The last book you read?

I’ve realised that I haven’t sat down and fully read a book for a while, the last one I finished was Rory Stewart on his time in Parliament.

Good wasn’t it?

I’ve just re-read Walking on Glass by Ian Banks. It wasn’t as good as I remembered sadly.

Probably not worth a new thread…

What book (s) are you reading now ?

Between Complicity and Integrity – Educators Stories in Tangled Times. Nora Timmerman.

England under the Norman and Angevin kings by Bartlett. ‘Violent’ doesn’t do it justice.

I’m currently working my way through the entire Agatha Christie catalogue, last one read was Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, they are all very good.

Last one finished? The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett. Bonza.

Currently reading The Long Cosmos, last of the Long Earth series by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. Good science fiction stuff, if a bit slow-paced.

I’ve got four on the go.

Emily Maitliss, Jonathan Coe, Joe Lycett (all of which I’m enjoying) but the one that I’m getting the “slipping down like a Guinness 0.0 but don’t want it to finish” feeling is The Full English by Stuart Maconie.

Richard Osman’s books give me the same feeling. Proper grown-up and multi-layered writing but still wonderfully accessible.

I’ve been reading very slowly so far this year. Last book I finished was Revenger by Alastair Reynolds. Very fun, more easy-reading than most of his stuff; not sure if I’ll read the next one though.
Currently on the go: Locklands by Robert Jackson Bennett – second part of a fantasy trilogy, very good.
The Wife’s Tale: memoir(ish) of an Ethiopian mother, from her marriage aged 12, through the Italian invasion, second world war etc. It’s worthwhile, just a bit heavy going.
And also Norm: Chronicles about numbers. Stats book, explaining the risks associated with everything in life. Mildly entertaining (for statistics), but not exactly gripping.

6 Not So Easy Pieces – Richard Feynman (the one about relativity and space-time)

Almost finished it but brain is about to explode.  Next one on the pile must be a Marcus du Sautoy book, which should be lighter reading.

“Berlin the downfall 1945” by Anthony Beevor. Harrowing. Very factual, but demonstrates just how morally bankrupt the senior Nazis were and what a death cult of personality their party was.

WRT Rory Stewart’s book, he seems like a decent chap, but stunningly naive politically. I found it very frustrating, especially the way that he decided to become a Conservative without, as far as I can see, taking a moment to see which party would actually best fit with his values. Edward Timpson strikes me as similar.

God is not great by Christopher Hitchens

God is not great by Christopher Hitchens

That book confirmed me as an atheist about 20 years ago.

That Hitchens book was very well researched, argued and written but the style of the Beevor book I found a bit too lightweight and racy.