Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
I've read a few John J Nance books recently. He's a former pilot who writes aviation thrillers. Some are better than others but several have been very good.
He wrote one called Skyhook, written just after 9/11. The premise is that the US Govt are working on a "black box" that can be installed in a commercial airliner so that it can lock out the cockpit and take over remotely in the event of a hijack. Naturally it goes wrong.
The concept was interesting and it would be surprising if the powers that be hadn't been working on something similar I would have thought.
He wrote one called Skyhook, written just after 9/11. The premise is that the US Govt are working on a "black box" that can be installed in a commercial airliner so that it can lock out the cockpit and take over remotely in the event of a hijack. Naturally it goes wrong.
The concept was interesting and it would be surprising if the powers that be hadn't been working on something similar I would have thought.
Stuart70 said:
Watcher of the skies said:
There's a lot of love for George Orwell on this thread, one of my favourites is Burmese Days.
Any other fans?
Always loved Down and Out in Paris and London for both the realism but also the descriptions of the life of kitchen staff in grand restaurants. Anthony Bourdain has nothing on that!Any other fans?
Also loved Coming up for Air with the description of George “Fatty” Bowling - which in my 20’s I found deeply dispiriting and as a warning to me in my 40’s which I continue to heed in my 50’s!!
I declutched, trod on the foot-brake, and - Jesus!
Oh, yes, I know you knew what was coming. But I didn't. You can say I was a bloody fool not to expect it, and so I was. But it hadn't even occurred to me.
The first question was, where WAS Lower Binfield?
Reading the Orwell Omnibus at the moment
About 20 pages to go on "Air", just at the point where he's in the hotel. It's a fascinating insight into London & SE England at the first half of the 20th Century but I've found it a little hard work TBH. Prior to this it was Clergymans Daughter which I enjoyed even if it was a bit confusing and before that Burmese Days (which I assume was inspired by his time in Burma) and Animal Farm. I read a few Orwell about 40 or more year ago, been interesting going back.
About 20 pages to go on "Air", just at the point where he's in the hotel. It's a fascinating insight into London & SE England at the first half of the 20th Century but I've found it a little hard work TBH. Prior to this it was Clergymans Daughter which I enjoyed even if it was a bit confusing and before that Burmese Days (which I assume was inspired by his time in Burma) and Animal Farm. I read a few Orwell about 40 or more year ago, been interesting going back.
Skyedriver said:
Reading the Orwell Omnibus at the moment
About 20 pages to go on "Air", just at the point where he's in the hotel. It's a fascinating insight into London & SE England at the first half of the 20th Century but I've found it a little hard work TBH. Prior to this it was Clergymans Daughter which I enjoyed even if it was a bit confusing and before that Burmese Days (which I assume was inspired by his time in Burma) and Animal Farm. I read a few Orwell about 40 or more year ago, been interesting going back.
The only bit that sticks in my memory from Clergymans Daughter is where she pays penance by drinking communion wine from the same spot on the cup as the fat woman next to her with the big slobbery lower lip. Read it about 30 years ago and thats all I can remember.About 20 pages to go on "Air", just at the point where he's in the hotel. It's a fascinating insight into London & SE England at the first half of the 20th Century but I've found it a little hard work TBH. Prior to this it was Clergymans Daughter which I enjoyed even if it was a bit confusing and before that Burmese Days (which I assume was inspired by his time in Burma) and Animal Farm. I read a few Orwell about 40 or more year ago, been interesting going back.
Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg.
Interesting stuff on how some folks can get on with just about anybody and the techniques they un/knowingly use in conversations.
Steeple Chasing by Peter Ross
Telling a story of Britain through visiting its churches. Just started it but the writing is beautifully calm and anyone who likes churches for their architecture and history should give it a go.
Interesting stuff on how some folks can get on with just about anybody and the techniques they un/knowingly use in conversations.
Steeple Chasing by Peter Ross
Telling a story of Britain through visiting its churches. Just started it but the writing is beautifully calm and anyone who likes churches for their architecture and history should give it a go.
Edited by Ace-T on Saturday 24th February 21:20
Went through Exodus Blue by Elliot Kincaid and had high hopes but it was difficult to follow until almost the end, then started the follow up which was just as bad to follow so gave up.
No trying to work my way through the first book of The Expanse series, Leviathan Wakes.
Easy to follow the plot but it seems to get going, then slows down, then gets going again, then slows down again. Never watched the tv series so no preconceptions.
No trying to work my way through the first book of The Expanse series, Leviathan Wakes.
Easy to follow the plot but it seems to get going, then slows down, then gets going again, then slows down again. Never watched the tv series so no preconceptions.
Every so often you come across an absolute gem of a book. I just discovered " Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets" by David Simon ( who created The Wire and Homicide - Life on the Streets). Described by Norman Mailer as the best book about homicide detectives by an American writer, it's certainly the best I've read. It's incredibly articulate and intelligently written. It reads like a cross between a thriller and a documentary. It includes cases in which a single piece of inspiration or clue solved a case. It describes what it must be like to be a homicide detective and the way different detectives have different approaches within set procedures and what they must think about at crime scenes. It could probably serve as a training manual for new detectives. It references real cases. It also gives a sharp insight into life in Baltimore and how policing changed over the years. I've never felt more compelled to recommend a book because it's truly brilliant.
lornemalvo said:
Every so often you come across an absolute gem of a book. I just discovered " Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets" by David Simon ( who created The Wire and Homicide - Life on the Streets). Described by Norman Mailer as the best book about homicide detectives by an American writer, it's certainly the best I've read. It's incredibly articulate and intelligently written. It reads like a cross between a thriller and a documentary. It includes cases in which a single piece of inspiration or clue solved a case. It describes what it must be like to be a homicide detective and the way different detectives have different approaches within set procedures and what they must think about at crime scenes. It could probably serve as a training manual for new detectives. It references real cases. It also gives a sharp insight into life in Baltimore and how policing changed over the years. I've never felt more compelled to recommend a book because it's truly brilliant.
User name checks out.beagrizzly said:
'Withnail & I: From Cult to Classic'
Recently published collection of stories, reminiscences, fan viewpoints and factoids from the making of the movie, its reception and enduring popularity. It's a great read (possibly only if you love the film) and makes me want to watch it for the umpteenth time.
So I shall. :-)
This is in my ‘to read’ pile when I get round to it, thanks for the reminder Recently published collection of stories, reminiscences, fan viewpoints and factoids from the making of the movie, its reception and enduring popularity. It's a great read (possibly only if you love the film) and makes me want to watch it for the umpteenth time.
So I shall. :-)
I’ve just started re-reading Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry’s ‘Helter Skelter : The True Story Of The Manson Murders’ which goes into enormous detail about what happened and the trial afterwards.
CivicDuties said:
lornemalvo said:
Every so often you come across an absolute gem of a book. I just discovered " Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets" by David Simon ( who created The Wire and Homicide - Life on the Streets). Described by Norman Mailer as the best book about homicide detectives by an American writer, it's certainly the best I've read. It's incredibly articulate and intelligently written. It reads like a cross between a thriller and a documentary. It includes cases in which a single piece of inspiration or clue solved a case. It describes what it must be like to be a homicide detective and the way different detectives have different approaches within set procedures and what they must think about at crime scenes. It could probably serve as a training manual for new detectives. It references real cases. It also gives a sharp insight into life in Baltimore and how policing changed over the years. I've never felt more compelled to recommend a book because it's truly brilliant.
User name checks out.lornemalvo said:
Every so often you come across an absolute gem of a book. I just discovered " Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets" by David Simon ( who created The Wire and Homicide - Life on the Streets). Described by Norman Mailer as the best book about homicide detectives by an American writer, it's certainly the best I've read. It's incredibly articulate and intelligently written. It reads like a cross between a thriller and a documentary. It includes cases in which a single piece of inspiration or clue solved a case. It describes what it must be like to be a homicide detective and the way different detectives have different approaches within set procedures and what they must think about at crime scenes. It could probably serve as a training manual for new detectives. It references real cases. It also gives a sharp insight into life in Baltimore and how policing changed over the years. I've never felt more compelled to recommend a book because it's truly brilliant.
It really is a fantastic book. hairykrishna said:
lornemalvo said:
Every so often you come across an absolute gem of a book. I just discovered " Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets" by David Simon ( who created The Wire and Homicide - Life on the Streets). Described by Norman Mailer as the best book about homicide detectives by an American writer, it's certainly the best I've read. It's incredibly articulate and intelligently written. It reads like a cross between a thriller and a documentary. It includes cases in which a single piece of inspiration or clue solved a case. It describes what it must be like to be a homicide detective and the way different detectives have different approaches within set procedures and what they must think about at crime scenes. It could probably serve as a training manual for new detectives. It references real cases. It also gives a sharp insight into life in Baltimore and how policing changed over the years. I've never felt more compelled to recommend a book because it's truly brilliant.
It really is a fantastic book. There is an equivilent book for LA. Well worth reading but not up to the high standard set by David Simon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Season-Summer-Sou...
The Battle of the Beams, Tom Whipple. It's well-reviewed, but in complete honesty, it reads like a greatly pruned-down version of 'Most Secret War' (there's many sections that are directly quoted) with some added human interest (the expanded section on the Bruneval raid is welcome) and some expansion of sections that were clearly still classified in 1978 (better descriptions of Oboe, H2S and Gee.
Also a few bits from the German side.
Worth reading, but doesn't offer much new (writing the German version would have been very interesting!).
Also a few bits from the German side.
Worth reading, but doesn't offer much new (writing the German version would have been very interesting!).
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