Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Current have two books on the go. First one is; One summer 1927 by Bill Bryson. About a third the way in and enjoying it from both the history side and also the author’s style. Second one is; The secret life of Ealing studios. Always been a fan of the Ealing films and this little book is full of little anecdotes from surviving staff members and insight into some of the stars and how the movies were created. Really enjoying it.
Forget who recommended it on here (pretty sure it was on here), but 2/3 of the way through this and it's a really good read.
I was already pretty clued-up on the Falklands war, but there's a bunch of interesting details I didn't have and it ties a lot of the air- and sea-wars in together very well, including from the Argentinian (air only) side.
I was already pretty clued-up on the Falklands war, but there's a bunch of interesting details I didn't have and it ties a lot of the air- and sea-wars in together very well, including from the Argentinian (air only) side.
Benny Saltstein said:
Animal said:
Just bought and listened to Chris Harris' book "Variable Valve Timings" and it's pretty good. Very interesting and funny in places, sad in others. I think I'm an even bigger fan now!
It’s a good read although I felt it sped through his time and Top Gear and Collecting Cars got only the briefest of mentions. Guess he has to hold some stuff back for vol 2. Interesting read.
His mum was interesting person
Prolex-UK said:
Benny Saltstein said:
Animal said:
Just bought and listened to Chris Harris' book "Variable Valve Timings" and it's pretty good. Very interesting and funny in places, sad in others. I think I'm an even bigger fan now!
It’s a good read although I felt it sped through his time and Top Gear and Collecting Cars got only the briefest of mentions. Guess he has to hold some stuff back for vol 2. Interesting read.
His mum was interesting person
I enjoyed the Harris book, if not perhaps for the reasons I thought I would . He plays his cards very close to his chest about much of his personal life so this isn't an autobiography as such . But I enjoyed his stuff about CAR and Autocar and smiled at his obvious incompatibility with Chris Evans .
I write motoring /motor sport book reviews for the American website, speedreaders.info , so there's a longer critique on there.
I write motoring /motor sport book reviews for the American website, speedreaders.info , so there's a longer critique on there.
coppice said:
I enjoyed the Harris book, if not perhaps for the reasons I thought I would . He plays his cards very close to his chest about much of his personal life so this isn't an autobiography as such . But I enjoyed his stuff about CAR and Autocar and smiled at his obvious incompatibility with Chris Evans .
I write motoring /motor sport book reviews for the American website, speedreaders.info , so there's a longer critique on there.
Enjoyed that review, thanks. $42.99! ouch.I write motoring /motor sport book reviews for the American website, speedreaders.info , so there's a longer critique on there.
coppice said:
I enjoyed the Harris book, if not perhaps for the reasons I thought I would . He plays his cards very close to his chest about much of his personal life so this isn't an autobiography as such . But I enjoyed his stuff about CAR and Autocar and smiled at his obvious incompatibility with Chris Evans .
I write motoring /motor sport book reviews for the American website, speedreaders.info , so there's a longer critique on there.
That’s a good review John, I think you’ve captured the essence of the book and author. I disagree with your point about CH being insufferable judging by his podcast though, I think the podcast shows a group of friends having a chat with in-jokes and general messing around, as any of us might do.I write motoring /motor sport book reviews for the American website, speedreaders.info , so there's a longer critique on there.
toasty said:
havoc said:
Legend83 said:
Just started "Dogs of War" by Adrian Tchaikovsky. A new genre entirely for me and so far I can't put it down!
There's a lot of love for Rex on here.
MC Bodge said:
Skyedriver said:
Gone for a bit of older literature, For whom the bell tolls - Ernest Hemingway.
I thought I was excellent when I read it (when I was about 20, as was A Farewell to Arms )A good enough plot but the 500 pages could have been precised into about 160.
The "thee" and "thou" the narrative of the thoughts of the various characters, "I will" "I won't" "I should have" "but what if"
But I finished it.
I've never read a Hemingway novel that impressed me. The chapter where Pilar describes a massacre (I'm sparse on details as it has been years from I read it) is by far and away the most memorable thing he ever wrote. Raymond Chandler, in Farewell, My Lovely, provides the most succinct, cutting assessment of Hemingway: 'A guy that keeps saying the same thing over and over until you begin to believe it must be good.'
I've got a few more lined up to read, Fred Dinenage's book on the Kray twins 'Our Story', Wensley Clarkson's 'Bindon', the story of actor / villain John Bindon, Simon Reeve's 'One Day In September : The Story Of The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre' and the Paul Newman biography 'The Extraordinary Life Of An Ordinary Man'... should keep me going till Christmas 
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