Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Levin said:
benjipeg said:
just started brave new world on my runs after JR podcast with lex friedman were talking about it - 1hr30 in - bit crazy it was written 1931!!
It is an absolutely exquisite book. I reread it in the past few months and, while I liked it the first time around, it has gone up even further in my estimation since. Huxley continued to revisit the concept in his later years. Brave New World: Revisited has Huxley revisiting his own thoughts decades later and providing thoughts on things he might have done differently. Island is the direct opposite, being a vision of a utopian society rather than a dystopia. The latter I didn't enjoy quite so much, but certain lines ('Here and now, boys') make it worth a read.For companion texts, 1984 is by far the most obvious. That said, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, is thematically more similar to Huxley's dystopia than Orwell. Both Bradbury and Huxley envisioned a world of unlimited entertainment limiting freedoms, whereas Orwell's vision is much more violent.
Some pages ago, I mentioned Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman. His opening prologue is worth reading if you've read both Huxley and Orwell. It's short, and freely available online. There's a tendency to treat the two visions as competing, though Huxley wrote to Orwell, expressing an opinion that his World State would likely arise from Airstrip One. You may have already guessed as much, but I am a fan of both books.
Fahrenheit 451 I enjoyed way back 50 years ago, tried watching the film a lot of years later and was disappointed.
peterperkins said:
On the Beach.. (Nevil Shute) 1957
Post Russia V China nuclear war drama.
A little bit too much family filler in places but a solid read and wrist slashingly depressing at the end.
I wanted the pills in the red box and a large brandy just like everyone else.
Same here. Read it at an impressionable age. Grim stuff.Post Russia V China nuclear war drama.
A little bit too much family filler in places but a solid read and wrist slashingly depressing at the end.
I wanted the pills in the red box and a large brandy just like everyone else.
Skyedriver said:
Tried to read Brave New World many years ago and failed to finish it. Maybe I should try again.
Same, it was my friend's favourite book but I just couldn't get into it.I've been enjoying reading some Philip K Dick short stories "between books", there are some Kindle megapacks of about 15 stories for 50p on Amazon and I find they handy for the times when I don't want to start a whole new book but need something other than the news to read for 30 minutes.
Just finished "Foster, You're Dead!" which is (according to Wiki) a satire about consumerism and cold war paranoia where the government encourage the population to buy bomb shelters, and the manufacturers keep upgrading them to make people keep buying them. A bit of Covid foreshadowing with people not believing the hype getting ostracised as "protection deniers".
Slowboathome said:
peterperkins said:
On the Beach.. (Nevil Shute) 1957
Post Russia V China nuclear war drama.
A little bit too much family filler in places but a solid read and wrist slashingly depressing at the end.
I wanted the pills in the red box and a large brandy just like everyone else.
Same here. Read it at an impressionable age. Grim stuff.Post Russia V China nuclear war drama.
A little bit too much family filler in places but a solid read and wrist slashingly depressing at the end.
I wanted the pills in the red box and a large brandy just like everyone else.
Edited by tertius on Saturday 18th February 20:56
towser said:
Fantastic book......The Bloody Nine, Rudd Threetrees, The Dogman. Sandor Glokta etc....I loved Abercrombie's First Law books, as you say great characters and world building.
he does do a great job of bringing characters to life-bloody nine still my favouritenew rory clements book the english fuhrer out now picked up in tescos getting my meal deal lol
I've started a new module as a part of my English and History degree. Medieval to Romantic. So these books take me up to the 19th century. Anyhow, first off the rank was Sir Gawain and The Green Knight. It's one of those books that can only be appreciated once you've analysed it. For only 70 or so pages it does ramble on somewhat, but I did enjoy it. It's quite an interesting combination of theology, class, chivalry, temptation, Arthurian mysticism and surprisingly homoeroticism. Fortunately I read the translated version over the original Middle English.
So far, it's the only book I've read that I'd struggle to recommend, but enjoyed reading and understanding.
Michael
So far, it's the only book I've read that I'd struggle to recommend, but enjoyed reading and understanding.
Michael
A book I feel a bit guilty at not having read (along with some other embarrassing omissions ) but the film was wonderful, if I suspect, a very loose interpretation - books aren't film scripts and 'the film of the book ' is rarely anything like .
I am just finishing the Matthew Parris book and have enjoyed it hugely . I enjoy his op ed pieces in The Times and the book reveals the younger Parris as being even more awkward and spiky than he is now - but self deprecatory and very funny too . He writes beautifully .
I am just finishing the Matthew Parris book and have enjoyed it hugely . I enjoy his op ed pieces in The Times and the book reveals the younger Parris as being even more awkward and spiky than he is now - but self deprecatory and very funny too . He writes beautifully .
Having just read Anthony Bourdain Kitchen Confidential, I am now half way through Stephen King ‘The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon’. It’s quite a slow one but I am too deep into the woods to stop reading it.
My target is to read 6 books this year which will double the amount of books I have read… ever.
My target is to read 6 books this year which will double the amount of books I have read… ever.
Edited by thebraketester on Thursday 9th February 20:09
A few recent titles :
"Dead Find" by TF Muir - latest in a detective series set in St Andrews, fairly standard storyline (gangland murder, shallow grave etc...), nothing overly controversial or boundary pushing but I'm kind of hooked on these books so enjoyed this one. 3/5
"Company of Liars" by Karen Maitland - a road trip, murder mystery with slight paranormal overtones set during the plague in England. An inventive, well told story - great characters and storyline with plenty of twists and strangeness. Well worth a read. 4/5
"Body in the Marsh" by Nick Louth - a far too long and very obvious whodunnit. Trying too hard to be edgy and I have to say far too many blantantly sexist undertones - not sure if it was trying to be a commentary on misogny in the police but very ham fisted. Didn't enjoy. 2/5
"The Kingdom" by Jo Nesbo - years since I've read a Nesbo book. This was decent enough - a story of two brothers, their past, their bond, their dream and the lengths they'll go to for each other....also features what must be the most dangerous stretch of road in Norway given the number accidents that happen on it in this book. 3/5
"Dead Find" by TF Muir - latest in a detective series set in St Andrews, fairly standard storyline (gangland murder, shallow grave etc...), nothing overly controversial or boundary pushing but I'm kind of hooked on these books so enjoyed this one. 3/5
"Company of Liars" by Karen Maitland - a road trip, murder mystery with slight paranormal overtones set during the plague in England. An inventive, well told story - great characters and storyline with plenty of twists and strangeness. Well worth a read. 4/5
"Body in the Marsh" by Nick Louth - a far too long and very obvious whodunnit. Trying too hard to be edgy and I have to say far too many blantantly sexist undertones - not sure if it was trying to be a commentary on misogny in the police but very ham fisted. Didn't enjoy. 2/5
"The Kingdom" by Jo Nesbo - years since I've read a Nesbo book. This was decent enough - a story of two brothers, their past, their bond, their dream and the lengths they'll go to for each other....also features what must be the most dangerous stretch of road in Norway given the number accidents that happen on it in this book. 3/5
Got4wheels said:
I've started a new module as a part of my English and History degree. Medieval to Romantic. So these books take me up to the 19th century. Anyhow, first off the rank was Sir Gawain and The Green Knight. It's one of those books that can only be appreciated once you've analysed it. For only 70 or so pages it does ramble on somewhat, but I did enjoy it. It's quite an interesting combination of theology, class, chivalry, temptation, Arthurian mysticism and surprisingly homoeroticism. Fortunately I read the translated version over the original Middle English.
So far, it's the only book I've read that I'd struggle to recommend, but enjoyed reading and understanding.
Michael
Studied that as part of my degree in the original Middle English. Bloody hell it was hard work.So far, it's the only book I've read that I'd struggle to recommend, but enjoyed reading and understanding.
Michael
Shame really, because the subject matter and themes are interesting.
I have just finished the American Civil War, by John Keegan. It was interesting to read how the US was back then, without the world-dominating culture it has now. I won't spoil it by telling you who won.
I have just started re-reading Barrow's Boys by Fergus Fleming for the 4th or 5th time - it's a brilliant book about Arctic exploration and the hunt for the NW passage and getting stuck in the ice for years at a time in the 19th century.
I have just started re-reading Barrow's Boys by Fergus Fleming for the 4th or 5th time - it's a brilliant book about Arctic exploration and the hunt for the NW passage and getting stuck in the ice for years at a time in the 19th century.
towser said:
V1nce Fox said:
The Blade Itself. Sort of a mix of Game Of Thrones meets Pratchett. Great characters in it.
Fantastic book......The Bloody Nine, Rudd Threetrees, The Dogman. Sandor Glokta etc....I loved Abercrombie's First Law books, as you say great characters and world building. Just read ‘He who fights with Monsters’ which someone recommended. Very lightweight but highly entertaining
I've just finished "The Dark Hours" by Michael Connelly. Detective Renee Ballard is trying to solve two cases while the police department struggles with public hostility and a lack of funding post-Covid. A great book, as all of his are, I've got through this very quickly as it encouraged me to read "just one more chapter" every time I picked it up.
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