Just finished "A short history of Islam", interesting, though a bit chewy in the middle when it got a big bogged down. Recently finished "Of Mice and Men", the Great Gatsby" and "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Anichebe. Recommended. About to read "Matamorphosis" by Kafka.
The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt) - a good story and very well written, although, for me, maybe a little too long at around 780 pages. Won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction but I didn't enjoy it as much as her debut novel, The Secret History.
Wire in the Blood by Val McDermid. Gripping stuff, though oddly never made into one of the TV versions of her stories, despite using the title for the whole series...
Covers his experiences from joining up through to the end of the War. He revisited his diaries in the twenties, a few years after the War, and wrote some reflective comments which are equally interesting.
The thing that comes through is the quiet, phlegmatic courage and understatement which appeared to be almost universal whether discussing the sheer routine mundanity of long hours with not much happening or the sheer horror of attacking and being attacked.
He rescued someone who was buried alive and met him not long after the War and said he seemed a bit 'nervy.' A number of what he calls the 'old originals' were killed in action and after one death 'the rest of us' sat down and wondered 'who would be next.'
Just read 'Of Mice and Men'. I only read it because I knew Michael Gove disapproved of such writing. It was a very good read, so I suppose I have to be thankful to the silly little twerp for something.
I thought most read that in school, back in the day. It was a very enjoyable book with a lot of subtext.
Just finished Michael Asher's "High Road to Hell" (3rd Tom Caine installment & cannot wait for the 4th due in November), Linwood Barclay's "Too Close To Home" - and now reading Francis Fukuyama's "Origins of Political Order" for a little "light" reading....LOL!!!
PD James - Cover her Face. Having read The Murder Room last year it's a fascinating contrast in style between two books written forty years apart. Ole Phyllis has certainly moved with the times very well indeed.
Dance, Dance, Dance - Haruki Murakami. Japanese surreal. Best known in the UK for IQ84.
great read, Did you read 'wild sheep chase' first as 'dance dance dance' this is the follow on.
I recommend David Mitchell's "Number9 Dream" for a brilliant pastiche of Murakami for all HM's fans. I was an avid reader of Murakami, but thought the quality had been declining a bit. Not read IQ84 - is it worth it?
At times 1q84 is brilliant at others hopelessly self-indulgent and you feel it is going nowhere. Ultimately though it creates a compelling and believable world. You need to invest a bit of time in it but I would recommend that investment.
'Burning Land', Bernard Cornwall. I've read this before but I just love Cornwall's historical fiction. Thoroughly recommend Cornwall's books for those who haven't tried any.
Has anyone read Iain M Banks? I liked some of his fiction. I like some Sci Fi - Asimov, Stanislaw Lem...any thoughts?
Yes, all of his stuff. But mainly because I'm a big fan of Iain Banks. I don't normally read sci-fi but also like Philip K Dick and Kurt Vonnegut. I'd recommend Consider Phlebas and The Player of Games.
It will have an obvious appeal to cricket fans but in a sense the cricket is incidental and just the catalyst for a fascinating human story of tabloid pressures on an individual before tabloids existed and the hypocrisy endemic within the Establishment as it (they) desperately tried to cover its(their) own arse (s).
On holiday at the moment, so reading loads. Of those I have already got through, can really recommend:
The Hunters - Chris Kuzneski. Mix of fact and fiction with regard to characters & places. Fast moving, as a number of his precious books have been and a connection to another series at the end. Very enjoyable, not taxing, just right for holiday.
The Fifteen Lives of Harry August - Claire North. A new (for me anyway) take on time travel. Harry lives his first life, dies and then starts all over again...you can guess how many times! He's one of a group but not all, like him, have perfect recall of their previous lives. He uses this knowledge to help others & himself. A very good read.
The Devil in Marshalsea - Antonia Hodgson. Really enjoyed this. Set in the 1700's in a debtor's gaol in Borough. Centres on a gentleman with gambling debts who finds his only way out is to solve a murder committed before he himself is. Based on real life individuals and places and a very engrossing read. Highly recommended.
The Fifteen Lives of Harry August - Claire North. A new (for me anyway) take on time travel. Harry lives his first life, dies and then starts all over again...you can guess how many times! He's one of a group but not all, like him, have perfect recall of their previous lives. He uses this knowledge to help others & himself. A very good read.
'Burning Land', Bernard Cornwall. I've read this before but I just love Cornwall's historical fiction. Thoroughly recommend Cornwall's books for those who haven't tried any.
Cheers for the reminder... His first Non-Fiction book on the Battle of Waterloo AND latest Uhtred story come out this month
It will have an obvious appeal to cricket fans but in a sense the cricket is incidental and just the catalyst for a fascinating human story of tabloid pressures on an individual before tabloids existed and the hypocrisy endemic within the Establishment as it (they) desperately tried to cover its(their) own arse (s).
"Provided you don't kiss me: 20 years with Brian Clough " by the same author is a cracking read too Len.
I am really struggling with the PD James book Cover her Face. It's so slow and plodding, I am amazed that she got a publisher for it even back in the early sixties. But someone obviously saw the talent was there somewhere...
The Roaches Have No King - Daniel Evan Weiss. Read this before, but it's just as good the second or third time around. About a bunch of cockroaches who live in a guy's apartment and the drama that plays out between them during the trials and tribulations of the guy's relationship.
The Roaches Have No King - Daniel Evan Weiss. Read this before, but it's just as good the second or third time around. About a bunch of cockroaches who live in a guy's apartment and the drama that plays out between them during the trials and tribulations of the guy's relationship.
That sounds utterly mental! And strangely fascinating...
Comments
A very honest stark and poetic coming of age novel. Quite gritty for a norwegian novel.
The Great War Diaries Of Harry Drinkwater
Covers his experiences from joining up through to the end of the War. He revisited his diaries in the twenties, a few years after the War, and wrote some reflective comments which are equally interesting.
The thing that comes through is the quiet, phlegmatic courage and understatement which appeared to be almost universal whether discussing the sheer routine mundanity of long hours with not much happening or the sheer horror of attacking and being attacked.
He rescued someone who was buried alive and met him not long after the War and said he seemed a bit 'nervy.' A number of what he calls the 'old originals' were killed in action and after one death 'the rest of us' sat down and wondered 'who would be next.'
I wish I had that courage.
Can't remember if i picked it up in the fiction or non fiction section.
Duncan Hamilton
William Hill Sports Biography of 2009.
It will have an obvious appeal to cricket fans but in a sense the cricket is incidental and just the catalyst for a fascinating human story of tabloid pressures on an individual before tabloids existed and the hypocrisy endemic within the Establishment as it (they) desperately tried to cover its(their) own arse (s).
The Hunters - Chris Kuzneski. Mix of fact and fiction with regard to characters & places. Fast moving, as a number of his precious books have been and a connection to another series at the end. Very enjoyable, not taxing, just right for holiday.
The Fifteen Lives of Harry August - Claire North. A new (for me anyway) take on time travel. Harry lives his first life, dies and then starts all over again...you can guess how many times! He's one of a group but not all, like him, have perfect recall of their previous lives. He uses this knowledge to help others & himself. A very good read.
The Devil in Marshalsea - Antonia Hodgson. Really enjoyed this. Set in the 1700's in a debtor's gaol in Borough. Centres on a gentleman with gambling debts who finds his only way out is to solve a murder committed before he himself is. Based on real life individuals and places and a very engrossing read. Highly recommended.
Just started David Mitchell's latest.
I am really struggling with the PD James book Cover her Face. It's so slow and plodding, I am amazed that she got a publisher for it even back in the early sixties. But someone obviously saw the talent was there somewhere...
Surprised myself with what a really interesting read it was