Since I read a lot (as I said earlier), there are a lot of books to be read. For hundreds and a half a year. And today I decided to try to do almost impossible for me. To identify the 5 best and worst books that I have read in the last 5 years. Why is impossible almost impossible? Well...at least because it is impossible for me to name my favorite writer (there will be a dozen or two of them), and I try to avoid weak and miserable books and not to waste time on them.
1. J-C. Granger, "Congo. Requiem"
The French master I call the literary Benjamin Button. Why is that? (Laughs) Think about it - as usual, a writer's career develops. He or she starts cheerfully, but gradually writes worse, worse and worse, a stretch has signed up. Or there is a confident start, the writer writes a few books and reaches a peak, but then follows a decline, sometimes monstrous. I call this situation "the master burned out" Well, and Grange does every new book better than the previous one. And that's given that he hasn't had any weaker books since the very first one. But here comes a new one, and it is even better :-) I don't know how it works out for him. He is a kind of a Tuesday and scares many people of naturalism and sadistic ideas, but he writes interestingly juicily. I VERY liked his previous work "Lontano" (as if the first part - read - start with it), but the continuation came out even cooler. I just plunged into the atmosphere and was really worried about the heroes.
2. Х. Cobain "Short blow"
Once upon a time, a wonderful fondness of mine (for which she is very grateful) advised me to pay attention to this American detective author, who I confess I have not heard anything about before. But I read the whole series and I was completely and unconditionally captured. And the story, the dynamics, the language (well, in any case, the translation). And the main thing is a great character. Former basketball player Myron Bolitar (the same name and surname are a bit complicated - apparently the author wrote from himself), after a serious injury finished with sports, graduated from Harvard Law Farm, and after a short work for the Feds, decided to become a sports agent. But because of his nature and restlessness, all the time gets into difficult situations. There is everything - and sports, and detective, and mystery and murder. Myron is always joking on the verge (oh, how close I am to it), although in general a very well-educated and correct character. Well, who would refuse to have in friends with his partner - a very strange, but such a reliable Win Lockwood III - a fan of martial arts, millionaire, playboy, and cold-blooded killer.
I generally love Cobain, any book that has a very high level of writing, but here is the first book in the series about Bolitar and Lockwood most imprinted. Great characters, great detective, interesting book.
3. Lihein "Throat before the battle"
Dennis Lehein is a very cool writer. So cool, he's one of the few people I reread sometimes. Because it's great. Very stylish, very interesting. He has several episodes, there are separate novels, including sensational and dramatized "Island of the Damned" and "Mystic Riviera" by him. But my favorite characters in Lihein are Bubba, Patrick, and Angie. I treat them tenderly. And the best book is this one Anyway, I read it first and it fell in love with me, and then I completely re-read the entire author, who is now one of my favorite favorites.
4. Yo Nesbø "The Leopard"
I love Scandinavian noir because I read Norwegian master Yu Nesbé with pleasure. Once I got his "Snowman" in my hands, which I liked so much that I began to read all the books of the author. And it's not just about the interesting character Harry Hall, but about the stylist of the works and the plot. It's interesting and very exciting. And then - as if it takes you to Scandinavia, you believe in what you read. That's why I was so disappointed in Snowman. The director did not understand anything from the books. It's a pity...
"Leopard" was, in my opinion, the third or even fourth book of those I read about the Hall. But I am sincerely convinced that this is the best work of the author. Because it is not just qualitative and cool - it is stylish. And I'm not even afraid of this word - gorgeous. Very, very cool. And I confess to you honestly - I'm afraid to reread it, so as not to spoil that first delightful aftertaste.
5. Lee Child, Death Floor.
It's simple. Jack Reacher says it all. A surprisingly logical, strong and solid former military policeman who moves around the U.S. with nothing but a little cash and a toothbrush, and who has his own ideas about the balance of the universe and justice in the world.
I love this character (book, not embodied in the movies) and I am happy to constantly reread the series. And the best book in it is the first and most memorable.