what book you reading at the moment? (incl poll)

[Crisp Sandwich]

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reading this ^^^ at the moment. basically telling the tale of how hbo reinvented televisions and wrestled top writers and actors away from movie studios. then the devolution into netflix and subscriptions.

the amount of head cases in the writing rooms is a sight to behold. david milch V michael mann was an interesting tussle.

Biskind's other books are well worth reading also - maybe not "Gods & Monsters" so much but "Easy Riders...", "Down & Dirty Pictures" and "Star" (a Warren Beatty biography) are all great.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

Just finished Same as Ever by Morgan Housel.

Same As Ever: Timeless Lessons on Risk, Opportunity and Living a Good Life" by Morgan Housel is a book that explores the fundamental patterns that shape our lives, economies, and decision-making, focusing on the things that remain constant despite a changing world.

The AI review above about covers it, and it's a very entertaining and well written book.

Just started The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L Shirer. Yes, another Hitler book, but the hook in this one is it was written by someone who lived through the events. Surprisingly light reading for such a serious subject so far. Gives a sense of how Hitler developed as a young man better than any book I've read so far.

 

[El Guapo]

Just Finished "Playworld" a novel by Adam Ross.

Good read, enjoyed it.

It's another coming of age one (need a break from those for a bit).

The setting is clever in that its quite exceptional (in the sense that it's far from ordinary) but also relatable.

It's set in Reagan era Manhattan. The protagonist is a child actor in a big syndicated sitcom, his father is a jobbing actor, singing jingles and adverts etc. and a bit of a dose. He's not wealthy but moving in those circles.

The young fella is basically likable, although he can be a selfish prick, in the way that 16 year olds can be, he is fairly exploited to various degrees..Mostly benign enough stuff but some very much abusive.

I don't want to paint it as a dark read its not really, it's mostly about him figuring out life.

Some very good writing about being a teenager and being self conscious about being not cool enough or rich enough or confident enough to know what to do when a girl is interested in you..

Also there is a subplot where he is wrestling for the school team and it's his great passion but he's not very good at it. Unfortunately I can relate to that too. Fuckin life...

Anyway, good enjoyable read even if it gets a bit flabby in the middle. Would recommend.

 

[Crisp Sandwich]

Just Finished "Playworld" a novel by Adam Ross.

I was intrigued so I just read the blurb on Penguin Random House's website.

Sounds like a "what if Jay McInerney wrote the script for Wes Anderson's Rushmore" sort of vibe.

 

[Blue Jasmin]

Just finished re-reading "The Captain's Daughter" by Alexander Pushkin, it's a short historical novel based on the Pugachev rebellion of the 1770's in Russia. It's told from the point of view of a young nobleman on military service. A great story with certain similarities to Sir Walter Scott. Pugachev was commemorated by the Soviet Union on the 200th anniversary of the uprising with a stamp.

 

[El Guapo]

I was intrigued so I just read the blurb on Penguin Random House's website.

Sounds like a "what if Jay McInerney wrote the script for Wes Anderson's Rushmore" sort of vibe.

I'll hafta stick Jay McInerney on my list of authors to read before I'm cool.

It's not quite Wes Anderson either. Less Twee than that. But heavy on 80s nostalgia alright. Yer man plays D&D and watches MTV, how's that for world building like

 

[Crisp Sandwich]

I'll hafta stick Jay McInerney on my list of authors to read before I'm cool.

It's not quite Wes Anderson either. Less Twee than that. But heavy on 80s nostalgia alright. Yer man plays D&D and watches MTV, how's that for world building like

I would definitely recommend "Bright Lights, Big City" if you haven't read any of his stuff. You'd burn through it over a long weekend too.

 

[King Silkbeard]

Read a book about the Ummayad Dynasty then a book on Al Andalus, now reading about Saladin and will be reading about Syrian Revolt in the 1920s. History is my subject and Arabic/Islamic a personal favourite.

 

[BlackpoolTerrier]

As a record of a life in Cork in the early 20th century and the people and artists of his vocation, Seamus Murphy's "Stone Mad" is unparalleled.
I'd never heard of him, until in first year in secondary school, we were studying the Sean O'Riordain poem, "Colm", which our teacher, Mr. Quirke, from Fermoy, told us was about Seamus Murphy's youngest son, Colm.
Mr Quirke went on to talk about Murphy, the great artist that he was, the life he had led and a wonderful book he had written, called "Stone Mad". I forgot all about the book until, years later, I saw it on sale in that old bookshop that used to be on the corner of South Main Street and Hanover Street and bought it.



Per the article (which is decent), "Stone Mad" is getting republished this month.

https://archive.is/NjeHX

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

Money by David McWilliams.

Basically the History of Money. Decent read, light and enjoyable with some anecdotes for the dinner party's in Noels (okay okay the fish suppers on Friday)