What book (s) are you reading now ?

@garry_lager  one of my mates is married to his daughter and was going out with her when Max had the accident, in fact she was in the car too. We were all quite young then and I really didnt appreciate quite hiw amazing his writing was – we just thought he was this super bright guy who also wrote books but later in life I read some of his work and it was like nothing I’d ever read before. Massive loss to literature as well as to his family.

Tried reading the D-Day by Anthony Beevor. Very disappointing. Way too much military organisational detail, which he generally avoids very well in the other books of his that I’d read – Stalingrad, Berlin. Gave up in the end.

@garry_lager  one of my mates is married to his daughter and was going out with her when Max had the accident, in fact she was in the car too. We were all quite young then and I really didnt appreciate quite hiw amazing his writing was – we just thought he was this super bright guy who also wrote books but later in life I read some of his work and it was like nothing I’d ever read before. Massive loss to literature as well as to his family.

Wow that is quite a connection – it was a tragic loss. He no doubt wrote academic work his whole life but his novels came in just a ten year period. He left an immediate and massive legacy, few writers more influential in recent times (I guess once your surname becomes an adjective you’ve achieved a measure of influence).

River Kings. Interesting read about the Vikings and their travels.

I’m reading Nixonland, by Rick Perlstein. America during the rise and fall and rise and fall of Nixon.

I am just old enough to remember Gerald Ford being sworn in. I don’t normally read history books but this is very well written.

Apparently this is what Liz Truss has been reading and has based her economic policy on. Make of that what you will.

Wow that is quite a connection – it was a tragic loss. He no doubt wrote academic work his whole life but his novels came in just a ten year period. He left an immediate and massive legacy, few writers more influential in recent times (I guess once your surname becomes an adjective you’ve achieved a measure of influence).

My Aunt is (among other things) a literary translator. She tends to recommend good books and occasionally sends me them out of the blue.

Years ago she sent me Austerlitz and i remember thinking that it was written in a really different way to anything i’d read before (in a good way), i thought maybe it was because English wasn’t his first language. I really should read more of his books.

I’ve just read John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley – worth picking up. I like his novels and reading his thoughts on US culture in 1960 is great.

Before that Saturday by Ian McEwan. Great, one reason being I went to uni in the surrounds of the book about 5 years before it was written so it was quite nostalgic.

Currently on Bringing up the Bodies – Hilary Mantel. So far i’m liking it more than Wolf Hall. It seems easier to follow.

The Handmaid’s Tale – I’d avoided this one as it is labelled young adult so didn’t think it would appeal. I’ve never read any Harry Potter for similar reasons. But I ran out of things to read and my daughter had a copy lying around so I picked it up. Glad I did as it’s quite wonderful. No idea why it is labelled young adult though. The protagonist and narrator is in her 30s and the themes are all decidedly adult.

Are you sure? I’ve never seen anything to suggest that this book was for young adults, and there are very adult scenes and themes. (I read it earlier in the year and thought it was fantastic – genuinely one of the best books I’ve ever read.)

Thinking out loud though, my 18-year-old bought it – that’s why I read it – and she has tended to buy young adult books until recently. Maybe this is recent marketing thing that I’m not familiar with. We didn’t have YA books when I was growing up. 😀

I reread the Discworld and Reacher series when the pandemic started, and have just re-read the Wheel Of Time books 1-12 that I’ve previously read, plus the final two books that for some reason I’d not got round to reading.

Read quite a bit of Robin Hobb fantasy in the summer (Assassins and Liveships trilogies) – <snip> – will prob read the third trilogy at some point.

Robin Hobb’s next on my list. I might also have another go at Katherine Kerr’s Deverry books, I re-read the first 2 * quadrilogies about four or years ago but recently learned there are another SEVEN books now that I haven’t read yet

Other stuff I’ve enjoyed recently include Box 88 and Judas 62 by Charles Cumming (espionage novels), Dead Man’s Grave by Neil Lancaster and The Puppet Show my M.W. Craven (crime novels). A bit further back other authors I’ve read and enjoyed include Mick Herron’s Slow Horses (the TV series is a excellent also), Jo Spain, William Shaw and Chris Simms

I read McCarthy’s The Passenger over the weekend – anyone else got on this at publication? It’s part of a pair of novels, he might call it a diptych, with the other coming out early Dec.

No spoilers but I thought it was immense – interested to hear what other fans of CM think. It feels quite different – there’s no mistaking his writing, it channels his classic work (Suttree in particular) but into a very different space influenced by his time spent amongst physicists and mathematicians. I believe it was written over a very long time and there are some big shifts in tone – I’ve avoided reviews but can see it splitting opinion.

I wasn’t sure it was going to be something at this level, thought it might be a more straightforward thriller like No country for old men, or something quiet. But it’s definitely not that, huge book to be putting out at nearly 90 years of age.

Narcissus and Goldmund, by Herman Hesse. He’s my favourite author.

I’ve just finished ‘Brothers in Arms’ by James Holland’ The Sherwood Rangers (tank regiment) post D-day landings to VE day What a story incredible! The ultimate sacrifice of so many young men is truely humbling

Having finished “Boys in Zinc”, quite a heavy and powerful series of accounts from the Afghan/Soviet conflict, I’m looking forward to re-reading A Confederacy of Dunces after about fifteen years.

Just finished Elspeth Beard’s Lone Rider, first British woman to travel round the world by motorcycle. Amazingly frank account of herself and the difficulties faced. Really excellent read, if you liked Jupiter’s travels you’ll like this too.

I’m now back to the fantasy genre with Brandon Sanderson and his Mistborn books, starting with the initial trilogy. Shaping up nicely so far.

My big sis returned my copy of ‘where did the twin towers go?’ by dr. Judy Wood.

Just as freaky a read as when I first read it. Highly recommended 😜

The Great War Explained by Philip Stevens – I have only just started it, but I can tell already that it is going to be a very good read. Beautifully written, and factual but with a certain pace and style that makes it feel less like a historical account, and more like a guided tour.

is that the one where the author suggests an energy beam was directed at the towers to make them turn into dust?

I’m pretty sure i got given a copy of it waay back.

I read McCarthy’s The Passenger over the weekend – anyone else got on this at publication?

I was reading his Child of God when The Passenger was released, so won’t get around to reading the latter for a few months. Child of God was excellent. It says something about a writer when you can feel some sympathy for a weird loony serial killer/rapist, who lives in a hut in the woods. But that’s also why I need time between McCarthy books!

I am currently reading Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession. I heard the R4 Book Club talking about it a week or two ago. I’m enjoying, but not finding it quite as funny as the Book Club suggested. It is a complete antidote to Cormac McCarthy though.

I’m re-reading Piece Of Cake by Derek Robinson, fantastic WWII fiction-based-on-fact about an RAF fighter squadron – decided to get a couple of his other books and, most unexpectedly, a biography of Albert Ball turned up as well. So must contact WoB to advise and pay for it, and I’m now looking forward to learning about a WWI fighter ace. 🙂

Still reading Game of Thrones book 4.

Also, this… savouring this read as its my hobby and satisfies the inner nerd.

“Suspended Animation: Unauthorised History of Herald and Britain’s Plastic Figures ”
by Peter Cole.

Ps they are not toys but accurate representations of historical figures…..alright toys;)

Lord of the rings. Just started return of the King. Very much enjoying them.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell. Very Orwellian, maybe even more so than the man himself!
Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung by Lester Bangs. A collection of gonzo rock ‘n roll writings by Bangs from the 70s which will not make any sense to anyone under 60. Quality nostalgia for me.

Change of plan.
Just started reading Ignition! An informal history of rocket propellants by John D Clark

I’ve just lost my Along the Divide, by Chris Townsend. I think I left in the hotel room 😕

I was enjoying, only halfway through and have 3 hours in airports tonight.

Airports have bookshops – good luck!

Frankie Boyle’s Meantime (still 99p on kindle). It started well,reading like an extended Frankie Boyle monologue, then I started to get bored with the constant drug references (drugs are **** boring to read about!) .. so it’s ok, but looking forward to moving on from it now.

Just finished Lost Realms by Thomas Williams – What happened to some of the Old kingdoms – Elemet Rheged etc. some interesting theories about why they didn’t survive. One for the Dark Age geeks (me).

Now Rading James Hollands Invasion of Sicily – nice mix of personal stories from all sides and details of the campaign itself – enjoying it.

Just finished ‘Captive’, a French romantic thriller (just picked as it was in Audible’s French top 10). Not really my scene, but slightly embarrassed to confess I was completely hooked by mid way and was totally sucked in by the plot. Disappointing ending though, pretty much forces you to buy the next one to find out what happens….

Wide Window No3 in the series of unfortunate events.

There is nothing for you here – Fiona Hill.
The Kingdom – Jo Nesbo.
Next up…The Passenger.

Spaceships Over Glasgow – Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai)
And
The Satsuma Complex – Bob Mortimer

When The Evil Waits, a DI Ridpath novel by MJ Lee. It was a quid in the RSPCA shop and they will get it donated back when I’ve finished it.

Finished Tokyo Vice, which the Beeb made into a telly thing – it’s not bad,just kind of felt like it ran out of steam at the end, lots of unresolved stuff. Otherwise pretty good, he writes real good. 🙂

Enjoying The Satsuma Complex. 🙂

The Dark Forest (2nd Three Body Problem book) – it certainly doesn’t have the cracking start that the first book has, but I’ll stick with it (15%-ish in at the moment).

Looking forward to a complete change and reading How To Build a Car next (Adrian Newey’s book)

Reading Cormac McCarthy The Passenger.
Its about… er not a **** clue. Its certainly different. Must admit, I just skipped a big section where 2 fellas were having an extremely detailed scientific conversation. You can’t tell who’s saying what and… well, what did it have to do with the plot? Baffling! Yeah, sure is different.

Just finished reading a Sebastian Faulks book – The Snow something or other (I don’t remember). I do, now, remember why I dislike fiction so much – it can be really shite at times. Back on my World War books again now.

I do, now, remember why I dislike fiction so much – it can be really shite at times

Got to agree with this. I’ve struggled to really engage in any fiction books for ages except re-reading stuff I know is alright that I haven’t read for a while.

Struggling with the non fiction as well. Some of the WW2 stuff I’ve picked up of late lacks real balance and writing is all a bit Daily Wail. The better quality writers in terms of material are sadly too heavy on micro detail to hold my attention as a relative beginner at history books.

it can be really shite at times

Yeah, it can also be **** amazing. Hey! like most things really.
Dismissing the whole universe of fiction writing… LoLZ.

Ive just reread my way thru all of John Scalzi’s science fiction.  Old mans war series and end of all things series.

Looking forward to a complete change and reading How To Build a Car next (Adrian Newey’s book)

Awesome book, enjoy! 🙂

I haven’t read a book in years, just tool catalogs.

Ooh, want that, and that 😆