Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Currently reading "Blood, dust and snow" by Rob Schaefer. It's basically a very comprehensive diary (with many photos) from a German panzer commander who was involved in the invasion of Russia in Jun 1941, until he is wounded and sits out the rest of the war in 1943. It's a stunning and disturbing book - it's disturbing because unlike the vast majority of German memoirs of WW2, it was written at the time and is full of the raw anger of combat combined with attitudes very much of his time/ideology. As Rob writes in the intro, what makes the book so powerful is that he wrote the diaries only for himself, which are very personal and very honest which makes them an uncomfortable, but fascinating read at times.
The initial element I have gone through is full of some of the most unflinching descriptions of combat I have ever read and the book frankly is a shocking but, in my opinion, a brutally honest description of a truly awful war. If you want to know just what it is like to try and take out an immobilised KV2 tank with just a hand grenade, while the crew hidden inside shoot pistols at you, or to save a drowning russian soldier's life and then have to shoot him dead as he pulls a hidden revolver on you, this is very much the book. It certainly isn't for everyone and the original writer of the diaries is most definitely not a nice character although I understand he very much changes his outlook on the Nazis and the war later on.
The initial element I have gone through is full of some of the most unflinching descriptions of combat I have ever read and the book frankly is a shocking but, in my opinion, a brutally honest description of a truly awful war. If you want to know just what it is like to try and take out an immobilised KV2 tank with just a hand grenade, while the crew hidden inside shoot pistols at you, or to save a drowning russian soldier's life and then have to shoot him dead as he pulls a hidden revolver on you, this is very much the book. It certainly isn't for everyone and the original writer of the diaries is most definitely not a nice character although I understand he very much changes his outlook on the Nazis and the war later on.
Desiderata said:
Currently reading George Orwell's "Keep the Asidistra Flying".
God it's a miserable dirge! Nothing but middle class self pity and introspective belly-button gazing. How could the same man who wrote "Animal Farm" and "1984" publish something like this?
Keep the Aspidistra Flying, not unlike A Clergyman's Daughter, were works Orwell did not think highly of. I haven't yet read the former (although it's on my radar), but I read the latter quite recently. It is, how can I say, not great. The entire premise hinges on a rather weak plot device, yet at times there are glimpses of the writer he became; in particular his scathing criticisms of the educational system stood out to me. There may be more to enjoy in Aspidistra if you read it as a proto-Orwellian work but, equally, it might just be a dud. I'm sure at some point I'll find out too.God it's a miserable dirge! Nothing but middle class self pity and introspective belly-button gazing. How could the same man who wrote "Animal Farm" and "1984" publish something like this?
Mallard126 said:
Many years late to the party I'm working my way through the Discworld series. I started about a month ago and am 20% of the way into book six now. In a way I'm glad I hadn't started till now as I have the pleasure of reading them all for the first time and plenty still to look forward to. They're brilliant and very easy to read in small chunks which is perfect for me as I've got a ten month old so I'm snatching half an hour here and there at the moment.
I envy you! There are some really excellent ones to come. I've saved the last one - The Shepherd's Crown just so that when my kids are old enough in a few years we can all read it for the first time at the same time.
Edited by hairykrishna on Wednesday 18th January 19:14
George Orwell _ Books
I read "Aspidestra" and most of his other works as a teenager in the mid 60's
"Wigan Pier", "Down and out in Paris & London" etc
All very dreary at times although some good bits.Guess it's what made me like I am today. That and Bradbury, Asimov, Von Daniken, JD Salinger, Steinbeck etc
I read "Aspidestra" and most of his other works as a teenager in the mid 60's
"Wigan Pier", "Down and out in Paris & London" etc
All very dreary at times although some good bits.Guess it's what made me like I am today. That and Bradbury, Asimov, Von Daniken, JD Salinger, Steinbeck etc
havoc said:
Mallard126 said:
Many years late to the party I'm working my way through the Discworld series. I started about a month ago and am 20% of the way into book six now. In a way I'm glad I hadn't started till now as I have the pleasure of reading them all for the first time and plenty still to look forward to. They're brilliant and very easy to read in small chunks which is perfect for me as I've got a ten month old so I'm snatching half an hour here and there at the moment.
They get better as the series goes on, too. And they merit re-reads as there are always puns and references you miss first time around.
hairykrishna said:
I've saved the last one - The Sheppard's Crown just so that when my kids are old enough in a few years we can all read it for the first time at the same time.
The friend who got me in to Pratchett's books 25 or so years ago still hasn't read The Shepherd's Crown as he doesn't want to feel it's it's finished. It's a good read though.Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 17th January 07:50
I've just finished "The Outsiders" by Gerald Seymour. It's a decent enough story, but I find his writing increasingly difficult to get on with. Bits left out for the reader to presume (I read when I come back from the pub, so sometimes I forget bits, but I've had to refer back and forth and these aren't my fault), really "difficult" dialogue between people - I picture that the only way it could be said is in the old-style "received pronunciation" once favoured by the BBC. It's a pity because if it had been written in a better style, it would have been a good book. I've got a few more of his, I recall saying the same about "Jericho's War" but I've read at least one of his before that wasn't so bad.
popegregory said:
About to finish Jeffrey Archers Kane and Abel. Been suggested Frederick Forsyth, John Grisham or Dan Brown for similar. Any recommendations?
I'd go with Frederick Forsyth, Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Dogs of War are the best of his early work and No Comebacks if you like a short story. He did a couple of books of Novellas too, The Deceiver and The Veteran.I'd also recommend his autobiography, The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue.
Tango13 said:
popegregory said:
About to finish Jeffrey Archers Kane and Abel. Been suggested Frederick Forsyth, John Grisham or Dan Brown for similar. Any recommendations?
I'd go with Frederick Forsyth, Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Dogs of War are the best of his early work and No Comebacks if you like a short story. He did a couple of books of Novellas too, The Deceiver and The Veteran.I'd also recommend his autobiography, The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue.
hairykrishna said:
Can anyone recommend any spy novels that are a patch on John Le Carre's best? I binged his a while back and fancy some others.
I quite enjoyed the Charles Cumming Box 88 and Judas 62 books. Not sure if you've read, I picked them up as a recommendation on here I think. Also...bit of an admission of which I'm ashamed...never read any John Le Carre...I must fix that.
hairykrishna said:
Can anyone recommend any spy novels that are a patch on John Le Carre's best? I binged his a while back and fancy some others.
Mick Herron's Slow Horses Series is brilliant. I'm going through it now on the back of watching the TV Series. It's nowhere near the refined, sleek world of MI5 usually depicted, it's the rejects who've messed up and been sent to Slough House as kind of the last resort for failed spooks. I personally find it a lot more relatable than Le Carre with the main character of Jackson Lamb being an overweight, dirty, smelly bloke nearing retirement who's as crass as he is sarcastic. It's also very amusing in parts with Lamb getting some fabulous one liners in.Depends on how serious you want your spies. For me, this is perfect.
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