What book are you reading atm?? CHAPTER TWO

breezy1985 · 12-01-2021 5:08pm

Ide have no time for Shane Ross but that is one cracker of a book title

silliussoddius · 12-01-2021 5:14pm

Barna77 wrote: »

Is that part of a series too?

It's stand alone, still set during the Hundred Years war. From what I remember the Archer's tale series is earlier and ends at Crecy.

Glenomra · 12-01-2021 5:16pm

The Quakers in Limerick by Hiram Wood. Many of the principal limerick businesses were owned by Quakers. Also famine relief etc. Interesting.

Barna77 · 13-01-2021 4:00pm

silliussoddius wrote: »

It's stand alone, still set during the Hundred Years war. From what I remember the Archer's tale series is earlier and ends at Crecy.

Don't know if these have been mentioned here.
I read a few years ago The Accursed Kings series, set on 14th century France. The Hundred Years War from the French point of view.
Pretty good books and easy to read

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Accursed_Kings

Thelonious Monk · 13-01-2021 4:54pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

It's taking me forever to read The Mirror and the Light as it's so unportable. I do a lot of reading in the bath but it's not really an option with this. Raging I didn't bring my bath bridge with my when I moved home for lockdown.

I posted about Marie Cassidy's book when I read it. Interesting subject matter but all over the place. Her editor is more at fault than she is, imo. They're the professional.

I finished Bring up the Bodies last night and started TMATL right away. Kindles though, the way forward!
Took me about 30 mins or something to read 1% of it or something, if I get it finished before summer I'll be happy!

appledrop · 13-01-2021 5:10pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

It's taking me forever to read The Mirror and the Light as it's so unportable. I do a lot of reading in the bath but it's not really an option with this. Raging I didn't bring my bath bridge with my when I moved home for lockdown.

I posted about Marie Cassidy's book when I read it. Interesting subject matter but all over the place. Her editor is more at fault than she is, imo. They're the professional.

I'm the same do my best reading in bath with my candles best way to relax! It wasn't easy but I did read all of The Mirror and The Light this way.

appledrop · 13-01-2021 5:12pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I finished Bring up the Bodies last night and started TMATL right away. Kindles though, the way forward!
Took me about 30 mins or something to read 1% of it or something, if I get it finished before summer I'll be happy!

I'm old school hate kindles, even more so at moment as spending all day doing online learning/ meetings so once evening comes delighted to pick up a book!

Thelonious Monk · 13-01-2021 5:40pm

appledrop wrote: »

I'm old school hate kindles, even more so at moment as spending all day doing online learning/ meetings so once evening comes delighted to pick up a book!

Yeah but they're not hard on your eyes, they're different to normal screens, and very light and easy to hold and portable.
I find books a pain in the ass now.
Also it's so easy to get a book within seconds really for Kindle, I bought one because I couldn't find Watership Down in any book shop in Dublin, I mean ffs.

Only problem is I don't get to show off all my books in a bookshelf when I'm in web meetings which seems to be the done thing now.

Thelonious Monk · 13-01-2021 5:40pm

And wtaf is a bath bridge

appledrop · 13-01-2021 6:03pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Yeah but they're not hard on your eyes, they're different to normal screens, and very light and easy to hold and portable.
I find books a pain in the ass now.
Also it's so easy to get a book within seconds really for Kindle, I bought one because I couldn't find Watership Down in any book shop in Dublin, I mean ffs.

Only problem is I don't get to show off all my books in a bookshelf when I'm in web meetings which seems to be the done thing now.

Oh I know not same as computer I tried one once but not for me. I love everything about a real book, turning the pages, the feel of it and even the smell of new book!

My husband tried to convinced me one year when going on holidays as I already had an overflowing suitcase + had 7 books to bring with me but even then I wouldn't give in!

I do leave any books I read on holidays there so not carting them back.

A bath bridge is like a holder that goes across the bath that you can put shower gels , balance a book on etc.

New Home · 13-01-2021 6:33pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

And wtaf is a bath bridge

It's one of those trays you put across the bath to form a shelf.

Like this one, for instance.

4d028af94fc0fef862a1a9065efff57d--bathtub-tray-bathtub-caddy.jpg

4d028af94fc0fef862a1a9065efff57d--bathtub-tray-bathtub-caddy.jpg

EDIT: beaten to it.

greenspurs · 13-01-2021 6:33pm

The Narrows - Michael Connelly .

(my book has a "bookcrossing" sticker on it. I think people used to buy a book, read it, and just leave it in a public place for another person to find and read - The date is April 2012 , and it was left in dublin)

New Home · 13-01-2021 6:36pm

That's lovely!

There were whole websites dedicated to stuff like that. People used to do the same with journals - kind of fill a page, travel somewhere, leave it somewhere it can be found, post its location on a dedicated website and wait for the next person to do the same. You could then track its travels across the world.

Have you tried looking at websites like this one?

EDIT: Actually, scrap that, according to their official FB page, their website seems to be down at the moment. https://www.facebook.com/BookCrossingOfficial

completedit · 13-01-2021 7:15pm

New Home wrote: »

It's one of those trays you put across the bath to form a shelf.

Like this one, for instance.

EDIT: beaten to it.

Good for about 9 minutes and then the water gets lukewarm.

Fann Linn · 13-01-2021 7:34pm

Daughter got me The Complete works of George Orwell. I've started 'Burmese Days'. A story set in a fictional town in Burma, allegedly based on the actual place Orwell was stationed in 1927 as a policeman.

Story tells the tale of British imperialism and native cronyism, swindling etc. Plenty of use of the 'N' word and from what I've read so far it paints a fairly obnoxious view of British colonialism.

Thelonious Monk · 13-01-2021 7:43pm

Fann Linn wrote: »

Daughter got me The Complete works of George Orwell. I've started 'Burmese Days'. A story set in a fictional town in Burma, allegedly based on the actual place Orwell was stationed in 1927 as a policeman.

Story tells the tale of British imperialism and native cronyism, swindling etc. Plenty of use of the 'N' word and from what I've read so far it paints a fairly obnoxious view of British colonialism.

Keep the aspidistra flying is very good too, Gordon Comstock is a great character.

ancapailldorcha · 13-01-2021 7:43pm

The Rise & Fall of the Great Powers by Paul Kennedy. Does a sterling job of explaining why various empires and nations have ascended and declined relative to each other.

New Home · 13-01-2021 8:02pm

completedit wrote: »

Good for about 9 minutes and then the water gets lukewarm.

The water in the glass, probably, but you can start with adding ice to it before you start soaking. And BTW, I can get a good 45 mins in the tub before the water starts to cool. But that's with or without the tray.

I've been reading (in the bath) The Wheel of Fortune, an old book by Susan Howatch. I loved her more recent series, I thought this would be good, too, but I really can't find any redeeming features in it, I'm afraid. Still, only a couple of chapters to go, I might as well finish it.

megaten · 13-01-2021 9:12pm

Fann Linn wrote: »

Daughter got me The Complete works of George Orwell. I've started 'Burmese Days'. A story set in a fictional town in Burma, allegedly based on the actual place Orwell was stationed in 1927 as a policeman.

Story tells the tale of British imperialism and native cronyism, swindling etc. Plenty of use of the 'N' word and from what I've read so far it paints a fairly obnoxious view of British colonialism.

If it includes Down and Out in Paris and London its well worth reading.

breezy1985 · 13-01-2021 11:16pm

New Home wrote: »

The water in the glass, probably, but you can start with adding ice to it before you start soaking. And BTW, I can get a good 45 mins in the tub before the water starts to cool. But that's with or without the tray.

I've been reading (in the bath) The Wheel of Fortune, an old book by Susan Howatch. I loved her more recent series, I thought this would be good, too, but I really can't find any redeeming features in it, I'm afraid. Still, only a couple of chapters to go, I might as well finish it.

Be honest how often is there water in that glass ?

New Home · 13-01-2021 11:31pm

In my case, it'd probably be juice or a cuppa, I'd be at risk of drowning if I drank. :pac:

Foweva Awone · 16-01-2021 10:03am

This may be a stupid question... I have Kindle Unlimited, and I've downloaded a couple of books that I really enjoyed and I know my mum would love too... She doesn't have Kindle Unlimited, but I was wondering if there might be a way I can share them to her Kindle? (We don't live close by, so literally lending her my Kindle isn't an option!)

fixXxer · 16-01-2021 10:35am

Foweva Awone wrote: »

This may be a stupid question... I have Kindle Unlimited, and I've downloaded a couple of books that I really enjoyed and I know my mum would love too... She doesn't have Kindle Unlimited, but I was wondering if there might be a way I can share them to her Kindle? (We don't live close by, so literally lending her my Kindle isn't an option!)

Just give her your log in details.

Foweva Awone · 16-01-2021 10:44am

fixXxer wrote: »

Just give her your log in details.

But it's my Kindle that's linked to the account... Or can you link more than one device?

fixXxer · 16-01-2021 10:45am

Foweva Awone wrote: »

But it's my Kindle that's linked to the account... Or can you link more than one device?

I have two kindles linked to my account, so you can do that at least. I'm not saying amazon wont twig and ask you to stop, but they've not for me yet and it's been a long time.

Patsy167 · 16-01-2021 11:13am

Man's Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl

An all time classic that has been on list for years.

I would love to get other peoples thoughts on this but I was incredibly underwhelmed. I appreciate it is not meant to be an entertaining book but I thought the message was very repetitive and could have been summarized in a few pages. Didn't get much from it at all, I just didn't seem to connect with it like other books of the same genre.

Maybe I was expecting too much as I had read so much about this being a "life changing" book.

Pale Blue Dot · 16-01-2021 11:42am

Patsy167 wrote: »

Man's Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl

An all time classic that has been on list for years.

I would love to get other peoples thoughts on this but I was incredibly underwhelmed. I appreciate it is not meant to be an entertaining book but I thought the message was very repetitive and could have been summarized in a few pages. Didn't get much from it at all, I just didn't seem to connect with it like other books of the same genre.

Maybe I was expecting too much as I had read so much about this being a "life changing" book.

I'm inclined to agree. What Frankl and others went through was unimaginable and the strength it took to survive, incredible. But as a book I thought, like you, that it had offered its message within a few pages and then the same idea, just in different scenarios, repeated itself.

If you haven't already, I'd very much recommend The Choice by Edith Eger. Unlike Frankl who was already an established physician in his late 30's when he was sent to a camp, Eger was a teenager. But she also survived, moved to the US and became a psychologist. She even met Frankl a few times later in life. Her time in the concentration camp is covered in the first third of the book and the rest is about her subsequent life. She talks about how her time in the camps influenced the rest of her life and often even in how she delivered therapy to her own patients in the US. It wasn't all perfect from arrival in the US either and liked how candid she is about her own life - for example, her marriage struggles. Overall I just felt it offered 'more' than Frankl's book.

But again take nothing away from anyone who can survive what they went through and have the courage to publish a book about it afterwards.

ancapailldorcha · 16-01-2021 11:47am

Patsy167 wrote: »

Man's Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl

An all time classic that has been on list for years.

I would love to get other peoples thoughts on this but I was incredibly underwhelmed. I appreciate it is not meant to be an entertaining book but I thought the message was very repetitive and could have been summarized in a few pages. Didn't get much from it at all, I just didn't seem to connect with it like other books of the same genre.

Maybe I was expecting too much as I had read so much about this being a "life changing" book.

I think it's one of the most important books that's ever been written and that everyone should read it in this day and age. Perhaps, especially in this day and age.

I'm wondering what you were expecting from it. Generally, my experience with books alleged to be "life-changing" or similar is that they give me fresh perspectives on thing rather than impelling me to make radical change.

Tauriel · 16-01-2021 11:54am

Patsy167 wrote: »

Man's Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl

An all time classic that has been on list for years.

I would love to get other peoples thoughts on this but I was incredibly underwhelmed. I appreciate it is not meant to be an entertaining book but I thought the message was very repetitive and could have been summarized in a few pages. Didn't get much from it at all, I just didn't seem to connect with it like other books of the same genre.

Maybe I was expecting too much as I had read so much about this being a "life changing" book.

I didn't enjoy this one at all. I've heard a lot of books by survivors of the Holocaust and this was the most disappointing.

I would recommend Night by Elie Wiesel. Simply the best book on the subject that I have read.

Thelonious Monk · 16-01-2021 12:06pm

Is the Frankl book long? Been on my list for a while. Started the Mirror and the Light the other night and also one called High Price by Dr Carl Hart about drugs and addictions and their legality etc. Very interesting.

ancapailldorcha · 16-01-2021 12:19pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Is the Frankl book long? Been on my list for a while. Started the Mirror and the Light the other night and also one called High Price by Dr Carl Hart about drugs and addictions and their legality etc. Very interesting.

No. I got through it in a few days.

eviltwin · 16-01-2021 12:20pm

I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara. The story of the authors hunt for the Golden State Killer. Unfortunately she passed away before he was caught.

16-01-2021 1:04pm

eviltwin wrote: »

I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara. The story of the authors hunt for the Golden State Killer. Unfortunately she passed away before he was caught.

There's a good follow up documentary which they coupled with old recordings of her and interviews with people she knew.

pottokblue · 16-01-2021 1:29pm

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. Good so far like trainspotting set in Glasgow rough and tough on the sides!

bertiebomber · 16-01-2021 2:27pm

More Cunning Than Man - a complete history of the rat & its role in human civilization really interesting and frightening factual book author Robert Henrickson

mariaalice · 16-01-2021 3:24pm

Going to make a start on V2 Robert Harris its from the Christmas pile.

mikhail · 17-01-2021 5:12pm

Fann Linn wrote: »

Daughter got me The Complete works of George Orwell. I've started 'Burmese Days'. A story set in a fictional town in Burma, allegedly based on the actual place Orwell was stationed in 1927 as a policeman.

Story tells the tale of British imperialism and native cronyism, swindling etc. Plenty of use of the 'N' word and from what I've read so far it paints a fairly obnoxious view of British colonialism.

I rate his non-fiction above the likes of 1984 or Animal Farm. Down and Out in Paris and London, Homage to Catalonia and (the first half of) The Road to Wigan Pier are some of his best political writing. Burmese days is so directly inspired by his personal experience that it I find it sits well with his non-fiction too.

Deemed as Normal · 17-01-2021 6:25pm

'How to Save your Planet one Object at a Time' by Tara Shine

Foweva Awone · 18-01-2021 9:38pm

I'm reading David B. Lyons' books at the moment. They're available for free on Kindle Unlimited. Short fast-paced twisty mystery/crime books based in and around Dublin. Not exactly the most high-brow literature, but very enjoyable.

First one I read was The Suicide Pact. Two young teenage girls have a pact to kill themselves by midnight, so the main character is running around trying to find them and stop them in time. I really enjoyed this one, I would never have predicted the outcome. Definitely worth a read.

Then I read The Curious Case Of Faith And Grace. This is about two 9 year old girls on trial for the murder of their parents. Seemed like an interesting premise, but I just couldn't buy in to it. Too many unbelievable leaps and stretches. Also too many false flags and red herrings. Very unsatisfying.

I'm now on Midday, it's about a tiger kidnapping where a bank manager has four hours to rob €8 million from his banks to save his partner. So far, so good!! I'm not far into it though.

Barna77 · 26-01-2021 11:34am

Farenheit 451 left me cold :rolleyes:

The I read George RR Martin's Fevre Dream. His take on the vampire myth. I had never heard of it but I saw it somewhere listed as one of the best vampire novels. It's a page turner with his typical plot twists and big dinner tables

Coming up next, Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita

Tauriel · 26-01-2021 12:33pm

Finished The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings.

Doing my best to recall how accurate the movie was but failing miserably as it seems like an age since I watched them.

mikhail · 26-01-2021 4:36pm

mustang shelly wrote: »

Finished The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings.

Doing my best to recall how accurate the movie was but failing miserably as it seems like an age since I watched them.

The really big change is that Tom Bombadil is cut entirely from the film. He'd have been a challenge to fit in, tonally. Otherwise, the broad strokes are the same, trimmed to fit into a movie.

breezy1985 · 26-01-2021 5:39pm

mikhail wrote: »

The really big change is that Tom Bombadil is cut entirely from the film. He'd have been a challenge to fit in, tonally. Otherwise, the broad strokes are the same, trimmed to fit into a movie.

A lot of people were disappointed with that but I never got what was so great about Bombadil

Tauriel · 26-01-2021 6:19pm

mikhail wrote: »

The really big change is that Tom Bombadil is cut entirely from the film. He'd have been a challenge to fit in, tonally. Otherwise, the broad strokes are the same, trimmed to fit into a movie.

It was actually at that chapter that I decided I would have to rewatch the movies as I couldn't recall him. Now I know why

ChrisJ84 · 26-01-2021 6:23pm

Just finished The Orchard Keeper by Cormac McCarthy. It's his first novel, and like all of them it's pretty dark and depressing! If you're already a fan it's definitely worth checking out, but isn't where I'd start if you've not read him before.

silliussoddius · 26-01-2021 6:27pm

ChrisJ84 wrote: »

Just finished The Orchard Keeper by Cormac McCarthy. It's his first novel, and like all of them it's pretty dark and depressing! If you're already a fan it's definitely worth checking out, but isn't where I'd start if you've not read him before.

I had meant to read some of his earlier stuff, but god they seem bleak. My capacity for that has diminished in recent years.

ChrisJ84 · 26-01-2021 6:43pm

silliussoddius wrote: »

I had meant to read some of his earlier stuff, but god they seem bleak. My capacity for that has diminished in recent years.

Yeah, Child of God is without doubt the most disturbing and horrific book I've ever read! It's the only McCarthy book so far I don't think I'll read again.

The Orchard Keeper isn't nearly as bad, but definitely has its moments.

mariaalice · 26-01-2021 6:46pm

silliussoddius wrote: »

I had meant to read some of his earlier stuff, but god they seem bleak. My capacity for that has diminished in recent years.

Absolutely and I won't finish a book if I don't like it my husband is the exact opposite he will read to the end.

As I have got older I have gone off anything depressing or bleak.

Antics21 · 26-01-2021 6:47pm

White Noise by Don Delillo.
Very late to reading Delillo. This is one of highest rated novels. I'm not sure I appreciate the coldness of his prose and the almost anesthetic form of the novel. I'm sure this intentional on his behalf but it's not a style I'm enjoying. The novel depicts a human reaction very like the early pandemic panic and is worth reading for that long middle section alone.

silliussoddius · 26-01-2021 6:54pm

ChrisJ84 wrote: »

Yeah, Child of God is without doubt the most disturbing and horrific book I've ever read! It's the only McCarthy book so far I don't think I'll read again.

The Orchard Keeper isn't nearly as bad, but definitely has its moments.

Child of God was the one I was thinking of reading. I kind of feel bad about recommending The Road to my elderly mother in law.
Another bleak book I read a few years ago was On the Beach, by Nevile Shute. It wasn't as dark as McCarthy's stuff, but bleak in the nicest possible way (if that makes sense).

What book are you reading atm?? CHAPTER TWO

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