Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Legend83 said:
IanA2 said:
Just finished Stalingrad by Beevor. I’ll not be reading that again in a hurry.
Presumably because of the subject nature and not the book itself, which is a tour de force?IanA2 said:
Oh yes, Beevor's ability to to deliver the daily horror in a measured undramatic manner is quite extraordinary. But nevertheless I'll need a few years before returning to it. I was about to to re-read "If this is a Man", but I'm going to wait awhile. Wodehouse time methinks.
Ha! I was going to suggest you need something to cheer you up and then you reference Levi. 
Goaty Bill 2 said:
Hah! You've caught me on that one.
I had been searching for a hardback Garnet translation of this (most are 'print on demand' and often don't list the translator).
You've reminded me that I needed this, so I've expanded my search parameters and located one.
Thanks for the reminder
I'm not familiar with Randall's work, but I have always found the Garnet translations to be in a style most consistent with the times in which they were written. No doubt because it would have seemed more natural to her than for someone translating the work 50 years later on.
I'm sorry to say, I never actually got a chance to read it when I had my copy. With a library deadline a matter of days away and the release of the game 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance' (which, by the way, is fantastic) I acknowledged it wasn't going to be read and enjoyed in the way Dostoyevsky probably deserves. The Garnett translation translation proves more interesting because of the stellar reputation with which her translations of Dostoyevsky have garnered.I had been searching for a hardback Garnet translation of this (most are 'print on demand' and often don't list the translator).
You've reminded me that I needed this, so I've expanded my search parameters and located one.
Thanks for the reminder
I'm not familiar with Randall's work, but I have always found the Garnet translations to be in a style most consistent with the times in which they were written. No doubt because it would have seemed more natural to her than for someone translating the work 50 years later on.
My last read was 'Down and Out in Paris and London', by George Orwell. It is both thoughtful and thought-provoking, portraying the misery of impoverished life with admirable empathy. I shall have to read 'Homage to Catalonia' soon, but a brief glance through Google Images suggests it has never been published with a cover matching the other Orwell I own.
All excellent covers, in my opinion, and typically extremely affordable editions too. I paid £3.99 for 'Down and Out' and had a few hours of enjoyment reading it. Next up is a charity shop find bought on the strength of its name, 'Stasi Wolf' by David Young. The second East Germany crops up, my interest spikes. Speaking of seconds, it appears this is the second book in a series whose first title I have not read. Somewhat disappointing to discover, but the introduction implies it should be readable without prior knowledge of the story.
Finished Children of Time last night and I found the ending dissapointing and rushed and felt like it was from a different book. 30 or 40 pages less in the middle and more at the end would have felt more satisfying.
I won't post any spoilers unless someone wants a specific dsiscussion.
next is The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
I won't post any spoilers unless someone wants a specific dsiscussion.
next is The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
Normally I like the Jack Reacher novels but I picked up "Night School" in a café and found it pretty mundane and not up to the mark.
Next off the pile though is what is turning out to be a most interesting book. "The Hidden Keys" by André Alexis. I won't spoil it, but this is looking to be a most interesting mystery, and I'll write more anon.
Next off the pile though is what is turning out to be a most interesting book. "The Hidden Keys" by André Alexis. I won't spoil it, but this is looking to be a most interesting mystery, and I'll write more anon.
Reservoir 13 Jon McGregor
A teenage girl goes missing over Christmas in a rural community/English village. The narrative follows the activities of the villagers at the time of her disappearance and how their lives develop in the subsequent years. Absorbing with a hypnotic quality to the repetition of the seasonal changes. Not a light read but hard to put down.
A teenage girl goes missing over Christmas in a rural community/English village. The narrative follows the activities of the villagers at the time of her disappearance and how their lives develop in the subsequent years. Absorbing with a hypnotic quality to the repetition of the seasonal changes. Not a light read but hard to put down.
Nom de ploom said:
Finished Children of Time last night and I found the ending dissapointing and rushed and felt like it was from a different book. 30 or 40 pages less in the middle and more at the end would have felt more satisfying.
I won't post any spoilers unless someone wants a specific dsiscussion.
next is The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
Yes completely agree, still a good read but a little too much in the middle esp on the ship I won't post any spoilers unless someone wants a specific dsiscussion.
next is The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
Janluke said:
Nom de ploom said:
Finished Children of Time last night and I found the ending dissapointing and rushed and felt like it was from a different book. 30 or 40 pages less in the middle and more at the end would have felt more satisfying.
I won't post any spoilers unless someone wants a specific dsiscussion.
next is The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
Yes completely agree, still a good read but a little too much in the middle esp on the ship I won't post any spoilers unless someone wants a specific dsiscussion.
next is The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
and also the somewhat glib glossing over of how the spider technology developed..."by this time the spiders had discovered radio...or astronomy...or chemical weapons" done as a statement rather than as part of the narrative. i did have to keep reminding my self it was sci-fi of course but that doesn't excuse slightly lame story telling.
I think out of interest it could work as a series - I reckon it would lend itself to animation / manga style really well.
Slightly less highbrow but, for me at least, a fascinating read and insight - The Ice Man by Philip Carlo; a bio of the life of Richard Kuklinski, a proper empathy-less psychopathic apex contract killer; based in New York between the fifties and eighties, it drags in some well known members of the five mafia families of the time along with some interesting incidental characters and details most of his 'work', MO and associated activity. :shudder:
Levin said:
Goaty Bill 2 said:
Hah! You've caught me on that one.
I had been searching for a hardback Garnet translation of this (most are 'print on demand' and often don't list the translator).
You've reminded me that I needed this, so I've expanded my search parameters and located one.
Thanks for the reminder
I'm not familiar with Randall's work, but I have always found the Garnet translations to be in a style most consistent with the times in which they were written. No doubt because it would have seemed more natural to her than for someone translating the work 50 years later on.
I'm sorry to say, I never actually got a chance to read it when I had my copy. With a library deadline a matter of days away and the release of the game 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance' (which, by the way, is fantastic) I acknowledged it wasn't going to be read and enjoyed in the way Dostoyevsky probably deserves. The Garnett translation translation proves more interesting because of the stellar reputation with which her translations of Dostoyevsky have garnered.I had been searching for a hardback Garnet translation of this (most are 'print on demand' and often don't list the translator).
You've reminded me that I needed this, so I've expanded my search parameters and located one.
Thanks for the reminder
I'm not familiar with Randall's work, but I have always found the Garnet translations to be in a style most consistent with the times in which they were written. No doubt because it would have seemed more natural to her than for someone translating the work 50 years later on.
My last read was 'Down and Out in Paris and London', by George Orwell. It is both thoughtful and thought-provoking, portraying the misery of impoverished life with admirable empathy. I shall have to read 'Homage to Catalonia' soon, but a brief glance through Google Images suggests it has never been published with a cover matching the other Orwell I own.
<pics snipped>
All excellent covers, in my opinion, and typically extremely affordable editions too. I paid £3.99 for 'Down and Out' and had a few hours of enjoyment reading it. Next up is a charity shop find bought on the strength of its name, 'Stasi Wolf' by David Young. The second East Germany crops up, my interest spikes. Speaking of seconds, it appears this is the second book in a series whose first title I have not read. Somewhat disappointing to discover, but the introduction implies it should be readable without prior knowledge of the story.
But fully removing from the packaging
this absolutely lovely, as new boxed double volume 10 3/4" x 7 3/4" 'Notes From Underground' & 'The Gambler'.
Stunning value at £13.61 book price.
If only more like this were available.
Edited by Goaty Bill 2 on Tuesday 6th March 14:19
irememberyou said:
Reservoir 13 Jon McGregor
A teenage girl goes missing over Christmas in a rural community/English village. The narrative follows the activities of the villagers at the time of her disappearance and how their lives develop in the subsequent years. Absorbing with a hypnotic quality to the repetition of the seasonal changes. Not a light read but hard to put down.
Agree completely....I read this a few months ago, certainly a book that stands out. McGregor's ability to describe the village in terms of nature, people and day to day life was great.A teenage girl goes missing over Christmas in a rural community/English village. The narrative follows the activities of the villagers at the time of her disappearance and how their lives develop in the subsequent years. Absorbing with a hypnotic quality to the repetition of the seasonal changes. Not a light read but hard to put down.
Recently finished - "A Gift of Time" by Jerry Merrit, a decent time travelling / sci-fi story. Well worth a read if this is your thing 4/5
Just started - "Gray" by Lou Cadle, I enjoy a post major-catastrophic event tale of survival as much as the next person and this one is proving to be very enjoyable so far. Just hope it keeps up the promising start.
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