With My Dark Vanessa, the published copy ended up also being non-linear, but I deffo didn't find it jumpy or choppy the way some of those can be. However, I could also see myself being so intrigued by the honestly of the story that I might have forgiven other aspects of it. I agree with you that it feels ilke a really important book. The way I interpreted the non-linear timeline is that the character is experiencing a lot of cognitive dissonance, questioning her own memory, and the non-linear timeline really helpd bring that disorientation out.
I'm not usually one to read westerns, but I was inspired by your impressive first week of June on the Range and I started reading a bunch of books in the "Splatter Western" series, which is a series put out by Death's Head Press, which is an imprint of Dead Sky Publishing. There are about 22 books in the series, (almost) all by different authors, and (almost) all standalone stories (there are two authors that each have two books in the series, and each of those are sequels). They are what you would expect from a series called "Splatter Western," they are all westerns crossed with horror and/or splatterpunk genres. I read one that had an interesting take on vampires and another that was spiritual/cosmic horror, and I am already on my third. All the ones I have checked out have been around 200 pages, so more like chunky novellas than novels, really, and I am glad I picked them up. Plus the covers are really amazing. You should check some of them out...
To be honest, they're pretty great, so far. My local libraries don't have them through Libby but a bunch of them are available through Hoopla, which many (US) libraries subscribe to, so you can check a few out there...
@@arockinsamsara I checked them out and they sound like a lot of fun. I’m going to completely upend my TBR list and start one today. I love genre mashups!
I have the same DNF problem, especially with books that are objectively well written but I'm just not connecting with. I still try to finish it for no reason 😑
I think you have three Highsmith books left, including the last Ripley. One of those three books I think quite highly of. This has been an interesting journey, and I've looked forward to reading your thoughts on each them. I think though when I started watching your channel you were already a few books in, so I'm not sure if I ever read your reviews of the very earliest books.
Been a subscriber for about three weeks. I enjoy the content of your videos and appreciate getting tips on books I might enjoy. The question that came into my mind this morning was how many hours a day do you read, Ollie?
Don't know if you've ever read the Matt Helm books, Olly. Great series of espionage novels by American pulp author Donald Hamilton. Written in the first person with a darkly cynical and flippant Chandler-like quality (I know that's a comparison that gets thrown about a lot in the hard-boiled genre). Death is a Citizen is the first one. I think you'd really enjoy. Loving all your videos!
Have you ever read the Parker series that Westlake wrote under his pen name Richard Stark? The series is very different from the novels he wrote under his own name. It has been the basis for numerous films of varying quality.
I have read the first Parker book, but I have not continued the series. Really did not like the main character. Thought Parker was rather mean and sadistic. However, I did read the first Dortmunder book, which was rather amusing
I just realised... we have the exact same shelves for our collections. As for westerns, have you ever read Craig Johnson's Longmire series? Boy howdy, I really think you'd love it.
Great video! I love Saga, I'm in Volume 2 currently. I need to read some westerns asap. I am planning to read Lonesome Dove and Blood Meridian this year.
When it comes to Donald E Westlake and Hard Case Crime as I understand it most of works of his they published are not some of his best works and in a couple they are novels he never got published when he was alive for one reason or another
Sort of an uneven reading week for you. I DNFed Hawk Mountain after the turn you mentioned because I was already at the point where I didn't care what was going to happen to the characters.
I liked My Dark Vanessa. I read a story in the papers the other day about two female teachers who resigned after sending nude photos of themselves to a student. They were trying to set up a threesome with him and got caught. This sort of thing where female teachers having inappropriate sexual relationships with their students has become a normal thing here in the states. You hear about one of these stories every year it seems like. But it is always between a female teacher and a male student.
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This channel is gold, I just discovered you!
Thank you! ☺️
With My Dark Vanessa, the published copy ended up also being non-linear, but I deffo didn't find it jumpy or choppy the way some of those can be. However, I could also see myself being so intrigued by the honestly of the story that I might have forgiven other aspects of it. I agree with you that it feels ilke a really important book. The way I interpreted the non-linear timeline is that the character is experiencing a lot of cognitive dissonance, questioning her own memory, and the non-linear timeline really helpd bring that disorientation out.
I'm not usually one to read westerns, but I was inspired by your impressive first week of June on the Range and I started reading a bunch of books in the "Splatter Western" series, which is a series put out by Death's Head Press, which is an imprint of Dead Sky Publishing. There are about 22 books in the series, (almost) all by different authors, and (almost) all standalone stories (there are two authors that each have two books in the series, and each of those are sequels). They are what you would expect from a series called "Splatter Western," they are all westerns crossed with horror and/or splatterpunk genres. I read one that had an interesting take on vampires and another that was spiritual/cosmic horror, and I am already on my third. All the ones I have checked out have been around 200 pages, so more like chunky novellas than novels, really, and I am glad I picked them up. Plus the covers are really amazing. You should check some of them out...
Those sound amazing!
To be honest, they're pretty great, so far. My local libraries don't have them through Libby but a bunch of them are available through Hoopla, which many (US) libraries subscribe to, so you can check a few out there...
@@arockinsamsara I checked them out and they sound like a lot of fun. I’m going to completely upend my TBR list and start one today. I love genre mashups!
I didn't love Dark Vanessa either - I felt sometimes the writing/storytelling was a bit clichéd? Siân
Yeah, it's hard to say why it didn't quite work, but it didn't
I DNF’d Hawk Mountain at 60%. Like you, I enjoyed the first bit and after that started not to get on with it and then I just got frustrated.
That whole middle section was a slog!
Oh Patricia Highsmith. Have you read Cry Of The Owl yet?
Yes!
I have the same DNF problem, especially with books that are objectively well written but I'm just not connecting with. I still try to finish it for no reason 😑
I think you have three Highsmith books left, including the last Ripley. One of those three books I think quite highly of. This has been an interesting journey, and I've looked forward to reading your thoughts on each them. I think though when I started watching your channel you were already a few books in, so I'm not sure if I ever read your reviews of the very earliest books.
I tend to find DNFs play on my mind far more than most books I've finished. I don't know why, it just niggles at me.
My Dark Vanessa had perhaps the most appropriate Twin Peaks reference at the end of the novel ever. It was a very impacting read.
Been a subscriber for about three weeks. I enjoy the content of your videos and appreciate getting tips on books I might enjoy. The question that came into my mind this morning was how many hours a day do you read, Ollie?
Good wrap up! I struggle with DNF-ing too.
💚🖤
Don't know if you've ever read the Matt Helm books, Olly. Great series of espionage novels by American pulp author Donald Hamilton. Written in the first person with a darkly cynical and flippant Chandler-like quality (I know that's a comparison that gets thrown about a lot in the hard-boiled genre). Death is a Citizen is the first one. I think you'd really enjoy. Loving all your videos!
Yes, have read the first 3 I think, but I have them all
Have you ever read the Parker series that Westlake wrote under his pen name Richard Stark? The series is very different from the novels he wrote under his own name. It has been the basis for numerous films of varying quality.
I have read the first Parker book, but I have not continued the series. Really did not like the main character. Thought Parker was rather mean and sadistic.
However, I did read the first Dortmunder book, which was rather amusing
For a moment, I thought I read ‘1.5x DNF’ 😂
I just realised... we have the exact same shelves for our collections. As for westerns, have you ever read Craig Johnson's Longmire series? Boy howdy, I really think you'd love it.
Great video! I love Saga, I'm in Volume 2 currently. I need to read some westerns asap. I am planning to read Lonesome Dove and Blood Meridian this year.
When it comes to Donald E Westlake and Hard Case Crime as I understand it most of works of his they published are not some of his best works and in a couple they are novels he never got published when he was alive for one reason or another
‘My Dark Vanessa’? That’s awesome! I approve
Sort of an uneven reading week for you. I DNFed Hawk Mountain after the turn you mentioned because I was already at the point where I didn't care what was going to happen to the characters.
Yeah that new direction for it didn’t work for me at all.
I liked My Dark Vanessa. I read a story in the papers the other day about two female teachers who resigned after sending nude photos of themselves to a student. They were trying to set up a threesome with him and got caught. This sort of thing where female teachers having inappropriate sexual relationships with their students has become a normal thing here in the states. You hear about one of these stories every year it seems like. But it is always between a female teacher and a male student.
Both male and female teachers reported on in UK press.