Two thirds of the way through Andy Mcnab's third Tom Buckingham Novel -State of Emergency.Always worth a read. Next up is Gorky Park. Anyone read it?
that is a golden oldie .. decent police procedural/thriller set in 1980s Soviet Russia, written by M C Smith .. another 'Smith' Tom something has written a series of Russian/Soviet set thrillers .. Gorky Park in my opinion is better than the more recent books written by the other Smith .. if you follow what I am waffling about
Child 44 etc i assume you mean @Lincsaddick ? I have read all 3 in that series and enjoyed them. Tom Rob Smith, has also written a book called 'The Farm', which is also very good.
that's the one .. I also have read his books, except for 'The Farm' which is on my 'to read' shelf, it's not a priority though .. I'll say they're OK, but I found them far too depressing and overblown, too melodramatic for my taste .. still, lots of folk like the books, they've sold by the shedload
I've been using the good reads app and linked to it my kindle. Very good way of marking books you want to read without forgetting there name or who wrote them
The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin - about football the lives of football scouts. Fascinating stuff. KM should have a read...
On the basis that these blokes actually watch matches, rather than sit in front of computers all day, no doubt KM and RD would be deeply unimpressed.
@BartleyPark - have you read Calvin's book on football managers, 'Living on the Volcano: The Secrets of Surviving as a Football Manager' ? It was discussed on a football podcast and sounded very interesting.
It is in the post! Supposed to be very good. You can of course have it when I've read it.
On the subject matter, I've heard "The Manager" by Barney Ronay is quite good. He is a very dry, witty writer. Does feature columns in The Guardian and has made many appearances on Football Weekly.
Disclaimer: He is Millwall. But he doesn't seem to be a knob about it.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Has to be the most interesting President as well as the youngest in history. A hunter, historian, politician, naturist, rancher and cowboy. Seems to have lived more than seven lives in what would normally be one. Incredibly energy, completely fearless and throws himself into all areas of his life without questioning his direction for a second.
Book is also a Pulitzer prize winner. This is my first real historical biography and loving it. I know some on here like @Henry Irving are into history so wondering if they've read it and their thoughts or other recommendations.
I read that a year or so ago (if that's the first volume of the biog), what an amazing character he was! Great biog, perfectly paced and well-written.
If you are interested in American history, I have a few recommendations:
Robert Caro's (unfinished) multi-volume series on Lyndon Johnson, is absolutely outstanding. It's a study of a fascinating man, full of contradictions - fundamentally a bad person who did many good things. I particularly loved "Master of the Senate" which explains how LBJ somehow pushed through civil rights legislation in the face of a deeply obstructionist Congress by bullying, intimidation, persuasion and every other political trick known to man. And not because he believed in civil rights but because he knew a southerner would never become President unless he could get a civil rights act passed.
Nearly as good is Doris Kearns "Team of Rivals" is a biog of Lincoln and a few of his key cabinet ministers and their conduct during the civil war. She's also written a biog of Teddy which I mean to pick up.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Has to be the most interesting President as well as the youngest in history. A hunter, historian, politician, naturist, rancher and cowboy. Seems to have lived more than seven lives in what would normally be one. Incredibly energy, completely fearless and throws himself into all areas of his life without questioning his direction for a second.
Book is also a Pulitzer prize winner. This is my first real historical biography and loving it. I know some on here like @Henry Irving are into history so wondering if they've read it and their thoughts or other recommendations.
I read that a year or so ago (if that's the first volume of the biog), what an amazing character he was! Great biog, perfectly paced and well-written.
If you are interested in American history, I have a few recommendations:
Robert Caro's (unfinished) multi-volume series on Lyndon Johnson, is absolutely outstanding. It's a study of a fascinating man, full of contradictions - fundamentally a bad person who did many good things. I particularly loved "Master of the Senate" which explains how LBJ somehow pushed through civil rights legislation in the face of a deeply obstructionist Congress by bullying, intimidation, persuasion and every other political trick known to man. And not because he believed in civil rights but because he knew a southerner would never become President unless he could get a civil rights act passed.
Nearly as good is Doris Kearns "Team of Rivals" is a biog of Lincoln and a few of his key cabinet ministers and their conduct during the civil war. She's also written a biog of Teddy which I mean to pick up.
Thanks very much, I've ordered them.
The same person who recommended me Theodore also said Sherman: Solider, Realist, American by B.H Liddel Hart is outstanding.
The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin - about football the lives of football scouts. Fascinating stuff. KM should have a read...
On the basis that these blokes actually watch matches, rather than sit in front of computers all day, no doubt KM and RD would be deeply unimpressed.
@BartleyPark - have you read Calvin's book on football managers, 'Living on the Volcano: The Secrets of Surviving as a Football Manager' ? It was discussed on a football podcast and sounded very interesting.
It is in the post! Supposed to be very good. You can of course have it when I've read it.
On the subject matter, I've heard "The Manager" by Barney Ronay is quite good. He is a very dry, witty writer. Does feature columns in The Guardian and has made many appearances on Football Weekly.
Disclaimer: He is Millwall. But he doesn't seem to be a knob about it.
Cool. Thanks.
FYI - Reading 'The Nowhere Men' as we made our January signings was... traumatising.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Has to be the most interesting President as well as the youngest in history. A hunter, historian, politician, naturist, rancher and cowboy. Seems to have lived more than seven lives in what would normally be one. Incredibly energy, completely fearless and throws himself into all areas of his life without questioning his direction for a second.
Book is also a Pulitzer prize winner. This is my first real historical biography and loving it. I know some on here like @Henry Irving are into history so wondering if they've read it and their thoughts or other recommendations.
sorry to digress .. I have been listening to a few blues musicians lately .. one, the not well known but brilliant Hound Dog Taylor has really grabbed my attention .. ol Hound Dog's real name ? .. Theodore Roosevelt Taylor ((:>)
Robert B Parker "Spenser" series. Great one liners, usual hard PI but also shrink gf which allows dissection of human phsyce. Superb sidekicks come and go.
'Black and Blue' (1997) by Ian Rankin - Rebus, the troubled and drink-sodden detective, attempts to solve a number of murders, including those committed by an apparent imitator of 'Bible John', a real life (and unapprehended) serial killer who murdered three young women in Glasgow in the late 1960s. I found this a cracking read.
I've been using the good reads app and linked to it my kindle. Very good way of marking books you want to read without forgetting there name or who wrote them
Good shout, another thing I do is to create an Amazon 'Wishlist', constantly adding books I want to read.
I check the list every now and then on my Kindle (easiest way is through the Amazon shopping app), as you can see the prices for your selected titles all in one place - the costs are always changing and I just download a particular title as soon as the price drops. e.g. a book i quite fancied reading was £7.99, went on my wishlist the other day & it had dropped to £2.99. Downloaded it to read next. It is now priced at £7.99 again! Saved myself quite a bit over the years!
Currently 2 thirds of the way through 'Child 44' by Tom Rob Smith, a decent read but agree with @Lincsaddick in that it is rather depressing and melodramatic...!
'Black and Blue' (1997) by Ian Rankin - Rebus, the troubled and drink-sodden detective, attempts to solve a number of murders, including those committed by an apparent imitator of 'Bible John', a real life (and unapprehended) serial killer who murdered three young women in Glasgow in the late 1960s. I found this a cracking read.
Read all bar the latest Rebus, which is on the shelf waiting... Love them.
I've been using the good reads app and linked to it my kindle. Very good way of marking books you want to read without forgetting there name or who wrote them
Good shout, another thing I do is to create an Amazon 'Wishlist', constantly adding books I want to read.
I check the list every now and then on my Kindle (easiest way is through the Amazon shopping app), as you can see the prices for your selected titles all in one place - the costs are always changing and I just download a particular title as soon as the price drops. e.g. a book i quite fancied reading was £7.99, went on my wishlist the other day & it had dropped to £2.99. Downloaded it to read next. It is now priced at £7.99 again! Saved myself quite a bit over the years!
Currently 2 thirds of the way through 'Child 44' by Tom Rob Smith, a decent read but agree with @Lincsaddick in that it is rather depressing and melodramatic...!
Good Stuff.
I enjoyed it, and thought it was the best of the 3 book series (see Agent 6 and the secret speech). As mentioned, The Farm by him is also very good.( in my opinion)
Currently reading through 'conquest of the middle east' by Robert Fisk. HE's a journalist, first with the times and then the independent. Lives in the Lebanon. Regardless of his own politics the story is harrowing in places and throws some light on all that is going on in that region today (it is a few years old now). Anyone interested in the goings on in that area would do well to read it. A very big book (I am currently about 750 pages in) but a good read.
Constance Street by Charlie Connelly. An absolute gem of a book. Anyone who has working class London roots will absolutely identify with this. The tragedy and daily struggle of ordinary people as recently as a century ago is heart breaking, but at the same time uplifting. Anyone who doubts the value of the labour movement should be made to read this book. Get it.
And the mountains echoed. Khaled hosseini. I liked his other two (kite runner, 1000 splendid suns) just about to start this
1000 Splendid Suns remains the most intensely moving book that I’ve ever read. You’d have to be made of steel not to shed a tear. I’m sure I’ll get round to reading this one too, but not ready for another emotional roller coaster at present.
I've just started The Buried Giant by Ishiguro, enjoying its meandering narrative, impressed how someone can just work in a different genre and get there voice across just as powerfully.
another one on my to read shelf .. finally finished 'Short History of 7 Killings' .. overall impression ? .. good ideas but overlong, probably overstated and rambling, everything is depressing, the novel gives the notion that Jamaica in the 1970s was a real hellhole peopled by demons .. having typed that, a worthwhile read, James is a talented if ill disciplined writer.
Having exhausted every book by and about James Brown as well as his sidemen (Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley), I'm now moving onto other soul/funk pastures with the book Detroit 67. Motown, civil unrest, Vietnam, the MC5 and George Clinton. But mostly Motown. I'm not a huge Motown fan, far preferring the gritty Southern soul of Stax, but it's interesting so far.
Ian Rankin - Saints of the Shadow Bible. The Rebus (and Malcolm Fox) book from 2013. Rankin gets better and better, this one has me thinking about it while going about my daily business, great intriguing plot without being to convoluted.
The Night Manager by Le Carré. I normally like his books but there's something about each character in this one annoys me so that I don't care what happens to anybody.
Comments
Disclaimer: He is Millwall. But he doesn't seem to be a knob about it.
If you are interested in American history, I have a few recommendations:
Robert Caro's (unfinished) multi-volume series on Lyndon Johnson, is absolutely outstanding. It's a study of a fascinating man, full of contradictions - fundamentally a bad person who did many good things. I particularly loved "Master of the Senate" which explains how LBJ somehow pushed through civil rights legislation in the face of a deeply obstructionist Congress by bullying, intimidation, persuasion and every other political trick known to man. And not because he believed in civil rights but because he knew a southerner would never become President unless he could get a civil rights act passed.
Nearly as good is Doris Kearns "Team of Rivals" is a biog of Lincoln and a few of his key cabinet ministers and their conduct during the civil war. She's also written a biog of Teddy which I mean to pick up.
The same person who recommended me Theodore also said Sherman: Solider, Realist, American by B.H Liddel Hart is outstanding.
FYI - Reading 'The Nowhere Men' as we made our January signings was... traumatising.
I check the list every now and then on my Kindle (easiest way is through the Amazon shopping app), as you can see the prices for your selected titles all in one place - the costs are always changing and I just download a particular title as soon as the price drops. e.g. a book i quite fancied reading was £7.99, went on my wishlist the other day & it had dropped to £2.99. Downloaded it to read next. It is now priced at £7.99 again! Saved myself quite a bit over the years!
Currently 2 thirds of the way through 'Child 44' by Tom Rob Smith, a decent read but agree with @Lincsaddick in that it is rather depressing and melodramatic...!
I enjoyed it, and thought it was the best of the 3 book series (see Agent 6 and the secret speech). As mentioned, The Farm by him is also very good.( in my opinion)
Always loved his short stories and this is a wonderful collection.
@Lincsaddick @Fanny Fanackapan ... You will both love this
I’ll adopt Rufus’s top tip and add to a wishlist.
Colin Dexter is a superb writer.