Read Any Good Books Lately?

[Tempus Fugit 214]

..snip..

bet they're not a patch on harry harrison, though...

Well since Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers is the best book ever written, chances are you're right.

 

I'm currently reading (or would be if I hadn't put it down somewhere) an Anthropological study of the English by a lady called Kate Fox. Watching the English or somesuch.

 

I can recommend it highly if anyone is interested in that sort of thing.

 

I read that book by Kate Fox a few months ago, it is an excellent read.

 

Makes you look at peoples behaviour in a whole different way, how some customs have become so ingrained that we forget how very odd they must seem to foreigners.

 

The parts on Queueing and pub etiquette were particularly good imo.

[Entropy 5]

And now my copy of Bioethics and the New Embryology has just arrived from Amazon, and I haven't finished the Gospel of the FSM yet. Arg.

[Brinsworth House Baiter 12]

I've just finished 'Rat Pack Confidential' by Shawn Levy and what a stonking read it was too.

 

Been listening to a fair bit of Sinatra and Dean Martin recently, as it sends Lil' Miss BHB to sleep a treat of an evening, so I felt the desire to find out a little about the guys we're listening to.

 

Sinatra was incredible, with regards to his mob links and meglomania and the racism Sammy Davis Jr. had to endure was awful. He used to play the Sands hotel, but wasn't even allowed in the toilets before or afterwards, let alone the casinos. Peter Lawford, Jack Kennedy's brother in law had a weird life too, to say the very least, especially his upbringing. His mother was one whacked out bitch. And I never realised that they were all so closely linked to Monroe, especially around the time of her death. The only one I came away with any sympathy (and indeed empathy) was Dean Martin. Now there's a guy I'd have loved to have had a drink with.

 

Interesting bunch of guys and man, what a life. Make Farrell and Crowe look like faggots.

 

Ed McBain's 'Cop Hater' next, the first of his 87th Precinct novels, which I'm looking forward to.

 

I'll report back in a couple of days...

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

The Sentinelese, by T N Pandit. Very interesting.

[Phantom 2,531]

Head On /Repossessed by Julian Cope. Getting a good idea as to why his lyrics are totally weird

[Lady Grendel 139]

I'm currently reading ' The Roses of No Man's Land' by Lyn Macdonald, an account of the first World War, basically through the eyes of the ladies who nursed the soldiers, the ladies came from families who lived like something out of a Jane Austin novel, yet provided dying and wounded men with comfort and care above and beyond the call of duty, I studied the Great War 23 years ago for my O'Level History and sadly I have forgotten more facts than I remember, although reading this reminded me of the Schlieffen Plan, where the Germans surrounded Paris in a 'pincer' movement, my memory is hazy about the facts (as a 15 year old I wasn't as interested in history as I am now). Still, I would urge you to read this book, it is an easy read and very entertaining but heartwrenching when you see how easily our young men signed up to fight and were slaughtered in the trenches. It does drive home the message 'Lest we forget' I for one look at the war memorials in my town in a different light and have taken the time to actually read the names on them and think about the families these boys left behind.

[Six 23]

The Bible According to Spike Milligan. A very funny read, although..not as moving or emotional as the one mentioned by Lady Grendel....still a good read.

 

I will try and get ahold of The Roses of No Man's Land, as I am interested in the stories of people affected by pointless wars and the like. Has anyone read 'Forgive Me Natasha' by Sergei Kourdakov? Deeply moving.

[Tuber Mirum 125]

The Bible According to Spike Milligan. A very funny read, although..not as moving or emotional as the one mentioned by Lady Grendel....still a good read.

 

I will try and get ahold of The Roses of No Man's Land, as I am interested in the stories of people affected by pointless wars and the like. Has anyone read 'Forgive Me Natasha' by Sergei Kourdakov? Deeply moving.

We have "Black Beauty according to Spike Milligan" which at first glance looks like it might be a good read too, though I probably wouldn't appreciate it neither having read nor intending to ever read Black Beauty.

 

Mind yous, there are some pretty big bits in the Bible I haven't got around to reading yet either. All that begetting gets pretty tedious after a while.

 

 

On the subject of biblical parodies, I'll be tackling this chappie sometime soon, which Mrs N. said she enjoyed very much.

 

Anyone else read it?

[Magere Hein 1,400]

I finished Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything today.

 

Quite a few reviewers of this book grow lyrical about it. I understand why now. People who are reasonably well read in the sciences will not learn much new from this book, but it's a well-written overview of Life, the Universe and Everything. The perspective of the book is surprising.

 

The book could have been better if Bryson had had his facts checked by professionals in the fields of geology, astronomy, biology and history of science, it's not always accurate, though never plain wrong. I'm not quite sure Bryson understands the finer points of modern physics. Apart from that: it's an excellent read.

 

regards,

Hein

[maryportfuncity 10,630]

Yann Martel's 'Self' at the moment, sometimes inspired meditation, sometimes self-indulgent nonsense.

[Six 23]

On the subject of biblical parodies, I'll be tackling this chappie sometime soon, which Mrs N. said she enjoyed very much.

 

Anyone else read it?

 

I haven't read it, but I think I will give it a go... sounds good.

 

On the Spike Milligan front, I also read Wuthering Heights According to Spike Milligan, which, ( as Wuthering Heights is one of my all-time favourite books) was hilariously funny!

[Brinsworth House Baiter 12]

Well, finished Ed McBain's Cop Hater... in a day, as I have to say it wasn't the most challenging read of my life, but it was enjoyable. I'm just glad that I read and watched the Serpico film and series as a kid, otherwise the American cop slang might have left me mystified (Bulls being undercover cops and that kinda jazz.)

 

Perfect departure lounge fare.

 

I wasn't in a departure lounge though, just my lounge, but immersing myself in the 87th Precinct certainly accentuated my lounging.

[Canadian Paul 97]

Those of you with kids might consider getting them this.

[Godot 149]

Those of you with kids might consider getting them this.

 

Why is that amusing? Are we supposed to laugh at people with disabilities? Perhaps you should buy yourself a copy. You might learn something.

[Brinsworth House Baiter 12]

Those of you with kids might consider getting them this.

 

Why is that amusing? Are we supposed to laugh at people with disabilities? Perhaps you should buy yourself a copy. You might learn something.

 

I rather think that perhaps you've taken CP's post in the wrong vein, Godot old chum...perhaps the old gravy withdrawal symptoms kicking in?

 

The way I read it was that CP is making a joke about the inference of the book's title...as in 'who gives a stuff about...', as against 'who are the people that actually care for...' and then the irony of giving a child such a book (oh, no, the irony minefield again).

 

Don't let the gravy addiction fuel your political correctness.

[Godot 149]

Well that's OK then. There was a sub text but I won't go in to it.

[Tuber Mirum 125]

I've just finished reading "The Impeachment of Richard Nixon-A Call to Action. NOW!" by Leonard Lurie.

 

Written in 1973 after Watergate but before proceedings were opened against Nixon, it paints a very different piccie of Tricky Dicky than the one on Wiki which was clearly written by a rabid loonie.

[Banshees Scream 110]

I've just finished reading "The Impeachment of Richard Nixon-A Call to Action. NOW!" by Leonard Lurie.

 

Written in 1973 after Watergate but before proceedings were opened against Nixon, it paints a very different piccie of Tricky Dicky than the one on Wiki which was clearly written by a rabid loonie.

 

Well either way nobody will ever know the true secrets behind politics. What really went or still goes on may never revealed unless you are apart of it...

 

It's something like the mafia.

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

Patient or Pretender: Inside the Strange World of Factitious Disorders, by psychiatrists Marc Feldman and Charles Ford.

 

Thinking about Jane Tomlinson made me get this book and very interesting it was too.

[TLC 9]

Recently finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman, a very good read indeed. I'd only previously read his book Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett and better than his solo stuff) but this was great. I'm an instant convert, and am now halfway through Anasie Boys, which is the follow up though not exactly a sequel.

 

If you ever want to read a fun book about another country, I recommend At The Tomb Of The Inflatable Pig by John Gimlette. It's a history/travelouge of Paraguay, a strangely fascinating country that I didn't realise how little I knew about, and I realised I didn't know much.

 

There, I finally thought of some books to mention here. One of them even has a slightly poncy name, just to prove I'm really intellectual and that.

[Six 23]

Recently finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman, a very good read indeed. I'd only previously read his book Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett and better than his solo stuff) but this was great. I'm an instant convert, and am now halfway through Anasie Boys, which is the follow up though not exactly a sequel.

 

I read Good Omens a couple of years ago and recently re-read it. It's a good book, so I'll try and get ahold of American Gods. Is it in any way similar to Good Omens or was the wit and humour all Pratchett's work??

 

I'm reading 'Man and Boy' by Tony Parsons at the moment. It's ok, but not so much to get excited about!

[TLC 9]

I read Good Omens a couple of years ago and recently re-read it. It's a good book, so I'll try and get ahold of American Gods. Is it in any way similar to Good Omens or was the wit and humour all Pratchett's work??

I thought the humour of Good Omens was probably mostly Pratchett until I read American Gods, when I realised a lot of the darker humour was Gaiman's.

 

I definitely recommend it, and it's been given a re-issue fairly recently so should be very easy to find. I imagine the Sun would call it 'unputdownable' if they were into book reviewing!

[Lady Grendel 139]

Recently finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman, a very good read indeed. I'd only previously read his book Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett and better than his solo stuff) but this was great. I'm an instant convert, and am now halfway through Anasie Boys, which is the follow up though not exactly a sequel.

 

I read Good Omens a couple of years ago and recently re-read it. It's a good book, so I'll try and get ahold of American Gods. Is it in any way similar to Good Omens or was the wit and humour all Pratchett's work??

 

I'm reading 'Man and Boy' by Tony Parsons at the moment. It's ok, but not so much to get excited about!

 

I read 'Good Omens' quite a few years ago, I remember thoroughly enjoying it then, perhaps I'll read it again in the near future. I'll try and get hold of American Gods too.

 

I've tried to read 'Man and Boy' a couple of times, but couldn't get into it at all

[Brinsworth House Baiter 12]

Recently finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman, a very good read indeed. I'd only previously read his book Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett and better than his solo stuff) but this was great. I'm an instant convert, and am now halfway through Anasie Boys, which is the follow up though not exactly a sequel.

 

I read Good Omens a couple of years ago and recently re-read it. It's a good book, so I'll try and get ahold of American Gods. Is it in any way similar to Good Omens or was the wit and humour all Pratchett's work??

 

I've tried to read 'Man and Boy' a couple of times, but couldn't get into it at all

I read Man and Boy once. Insipid is an adjective I'd use to describe it. The kind of book that's okay for a plane trip, but you're secretly hoping the person in the next seat starts talking to you.

[Six 23]

I read Man and Boy once. Insipid is an adjective I'd use to describe it. The kind of book that's okay for a plane trip, but you're secretly hoping the person in the next seat starts talking to you.

 

I have to admit that I've now given up on it in favour of Philip Pullman's ' The Ruby in the Smoke'.

It's a book for young teenagers I think, but it's more interesting than that Parsons one.

I read the whole ' His Dark Materials ' collection a couple of years ago, and that was very well written.

 

Are you Pratchett fans, Lady G / BHB / TLC? I've read a lot of the DiscWorld stuff and it is usually quite funny. I've also read his works for children ( my excuse is that I'm a teacher and I need to keep up to date...).

I'm not a Pratchett ' Trekkie ' though, like some people I have had the misfortune to meet!

" You need to read the books in order, and then you can learn about all of the characters of the DiscWorld as Pratchett intended, in order of appearance...blarr...garble....blarr...rhubarb...rhubarb...etc."...was the rambling of one such saddo I stood next to in Waterstones one day.