Author Topic: What books are we reading at the moment ?  (Read 836063 times)

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #925 on: 08 November, 2009, 07:47:01 pm »
Mark - thanks for the wider point of view - useful to know.

I've finshed Non-violence (rather appropriate today) and moved onto "Big Business - Poor Peoples" by John Madeley.  It's ten years old so possibly a slightly out of date view of the impact of multi-national companies, though sadly probably still highly relevant.

Rig of Jarkness

  • An Englishman abroad
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #926 on: 08 November, 2009, 09:16:12 pm »
I'm reading A Thousand Splendid Suns from the chap who wrote The Kite Runner.  Very harrowing but utterly compelling.
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αdαmsκι

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #927 on: 08 November, 2009, 09:29:13 pm »
I've just finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which I hadn't before read. It's bonkers. Totally bonkers, but brilliant. It's great to read the original references to things such as The White Rabbit, The Mad Hatter etc. It's time I listened again to Jefferson Airplane singing White Rabbit.

I've now started Paul Theroux's The Kingdom by the Sea.


Saturday by Ian McEwan.
Of the McEwan books I've read (The Cement Factory, Atonement, On Chesil Beach and Amsterdam), Saturday is my favourite. I thought it was beautiful written and I was amazed how the story could captivate me so much.


I'm reading A Thousand Splendid Suns from the chap who wrote The Kite Runner.  Very harrowing but utterly compelling.
Yes, very harrowing.
What on earth am I doing here on this beautiful day?! This is the only life I've got!!

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RJ

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #928 on: 08 November, 2009, 10:19:59 pm »
I'm reading A Thousand Splendid Suns from the chap who wrote The Kite Runner.  Very harrowing but utterly compelling.
Yes, very harrowing.

And Dr RJ (having read both) doesn't understand why I don't want to read either  ::-)

I've got Bacon's Essays next to the bed - unread since it was on my Eng Lit undergraduate reading list, but now quite enjoyable, an essay at a time.

Mr Larrington

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #929 on: 09 November, 2009, 01:04:34 pm »
The Men Who Stare At Goats ~ Jon Ronson.

I've read something very similar to the first chapter - in which General Stubblebine tries and fails to walk through his office wall - somewhere else recently and I can't remember where and it's driving me maaaaaaaaaaaaaad!
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

rower40

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #930 on: 09 November, 2009, 02:08:33 pm »
Branch Line Britain, by Paul Atterbury.

(Birthday present)

For someone at the rockface of the cutting edge in the firing line of the decline of Britain's Railways, this is nostalgic in the extreme.
Be Naughty; save Santa a trip

Flying_Monkey

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #931 on: 09 November, 2009, 02:51:20 pm »
The Men Who Stare At Goats ~ Jon Ronson.

I've read something very similar to the first chapter - in which General Stubblebine tries and fails to walk through his office wall - somewhere else recently and I can't remember where and it's driving me maaaaaaaaaaaaaad!

There was a load of excerpts etc. published on The Guardian website recently because of the film release....and also a couple of years back in the magazine. Could have been there?

mattc

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #932 on: 09 November, 2009, 04:00:14 pm »
I liked Iain Banks's stuff, The Bridge is my fave I think (ripped off by Irvine Welsh in The Marabou Stork Nightmares imo). I've got a big black and white section of my bookshelf!
I think Iain M Banks is the forum's unofficial favourite author. Doesn't get so many mentions without the M, but that's how I prefer him.

Wasp Factory, Complicity, Crow Road, Espedair St would be my top ...err... 4

(or Player of Games WITH the 'M' )

Song of Stone was deeply depressing, with no redeeming features
Has never ridden RAAM
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citoyen

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #933 on: 09 November, 2009, 04:24:26 pm »
I think Iain M Banks is the forum's unofficial favourite author. Doesn't get so many mentions without the M, but that's how I prefer him.

I've never read any with the M. Don't know why, just never fancied any of them, even though I liked those of his non-M books that I've read.

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

her_welshness

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #934 on: 10 November, 2009, 12:27:51 am »
The Men Who Stare At Goats ~ Jon Ronson.

I've read something very similar to the first chapter - in which General Stubblebine tries and fails to walk through his office wall - somewhere else recently and I can't remember where and it's driving me maaaaaaaaaaaaaad!

I read this ages ago, I loved it! Especially about that mass gathering of all the political heavyweights - was it Bildenberg? Cannot remember. Jon Ronson is fab.

Mr Larrington

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #935 on: 10 November, 2009, 10:23:50 am »
The Men Who Stare At Goats ~ Jon Ronson.

I've read something very similar to the first chapter - in which General Stubblebine tries and fails to walk through his office wall - somewhere else recently and I can't remember where and it's driving me maaaaaaaaaaaaaad!

There was a load of excerpts etc. published on The Guardian website recently because of the film release....and also a couple of years back in the magazine. Could have been there?

This was definitely in a book.  It may have been in Simon Schama's "The American Future", but the General doesn't get a mention in the index...
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

her_welshness

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #936 on: 10 November, 2009, 12:55:32 pm »
I liked Iain Banks's stuff, The Bridge is my fave I think (ripped off by Irvine Welsh in The Marabou Stork Nightmares imo). I've got a big black and white section of my bookshelf!
I think Iain M Banks is the forum's unofficial favourite author. Doesn't get so many mentions without the M, but that's how I prefer him.

Wasp Factory, Complicity, Crow Road, Espedair St would be my top ...err... 4

(or Player of Games WITH the 'M' )

Song of Stone was deeply depressing, with no redeeming features

Totally agree, Song of Stone was terrible, I think its the only book that I have failed to get through and has put me off Iain Banks for a very long time or until someone can reassure me that he has written better ones since?

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #937 on: 10 November, 2009, 09:35:23 pm »
I read this ages ago, I loved it! Especially about that mass gathering of all the political heavyweights - was it Bildenberg? Cannot remember. Jon Ronson is fab.

That was in his 'Them - Adventures with Extremists'.  It had chapters on KKK, The Tottenham Ayatollah, David Icke, Ian Paisley, through to Bilderburg.  Very entertaining.  Very fab.

her_welshness

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #938 on: 11 November, 2009, 12:03:42 am »
I read this ages ago, I loved it! Especially about that mass gathering of all the political heavyweights - was it Bildenberg? Cannot remember. Jon Ronson is fab.

That was in his 'Them - Adventures with Extremists'.  It had chapters on KKK, The Tottenham Ayatollah, David Icke, Ian Paisley, through to Bilderburg.  Very entertaining.  Very fab.

Thank you so much! The chapter about Ian Paisley was extremely entertaining.

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #939 on: 11 November, 2009, 10:47:15 pm »
I'm working my way through Stella Duffy's Saz Martin novels.
My feminist marxist dialectic brings all the boys to the yard.


Flying_Monkey

Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #940 on: 12 November, 2009, 02:38:54 am »
I am becoming unusually non-fictional. I am just working my way through Trees of Ontario, Wildflowers of Ontario and Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada... along side my permaculture books.

Mr Larrington

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #941 on: 12 November, 2009, 09:40:31 am »
Are YOU Dave Gorman? ~ Dave Gorman & Danny Wallace

Utterly bonkers in a gentle and restrained sort of way.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

her_welshness

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #942 on: 12 November, 2009, 12:39:56 pm »
Are YOU Dave Gorman? ~ Dave Gorman & Danny Wallace

Utterly bonkers in a gentle and restrained sort of way.

I loved  this - I heard good things about the tour as well. 'Googlewhack' by Dave Gorman is also very good.

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
  • Custard Wallah
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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #943 on: 12 November, 2009, 02:19:30 pm »
Are YOU Dave Gorman? ~ Dave Gorman & Danny Wallace

Utterly bonkers in a gentle and restrained sort of way.

I loved  this - I heard good things about the tour as well. 'Googlewhack' by Dave Gorman is also very good.

That's next on the list :)  I can also recommend his America Unchained.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Wascally Weasel

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #944 on: 12 November, 2009, 03:00:33 pm »
'Red File for Callan' which I found on a second hand bookstall yesterday.

her_welshness

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #945 on: 12 November, 2009, 04:24:51 pm »
Are YOU Dave Gorman? ~ Dave Gorman & Danny Wallace

Utterly bonkers in a gentle and restrained sort of way.

I loved  this - I heard good things about the tour as well. 'Googlewhack' by Dave Gorman is also very good.

That's next on the list :)  I can also recommend his America Unchained.

Ooh thanks!

Just started 'The Gargoyle' by Andrew Davidson. It's a Richard and Judy recommendation, and so far their book club has contained some stunning reads.

Riggers

  • Mine's a pipe, er… pint!
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #946 on: 12 November, 2009, 04:32:49 pm »
Just taken delivery via Amazon (2nd hand) of Cycling home from Siberia by Rob Lilwall. Not sure this qualifies as I haven't actually started reading it. Flicked through the pages quickly and looked at some of the pics, so maybe that counts!?

Cycling home from Siberia
Certainly never seen cycling south of Sussex

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #947 on: 13 November, 2009, 08:40:39 pm »
Are YOU Dave Gorman? ~ Dave Gorman & Danny Wallace

Utterly bonkers in a gentle and restrained sort of way.

I loved  this - I heard good things about the tour as well. 'Googlewhack' by Dave Gorman is also very good.

That's next on the list :)  I can also recommend his America Unchained.

I laughed so hard at the Googlewhack show I had to use my inhaler. Some of Danny Wallace's books are good too - I liked Join Me and Friends Like These, but wasn't so keen on Yes Man.
My feminist marxist dialectic brings all the boys to the yard.


her_welshness

  • Slut of a librarian
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Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #948 on: 23 November, 2009, 02:30:57 pm »
Right just got back from the local library (Lewisham libraries are fab btw) and next on my list are:

'Charlotte Church - Keep Smiling - The Autobiography'
'Our Betty - Scenes from my life' - Liz Smith (the front cover is fantastic)
'The Nightwatch' - Sarah Waters

Rig of Jarkness

  • An Englishman abroad
Re: What books are we reading at the moment ?
« Reply #949 on: 23 November, 2009, 06:25:40 pm »
Just finished The House at Riverton by Kate Morton - thoroughly enjoyed it  :thumbsup:
Aero but not dynamic