Interesting to hear about the sequel.
I'm going to start the book sometime next week.
I never read a book when i've had a few beers, and with the gigs over the weekend and the funeral on Monday, it would be too many interuptions, so looks like i'll be getting stuck into it either Tuesday or Wednesday.
The last book I tried to read was one of the Flashman novels.
The premise of the books is that a highly decorated war hero has passed away and in his house are found his own account of his exploits.
It seems that he is not quite the hero everyone thinks he is, in fact he's a coward and a complete and utter bastard, happy to lie, steal, murder, double cross, and roger his way around the empire.
For instance, the book I tried told of how Flashman (while in Mexico) agreed to help rebels assasinate the emperor.
During the attack the emperor came under the impression that Flashman just happened to be there at the time and had in fact saved his life.
In gratitude, the emperor gave Flashman a post of importance at his court.
When the rebels finally won through and put the deposed emperor in front of a firing squad, Flashman decided it would be a good time to exit the country. A ship from the emperors native Austria arrived to take the emperors body back home, and Flashman blagged the job of guarding the royal corpse.
While on the ship he met, wooed, and rogered silly, the captains young niece who accompanied her uncle on the journey before going home to be married to a count.
Finding this out, the captain wasn't very happy, and although he himself had to leave port again with the emperors body, he left somebody behind to deal with Flashman.
This is why Flashman (who's old friend had asked him to take a war chest to Abyssinia, to which Flashman told him to bugger off) changes his mind and skips town sharpish with the loot in the opposite direction away from the Austrian chap with the sharp sword and orders to put that sword somewhere in Flashmans person.
Like Richard Sharpe, Flashman has a knack of finding himself at every major battle and campaign of his day (and not ones just involving the British army), from The Charge Of The Light Brigade to The Battle Of The Little Big Horn with Custer.
A true relectant hero, Flashman will run from where he think the enemy is, whereas he's charging straight at their most fortified position, earning him honors and respect from his peers. Being the only survivor of a military action (because it's hard to get killed when you're hiding) has it's advantages as your account is the only one people will get to hear, so who's going to put folk right about your "heroic deeds"?
Unfortunatly I don't find Flashman an easy read (I would compare some parts so far to wading through tracle rather than swimming through water) which is unfortunate as I LOVE the idea of an anti Sharpe, a cad and a bounder who bullshits himself around the empire becoming more famous and honoured with every despicable deed.
Perhaps it's just me who has this problem as I know people who swear by the books.
I had a similar problem with the Hornblower books. I like to fall through the page (a metophore by Mr King, and one i'm fond of) whereas most of the time I spend reading Hornblower I was aware I was reading a story.
I think I may not give up on Flashman yet though, god bless his black heart, because I love the idea so much.