10 books I have had for ages and really should read

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Books discussed:
Handling the Undead by John Alvide Lindqvist
Noir by Olivier Pauvert
Loop by Joji Suzuki
The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Our Kind of Traitor by John LeCarre
Transition by Iain Banks
Blood Cruise by Mats Strandberg
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
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[@BookChatWithPat8668]

Hi Olly. I'll tell you about a very cool experience that I had with a group of seniors in high school reading Eggers' Heartbreaking Work...One of the courses I used to teach was Advanced Placement English, a college-level English class usually for seniors in high school. The national exam would be in early May, and then we would still have a whole month left of school even though the course had been completed. So I was always looking for fun and engaging things to do with the kids for their last month of high school. One year, I had the kids propose a list of books that we might read--no quizzes or tests or essays--just reading and discussions. Kids proposed a bunch of titles and then voted on the book that we would read as our last book together as a class. Eggers' book won that year, and we read it together and just had daily discussions of it. It was wonderful! It's basically a memoir of Eggers' experience of becoming, in effect, the parent for siblings, especially his little brother, when both parents' died. There are some fantasy/not quite realistic elements, but it is based on the family's real life experience. I don't think I've read it again since that year with "my kids," but we did have a great final reading experience together over it before they graduated and went out into the world. So those are my two cents, for what they're worth. 😉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That does sounds like a wonderful experience! Thanks for sharing, Pat

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

@@CriminOllyBlog I don’t know how I’d feel about the book today either, but I remember it fondly because of the kids with whom I read it. 🥰

[@jethrowegener]

I think if you enjoy reading, you'll always have more books than you can read. It's just part of life!

[@AllenFreemanMediaGuru]

I have over 1000 books I plan to read and keep buying more. My grown kids gave me 20 for my recent birthday.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

They sounds like good kids!

[@markmorris2514]

Hi Olly. I bought Robert McCammon's 'Swan Song' when it first came out in paperback back in 1988 or 89, and finally read it in 2015 -- so a total of 26/27 years between buying it and reading it! As for the others you mention, funnily enough I also read James Ellroy's 'The Black Dahlia' many years ago (on my honeymoon, in fact, in 1990) and absolutely loved it, to the extent that I then went out and bought another half dozen books by him. However, those books are all still sitting on my shelf unread -- I have no idea why I haven't got round to them. Finally, Donna Tart's 'The Secret History' is one of my favourite books of all time, but although I've read and enjoyed both 'The Goldfinch' and 'The Little Friend', I have to say that neither grabbed me anywhere near as much as 'The Secret History' did.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Mark - that is a long wait for Swan Song. Hope you enjoyed it when you got round to it. Email me ([e-mail]) if you ever fancy buddy reading a James Ellroy!

[@johnyarrow6100]

If you enjoyed Let The Right One In I'd recommend reading Little Star by the same author. I'd also recommend The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy, the 2nd book in his LA quartet so before LA confidential, as the protaganist is one of the all time great anti-heroes. Of Banks' later books Dead Air, The Steep Approach to Garbadale & Stonemouth are all great. Nothing beats The Wasp Factory though

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I actually have Little Star, The Steep Approach to Garbadle and Stonemouth as well, they only missed out in being in the video as I'd had other books by the authors for longer!

[@johnyarrow6100]

There are too many good books and not enough time! I really need to get around to reading the books by Lindqvist and Banks that i haven't yet read

[@tmtb80]

The Secret History = ❤ The Little Friend = ❤ The Frick'n' Goldfinch = 😒

[@CriminOllyBlog]

LOL oh dear

[@M-J]

The Goldfinch was the first e-book I ever purchased. Never finished it. 😂🫣

[@jeaninehogshead4710]

@@M-J I’ve started it 5 times just can’t get through it. Can’t therefore 7nderstand all the hype

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ha ha!

[@M-J]

@@CriminOllyBlog hmmmm. I smell a buddy read.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

The Yiddish Policeman’s Union is a really good crossover between mystery and alternative history . James Ellroy is fantastic.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Noted! Your recommendations rarely steer me wrong

[@blairhayden8955]

I am currently re-reading L.A. CONFIDENTIAL for he third time. It's actually my all time favorite fiction novel. It's funny you mention that you find him depressing. I suffer from clinical depression, and when I was at my lowest point before seeking help, Ellroy's books actually kept me sane. I admit, he is not for everyone, and yes he is grim, but I love putting on the jazz music, pouring a scotch and getting lost in his worlds. Not sure what you think, but I find crime writers don't get enough credit for world building like sci-fi and fantasy writers. Anyway, I think you know which book has my vote as to what you should read next. Great video. [P.S: I did get help for my depression, I have turn my life around (I won't go into details) and reading has helped a lot along the way, along with several other heathy hobbies.]

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Really glad you're over your depression. I definitely agree that crime writers often do a load of world building. And in my experience do it better than fantasy writers!

[@rodgilley-writer]

I had to come on here and tell you: I just read your story, TrashGPT, in the Garbology Anthology, and I loved it!!! Fast paced, fun, and a great ending! You, Sir, are a writer!!!! Very well done!!!

[@troytradup]

I particular love the final line.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Rod, really glad you enjoyed it!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

IIRC I only cam up with the ending after writing most of the rest of it

[@rodgilley-writer]

@@CriminOllyBlog It always works that way for me. I'm a 100% pantser. I don't know what will happen in the next paragraph! Love watching the story develop and seeing what my characters will do next!!!

[@PeculiarNotions]

I vote for The Yiddish Policeman's Union.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I do keep hearing that's great

[@PeculiarNotions]

@@CriminOllyBlog I don't think it's as incredible as The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, but it is really good.

[@TheMike28212]

I can definitely identify with this video. I have quite a number of books that I have had for way too long that I keep because I do want to read them eventually. A couple of these are Moon Dance by S.P. Somtow and The Mummy by Anne Rice. As for which of the books you should read that you mentioned, I vote for Handling the Dead.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I really like Moon Dance! Read it back in the 90s and again more recently

[@kufujitsu]

Read Moondance a couple of years ago, & enjoyed it. The pages flew by if I'm being honest, & I fully intend to re-read it at some point. Werewolves in the Wild West - how can you resist it.....?

[@TheMike28212]

Sounds like I should finally read it soon.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Interesting video. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with any of those books. I'll wait to hear your reactions before diving in. Good luck with them.

[@forenichtreader]

It might be worth reading The Big Nowhere before L.A. Confidential, as the prologue of L.A. Confidential is essentially a coda to The Big Nowhere. It does work OK on its own though - L.A. Confidential was the first Ellroy I read, after seeing the movie. I prefer the movie, but it still led to me reading a lot of Ellroy.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I didn't realise that, thanks for letting me know

[@Mattblaster0]

I really enjoyed both Loop and Spiral as a continuation of the story begun in Ring. Neither is as creepy as Ring (I didn’t feel like there was anything creepy in Spiral at all), but there was one particular scene in Loop that gave me the absolute creeps and I still think about it almost a decade later.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's good to know, thank you!

[@mediumjohnsilver]

Having a book sitting unread on your shelves for fifteen years isn’t so bad. Try 55 years. I’ve had a paperback of _Island in the Sky_ by Ernest K. Gann in my collection since the late 1960s. I’ll get to it someday, I tell myself.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ha! That is impressive. Hope it's worth the wait

[@micktravel3285]

I can relate, just got to a book after 30 years... 😂😂😂

[@mediumjohnsilver]

@@CriminOllyBlog I just finished _Island in the Sky_ and it was indeed worth the wait. A terrific yarn.

[@GuiltyFeat]

Chabon is fabulous and The Yiddish Policeman’s Union is more alternative history than sci-fi. It is excellent. I can’t believe you’ve only read one James Ellroy book. I’m so jealous that you have him all in front of you. The LA Quartet is a fine place to start but it was American Tabloid that made me a believer and I’ve read everything he’s written. Ellroy is a demented genius.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ellroy certainly seems to be the person getting most love in the comments. He might be the first one I tackle!

[@GuiltyFeat]

@@CriminOllyBlog His early books featuring Lloyd Hopkins are also fabulously gnarly.

[@fiberartsyreads]

I remember loving the Eggers book when I read years ago but don’t remember much about it now.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It's getting a few votes in the comments!

[@curtjarrell9710]

The Goldfinch takes a while to get into but once you do it's wonderfully engaging.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's good to know!

[@chrisgomes5048]

I started reading The Goldfinch and then put it down for six months, but once I picked up again (btw it was easy to pick up where I'd left off). I think you'll love it (eventually).

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ah that's good to know!

[@inanimatecarbongod]

Le Carre is someone I need to look into. Penguin have his first five novels in one ebook volume, which is what I've got, and they've got most of his others in their modern classics line. I *hated* Let the Right One In and DNFed it. Didn't like the film either but at least I finished it. I remember buying that Eggers book when it came out cos there was so much hype about it at the time. Still haven't read it. Black Dahlia is the only Ellroy novel I've read too (and yes, I also loved the LA Confidential film). Longest I've gone between buying and reading is currently 28 years. Ray Davies' autobiography, bought when the paperback came out in 1996 and STILL unread.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

28 years is pretty good going!

[@davlang3783]

I DNF'd Handing the Undead, but it was so long ago i can't remember why. James Ellroy books are fantastic. LA Quartet are all great books. But read them all in order! My favourite was The Big Nowhere, i think. Feels like time to reread them all myself. American Tabloid and The Cold Six Thousand are tremendous too. The LA Confidential movie is a tremendous distillation of the book, which is more sprawling and set over years.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ellroy seems to be getting a tonne of love in the comments!

[@troytradup]

I soured on Dave Eggers as a person after a brief interaction with him at a book signing, but Heartbreaking Work remains an amazing book regardless. Probably not your cup of tea, but made a huge impact on my life and writing when it first came out.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Oh that's interesting, maybe I'll give a try when I'm in the mood for something a bit smarter

[@rongarrander5317]

Aside from this video, have you ever discussed Donna Tartt’s The Secret History on BookTube? If not, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. It’s a favorite of mine.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I have discussed it in passing a few times (like here) but never in any sort of depth. Agree that it's a really great novel

[@fburton8]

I found _Transition_ to be a cracking good read. I think you'll like some of the darker aspects... I'll say no more!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Intriguing!

[@georgeparkes3863]

There is a film of ‘handling the dead’ due to be released soon. So a good time to read it now.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Oh interesting!

[@michaelsamerdyke108]

L. A. Confidential is terrific. One of Ellroy's best.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It's definitely getting a lot of love in the comments!

[@tyghe_bright]

LeCarre was an author my dad introduced me to, and I love his work.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I really really need to read more by him

[@jshaers96]

I find him unbearably dull. Even his best book was much more interesting as a TV series. He had an interesting life, and a mad dad, so I don't know why he wrote such boring books.

[@AmbitiousSpiderSA]

Heartbreaking work of staggering genius was my favorite book when I was in college in the early aughts. Haven't read it in ages though. Yiddish Policeman's union I read when it came out, and remember liking it, as I do most of Chabon's stuff, but don't remember a ton about it. Haven't read any of the ring books, but heard the series gets pretty ridiculous by the end.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Good to know about the Eggers book - thank you!

[@CaseyUnderCovers]

I simply cannot justify parting with a book I haven't read yet. I recently read a book I'd had for 12 years and I loved it and have since purchased the entire series. You just never know what you'll be in the mood for down the line!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That is my problem too!

[@AllenFreemanMediaGuru]

Books of Michael Chabon that I have: Summerland hc/The Mysteries of Pittsburg hc/Wonder Boys hc/Pops hc/Werewolves in Their Youth pb/Telegraph Ave hc/Moonglow hc/The Yiddish Policeman’s Union hc/Kavalier and Clay hc & pb. I have read Pops and Kavalier and Clay. Hope to read the others.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's a lot of Chabon!

[@jenkooper8647]

L.A. Confidential the book is better than the movie and I saw the movie first. It took me 5 days of reading, sun up to evening time, to finish it. Best Staycation reading I have ever done!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Sounds like I need to prioritise it!

[@hintzde]

Got to this a bit late, but if you want to read the Ellroy, I would read The Big Nowhere before LA Conidential as this is part of his LA Quartetet starting with The Black Dahlia and ending with White Jazz. If you get through these in that order and you find the style of White Jazz a bit off, I don't recommend reading any more Ellroy. He took that style, made it more short and brutal in even longer books. I stopped reading him years ago for this reason. He has plenty of rabid fans that will fight me on this point--just my opinion.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks, that’s really helpful

[@nunyabidness4220]

I've piled up a ton of James Ellroy for "one day when I retire" or something, but rarely read him. He's good, but his stuff tends to be long and dense, and I have a terrible propensity for reading shorter books instead. If it's a case of "I could read five old westerns and two Mack Bolans and a horror novel instead of this!" then I usually go with quantity over quality... 'cuz sometimes the quantity has quality, too. :)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I know exactly what you mean!

[@pastorytime2683]

I loved a Heartbreaking Work when it came out and have enjoyed Eggers other books too. I wonder if Heartbreaking might feel a little dated in its style by now? but reckon worth a go! Siân

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Cheers Sian! That's good to know.

[@arockinsamsara]

I actually have Ring in my queue for GarbAugust, but I don't know if I am going to get to it. The series does keep going after 2 & 3, I should let you know, I think there are 6 total, though only 5 have been translated into English (so far). I have read the Eggers. I went through a period a few years ago where I read a whole bunch of Eggers back-to-back-to-back. I think "Heartbreaking..." was my favorite of them. I don't think it is meta, it is a memoir, and kind of emotionally crushing in some ways, but also celebratory. It asks genuine questions about family and responsibility. His sister did take her own life about a year after he released this book, after criticizing his portrayal of her in the book and then later recanting her criticism... It does kind of leave a shroud over the book, though. (As for other books of his, "What is the What," "A Hologram for the King," and "Zeitoun" were all fun as well. I don't think I have read anything of his since "The Circle," and I am always tempted to jump back in, but where's the time?)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Wow that is definitely a sad outcome of that book. Had no idea there were more books in the Ring series, I guess it makes sense though given the success of the films

[@Greencava11]

Have read a a few Ian Banks which have enjoyed a lot have Dead Air which I got a considerable amount of time ago and not got round to reading it but it sounds really good. After loving The secret history I bought the little friend when it came out in hardback which was at least twenty years ago and it's currently being used as a book end as I love the cover probably need to read it though .... The ring (the original) is one of my favourite horrors never read the books but I made the mistake of taping it on VHS when it was first shown on TV without knowing too much about it bit of a mistake lol had to sleep with the hall light on for a week and shoved the tape in the spare room ...

[@CriminOllyBlog]

LOL at that story about taping The Ring - I love it :D

[@emmal7510]

Transition is a book I didn't like, but feel I should give a second chance to. (It was published under Iain M Banks in the US, despite not being space opera.) I pulled 24 books from my tbr backlist at the end of last year and have been trying to read 2 a month. (Results could be better, but I've finished or dnfed several.)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's a good way of making progress through your back list!

[@majelthesurreal5723]

I have only seen the movie The Ring. I did know about the book but I didn't know about the other books I never looked into the author. I also have difficulty getting into tartt. I have finished the secret history but still have The goldfinch on my shelf.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

She's really heavy isn't she. Great, but dense

[@eriebeverly]

I appreciate you confessing to the thievery. I don't think you would enjoy and/or finish Noir. I think I like "literary" reads more than you do and it was exhausting.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Oh dear, yeah that doesn’t sound like me

[@devildriverrule111]

James Ellroy is incredible.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

He's definitely getting a lot of love in the comments!

[@jensraab2902]

When you opened this video with your signature claim that you'll be talking about *_crime,_*_ pulp, horror, that kind of thing,_ I didn't expect you to actually publicly admitting to theft! 😅

[@CriminOllyBlog]

😂😂

[@John-cf5im]

Hi Olly. I have several storage containers full of books I haven't read yet. But, I will, I swear I will, one day. 🙂

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ha! I have hundreds if not thousands, definitely enough to keep me going

[@michaelchandler490]

There are books that I’ve found very satisfying and I’m glad to have read them, however, the actual reading was a long slog. I then find, that although I enjoyed that book by the author and I will pick up a second one by the same author, when I come to read the second book, the prospect of the another long slog makes me put it down. I think it is possible to find an author satisfying, but the act of reading not something you want to dive into.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That is a very accurate observation!

[@thundermorphine]

John Ajvides book is awesome!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@elliyo4286]

stealing a stolen book is not theft anymore, it´s basic math!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ha ha double negative = a positive

[@elliyo4286]

@@CriminOllyBlog exactly! I can see, youre something of a scientiest yourself.

[@DuncanMcCurdie]

You can skip the early works from Ellroy. Start with the LA Quartet and go from there.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

useful to know, thanks Duncan

[@diamondslashranch]

I think we’re looking at this book thing all wrong. Part of reading is collecting books and we don’t expect collectors of other things to use every item in their collection. So there you are people the freedom to collect books awaits you😂😂

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! This could be dangerous knowledge....

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I’ve started with 3-4 books and I PROMISE I’M TRYING

[@CriminOllyBlog]

You've got this!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@CriminOllyBlog Thank you

[@DuncanMcCurdie]

I’ve been meaning to read John Le Carre in order for years. I’ve read the first couple and then some random ones. I didn’t like Our Kind Of Traitor, my Goodreads ‘review’ is brutal.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Oh lol! I'll have to take a look

[@thatbrianl]

Oh, I’m jealous that you get to read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius for the first time.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

You're making me want to read it!

[@tonette6592]

I also literally have thousands of books in my house, yet am listening to audiobooks and upset that our local public library is closed due to water damage,(fortunately, only a few books were harmed.) What is going on with us? At least we are kindred spirits with other bibliophiles.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

We are indeed! The lure of books is irresistable

[@tonette6592]

​@@CriminOllyBlog I married a man who was walking and reading the first time I saw him. He is even more of a book packrat than I am.

[@wendyvilla2904]

🖤💚

[@DDB168]

I'm up for the read everything by Le Carre read along !!! You might lose susbscribers though 😉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

LOL, I'm used to that!

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Oh the shame 😳 😂

[@CriminOllyBlog]

LOL

[@duanespurlock5879]

THE WASP FACTORY is, indeed, memorable. As is all of Ellroy's LA Quartet.

[@tommonk7651]

Olly, one of your favorite genres is crime fiction, but you are turned off by grim and depressing? Uh, WTF?😁

[@CriminOllyBlog]

LOL! I just don't like that sometimes