Jump to content
maryportfuncity

Read Any Good Books Lately?

Recommended Posts

Billy Connolly's autobiography 'Made in Scotland' is a good read for fans and gives some insights to where his humour came from.

Not sure if non-fans would get much out of it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The+Show+Won't+Go+On+Cover.jpg

 

Enjoyable read on the history of performers dying on stage. Never knew Kenneth Horne's death was down to him ditching all his medicine on the advice of a faith healer.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

51ddz4vaUTL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

 

The life story of Robert "Parkins" Peters, a serial bigamist (at least eight wives, possibly 12), fraudster, conman, fantasist, defrocked minister and Mastermind contestant who repeatedly tried to ingratiate himself into higher academia and usually succeeded (at least for a while).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Zoo - otsuichi 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6149338._UY1000_SS1000_.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Five months into 2020 and over two into lockdown, and only two DLers have read a book?! I suppose everyone is watch Netflix etc.

 

In the absence of any worthwhile live sport, I've started a 2016 bio of everyone's favourite magical-realism feminist author...

 

51bxM+Ajo5L._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

 

For practical reasons, I'm a committed Kindler (phones are way too small for my ageing eyes) these days, though of course the real thing is nicer . What's your medium of choice?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy said:

Five months into 2020 and over two into lockdown, and only two DLers have read a book?! I suppose everyone is watch Netflix etc.

 

In the absence of any worthwhile live sport, I've started a 2016 bio of everyone's favourite magical-realism feminist author...

 

51bxM+Ajo5L._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

 

For practical reasons, I'm a committed Kindler (phones are way too small for my ageing eyes) these days, though of course the real thing is nicer . What's your medium of choice?

Definitely a book. Can't be doing with gadgets.

 

Just started third book in Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series

IMG_20200522_103622.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
21 minutes ago, Bibliogryphon said:

Definitely a book. Can't be doing with gadgets.

Just started third book in Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series

 

Well, there's a coincidence, because I was just going to say that I was reading one of those.

I'm on The Hanging Tree.  I've read them all in order except Moon Over Soho, which so far I have failed to find in a charity shop.

 

Books for me too.  No worries about needing to recharge.

I'm a slow reader these days as I find I fall asleep too quickly - maybe too much screen use has tired my eyes.  Before the internet I used to read several books a week.  I  get most of my books from charity shops.  Sometimes from the library.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
31 minutes ago, Toast said:

 

Well, there's a coincidence, because I was just going to say that I was reading one of those.

I'm on The Hanging Tree.  I've read them all in order except Moon Over Soho, which so far I have failed to find in a charity shop.

 

Books for me too.  No worries about needing to recharge.

I'm a slow reader these days as I find I fall asleep too quickly - maybe too much screen use has tired my eyes.  Before the internet I used to read several books a week.  I  get most of my books from charity shops.  Sometimes from the library.

I bought Moon over Soho and Whispers Underground from the Works on two books for a fiver. Libraries are great but they have limited stock. There is a charity  book stall at our station paperbacks 50p Hardbacks £1.

 

However if I never bought another book. I still wouldn't run out for years.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
37 minutes ago, Bibliogryphon said:

Libraries are great but they have limited stock.

 

Yes, but the one I belong to (Oxfordshire) has a good online catalogue, so you can check what they have, where it is and whether it's out on loan.

You can reserve any book and collect it from the branch of your choice. 

 

When there's an popular author's new book in the pipeline, it will appear in the catalogue as "on order" and you can reserve a copy at that point.  I always did this when there was a new Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine due out, and often I was the first to get my grubby paws on it.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Been reading a lot of historical fiction lately, which is undemading stuff but often educational and throws up the odd fact which comes in handy in quizzes. Currently reading Jean Plaidy's Charles II trilogy - pretty good, although given written in the 50s all the naughty bits are glossed over. Her George III book by comparison was pretty tedious, primarily due to the dullness of the protagonists George and Queen Charlotte, who did little but reproduce (15 times, as you asked). Philippa Gregory is more popular these days but sometimes less historically accurate and she has an annoying habit of writing the same story twice, from the perspective of different people  - efficient use of research perhaps, but annoying for the reader who has invested money or (more commonly given I get most of them from the library) time in seeking out something different to read. Elizabeth Chadwick's Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy  was time consumimg but enjoyable..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
46 minutes ago, Great Uncle Bulgaria said:

Been reading a lot of historical fiction lately

 

I quite enjoy the Shardlake novels by CJ Sansom, Henry VIII period.  I've read four so far, but I need a long break in between them because they are far too long, padded out to the point where the story could be told in half the page count.  Good stories though, and the period detail is fascinating.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
16 hours ago, Great Uncle Bulgaria said:

Been reading a lot of historical fiction lately, which is undemading stuff but often educational and throws up the odd fact which comes in handy in quizzes. Currently reading Jean Plaidy's Charles II trilogy - pretty good, although given written in the 50s all the naughty bits are glossed over. Her George III book by comparison was pretty tedious, primarily due to the dullness of the protagonists George and Queen Charlotte, who did little but reproduce (15 times, as you asked). Philippa Gregory is more popular these days but sometimes less historically accurate and she has an annoying habit of writing the same story twice, from the perspective of different people  - efficient use of research perhaps, but annoying for the reader who has invested money or (more commonly given I get most of them from the library) time in seeking out something different to read. Elizabeth Chadwick's Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy  was time consumimg but enjoyable..

I read a fair bit of Jean Plaidy when I was at school. Very easy to read and quite informative.

 

Mrs Herald is currently reading The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Absolutely caning books in lockdown 

 

Some recommendations - though likely I was the only person on the planet reading them last week 

 

David Gaffney's - All the Places I've Ever Lived - ghost story/grim crime caper/coming of age novel set in west Cumbria which happens to take in the infamous murder spree of cabbie Derrick Bird

 

Tom Wareham - The Green Man of Horam - biography of Walter J C Murray - UK nature writer, Wareham makes a convincing case we should consider him alongside more famous nature mystic writers. 

 

 

 

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I used to read voraciously but haven't read finished anything for ages. I've currently got 6 books that I've started with a further 15 in the queue. The latest was delivered last week, and the one before that the previous week, so the fact that I've stopped reading hasn't stopped me buying. This is the one I initially started struggling with. I just couldn't get into it, which given the subject shouldn't  have been a problem (and no, its not Benedryl Cummerbund that's putting me off).

See the source image

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
8 minutes ago, time said:

Benedryl Cummerbund

 

Only a slightly less ridiculous name than Benedict Cumberbatch.  I always want to say Benylin Cucumberpatch.

There is/was a poster on Mumsnet whose username was Bendydick Cuminsnatch.  I assume she's a fan.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Enjoyed Steve Cavanagh's 'Thirteen' recently, although beware others in the series are not as good.

 

For some interesting trash, read Noel Botham's 'The Murder of Princess Diana'. The latter half of the book contains some rather fanciful theorising about the car crash but the first half has some interesting royal dirt - in the early (pre-Diana) days when Charles was sleeping with Camilla, Andrew Parker-Bowles was apparently shagging Princess Anne. Must have made for some interesting conversations over breakfast in both households.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
12 minutes ago, Great Uncle Bulgaria said:

Enjoyed Steve Cavanagh's 'Thirteen' recently, although beware others in the series are not as good.

 

For some interesting trash, read Noel Botham's 'The Murder of Princess Diana'. The latter half of the book contains some rather fanciful theorising about the car crash but the first half has some interesting royal dirt - in the early (pre-Diana) days when Charles was sleeping with Camilla, Andrew Parker-Bowles was apparently shagging Princess Anne. Must have made for some interesting conversations over breakfast in both households.

 

That was hardly a secret.  It was even in The Crown (not an actual shagging scene, mind).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
28 minutes ago, Toast said:

 

That was hardly a secret.  It was even in The Crown (not an actual shagging scene, mind).

oh well, it was news to me :-).

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So I've started Stephen King's The Stand. After about 120 pages, the plot slowly starts moving.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
35 minutes ago, gcreptile said:

So I've started Stephen King's The Stand. After about 120 pages, the plot slowly starts moving.

 

Ah, one of his shorter ones then?

 

:D

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Tried the the fall of Gondolin but not much new if you have read the Silmarillion

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

71-Kcj3O07L.jpg

 

Although much of it is bogus. It's fairly entertaining to read.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just finished Jean Plaidy's trilogy 'The loves of Charles II', enjoyable if undemanding read, ideal for late at night. Now moved on to Steve Cavanagh's The Plea, which has started well, although  - as with all books with first person narration - every time the protagonist finishes the chapter facing certain death you know it's not going to happen.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
10 minutes ago, Great Uncle Bulgaria said:

Just finished Jean Plaidy's trilogy 'The loves of Charles II', enjoyable if undemanding read, ideal for late at night. Now moved on to Steve Cavanagh's The Plea, which has started well, although  - as with all books with first person narration - every time the protagonist finishes the chapter facing certain death you know it's not going to happen.

 

I have read a book that pulled that rug from under my feet, so don't be so sure.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×

Important Information

Your use of this forum is subject to our Terms of Use