Boys Will Be Boys - Clementine Ford - if you have young sons, read it.
Barca - the rise and fall of the club that built modern football - Simon Kuper- can’t put this down, just brilliant. Entire sections on Cruyff, Messi, Pep. Superb.
Crossroads - Jonathan Franzen - my favourite writer. Another good one.
Undoctored by Adam Kay. Another must read for politicians, particularly Health Secretaries. A couple of whom engaged with Kay following the publication of "This is going to hurt", and the stories are among the tales contained herein. Some bits make you cry, some make you angry and some have you really laughing out loud. If you have ever been ill, or have plans to be ill in the future it's a must read for you too...
A Russian Journal .. John Steinbeck and Robert Capa .. Highly recommended
The great men were allowed into the Soviet Union in the late 1940s, they were 'allowed' to go where they wanted, how much was staged managed will never be known. They were especially stuck on Georgia, no mention that I recall that both Stalin and Beria were Georgians .. also a few of Capa's Georgian photos .. Bing Videos
Finished reading my first book of the year, “The Pillars of the Earth”, the first of the Kingsbridge series by Ken Follett. Someone else recommended the series as do I. 1070 pages of good historical fiction in 12th century England with a priest trying to build a new cathedral against the backdrop of the civil war. Spans 40 years.
I'm trying out for the first time an audible book and listening to The man that died twice by Richard Osman. It’s his second book of the Thursday club. An enjoyable read/listen.
Just finished Michael Palin's book "Great Uncle Harry - A Tale of War and Empire".
Quite interesting, not a must read. Tells the story of his great uncle who was born in the mid 1880's, youngest child of a church minister. Didn't have a profession so went off to India to work as a junior manager for a railway company and then moved on to do similar work on a couple of tea plantations in India managed by a Glasgow based tea import business. Returned to England for a short period then went to work out in New Zealand as a farm hand for a couple of years. Joined the New Zealand Expeditionary force in 1914 and fought at Gallipoli as part of the ANZAC army. Subsequently the New Zealand army brigades were moved up to France where he died during the Battle of the Somme.
I'm trying out for the first time an audible book and listening to The man that died twice by Richard Osman. It’s his second book of the Thursday club. An enjoyable read/listen.
I’ve now been converted to the audible book. It’s less tiring than reading and you can do other things while listening. Next up is Heroes by Stephen Fry.
I'm trying out for the first time an audible book and listening to The man that died twice by Richard Osman. It’s his second book of the Thursday club. An enjoyable read/listen.
I’ve now been converted to the audible book. It’s less tiring than reading and you can do other things while listening. Next up is Heroes by Stephen Fry.
If I did that I would lose concentration. It's me age...
I'm new to this page. Someone mentioned there have been many Robert Harris recommendations, one of which I guess is Act of Oblivion but I can't wade through a hundred pages to find out. It's a terrific read for anyone hasn't come across it yet.
I'm new to this page. Someone mentioned there have been many Robert Harris recommendations, one of which I guess is Act of Oblivion but I can't wade through a hundred pages to find out. It's a terrific read for anyone hasn't come across it yet.
Yes, I read it recently and agree it was very good.
Like a few on here I really enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Have now read Rules of Civility, which was his debut novel. Not quite as good but still a very good read.
Just finished "Who Rules the World" by Noam Chomsky. Excellent read.
Started with "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky which has come well recommended. Good so far! A bit unlike anything else I've read.
Children of Time = Blown away. Fantastic. Forever in awe of how people can come up with works of art like this
Agree, it's a superb book. The sequel doesn't quite match it I'm afraid. What's particualrly amazing about Tchaikosky is just how many books he write - he's seems to publish about 5 or 6 a year. I've read a lot of them and they range from decent to superb. Not quite sure how he does it.
Just finished "Who Rules the World" by Noam Chomsky. Excellent read.
Started with "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky which has come well recommended. Good so far! A bit unlike anything else I've read.
Children of Time = Blown away. Fantastic. Forever in awe of how people can come up with works of art like this
Agree, it's a superb book. The sequel doesn't quite match it I'm afraid. What's particualrly amazing about Tchaikosky is just how many books he write - he's seems to publish about 5 or 6 a year. I've read a lot of them and they range from decent to superb. Not quite sure how he does it.
I've heard that but I've read the second book now and while it defo doesn't match up with the first one, I still thought it was brilliant! The first one was such a high bar but really enjoyed the second. I'm gonna start on the third one but I'll take a look at his other books!
Finished The Ink Black Heart - Robert Galbraith. I really enjoyed it, though I do get what some say about the transcripts of messages and texts being a bit hard to follow at times. It looks rather daunting at over 1200 pages, but I found it as unputdownable as ever. It could have done with a cast list as characters drift in and out, and it keeps you guessing to the end. The relationship between Robin and Strike becomes more intriguing in this book too.
Finished The Ink Black Heart - Robert Galbraith. I really enjoyed it, though I do get what some say about the transcripts of messages and texts being a bit hard to follow at times. It looks rather daunting at over 1200 pages, but I found it as unputdownable as ever. It could have done with a cast list as characters drift in and out, and it keeps you guessing to the end. The relationship between Robin and Strike becomes more intriguing in this book too.
Next one is better, in my opinion, so hopefully you get to read that one soon too!
A long book - 736 pages - it spans 3 generations of a family, in sometimes minute detail. The story goes off at tangents and one is left wondering where it is heading. It does however come back eventually, and all the little plots and sub plots start to merge and make sense. I was very pleased that I stuck by it and in any case 50,000 people can't be wrong.
Finished The Ink Black Heart - Robert Galbraith. I really enjoyed it, though I do get what some say about the transcripts of messages and texts being a bit hard to follow at times. It looks rather daunting at over 1200 pages, but I found it as unputdownable as ever. It could have done with a cast list as characters drift in and out, and it keeps you guessing to the end. The relationship between Robin and Strike becomes more intriguing in this book too.
Next one is better, in my opinion, so hopefully you get to read that one soon too!
Comments
The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton
Nutshell - Ian McEwan
Boys Will Be Boys - Clementine Ford - if you have young sons, read it.
Barca - the rise and fall of the club that built modern football - Simon Kuper- can’t put this down, just brilliant. Entire sections on Cruyff, Messi, Pep. Superb.
The great men were allowed into the Soviet Union in the late 1940s, they were 'allowed' to go where they wanted, how much was staged managed will never be known. They were especially stuck on Georgia, no mention that I recall that both Stalin and Beria were Georgians .. also a few of Capa's Georgian photos .. Bing Videos
Then The Lost Album of the Beatles by Daniel Rachel which was very good and probably essential for all Beatles fans!
Now onto The London Train by Tessa Hadley.
Started with "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky which has come well recommended. Good so far! A bit unlike anything else I've read.
Did read, Ham on Rye, a few years ago but can’t remember anything about it.
Quite interesting, not a must read. Tells the story of his great uncle who was born in the mid 1880's, youngest child of a church minister. Didn't have a profession so went off to India to work as a junior manager for a railway company and then moved on to do similar work on a couple of tea plantations in India managed by a Glasgow based tea import business. Returned to England for a short period then went to work out in New Zealand as a farm hand for a couple of years. Joined the New Zealand Expeditionary force in 1914 and fought at Gallipoli as part of the ANZAC army. Subsequently the New Zealand army brigades were moved up to France where he died during the Battle of the Somme.
Phew!
A long book - 736 pages - it spans 3 generations of a family, in sometimes minute detail. The story goes off at tangents and one is left wondering where it is heading. It does however come back eventually, and all the little plots and sub plots start to merge and make sense. I was very pleased that I stuck by it and in any case 50,000 people can't be wrong.