The GF book thread

[polymerpunkah]

"Into the Hands of the Soldiers"

 

David D. Kirkpatrick

 

A personalized account of the Arab Spring in Cairo by a reporter who was there.

 

Could have been longer, more detailed, but enjoyable none-the-less.

 

_____________________________

 

"Norse Mythology"

 

Neil Gaiman

 

Audiobook read by the author. One of the best I've listened to, as he does a great job with the stories.

 

Good for all ages.

[Paul]

8 hours ago, Bobby Hundreds said:

I've read his dark materials which I liked but I've not read the book of dust yet.

 

Is the outsider the one with the baseball coach.

That’s the one. 

[Numero Veinticinco]

44 minutes ago, polymerpunkah said:

_______

 

"Norse Mythology"

 

Neil Gaiman

 

Audiobook read by the author. One of the best I've listened to, as he does a great job with the stories.

 

Good for all ages.

Bloody good, I agree. Listened to it a number of times. 

[Lee909]

 

[Paul]

Just finished The Secret Commonwealth which is the second book in Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust trilogy; itself a continuation of the story of Lyra from His Dark Materials.
 

In this, Lyra is an adult and, as such, the book deals with some pretty adult themes. It also feels very resonant with many of the issues in the world today whilst remaining completely faithful to the world he’s created in his books. 

 

In short, I loved it. 

[Paul]

Read the latest Uhtred book by Bernard Cornwell (no idea what it’s called, sorry) and really enjoyed it, as I have all the others. The character is still developing even as he hits (relative) old age, which I like. Looks like Cornwell is going to keep the series going until “Englaland” is fully formed and that’s sound by me. 
 

Also read Andrew Ridgeley’s Wham! biography as I really like George Michael. He was a fascinating character both musically and personally but this doesn’t really reveal much about either other than to say, “Yes he was a great singer/songwriter and yes he was gay”. I wanted to gain a much deeper understanding of him, but this was all just surface stuff: very loyal and loving of George, but also fucking dull. A missed opportunity. 
 

Currently on the new Bosch and Ballard book, which is typically good and also, as with Uhtred, continues to deal brilliantly with an ageing main character. 
 

Got the next Salvation book by Peter Hamilton (big SF stuff) waiting, as well as the well-reviewed Elton autobiography. I’m not a massive Elton fan or a massive non-fiction/biography fan. However, it’s supposed to be fucking hilarious so I bought it on those grounds. 

[Mudface]

4 minutes ago, Paul said:

Read the latest Uhtred book by Bernard Cornwell (no idea what it’s called, sorry) and really enjoyed it, as I have all the others. The character is still developing even as he hits (relative) old age, which I like. Looks like Cornwell is going to keep the series going until “Englaland” is fully formed and that’s sound by me. 
 

Also read Andrew Ridgeley’s Wham! biography as I really like George Michael. He was a fascinating character both musically and personally but this doesn’t really reveal much about either other than to say, “Yes he was a great singer/songwriter and yes he was gay”. I wanted to gain a much deeper understanding of him, but this was all just surface stuff: very loyal and loving of George, but also fucking dull. A missed opportunity. 
 

Currently on the new Bosch and Ballard book, which is typically good and also, as with Uhtred, continues to deal brilliantly with an ageing main character. 
 

Got the next Salvation book by Peter Hamilton (big SF stuff) waiting, as well as the well-reviewed Elton autobiography. I’m not a massive Elton fan or a massive non-fiction/biography fan. However, it’s supposed to be fucking hilarious so I bought it on those grounds. 

Was the first Salvation book any good? I loved his Mandel novels and the Night's Dawn trilogy was great, but I found the Void and Commonwealth stuff really disappointing.

[Paul]

6 minutes ago, Mudface said:

Was the first Salvation book any good? I loved his Mandel novels and the Night's Dawn trilogy was great, but I found the Void and Commonwealth stuff really disappointing.

I really liked Salvation. It was the first of his I’d read. I then tried Commonwealth while awaiting the second book but was bored shitless by it and fucked it off about thirty pages in. 

[Mudface]

3 minutes ago, Paul said:

I really liked Salvation. It was the first of his I’d read. I then tried Commonwealth while awaiting the second book but was bored shitless by it and fucked it off about thirty pages in. 

Might give that a try then, cheers. If you haven't read the Night's Dawn trilogy, give that a whirl. It's absolutely top notch space opera, almost up there with Banks. The Mandel detective books are really good too, plus they're not bogged down by massive world building epic shite.

 

[polymerpunkah]

“Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel”

 

Max Blumenthal

 

A history of more recent events in Israel, particularly demographic changes and the political effects they've had on the country.

 

Not perfect, but definitely filled in some gaps in my understanding of the situation.

 

 

 

 

[Bobby Hundreds]

Im currently reading something wicked this way comes. It's a good yarn but the writing is a bit to flowery, the author trying to show off his prose it sometimes feels a bit overboard.

[Bernard Diomede]

On 13/10/2019 at 09:15, Paul said:

Just finished The Secret Commonwealth which is the second book in Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust trilogy; itself a continuation of the story of Lyra from His Dark Materials.
 

In this, Lyra is an adult and, as such, the book deals with some pretty adult themes. It also feels very resonant with many of the issues in the world today whilst remaining completely faithful to the world he’s created in his books. 

 

In short, I loved it. 

Just started this, having finished the first in the new series in 2 days. Really enjoyed the first one and am intrigued to see how the story develops given the time lapses between the 2. 

[polymerpunkah]

"Ascent of the Matterhorn"

 

Edward Whymper

 

A matter-of-fact account of life and death in the Alps by one of the first to write about climbing.

 

A classic.

[Paul]

Just finished Elton John’s autobiography and it was brilliant. I’ve never been a huge fan of his music but this is hilarious. He is totally self-aware and self-deprecating, as well as brutally honest. Plus he’s a massive music (and football) nerd, do there’s loads to enjoy. In short a great read and thoroughly recommended. 

[Rico1304]

The Jackson Lamb books are being serialised with Gary Oldman in the lead role.  Should be ace.  

[Paul]

On 19/11/2019 at 15:01, Rico1304 said:

The Jackson Lamb books are being serialised with Gary Oldman in the lead role.  Should be ace.  

Think this might well turn out to be one of those rare occasions where I will enjoy the adaptation more than the book. 

[Bjornebye]

Finished Banco. The follow up to Papillon. Puts his life together after his final escape. Really good read if you like the first one. The final few pages where he goes into his trial is superb. He has always hinted his innocence throughout Papillon and this but at the end he manages to get back to paris then tells the story of his trial from a bench near where his supposed crime happened. 8/10. Papillon is a 12/10. 

 

I started The Tattooist of Auschwitz last night. Started it about 11 when I got in bed, 166 pages later and its half 1. I didn't want to put it down. Superb so far. 

[SasaS]

You read too fast.
 

[Elite]

1 hour ago, SasaS said:

You read too fast.
 

I'm the slowest reader known to man. I only read a chapter a night just before I go to sleep so takes me about a month to read a book.

[Bjornebye]

That last night is the fastest I've ever read a book. Its quite an easy book to read to be fair (not the content but the way the words are set out if that makes sense). 

 

Fuck it I know what I mean. 

[polymerpunkah]

"The Tin Drum"

 

Gunter Grass

 

A sad, bitter, rueful, laugh riot.

[Paul]

Finished Salvation Lost by Peter F. Hamilton this morning. It continues the story of how humanity tries to evade a super race of religious nutter aliens over the millennia and across the galaxy. It was boss. Can’t wait for the final book in the trilogy. 

[Mook]

Very sad news...

 

https://amp.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/29/alasdair-gray-influential-scottish-writer-and-artist-dies-aged-85?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true

 

[polymerpunkah]

"The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company"

 

William Dalrymple

 

A very good story, tracing the takeover of most of India by the East India Company.

 

A brief glimpse into the incredible complexity of India, as well.

[lifetime fan]

The Man I think I Know by Mike Gayle. 
 

Was given this for Christmas by my old dear, half way through and it’s excellent!