Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
soad said:
Any feedback on Mark Billingham‘s novels? BBC made “In the Dark” drama series based on his books...
I’ve read probably 5 or so with two more paper backs in the house. However not read one now for .... 5-6 years of not more.
DI Thorne
I would however recommend you read them in order to get the back story as DI Thorne develops.
Insights into Top Gear by Richard Porter (script writer and man behind SniffPetrol). Worth a read if you enjoyed Top Gear. Also worth checking out the Chris Harris podcast with Richard Porter. Rather funny.
Parody for the lift of a motoring journalist, also by Richard Porter. Very funny, genuine laugh out loud.
Wham! George & Me by Andrew Ridgeley.
About as far removed from a Wham! Fan as you can get but this is interesting. Halfway through at the moment and it concentrates on the early years and the relationship between Andrew and George. You see from the off the talent and drive George had, but I would have liked to know more about Andrew after Wham! Maybe the bit I haven't got to covers this more.
About as far removed from a Wham! Fan as you can get but this is interesting. Halfway through at the moment and it concentrates on the early years and the relationship between Andrew and George. You see from the off the talent and drive George had, but I would have liked to know more about Andrew after Wham! Maybe the bit I haven't got to covers this more.
AstonZagato said:
Goaty Bill 2 said:
'MAO The Unknown Story' by Jung Chang & Jon Halliday
One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
Like Dianne Abbott?One cannot pretend that this is a dispassionate and unbiased historical document.
It is without doubt or pretense a scathing polemic. One that is exceptionally well researched and highly detailed.
If you find you doubt that - there are near 150 pages of references, lists of interviewees and footnotes at the end of the book as well a further detailed index.
Investigation includes not just China (by Jung) but also Russian archives and interviews (by Halliday).
Given the number of fanboy books and articles in praise of Mao, going back to Edgar Snow and Bertrand Russell amongst others, and the numerous books written by Maoist apologists, this book certainly has and deserves its place IMO.
Anyone that can read this and continue to defend Mao by the 'results achieved' would have to be seriously disillusion or ideologically possessed.
photo obtained from internet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB4o5n2EGyA
Or John McDonnell?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjH-DUaACM
Beggars belief
I've just finished "Beneath the lake" by Christopher Ransom. It's not really for me, a bit too full of supernatural goings-on. I read another of his ("The people next door") which I recall was a bit similar, but perhaps not as intense as this one. I'll try to remember to steer clear of them next time. It's probably great if you're into that kind of thing. And there's an outside chance some stuff was explained in the last few pages as I'd lost interest by then and was just skimming.
Back to normality, I'm now reading the new Peter Robinson Alan Banks novel.
Back to normality, I'm now reading the new Peter Robinson Alan Banks novel.
So in a foreign country with more time on my hands than expected I pretty soon finished the one book I brought with me.
That lead me to project Gutenburg and a classic that I've been meaning to read for many years....
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the 1852 novel that is said to have had a hand in the civil war with its portrayal of slavery in mid 19th C America.
At times a troubling read and (at times) slow going due to the way the Negro dialogue is written it is nonetheless a fabulously well told story and one that I'm very pleased to have finally read.
That lead me to project Gutenburg and a classic that I've been meaning to read for many years....
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the 1852 novel that is said to have had a hand in the civil war with its portrayal of slavery in mid 19th C America.
At times a troubling read and (at times) slow going due to the way the Negro dialogue is written it is nonetheless a fabulously well told story and one that I'm very pleased to have finally read.
t quotient in the modern world harder to deal with (without going postal at those in power/privilege/media), I've thought about those before...Finished The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson last week, kinda post-cyberpunk so a little different to some of the books I've read earlier this year, but still very interesting and well written.
Just about to start my 9th book of the year, returning to William Gibson with The Difference Engine, which is based around steampunk in an alternative Victorian setting..
Looking forward to it!
Just about to start my 9th book of the year, returning to William Gibson with The Difference Engine, which is based around steampunk in an alternative Victorian setting..
Looking forward to it!
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