*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[marty21]

Light of the Western Stars - Zane Grey - got it free on the kindle, fancied reading a Western novel after reading Dee Brown's book American West

 

[sojourner]

Light of the Western Stars - Zane Grey - got it free on the kindle, fancied reading a Western novel after reading Dee Brown's book American West

American West is a fantastic book

Is the Zane Grey one any good?

 

[marty21]

American West is a fantastic book

Is the Zane Grey one any good?

American West was great, bought Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee to read again - lent a copy to someone years ago and never got it back enjoyed Zane Grey, will read some more of him

 

[frogwoman]

i read a really good one recently called "have mercy on us all" by fred vargas. absolutely amazing, about a killer inspired by the black death.

then i read a really shit one by martin o'brien where he blatantly enjoyed writing the torture scenes a little bit too much

 

[Thraex]

Recently read Kevin Crossley-Holland's "The Penguin Book of Norse Myths - Gods of the Vikings" (1980) which I thoroughly enjoyed, well laid out and comprehensive. Now just about to complete H.R.Ellis Davidson's "Gods and Myths of Northern Europe"; a slightly older book (1964) [a very good year I might add ] which had a more scholarly and academic feel to it, still very good.

 

[Thraex]

Now reading " Norwegian Folktales" selected from the collection of Peter Christen Asbjornsen and Jorgen Moe, first published over 100 years ago; delightful .

 

[Fleursauvage]

Three Little Words by Jessica Thompson

 

[sojourner]

Been struck by a couple of things lately in The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (amongst a zillion other things!), and I'd love it if someone came back to me on these points cos I've got no one else to talk to about it, cos no fucker appears to have read it.

1. How similar the structure is to Boys from the Blackstuff. I think Bleasdale MUST have been influenced by it.

2. The house they begin work on, right at the start, is called 'The Cave'. There's a very definite comparison to be made to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. It seems so appropriate. The men are the prisoners within the cave, and Frank is the prisoner/philosopher freed from the cave, able to see the 'real' reality.

Think it's deliberate, calling the house The Cave? I can't go and research it cos I've not finished it yet so don't want any spoilers.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

someone will have written a paper on it. hurry up and then you can go read them

 

[sojourner]

someone will have written a paper on it. hurry up and then you can go read them

I don't want to rush through it, I'm enjoying it too much

 

[Biddlybee]

Just started Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady - liking it so far.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

I am reading a Maritime History of the Channel Islands - its interesting as an account of just how long the channel islands have been useful as an offshore base for the UK (1200's onwards)
changing legislation used to get around trade with France and the continent when UK was at war with various nations. eg times when trade was prohibited between uk and france it could go through the channel islands. Channel islands reward was freedom from regular customs and taxes.

 

[ringo]

Just started Pride & Prejudice - wasn't really sure I'd like it but am really enjoying it, i didn't think it would be so funny.

 

[sojourner]

Just started Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady - liking it so far.

Brilliant book that - May K recommended it ages ago - tis on my bookshelf

 

[tangerinedream]

Simon armitage - walking home

 

[joe dick]

Roadside Picnic - Though I haven't finished it. Thus far it is pretty good.
Also reading Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine". Halfway through and so far very good.

I just finished Nanette Walter's "The Sculptress". Read it once long ago, wanted to see if it was as good as remembered. It wasn't. But still, overall, very readable.

 

[Gavin Bl]

Just read 'Call of the Wild' - twas great.

 

[nogojones]

Brendan Behan's collected plays

 

[Chick Webb]

I'm reading a book of Lovecraft stories in bed, and Market Forces by Richard Morgan on the commute. I saw him (RM) last weekend at a scifi convention and he said it's his weakest book. One thing's for sure, it's pretty depressing after a bad day at work, plus I don't particularly like hearing loving details about cars. I'm basically just waiting for the unpleasant main character to get his comeuppance now.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

The Hypnotist - Lars Kepler. It's, well, sort of a thriller but more than that. Took me a while to get into the style of writing but it is quite compelling

 

[DotCommunist]

gonna start 'The State and Socialism' by mihaly vajda tomorrow

 

[Idris2002]

I'm reading a book of Lovecraft stories in bed, and Market Forces by Richard Morgan on the commute. I saw him (RM) last weekend at a scifi convention and he said it's his weakest book. One thing's for sure, it's pretty depressing after a bad day at work, plus I don't particularly like hearing loving details about cars. I'm basically just waiting for the unpleasant main character to get his comeuppance now.

Market Forces is actually pretty good, but it should have been done as straight satire.

 

[Thraex]

Just finished "Imperial Bedrooms" - Bret Easton Ellis; now onto "Mabinogion - The Four Branches", which is a bit "Thy", "Thou", "Verily" etc . Supposedly one of the few pagan, mediaeval folktales that wasn't xianised .

 

[DotCommunist]

Marxism In Todays World by peter taafe

he sure does love trotsky doesn't he. Saying mean things about fr. Joe as well

 

[Thraex]

"Swedish Folktales and Legends" - Translated and Edited by Thygessen and George Blecher. Full of chuckles so far . Interesting how these tales switched from being told to entertain adults to children.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

i read that not very long ago, i knew if i searched this thread for it it'd be on here, anyway i really loved that book, amazing.

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now im re-reading (again, for the 5th time probably)...


A Mind of Its Own: A Cultural History of the Penis - David M. Friedman


the lurverlllly urbanite pseudonarcissus sent it to me a few years ago... ive read it a good few times....its really, really good.

I'm 1/4 of the way through Confereracy of Dunces and I´m loving it, then I came across this post that I hadn't noticed before and I've got a lump in my throat

 

[Greebo]

Pas un Jour - Anne F Garreta

 

[DotCommunist]

Science Fiction Century

Collection of shorts from the great and the reletively unknown from 19th century onwards. Amazingly misogynist piece by CS Lewis in there but so far other than that, good. Some excellent translated polish/german/italian stuff as well

 

[BoatieBird]

Money, Martin Amis.
I first read it in my late teens and I spotted it in a charity shop and thought I'd re-read.
Enjoying it so far.

 

[Chick Webb]

Market Forces is actually pretty good, but it should have been done as straight satire.

You know, I was wondering was it meant to be satire. He probably should have laid it on a bit more thick with a few laughs thrown in, which he could have done without losing what he's trying to say about evil old capitalism.

I think it's picked up a lot since the main character decided spoiler spoiler. I'm still looking forward to comeuppance though, and I can guess who is going is going to do it to him.