Author Topic: What books are we reading at the moment ? (Read 845712 times)

spindrift · « **Reply #375 on:** 07 January, 2009, 06:57:35 pm »

The Outcast by Sadie Jones mentioned upthread has been nominated for some prize or other. It is a lovely, beautiful book.

Tourist Tony · « **Reply #376 on:** 08 January, 2009, 12:59:08 am »

Just finished Pratchett's "Nation" and now back to a set of Dawkins gene books. Preparing for next OU course.

blackburnrod · « **Reply #377 on:** 08 January, 2009, 01:23:17 am »

Austerity Britain (1945-51) by David Kynaston.Brings back memories and makes one realise that present times are not really very bad.

mark · « **Reply #378 on:** 09 January, 2009, 06:49:41 am »

"Solving Stonehenge-The New Key to an Ancient Enigma", by Anthony Johnson. Studying in preparation for a visit this April/May.

toekneep · « **Reply #379 on:** 09 January, 2009, 10:26:39 am »

I had 'Moods of Future Joys' and 'Thunder and Sunshine' by Alastair Humphreys for Christmas. I'm half way through the first one and it is really good. A nice mixture of self appraisal, observation and general philosophising about the world and the experience of cycling around it. Highly recommended.

(I'm surprised nobody else has mentioned these books in this thread, at least the search facility says they haven't)

Tom B · « **Reply #380 on:** 09 January, 2009, 05:16:35 pm »

Quote

I'm surprised nobody else has mentioned these books in this thread, at least the search facility says they haven't

I tried to move a spare copy of MoFJ in the other place but there were no takers

I don't think he's quite made it into the (cycling-) public consciousness in the way Anne Mustoe and Josie Dew have (MoFJ was self-published). Shame, cos he is a good writer

toekneep · « **Reply #381 on:** 09 January, 2009, 05:40:11 pm »

Is that right? The copy I have was published by Eye Books Ltd. or is that his own publishing company. I agree that he is a good writer, I would easily put him on a par with Josie Dew if not higher.

Ariadne · « **Reply #382 on:** 09 January, 2009, 05:44:39 pm »

I've never heard of him - will add those two to my wish list, thanks!

Dinamo · « **Reply #383 on:** 09 January, 2009, 05:49:14 pm »

Engelby ~ Stephan Faulks

toekneep · « **Reply #384 on:** 09 January, 2009, 05:56:46 pm »

Quote from: Ariadne on 09 January, 2009, 05:44:39 pm

I've never heard of him - will add those two to my wish list, thanks!

He came to my attention in a radio four interview when he told the story of setting out on his epic round the world trip and his mum/dad had to call him back because he was going the wrong way out of the village.

Ariadne · « **Reply #385 on:** 09 January, 2009, 06:52:33 pm »

haha - excellent! Look forward to reading them - I thought I'd run out of cycle tour books to read, so this is very cheering. Mind you, I can't afford another six months off so I shouldn't be reading tour-porn

D0m1n1c Burford · « **Reply #386 on:** 10 January, 2009, 03:56:56 pm »

My wife bought me Stephen Fry's autobiography for Christmas. It's called 'Moab is my washpot'. Started reading it this week, and am pleased to report that it is so far a very honest, revealing portrait of the man. He is open about his homosexuality, his stealing and other demons.

Melrose · « **Reply #387 on:** 10 January, 2009, 06:46:21 pm »

Just finished Country of the Blind by Christopher Brookmyre and just started Sea Dog Bamse World War II Canine Hero

Tom B · « **Reply #388 on:** 10 January, 2009, 09:56:13 pm »

Re Alastair Humphries, my copy is a print-on-demand by an establishment then known as pabd.com. In an appendix he explains that he paid £300, found someone to design the cover and had to do his own marketing and editing. Assume that it sold well enough to attract a mainstream publisher

Having followed much of the trip on his blog (he posts on Lonely Planet Thorn Tree), I was looking out for it as soon as I knew he'd got back safely.

valkyrie · « **Reply #389 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.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #390 on:** 12 January, 2009, 10:26:20 am »

Finally finished The Baroque Cycle and have turned for a little light relief to Malcolm Pryce's Don't Cry For Me Aberystwyth.

Regulator · « **Reply #391 on:** 12 January, 2009, 01:52:06 pm »

I've just reread Patrick Dennis' 'Auntie Mame'. It had me in fits of laughter and I read it through in one go (I was up until 4 a.m. this morning, unable to put it down).

Jezza · « **Reply #392 on:** 13 January, 2009, 11:30:49 pm »

'Alias Grace' by Margaret Atwood. The story of a 19th century murderess. I've never read anything by her before, and it's beautifully crafted, although it drags a bit.

'The Gate' by Francois Bizot. The true story of a French ethnologist captured by the Khmer Rouge. Very powerful.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #393 on:** 14 January, 2009, 10:18:02 am »

Darkly Dreaming Dexter ~ Jeff Lindsay.

vorsprung · « **Reply #394 on:** 14 January, 2009, 11:45:15 am »

Bradley Wiggins Bio

Really Ancien · « **Reply #395 on:** 14 January, 2009, 11:53:59 am »

Quote from: vorsprung on 14 January, 2009, 11:45:15 am

Bradley Wiggins Bio

It's a nice day here, I think I'll go for a ride later, I'll be passing the pub where he had his epic binges, I'll see if his bike's outside.

Damon.

mike · « **Reply #396 on:** 14 January, 2009, 11:57:11 am »

Round the world in 80 days. I'd forgotten how funny it is.

Jacomus · « **Reply #397 on:** 14 January, 2009, 12:00:01 pm »

Frederick Forsythe - The Fist Of God

AWESOME!

Really Ancien · « **Reply #398 on:** 14 January, 2009, 12:17:24 pm »

Hope . . . from the Heart of Horses: How Horses Teach Us about Presence, Strength, and Awareness

Not really, but I'm sure it will be a terrific read when it comes out.

Damon.

Frenchie · « **Reply #399 on:** 15 January, 2009, 10:41:47 pm »

Lao She -- Four Generations under One Roof (the French translation)

Author Topic: What books are we reading at the moment ? (Read 845712 times)

spindrift

D0m1n1c Burford

Melrose

Jezza

Really Ancien

Really Ancien