Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Just finished reading “Acid for the Children” by Flea - autobiography by the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist.
Despite the occasional overly emotional outburst, I really enjoyed it. Might not have had the easiest of starts and has enjoyed plenty of drugs, but he’s seems honest about his life and how his actions followed their course.
Worth a read if you like this sort of thing, takes his story up to the start of RHCP.
Despite the occasional overly emotional outburst, I really enjoyed it. Might not have had the easiest of starts and has enjoyed plenty of drugs, but he’s seems honest about his life and how his actions followed their course.
Worth a read if you like this sort of thing, takes his story up to the start of RHCP.
I just finished Orphan X Vol 6 "Prodigal Son" by Gregg Hurwitz.
One of my favourite ongoing series takes a slightly different tone in this one. Not in a bad way, just much more focused on Smoak's slowly developing personality rather than his ruthless skillset and the implementation thereof, set against a journey of self discovery for Evan that unintentionally or not, changes him bit by bit. There is noticeably far less importance (and pages) devoted to describing his OCD driven apartment and habits for example. In fact, as any one who's read the Orphan X series will notice straight away, Hurwitz has dialled back the obsessional, repeated Floating Bed / Vodka Vault detailed descriptions from the previous novels to a minimum - they are there, but not mentioned in minute detail every single time the character returns to his apartment for example. A welcome change!
The interaction between him and Joey is also developed a little more with a nice depiction of the continuing struggle to define their relationship as it swings between father figure / mentor and troubled, defiant teen / vulnerable, damaged young adult. Her character continues to be Smoak's main counterpoint and as a result their relationship is at the heart of the piece, especially when contrasted with the revelations of his own past that the novel explores, and how the parallels between both their development brings them closer but also in more conflict.
If there are to be more Orphan X novels (and given the ending I'm sure there will be) it will be interesting to see how the groundwork of this novel - exploring Evan Smoak's past and how it is defining his actions and his moral compass - will be built upon in relation to his activities as the Nowhere Man.
Recommended, but not the best Orphan X in the series for me. The next novel and how it takes up from this one will be the one that either gives this character a new direction and new impetus, or moves away from the established parameters too far and begins to alienate fans (much as the last couple of Reachers have for example).
All just my 2p. of course
One of my favourite ongoing series takes a slightly different tone in this one. Not in a bad way, just much more focused on Smoak's slowly developing personality rather than his ruthless skillset and the implementation thereof, set against a journey of self discovery for Evan that unintentionally or not, changes him bit by bit. There is noticeably far less importance (and pages) devoted to describing his OCD driven apartment and habits for example. In fact, as any one who's read the Orphan X series will notice straight away, Hurwitz has dialled back the obsessional, repeated Floating Bed / Vodka Vault detailed descriptions from the previous novels to a minimum - they are there, but not mentioned in minute detail every single time the character returns to his apartment for example. A welcome change!
The interaction between him and Joey is also developed a little more with a nice depiction of the continuing struggle to define their relationship as it swings between father figure / mentor and troubled, defiant teen / vulnerable, damaged young adult. Her character continues to be Smoak's main counterpoint and as a result their relationship is at the heart of the piece, especially when contrasted with the revelations of his own past that the novel explores, and how the parallels between both their development brings them closer but also in more conflict.
If there are to be more Orphan X novels (and given the ending I'm sure there will be) it will be interesting to see how the groundwork of this novel - exploring Evan Smoak's past and how it is defining his actions and his moral compass - will be built upon in relation to his activities as the Nowhere Man.
Recommended, but not the best Orphan X in the series for me. The next novel and how it takes up from this one will be the one that either gives this character a new direction and new impetus, or moves away from the established parameters too far and begins to alienate fans (much as the last couple of Reachers have for example).
All just my 2p. of course
g3org3y said:
After watching the author on a Triggernometry episode, decided it was worth buying the book.
It's a very interesting read. Some of the more complex (science) aspects she considers too simplistically but perhaps unrealistic expectations for a non scientist. The general premise of the book is decent. Do the ends justify the means? Time will tell.
Sounds a bit like thisIt's a very interesting read. Some of the more complex (science) aspects she considers too simplistically but perhaps unrealistic expectations for a non scientist. The general premise of the book is decent. Do the ends justify the means? Time will tell.
The older I get, the more you see how little ever changes... BBC was a tad more bold back then perhaps
Read quite a few lately.
"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir : from the author of the Martian, similar castaway in space theme. Very enjoyable, good good! - 4/5
"The Cold, Cold Ground" by Adrian McKinty : detective story set in Belfast during the Troubles with some good old 80's values thrown in - think Gene Hunt in Northern Ireland, decent enough story but not that memorable. 3/5
"The Bones Beneath My Skin" by TJ Klune : sci-fi based chase story across the US, some funny moments, but nothing that new or imaginative. 2/5
"The Marches: A Borderland Journey Between England and Scotland" by Rory Stewart : part eulogy to his father, part history lesson of the border between Scotland and England and part autobiography. Very enjoyable, relaxing book. 4/5
"The Black Echo" and "The Burning Room" : Michael Connolly : started reading Bosch books after conclusion of the TV series. Black Echo is an excellent crime novel, the other feels a little tired and uninspired and doesn't match up to the first novel.
"Billy Summers" by Stephen King : when he's on form Stephen King is a master story teller, and he's on form in this book. About an assassin's last job and so much more, in turns funny and very dark. Great character development and as usual he conjures up very Stephen King view of the USA and the people within it. 5/5
"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir : from the author of the Martian, similar castaway in space theme. Very enjoyable, good good! - 4/5
"The Cold, Cold Ground" by Adrian McKinty : detective story set in Belfast during the Troubles with some good old 80's values thrown in - think Gene Hunt in Northern Ireland, decent enough story but not that memorable. 3/5
"The Bones Beneath My Skin" by TJ Klune : sci-fi based chase story across the US, some funny moments, but nothing that new or imaginative. 2/5
"The Marches: A Borderland Journey Between England and Scotland" by Rory Stewart : part eulogy to his father, part history lesson of the border between Scotland and England and part autobiography. Very enjoyable, relaxing book. 4/5
"The Black Echo" and "The Burning Room" : Michael Connolly : started reading Bosch books after conclusion of the TV series. Black Echo is an excellent crime novel, the other feels a little tired and uninspired and doesn't match up to the first novel.
"Billy Summers" by Stephen King : when he's on form Stephen King is a master story teller, and he's on form in this book. About an assassin's last job and so much more, in turns funny and very dark. Great character development and as usual he conjures up very Stephen King view of the USA and the people within it. 5/5
I read The Grapes of Wrath last week.
One of those books that I've been meaning to get around to for a long time and well wroth it if you haven't read it. I didn't know a great deal about the displacement of small American farmers in the dustbowl and the great depression but the way the domestic immigrants were treated as they moved to California really drove home how in a lot of ways nothing much has changed in the last 100 years for desperate refugees or the people they encounter at their destination.
One of those books that I've been meaning to get around to for a long time and well wroth it if you haven't read it. I didn't know a great deal about the displacement of small American farmers in the dustbowl and the great depression but the way the domestic immigrants were treated as they moved to California really drove home how in a lot of ways nothing much has changed in the last 100 years for desperate refugees or the people they encounter at their destination.
I have just finished 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry which was first published in 1985 and later in the TV series of 1989 (yes it was that long ago).
I really enjoyed it. In paperback it runs to 830 pages which makes it a tad unwieldy. I managed the first 500 pages in two months and the last 300 pages in two weeks. They say if you only read one Western book this is it. I was sad to finish it.
I am now looking out for the follow up 'Streets of Laredo'.
Ian
I really enjoyed it. In paperback it runs to 830 pages which makes it a tad unwieldy. I managed the first 500 pages in two months and the last 300 pages in two weeks. They say if you only read one Western book this is it. I was sad to finish it.
I am now looking out for the follow up 'Streets of Laredo'.
Ian
coppice said:
It's a cracking read but certainly isn't the souffle light prose some expect from Bryson. There's a lot more to him than a quick laugh from a funny place name...
Yes, some of his books are just a quick read and others can be a bit of a task (albeit very enjoyable). I took a few months to plough through "A Short History of Nearly Everything" just reading a few pages at a time between other books. I suspect that I started this one in the same vein, read a little then got engrossed in something else. I just can't remember it, very unusual for me to leave something laying in the bookshelves unread for any length of time.towser said:
"Billy Summers" by Stephen King : when he's on form Stephen King is a master story teller, and he's on form in this book. About an assassin's last job and so much more, in turns funny and very dark. Great character development and as usual he conjures up very Stephen King view of the USA and the people within it. 5/5
In my opinion, very few authors can do what a properly on-form King can do. Pumps100 said:
I have just finished 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry which was first published in 1985 and later in the TV series of 1989 (yes it was that long ago).
I really enjoyed it. In paperback it runs to 830 pages which makes it a tad unwieldy. I managed the first 500 pages in two months and the last 300 pages in two weeks. They say if you only read one Western book this is it. I was sad to finish it.
I am now looking out for the follow up 'Streets of Laredo'.
Ian
There are 2 prequels that are worth a read. I really enjoyed it. In paperback it runs to 830 pages which makes it a tad unwieldy. I managed the first 500 pages in two months and the last 300 pages in two weeks. They say if you only read one Western book this is it. I was sad to finish it.
I am now looking out for the follow up 'Streets of Laredo'.
Ian
Fantastic books
Pumps100 said:
I have just finished 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry which was first published in 1985 and later in the TV series of 1989 (yes it was that long ago).
I really enjoyed it. In paperback it runs to 830 pages which makes it a tad unwieldy. I managed the first 500 pages in two months and the last 300 pages in two weeks. They say if you only read one Western book this is it. I was sad to finish it.
I am now looking out for the follow up 'Streets of Laredo'.
Ian
just in the process of reading this!I really enjoyed it. In paperback it runs to 830 pages which makes it a tad unwieldy. I managed the first 500 pages in two months and the last 300 pages in two weeks. They say if you only read one Western book this is it. I was sad to finish it.
I am now looking out for the follow up 'Streets of Laredo'.
Ian
Teddy Lop said:
g3org3y said:
After watching the author on a Triggernometry episode, decided it was worth buying the book.
It's a very interesting read. Some of the more complex (science) aspects she considers too simplistically but perhaps unrealistic expectations for a non scientist. The general premise of the book is decent. Do the ends justify the means? Time will tell.
Sounds a bit like thisIt's a very interesting read. Some of the more complex (science) aspects she considers too simplistically but perhaps unrealistic expectations for a non scientist. The general premise of the book is decent. Do the ends justify the means? Time will tell.
The older I get, the more you see how little ever changes... BBC was a tad more bold back then perhaps
If you're interested in the War on Terror (and the associated politics), the Conflicted podcast is fascinating (presented by a former jihadist turned British double agent inside Al Qaeda).
https://messageheard.com/podcasts/conflicted
Ayahuasca said:
It’s a children’s book, but one that only adults can really appreciate: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
In a similar vein, I have just read Skellig by David Almond. Nominally a children's book, but really excellent. In the vein of The Little Prince and Jonathan Livingston Seagull a book that can be read and appreciated by all ages. Mezzanine said:
OMITN said:
After a good start this year, the cumulative effect of working like a Trojan and family matters, my reading has slowed considerably.
I’m still plodding away at Shop Class as Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford.
The basic premise is that, in spite of him having a PhD and being a former lobbyist, he actually runs a motorcycle repair business. The book is an assessment of how America (and with it the western world) has lost sight of the value of blue collar work.
It’s a denser read than I expected - no bad thing, though has the strong hint of the academic writer about it at times - and there are some interesting strands.
I’ll go back to fiction after this.
I have that on my shelf.I’m still plodding away at Shop Class as Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford.
The basic premise is that, in spite of him having a PhD and being a former lobbyist, he actually runs a motorcycle repair business. The book is an assessment of how America (and with it the western world) has lost sight of the value of blue collar work.
It’s a denser read than I expected - no bad thing, though has the strong hint of the academic writer about it at times - and there are some interesting strands.
I’ll go back to fiction after this.
I picked it up a few weeks ago and read the first couple of pages…I also didn’t expect it to be so dense and academic so it went back on the shelf until I am ready to commit to it properly!
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