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Hi all,
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Thanks all.

This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

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Comments

  • #7862
    Xofpod
    Registered Users Posts: 702 ✭✭✭Xofpod


    Joe_ Public wrote: »
    I liked it. Quite Flann O'Brienish in many ways, i thought. Not that Rushdie has likely ever read Myles, but still.

    I've always had the impression there's very little that Rushdie hasn't read...


  • #7863
    Joe_ Public
    Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    Xofpod wrote: »
    I've always had the impression there's very little that Rushdie hasn't read...

    From memory he cites a number of works that influenced the novel, including Cervantes and others, and i had wondered if Flann O'Brien might have got a mention too. Doesnt mean he isn't familiar with his work, of course.


  • #7864
    Crosby Dazzling Ringleader
    Posts: 0 ✭ Crosby Dazzling Ringleader


    Pompeii by Robert Harris.
    He has an interesting range of books that lad :-)
    Enjoying it so far


  • #7865
    otnomart
    Registered Users Posts: 4,065 ✭✭✭otnomart


    hope it is allowed to post this as a once off - it made me smile

    img.php?e=gif&s=c&file=TWFjYW51ZG8vMjAyMC8wMy9NYWNhbnVkby4yMDIwMDMyMV8xNTM2LmdpZg==


  • #7866
    Wyldwood
    Registered Users Posts: 1,162 ✭✭✭Wyldwood


    I've had a run of good books over the last few weeks but I'm struggling to get into Kate Atkinson's Big Sky. Normally enjoy her Jackson Brodie books but this one seems to be going nowhere. I'm over 100 pages in and so far it's a jumble of different characters and story lines with just cameo parts for Jackson. I have to keep checking back to see who is who. Anyone else read it, does it get better?

    Maybe it's the times that be and my concentration is just off. Hard to put this virus out of mind.

    Getting books on Borrowbox now is like trying to get a delivery slot from Supervalu. Books are reserved for months. Great in a way to see people taking up reading now though. It may save a lot of people's sanity and give them a lifetime hobby.


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  • #7867
    miamee
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 11,973 Mod ✭✭✭✭miamee


    A book I wzsn't due to get on BorrowBox until 10th APril was made available to me last week - I reckon with people reading more quickly, the queues might move along a bit faster than you expect.


  • #7868
    Wyldwood
    Registered Users Posts: 1,162 ✭✭✭Wyldwood


    Just an update on Borrowbox, I had 3 books reserved 1 for April, 1 for May & 1 for June and they all came in together today. Stacey Hall's The Foundling, Hilary Mantel's The Mirror & the Light and Colm McCann's Apeirogon. Just as well I'm staying home or I wouldn't have a hope of getting through these by 16/4


  • #7869
    Joe_ Public
    Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    Wyldwood wrote: »
    Just an update on Borrowbox, I had 3 books reserved 1 for April, 1 for May & 1 for June and they all came in together today. Stacey Hall's The Foundling, Hilary Mantel's The Mirror & the Light and Colm McCann's Apeirogon. Just as well I'm staying home or I wouldn't have a hope of getting through these by 16/4

    My Mirror & the Light just expired this morning so was up late last night finishing it. Still buzzing after it. What a ride is all i can say! The McCann is on my radar very soon.


  • #7870
    gidget
    Registered Users Posts: 1,002 ✭✭✭gidget


    Currently reading "I owe you one" by Jenny Colgan


  • #7871
    farmerval
    Registered Users Posts: 643 ✭✭✭farmerval


    rodge68 wrote: »
    This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay...

    An English Doctors diary..One of the funniest books I have read !!

    Good read, funny but very observational as well.


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  • #7872
    Irishder
    Registered Users Posts: 926 ✭✭✭Irishder


    Just finished:
    Hunting Evil by Chris Carter: Real page turner

    This is going to hurt by Adam Kay: Enjoyed it although found it depressing


  • #7873
    otnomart
    Registered Users Posts: 4,065 ✭✭✭otnomart


    Irishder wrote: »
    This is going to hurt by Adam Kay: Enjoyed it although found it depressing


    I have read a few chapters so far, finding it really good.
    Also by Adam Kay, I really enjoyed: Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas


  • #7874
    Callan57
    Registered Users Posts: 4,160 ✭✭✭Callan57


    otnomart wrote: »
    I have read a few chapters so far, finding it really good.
    Also by Adam Kay, I really enjoyed: Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas


    Read Nightshift last week, to be honest it didn't do it for me. I found it tedious and self indulgent.

    Finished Leonard & Hungry Paul last night, a nice gentle, kind and uplifting read. I wouldn't get as excited about it as a lot of the reviews but in these testing times it is an easy read and a good antidote to negativity!


    Concentration kinda shot at the moment so sticking with "non demanding" books. Listening to The Second Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith & reading Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris
    :):)


  • #7875
    Joe_ Public
    Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    About a quarter way through Robert Macfarlane's Underworld. As ever, a pure joy to read.


  • #7876
    otnomart
    Registered Users Posts: 4,065 ✭✭✭otnomart


    Callan57 wrote: »
    reading Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris
    :):)
    I have read that just after it was published.
    The characters stayed in my mind, can't say that of too many other novels I have read.


  • #7877
    eire4
    Registered Users Posts: 6,622 ✭✭✭eire4


    Finished Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Forest House. I had never read anything by her before but I do like historical fiction so it had been on my mind to give her a try. This one was pretty average fair though I thought.


  • #7878
    Huntergonzo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,160 ✭✭✭Huntergonzo


    Looking for some recommendations please, I have a lot more time to read now so just interested in some good books people have read:

    Specficially I like Non-Fiction books, about history, war, biographies, science/nature, wild west etc

    But anything non-fiction will do, maybe about something/somebody mad that not a lot of people know about, that would be interesting.


  • #7879
    otnomart
    Registered Users Posts: 4,065 ✭✭✭otnomart


    Huntergonzo wrote: »
    Looking for some recommendations please, I have a lot more time to read now so just interested in some good books people have read:

    Specficially I like Non-Fiction books, about history, war, biographies, science/nature, wild west etc

    But anything non-fiction will do, maybe about something/somebody mad that not a lot of people know about, that would be interesting.


    I went back through my past posts for non fiction.A few ideas in the history and biographies genres:

    The Durrells of Corfu by Michael Haag
    The Riviera Set by Mary Lowell
    Take Six Girls by Laura Thompson, bio on the Mitford sisters
    Cairo in the War: 1939-45 by Artemis Cooper
    Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy. The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Anne Boyd Rioux
    American Adulterer by Jed Mercurio. A fictionalised take on JFK


  • #7880
    Crosby Dazzling Ringleader
    Posts: 0 ✭ Crosby Dazzling Ringleader


    Huntergonzo wrote: »
    Looking for some recommendations please, I have a lot more time to read now so just interested in some good books people have read:

    Specficially I like Non-Fiction books, about history, war, biographies, science/nature, wild west etc

    But anything non-fiction will do, maybe about something/somebody mad that not a lot of people know about, that would be interesting.

    I couldn't recommend Wild Swans highly enough


  • #7881
    Joe_ Public
    Registered Users Posts: 13,023 ✭✭✭✭Joe_ Public


    If you're interested in nature there's a book calle "To the Ends of the Earth: Ireland's Place in Bird Migration" by Anthony McGeehan. I didnt understand a lot of it because it is unexpectedly complicated, but what i did understand blew my mind.


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  • #7882
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users Posts: 7,770 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    Huntergonzo wrote: »
    Looking for some recommendations please, I have a lot more time to read now so just interested in some good books people have read:

    Specficially I like Non-Fiction books, about history, war, biographies, science/nature, wild west etc

    But anything non-fiction will do, maybe about something/somebody mad that not a lot of people know about, that would be interesting.


    I've the ideal book for you. 'The strange, last voyage of Donald Crowhurst' by Nicholas Tomain.
    The true story of a British businessman who died whilst competing in the Sunday Times Golden Globe single yacht race in 1969.
    What makes this book so fascinating is that despite his yacht taking on water early in the race, he continually gave out false navigation positions in an attempt to convince all that he was actually completing his navigation and still competing.

    In actual fact however, his log, which this book is based on, details the enormous pressure this man was actually under. He was in a Catch 22- He could pull out of the race and live with all the shame and embarrasment which that would bring, or so he thought, or he could plough on further and further through the oceans knowing that he was more than likely going to die.


  • #7883
    Huntergonzo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,160 ✭✭✭Huntergonzo


    Thanks very much to everyone for the suggestions, they all genuinely look like interesting books and I'm going to try to get through as many as I can.

    I might start with 'The strange, last voyage of Donald Crowhurst' by Nicholas Tomain. (Thank you Fann Linn), that sounds right down my street!!

    I love reading about the wierd, wonderful and outrageous situations people get themselves into. Fact really can be stranger than fiction.


  • #7884
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users Posts: 7,770 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    Huntergonzo wrote: »
    Thanks very much to everyone for the suggestions, they all genuinely look like interesting books and I'm going to try to get through as many as I can.

    I might start with 'The strange, last voyage of Donald Crowhurst' by Nicholas Tomain. (Thank you Fann Linn), that sounds right down my street!!

    I love reading about the wierd, wonderful and outrageous situations people get themselves into. Fact really can be stranger than fiction.

    You will enjoy it.


  • #7885
    Xofpod
    Registered Users Posts: 702 ✭✭✭Xofpod


    Fann Linn wrote: »
    I've the ideal book for you. 'The strange, last voyage of Donald Crowhurst' by Nicholas Tomain.
    The true story of a British businessman who died whilst competing in the Sunday Times Golden Globe single yacht race in 1969.
    What makes this book so fascinating is that despite his yacht taking on water early in the race, he continually gave out false navigation positions in an attempt to convince all that he was actually completing his navigation and still competing.

    In actual fact however, his log, which this book is based on, details the enormous pressure this man was actually under. He was in a Catch 22- He could pull out of the race and live with all the shame and embarrasment which that would bring, or so he thought, or he could plough on further and further through the oceans knowing that he was more than likely going to die.

    I presume this is the story on which they based that Colin Firth movie a couple of years ago?


  • #7886
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users Posts: 7,770 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    Xofpod wrote: »
    I presume this is the story on which they based that Colin Firth movie a couple of years ago?

    It could well be. I think there were a number of movies made plus a BBC documentary. Ive never seen any of them. Might look for some over this lock down period. Thanks.


  • #7887
    adox
    Registered Users Posts: 19,015 ✭✭✭✭adox


    Huntergonzo wrote: »
    Thanks very much to everyone for the suggestions, they all genuinely look like interesting books and I'm going to try to get through as many as I can.

    I might start with 'The strange, last voyage of Donald Crowhurst' by Nicholas Tomain. (Thank you Fann Linn), that sounds right down my street!!

    I love reading about the wierd, wonderful and outrageous situations people get themselves into. Fact really can be stranger than fiction.

    And I Dont Want To Live This Life: A Mothers Story Of Her Daughters Murder - Deborah Spungen

    Written by the mother of Nancy Spungen, the girlfriend of Sid Vicious who was ultimately murdered by him, its a biography of her daughter from the mothers perspective. Incredibly sad but yet riveting, Nancy was a really troubled soul who really led a mad if short life.


  • #7888
    Xofpod
    Registered Users Posts: 702 ✭✭✭Xofpod


    Fann Linn wrote: »
    It could well be. I think there were a number of movies made plus a BBC documentary. Ive never seen any of them. Might look for some over this lock down period. Thanks.

    A quick Google tells me that the film I'm thinking about is The Mercy, starring Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz. It's meant to be decent although it ... sank without a trace at the time.

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


  • #7889
    eire4
    Registered Users Posts: 6,622 ✭✭✭eire4


    Huntergonzo wrote: »
    Looking for some recommendations please, I have a lot more time to read now so just interested in some good books people have read:

    Specficially I like Non-Fiction books, about history, war, biographies, science/nature, wild west etc

    But anything non-fiction will do, maybe about something/somebody mad that not a lot of people know about, that would be interesting.

    How about Tim Pat Coogan's biographies of Michael Collins and or Eammon De Valera. Maybe some Morgan Llwelyn for good historical fiction as well.


  • #7890
    Huntergonzo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,160 ✭✭✭Huntergonzo


    eire4 wrote: »
    How about Tim Pat Coogan's biographies of Michael Collins and or Eammon De Valera. Maybe some Morgan Llwelyn for good historical fiction as well.

    Definitely on the hit list, Collins in particular I'm keen to read about.


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  • #7891
    otnomart
    Registered Users Posts: 4,065 ✭✭✭otnomart


    otnomart wrote: »
    Enjoyed Salt Lane and Deadland.
    Now reading Sympathy for the Devil.
    All three by William Shaw.
    Finished Sympathy for the Devil by William Shaw.
    Not bad. But, for some reason, I did not like the way the Sixties were recreated.

    Preferred the other two novels which are set in our times.


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