[Misc] What Book are you Currently Reading?

[rippleman]

Life in Brighton by Clifford Musgrave.

It is what it says on the tin. I thought I had a pretty good knowledge of Brighton's history but have learnt so much more from just the first few chapters.

 

[Braggfan]

Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. A true sci fi great, arguably one of the best living sci fi writers. I think one of his most striking talents is his research for his novels. It’s spot on and because his ideas are rooted in modern science it gives everything a sense of realism.

I've read his Mars trilogy which are outstanding. This is in a similar vein, with colonists traveling to a distant star on a generational ship. It delves into the trials and tribulations of living your life aboard a spaceship, but also the foolhardiness of such a journey, and the dangers both conceived and unexpected.

I also I think there's an interesting underlying environmentalist point. It hard to read and not reflect on how lucky we are to have such an incredible planet to live on whilst simultaneously being worried about how we take something so precious for granted.

I'd recommend this to any fans of science fiction, especially if you haven’t read any of his work before. It’s a good place to start, and if you like it you’ll be in a fantastic position of knowing he’s written so many other brilliant books to investigate.

 

[Barry Izbak]

To the edge of the world by Christian Wolmar

The history of the Trans Siberian Railway.
Much more than just geeks book about trains.

I'm really enjoying

 

[MJsGhost]

Purely thanks to recommendations in this thread (I can't remember which posters, but thanks!), I've been reading William Boyd novels in the last couple of months: Any Human Heart; The New Confessions; An Ice-Cream War; A Good Man in Africa and now Sweet Caress.

I was a bit worried about the very strong pattern of storylines (bordering on samey), but the fact that I've kept going tells its own story.

Maybe I got a bit unlucky with the first 3 I read: WW1 or WW1 & 2 settings, difficult relationship with father, Oxford University, awkward relationships with women & sex, main character is pretty hopeless but does alright mainly thanks to a privileged background (without really fitting in)... Not a million miles away with A Good Man in Africa either, but I think it's the characters in the books that keep me going back.

I've only just started Sweet Caress and the female protagonist makes a refreshing change already.

 

[Marty McFly]

Life in Brighton by Clifford Musgrave.

It is what it says on the tin. I thought I had a pretty good knowledge of Brighton's history but have learnt so much more from just the first few chapters.

That's a hefty tome! Enjoyable though!

 

[Rodney Thomas]

Purely thanks to recommendations in this thread (I can't remember which posters, but thanks!), I've been reading William Boyd novels in the last couple of months: Any Human Heart; The New Confessions; An Ice-Cream War; A Good Man in Africa and now Sweet Caress.

I was a bit worried about the very strong pattern of storylines (bordering on samey), but the fact that I've kept going tells its own story.

Maybe I got a bit unlucky with the first 3 I read: WW1 or WW1 & 2 settings, difficult relationship with father, Oxford University, awkward relationships with women & sex, main character is pretty hopeless but does alright mainly thanks to a privileged background (without really fitting in)... Not a million miles away with A Good Man in Africa either, but I think it's the characters in the books that keep me going back.

I've only just started Sweet Caress and the female protagonist makes a refreshing change already.

This sounds interesting. Must remember to check those out.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Brian Horton’s book - 2000 matches. Good read, Albion hero and legend.

 

[Barry Izbak]

A Voyage For Madmen by Peter Nichols.

I've no interest in sailing, or at least I didn't until reading Michael Calvin in the Sunday Times some years ago reporting from the round the world yacht race. For some reason, maybe his writing skill, I became fascinated in the subject.

This book is about the first solo round the world race. Its brilliant. What on earth makes people want to subject themselves to the discomfort, loneliness and just downright scary world of the southern ocean I dont know.

And this book is about the 1968 race, so no satellite phones and santas tracking. Horrendous.

 

[Beach Hut]

Purely thanks to recommendations in this thread (I can't remember which posters, but thanks!), I've been reading William Boyd novels in the last couple of months: Any Human Heart; The New Confessions; An Ice-Cream War; A Good Man in Africa and now Sweet Caress.

I was a bit worried about the very strong pattern of storylines (bordering on samey), but the fact that I've kept going tells its own story.

Maybe I got a bit unlucky with the first 3 I read: WW1 or WW1 & 2 settings, difficult relationship with father, Oxford University, awkward relationships with women & sex, main character is pretty hopeless but does alright mainly thanks to a privileged background (without really fitting in)... Not a million miles away with A Good Man in Africa either, but I think it's the characters in the books that keep me going back.

I've only just started Sweet Caress and the female protagonist makes a refreshing change already.

Been saving my last Boyd book Bamboo for a while, he is a superb novalist.

Any Human Heart - Well worth watching the adaptation of this on C4

 

[lawros left foot]

Working my way through George Orwell.

Some I read 40ish years ago, some I’m reading for the first time.

Just finished Down and out in Paris and London, and just started Homage to a Catalonia.

 

[Rodney Thomas]

Stamboul Train - Graham Greene

 

[sydney]

Shake Hands and come out fighting ...L.A.Lawton ...written in 1926 about early boxing champions in Britain and U.S pre Louis ....Dempsey features amongst others

 

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

'Funny way to be a Hero' by John Fisher a wonderful history
of British Music Hall.

TNBA


TTF

 

[Gwylan]

'Funny way to be a Hero' by John Fisher a wonderful history
of British Music Hall.

I have that - it's excellent. There are some great extracts of some of the best routines

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Just about to start another, options are

Alan Brazil’s
Simon Jordan’s
Ray Parlours


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bombadier Botty]

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

 

[Bombadier Botty]

And now onto ‘Prodigal Son’ by Gregg Hurwitz, book 7 in the Orphan X series.

 

[amexer]

Just about to start another, options are

Alan Brazil’s
Simon Jordan’s
Ray Parlours


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Simon Jordons is good

 

[jakarta]

Sicily 1943 - James Holland - have to say his prose is a bit wooden but seeing as my Grandad was in the 8th Army and did Sicily plus North Africa and Salerno thought I should give it a go just to pick up some historical info. Labouring to the end but will probably end up in one of of our Charity Shops.

Have visited Sicily twice in the last ten years, lovely country despite having an alternative government, ahem...

 

[Fungus]

Third book of the Discovery of Witches trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Gripping stuff, better than the TV series.