Currently reading Normandy ‘44 by James Holland. Obviously, we know the outcome but this is a well-written account that busts more than a few myths and misconceptions about D-Day and the preparations. There’s also a lot of personal accounts that I haven’t read elsewhere.
I’ve just read a cracking book by Simon Sebag Montefiore titled Sashenka. An insight into the Russian uprising of the Bolshevik, Stalin‘s brutality and an impact on a family.
Caedmon's Song by Peter Robinson. A book he originally wrote before he invented Inspector Alan Banks. Set in the 80's around Whitby and The Cotswolds, it's a revenge thriller with a twist.
I’ve just read a cracking book by Simon Sebag Montefiore titled Sashenka. An insight into the Russian uprising of the Bolshevik, Starlin‘s brutality and an impact on a family.
Absolutely loved this trilogy and a good insight into Russian mentality during the revolution. I would recommend the other two in The Moscow Trilogy as well: 'Red Sky at Noon' and 'One Night in Moscow' for life under Stalin.
I’ve just read a cracking book by Simon Sebag Montefiore titled Sashenka. An insight into the Russian uprising of the Bolshevik, Starlin‘s brutality and an impact on a family.
Absolutely loved this trilogy and a good insight into Russian mentality during the revolution. I would recommend the other two in The Moscow Trilogy as well: 'Red Sky at Noon' and 'One Night in Moscow' for life under Stalin.
Thanks for this. I’ll be ordering the books but it’s apparently ‘One Night in Winter’.
...and talking of trilogies, my next set of books to read are Ken Follett’s First World War trilogy ‘Fall of Giants’, ‘Winter of the World’ and ‘Edge of Eternity’.
Half way through Mortimer & Whitehouse - Gone Fishing. The accompanying book to the TV series. Like the program, its all about life, friendship and good banter.
Don't read many novels as such. Mainly factual, pseudo-scientific, conscious expanding stuff! Currently reading "Is there life after death" by Anthony Peake. Amazing stuff and basically there is no death. Always have several books on the go at any one time so also reading "The starless sea" by Erin Morgenstern as I loved her first novel "The Night Circus".
I’ve just read a cracking book by Simon Sebag Montefiore titled Sashenka. An insight into the Russian uprising of the Bolshevik, Starlin‘s brutality and an impact on a family.
Absolutely loved this trilogy and a good insight into Russian mentality during the revolution. I would recommend the other two in The Moscow Trilogy as well: 'Red Sky at Noon' and 'One Night in Moscow' for life under Stalin.
anything by Montefiore, fact or fiction, is well worth a read .. Montefiore's family history reads like an adventure/tragedy story (see also his various TV documentaries)
I’ve just read a cracking book by Simon Sebag Montefiore titled Sashenka. An insight into the Russian uprising of the Bolshevik, Starlin‘s brutality and an impact on a family.
Absolutely loved this trilogy and a good insight into Russian mentality during the revolution. I would recommend the other two in The Moscow Trilogy as well: 'Red Sky at Noon' and 'One Night in Moscow' for life under Stalin.
Thanks for this. I’ll be ordering the books but it’s apparently ‘One Night in Winter’.
...and talking of trilogies, my next set of books to read are Ken Follett’s First World War trilogy ‘Fall of Giants’, ‘Winter of the World’ and ‘Edge of Eternity’.
Sorry, it was a typing error. Of course it is 'One Night in Winter'. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ken Follett WW1trilogy and would recommend many of his other books: 'The Key to Rebecca'; 'Eye of the Needle'; 'The Man from St Petersburg' and 'The Modigliani Scandal'.
I’ve just read a cracking book by Simon Sebag Montefiore titled Sashenka. An insight into the Russian uprising of the Bolshevik, Starlin‘s brutality and an impact on a family.
Absolutely loved this trilogy and a good insight into Russian mentality during the revolution. I would recommend the other two in The Moscow Trilogy as well: 'Red Sky at Noon' and 'One Night in Moscow' for life under Stalin.
Thanks for this. I’ll be ordering the books but it’s apparently ‘One Night in Winter’.
...and talking of trilogies, my next set of books to read are Ken Follett’s First World War trilogy ‘Fall of Giants’, ‘Winter of the World’ and ‘Edge of Eternity’.
Sorry, it was a typing error. Of course it is 'One Night in Winter'. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ken Follett WW1trilogy and would recommend many of his other books: 'The Key to Rebecca'; 'Eye of the Needle'; 'The Man from St Petersburg' and 'The Modigliani Scandal'.
Wasn’t there a film regarding the Modigliani scandal? Judy Dench?
Currently reading a remarkable Sports book called: Riding in the Zone Rouge by Tom Isitt
Is about how the French Newspaper; Le Parisien Journal organised a Cycling Event called the Tour of the Battlefields less than six months after the Armistice in 1919
Event was only held twice (with the 1920 event a one day race rather than stages) yet has been a very good read so far with the author riding the stages whilst researching the book (half the chapters cover the present day)
Only thing I'd warn is its not an account from the riders
Isitt admits early in the book that there are very few accounts from the race itself so there are fictional / non-fictional parts whilst some of the latter are drawn from soldiers diaries of the terrain etc.
'Big Sky' .. Kate Atkinson .. her last 2 or 3 have been iffy, in this one she is bang back in form In the big Waterstones in Sheffield Meadowhall I had the misfortune to browse through John Bercow's 'autobiography' .. me me me me, clever ol me. I did. I did me me me .. emphasises what a really unpleasant little creep the man is
'Big Sky' .. Kate Atkinson .. her last 2 or 3 have been iffy, in this one she is bang back in form In the big Waterstones in Sheffield Meadowhall I had the misfortune to browse through John Bercow's 'autobiography' .. me me me me, clever ol me. I did. I did me me me .. emphasises what a really unpleasant little creep the man is
I have and looking forward to reading Bercow‘s other book “Unspeakable”.
'Big Sky' .. Kate Atkinson .. her last 2 or 3 have been iffy, in this one she is bang back in form In the big Waterstones in Sheffield Meadowhall I had the misfortune to browse through John Bercow's 'autobiography' .. me me me me, clever ol me. I did. I did me me me .. emphasises what a really unpleasant little creep the man is
I have and looking forward to reading Bercow‘s other book “Unspeakable”.
'Big Sky' .. Kate Atkinson .. her last 2 or 3 have been iffy, in this one she is bang back in form In the big Waterstones in Sheffield Meadowhall I had the misfortune to browse through John Bercow's 'autobiography' .. me me me me, clever ol me. I did. I did me me me .. emphasises what a really unpleasant little creep the man is
I have and looking forward to reading Bercow‘s other book “Unspeakable”.
'Unspeakable' is the book I was referring to .. could be he is looking to trade in on his infamy rather than his fame. I dare say this book will sell well and make him a few more quid .. the only other 'autobiography' I have read recently which indulges in such mass self adulation is that by Joey Barton .. they make a fine pair ((:>)
Dead Irish by John Lescroart, as recommended by one of you lovely people - apologies it was a while back so I don't remember exactly who it was.
Took a while to get going, but by halfway I was hooked. Murder mystery with a few twists and turns. The first of sixteen novels featuring Dismas Hardy - a former cop and lawyer who has turned his back on the rat race and works in a bar. He's lured back into investigation as a favour to a friend. Already got the second novel in the series.
Just finished David 'Bumble' Lloyd's autobiography "Last in the Tin Bath". A really good read covering his young life and county career with Lancashire, playing for England, umpiring, coaching England and finally working on radio and TV.
Loved the story of when Jeff Thomson hit him in the family jewels with a ball in the Ashes. He had to be helped off the field with his "box" in splinters wrapped around his tackle. Asked the physio if he could take away the pain but leave the swelling!
Dead Irish by John Lescroart, as recommended by one of you lovely people - apologies it was a while back so I don't remember exactly who it was.
Took a while to get going, but by halfway I was hooked. Murder mystery with a few twists and turns. The first of sixteen novels featuring Dismas Hardy - a former cop and lawyer who has turned his back on the rat race and works in a bar. He's lured back into investigation as a favour to a friend. Already got the second novel in the series.
better late than never .. I've been recommending Lescroart for years
Comments
...and talking of trilogies, my next set of books to read are Ken Follett’s First World War trilogy ‘Fall of Giants’, ‘Winter of the World’ and ‘Edge of Eternity’.
Like the program, its all about life, friendship and good banter.
September 1, 1939
Ian Sansom
I thoroughly enjoyed the Ken Follett WW1trilogy and would recommend many of his other books: 'The Key to Rebecca'; 'Eye of the Needle'; 'The Man from St Petersburg' and 'The Modigliani Scandal'.
Is about how the French Newspaper; Le Parisien Journal organised a Cycling Event called the Tour of the Battlefields less than six months after the Armistice in 1919
Event was only held twice (with the 1920 event a one day race rather than stages) yet has been a very good read so far with the author riding the stages whilst researching the book (half the chapters cover the present day)
Only thing I'd warn is its not an account from the riders
Isitt admits early in the book that there are very few accounts from the race itself so there are fictional / non-fictional parts whilst some of the latter are drawn from soldiers diaries of the terrain etc.
In the big Waterstones in Sheffield Meadowhall I had the misfortune to browse through John Bercow's 'autobiography' .. me me me me, clever ol me. I did. I did me me me .. emphasises what a really unpleasant little creep the man is
Took a while to get going, but by halfway I was hooked. Murder mystery with a few twists and turns. The first of sixteen novels featuring Dismas Hardy - a former cop and lawyer who has turned his back on the rat race and works in a bar. He's lured back into investigation as a favour to a friend. Already got the second novel in the series.
Loved the story of when Jeff Thomson hit him in the family jewels with a ball in the Ashes. He had to be helped off the field with his "box" in splinters wrapped around his tackle. Asked the physio if he could take away the pain but leave the swelling!