Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
AClownsPocket said:
I read this years ago and found it nonsense.
Nonsense on what basis; it meanders around or because you believe differently to what the book puts forth? I'm not going to kick up a fuss over any answer; I'd like to hear opinions on the book as I have read it but don't remember an awful lot about it. I read it around the same time as I read 'God is Not Great'. As a result I'm likely conflating the contents of the two.Maybe I ought to reread it at some point.
Always wanted to read the Diaries but a trip to Oxfam found this on the shelf for a very acceptable £2.99.
Its abridged - a lot of the routine work stuff is edited out, but the rest is a fantastic tale of life in England at the time of Charles II. Sam Pepys was a real red blooded PH'er and was a proper lad with the ladies. The introduction mentions that later on he gets caught in the Act by his wife - Oh dear !
Even wandering down to the Pie Shop after a bottle of wine, he cast his eye over Mrs Miggin's '... and it gave me great pleasure '.
Its not heavy reading and his views are surprisingly modern. He went to watch the King play tennis and he was fed up with the fawning spectators passing compliments when in truth the Kings play was less than ordinary. Home for another flagon of wine, give the wife a black eye for spending too much house-keeping. And so to Bed.
Highly recommended.
Its abridged - a lot of the routine work stuff is edited out, but the rest is a fantastic tale of life in England at the time of Charles II. Sam Pepys was a real red blooded PH'er and was a proper lad with the ladies. The introduction mentions that later on he gets caught in the Act by his wife - Oh dear !
Even wandering down to the Pie Shop after a bottle of wine, he cast his eye over Mrs Miggin's '... and it gave me great pleasure '.
Its not heavy reading and his views are surprisingly modern. He went to watch the King play tennis and he was fed up with the fawning spectators passing compliments when in truth the Kings play was less than ordinary. Home for another flagon of wine, give the wife a black eye for spending too much house-keeping. And so to Bed.
Highly recommended.
Levin said:
AClownsPocket said:
I read this years ago and found it nonsense.
Nonsense on what basis; it meanders around or because you believe differently to what the book puts forth? I'm not going to kick up a fuss over any answer; I'd like to hear opinions on the book as I have read it but don't remember an awful lot about it. I read it around the same time as I read 'God is Not Great'. As a result I'm likely conflating the contents of the two.Maybe I ought to reread it at some point.
Not quite the same edition as I have (I believe mine is actually older) but this is what I've started into today.
It's a slim volume, so may not take long to read. It ties in with my interest in German history and is presently exposing the gaps in my knowledge of Roman history. I bought it for £2 in a shop in Belfast, so I reckon I'll get a decent return on my investment with it.
I guess all authors make reference to a previous volume from time to time, but I dstinctly dislike having the previous one rammed down my throat. And this is what happens in "I know who did it" by Steve Mosby. This is a detective novel; but wait, shouldn't it be just a little bit credible? A private psychiatric hospital in the woods surrounded by an electrified fence, and no one has ever heard of it? People kidnapped and never seen again, a paedophile ring and a religious cult are in the mix, and it's a book that is forever referring back to the previous novel. I'd give it a miss if I was you.
Started this last night about 9pm, didn't stop till I fell asleep about half way through at 2:30am, will probably finish it tonight.
I'd previously read and enjoyed his 'From The Holy Mountain' about a trip through the area formerly known as Byzantium and found it to be a fascinating mix of travel stories, history and a real insight into the development of the middle east into how it is today. This one is more of the same , documenting a trip he made in the late eighties as a young student following the journeys of Marco Polo from what is modern day Israel to China.
I don't know if he was brave or stupid to attempt a trip which included wandering through post revolutionary Iran, Russian controlled Afghanistan and strictly controlled communist China amongst others, but it makes fascinating reading. In both books, his insight into the peoples' attitudes is very interesting, particularly with regard to Syria given the current situation there. I'd love to hear his take on the wars going on there at the moment, he really seems to be able to assess and summarise complicated situations such as this very well.
I'd previously read and enjoyed his 'From The Holy Mountain' about a trip through the area formerly known as Byzantium and found it to be a fascinating mix of travel stories, history and a real insight into the development of the middle east into how it is today. This one is more of the same , documenting a trip he made in the late eighties as a young student following the journeys of Marco Polo from what is modern day Israel to China.
I don't know if he was brave or stupid to attempt a trip which included wandering through post revolutionary Iran, Russian controlled Afghanistan and strictly controlled communist China amongst others, but it makes fascinating reading. In both books, his insight into the peoples' attitudes is very interesting, particularly with regard to Syria given the current situation there. I'd love to hear his take on the wars going on there at the moment, he really seems to be able to assess and summarise complicated situations such as this very well.
lowdrag said:
I guess all authors make reference to a previous volume from time to time, but I dstinctly dislike having the previous one rammed down my throat.
I agree, it can be quite disconcerting, depending on how subtly they do it. If you're reading a series of cop fiction centred on the same team then I guess it's not unreasonable that a previous case or offender might come up again, but it annoys me when people (Colin Forbes, I'm looking at you) refer to "The xxx case" where xxx may be the title of the other book, or so close as to leave no doubt. If we like the story, we'll find the other books.Unrelated, I've just finished "Dead Man Walking" by Paul Finch, his fourth featuring copper Mark Heckenberg. It's pretty good, a fair bit of action and a reasonable twist, though I have a feeling that his first three were better. There is the odd reference to previous encounters with some characters and situations, but not overly so.
I've also just read "The Stranger" by Harlan Coben, up to his usual standard, a standalone novel with a few twists. I picked it up for next to nothing, read it in preparation for reading his new one, "Home", which is a Myron Bolitar story.
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