Book thread: what are you reading?

I'm reading A short history of England by Simon Jenkins. I am a bit of a history fan on the side. It's really hard keeping up with who was king or ruler in the early years because there was that many battles and wars, not to mention the number of kingdoms in England.

Bought this after you mentioned it. Just what I was looking for.

Recently finished 'The Chronicles of Hernia' by Barry Cryer and 'The Loved One' by Evelyn Waugh. Both very enjoyable.

Have just started on Robert Peston's "Who runs Britain ... and who's to blame for the economic mess we're in".

It is a little out of date  now since it was published in 2008 but I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. It should just help the reader appreciate more why the economy is in the state it is.

Two quotes on the back cover convinced me I should read this book. One was by Peter Oborne in Tribune who wrote: ""Peston has something very rare in any kind of journalism: the ability to write with the insight and the understanding of a genuine insider - and the dispassionate clarity of a highly intelligent observer. This unique guide to our contemporary predicament....deserves to become essential reading."

The other was from Polly Toynbee who wrote "....reading this book, you can only be flabbergasted all over again at how Labour kowtowed to wealth, glorified the City and put all the nation's economic eggs into one dangerous basket."

Steven King - Salems Lot well worth re-reading.

For some reason I find the Vampire's letter to the protagonists particularly chilling.

Going for a revisit of the James Ellroy back catalogue which I haven't read in a good few years.

Once you get used to the staccato style it is utterly mesmerising, terrifying and real.

Going through Robert Louis Stevenson books at present.

Treasure Island last month, Kidnapped this month. Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde and Catriona to come.

Going through Robert Louis Stevenson books at present.

Treasure Island last month, Kidnapped this month. Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde and Catriona to come.

"Red or Dead" - David Peace's fictionalised account of Bill Shankly's time at Liverpool FC. 

Very stylised but a good read all the same.

Going for a revisit of the James Ellroy back catalogue which I haven't read in a good few years.

 

Once you get used to the staccato style it is utterly mesmerising, terrifying and real.

Which one, the LA triloogy or the 60's set ?

"Red or Dead" - David Peace's fictionalised account of Bill Shankly's time at Liverpool FC. 

 

Very stylised but a good read all the same.

Thinking about getting that. Damned United was very good and I enjoyed all his ripper stuff plus GB84.

The Secret Agent: In Search of America's Greatest World War II Spy by Stephen Talty. A very interesting short biography.

Which one, the LA triloogy or the 60's set ?

La trilogy followed by American Tabloid, Cold 6000, and Blood's a rover. I think the last line of American tabloid coupled with the art of the typesetter is stunning, chilling and again very real.

Steven King - Salems Lot well worth re-reading.

 

 

Snap

Espedair Street - Ian Banks very funny and sad at the same time.

Working my way through the old classics nearly finished Dracula an excellent book

Working my way through the old classics nearly finished Dracula an excellent book

It's absolutely batcack crazy.

Read Frankenstein if you haven't already.

Working my way through the old classics nearly finished Dracula an excellent book

Will you be having a trip to Whitby when you've finished the book?

If you like Dracula and stuff in similar genres, then you might like some of Sheridan Le Fanu's work. His novella, 'Carmilla' is thought to have influenced Stoker; it's a good read. Like Stoker, Le Fanu was borne in Ireland.

Norman Lewis - Jackdaw Cake. The great travel writer's early years, first in Carmarthan, living with three exceedingly strange aunts, then living in North London with his spiritualist parents. Quite an upbringing.

I never thought I would like horror but I like this classical setting. Not really into gore fests.

I'm going to give Frankenstein a go next, after which I think it will be Moby Dick.

I never thought I would like horror but I like this classical setting. Not really into gore fests.

I'm going to give Frankenstein a go next, after which I think it will be Moby Dick.

Not trying to put you off, but Moby Dick is very long, wordy and heavy going in places.

Not trying to put you off, but Moby Dick is very long, wordy and heavy going in places.

We've covered Moby Dick on here before (my, aren't we the cultured ones?).  I 'did' it via an audiobook off audible and can recommend it.

I've found audiobooks to be either absolutely brilliant or absolutely woeful and so much of it depends on the narrator.  The one I 'read' was narrated by Frank Muller and it was, as far as I was concerned, pretty much note perfect.  There are a lot of digressions and it doesn't progress in anything like a normal way but taken as a whole I think it's very much worth doing.  Very enjoyable.

We've covered Moby Dick on here before (my, aren't we the cultured ones?).  I 'did' it via an audiobook off audible and can recommend it.

 

I've found audiobooks to be either absolutely brilliant or absolutely woeful and so much of it depends on the narrator.  The one I 'read' was narrated by Frank Muller and it was, as far as I was concerned, pretty much note perfect.  There are a lot of digressions and it doesn't progress in anything like a normal way but taken as a whole I think it's very much worth doing.  Very enjoyable.

Was it abridged or complete?

Was it abridged or complete?

Complete.

Not trying to put you off, but Moby Dick is very long, wordy and heavy going in places.

Not in the Harpoon Collins imprint.

Not trying to put you off, but Moby Dick is very long, wordy and heavy going in places.

Aye. It takes an age to get going.