Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
An interesting idea, let down at the start by some unimportant but irritating physics errors (note to author - if you're going to write a techno-details book about rocket science, have it proof read by some rocket scientists) and then let down at the end by a structure of
Part 1 - establish background and develop some interesting characters
Part 2 - put characters in jeopardy, display erudite knowledge of historical events
Part 3 - form the outline of a plot climax
Part 4 - give up on the hard part of resolving everything and skip straight to the epilogue where it is sunny and time for tea and biscuits and everything is lovely
Readable because Harris is a good crafter of prose, but not a book I would rush to recommend unless you just want something light and simple. Most illuminating part (if true) was just how deeply plugged in to the nazi setup Wernher von Braun was.
Newc said:
Most illuminating part (if true) was just how deeply plugged in to the nazi setup Wernher von Braun was.Just finished Christopher Dickey’s memoir “Summer of Deliverance”. I was moved to buy it after Dickey died in July. It was written in 1998 after Chris’s father, the poet James Dickey, had died.
Although he was poet laureate of the USA and one of the best known American poets of the late 20th Century, James Dickey was best known for writing “Deliverance“ and the movie screenplay of the book. He was also a self destructive drunk.
The book is a great exploration of a relationship between a father and a son, both writers, who for much of the 20 years after the death of Chris’s mother (also an alcoholic) had little to do with each other. They were reunited for two years as James Dickey was dying. It is beautifully written and very poignant. It is also fascinating for anyone interested in “Deliverance” as Chris spent the entire summer of 1971 on set in Georgia and the making of the movie is covered in depth. Things did not go smoothly.....
Although he was poet laureate of the USA and one of the best known American poets of the late 20th Century, James Dickey was best known for writing “Deliverance“ and the movie screenplay of the book. He was also a self destructive drunk.
The book is a great exploration of a relationship between a father and a son, both writers, who for much of the 20 years after the death of Chris’s mother (also an alcoholic) had little to do with each other. They were reunited for two years as James Dickey was dying. It is beautifully written and very poignant. It is also fascinating for anyone interested in “Deliverance” as Chris spent the entire summer of 1971 on set in Georgia and the making of the movie is covered in depth. Things did not go smoothly.....
It must me all of 25 years since I read Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and I enjoyed it to the last world. I had visited Kefalonia at the beginning of the 1970s, and like all the isles it changed so much - for the worse I found. No longer peaceful fishing villages with a little bar, but hotels and discos and drunken behaviour had overwhelmed the charm I remembered. Then, later on, I saw the film with Nicolas Cage, and was appalled at the way they had massacred the book.
A short while ago someone gave me the audio book of the same, and I put it on one side, never having taken to this form of entertainment. But last week I rediscovered it, and put it in the car. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and, to contradict the old saying, you can teach old dogs new tricks. I shall now be buying more of the same genre.
In the meantime, I have half finished Tales of Mystery and Imagination, and this time the old saying is, for me true; one should never go back. My memories of the book are far more vivid than the prose I am rediscovering. Sad really.
A short while ago someone gave me the audio book of the same, and I put it on one side, never having taken to this form of entertainment. But last week I rediscovered it, and put it in the car. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and, to contradict the old saying, you can teach old dogs new tricks. I shall now be buying more of the same genre.
In the meantime, I have half finished Tales of Mystery and Imagination, and this time the old saying is, for me true; one should never go back. My memories of the book are far more vivid than the prose I am rediscovering. Sad really.
Capt Corelli was a delightful book , which I enjoyed from the opening paragraphs. A bit like Richard Adams though , in that I found the author's other stuff dire . On Adams , BTW , it seemed to me that everybody bought and read Watership Down , and everybody bought Shardik too, but nobody got past page 25..
MC Bodge said:
tight fart said:
K12beano said:
Having a re-read:
I know it’s going to be quite a treat.... like finding an old friend. Just 5 chapters in so far.
Thanks for that, I would never have picked that up, not my kind of book.I know it’s going to be quite a treat.... like finding an old friend. Just 5 chapters in so far.
Thoroughly enjoyable read.
Wouldn’t it make a great tv Netflix series!
Barcelona seemed like a bright, sunny place when I went there.
It was certainly dramatic/gothic, I enjoyed the period setting and it was initially something of a "page turner", but I found myself not caring that much about some of the characters and their very long-term obsessions by the end.
Maybe it lost something in translation? There were some odd turns of anglicised phrase.
coppice said:
Capt Corelli was a delightful book , which I enjoyed from the opening paragraphs. A bit like Richard Adams though , in that I found the author's other stuff dire . On Adams , BTW , it seemed to me that everybody bought and read Watership Down , and everybody bought Shardik too, but nobody got past page 25..
Well, own up everyone? Most of us I guess have at some time attempted to read A brief History of Time. I got to page 81 I think, read it four times, put the book down, kept coming back to it but never got to page 82. I am just unable to take it in. Sad really, because my daughter is a great friend of his daughter and I was taken to the house to meet him once.coppice said:
Capt Corelli was a delightful book , which I enjoyed from the opening paragraphs. A bit like Richard Adams though , in that I found the author's other stuff dire . ..
I am the exact opposite, I read Captain Corelli's Mandolin a few years ago, and while I found it OK, I wasn't really inspired.Roll forward a few years and I picked up "Notwithstanding". I absolutely loved it and since then I've read more of his stuff. Enjoyed his earlier Latin Trilogy, a bit more juvenille and Tom Sharpesque but a good few belly laughs although was left drained and in despair of the human race by the end. My favourite of his ( and probably favourite book altogether from the last few years ) is "Birds Without Wings", a totally thought provoking but enjoyable experience.
I've recently finished "The Fifth Gospel" by Ian Caldwell. Set in Vatican City a scholar discovers a secret related to the Turin Shroud, and various bad things happen because of it. Enjoyable, a different kind of thing to my usual stuff.
After that I read "Blood Hunters" by Steve Voake. I hadn't realised early on that this is actually aimed at the younger reader, but it does become clearer as you go. Scientist brings back something from a sink-hole in Mexico and regrets it.
After that I read "Blood Hunters" by Steve Voake. I hadn't realised early on that this is actually aimed at the younger reader, but it does become clearer as you go. Scientist brings back something from a sink-hole in Mexico and regrets it.
K12beano said:
Ruskie said:
The Secret Barrister currently. I’m struggling a bit with it TBH.
Really?I read it not long after Adam Kay’s “This is Going to Hurt”
It was as depressing and hilarious in equal measure! And just as informative I thought.
If you can, I think it’s worth sticking with it. (But I can understand if it’s not your cup of tea)
The Secret Barrister isn't as amusing, but it is very interesting and concerning.
I'm about half way through. I wouldn't say it was a tough read.
Mezzanine said:
Just finished this:
His first grown up thriller after a run of YA fiction. Enjoyed it, was very pacy with short chapters. Solid ‘supermarket’ fiction which would go down well as a beach/holiday read without expecting too much depth.
Would certainly pick up whatever he writes next.
I picked this up in Asda! Might give it a go. His first grown up thriller after a run of YA fiction. Enjoyed it, was very pacy with short chapters. Solid ‘supermarket’ fiction which would go down well as a beach/holiday read without expecting too much depth.
Would certainly pick up whatever he writes next.
yoshisdad said:
Just finished ' Thus Spake David E.'
Didn't really know what to expect but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Excellent- I have written a couple of reviews of this book and remain convinced that D E D was right up there with Russell Bulgin and Setright in the pantheon of great motoring journalism . Didn't really know what to expect but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
coppice said:
Excellent- I have written a couple of reviews of this book and remain convinced that D E D was right up there with Russell Bulgin and Setright in the pantheon of great motoring journalism .
I'm pretty ignorant of American car magazine writers, but I found his book to be one of the best I have read. It was full of characters I have heard of-Lee Iacocca, John Delorean and , by far the best for me, Rene Dreyfus. Driving old Ferraris (when they were new) and appearing to enjoy every single second of his career. A book I will miss reading, now I have finished it!
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