Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Mezzanine said:
Wow, that’s a lot of books!
I couldn’t have that on my bookshelf like that, it would really make my teeth itch.
Were they released as the box set or was it a case that they published a few without the long-term vision and thus didn’t format it to look neat?
I saw an old set ['70s] of 40 in an antique shop but when I went back to buy them they'd gone, I had a look online and saw Penguin released this as a set of 80 books for their 80th anniversary - but I think they do them individually [for a quid each], or most at least, so not printed in a uniform run. I probably won't read them all but as they are so short [chapters in effect] I thought it'd be good to either get a taste of bigger work or at least read something from the likes of Marco Polo or Dante without fully committing.I couldn’t have that on my bookshelf like that, it would really make my teeth itch.
Were they released as the box set or was it a case that they published a few without the long-term vision and thus didn’t format it to look neat?
After listening to the Jordan Peterson Podcast...
A prison doctor's account. Bought his other books as well.
Matthew McConaughey's autobiography
Got a lot more on my reading list including stuff from Michael Malice, Yeonmi Park, Ian McGilchrist, Bjorn Lomborg etc.
Too many books, not enough time!
A prison doctor's account. Bought his other books as well.
Matthew McConaughey's autobiography
Got a lot more on my reading list including stuff from Michael Malice, Yeonmi Park, Ian McGilchrist, Bjorn Lomborg etc.
Too many books, not enough time!
Humankind: A Hopeful History, Rutger Bregman
I've not finished it yet, but finding it fascinating. Not my type of book at all, normally sci-fi and detective/action fiction.
The way he sways from one position to another keeps me guessing and wondering; I guess some may be annoyed or frustrated by this style. For me it's illuminating.
I've not finished it yet, but finding it fascinating. Not my type of book at all, normally sci-fi and detective/action fiction.
The way he sways from one position to another keeps me guessing and wondering; I guess some may be annoyed or frustrated by this style. For me it's illuminating.
The Places In-between by Rory Stewart
Former soldier, diplomat,founder and CEO of an NGO, MP, Conservative party leadership candidate, historian and adventurer among other things. This funny looking little man is a hero in the real sense. This book is the story of a solo walk he made through the central Afghanistan mountains in the early 2000s. Meeting and living with heavily armed and suspicious former (and current)Taliban, Al Qaeda and bandits along the way.
A quiet, unassuming soul, he just keeps his head down and gets on with stuff. Reading this book, it's a real pity he didn't beat Boris in the Tory leadership battle. I'd have voted for him.
Former soldier, diplomat,founder and CEO of an NGO, MP, Conservative party leadership candidate, historian and adventurer among other things. This funny looking little man is a hero in the real sense. This book is the story of a solo walk he made through the central Afghanistan mountains in the early 2000s. Meeting and living with heavily armed and suspicious former (and current)Taliban, Al Qaeda and bandits along the way.
A quiet, unassuming soul, he just keeps his head down and gets on with stuff. Reading this book, it's a real pity he didn't beat Boris in the Tory leadership battle. I'd have voted for him.
Just finished C S Forester "The Ship." Written in 1943, brilliantly researched, it covers a single afternoon for HMS Artemis and crew, a Royal Navy light cruiser part of the protection for a vital convoy heading for Malta and a single engagement with an Italian Navy battleship group.
I'm in a full on Adrian Tchaikovsky binge. I read Dogs of War and the sequel after seeing them mentioned on here. They were pretty good but not stunning. Then I read Cage of Souls and I was totally sold on him. Children of Time, Children of Ruin, Doors of Eden all also excellent. Short stuff, also great - Made Things and Walking to Aldebaren both fun. Not normally a big fantasy fan but just finished Spiderlight and enjoyed it very much. I might launch into one of his big multi book series next.
Desiderata said:
The Places In-between by Rory Stewart
Former soldier, diplomat,founder and CEO of an NGO, MP, Conservative party leadership candidate, historian and adventurer among other things. This funny looking little man is a hero in the real sense. This book is the story of a solo walk he made through the central Afghanistan mountains in the early 2000s. Meeting and living with heavily armed and suspicious former (and current)Taliban, Al Qaeda and bandits along the way.
A quiet, unassuming soul, he just keeps his head down and gets on with stuff. Reading this book, it's a real pity he didn't beat Boris in the Tory leadership battle. I'd have voted for him.
Utterly brilliant - and what a Renaissance Man Mr Stewart is . Former soldier, diplomat,founder and CEO of an NGO, MP, Conservative party leadership candidate, historian and adventurer among other things. This funny looking little man is a hero in the real sense. This book is the story of a solo walk he made through the central Afghanistan mountains in the early 2000s. Meeting and living with heavily armed and suspicious former (and current)Taliban, Al Qaeda and bandits along the way.
A quiet, unassuming soul, he just keeps his head down and gets on with stuff. Reading this book, it's a real pity he didn't beat Boris in the Tory leadership battle. I'd have voted for him.
toasty said:
grumbledoak said:
A further opportunity to have someone beautifully articulate some things you may have thought and others you did not. It will take a second reading to properly digest.
It's not often I give up on a book but when I fundamentally disagree with the author, I lose all patience to continue.
The other argument is, I am too dumb with a limited vocabulary to understand it
.Maybe I need one of those 'summary' books, but I guess the devil is in the detail.
coppice said:
Desiderata said:
The Places In-between by Rory Stewart
Former soldier, diplomat,founder and CEO of an NGO, MP, Conservative party leadership candidate, historian and adventurer among other things. This funny looking little man is a hero in the real sense. This book is the story of a solo walk he made through the central Afghanistan mountains in the early 2000s. Meeting and living with heavily armed and suspicious former (and current)Taliban, Al Qaeda and bandits along the way.
A quiet, unassuming soul, he just keeps his head down and gets on with stuff. Reading this book, it's a real pity he didn't beat Boris in the Tory leadership battle. I'd have voted for him.
Utterly brilliant - and what a Renaissance Man Mr Stewart is . Former soldier, diplomat,founder and CEO of an NGO, MP, Conservative party leadership candidate, historian and adventurer among other things. This funny looking little man is a hero in the real sense. This book is the story of a solo walk he made through the central Afghanistan mountains in the early 2000s. Meeting and living with heavily armed and suspicious former (and current)Taliban, Al Qaeda and bandits along the way.
A quiet, unassuming soul, he just keeps his head down and gets on with stuff. Reading this book, it's a real pity he didn't beat Boris in the Tory leadership battle. I'd have voted for him.
Saw him on Politics Live the other day, he appears to be teaching at Yale at present.
A man of many talents.
I've just finished "The Snowdonia Killings" by Simon McCleave, an enjoyable story set in North Wales, although we do have the cliches of a cop moving from the big city to the country with personal problems, and another cop with a drinking problem. A good enough story, I'll look out for more of his as it turns out there are quite a few.
Interesting thing - the day after I started reading it, I suddenly start seeing posts from the author on Facebook. I didn't buy the book online - I bought it from a car boot sale, I think - and hadn't mentioned it online either. Spooky.
Interesting thing - the day after I started reading it, I suddenly start seeing posts from the author on Facebook. I didn't buy the book online - I bought it from a car boot sale, I think - and hadn't mentioned it online either. Spooky.
hairykrishna said:
I'm in a full on Adrian Tchaikovsky binge. I read Dogs of War and the sequel after seeing them mentioned on here. They were pretty good but not stunning. Then I read Cage of Souls and I was totally sold on him. Children of Time, Children of Ruin, Doors of Eden all also excellent. Short stuff, also great - Made Things and Walking to Aldebaren both fun. Not normally a big fantasy fan but just finished Spiderlight and enjoyed it very much. I might launch into one of his big multi book series next.
spiderlight is one of my favourites-his take of LOTR and great endingp1doc said:
hairykrishna said:
I'm in a full on Adrian Tchaikovsky binge. I read Dogs of War and the sequel after seeing them mentioned on here. They were pretty good but not stunning. Then I read Cage of Souls and I was totally sold on him. Children of Time, Children of Ruin, Doors of Eden all also excellent. Short stuff, also great - Made Things and Walking to Aldebaren both fun. Not normally a big fantasy fan but just finished Spiderlight and enjoyed it very much. I might launch into one of his big multi book series next.
spiderlight is one of my favourites-his take of LOTR and great endingCurrently reading The Expanse series after watching the TV series. Much better. Finished the first one yesterday and went straight on to the second.
RizzoTheRat said:
p1doc said:
hairykrishna said:
I'm in a full on Adrian Tchaikovsky binge. I read Dogs of War and the sequel after seeing them mentioned on here. They were pretty good but not stunning. Then I read Cage of Souls and I was totally sold on him. Children of Time, Children of Ruin, Doors of Eden all also excellent. Short stuff, also great - Made Things and Walking to Aldebaren both fun. Not normally a big fantasy fan but just finished Spiderlight and enjoyed it very much. I might launch into one of his big multi book series next.
spiderlight is one of my favourites-his take of LOTR and great endingCurrently reading The Expanse series after watching the TV series. Much better. Finished the first one yesterday and went straight on to the second.
Apologies for mentioning Kindles. And Amazon. I know. Sue me.
A few more I’ve read over the last couple weeks
One or two oldies!:
Lucifers Hammer. Enjoyed that, good read.
Jaws. I’m 43 and never read it! Didn’t miss much the films better
Fred & Rose (Howard Sounes). Just horrific, but couldn’t put it down. Very good.
Few military books (subs)
Finished Blind Mans Bluff. Superb. Recommended if anyone wants a snippet of subs during the Cold War.
Perked my interest in a couple more:
All Hands Down (USS Scorpion)
Red star Rogue (K-129)
^^^^ both have a bit of a conspiracy feel to them but very good. And both pretty shocking if true.
Kursk Down. That thing was HUGE!!!!!
Next up will be Family of Spies (about John Walker’s spy ring)
Also finally made a start on Bosch, loved the TV Series, enjoying Black Echo so far
One or two oldies!:
Lucifers Hammer. Enjoyed that, good read.
Jaws. I’m 43 and never read it! Didn’t miss much the films better
Fred & Rose (Howard Sounes). Just horrific, but couldn’t put it down. Very good.
Few military books (subs)
Finished Blind Mans Bluff. Superb. Recommended if anyone wants a snippet of subs during the Cold War.
Perked my interest in a couple more:
All Hands Down (USS Scorpion)
Red star Rogue (K-129)
^^^^ both have a bit of a conspiracy feel to them but very good. And both pretty shocking if true.
Kursk Down. That thing was HUGE!!!!!
Next up will be Family of Spies (about John Walker’s spy ring)
Also finally made a start on Bosch, loved the TV Series, enjoying Black Echo so far
FiF said:
Just finished C S Forester "The Ship." Written in 1943, brilliantly researched, it covers a single afternoon for HMS Artemis and crew, a Royal Navy light cruiser part of the protection for a vital convoy heading for Malta and a single engagement with an Italian Navy battleship group.
Thanks for this - picked-up a copy on the basis of your recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it.I found it the kind of economic, literate & focused/crafted writing that sits beautifully along-side, say N. Monserrat's /The Cruel Sea/ ( a favourite author, and book, of many years, previously referenced in thread)
Obvs. I need to read more C.S Forester... & am looking forward to it. Thanks again for the introduction
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