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*What book are you reading? (part 2)

I just finished Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. I've got The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain Banks and A Place of Greater Safety by Mantel botht somewhere in the post, and nothing new to read until then. *taptaptaptaptap*

Bring up the Bodies was incredible.
 
Sybil, or two nations
Benjamin Disreali
7% through, and it's interesting. A political novel about a bit of British history I know nothing about. At the moment he's slagging off the Duke of Wellington and his coalition government.."the administration entered with arrogance and left in panic". Familiar?
 
idumea said:
I just finished Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. I've got The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain Banks and A Place of Greater Safety by Mantel botht somewhere in the post, and nothing new to read until then. *taptaptaptaptap*

Bring up the Bodies was incredible.
Click to expand...

I haven't read any of her books, is Bring up the Bodies a good place to start?
 
BoatieBird said:
I haven't read any of her books, is Bring up the Bodies a good place to start?
Click to expand...

Definitely not the best place, in my opinion-- it's a sequel to Wolf Hall, so definitely gains a lot of power being read after that. There's a lot of stylistic quirks, in-jokes, backstory that will only make sense reading Wolf Hall first. Yes, it's about a well-known period in history, but with a very particular spin on things.

If you like this review you'll like Wolf Hall / BUTB.

Mantel’s chief method is to pick out tableaux vivants from the historical record – which she has worked over with great care – and then to suggest that they have an inward aspect which is completely unlike the version presented in history books. The result is less a historical novel than an alternative history novel. It constructs a story about the inner life of Cromwell which runs in parallel to scenes and pictures that we thought we knew.
Click to expand...

If you don't want to dive into Wolf Hall, I'd suggest Beyond Black if very very painfully dark/psychologically acute and hilarious modern fiction is your thing.
 
idumea said:
Definitely not the best place, in my opinion-- it's a sequel to Wolf Hall, so definitely gains a lot of power being read after that. There's a lot of stylistic quirks, in-jokes, backstory that will only make sense reading Wolf Hall first. Yes, it's about a well-known period in history, but with a very particular spin on things.

If you like this review you'll like Wolf Hall / BUTB.



If you don't want to dive into Wolf Hall, I'd suggest Beyond Black if very very painfully dark/psychologically acute and hilarious modern fiction is your thing.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that.
Painfully dark/psychologically acute and hilarious sounds right up my street

Oooh, I've just found a 2nd hand copy on Amazon for £2.80 :cool:
 
The new Jon Ronson one. It's a collection of articles, nice and light.
Just finished the bit about Insane Clown Posse, what a couple of morons.
 
No, Lost at Sea. It's a collection of his articles.
Really liked the first half of The Psychopath Test, but it kind of lost momentum after that.
 
Adam Roberts 'Salt'


e2a


sack that I read the blurb for Adam Roberts 'Yellow Blue Tibia' and thats getting read, first
 
I am reading 'Freedom Through Football' The story of The Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls' I love it!! It is about how my local amateur footie team came about-from a bunch of punks and hippies (most of whom I know) and the links and networks that were created with other footy, cricket,and netball teams round the world, including the Zapatista rebels, Homies from Compton LA, South Africa......and the camaraderie. It is also very funny and makes me feel very connected to my locality and envious that I have missed out over the years....making up for it now however!!

Just an amazing and inspirational story about people pulling together, community spirit, inclusion and internationalism.
 
Just finished the German Boy (Wastvedt) and the Collini Case (von Schirach)

Both v good but both just sort of petered out at the end. Maybe its a german thing :confused:
 
Started The Garden of Evening Mists, Tan Twan Eng. First couple of chapters i loved, not as sure about the book now i'm a bit further into it but not even entertaining the idea of stopping.
 
I'm reading Deep in a Dream, a biography about the trumpeter Chet Baker by James Gavin.
I'd heard of him but knew nothing about him personally.
What a lifestyle, he was a heroin addict with a really dark personality.
 
Been lurking on here for a while. Quite new to books I hate to say (didn't really start reading till 30's lol)
Not a fan of Historical Fiction, like Mantel but love Christopher Moore, funny books are my thing. Practical Demon Keeping was great, as was lamb and You suck - all great. I'm a bit mad on Malice in Blunderland by Gibbings at the mo. Only book I've started again right after reading it. It's not for the weak, but my christ it is so funny. If any of you are fans of his, you might be shocked by this: http://www.thunderdomemag.com/stori.../187-dad-taught-me-to-laugh-i-hate-him-for-it

Pretty heavy. I've read a lot of Palahniuk. any more suggestions for the funnier/darker I'd love. done some Amis and Franzen (that was dull!). But if any have any ideas!
 
I'm reading Ways of Seeing by John Berger. I'm really loving how blunt and critical he is, and how how clear his writing is. :cool: Just realised it's a TV series too. :)
 
Yeah Marin Amis. Asbo I didn't finish, awful. Thanks BoatieBird, I keep meaning to get The Wasp Factory, but it is never there lol. I like to go in and buy from Indy book shops rather than Amazon, but might have to. I hear it is a brilliant read.
 
Yu_Gi_Oh said:
I'm reading Ways of Seeing by John Berger. I'm really loving how blunt and critical he is, and how how clear his writing is. :cool: Just realised it's a TV series too. :)
Click to expand...
Been years since I read it but I really enjoyed the bit where he discusses this painting:
500px-A_Vincent_Van_Gogh.jpg

I shan't say any more in case you've not reached that bit yet but it's partly due to 'Ways Of Seeing' that I have a print of it on my wall.
 
NVP said:
Been years since I read it but I really enjoyed the bit where he discusses this painting:
500px-A_Vincent_Van_Gogh.jpg

I shan't say any more in case you've not reached that bit yet but it's partly due to 'Ways Of Seeing' that I have a print of it on my wall.
Click to expand...

No, I have got to that bit. Brilliantly done. :cool: It's recommend reading for my English degree which I was a bit wtf about at first but it's interesting how the theories overlap.
 
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