Thursday 14 April 2011

Pup tries cat door, spring garden, K. Atkinson


I was not sure about Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson. If I'd read it quicker, I might have appreciated it more but I've been so exhausted at bedtime I've only been reading a few pages on the Kindle and dropping off. That's another thing, on the Kindle it's more effort to look back to remind yourself what's happened and who is who than it is in a real book.  Anyway, this is a good complicated crime novel in a quirky well-written Atkinson way, but as the Guardian reviewer says much of the book is backstory rather than forward energy and I don't know that I'm entirely absorbed in Jackson Brodie's past life.  If you've never read Kate Atkinson before, don't start with this one. If you are a fan (as I am) then you will like it, perhaps with a few reservations.  Here's the Guardian review and here's the Telegraph's

10 comments:

LindyLouMac said...

My feelings exactly about ereaders!

Anonymous said...

I did love Started Early and thought it was the best one yet, but did sit and read the whole thing on a train journey so was easy to get engrossed. Adorable dog photo again!

Karen said...

I loved Started Early too, and couldn't put it down. It could be the ereader, I couldn't get on with mine at all and sold it in the end!

Lovely photos :o)

Bluestocking Mum said...

What a great photo!

Completely agree with you Susie. It was actually my least favourite of her novels but I liked the premise/theme.

You've made me think twice about the Kindle - I keep thinking I should get one and bring myself into the 21st C!

warm wishes


warm wishes

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Gorgeous picture of Otto.

I have this book too, but haven't read it yet. I really must get on with it.

Nan said...

Whenever Otto makes the blog, I always call Tom to come see what that dear puppy is up to now!! This shot could be in a newspaper or dog book. Excellent.

Interesting what you said about the Kindle. And here's sorta the opposite. When I come across a character I don't remember much about, though I know he's been mentioned before, I just do a search and voila! There he is. And I go, oh yeah that's the guy. I find it very helpful since I, too, read my Kindle at bedtime. :<)

Vintage Reading said...

I like Atkinson's short stories, but I've never been keen on the detective stories. I would read her again if she branches out into a new area with her next novel.

Susie Vereker said...

Thank you all for your interesting comments and kind remarks about Otto.
I do like the Kindle, but feel it is more suitable for some books than others. Shall post about it separately.
Nan, thank you very much for pointing out the Search facility. I now feel rather foolish not having noticed it. Maybe I shd have read the instructions!

Susie Vereker said...

VR, I don't usually read detective stories either but KA is rather different from the average, amusing and clever. I esp liked When Will There Be Good News.

Cara Cooper said...

I liked When Will There Be Good News but haven't tried any of her others yet. So many books to read and so little time!