What book are you reading atm?? CHAPTER TWO

Arghus · 31-07-2020 3:41am

Errashareesh wrote: »

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth. Excellent - love him. American Pastoral is amazing too.

Will then watch the TV series of The Plot Against America.

Great author. The Human Stain is another fantastic book that springs to mind.

ILoveYourVibes · 31-07-2020 7:29am

Danny the Champion of the world.

megaten · 31-07-2020 9:23am

Arghus wrote: »

Been neglecting this thread for a while but I have been reading. The last ones I finished:

The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig: Zweig's memoirs of growing up in the Europe of the late 19th century and up until his contemporary account of the rise of Nazism in Europe. Powerful stuff, the man had a hell of a life and lived through some crazy, crazy times. World War One, the craziness of the interwar years, the hope in internationalism and the darkening of unimaginable evil across the continent. Zweig is a seriously under appreciated writer these days. Feels completely fresh for a novel from eighty years ago.

Read this a good while back and really liked it. Can't remember where I read it but apparently a lot of his peers didn't actually like his work at the time and thought it was usually superficial? It amused me since his book inspired the grand budepest hotel and I'd definitely consider Wes Anderson a director concerned with aesthetics above all else. (Still like both though).

03-08-2020 4:53pm

Foweva Awone wrote: »

I'm reading "American Dirt", Jeanine Cummins. Frickin hell, it's a book that just grips you from the very first page. It feels like the best book I've read in a long time, and I'm only a few chapters in. Cannot put it down!

Well, I really enjoyed that! Thanks for the recommendation.

Currently reading Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow. It's the story of how he came to uncover Weinstein, and boy was he persistent and tenacious in the face of serious threats and intimidation.

Also reading Divine Fury - A History Of Genius, by Darren McMahon. I have an issue with his narrow definition of what constitutes genius. It's an okay read, I'm only halfway through though so it might get better - or not.

Little Miss Fairy · 04-08-2020 5:28pm

Just finished The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. A beautiful book.

Arghus · 04-08-2020 9:44pm

megaten wrote: »

Read this a good while back and really liked it. Can't remember where I read it but apparently a lot of his peers didn't actually like his work at the time and thought it was usually superficial? It amused me since his book inspired the grand budepest hotel and I'd definitely consider Wes Anderson a director concerned with aesthetics above all else. (Still like both though).

I think he was a very, very successful writer in his time, which will always lead to people hating you. And he was a contemporary of many novellists who experimented with the form of the novel, so his old fashioned style might have seemed a bit pedestrian in comparison.

But, from what I've read of him, I wouldn't call him superficial myself. His style is very gentle and very polished, but to me that's just the sign of how good he is. It takes a lot of hard work to make it look so easy.

I found his memoirs to be emotionally raw, wise, with so much to say about human nature.

megaten · 04-08-2020 10:58pm

Arghus wrote: »

I think he was a very, very successful writer in his time, which will always lead to people hating you. And he was a contemporary of many novellists who experimented with the form of the novel, so his old fashioned style might have seemed a bit pedestrian in comparison.

But, from what I've read of him, I wouldn't call him superficial myself. His style is very gentle and very polished, but to me that's just the sign of how good he is. It takes a lot of hard work to make it look so easy.

I found his memoirs to be emotionally raw, wise, with so much to say about human nature.

For what its worth I think I've found the article I was thinking of, or at least one that makes similar points.

https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v32/n02/michael-hofmann/vermicular-dither

_Godot_ · 05-08-2020 2:43am

I'm rereading Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett.

razorblunt · 05-08-2020 1:01pm

Little Miss Fairy wrote: »

Just finished The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. A beautiful book.

I bought that for my nephew as I heard great things about it, read a few pages and instantly bought another for my son, to read to him when he's older.

I've just started into Star of the Sea, the famine stories are heartbreaking, twice I had to put it down and take a break and I'm not 100 pages in.

IamMetaldave · 05-08-2020 2:12pm

Cult of the Dead Cow - Joesph Menn

Really interesting read about probably the most famous hacking group out of America.

bladespin · 05-08-2020 2:22pm

A tale of two cities, going through the classics.

Barna77 · 05-08-2020 3:01pm

bladespin wrote: »

A tale of two cities, going through the classics.

It started it some years ago. I'm no fan of Dickens but gave it ago.
Nope. I gave up after a few chapters.

bladespin · 05-08-2020 3:07pm

Barna77 wrote: »

It started it some years ago. I'm no fan of Dickens but gave it ago.
Nope. I gave up after a few chapters.

I'll persevere, going through a list of 'must reads'.

quickbeam · 05-08-2020 3:22pm

Barna77 wrote: »

It started it some years ago. I'm no fan of Dickens but gave it ago.
Nope. I gave up after a few chapters.

No problem with classics, but I gotta lot of problems with Dickens.

Gillouise · 05-08-2020 3:26pm

I started 'Gone with the wind' over the weekend. One of those books that you always hear people talking about but I never had any interest until it was on special offer at the weekend on Kindle.

quickbeam · 05-08-2020 3:26pm

Ah, if we're talking classics, that's more like it!

breezy1985 · 05-08-2020 3:32pm

razorblunt wrote: »

I bought that for my nephew as I heard great things about it, read a few pages and instantly bought another for my son, to read to him when he's older.

I've just started into Star of the Sea, the famine stories are heartbreaking, twice I had to put it down and take a break and I'm not 100 pages in.

Star of the Sea sounds interesting I'll have to add it to the list

Arghus · 05-08-2020 3:35pm

bladespin wrote: »

I'll persevere, going through a list of 'must reads'.

The only Dickens I ever read was Bleak House and I found it an absolute chore.

breezy1985 · 05-08-2020 3:39pm

Arghus wrote: »

Extinction by Thomas Bernhard: The black sheep of an aristocratic family returns home after a family tragedy. The book is basically a 400 page rant, one giant paragraph, no separate chapters. Just a relentless, unceasing diatribe against just about everything: religion, history, family, patriotism, photography, modern society. But it's funny in a really bleak kind of way.

Sounds like I wrote a book on a bender and was too drunk to remember.

As the bowl of petunias said "oh no not again"

bladespin · 05-08-2020 3:45pm

Arghus wrote: »

The only Dickens I ever read was Bleak House and I found it an absolute chore.

Read Nicholas Nickleby a while back too, it was ok, enjoyed it in way.

gutenberg · 05-08-2020 4:33pm

bladespin wrote: »

A tale of two cities, going through the classics.

Barna77 wrote: »

It started it some years ago. I'm no fan of Dickens but gave it ago.
Nope. I gave up after a few chapters.

quickbeam wrote: »

No problem with classics, but I gotta lot of problems with Dickens.

Arghus wrote: »

The only Dickens I ever read was Bleak House and I found it an absolute chore.

The only Dickens I've ever finished was A Tale of Two Cities. Everything else I've tried of his, was a big fat nope.

EmmetSpiceland · 05-08-2020 5:30pm

Barna77 wrote: »

It started it some years ago. I'm no fan of Dickens but gave it ago.
Nope. I gave up after a few chapters.

Would you say...it was the worst of times?

completedit · 05-08-2020 5:31pm

I heard the News today- Paul Howard.

ClydeTallyBump · 05-08-2020 5:48pm

Now onto Renia's Diary by Renia Spiegel.

05-08-2020 5:56pm

Brief Answers to the Big Questions - Stephen Hawking.

Some answers aren't that brief in this short little book, but it's thought provoking and easy to read. One for the curious rather than the scholars.

Wibbs · 05-08-2020 6:11pm

Fourteen Byzantine Rulers by one Michael Psellus writing in the 11th century so a contemporary account of life in the Byzantine court and beyond. For someone so far back in time you get a real sense of the man and his world.

We Have Capture by Tom Stafford. Astronaut, test pilot and more. Flew on Gemini and Apollo, commanding Apollo 10 and got within 10 miles of the surface. Then he was commander of the Apollo Soyuz joint US/Soviet mission, came up with the original specs for the B2 stealth bomber on a cafe napkin and was an unofficial ambassador to the Soviet union space guys.

Just finished The Big Show by Pierre Clostermann DFC. Free French pilot who flew with the British RAF during World war two, flying Spitfires and then Tempests in ground attack missions. He kept a daily dairy in case he was killed so his family left in France may one day read them. Scary numbers of his fellow fliers didn't come back. Flying a Spitfire across the English channel at wave top height under the German radar at 300 mph, through mist, where the slightest misfire from the engine meant instant oblivion and emerging from said mist to face at the level of the deck a German anti aircraft ship, open fire and pull up and hit a cable with his wing. Unreal.

05-08-2020 8:20pm

I remember reading about that guy. It's hard (for a devout coward like myself) to conceive of such bravery.

I've a bio of Audie Murphy on my reading list - To Hell And Back - another amazing person who was at the front in the bravery queue.

Tauriel · 05-08-2020 8:24pm

Wibbs wrote: »

Just finished The Big Show by Pierre Clostermann. Free French pilot who flew with the British RAF during World war two, flying Spitfires and then Tempests in ground attack missions. He kept a daily dairy in case he was killed so his family left in France may one day read them. Scary numbers of his fellow fliers didn't come back. Flying a Spitfire across the English channel at wave top height under the German radar at 300 mph, through mist, where the slightest misfire from the engine meant instant oblivion and emerging from said mist to face at the level of the deck a German anti aircraft ship, open fire and pull up and hit a cable with his wing. Unreal.

RTÉ aired a very good documentary during the week called Spitfire Paddy about an Irish man who joined the RAF at 17 in the late 1930s. I found it very interesting.

appledrop · 05-08-2020 8:37pm

Just finished 'Pull of Stars' by Emma Donoghue.

To be honest I've very mixed feelings on it.

I bought it based on premise of it being about Spanish Flu outbreak in Dublin hospitial set over 3 days.

However what it actually was was 3/4 pregnant women's experience of Spanish Flu in tiny maternity ward + way too graphic childbirth scences+ I say that as a woman!

However parts of it were enjoyable but didnt like ending as too rushed without giving it away.

Anyway I then started 'Conversations with Friends' by Sally Rooney. Sweet Jesus it seems like a load of pretentious nonsense like something a college student would write thats in Dramsoc. Ill give it another go but not right now. Has anyone else read this does it get better?

So my current choice is new Kathleen Mac Mahon book ' Nothing but blue sky" My god its a powerful book. Basicially about a man dealing with grief after death of his wife. Ive already cried twice!

Wibbs · 05-08-2020 9:13pm

mustang shelly wrote: »

RTÉ aired a very good documentary during the week called Spitfire Paddy about an Irish man who joined the RAF at 17 in the late 1930s. I found it very interesting.

Probably Brendan "Paddy" Finucane? 30 "kills" shot down by ground fire IIRC.

Tauriel · 05-08-2020 10:11pm

Wibbs wrote: »

Probably Brendan "Paddy" Finucane? 30 "kills" shot down by ground fire IIRC.

That's the one.

farmerval · 05-08-2020 11:18pm

Just finished Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
OK read, very dystopian future for the setting. Far from the best Atwood book I've read.

Also finished History of the rain by Niall Williams. Lovely read, very lyrical prose and all very Irish. Lots of long flowery ways of saying things, long descriptive sentences and still a story slowly but surely going somewhere. Really enjoyed it.

Barna77 · 06-08-2020 9:17am

quickbeam wrote: »

No problem with classics, but I gotta lot of problems with Dickens.

I do love the classics, but Dickens is an absolute yawn fest

Maybe his books could help me sleep better ...

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Would you say...it was the worst of times?

Hard times

Tauriel · 06-08-2020 7:08pm

The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors by Dan Jones. This is a fascinating insight into the Templar Knights, from their foundation, successes, losses in the numerous Crusades in the Holy Land and eventual downfall orchestrated by King Philip IV and Pope Clement V.

breezy1985 · 06-08-2020 11:20pm

mustang shelly wrote: »

The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors by Dan Jones. This is a fascinating insight into the Templar Knights, from their foundation, successes, losses in the numerous Crusades in the Holy Land and eventual downfall orchestrated by King Philip IV and Pope Clement V.

Its a fascinating story. I read Piers Paul Reads account and its long but well worth it

JasonStatham · 08-08-2020 9:14am

The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien.

Some cool characterisation in there. The main villain is called Morgoth.

Man you know you're really Goth, when you have Balrogs guarding treasure, your main mode of public transport is a huge spider, and your main man is Sauron.

Gangster.

Mars Bar · 08-08-2020 12:07pm

I'm just starting "52 Times Britain was a Bellend: The History You Didn't Get Taught At School". I really hope it lives up to its title. From reading the reviews it seems to have upset some precious Brits so that's a good sign.

EmmetSpiceland · 08-08-2020 12:42pm

JasonStatham wrote: »

The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien.

Some cool characterisation in there. The main villain is called Morgoth.

Man you know you're really Goth, when you have Balrogs guarding treasure, your main mode of public transport is a huge spider, and your main man is Sauron.

Gangster.

That’s really something you should keep to yourself.

TheRepentent · 08-08-2020 1:06pm

Mars Bar wrote: »

I'm just starting "52 Times Britain was a Bellend: The History You Didn't Get Taught At School". I really hope it lives up to its title. From reading the reviews it seems to have upset some precious Brits so that's a good sign.

Yeah with that name alone you'd have to give it ago

Autosport · 08-08-2020 1:11pm

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard, sounds good so hopefully it is

Lisha · 08-08-2020 1:47pm

Autosport wrote: »

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard, sounds good so hopefully it is

I’ve seen the nothing man being recommended so I think I’ll give it a go too. I’m currently reading Charity Norman’s Freeing Grace, it’s excellent. I just finished listening to the Secrets of Strangers By Charity Norman And oh my word that was excellent.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 08-08-2020 3:29pm

Mars Bar wrote: »

I'm just starting "52 Times Britain was a Bellend: The History You Didn't Get Taught At School". I really hope it lives up to its title. From reading the reviews it seems to have upset some precious Brits so that's a good sign.

First of a series?:D

I must give that a look over.

Kewreeuss · 08-08-2020 4:33pm

Picked this thread up at page 15, and have downloaded already 14 Byzantine Rulers. Looking forward to it. I've just finished Terry Brankin has a GUN by Malachi O'Doherty. I was disappointed, it had so much promise. Ex giustiziere of the IRA now a solicitor, apparently plagued by guilt that he gave the go-ahead to bomb the wrong target. It wasn't a monotonous read, there were quite
a few threads to the story but it felt as if half way through the author ran out of steam and wrapped the whole lot up very quickly. Or maybe he was told edit edit edit and he did but what was left wasn't succinct. So yeah, premise is great but I wasn't satisfied.

alchemist33 · 08-08-2020 4:36pm

The Winter Fortress by Neal Bascomb. The real-life story of Allied (mostly Norwegian) attempts to sabotage the Norwegian hydro-electric plant producing heavy water for the Nazis' atomic weapons programme. This is the story the old film The Heroes of Telemark is based on and it's a great story, well told. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, war, real-life heroism.

breezy1985 · 09-08-2020 1:02pm

Tigerbaby wrote: »

A, Just finished my ( 3rd or 4th !!) re-read of all the discworld books, and I also loved the Night Watch and Death books.

However, as a stand-alone book, I found "Small Gods" one of his best.

On a similar seam of writing, I am in the middle of reading Walter Moers Zamonia series of books. Buy the actual books, not kindle, as the illustrations within are essential to the stories.

Moers is ( almost) up there with Pratchett for inventiveness, fun and sheer craziness.

enjoy

Small God's might be his best book in the series standalone or otherwise.

Unrelated to Prachett I would highly recommend the recently deceased Carlos Ruiz Zafons series Cemetery of Forgotten Books which begins with "Shadow of the Wind" outside of a cracking story the man had a real love for books

Kewreeuss · 09-08-2020 3:29pm

Couldn't sleep last night, finished the City that we Became by NK Jemisin.
Great story, Fantastical, thoroughly engaging and very contemporary about New York developing avatars and a consciousness. Looking forward to reading the next part when it comes out.
Neil Asher's The Human is calling now.

09-08-2020 3:49pm

Kewreeuss wrote: »

Couldn't sleep last night, finished the City that we Became by NK Jemisin.
Great story, Fantastical, thoroughly engaging and very contemporary about New York developing avatars and a consciousness. Looking forward to reading the next part when it comes out.
Neil Asher's The Human is calling now.

Recommend reading her Broken Earth trilogy as well. She's a pretty amazing writer.

TheRepentent · 09-08-2020 3:57pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Recommend reading her Broken Earth trilogy as well. She's a pretty amazing writer.

Second this..great series

Kewreeuss · 09-08-2020 4:23pm

I'll check them out. Thanks

gutenberg · 10-08-2020 4:03pm

Started Philippe Sands' 'The Ratline' about the Nazi Otto van Wachter, his wartime career and his escape after the end of WW2. I'm a few chapters in and it's already gripping.

I loved Sands' East West Street so couldn't wait for this one (had to wait for husband to finish it first, grrr!).

What book are you reading atm?? CHAPTER TWO

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