Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Welshbeef said:
Why is no one posting up the book cover any more these days? Surely a Pre requisite plus the book covers are normally very arty snd intriguing.
A fair question, and I can only speak for myself when explaining the lack of linked covers. I am lazy. Words also have a greater shelf-life than pictures; if PistonHeads disappears I’ll lose these posts, and so will everyone else. A picture embedded from Google Images could be gone tomorrow, turning one of the more wordy threads on the forum into a wasteland. Remember when Photobucket turned forums into a desolate wasteland and destroyed older threads?
Back again, on the subject of laziness, as I recall some of my older posts featuring Amazon links. Ultimately not everyone uses Amazon for their book purchases, so I began to doubt if it served any purpose.
That said, now that someone has actually asked for cover art, I’ll make more of an effort to add it, though I’m torn with whether to add it when I start a book, or when I finish it.
In the past few days, I finished ‘Misery’ by Stephen King. He’s a master of menace; Annie Wilkes is a disturbingly human antagonist in a book utterly unlike ’11/22/63’, my only other foray into King. One is a sprawling tale set across years and states, the other is a tightly plotted story taking place almost entirely within one rural house. I haven’t seen the film but the book is reportedly more twisted anyway, so I don’t really feel that itch to watch it.
I am currently reading ‘Marked for Death: The First War in the Air’, by James Hamilton-Paterson, after discovering how few WWI-era planes still survive. Not a single Fokker Dr.I remains intact despite how recognisable the iconic triplane remains. Only a few Sopwith Camels still exist. At least this way, I might get to know something about the conditions they were used in. More exhaustive works probably exist, but planes are not a great passion of mine so this may be education enough.
I've recently finished The Island, by Victoria Hislop after starting it on the flight home from Crete.
Not really my typical read but as it was set near where we were staying my wife took it, and as I'd finished the books I'd taken - The Rooster Bar, Grisham[i/] (not his best work) - [i]The Battle, Paul O'connell (love POC as a player, but wasn't impressed by his autobiography) and Home by the aforementioned Harlan Coben (story line would have worked better as a standalone IMO) and the film choice was poor I thought I would give it a go.
If it wasn't for the fact I'd visited Plaka & Spinalonga I wouldn't have read it. But, I'm glad I did. For those who don't know about Plaka/Spinalonga, Spinalonga is an old leprosy colony and the story is about how a someone tracks back their family history back to their connections with the Island and village. Really well written book, and I'm glad I did read it. She's unlikely to make my heavy rotation, but I'd pick up another of her books in a waiting room.
To offset this and earn back some man points, I've just bought [i]Sharp Practice: The Real Man's Guide To Shaving[/]
Not really my typical read but as it was set near where we were staying my wife took it, and as I'd finished the books I'd taken - The Rooster Bar, Grisham[i/] (not his best work) - [i]The Battle, Paul O'connell (love POC as a player, but wasn't impressed by his autobiography) and Home by the aforementioned Harlan Coben (story line would have worked better as a standalone IMO) and the film choice was poor I thought I would give it a go.
If it wasn't for the fact I'd visited Plaka & Spinalonga I wouldn't have read it. But, I'm glad I did. For those who don't know about Plaka/Spinalonga, Spinalonga is an old leprosy colony and the story is about how a someone tracks back their family history back to their connections with the Island and village. Really well written book, and I'm glad I did read it. She's unlikely to make my heavy rotation, but I'd pick up another of her books in a waiting room.
To offset this and earn back some man points, I've just bought [i]Sharp Practice: The Real Man's Guide To Shaving[/]
Just finished re-reading "Stalingrad" by Anthony Beevor. Fascinating though depressing so read a couple of Simpsons comic books to cheer myself up. Part way through "Bedlam" by Christopher Brookmyre, which is good fun like everything of his I've read. Went to a talk by him recently, which was hilarious.
Red Platoon by Clinton Romesha.
I'm partial to a true account of war, and this book is a masterpiece. Utterly gripping, brilliantly written.
It details the attack by the Taliban on Command Outpost Keating, and the defence of it by American forces in 2009.
What those troops went through and the brilliance which Romesha conveys it to the reader is nothing short of staggering.
I'm partial to a true account of war, and this book is a masterpiece. Utterly gripping, brilliantly written.
It details the attack by the Taliban on Command Outpost Keating, and the defence of it by American forces in 2009.
What those troops went through and the brilliance which Romesha conveys it to the reader is nothing short of staggering.
Prolex-UK said:
After reading One night in Winter by Simon Sebag Montefiore. I have bought one day in the life of ivan denisovich and the first circle by Solzhenitsyn
Just started one day in the life
Just a heads up; did you get 'The First Circle' or 'In The First Circle'?Just started one day in the life
The original was mis-translated to English as simply 'The First Circle', but my understanding is that it was heavily moderated to make publication in the Soviet Union possible. 'In The First Circle' is Solzhenitsyn's revised and slightly longer edition. Sadly only available in paperback, it appears never to have been published in hardback.
I will confess that I haven't read my copy of the earlier version, but have spoken to people who read the original, and later read the unmoderated / uncensored later edition when it came out. The consensus is that the second is better.
In The First Circle
Both 'One Day' and 'In The First Circle' are excellent reads.
I have finished ‘Marked for Death’ by James Hamilton-Paterson, with its study of aviation during the First World War. Hamilton-Paterson was a novelist and poet; by consequence of this experience ‘Marked for Death’ is a straightforward read despite its complex subject matter.
If there is but one complaint to make, it is towards the judgemental tone adopted by Hamilton-Paterson at times, with the clearest example being the dismissal of modern discussion about the ‘best’ plane of the war, where he concludes it hardly matters given that the average modern enthusiast would not be able to fly a WWI-era plane, nor even fit in it. An unusually personal jab, I thought, and one I can’t fully agree with.
In a war where planes were obsolete within six months of deployment, ‘best’ may not matter to many but for the modern-day aficionados I see no reason such discussion should be curtailed.
Otherwise, an enjoyable read with a few memorable references; in particular the story of an obsolete, poorly-piloted white German plane used for artillery spotting in 1917 and nicknamed the ‘flying pig’ by British aviators.
WWI ace Billy Bishop said:
‘It was considered a point of honour in the squadron that the decrepit old ‘pig’ should not actually be shot down. It was considered fair sport, however, to frighten it… attacking this particular German was always regarded more as a joke than a serious part of warfare.
I found it hard not to have some sympathy for the German airmen caught in this predicament.
I have since started ‘Crash’ by J.G. Ballard (coincidentally, quoted on the cover of Hamilton-Paterson's book). I'd like to write a few words about it, but it is tripe.
Edited by Levin on Tuesday 7th August 10:56
Goaty Bill 2 said:
Prolex-UK said:
After reading One night in Winter by Simon Sebag Montefiore. I have bought one day in the life of ivan denisovich and the first circle by Solzhenitsyn
Just started one day in the life
Just a heads up; did you get 'The First Circle' or 'In The First Circle'?Just started one day in the life
The original was mis-translated to English as simply 'The First Circle', but my understanding is that it was heavily moderated to make publication in the Soviet Union possible. 'In The First Circle' is Solzhenitsyn's revised and slightly longer edition. Sadly only available in paperback, it appears never to have been published in hardback.
I will confess that I haven't read my copy of the earlier version, but have spoken to people who read the original, and later read the unmoderated / uncensored later edition when it came out. The consensus is that the second is better.
In The First Circle
Both 'One Day' and 'In The First Circle' are excellent reads.
Prolex-UK said:
bum - just the first circle.- never mind enjoying one day though
'One Day' is a truly special book, on many levels and for many reasons and, thankfully, quite widely read it turns out.If I recall correctly, the biggest differences between the first and second (revised) editions of 'The First Circle' is that Solzhenitsyn was able to be more openly critical (or more accurately 'more questioning' in conversations between his characters) regarding Russian communism and Stalin in particular. "As I would have written it had I been free to do so at the time" I think sums up how he described the revised edition.
Ivan Denisovich could have told a much harsher story had Solzhenitsyn been free to explore the true depth of the horrors of the gulags, but I think it best that it was left as it was; a classic for all time.
The real grit comes out in 'The Gulag Archipelago' (a bit of a minefield there too when purchasing), but it's not a story, it's a history, including many, many stories.
While I am certain Solzhenitsyn was pleased that the rest of the world so quickly came to appreciate his books, his first goal was always to inform, and record for, the Russian people themselves, hence his willingness to stay within certain limits with some of his earlier works to simply get the books published. The publishing of 'The Gulag Archipelago' in France soon put an end to his relative freedom in the Soviet Union, after which he was forced into exile.
On hols, and have pretty much demolished the first three of David Weber's Safehold Series.
Almost post-humanity sci-fi, set on a world that is the last hope - but locked in almost medieval era technology. Somehow, they've got to become capable of fighting back against the alien species that destroyed the manifold advanced human worlds...
Fairly easy going, nice blend of sci-fi and feudalism and quite gripping at points. Recommended.
Almost post-humanity sci-fi, set on a world that is the last hope - but locked in almost medieval era technology. Somehow, they've got to become capable of fighting back against the alien species that destroyed the manifold advanced human worlds...
Fairly easy going, nice blend of sci-fi and feudalism and quite gripping at points. Recommended.
droopsnoot said:
I've just finished "The Tears of Dark Water" by Corban Addison, a tale of Somali pirates and things. Not a bad book, I was 50/50 on whether it was worth the quid I paid but it turned out OK. I was expecting a bit of a "Captain Phillips"-style thing, but it goes further than that.
Worth the quid ...you may be right , it may be an awful book , but having written a couple myself I can' tell you how depressing it must be for CA's hundreds of hours of work to be dismissed as possibly not even being worth a quid ..! coppice said:
Worth the quid ...you may be right , it may be an awful book , but having written a couple myself I can' tell you how depressing it must be for CA's hundreds of hours of work to be dismissed as possibly not even being worth a quid ..!
Perhaps I phrased that badly. It's very much better than being "awful", but I didn't know that when I was deciding whether to buy it. I have read stuff by much more well-known authors that I wouldn't say were as well-written as that book. "Proper" book reviews have never been my strong point, as you will see in my previous comments. I was 50/50 on it because of the cover description of the story, and I'm much more comfortable reading more run-of-the-mill stuff.But then I generally pick my choice of reading matter from charity shops (which are often a bit pricey IMO) and car boot sales, where there are generally multiple books on the pile before I have to hand over a whole pound.
Edited by droopsnoot on Wednesday 8th August 11:04
Levin said:
I have finished ‘Marked for Death’ by James Hamilton-Paterson, with its study of aviation during the First World War. Hamilton-Paterson was a novelist and poet; by consequence of this experience ‘Marked for Death’ is a straightforward read despite its complex subject matter.
If there is but one complaint to make, it is towards the judgemental tone adopted by Hamilton-Paterson at times, with the clearest example being the dismissal of modern discussion about the ‘best’ plane of the war, where he concludes it hardly matters given that the average modern enthusiast would not be able to fly a WWI-era plane, nor even fit in it. An unusually personal jab, I thought, and one I can’t fully agree with.
In a war where planes were obsolete within six months of deployment, ‘best’ may not matter to many but for the modern-day aficionados I see no reason such discussion should be curtailed.
Otherwise, an enjoyable read with a few memorable references; in particular the story of an obsolete, poorly-piloted white German plane used for artillery spotting in 1917 and nicknamed the ‘flying pig’ by British aviators.
WWI ace Billy Bishop said:
‘It was considered a point of honour in the squadron that the decrepit old ‘pig’ should not actually be shot down. It was considered fair sport, however, to frighten it… attacking this particular German was always regarded more as a joke than a serious part of warfare.
I found it hard not to have some sympathy for the German airmen caught in this predicament.I have since started ‘Crash’ by J.G. Ballard (coincidentally, quoted on the cover of Hamilton-Paterson's book). I'd like to write a few words about it, but it is tripe.
Edited by Levin on Tuesday 7th August 10:56
I finished J.G. Ballard’s ‘Crash’ and cleansed my palate with Stephen King’s ‘Christine’. I really did not care for Ballard’s novel despite the enormous praise it gets. I am in no hurry to revisit Ballard; if I do it will be to read ‘Empire of the Sun’ or ‘The Atrocity Exhibition’, the latter being solely due to Joy Division using the same name for a song.
‘Christine’, however, was great fun. I like King’s long books, and the plot hinging on a car means I was always destined to read it. That isn’t entirely fair - I devoured it. I remember seeing a page numbered 24, then looking down again and seeing 258. Two days later I finished the book by checking how much a Plymouth Fury might cost (quite a lot).
Having read a few books from King, I bought ‘On Writing’ next. Part autobiography and part advice for any hopeful writers, I’m finding it surprisingly enjoyable; high praise when one might expect a style guide to be dry. In part, I own it in case it enhances my own writing, but also to gain some insight into the mind of Stephen King. Following a guide in its entirety could likely neuter any pre-existing style, after all.
At some point in the future I will want to read King’s ‘From a Buick 8’, again due to its reliance upon a car as a plot point.
‘Christine’, however, was great fun. I like King’s long books, and the plot hinging on a car means I was always destined to read it. That isn’t entirely fair - I devoured it. I remember seeing a page numbered 24, then looking down again and seeing 258. Two days later I finished the book by checking how much a Plymouth Fury might cost (quite a lot).
Having read a few books from King, I bought ‘On Writing’ next. Part autobiography and part advice for any hopeful writers, I’m finding it surprisingly enjoyable; high praise when one might expect a style guide to be dry. In part, I own it in case it enhances my own writing, but also to gain some insight into the mind of Stephen King. Following a guide in its entirety could likely neuter any pre-existing style, after all.
At some point in the future I will want to read King’s ‘From a Buick 8’, again due to its reliance upon a car as a plot point.
Prolex-UK said:
Just bought Marked for Death :-)
Prolex-UK said:
50% through One night in Winter by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Excellent read so far. Set just after the end of WW2 in Europe in Russia. the machinations of all involved makes your head spin !
I commend your choices on all counts. You may also enjoy Montefiore's 'Sashenka' at some point in the future, while 'Marked for Death' should be thought provoking. There's an excellent overview of the naming conventions of different aircraft, which I won't spoil for you but will certainly shed some light on any further reading you may do.I've just finished "Careless Love", a Peter Robinson DCI Banks novel. Very good as always, though perhaps the conclusion was a bit too easy. I spent the first half of the book wondering how I'd managed to forget what was obviously a significant change in Banks' personal life, then remembered I was confusing him with Roy Grace from the Peter James novels. Oh well.
Just had a weeks holiday in the sun and read 4 very different books over the week.
1. John LeCarre's 'The Night Manager' . First and probably the last of LeCarre's works for me. It was clearly written with the sole purpose of making a crappy James Bond type Hollywood movie. Entertaining enough in an easy reading trashy novel sort of way, but I'd heard so much about his writing before, really expected something more. I used to read books like this when I was about ten.
2. Mathew Parris's 'A Castle in Spain'. Non-fiction story of his and his family's purchase and restoration of an ancient manor house perched high on a cliff top in rural Catalunya. I'm a real fan of his writing, a combination of passion, beautiful prose ,and thoughtful philosophy. This book didn't disappoint, mixing all of these with a smattering of history and an interesting story. One of these books which had me making notes of other things to look up and read into further.
3. James Robertson's 'The Testament of Gideon Mack'. I'm a fan of Walter Scott's work and this promised to be a modern take on his style.The slightly weird story of an aetheist Scottish country minister's meeting with the devil and the effects it had on him. As it turned out, I found it similar, but closer to the work of James Hogg than Scott but enjoyed it just the same. I'll be looking out for more of his work.
4. Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go'. A distopian tale of kids who've been specially bred/cloned to become organ donors growing up in state run 'orphanages'. The book has all his usual delightful imagery and looks into and inspires great emotion , but upsetting and thought provoking too. A bit harrowing for the beach, but it's not a big book, it was over and done with in an afternoon so I could get on with enjoying cold beers in the sun afterwards.
1. John LeCarre's 'The Night Manager' . First and probably the last of LeCarre's works for me. It was clearly written with the sole purpose of making a crappy James Bond type Hollywood movie. Entertaining enough in an easy reading trashy novel sort of way, but I'd heard so much about his writing before, really expected something more. I used to read books like this when I was about ten.
2. Mathew Parris's 'A Castle in Spain'. Non-fiction story of his and his family's purchase and restoration of an ancient manor house perched high on a cliff top in rural Catalunya. I'm a real fan of his writing, a combination of passion, beautiful prose ,and thoughtful philosophy. This book didn't disappoint, mixing all of these with a smattering of history and an interesting story. One of these books which had me making notes of other things to look up and read into further.
3. James Robertson's 'The Testament of Gideon Mack'. I'm a fan of Walter Scott's work and this promised to be a modern take on his style.The slightly weird story of an aetheist Scottish country minister's meeting with the devil and the effects it had on him. As it turned out, I found it similar, but closer to the work of James Hogg than Scott but enjoyed it just the same. I'll be looking out for more of his work.
4. Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go'. A distopian tale of kids who've been specially bred/cloned to become organ donors growing up in state run 'orphanages'. The book has all his usual delightful imagery and looks into and inspires great emotion , but upsetting and thought provoking too. A bit harrowing for the beach, but it's not a big book, it was over and done with in an afternoon so I could get on with enjoying cold beers in the sun afterwards.
Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff