Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Legend83 said:
I am a very slow reader so have just finished The Shadow of the Wind.
A simply wonderful book.
Now onto Postcards by Annie Proulx.
I hope you enjoyed it . I adore Annie Proulx's work , she is such a stylish and insightful writer , and not afraid to deploy unusual language and usageA simply wonderful book.
Now onto Postcards by Annie Proulx.
When you have finished with Annie, can I recommend the man who I think is the USA's finest living writer, Richard Ford? Start with The Sportswriter and take it from there ...
'Nietzsche and the Nazis' by Stephen Hicks
Some interesting viewpoints on National Socialism from the early days through the time of Hitler and some interesting views/insights on Nietzschean philosophy particularly as it related to the National Socialists, Hitler and his cronies.
Thoroughly appreciated Hicks' very detailed, clear and logically ordered arguments and writing style.
Some interesting viewpoints on National Socialism from the early days through the time of Hitler and some interesting views/insights on Nietzschean philosophy particularly as it related to the National Socialists, Hitler and his cronies.
Thoroughly appreciated Hicks' very detailed, clear and logically ordered arguments and writing style.
coppice said:
Legend83 said:
I am a very slow reader so have just finished The Shadow of the Wind.
A simply wonderful book.
Now onto Postcards by Annie Proulx.
I hope you enjoyed it . I adore Annie Proulx's work , she is such a stylish and insightful writer , and not afraid to deploy unusual language and usageA simply wonderful book.
Now onto Postcards by Annie Proulx.
When you have finished with Annie, can I recommend the man who I think is the USA's finest living writer, Richard Ford? Start with The Sportswriter and take it from there ...
droopsnoot said:
FunkyNige said:
and it's taking me ages to actually finish a book these days!
I take that as an indication of how much I'm enjoying the book. I am getting through the new Michael Connolly book much more quickly than I got through "Beneath the lake", another recent read - that one just didn't draw me back to it. However a poor one or one that Meh really drags. Take the one I’m on currently it’s a bit meh so far - especially the trippy sections so this 500 pager has taken me 2 months and counting im barely 25% through. That’s not speed of reading it it’s instead the fact I’m not wanting or thinking about picking it up.
I should park it / down the charity shop but I’ve never given up on a book
'Go Set a Watchman' by Harper Lee
Almost forgot to add this (changing / re-configuring PCs all week and not checked in here)
I finally got around to reading this between Turgenev and Hicks.
'To Kill a Mockingbird' it is not, in my humble opinion, and I felt like giving Scout a smack upside the head throughout most of it however;
Though it drags somewhat throughout the first half as it sets the scene, without managing quite the same all encompassing atmospheric result of TKaMB, the penultimate exchange between Scout and her uncle is worth the wait, as is her final (in the book at least) conversation with Aticus.
Growing up can, as compared to simply reaching adulthood, be painful...
Seeing your heroes for who and what they truly are... read the book
Almost forgot to add this (changing / re-configuring PCs all week and not checked in here)
I finally got around to reading this between Turgenev and Hicks.
'To Kill a Mockingbird' it is not, in my humble opinion, and I felt like giving Scout a smack upside the head throughout most of it however;
Though it drags somewhat throughout the first half as it sets the scene, without managing quite the same all encompassing atmospheric result of TKaMB, the penultimate exchange between Scout and her uncle is worth the wait, as is her final (in the book at least) conversation with Aticus.
Growing up can, as compared to simply reaching adulthood, be painful...
Seeing your heroes for who and what they truly are... read the book
MC Bodge said:
The Fight by Norman Mailer.
An account of the build up and the Rumble in The Jungle fight between Foreman and Ali, by someone who had a lot of access to Ali and his entourage.
Very interesting. As we know, Ali was quite a character.
Mailer was quite a character as well!An account of the build up and the Rumble in The Jungle fight between Foreman and Ali, by someone who had a lot of access to Ali and his entourage.
Very interesting. As we know, Ali was quite a character.
200Plus Club said:
Just bought "The Train Was on Time" by Heinrich Böll, having heard it discussed on the radio in the week as a book club recommendation. Wife loves anything like that so she gets first dibs.
Will be interested to hear what you think. I first came across Böll as a German A-Level text way back in the mists of time, that was "Die Verlorener Ehre der Katarina Blum" - The Lost Honour of Katarina Blum. If you like "The Train Was On Time", then that's another one I'd recommend.ElectricSoup said:
200Plus Club said:
Just bought "The Train Was on Time" by Heinrich Böll, having heard it discussed on the radio in the week as a book club recommendation. Wife loves anything like that so she gets first dibs.
Will be interested to hear what you think. I first came across Böll as a German A-Level text way back in the mists of time, that was "Die Verlorener Ehre der Katarina Blum" - The Lost Honour of Katarina Blum. If you like "The Train Was On Time", then that's another one I'd recommend.
I can't remember a book which has moved me from a moment of sadness to a real laugh out loud moment.
I think it is important that you are a man of the world to appreciate the moments of humour, especially when the gynacologist explains some of the action that goes on down under, but this book is a brilliant read.
All procedures explained . Don't try this at home kids.
My book was an Oxfam special at £2.49 but new copies are pence more.
A brilliant read. Utterly total entertainment and I appreciate the NHS far more than I realised.
This note written when 75% through reading. More can only be a bonus.
Yes, Adam Kay.
He mentions his speaking tours as an appendix to the paperback - a night being entertained by him is surely a step into the unknown, well it would be to a naive bloke like me that stepped out of the delivery room just before the pushing and grunting started for my son's arrival.
Just finished it and the book ends predictably. ( no spoiler ) but the outcome seemed obvious.
I once went out with a midwife, and discovered as he says in the book "....you don't negotiate with a terrorist."
He mentions his speaking tours as an appendix to the paperback - a night being entertained by him is surely a step into the unknown, well it would be to a naive bloke like me that stepped out of the delivery room just before the pushing and grunting started for my son's arrival.
Just finished it and the book ends predictably. ( no spoiler ) but the outcome seemed obvious.
I once went out with a midwife, and discovered as he says in the book "....you don't negotiate with a terrorist."
BryanC said:
I can't remember a book which has moved me from a moment of sadness to a real laugh out loud moment.
I think it is important that you are a man of the world to appreciate the moments of humour, especially when the gynacologist explains some of the action that goes on down under, but this book is a brilliant read.
All procedures explained . Don't try this at home kids.
My book was an Oxfam special at £2.49 but new copies are pence more.
A brilliant read. Utterly total entertainment and I appreciate the NHS far more than I realised.
This note written when 75% through reading. More can only be a bonus.
Laurel Green said:
droopsnoot said:
I've just finished "The Night Fire", the latest Michael Connolly book, which was very good, as they all are. Merged Bosch and Ballard into the same novel, with a bit of Mickey Haller thrown in.
*Rubs hands together* as have it in my to-read pile.'Keep the Aspidistra Flying' by George Orwell
This reads like a Dostoevsky, in many ways reminiscent of 'Crime and Punishment', but without a murder (apologies as that may be considered by some to be something of a spoiler as one could be forgiven for anticipating a murder in this).
Our nihilistic character's inevitable downward slide towards inevitable disaster, yet much of it clearly auto-biographical, with (I would say) snippets of 'Down and Out in Paris and London' sprinkled in and strong hints of Orwell's early life and politics/beliefs.
Throughout there is Orwell's dry humour and cynical take on 'modern' life in the 1930s.
A very enjoyable read, and a classic Orwell; as always leaving us a few ideas to consider.
This reads like a Dostoevsky, in many ways reminiscent of 'Crime and Punishment', but without a murder (apologies as that may be considered by some to be something of a spoiler as one could be forgiven for anticipating a murder in this).
Our nihilistic character's inevitable downward slide towards inevitable disaster, yet much of it clearly auto-biographical, with (I would say) snippets of 'Down and Out in Paris and London' sprinkled in and strong hints of Orwell's early life and politics/beliefs.
Throughout there is Orwell's dry humour and cynical take on 'modern' life in the 1930s.
A very enjoyable read, and a classic Orwell; as always leaving us a few ideas to consider.
Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff