As I am reading constantly, I am most interested in input about old or new favorites. At the moment, I am slumming with Cotswold murder mysteries by Stella Cameron.
When waiting to get tired at night, I turn to Bill Bryson and "One summer. 1927"
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Finished this last week. A joy from first page to last. Love the man.
Ashamed to say I didn't recognise the Barras.
Book related, just above the black car on the right.....
@berlintramp I finally read a Barbara Pym, as recommended by you. Quartet in Autumn and I thought it was excellent - nothing really happened, but it was a beautifully drawn story of four people approaching retirement and how their lives interacted. Some very subtle humour, which I liked and a struggle to understand the modern world, as it was in the 1970's.
Thanks for the recommendation, I will read more of her work!
I've heard about that book, haven't read it.
As you say, supposed to be a very tough one to get through.
I read this interview with the author Douglas Stuart recently, interesting read.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/apr/02/douglas-stuart-shuggie-bain-tough-start-living-with-alcoholic
Finally picked up fiction that’s been on the bedside table unread far too long. Tough read, but what a book:
Dunno if there's any Denise Mina fans out there but I've just finished this -
Another great read from the "Tartan Noir" genre.
Anyone who likes a crime thriller and isn't au fait with her work should fire in.
I read the first story in 'If it Bleeds', 'Mr. Harrigan's Phone' which I really enjoyed, the second one, 'Life of Chuck' was weird and I didn't understand it! Moved on to another, non Stephen King, 'Daughters of the Night' by Laura Shepherd Robinson which is terrific.
I might read the next SK short story on the train to London this afternoon.
@SteveInJoburg I'm looking forward to this one, brother. It's been a while since I felt this much anticipation for a forthcoming King book. I have an unexplainable feeling it's going to be one of his best, a throwback to the classic Stephen King. The title, synopsis and author are enough to convince me before reading it that I'm going to love it.
Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was ten, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself—and his dad. When Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her aging master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. Sometimes strange sounds emerge from it.
Charlie starts doing jobs for Mr. Bowditch and loses his heart to Radar. Then, when Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a cassette tape telling a story no one would believe. What Bowditch knows, and has kept secret all his long life, is that inside the shed is a portal to another world.
Release date is September 6th.
I have never read any Stephen King - what would you recommend? Nothing that's too 'horror' please!
I'm going to start this beautiful, perfect story tonight (fifth read) and hopefully finish it before I get too deep into my new project to read anyone else.
Such an incredible story.
I first read this adventure while I was on the road, just like Traveling Jack - though his highway adventures were far more harrowing than most of mine.
A little shameless self-promotion. My new novel released yesterday. The e-book is currently free through March 11.
I discovered Jonathan Coe a couple of years ago. I had watched 'The Rotters Club', a novel of his which was turned into a TV programme, and enjoyed that, but hadn't bothered with anything else.
During the first lockdown we needed something to distract us and downloaded the audio version of 'Middle England' which was excellent and it led me to his other novels, most of which have been very enjoyable.
I have just finished 'The Rain Before it Falls' (great title) and thought it was really good.
Tonight, I'll revisit an old favorite for a third reading.
Also, anyone interested in well-written mysteries? Richard Osman "Thursday Murder Club" plus sequel "The Man Who Died Twice" are unusual and at the same time a lot of fun!
I recommend "Society's Child" by Janis Ian, well written and rather frightening at times. Also "My Song" by Harry Belafonte. Real Insights into racism at every level.
@berlintramp have you read 'Still Life' by Sarah Winman? I think it is one you would enjoy. It's a love letter to Florence woven into a delightful story, set mostly in the 60's.
Actually, scrub that.
Read the first two, Laidlaw and The Papers of Tony Veitch, then read The Big Man, then read Strange Loyalties (book 3).
The man uses/words better, as an aesthetic tool, than almost anyone else
I'm reading this just now, enjoying immensely but I feel it may be a bit "middle aged Scotsman" niche for some.
Picked up a copy of this in Mostly Books in Abingdon. Looking forward to reading music essays by people who can actually write!
I see little difference: Franco & Pinochet thru to Orban, Trump & assorted oil state despots.
And don't forget the preceding two lines - now more than ever.
Joe must be spinning in his grave, bless him.
(Can you imaging if we were having this conversation on the Oily Puddle.....😲!)
I reckon there's plenty would've been content nowadays to do business with Franco.
How did The Clash put it?
If Adolf Hitler flew in today they'd send a limousine anyway.
Forty odd years ago they said that, things are fully worse now.
I made a point of visiting La Pasionaria memorial last time I was in Glasgow and the recent visit to the plaque in Dundee prompted me to try and educate myself a bit more on the subject: a general history first to give context before looking into the volunteers who joined the IB’s. Not really a military enthusiast myself, but it always makes me ponder what might have been had we lived in different times.
Current book is The Battle For Spain, Antony Beevor. A history of the Spanish Civil War. Around half way thru what is a fairly chunky tome.
A conflict I was aware of, but did not fully appreciate the complexity of the various factions, thinking in essence it was a fascist coup resisted by Comintern controlled leftists.
The other aspects which shocked were the descriptions of savage repression during the open conflict period and it’s hang-over thru until the death of Franco, and the condition of Spain relative to much of Western Europe thru to surprisingly late in the 20th C.
Need to read something light next…..
I am reading a fascinating book at the moment - Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld. It is one of those 'alternative histories' where Hillary Clinton doesn't marry Bill. He never runs for President but she does. John McCain wins the two terms Clinton would have had. I don't know yet if she succeeds, but I sure as hell hope so!
I would love to be able to talk to Marsha about this book. 😢
This is your friendly book advertiser talking: A new book I had pre-ordered months ago and forgotten suddenly popped up in my kindle: "Shades of Springsteen: Politics, Love, Sports and Masculinity" by John Massaro.
The author was one of the first professors to design a university course on Springsteen's work.
Having started it, it seems promising - many aspects covered.
And while I'm at it, there is a new book coming out on October 28th by Brian Hiatt, "The Stories Behind the Songs", said to include even the two new albums Western Stars and Letter to You.
I know there was a similar one examining song by song a while ago, (I forget the author at the moment and am too lazy to run downstairs to look) but one can NEVER own too many Bruce books!
The pandemic and lockdown had me in need of consolation. So I happened upon the books by Barbara Pym and read them all again. She is funny, wise, and altogether like a warm, relaxing bath after a long, cold walk.
Just what I needed.
Rereading ‘The Border Trilogy’. Rarely reread fiction, but make an exception for Cormac McCarthy. Predictably it’s got me listening to Western Stars, Chasing Wild Horses.
I have never really bothered with spoken word books, but have started listening to Middle England by Jonathan Coe and am really enjoying it. It's read by Roy Kinnear, who is very good, and I do think the quality of the person reading is crucial.
The whole book is 13 hours long!
Anyone read any Steve Cavanagh? Courtroom dramas set in New York - they are not brilliantly written, but real page turners - perfect for another lockdown!
Was gifted a copy of The Promised Land by Barrack Obama for Christmas. Only 4 chapters in but absolutely loving it. He is as good a writer as he is an orator.
I can really, really recommend the above book ^^. I am fascinated by all the detail and continue to start by "just looking" and coming up for air hours later. Put on some of the albums alongside reading, made a cup of tea - forget corona!
Have any of you started the new book about "Bruce Springsteen: All the songs. The story behind every track" by Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon ?
Very informative, including background and technical details.
Not for reading in one go, but something to go back to often.
I have just finished Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling - all 926 pages of it. My God, she's a good storyteller. I think most other writers would have been advised to edit it down by a couple of hundred pages, but I guess you don't tell JK what to do!
Anyway, a fantastic story with a twist I really did not see coming.
@Jerseyfornia isn't that the key to good writing? Be it a book, movie, song... You know how it will end, you know how it goes and can even mouth the words, but you read/watch/listen anyway because it is good and makes you feel a way you like.... I think so anyway. 😊
The first Odd Thomas book is like that for me. I know it's going to make me laugh and cry but I want to re-read the pages anyway.
@Jerseyfornia I think we've spoken this before but I wholeheartedly concur... Boy's Life is a must read. I think I'm due for another read of it too, actually.
I'm reading this for the fifth time.
If I had to choose from all the books I've loved, Boy's Life is probably my favorite of all time. I wrote a book about my boyhood and I only wish it were as wonderful as this book is. Boy's Life is a truly magical book that I'd recommend to anyone.
Just read the author's intro to The Abominable by Dan Simmons, looking forward to getting stuck into the book proper. Every book of his I've read I've thought either good or very very good. The Terror and Black Hills were my two favourites by him.
Got midnight sun - its the fattest paperback ive ever seen - too bad having a power cut right
Thank you @whispered secret , I have looked up the author and will read one as soon as I'm finished with the two current ones. I'm always glad to discover new authors.
Finally got John Cale's autobiography "What's Welsh For Zen" - really looking forward to getting stuck into it.
@berlintramp Have you read any books by Sally Vickers? I have just bought the latest, 'Grandmothers'. The one I enjoyed most was 'Miss Garnets Angel'.
i had not been able to really enjoy a fiction book since my dad died many years ago now, i read the grapes of wrath and it had a profound affect on me but was a good book but not a happy read
but then Gary and i watched Twlight and i read all the books in 10 days over an Easter
the first book has been rewrittem from Edward's perspective (the books are written in Bella's first person)
one one hand i have Bella wanting to be young forever and on the other Bruce Springsteen teaching me to be grown up - But Bruce is about reality for me, not escapism,
its been years since i read Twlight an embarrsing amount of times but im really looking forward to reading this
I don't read as many Afrikaans books as I did in High School, but I recently read a book named Triomf. (Triumph) about the area named Triomf, filled in the Sixties with predominantly poor and very poor white families, which was built on the ruins of what was once Sophiatown, a colourful, vibrant, beautiful black area that was a hotbed for jazz. It was literally levelled, the black folk shoved over to Soweto and houses built for white families, mostly railway workers. It was brutal, bleak and depressing. I sobbed several times and parts of it disturb me to this day but it was so well written I could not put it down.
I am really hoping there will be some redemption at the end, but I am not holding my breath...
Definitely something light hearted next!
I am done with thoroughly depressing tales. I have read my share of them in my time, and now I need something at least slightly entertaining, uplifting or at least well written without becoming depressing. A bit of hope at the end of the tunnel?
I usually have a few books next to the bed, all being read to a lesser or greater extent. Currently these are If It Bleeds by Stephen King, a motivational book called The Middle (starting things is easy, finishing perhaps less so, but 'the middle' is where its hardest) by a first time South African author who is a consultant to the company I work for and lastly an HG Wells twofer which contains both The War of the Worlds and a story called The War in the Air.