Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
The Hypno-Toad said:
Just finished Ade Edmonson's autobiography Berserker!
A bit disappointing to be honest, I thought there was a bit too much depth into his clearly horrible childhood and not enough into the 80's TV work and his relationship with Rik. Still his life, his story I guess.
The history of him and Jennifer's relationship was nicely written and its good to see a 'showbiz' marriage that clearly still seems to be working.
That sums it up well. A bit disappointing to be honest, I thought there was a bit too much depth into his clearly horrible childhood and not enough into the 80's TV work and his relationship with Rik. Still his life, his story I guess.
The history of him and Jennifer's relationship was nicely written and its good to see a 'showbiz' marriage that clearly still seems to be working.
havoc said:
I've just re-read Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks. I'd remembered about the chair, but it was a long time ago since I last read it, and the scene still crept up on me. And Jesus H Christ it still hits.
Oddly-structured but brilliant book.
All of Iain M Banks culture Universe sci-fi is great - but that one is special.Oddly-structured but brilliant book.
My other especial fave, the one I suggest to others as an intro - is 'The Player of Games'. It's much shorter than any of the others, stands apart ; makes clear how Special Circumstances operates n a punchy, amusing, relatable way - so to me: also one of the very best, as a result.
Edited by Huff on Tuesday 14th May 20:03
Huff said:
All of Iain M Banks culture Universe sci-fi is great - but that one is special.
My other especial fave, the one I suggest to others as an intro - is 'The Player of Games'. It's much shorter than any of the others, stands apart ; makes clear how Special Circumstances operates n a punchy, amusing, relatable way - so to me: also one of the very best, as a result.
Yeah, it's very clever.My other especial fave, the one I suggest to others as an intro - is 'The Player of Games'. It's much shorter than any of the others, stands apart ; makes clear how Special Circumstances operates n a punchy, amusing, relatable way - so to me: also one of the very best, as a result.
TPoG may be next then - Consider Phlebas was before UoW, and it's not that long since I read Excession and Look to Windward* (possibly my favourite, but I'm a bit of a romantic at heart). Ought to go back to Against a Dark Background too - IMB definitely had a way with titles...
* Another TS Eliot reference.
Huff said:
MC Bodge said:
Skyedriver said:
I have this on my book pile. His other books have been excellent, although the subject matter is often horrific.Anthony Beevor does great justice to the theme (yet again.. ): it's just that theme is wholesale misery and monumental dirty slaughter, yet - often overlooked as merely 'a nasty skirmish in a wood' - rather than 'Big-Screen' hell, like Stalingrad.
Therefore, also, deserves to have such a good, legible historian, write such a detailed but accessible history of it.
It is not enjoyable - but important.
Bastogne is taking a proper hammering.
The waste of life and property is awful. 100s slaughtered in battle by efficient weaponry and prisoners and locals tortured and slaughtered in retribution following surrender.
As with the other Beever books, I find myself imagining what it would have like to have been there, possibly as a junior officer in a combat engineering role or the like. Survival was a lottery. The mental and physical damage likely to have been horrendous.
If only the Nazis had just given up sooner.
MC Bodge said:
I am part-way through this now. It is another great book, but unpleasant subject matter.
Bastogne is taking a proper hammering.
The waste of life and property is awful. 100s slaughtered in battle by efficient weaponry and prisoners and locals tortured and slaughtered in retribution following surrender.
As with the other Beever books, I find myself imagining what it would have like to have been there, possibly as a junior officer in a combat engineering role or the like. Survival was a lottery. The mental and physical damage likely to have been horrendous.
If only the Nazis had just given up sooner.
Exactly how I felt about the whole.Bastogne is taking a proper hammering.
The waste of life and property is awful. 100s slaughtered in battle by efficient weaponry and prisoners and locals tortured and slaughtered in retribution following surrender.
As with the other Beever books, I find myself imagining what it would have like to have been there, possibly as a junior officer in a combat engineering role or the like. Survival was a lottery. The mental and physical damage likely to have been horrendous.
If only the Nazis had just given up sooner.
The annual ACT book review competition is underway and always provides one or two glimpses/reviews/mini-essays on books otherwise overlooked or so well known you may think they have nothing much to offer, e.g.:
...
The History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe
The Hunt for Red October
The Iliad
...
[Interesting that HfRO has the same page count as The Iliad!]
Aaaanyway, for interest if you're looking for inspiration/insight or other.
https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/choose-book-revie...
...
The History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe
The Hunt for Red October
The Iliad
...
[Interesting that HfRO has the same page count as The Iliad!]
Aaaanyway, for interest if you're looking for inspiration/insight or other.
https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/choose-book-revie...
I've just finished "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave. A woman is concerned when her husband doesn't come home from work, then it turns out that the software company he works at is being investigated and several key people are arrested. When he still doesn't get in touch she tries to work out why not, and finds out that a lot of his background is made up. She also has to look after his daughter who she doesn't really get on with. A decent story, I enjoyed it.
p1doc said:
slopes said:
As well as The Hawk Enigma, i'm also getting into GunBoy by Leighton Dean - a Cyberpunk Dystopian future novel. So far so good, a bit formulaic at the moment but i am only about 2 chapters in or so.
i really enjoyed gunboy -think he is planning a sequel alreadyJust finished Personal, a Jack Reacher story. Struggled with that one. Used to love the Reacher books, but seems a little to much now.
Started Mythos by Stephen Fry this evening. I book I read half of once, really enjoyed, then forgot about. Very enjoyable so far.
I read maybe 4 or 5 books in the last decade prior to this year. This is now book number 6 of 2024 alone.
Started Mythos by Stephen Fry this evening. I book I read half of once, really enjoyed, then forgot about. Very enjoyable so far.
I read maybe 4 or 5 books in the last decade prior to this year. This is now book number 6 of 2024 alone.
I've just finished 'Welcome Home' and 'Evening in Paradise' by Lucia Berlin. Both excellent and beautifully written, blending reality with fiction in such a way that you don't know where one ends and the other begins.
Now reading 'The Day Guernica Was Bombed' by William L Smallwood, which is assembled from first-hand accounts of the first civilian population to be deliberately bombed in an act of war. Hitler's Condor Squadron acting on Franco's behalf in the Spanich Civil War, it was officially denied throughout Franco's dictatorship. Shocking in the recollection of trauma, it has many modern resonances.
Now reading 'The Day Guernica Was Bombed' by William L Smallwood, which is assembled from first-hand accounts of the first civilian population to be deliberately bombed in an act of war. Hitler's Condor Squadron acting on Franco's behalf in the Spanich Civil War, it was officially denied throughout Franco's dictatorship. Shocking in the recollection of trauma, it has many modern resonances.
I've just finished "Take your breath away" by Linwood Barclay. A man is the prime suspect when his wife goes missing, but six years later he's put it behind him, moved on and settled into a new relationship. This is thrown into doubt when it looks as if his wife has come back. A decent story, as his always are.
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