Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Prolex-UK said:
Welshbeef said:
Has anyone read the trilogy of the handsmaid tail?
I take it you mean tale? Ladies wear red outfits and white head guards in a dystopian world where fertility rates have plummeted so forced breeding is required and if the handmaid refuses she is hung.
Welshbeef said:
Prolex-UK said:
Welshbeef said:
Has anyone read the trilogy of the handsmaid tail?
I take it you mean tale? Ladies wear red outfits and white head guards in a dystopian world where fertility rates have plummeted so forced breeding is required and if the handmaid refuses she is hung.
Just finished Brexitland by Maria Sobolewska which had the remarkable effect of helping me understand why people voted for Brexit even if I don't agree with them. I have now come to the conclusion that it was practically inevitable (but there are going to many very disappointed people around who will never see the sunny climes resulting from it). Not badly written for a relatively heavy subject area. It also helped explain why everyone has turned Conservative.
Also Radical Uncertainty by Mervyn King and John Kay. Agree with the message but the book could have been a 1/3rd the length and the ending was a disappointment (a real lost opportunity). It struck me that this may well be the last book the authors produce. All decision makers and analytical types should read it in my view if only to stop themselves disappearing down analytical rabbit holes.
Am about to start What's wrong with Economics By Robert Skidelsky. Apparently its quite funny.
Aim to follow that up with 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism By Ha-Joon Chang
And then work my way through Dalrymple's histories of India and Afghanistan.
I'll mix that up with Pratchett's Discworld Series which somehow I haven't read at the tender age of fift errrr um 18 (lord knows how I avoided it).
Also Radical Uncertainty by Mervyn King and John Kay. Agree with the message but the book could have been a 1/3rd the length and the ending was a disappointment (a real lost opportunity). It struck me that this may well be the last book the authors produce. All decision makers and analytical types should read it in my view if only to stop themselves disappearing down analytical rabbit holes.
Am about to start What's wrong with Economics By Robert Skidelsky. Apparently its quite funny.
Aim to follow that up with 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism By Ha-Joon Chang
And then work my way through Dalrymple's histories of India and Afghanistan.
I'll mix that up with Pratchett's Discworld Series which somehow I haven't read at the tender age of fift errrr um 18 (lord knows how I avoided it).
Shumboddy said:
It also helped explain why everyone has turned Conservative.
Could you precis that bit, please?...as whilst I'm a LONG way from a Corbynite, the last two years in particular have been a horror-show of blatant corruption and robbing the country blind, yet the mood-music still seems to support elitist liar-in-chief Alexander de Pfeffel and his cronies.
Vuelta skelter by Tim MOORE. Retracing the 1941 Vuelta cycle race.
His adventures are always a good and amusing read; however in this latest book, I am learning quite a lot of Spanish history beyond the Spanish Civil War, which is both interesting and deeply uncomfortable.
Recommended.
His adventures are always a good and amusing read; however in this latest book, I am learning quite a lot of Spanish history beyond the Spanish Civil War, which is both interesting and deeply uncomfortable.
Recommended.
"Cold Dish" by Craig Johnson. this is a detective series of novels, this being the first, and apparently spawned a series called "Longmire" which is shown on TCM. it was one of those books that started slow but finally you can't put down, well written and a good plot. Not in the genre of Connelly or Burke, but based in the hinterland of the USA, around the Indian Reservations, and as you can imagine, rough and tough, pulling no punches. A time-served sheriff, several people seeming shot from long range by a special and very old rifle, and it goes from there. As a country boy I really enjoyed it, and will look for more in the series.
I do not read as much as I used to or would like to as work, family and cooking takes up a sizeable amount of my time.
When I do read, I have the benefit of 1000s of books my dad has amassed over the years, all factual, not one fiction book and multiple perspectives on any period of history I care to choose.
He is very precious about his books, and I only am allowed to take one at a time which once read is replaced with another. So I usually have my next 2 or 3 books lined up ahead of time.
Just started this.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retreat-Kabul-Anglo-Afgha...
Next up will be this, in hardback.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seeds-Change-Plants-Trans...
My dad said Seeds of change is one of the best books he has ever read, which has me reading Retreat from Kabul all the quicker now.
When I do read, I have the benefit of 1000s of books my dad has amassed over the years, all factual, not one fiction book and multiple perspectives on any period of history I care to choose.
He is very precious about his books, and I only am allowed to take one at a time which once read is replaced with another. So I usually have my next 2 or 3 books lined up ahead of time.
Just started this.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retreat-Kabul-Anglo-Afgha...
Next up will be this, in hardback.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seeds-Change-Plants-Trans...
My dad said Seeds of change is one of the best books he has ever read, which has me reading Retreat from Kabul all the quicker now.
Just finished.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yompers-45-Commando-Falkl...
An account by a company commander in 45 Commando of their Falklands experience.
Most of the marines at the sharp end were aged 17 to 23. What a performance. Walking across the islands in winte carrying 120 pounds plus loads then fighting a battle against a well dug in enemy.
He gives credit to all the parts of the task force which made success possible. And pays this tribute to the marines under his command.
"For ever after, I have been keenly conscious that my reputation, indeed my life, rested on the shoulders of teenaged marines, some of whom were not yet 18 years old. They knew their jobs and they did the business. "
This is a great book and bridges the gap between individual biographies and big picture histories. There is enough of the background to set the scene and interesting accounts of how a fes years later it may have been impossible. Many ships would have been scrapped or sold. Even the marinsa were at risk at one time as they were viewed as a expensive luxury in the context of preparing for war with Russia.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yompers-45-Commando-Falkl...
An account by a company commander in 45 Commando of their Falklands experience.
Most of the marines at the sharp end were aged 17 to 23. What a performance. Walking across the islands in winte carrying 120 pounds plus loads then fighting a battle against a well dug in enemy.
He gives credit to all the parts of the task force which made success possible. And pays this tribute to the marines under his command.
"For ever after, I have been keenly conscious that my reputation, indeed my life, rested on the shoulders of teenaged marines, some of whom were not yet 18 years old. They knew their jobs and they did the business. "
This is a great book and bridges the gap between individual biographies and big picture histories. There is enough of the background to set the scene and interesting accounts of how a fes years later it may have been impossible. Many ships would have been scrapped or sold. Even the marinsa were at risk at one time as they were viewed as a expensive luxury in the context of preparing for war with Russia.
irc said:
Just finished.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yompers-45-Commando-Falkl...
An account by a company commander in 45 Commando of their Falklands experience.
Most of the marines at the sharp end were aged 17 to 23. What a performance. Walking across the islands in winte carrying 120 pounds plus loads then fighting a battle against a well dug in enemy.
He gives credit to all the parts of the task force which made success possible. And pays this tribute to the marines under his command.
"For ever after, I have been keenly conscious that my reputation, indeed my life, rested on the shoulders of teenaged marines, some of whom were not yet 18 years old. They knew their jobs and they did the business. "
This is a great book and bridges the gap between individual biographies and big picture histories. There is enough of the background to set the scene and interesting accounts of how a fes years later it may have been impossible. Many ships would have been scrapped or sold. Even the marinsa were at risk at one time as they were viewed as a expensive luxury in the context of preparing for war with Russia.
Thanks. Will give it a gohttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Yompers-45-Commando-Falkl...
An account by a company commander in 45 Commando of their Falklands experience.
Most of the marines at the sharp end were aged 17 to 23. What a performance. Walking across the islands in winte carrying 120 pounds plus loads then fighting a battle against a well dug in enemy.
He gives credit to all the parts of the task force which made success possible. And pays this tribute to the marines under his command.
"For ever after, I have been keenly conscious that my reputation, indeed my life, rested on the shoulders of teenaged marines, some of whom were not yet 18 years old. They knew their jobs and they did the business. "
This is a great book and bridges the gap between individual biographies and big picture histories. There is enough of the background to set the scene and interesting accounts of how a fes years later it may have been impossible. Many ships would have been scrapped or sold. Even the marinsa were at risk at one time as they were viewed as a expensive luxury in the context of preparing for war with Russia.
irc said:
Just finished.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yompers-45-Commando-Falkl...
An account by a company commander in 45 Commando of their Falklands experience.
99p on kindle, gotta be worth a punt, cheers. I was lucky enough to do a bit of work with Julian Thompson and Mike Clapp some years ago. Fascinating couple of guys. Thompson's book No Picnic is worth a read, but I've not read Clapp's book.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yompers-45-Commando-Falkl...
An account by a company commander in 45 Commando of their Falklands experience.
RizzoTheRat said:
99p on kindle, gotta be worth a punt, cheers. I was lucky enough to do a bit of work with Julian Thompson and Mike Clapp some years ago. Fascinating couple of guys. Thompson's book No Picnic is worth a read, but I've not read Clapp's book.
Funny enough was reading this the other day - https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/san-carlos-fob/ - will give that a go [and I've got The Cold Dish for my trip back...!]Stuart70 said:
Vuelta skelter by Tim MOORE. Retracing the 1941 Vuelta cycle race.
His adventures are always a good and amusing read; however in this latest book, I am learning quite a lot of Spanish history beyond the Spanish Civil War, which is both interesting and deeply uncomfortable.
Recommended.
I’m reading this too at the moment and would also recommend it. His adventures are always a good and amusing read; however in this latest book, I am learning quite a lot of Spanish history beyond the Spanish Civil War, which is both interesting and deeply uncomfortable.
Recommended.
Quite shocking what went on in Spain in the recent past, both in terms of the atrocities committed during the Civil War and the poverty.
Dinlowgoon said:
A Possible Life - Sebastian Faulks.
5 very different short stories,all very moving to make you question who you are.
Think I’ll be reading more of his material.
Do report back. I have read all his previous books , but there have been some absolute clunkers like Charlotte Gray and the Girl at the Lion D'Or . Birdsong , of course , was masterful but I greatly enjoyed Paris Echo . He is not quiet as accomplished as contemporaries like William Boyd or Ian McEwan but when he is on form he is terrific 5 very different short stories,all very moving to make you question who you are.
Think I’ll be reading more of his material.
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