Author Topic: What books are we reading at the moment ?  (Read 836108 times)

nicknack

  • Hornblower
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #350 on: 04 January, 2009, 10:07:57 pm »
Neil Gaiman - American Gods

I'm liking it.
There's no vibrations, but wait.

her_welshness

  • Slut of a librarian
    • Lewisham Cyclists
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #351 on: 04 January, 2009, 10:33:18 pm »
'Neil Gaiman - American Gods'

I enjoyed this - he is a great writer.

Currently reading 'The families who made Rome', its very good.

Flying_Monkey

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #352 on: 05 January, 2009, 11:27:38 am »
I've just finished both Obama's books (Dreams from My Father is particularly recommended - he is both a good writer and a complex and intelligent man), and Walter Mosley's Fortunate Son. I'm now reading a biography of Francis Galton.

Charlotte

  • Dissolute libertine
  • Here's to ol' D.H. Lawrence...
    • charlottebarnes.co.uk
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #353 on: 05 January, 2009, 11:41:52 am »
Jeremy Scahill - Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

I don't know what scares me more; Blackwater themselves or the way that the American government uses them.  It's bad juju, whatever.

Only a couple of chapters left and I can't put it down.  Highly recommended.

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Flying_Monkey

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #354 on: 05 January, 2009, 01:29:55 pm »
Jeremy Scahill - Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

I don't know what scares me more; Blackwater themselves or the way that the American government uses them.  It's bad juju, whatever.

Only a couple of chapters left and I can't put it down.  Highly recommended.

+1 - excellent book.

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #355 on: 05 January, 2009, 02:10:33 pm »
I'm still reading Oliver Postgate's autobiography, Seeing Things (did I mention this upthread?).  I picked it off Butterfly's shelves about a year ago, found it difficult to get into, and put down for months.  I gave it another go a while back, but didn't get an awful lot further.  I'm ashamed to say that it was Oliver's sad death recently that spurred me to get into it.

He has an interesting writing style that reflects the diversity of his interests over the years.  There are major turning points, but he doesn't seem to recognise them as such (possibly wilfully).

He goes from describing the hilarious events of his conscientious objection, to how he 'discovered' the worlds of the Pogles, Noggin, the Clangers and Bagpuss, to covering the shocking death of his parents, and the severe illnesses of both himself and his wife.  It's like wandering through a pleasant summer meadow and stepping suddenly into quicksand.  Really affecting, but some of it is very difficult reading.  Difficult in a good way, but difficult nonetheless.
Getting there...

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
  • Custard Wallah
    • Mr Larrington's Automatic Diary
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #356 on: 05 January, 2009, 02:14:12 pm »
Still grinding through Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle and am finding it a good deal more amusing second time around.  Have also recently polished off:

o The Coast Road - Paul Gogarty
o The Water Road - Paul Gogarty
o Narrowboat Dreams - Steve Hayward
o Narrow Dog To Indian Springs - Terry Darlington
o When Giants Walked The Earth - Mick Wall
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #357 on: 05 January, 2009, 02:22:31 pm »
Just finished The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby - a very insightful look at the 'dumbing-down' of American politics over the past 40 odd years.  How intellectualism is disdained as elitism and folksy ignorance is just being one of the 'good ol' boys' and how newspapers, TV and the web have been manipulated as infotainment by neo cons and religious fundamentalist types.  A must read for all your American friends (and especially non-friends)!

Also read a few of Christopher Reich's thrillers over the holidays - First Billion, The Runner, and Rules of Deception.  Fast paced with clever scenarios and interesting characters.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #358 on: 05 January, 2009, 04:47:00 pm »
Don Manley's Chamber's Crossword Manual - a Christmas present. An exercise in priggish pedantry if ever there was one. Rather irritating.

d.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

ChrisO

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #359 on: 05 January, 2009, 05:24:20 pm »
Just finished my first Terry Pratchett books, the first two Discworld novels, The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic.

Can't really see the attraction to be honest. It has some amusing parts but I found it rather too knowing and trying to be clever - it's barely above the level of parody as far as I can see.

However I know millions disagree so it must just be me.

Oh, I also read Casino Royale and the Asimov book Foundations.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #360 on: 05 January, 2009, 05:39:35 pm »
However I know millions disagree so it must just be me.

No, it's not just you. I find Pratchett highly irritating - not least because he is his own biggest fan and not half the writer he thinks he is.

d.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

microphonie

  • Tyke 2
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #361 on: 05 January, 2009, 06:22:41 pm »
Just finished 'Brasyl' by Ian McDonald.

It's a SF novel that interweaves three stories, based in 18th C, present day & future Brazil using quantum theory as a theme. Some of the Brazilian-heavy prose was a struggle at times but overall I'd recommend it & will search out River of Gods by him.

Just started Pratchett's 'Wintersmith'.

Nice to see that at least 3 of us have all been attracted to Neil Gaiman's American Gods in the last month!
Bingo! That's what I am, a saviour.
A sort of cocky version of Jesus.

Wascally Weasel

  • Slayer of Dragons and killer of threads.
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #362 on: 05 January, 2009, 07:46:32 pm »
Just finished my first Terry Pratchett books, the first two Discworld novels, The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic.

Can't really see the attraction to be honest. It has some amusing parts but I found it rather too knowing and trying to be clever - it's barely above the level of parody as far as I can see.

However I know millions disagree so it must just be me.

Oh, I also read Casino Royale and the Asimov book Foundations.

The first two aren't really much more than parody I would agree - I didn't mind that when they first came out as I was a lot younger - they do get better (this still depends a bit on personal opinion) and if you did want to try any more I would recommend either 'Guards, Guards' or 'Wyrd Sisters'.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #363 on: 05 January, 2009, 08:00:07 pm »
"The Rider" by Tim Krabbe.  It's rather good, even if Rapha like it  ::-)
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

simonp

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #364 on: 06 January, 2009, 12:10:27 am »
"The Rider" by Tim Krabbe.  It's rather good, even if Rapha like it  ::-)

Gay!  Burn him!!!

(Must get round to reading the copy I was given)

I'm still working through the Chris Hoy book.  Tis a good read.

woollypigs

  • Mr Peli
    • woollypigs
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #365 on: 06 January, 2009, 07:43:12 am »
"The Rider" by Tim Krabbe.  It's rather good, even if Rapha like it  ::-)
Read that in two days in the summer, just couldn't put it down, top read.
Current mood: AARRRGGGGHHHHH !!! #bollockstobrexit

IanDG

  • The p*** artist formerly known as 'Windy'
    • the_dandg_rouleur
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #366 on: 06 January, 2009, 08:36:23 pm »
"The Rider" by Tim Krabbe.  It's rather good, even if Rapha like it  ::-)

Currently reading that too, at 118-120km

excellent read

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #367 on: 07 January, 2009, 09:05:25 am »
Am reading 'The Discovery of France' by Graham Robb. Very readable and interesting so far , I am already looking forward to reading another chapter and a half tonight :)

Flying_Monkey

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #368 on: 07 January, 2009, 09:16:51 am »
"The Rider" by Tim Krabbe.  It's rather good, even if Rapha like it  ::-)

Currently reading that too, at 118-120km

excellent read

It's certainly top in a field of one - being the only good novel about bike racing!  ;)

On Brasyl - I didn't find the prose hard going at all, indeed I thought it was one of the best written sf novels of recent years, and one of the best British novels of 2007 in any genre. There again Ian McDonald is one of my favourite writers... River of Gods is also great.

IanDG

  • The p*** artist formerly known as 'Windy'
    • the_dandg_rouleur
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #369 on: 07 January, 2009, 11:01:06 am »
Finished 'The Rider' last night, have started 'From the Mull to the Cape (a gentle bike ride on the edge of wilderness)' by Richard Guise

blackpuddinonnabike

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #370 on: 07 January, 2009, 11:09:40 am »
The Plot Against America - Philip Roth

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #371 on: 07 January, 2009, 11:11:48 am »
"The Scar" by China Mieville. Baroque. Very very very baroque sci-fi. Full of dirty, very real characters.

Just finished reading the Twilight series, which I had to as my girls and wife were constantly discussing it. Laughed all my way through, particularly when reading the copy with passages heavily underlined by 13-yr-old girl.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

onb

  • Between jobs at present
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #372 on: 07 January, 2009, 11:21:36 am »
Bad Blood by Jeremy Whittle a book which confirms a lot of what I had assumed ,quite depressing but interesting.

Palestinian Walks :Notes on a vanishing landscape ,I have only read the introduction to this but can see where its going.
.

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #373 on: 07 January, 2009, 11:24:24 am »
The Plot Against America - Philip Roth

ooh, that's great! I didn't expect to like it - I like Roth but didn't fancy that one, and then loved it.

I'm still reading Trollope - I'm trapped in a world of lords and duchesses and can't tear myself away. Currently on Phineas Redux. Maybe once I finish the Palliser series I'll try something less Victorian.

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
  • Custard Wallah
    • Mr Larrington's Automatic Diary
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #374 on: 07 January, 2009, 11:36:15 am »
It's certainly top in a field of one - being the only good novel about bike racing!  ;)

Have you read James Waddington's Bad To The Bone?
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime