Regular readers will be aware of the fact that I am a 'bookoholic' and just like an alcoholic I am perfectly happy to imbibe the cheapest of the cheap, hence my addiction to pulp fiction. And let's admit it, there is nothing more suitable for holiday reading than some good pulp fiction although it is necessary to apply some discrimination because of the impossibility of reading anything you just do not like - so that lets out everything ever written by Mr. Dan Brown!
Actually, on my recent holiday I determined to be 'A Good Boy' and read something sensible so I started with Anatomies: The Human Body, Its Parts and The Stories They Tell by Hugh Aldersley-Williams. So long as you're not a doctor this is a superb book written by an intelligent man blessed (or cursed) with curiosity which will keep you interested to the end. The sad fact is that as we grow older and realize despairingly that our bodies are not quite functioning the way they used to, we become ever more fascinated with what's going on below the increasingly wrinkled skin. This book, in an entertaining way, will answer many of your questions!
However, the main point of this particular post was to tip you off about the 'thriller of thrillers' which I have just come across. And I do mean 'thriller'! This had me reading up into the early hours to try and find out how various scenarios were going to turn out - and that, surely, is the definition of a good thriller. Even better, however, is the indisputable fact that it is cracking good value for money because it runs to nearly 900 pages! (Warning: as I write I am only on page 503 but I couldn't wait to tell you about it!) It only costs £7.99 in paperback which is the same as the latest Linwood Barclay thriller which runs to a 'mere' 500 pages . So do yourselves a favour and before you go on your hols buy 'I Am Pilgrim' by Terry Hayes. In fact, don't wait for your hols, buy it now, your other half won't mind if you don't speak to her for several evenings!
From a brief description - America in danger of being destroyed by fanatical terrorist but foiled by brave intelligence agent - you might groan and mutter something to the effect that you've seen and read and heard it all before starting with James Bond. But I'm telling you that you have not - not like this, anyway! For a start the intricacies of the plot are terrific and very well thought out so that whilst you know in your heart of hearts that it's tosh, it actually feels all too true and possible. Mr. Hayes, an Anglo-Australian journalist-writer who has worked on screenplays in America, has an easy style of writing that keep you effortlessly abreast of the various story-lines. He also has you on the edge of your seat! A proper, five star, thrilling thriller!
