Book thread: what are you reading?

Having lost or damaged various of the volumes over the years, I bought the complete set of 'Flashman' books on Kindle*.

First up, 'Flashman and the Mountain of Light', which concerns the first Anglo-Sikh war (1845-6).

*with a Kindle, you can tap from the text to the historical notes and footnotes, and back again, which is very useful for these books.

The Empire Trilogy by Raymond Feist....also on Kindle. I am now on the third book, it's fairly gripping but has a few slow bits.

Having lost or damaged various of the volumes over the years, I bought the complete set of 'Flashman' books on Kindle*.

First up, 'Flashman and the Mountain of Light', which concerns the first Anglo-Sikh war (1845-6).

*with a Kindle, you can tap from the text to the historical notes and footnotes, and back again, which is very useful for these books.

You're not taking them in order?

I love Flashy.

You're not taking them in order?

 

I love Flashy.

I thought about it, but I hadn't read 'Mountain' for a long long time.

But what do you mean by 'in order'? The order that the books were written or Harry's life in chronological order? If the latter, I'd have to stop the 'Redskins' and 'Tiger' books part of the way through and resume them later on... 

The Magus by John Fowles

I thought about it, but I hadn't read 'Mountain' for a long long time.

 

But what do you mean by 'in order'? The order that the books were written or Harry's life in chronological order? If the latter, I'd have to stop the 'Redskins' and 'Tiger' books part of the way through and resume them later on... 

Yes, I took them in the order they were written, but I guess once you're familiar with them all then chronological order would also work. Cracking stuff either way, and tbh I don't mind admitting the books shed light for me on areas of history where my knowledge is woeful

I'm into audiobooks.  I started freshwater angling a few years ago after a 50 year layoff and I find them great.  I finished "The Panther" by Nelson DeMille a while ago and really enjoyed it.

It's the 6th book in his 'John Corey' series and it's a great thriller with some cracking one-liners.

Just started the Eagle series by Simon Scarrow. Good bit of escapist adventure

I'm into audiobooks.  I started freshwater angling a few years ago after a 50 year layoff and I find them great.  I finished "The Panther" by Nelson DeMille a while ago and really enjoyed it.

 

It's the 6th book in his 'John Corey' series and it's a great thriller with some cracking one-liners.

I'm loving the DeMille books.

I'm on The a Talbot Odyssey at the mo

Have listened to the John Sutter books

Word of a Honor

May Day

Cathedral

By the Rivers of Babylon

The Generals Daugbter

All highly recommended especially those read by Scott Brick.

Dr Syn series, all on Kindle.

Regarding smuggling along the south Kent, & Sussex coast in 18th cent.

Moth Smoke - Mohsin Hamid

A good bit of sex, drugs, and general decadence.

I'm on book 8 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson.  A tougher read than many books but also thoroughly gripping, some people just can't get the hang of starting book 1 almost in the middle of a story with little forgiveness for those who can't catch up quickly.  The sheer effort that's gone into creating the world it's in is fascinating in itself.

Subconsciously I'm slightly dreading finishing the series as I've promised myself I'll re-read Shake Hands With The Devil by Romeo Dallaire once I finish that series.

Then in the queue is the newest Rebus book by Ian Rankin then maybe I'll restart the whole Rebus series again.

You're not taking them in order?

 

I love Flashy.

I'd love to get the entire serious in hardback version; sadly can't find any...

Catastrophe by Max Hastings is current book of choice!

I'm into audiobooks.  I started freshwater angling a few years ago after a 50 year layoff and I find them great.  I finished "The Panther" by Nelson DeMille a while ago and really enjoyed it.

 

It's the 6th book in his 'John Corey' series and it's a great thriller with some cracking one-liners.

I've tried audiobooks a few times, but they tend to drift me off to sleep.

Yes, I took them in the order they were written, but I guess once you're familiar with them all then chronological order would also work. Cracking stuff either way, and tbh I don't mind admitting the books shed light for me on areas of history where my knowledge is woeful

The historical notes are very enlightening and after finishing 'Mountain of Light', I downloaded 'Soldier and Traveller', the memoirs of Alexander Gardner, aka Gurdana Khan, who features heavily in the Flashman book. This is him in his Punjabi/Tartan gear, as described by Flashman.

I've tried audiobooks a few times, but they tend to drift me off to sleep.

Have you tried Graphic Audio?

Much better than the usual monotone nonsense you get with ordinary audiobooks.

Just finished Catch 22, and Birds in a cage

I've tried audiobooks a few times, but they tend to drift me off to sleep.

I'm in my car off and on all day so it's ideal for me.

I thought about it, but I hadn't read 'Mountain' for a long long time.

 

But what do you mean by 'in order'? The order that the books were written or Harry's life in chronological order? If the latter, I'd have to stop the 'Redskins' and 'Tiger' books part of the way through and resume them later on... 

 I have all the Sharpe novels by Bernard Cornwell. You get the same problem with them as some of his later books are 'prequels' to his earlier ones. Makes arranging them on the bookshelf a quandary if, like me, you have slight OCD when it comes to these things.

The sad thing about Flashman is that the books contain references to adventures that George McDonald Fraser never got round to writing (Mexico, Khartoum, Wild Bill Hickok, The Boxer rebellion) etc.

According to his daughter, the novelist Caro Fraser, he did not leave behind any notes that another author could attempt to work from.

The sad thing about Flashman is that the books contain references to adventures that George McDonald Fraser never got round to writing (Mexico, Khartoum, Wild Bill Hickok, The Boxer rebellion) etc.

 

According to his daughter, the novelist Caro Fraser, he did not leave behind any notes that another author could attempt to work from.

That is a shame. Mark of a great writer though, that 12 books seems so little.

I'd love to get the entire serious in hardback version; sadly can't find any...

 

I'm not sure if that exists. Let me know if you find something. Im trying to collect at least a set of all the same paperback edition.

I've just started Zimmer Men by Marcus Berkmann. Its an autobiogrphical story of an ageing village cricket team and follows his much earlier book about the same people, entitled Rain Men.  If you've ever played village cricket, Rain Men is really highly recommended - you'll laugh your socks off.

I'm not sure if that exists. Let me know if you find something. Im trying to collect at least a set of all the same paperback edition.

Sadly, I think you may be right but will include you in the loop if I find anything!

If the telly gets any worse, I might be reduced to reading a proper book for the first time in about 15 years.