Books - What are you reading?

[matchmaker]

Re-reading "Of whales and men" by RB Robertson - an account written by a doctor who accompanied a British/Norwegian whaling expedition to the Antarctic in 1950/51. A fascinating insight into a way of life which is long gone.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2814908-of-whal...

[lowdrag]

I am currently finishing off "Naples '44" by Norman Lewis. As a history of the sheer incompetence during the war it is staggering. The author, a translator, wrote his diary at the time, and he relates how the American army arrived at Naples and was totally disorganised. On page 16 he relates how rumours abounded that the Germans had broken back through; the officers to a man deserted to the beach leaving the soldiers to fend for themselves and:-

"This afternoon (12/9/44) distraught American ack-ack gunners brought down their third Spitfire. This had just arrived from Sicily and taking off in pursuit of FW190s was immediately shot down while flying at about 300 feet".

I had an uncle who related similar stories of incompetence, greed, theft of stores (apparently one boatload in three disappeared to the black market in this book) and get-rich-quick schemes, but this book takes the biscuit. I mean, the name Vito Genovese is pretty well known as the capo di capos in the American Mafia, following in the footsteps of Lucky Luciano, but that he was appointed as aide-de-camp to the head of the American provisional government Colonel Charles Poletti is ridiculous and no wonder everything disappeared!

I highly recommend it to one and all.

[davepoth]

Ulysses is the book that is currently sat open next to my bed. I am around ten pages in, and I may muster the enthusiasm to pick it up again at some point this weekend.

[Blown2CV]

davepoth said:

Ulysses is the book that is currently sat open next to my bed. I am around ten pages in, and I may muster the enthusiasm to pick it up again at some point this weekend.

I struggled listening to an audiobook of that. It was a free project one (librevox I think?) where people volunteer to read out the book, and this was read tag team style by a group of pissed Canadian students who fluffed every line and pissed themselves laughing regularly, aswell as one of them doing mock Irish fiddling on a violin. Was amusing but don't really think I got the feel of the book!

[silverthorn2151]

Somehow I persuaded myself, weeks and weeks ago that I should try Dan Brown again and I have Inferno on my Kindle for the commute.

I am probably about 1/3 the way through it. This book has managed to beat any enthusiasm out of me for reading whatsoever.

It feels like I am reading one of those Dungeons and Dragons books from 1981.

You know the sort of thing......

They came to a closed door, they decided to a) open it (go to page 134) b) not open it (go to page 56) c) have a shag then nip down the hitherto unknown tunnel that takes them to the front of the KFC drive though queue (go to page 69)

Please tell me I'm not alone in thinking this is the dullest most contrived heap of written garbage since Jackie Collins last missive!

I am going to slip this into my 'gave up' folder on the Kindle and try a bit of Jack Higgins or Neville Shute, just to get back into the swing.

One knows where one is with the Nazis as bad guys.

[K12beano]

^^^ ^^^


Yup - demorilising ain't it....?


Stick on in there. You'll know how to get out of it!

[DibblyDobbler]

The only Dan Brown I read was Deception Point - one scenario which comes to mind went as follows: the protagonists get in a scrape and end up falling off the artic ice - they happen to land on a flat piece of ice and float off into the icy sea (fked you'd think) but the hero decides to start tapping SOS in morse in the ice... And fk me does a nuclear sub not appear and rescue them !! That's the kind of plot line a ten year old would get a smack for - sheesh

[944fan]

Every year I make a NY Resolution to read more and this year I have finally managed to go through with it. Started with some fairly easy sporting bios.

Recently finished "A Brief History of Time", found it interesting even if I didn't understand a lot of it!

Finished Wolf of Wall Street couple of days ago. Not the best.

Currently reading "Dreams from my Father" - Barak Obama. This is really good. Very well written, the style is quite chatty but it is so eloquently narrated it makes you feel more intelligent by reading it! Some of the language though is quite surprising - a lot of use of the N word. He is a really interesting person with a very interesting background. Recommend this.

[grumbledoak]

Just finished "Surface Detail". Sad to think I have only one Culture novel 'left'.

[coppice]

Dan Brown ...right down there with Jeffrey Archer . Utterly dire. Sells shed loads too.

[davepoth]

944fan said:

Currently reading "Dreams from my Father" - Barak Obama. This is really good. Very well written, the style is quite chatty but it is so eloquently narrated it makes you feel more intelligent by reading it! Some of the language though is quite surprising - a lot of use of the N word. He is a really interesting person with a very interesting background. Recommend this.

It's good. But what was even better was the audiobook - which Obama narrates (it was released before he ran for office I believe). If you thought it was surprising seeing him write the N word, it's even odder hearing him say it.

[5potTurbo]

I've learned more from this in the last few days than in my prior 44 years on this planet, shamefully.

[unrepentant]

Just finished Double Down: Game Change 2012

It's the story of the 2012 US Presidential election by the guys who wrote Game Change. It's a great read if you're a political junkie like me. Good to be reminded of just what a crap campaign Romney ran.

[944fan]

davepoth said:

944fan said:

Currently reading "Dreams from my Father" - Barak Obama. This is really good. Very well written, the style is quite chatty but it is so eloquently narrated it makes you feel more intelligent by reading it! Some of the language though is quite surprising - a lot of use of the N word. He is a really interesting person with a very interesting background. Recommend this.

It's good. But what was even better was the audiobook - which Obama narrates (it was released before he ran for office I believe). If you thought it was surprising seeing him write the N word, it's even odder hearing him say it.

Cool I have an Audible account so will get that when I next have credits.

[Turbodiesel1976]

Just finished 'The Ice Man' by Philip Carlo - the true story of mafia contract killer Richard Kuklinski, can't recommend it highly enough! If you're interested in crime / the mob read it, its fascinating, gruesome and genuinely unputdownable

[CTO]

5potTurbo said:

I've learned more from this in the last few days than in my prior 44 years on this planet, shamefully.

99p on Kindle as well.

Thanks

[blindswelledrat]

silverthorn2151 said:

Somehow I persuaded myself, weeks and weeks ago that I should try Dan Brown again and I have Inferno on my Kindle for the commute.

I am probably about 1/3 the way through it. This book has managed to beat any enthusiasm out of me for reading whatsoever.

It feels like I am reading one of those Dungeons and Dragons books from 1981.

.

at the rest of your post but:

Why on earth would you try a book, think that it is rubbish so try and read it again?
There are more good books out there than you could read in 10 lifetimes, no matter what your tastes, and yet you persevere with Dan Brwon for a second time?
WHat is your thought process?

[blindswelledrat]

coppice said:

Dan Brown ...right down there with Jeffrey Archer . Utterly dire. Sells shed loads too.

As an aside, I don't really understand the hatred for Dan Brown.
DOn't get me wrong, I think his writing is st and his books are tacky holiday reads (I conclude having read only one of them).
But so what? They are still pretty good page turners which is literally all that you ask of that kind of book surely?
WHy is it only Dan Brown that gets so much criticism in that kind of genre?
You never hear people scathing about David Baldaccis clichéd one-dimensional characters or the embarrassing contrived Americanism of the Jack Reacher books. People just buy them and enjoy them for the trash they are.
Why is Dan Brown held up against such higher expectation?

[TheJimi]

blindswelledrat said:

silverthorn2151 said:

Somehow I persuaded myself, weeks and weeks ago that I should try Dan Brown again and I have Inferno on my Kindle for the commute.

I am probably about 1/3 the way through it. This book has managed to beat any enthusiasm out of me for reading whatsoever.

It feels like I am reading one of those Dungeons and Dragons books from 1981.

.

at the rest of your post but:

Why on earth would you try a book, think that it is rubbish so try and read it again?
There are more good books out there than you could read in 10 lifetimes, no matter what your tastes, and yet you persevere with Dan Brwon for a second time?
WHat is your thought process?

He's trying the author again, not re-reading the same book. Giving Brown the benefit of the doubt, if you will.

I suspect that was his thought process


That aside, I kind of agree with you about Dan Brown. Sure, his novels are not the last word in literary excellence, but there are plenty worse than him.

Edited by TheJimi on Friday 25th April 13:25

[5potTurbo]

CTO said:

5potTurbo said:

I've learned more from this in the last few days than in my prior 44 years on this planet, shamefully.

99p on Kindle as well.

Thanks

That's why we have it. We're cheapskates too.