Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Legend83 said:
Just finished The Dry by Jane Harper - a cracking little page-turner! Set in droughty Australia, a murder investigation into a the brutal killing of a family. Plenty of twists and turns and a satisfying ending.
I'll second that, I read it on summer holiday this year. Having been to Oz for the first time last year, I really enjoyed it, very evocative of the place I thought, particularly given the ongoing real world drought conditions.Goaty Bill 2 said:
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
The Chinese approach to people has always been a numbers game - individuals don't and never have counted.In that regard, Mao was no different to Kai Shek or to any of the dynastic emperors of history.
...except that he CLAIMED to have the best interests of the people at heart. That to me is the irredeemable, unforgivable hypocrisy at the heart of most socialist movements - the claim is an utter lie told by people who "know what's best for others" (sic), before then proceeding to (ab)use their power to elevate themselves well above all others. I don't think Corbyn, Abbott or McDonnell are any different there.
Anyway, back to books. Probably belongs in the sci-fi thread, but I've been binging on Charles Stross' Laundry Files series recently - having a much-needed catch-up. As dryly amusing and creative as ever, with a darker edge creeping in. Oh, and some quality music references...
havoc said:
Anyway, back to books. Probably belongs in the sci-fi thread, but I've been binging on Charles Stross' Laundry Files series recently - having a much-needed catch-up. As dryly amusing and creative as ever, with a darker edge creeping in. Oh, and some quality music references...
I read "The Bloodline Feud" a year or so ago, and quite enjoyed it even though it's not "my kind of thing". Goaty Bill 2 said:
'MAO The Unknown Story' by Jung Chang & Jon Halliday
One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
Super book, I read it ages ago after reading Wild Swans by Chang [£25 was a big investment at the time!] - one I’d also wholeheartedly recommend, even if it doesn’t sound too interesting [biographical story of three generations of women in China...] but it was gripping and engrossing in equal measure while presenting the situations accurately and humanely. Deservedly a best seller and banned in China for the potential rewriting of rewritten history.One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
Edited by Goaty Bill 2 on Saturday 7th September 09:44
Got this recently
and yes, I am reading the text as well as looking at the photos. As a keen photographer and fan of people such as Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton, I find the line between pron and eroticism fascinating.
It's interesting to see how the various contributors to this edition define their own viewpoints through the camera lens, and whilst there's a lot of good photography on show here, I'm surprised how little of it seems, to me anyway, 'erotic', perhaps I'm getting jaded in my old age.
and yes, I am reading the text as well as looking at the photos. As a keen photographer and fan of people such as Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton, I find the line between pron and eroticism fascinating.
It's interesting to see how the various contributors to this edition define their own viewpoints through the camera lens, and whilst there's a lot of good photography on show here, I'm surprised how little of it seems, to me anyway, 'erotic', perhaps I'm getting jaded in my old age.
andy_s said:
Goaty Bill 2 said:
'MAO The Unknown Story' by Jung Chang & Jon Halliday
One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
Super book, I read it ages ago after reading Wild Swans by Chang [£25 was a big investment at the time!] - one I’d also wholeheartedly recommend, even if it doesn’t sound too interesting [biographical story of three generations of women in China...] but it was gripping and engrossing in equal measure while presenting the situations accurately and humanely. Deservedly a best seller and banned in China for the potential rewriting of rewritten history.One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
Edited by Goaty Bill 2 on Saturday 7th September 09:44
I tried to give my copy of Wild Swans to a Chinese chappie I’d crossed paths with who seemed strangely unaware of Jung Chang, he was a university electronics lecturer, he ran a mile just shouting “no no no” when he saw it
I've just finished "Humans, Bow Down" by James Patterson and Emily Raymond. It's not my usual kind of thing, being set in a time when robots have basically taken over, human-robot crosses are the next level "down", with the few remaining humans being tolerated, for a time at least. I guess it's not a bad story if you like that kind of thing, but it's not really for me - humans plot to overthrow the robots, some robots develop a conscience and change sides to help, that kind of stuff.
I usually quite like James Patterson stuff, when he sticks to normal crime-related stuff, the Alex Cross series is good, and I've been enjoying the Michael Bennett series too. He gets a lot of criticism on here, but normally I wouldn't agree. However, I really didn't like this one, in a way it seemed like a very simplistic, predictable story line. I don't know whether all sci-fi humans / robots / android stuff is like this, I don't read much of it. Maybe it's out of my comfort zone, but I read that Charles Stross one that I mentioned earlier, and that was pretty good. But this isn't a book I'd lend someone if I wanted to show how good Mr P is.
And, it's illustrated. I couldn't believe it - every few pages, there's a grey-scale drawing, much like those that you'd find in a comic book. You could presume that needing pictures suggests that the writer isn't doing a good enough job of describing the story and the setting, but the drawings are so simple that they don't actually add anything, other than taking up a bit of space.
So, this one's not for me, even if I do still like some of his more mainstream books.
I usually quite like James Patterson stuff, when he sticks to normal crime-related stuff, the Alex Cross series is good, and I've been enjoying the Michael Bennett series too. He gets a lot of criticism on here, but normally I wouldn't agree. However, I really didn't like this one, in a way it seemed like a very simplistic, predictable story line. I don't know whether all sci-fi humans / robots / android stuff is like this, I don't read much of it. Maybe it's out of my comfort zone, but I read that Charles Stross one that I mentioned earlier, and that was pretty good. But this isn't a book I'd lend someone if I wanted to show how good Mr P is.
And, it's illustrated. I couldn't believe it - every few pages, there's a grey-scale drawing, much like those that you'd find in a comic book. You could presume that needing pictures suggests that the writer isn't doing a good enough job of describing the story and the setting, but the drawings are so simple that they don't actually add anything, other than taking up a bit of space.
So, this one's not for me, even if I do still like some of his more mainstream books.
An interesting and very different plot in this novel. It is all about six people being kidnapped, and the why and wherefore they were kidnapped. There are twists and turns, and the only thing against it is that you are left wondering about one particular thing, and the last few words of the novel are "Hello Charlie, this is Louise". So, here we go again, don't buy this one if you don't want to buy the next. I liked it though, I have to say.
Goaty Bill 2 said:
'MAO The Unknown Story' by Jung Chang & Jon Halliday
One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
Reading this at the moment.One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
Edited by Goaty Bill 2 on Saturday 7th September 09:44
Eye opening to say the least.
Goaty Bill 2 said:
'MAO The Unknown Story' by Jung Chang & Jon Halliday
One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
Like Dianne Abbott?One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB4o5n2EGyA
Or John McDonnell?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjH-DUaACM
Beggars belief
A Splendid Savage: The Restless Life of Frederick Russell Burnham.
Frontiersman and military scout in the US and Africa, decorated by the UK government, mining prospector in various places, inspiration to Baden-Powell etc.
I'm only half way through it, but what a life the man had. Some of it a little out of touch with modern views, of course.
I'm very surprised that I'd never heard of him until recently.
Frontiersman and military scout in the US and Africa, decorated by the UK government, mining prospector in various places, inspiration to Baden-Powell etc.
I'm only half way through it, but what a life the man had. Some of it a little out of touch with modern views, of course.
I'm very surprised that I'd never heard of him until recently.
Just finished Dr Graham Easton's The Appointment (What your GP is really thinking during your 10 minute consultation)
He takes you through a step by step morning surgery, using real patient cases, with permission obviously, or if that permission not available then invented consultations which are based on real cases. There is a lot of background stuff around the medical details and it is extremely illuminating about some very normal issues, so no House M.D. cases that are seen once in a decade, it's all everyday stuff.
He makes it interesting, deals with the acronyms, NFN - Normal for Norfolk, FLK - Funny Looking Kid, no longer used due to patient record access, but also explains some other genuine acronyms and explains the limitations as to how a GP interprets another colleague's shorthand explanation of a physical examination, have they considered everything that I would, in their diagnosis did they check for x just to be sure and eliminate it or did they assume.
The general theme is obviously 10 minutes is not sufficient, but it does make the reader aware of some things they do that grinds the GP's gears, including what he calls the hand on knob consultation.
Recently started "Reacher Said Nothing". No it's not a Jack Reacher novel, but a meta Reacher book, where the author Andy Martin shadowed Lee Child while he was writing Make Me the 20th Reacher novel. If you've not read Make Me, better to do that first as there are obviously lots of spoilers.
He takes you through a step by step morning surgery, using real patient cases, with permission obviously, or if that permission not available then invented consultations which are based on real cases. There is a lot of background stuff around the medical details and it is extremely illuminating about some very normal issues, so no House M.D. cases that are seen once in a decade, it's all everyday stuff.
He makes it interesting, deals with the acronyms, NFN - Normal for Norfolk, FLK - Funny Looking Kid, no longer used due to patient record access, but also explains some other genuine acronyms and explains the limitations as to how a GP interprets another colleague's shorthand explanation of a physical examination, have they considered everything that I would, in their diagnosis did they check for x just to be sure and eliminate it or did they assume.
The general theme is obviously 10 minutes is not sufficient, but it does make the reader aware of some things they do that grinds the GP's gears, including what he calls the hand on knob consultation.
Recently started "Reacher Said Nothing". No it's not a Jack Reacher novel, but a meta Reacher book, where the author Andy Martin shadowed Lee Child while he was writing Make Me the 20th Reacher novel. If you've not read Make Me, better to do that first as there are obviously lots of spoilers.
Just finished "lips unsealed", the autobiography of Belinda Carlisle. A very frank memoir of her fight with drug and alchohol addiction. It's a really good read, and it is incredible that she is still with us and still performing at the age of 61. We saw her in concert at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow last Sunday. Fantastic performance, full of energy and as good as ever!
RC1807 said:
Just read Peter Crouch's "How to be a footballer".
Even though I'm not madly into footie, it was quite amusing. More than a few chuckles aloud.
I enjoyed this myself. Great sense of humour. You'll be pleased to learn the sequel, 'I, Robot. How to be a Footballer 2' is out on the 17th October.Even though I'm not madly into footie, it was quite amusing. More than a few chuckles aloud.
Some good Autobiographies coming up in the next few weeks. Demi Moores came out a few days ago so have just put that on my kindle, but greatly looking forward to Andrew Rigely's next week. I'm about as far removed from a Wham fan as you can get but I suspect it will be very interesting to see how one of the 80's biggest sex symbols hid his sexuality and if he hid it from his best friend too.
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