Spelling - Not a prerequisite for educators in the UK.

I' yet to read After Dark, I can't decide between the first edition, the arc, the manuscript proof, the limited edition or the deluxe edition, maybe a bit from each?

Just finished The Passage last night. I liked it a great deal. It was a page turner in the classic sense. The expansive scope of the novel with it's myriad characters reminded me of Stephen King. In fact the whole thing reminded me of Stephen King at his best. The Passage clearly came from a writer with big ideas and a knack for displaying those ideas in an entertaining way. The vampire stuff was of course there but muted in the sense that they were almost faceless barring a few exceptions. It was the virus and it's effect on the world and individuals that was the true bad guy. There were some interesting ways Cronin tied in traditional vampire mythology with his more 21 century outlook. The images of a deserted American continent were fantastic and reminded me of my own drives through the desert southwest on my way to Colorado, minus vampires of course. The book ended with the definite possibility that a further novel would be worth reading. I have an American 1st and a Signed 1st of The Passage proudly on my shelves. As for a movie version, if made correctly it would be an incredible spectacle that just couldn't be covered in 90 minutes. So have any of you out there finished it yet?

Hi, Sorry i havent posted for a while, have been really busy, just got married and am in the process of moving house, ( more room for books ;) ).I finished the passage a while back, I too thought it was a very good read. I thought it started of at a lightning pace but thought the first 100 pages or so of the second part was a bit dull before it got going again and then I couldnt put it down. I am really looking forward to the second book when it is released. I also agree that if a film was made it could be fantastic if done correctly.

Speaking of hyped series, I got around to the 1st Steig Larsson novel. I liked it a great deal. Thrillers don't normally interest me but this one had good plot twists and two unforgettable characters. Salander's revenge on the evil guardian was so perfect. Considering Larssons feelings on the evils of violence against women a good message as well. Also read Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro. Some here have called a bit tedious but I loved it.

Larrson and Cronin are next on the list. Never Let Me Go was incredibly dreary in my opinion! Maybe I just didn't get intrigued and found the main character depressing and a bit pathetic!

I have read all 3 of the Larsson books and have to say that I thought they were fantastic, I sailed through the first one and went straight out to get the other 2 and read them back to back. I have also seen the Swedish film of the first book which I thought was very good even though there was a lot of the book missing. It will be interesting to see what the Hollywood version will be like with Daniel Craig playing Blomkvist. I personally dont think he is the man for the job , we will have to see.

If only I had the time...!

i found the larsson books a compelling read when i was reading them, but the excitement about them quickly ebbs once you have finished all three. i suppose that is the sign of a good thriller. i found there were pages and pages of conversation as well, which i quickly became tired with. the trial scene in the final book was well written i thought. and yes the film adapataton of the first book is very good.


ive just finished times arrow by martin amis, and before that i was reading dead clever by scarlett thomas.

the martin amis one was good but slightly depressing (i very nearly gave it up but its so short that i stuck with it). Not a patch on another of his i have read, money (which i highly recommend)

dead clever was disappointing too. you can definitely tell it was her first novel, it got quite silly towards the end.

im just about to start the year of the flood by margaret atwood, which i bought only last week.

yes never let me go is good, but i do think that the unconsoled is his masterpiece, it is one you have to "get" though in order to appreciate it.