Trial confused with The Castle, another similar Kafka novel that I had clearly read before.

Either way, always good to revisit a favourite author and notice that one of his key works still lies around undiscovered. And even though I hadn't read the book - at least I don't think I had - it had little surprises as such as the whole premise and worldview had been so much ingrained into popular culture and into my own consciousness.

But, hey, there is a reason why he is one of the few author who is so distinct and unique that his last name has been turned into an adjective.

Book # 23 (1001 Books)

77IrishHolger
Editat: ag. 8, 2015, 2:58 pm



Charles Bukowski: Love is a Dog from Hell

These days the very little time I have to read is in brief intervals at work or during breaks or when on the road so the only thing I can unfortunately handle right now are books that I can read on the Kindle, computer or mobile phone screen and in short bursts. So poetry is ideal for this.

As a teenager Bukowski was one of my absolute (anti-)heroes. Loved his not giving a shit stance and anti-establishment middle fingering. Of course the fact that I wasn't getting any yet this old ugly brute seemed to have no trouble scoring also gave me eternal hope that things may ultimately change in this department. (It did.)

As much as I loved him, I hadn't read or re-read Bukowski in decades. I always thought it was time to re-explore at least some of his work. Saw The Pleasures of the Damned: Selected Poems 1951-1993 in Waterstones but at close to €25 nearly choked at the price tag and figured there must be a cheaper way to get a hold of this. Lo, and behold on Amazon it was just $15 and the Kindle version was even cheaper at only $13 (!) and while browsing then opted for Love is a Dog from Hell instead as - just like with music - I prefer original collections to a Greatest Hits compilation.

Finally ready to reconnect with an old friend I dived right in and...... man, his writing really hasn't stood the test of time. Or else my hormones must have had an awful lot to explain.

A lot of the poems are easily interchangeable riffs on the very same thing over and over again. Short sketches randomly phrased out in poetic lines, they really lack a distinctive rhythm (or even any rhythm at all) and worst of all: the sketches just ain't that well told.

Apart from a few semi-interesting insights into his curious state of dirty old man celebrity, most are just the same old same old themes of drinking, fucking and vomiting (not always in that order) that once must have indeed been somewhat shocking and "different" but now appears just repetitive. There isn't a single smidgen of original insight into human nature anywhere in sight, the girls he comes across lack the remotest bit of individuality and whatever little verve is on display gets monotonous after the 12th repetition.

Still remember Bukowski the anti-establishment figure fondly and wouldn't part from what he meant for me as a teenager but by now I think I can safely say that I like the idea of Bukowski more than his actual work.

Book # 24 (Poetry)

78IrishHolger
ag. 24, 2015, 10:06 am



Revolution: Chapter 1-4

Whenever I like a new TV series I know it's usually the kiss of death. I tend to dislike the ones that are hyped up and like the ones that no-one else does. No idea what that says about me.

REVOLUTION is one of those examples. It's set a few years in the future and features a dystopian journey through a world without electricity. And if you think the world itself became dysfunctional, just see the families that are portrayed in it.

The show lasted two seasons and was then no longer renewed by the network although a number of plot threads were left hanging. There's been an online petition to see it being revived, possibly through the likes of Netflix, but at this point it doesn't seem to be likely.

In response to the fans' request for seeing a continuation an online 4-part comic was published. The result is a somewhat rushed and not altogether very satisfactory ending but I guess having some kind of conclusion is better than not having a conclusion at all.

This will be of no importance (and even incomprehensible) to anyone not familiar with the TV show but for fans of the series it's worth a look.

Book # 25 (Comics/Graphic Novels)

79IrishHolger
Editat: ag. 24, 2015, 10:33 am



Wayne Kinsey: Fantastic Films of the Decades - Volume 1, The Silent Era

Wayne Kinsey is one of the most important writers on Hammer Horror movies. Having started of with an influential fanzine dedicated to the studio, he then had a number of sumptuous and very in-depth books published dedicated to all aspects of Hammer movies. When he realised that the official publishers were starting to no longer be interested in those kinds of niche books he set up his own publishing house and continued writing.

The first books published by him again focused on Hammer. One could make the point that the quality of his publications even improved once he went down the self publishing route. He doesn't do Print on Demand but instead limits the print run to 500 copies that usually sell quickly even though they sure don't come cheap.

This book is now his first not dedicated to Hammer. It's a bit thinner but still richly illustrated and rather than a heavily researched specialist approach to an already niche market topic, it is mainly understood as a introductory book on the history of silent horror movies with each film generally given a one-page overview. Additional chapters also include portraits of important people and studios involved in the production (actors, directors etc).

This is the first in a series of books that all deal with a decade in horror film making up to the 1970s. Really loved it and am already looking forward to the next book in the series that will focus on the 1930s

Book # 26 (Books on Cinema)

80IrishHolger
ag. 24, 2015, 11:20 am



Fjodor Dostoevskij: Notes from Underground

I generally like Dostoevskij but this book.... not so much.

I have no problem with books depicting unpleasant characters but this one is from that guy's point of view and that character is messed up and so is the writing in line with his character. As a result this becomes pretty close to unreadable for me.

The first half of this slim novel is a seemingly never-ending rant about his thoughts about life and humanity. The second one has more a conventional plot but even then I can't see I was very much involved with it.

Book # 27 (1001 Books)

81lkernagh
Editat: set. 7, 2015, 2:50 pm

I finished reading Death in Breslau. What a different story for me. I did struggle a little bit but overall, I am impressed enough to continue with the series. You can find my review here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/195069#5265961

82rabbitprincess
set. 7, 2015, 3:01 pm

>78 IrishHolger: My BF was a fan of Revolution as well. Will have to see whether he'd be interested in the comics.

83IrishHolger
oct. 6, 2015, 11:59 am

Sorry, haven't been much on here lately and did little reading so only now catching up. In my defence of top of work work work I also managed to spend some time in Spain in September.

>81 lkernagh::

Glad you followed up on my recommendation. It sure *is* a different kind of story. Loved the review. I think overall I may have enjoyed those novels more than you do but I do have a sneaky suspicion it may have been down to the translation. Or the fact that you don't seem to read as many Noir books as I do.

>82 rabbitprincess::

Well, the comics don't cost a penny as they were posted online so worth checking out if he is a fan of the series. They are too rushed but given that we will never see a third season I guess beggars can't be keepers.

84IrishHolger
oct. 6, 2015, 12:29 pm



John Scalzi: Old Man's War

Probably one of my discoveries for this year. And not anything I would have ever unearthed without the help of LT. It's been on my To Read list for a good while after I saw a recommendation here, no idea if it was automatically generated or by one of the member of this site. Either way, delighted I heard of it.

Excellent Sci Fi book and first part of a series with an intriguing premise of providing pensioners with a lifetime of experience with younger bodies and make them turn into fighters in remote parts of the galaxy.

After one of those killer openings - "I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my Wife's grave. Then I joined the army." - we go through the whole process of enrolment, training and first fights with extraterrestrials. Fantastic story telling and a rich tapestry of characters and alien monsters of all types.

This may not quite be GAME OF THRONES but as all the recruits are advised that most of them won't make it through their assignments there is a high body count so don't get too attached to anyone at any time.

Definitely had me hooked and will continue with the series at some stage.

Book # 28 (Science Fiction)

85IrishHolger
oct. 6, 2015, 12:37 pm

Angelika Davey: The A-Z of Learning German

This book isn't in print yet but was written by a fellow German tutor. I was asked to provide the foreword and this is what I wrote:

"I first began chatting with Angelika online six or seven years ago when I first set myself up as a German tutor in Cork (Ireland). I spotted some of her tweets and liked her style and asked her for advice about what I could do help promote my work.

She was a wealth of information and incredibly helpful to assist this stranger who had sent her this request out of the blue.

Since then we have been in regular touch and she has always been an inspiration with her regular blog posts and updates on various social media pages. It’s obvious that she has a passion and a talent for language teaching that you rarely ever come across. Though I never had the pleasure to sit in one of her classes it is clear that her enthusiasm is infectious for all her students.

This A-Z of tips for learning German (or indeed any language) is a wealth of down to Earth and practical tips on how to approach your daily studies. Though organised alphabetically there is actually also a certain chronological order to it beginning with some general tips on how to organise your studies and moving on to some more specialised hints.

Though by now I have developed my own insight into how best to motivate students, I still found interesting nuggets in there that I am planning to share with some of my students. In actual fact the recommendation to when in doubt mumble has already raised a few smiles, followed by the insight that even when certain parts of the German grammar may at first appear overwhelming there are always little hacks around that’ll help you communicate effectively even when you feel you are not 100% there yet."

Book # 29 (Other Books)

86IrishHolger
Editat: oct. 22, 2015, 4:01 pm



Juan Diaz Canales, Juanjo Guarnido: Blacksad

Another recommendation, this time from a work colleague.

And another great read.

Love unearthing reads that I had previously never even heard of.

This is a Noirish graphic novel by a Spanish writer/artist team with characters in anthropomorphic design. Whereas the further entries to the series appear to be longer novel length adventures, this features four shorter stories in which our hard boiled hero faces high society dames and killers, pedophiles, hypocritical members of a KKK style organisation and scientists selling nuclear secrets among anti-communist hysteria.

Highly recommended.

Book # 30 (Comics/Graphic Novels)

87AHS-Wolfy
oct. 23, 2015, 7:36 am

>86 IrishHolger: I've seen a few good reviews for Blacksad. One of these days I'm going to have to get around to picking it up.

88-Eva-
oct. 23, 2015, 1:44 pm

>86 IrishHolger:
I loved Blacksad! Very good noir, I though.

89IrishHolger
oct. 23, 2015, 3:20 pm



Fredric Brown: The Deep End

Probably the weakest of Brown's crime novels so far. But even a weak Brown is still miles ahead of most other books of its ilk.

Main issue with this book is that there really ain't much of a mystery. There really is only one single suspect and apart from some speculation as to whether there was a murder at all taking place one pretty much knows who done it.

But Brown's books live through their characters. It may not have such a wonderfully over-the-top plot as, let's say, Night of the Jabberwock but it still has a range of well defined folks. It came as a surprise to me to see such blatant references to sexual activities in a novel of the time. There is nothing explicit in here but it's pretty obvious that characters are having unmarried sex and enjoying it. It's only in the last few pages of the book that the hero turns into a douchebag, i.e. displays attitudes that were probably pretty much the norm and expected in the early 1950s but these days feel somewhat hypocritical.

Book # 31 (Fredric Brown)

90IrishHolger
Editat: des. 11, 2015, 9:54 am



Sean Egan: The Mammoth Book of Bob Dylan

I am making way better progress with another challenge I set myself this year than with LT's reading challenge.

Over the last few months I have acquainted myself with pretty much all of Bob Dylan's albums in a chronological format and this book was my tour guide through this journey.

I always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Dylan. As much as I loved some of his work, some of his songs have also scored quite highly on my list of all-time pet hate songs. (BLOWIN' IN THE WIND, looking at you.)

Either way, his influence on modern music is immense and up till now I can't say that I actually was all that familiar with his oeuvre as a whole. I'll never be one of those guys who will obsessively analyse every single line of every obscure song he may have written but the last few months have been quite fruitful and I can now say that I found a new appreciation for this unique talent.

I am sure there are a better books out there on Dylan but for my project it served its purpose. It was, however, weird how viciously critical the author often was. True, Dylan didn't just produce master pieces and I certainly didn't want a fanboy's rantings but there were times when I wondered whether there was really anything the author truly liked.

Either way, seeing this book at a bargain books discounter was worth the purchase and assisted me with one of my more interesting journeys through pop culture in recent years.

Book # 32 (Other Books)

91IrishHolger
des. 11, 2015, 10:21 am



Sax Rohmer: The Insidious Dr Fu Manchu

When it takes me 6 weeks to finish a 190-page book I actually like it becomes obvious what limited reading time I am currently having. Sigh....

Either way, this is the first of the Fu Manchu exploits and the closest Rohmer came to creating a Holmes pastiche:

Manic untidy pipe smoker as the hero? Check.
A loyal doctor and friend as the narrator of the story? Check
An antagonist who is a match to the detective with a large criminal network and well versed in science? Check again.

Later books lose these Holmesian qualities and in the very last books we even approach James Bond style territory but it was great to finally catch up with where it all began.

Book # 33 (Fu Manchu)

92-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 6:57 pm

>91 IrishHolger:
I have to give that one a try!

93LauraBrook
des. 28, 2015, 11:08 am

>91 IrishHolger: Me too! Just recently I realized this was a decent-sized series, so I'm happy to have a starting point!

94IrishHolger
Editat: gen. 17, 2016, 2:43 pm

17 days into the New Year and only now find time to review my old challenge and come up with a new one.

As for the old one....

Looks like I majestically failed it but really had less reading time than ever before and in my defence the last book I started was Volume 5 of Casanova's memoirs, a re-read for me. Once I finish Volume 6 I'll be starting new ground as I had never before managed to actually finish all 12 books. I didn't actually finish the book in 2015 so I could cheat and put it into my "Casanova" category or simply put it as the first book of 2016's challenge (which I will of course do).

More tellingly the other category I didn't finish is.... drum roll.... "Started but not finished".

If anything this has taught me something and that is that some books are better left unfinished. If I hadn't managed to finish a single book started pre-2015, then I am simply not likely to do that ever. (Looking at you Don Quixote).