I was certain there was already a thread, but could only find something from 2014
So, thought I’d start a fresh one with book / reading in the title
Sorry if I’ve doubled up
I’d like a recommendation please 🙏
I’m just drawing to a close on a truly excellent book The Magus by John Fowles…. I started last summer, but didn’t finish it before the end of my holiday in Greece and promised myself I’d hold on to the final half for my next holiday in Greece and now into the final coupe of chapters…. I’ve read a few other things (mainly fiction for me)
It’s an astoundingly good book…. Incredible writing, great story telling and highly thought provoking
My other favourite recent read was the shadow of the wind by Zafron - a wonderful story
So, two recommendations from me…. If I like those books, what else might I like?
Last edited by Wolfie; 23rd July 2023 at 13:32.
I'm reading The Fifth Witness by Michael Connolly. Rather annoyingly this seems to be what the second series of the Netflix 'Lincoln Lawyer' is based on, which I've also just started watching.
Also, Dark Horse, one of the Orphan X series and, for a bit of non-fiction, The World's First SWAT team, about policing Shanghai between the wars.
Not sure about the books you mentioned, so I can't really recommend anything similar.
M
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Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
The Storyteller - Dave Grohl
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RIAC
Rereading The sword of honour trilogy by Evelyn Waugh.
He's a real favourite of mine.
Cheers,
Neil.
It's here:Originally Posted by Wolfie
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...books-recently
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Aha! thank you
I had typed reading and book but not read or books
I have put my request in there and we can let this thread drift
I'm reading ...i Danny McCormack...once a Wildheart always a Wildheart. The book is helping to fund help for Danny who is a life long heroin addict. I knew Danny for many years, this book is a stark reminder how life in the music business can be so destructive. Dave Grohl's life could have been exactly the same. Kurt Cobain's was.
James Herbert Ash.
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May I recommend you splurge £6.28 on Calypso by David Sedaris. I picked it up in Waterstones in Edinburgh one December when I realised I had a few hours to spare and nowhere but pubs to go to. That old trick of picking up anything with an interesting cover and reading a random page. I spent the rest of that day and all of the next in various different places reading it, before buying another Sedaris book for the flight home.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Calypso-Dav...0286593&sr=8-2
"A man of little significance"
Just finished Bob Mortimer's autobiography - And away...
Very enjoyable indeed.
Cheers,
Neil.
I was gifted this yesterday for my birthday- looking forward to reading it
My interest was piqued by a thread on here re concord- I opened the gift while out having brekkie and the waitress told us she’d been on concord as a kid- she was an orphan and lived in a children’s home and they were taken on a trip out over Cornwall and back
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/4475.../9781405951920
Last edited by lewie; 25th July 2023 at 15:15.
Likewise, especially that trilogy. I've never read Brideshead Revisted and I need to correct that.
Currently reading
Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus - The Language of the Universe which is surprisingly compelling and engaging, especially as I've forgotten most of the maths I ever learned.
Working my way though the Jeeves and Wooster novels on the Kindle. I'm very much a paper book person, but the price was right on the collection.
On holiday next week and have two beach novels. Casino Royalewhich I've read before, but I'm in the right part of the world that it seemed appropriate to read it again.
Summertime, All the Cats Are Bored which is new to be, but has good reviews.
Hollywood Station by Joseph wambaugh. Given to me by a friend who knew I'd love it, best book I've read in ages. I've just ordered the three follow ups in the series.
I've loads half read at the moment, one of the Bond books (the Sebastian Faulks one), two Bill Brysons, a Clive Cussler which I'm trying to find excuses not to go back to, and "where the Crawdads sing" because I quite enjoyed the recent movie adaptation.. I need to get my act together!
You may enjoy Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.
I'm very fond of the Slow Horses (Slough House) series by Mick Heron which is a spy thriller/black comedy. I'm reading the 8th book currently.
Another good trilogy starts with The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow, a gritty FBI v Cartel thriller.
My go to series over the last few years for a quick light read has been Michael Connelly's Bosch novels. There are over 20 and to be fair not a bad one among them. A great holiday read.
'Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls' might be the funniest thing I've ever read.
I heard him tell the story of how someone came to a book signing and wanted him to dedicate it to her daughter with "explore your inner feelings". He always takes time to talk to each person having a book signed and always draws something or writes a message and never writes what they want, so he changed it to "let's explore diabetes with owls". This is another cracker:
In Pennsylvania, a 19-year-old asks him to inscribe a copy of his book When You Are Engulfed in Flames to his mother with “something shocking and offensive”. After a moment’s consideration, Sedaris picks up his pen: “Dear Mary Lou, I wrote. Your son Jesse left teeth marks on my dick. I handed it back and realised by the look on his face that by shocking and offensive he’d meant ‘lightly disturbing’.”
"A man of little significance"
Just added that to wishlist on audible. Thanks
RIAC
I've just finished "I wanna be yours", John Cooper Clarke's autobiography. I knew he had a serious heroin addiction but didn't realise his dependence on drugs went on for so many decades, a fascinating read and very well written.
I most recently saw perform him at the Oxford Playhouse in June and he was fantastic as usual. I'll definitely try to see him next year in his "Get him while he's still alive!" tour.
He’s fantastic and will be reading this on your recommendation!
Does it give an insight into the who/what/why of him getting the Sugar Puffs advert in the 80’s when he was addicted to heroin? Still play it occasionally, so, so bad!
It certainly does, I won't go into detail but it more than funded his habit for a few years!
Absolutely mental bit of casting and remember watching it opened mouthed to this day!
You cannot go wrong with Wodehouse.
Cheers,
Neil.
Are you sure?
Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks.
The start of the Culture series.
In Sci fi, where the storyline possibilities are infinite, it was so incredible to see a new star being born.
I’m just reading Eject! Eject! By John Nichol, it’s the history of Ejection Seats and a very interesting read if you like this kind of thing.
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Values, Voice and Virtue: The New British Politics, Matthew Goodwin. Analysis of why many, perhaps most, people in Britain feel no political party represents their views and interests and indeed politicians openly sneer at the people.
Last edited by J J Carter; 27th July 2023 at 20:12.
A Dutch book, called (translated): The Summer of 1823.
It's a combination of a diary and a roadtrip through The Netherlands and (partly) Flanders - back then, it was part of The Netherlands (the plural 's'...). I started reading on the 28th of May, exactly 200 yrs later. The 28th is the first date mentioned in the book and I read a chapter on every next correct day.
Somehow, it makes fun!
Sarah gran is an interesting writer ,her detective series featuring Claire Dewitt is pretty good and stands out among thousands of crime novels I have read
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Reading Stephen Hunter's brilliant novel set near D-Day. You would swear it was a first-hand account it is so intricately detailed.
‘White Gold’ - true story of the white slave trade told largely through the eyes of a Cornish lad captured and taken to Morocco.
Gripping and fascinating stuff about a largely unknown trade. Best book I’ve read for a long time!
If you enjoyed Shadow of the wind l'd recommend the novels of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One hundred years of solitude and Love in the time of cholera are good starting points.
I've just finished Blood & Sugar by Laura Shepherd Robinson which was excellent.
Thank you - popped it on my ever expanding reading list !
I can really recommend the IWM's series of novels written during or shortly after WW2. I enjoyed some more than others but very few have been duff or dull and many have been brilliant.
You can find the full list here:
https://shop.iwm.org.uk/books-wartime-classics
I'm re-reading two series of novels: Swallows + Amazons, and Proust. I'm expecting to finish the Arthur Ransome first, tbh.
I gave up on The Gallows Pole after a few chapters - overwritten and pretentious. Instead, I am now reading Leviathan Wakes, the first in The Expanse sci-fi series. Much more my level.
Not usually a fan of David Baldacci but I bought one from the charity shop that intrigued me - Dream Town.
A P.I whodunnit set in Hollywood in 1954.
Definitely enjoying it so far... and nice short chapters too!
Cheers,
Neil.
SAS - Band of Brothers by Damien Lewis. Follows the formation of the regiment in 1941 and the exploits of Stirling/Mayne/Lewes et al. A proper page turner.
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