Author Topic: What books are we reading at the moment ? (Read 845347 times)

Asterix, the former Gaul. · « **Reply #400 on:** 16 January, 2009, 08:47:37 am »

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - Robert Tressell.

Years ago I heard a bit read out on the radio and thought one day I'd read it. Then it went right out of fashion during the 80's and 90's, but last week I just happened to notice a copy in Waterstones.

Only on page 12 but so far so good..

clarion · « **Reply #401 on:** 16 January, 2009, 09:08:00 am »

RTP out of fashion in the 80s?!

Metro theatre company had a production that just kept touring for years. In the first half, the actors painted one side of the doors that made up the set, then in the second half, they turned them around and painted the other side. One of the worst jobs for the technical staff was stripping all the paint off regularly so the doors didn't get too heavy to shift.

RTP was one of those books that all of us on the left read in the 80s - vitally important uplifting work.

My favourite parts are the section where a Clarion van arrives, complete with cycling 'Scouts', and leaflets are distributed and a fiery speech made, and the section where he is explaining surplus value to his colleagues.

It's a bit stodgy in places, and it took me a few goes to get through, but it is worth it.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #402 on:** 16 January, 2009, 09:30:17 am »

The Rabbit Factory ~ Marshall Karp

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #403 on:** 16 January, 2009, 09:45:33 am »

The last book I read was "Life Class" by Pat Barker, which I got for Crimbo. Having found The Regeneration Trilogy brilliant, I was looking forward to this book by Barker, but I was very disappointed. The first half of the book gives an insight into life at The Slade prior to World War I and introduces the characters, which is actually very interesting. Unfortuantly for Barker, Sus Gee has already written about The Slade in "Earth and Heaven" and she did a much better job. Barker then dispenses with one of the main characters she's just introduced and then wizzes through the section about the war in Ypres before the book ends unsatisfactorily. It felt like Barker just stopped writing rather than finished the book.

Bledlow · « **Reply #404 on:** 17 January, 2009, 05:19:13 pm »

About to begin "The Bookseller of Kabul", courtesy of Oxfam.

valkyrie · « **Reply #405 on:** 17 January, 2009, 07:00:55 pm »

Quote from: valkyrie on 11 January, 2009, 12:38:11 pm

Quote from: Mrs Pingu on 31 March, 2008, 08:05:48 pm
I'm reading Darkmans by Nicola Barker.
I really wish I wasn't but I object to paying for books and not reading them so I'm persevering.

I'm reading Darkmans at the moment and really liking it. One of the strangest books I've read in a while.

Mrs Pingu was right. Interesting book but now that I've finished it I've got to say it was a very unsatisfying read.

Eccentrica Gallumbits · « **Reply #406 on:** 17 January, 2009, 10:15:56 pm »

Stephen King's newish short story collection, Just After Sunset. So far I haven't thought much to it, apart from one story N which is really creepy.

Mrs Pingu · « **Reply #407 on:** 18 January, 2009, 10:46:11 am »

Quote from: valkyrie on 17 January, 2009, 07:00:55 pm

Quote from: valkyrie on 11 January, 2009, 12:38:11 pm
Quote from: Mrs Pingu on 31 March, 2008, 08:05:48 pm
I'm reading Darkmans by Nicola Barker.
I really wish I wasn't but I object to paying for books and not reading them so I'm persevering.

I'm reading Darkmans at the moment and really liking it. One of the strangest books I've read in a while.

Mrs Pingu was right. Interesting book but now that I've finished it I've got to say it was a very unsatisfying read.

It just annoyed me in the end. I wouldn't recommend it anyway.

I am still reading Cloud Atlas

(no, I'm not a very slow reader, I just don't have time to read New Scientist every week and a book). I got through a goodly amount of it on holiday this week so I hope to bash through the rest of it in the next couple of days.
Or I will have an avalanche of NS piling up instead.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #408 on:** 19 January, 2009, 11:24:38 am »

Just finished Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo which was jolly excellent. However, since he died in 2004, I am a bit miffed that the second volume of the Millennium Trilogy isn't being published in the BRITONS' English until later this year chiz.

Now on Ghost by Robert Harris

alan · « **Reply #409 on:** 19 January, 2009, 02:30:15 pm »

Not books but various UK maps & a road atlas

Jezza · « **Reply #410 on:** 19 January, 2009, 11:48:48 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 19 January, 2009, 11:24:38 am

Just finished Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo which was jolly excellent. However, since he died in 2004, I am a bit miffed that the second volume of the Millennium Trilogy isn't being published in the BRITONS' English until later this year chiz.

Now on Ghost by Robert Harris

Looking forward to reading TGWTDT. Not read any Stig Larsen before.

With Ghost I found certain characters developed the voices of their real-life counterparts. Adam kept squirming and shrugging self-deprecatingly, saying things that began with, "Look, y'know.." in faux-estuarine.

alan · « **Reply #411 on:** 20 January, 2009, 10:26:27 am »

Quote from: alan on 19 January, 2009, 02:30:15 pm

Not books but various UK maps & a road atlas

same again.
But work is getting in the way

I may have to relegate route planning to an evening exercise.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #412 on:** 20 January, 2009, 10:32:57 am »

The Chameleon's Shadow ~ Minette Walters

clarion · « **Reply #413 on:** 20 January, 2009, 10:37:00 am »

Quote from: alan on 19 January, 2009, 02:30:15 pm

Not books but various UK maps & a road atlas

Butterfly's favourite read.

microphonie · « **Reply #414 on:** 20 January, 2009, 06:22:32 pm »

'Permutation City' - Greg Egan -the wiki link describes it better than I could

gordon taylor · « **Reply #415 on:** 20 January, 2009, 09:04:53 pm »

Pullman's Subtle Kinife. I think I've read this trilogy ten times (honestly.)

His imagination still takes my breath away.

Eccentrica Gallumbits · « **Reply #416 on:** 20 January, 2009, 09:25:32 pm »

Stig of the Dump.

Sergeant Pluck · « **Reply #417 on:** 20 January, 2009, 09:43:27 pm »

Trying to get back into the habit of a bedtime read, rather than a bedtime browse...

Just finished Tim Butcher's Blood River. Good read.

Just starting a book I rescued from the recycling bin, Johnathan Self's Self Abuse. Promising so far.

Charlotte · « **Reply #418 on:** 21 January, 2009, 09:20:29 am »

The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes.

A rather good penny dreadful

Ariadne · « **Reply #419 on:** 21 January, 2009, 09:24:39 am »

Norman Mailer, An American Dream. It's a bit of a shock after months of Trollope.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #420 on:** 21 January, 2009, 10:07:39 am »

With No-One As Witness ~ Elizabeth George.

75% of the books I've read recently feature a taser

Bledlow · « **Reply #421 on:** 27 January, 2009, 07:53:32 pm »

The Captain and the Enemy - Graham Greene. Revisiting after 20 years. I may re-read some more after this one. I was caught almost immediately.

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #422 on:** 27 January, 2009, 10:03:18 pm »

I am currently reading "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers.

Sergeant Pluck · « **Reply #423 on:** 27 January, 2009, 10:10:11 pm »

Quote from: adamski on 27 January, 2009, 10:03:18 pm

"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers

I enjoyed that a lot

Back to my current read, Johnathan Self's Self Abuse, hmmm. It's certainly fascinating in a morbid sort of way, and an insight into just how truly horrible some humans can be within families. But I'm not sure if it is a likeable book, It's definitely not going to be one of those books I re-read... I am not sure why, there is a cruelty or something in it that makes me unsympathetic to the writer.

Captain Zep · « **Reply #424 on:** 27 January, 2009, 10:22:38 pm »

Quote from: Sergeant Pluck on 27 January, 2009, 10:10:11 pm

Quote from: adamski on 27 January, 2009, 10:03:18 pm
"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers

I enjoyed that a lot

I didn't I'm afraid. I just didn't get it. It's just a bunch of stuff that happened, much of which wasn't very interesting.

Just started "Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It was recommended and loaned to me by someone who's taste in books is usually very good. I'll have to trust him and not my instincts - it has blurb reviews by Trinny & Susannah inside the cover.

Author Topic: What books are we reading at the moment ? (Read 845347 times)

alan

Jezza

alan

gordon taylor