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

[Crisp Sandwich]

I bought this to take on my holidays but September is too far away so I started into last night.

A quasi-sequel to the very enjoyable "Everybody Knows". Harper certainly knows how to write literary junk-food - snappy sentences and dialogue both in modern Los Angeles vernacular. (Or - in the parlance of our times - if you prefer).

This won't live long in the memory but it's great fun so far.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

Genghis Khan and The King of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford.

This is how you write a history book for a wider audience. A fact based book.that at times reads like a novel. If you thought the Mongols were just maurading conquerers (as I did), then you were wrong

The Mongol empire made contributions in every field from science to art and had some ideas, such as religious freedom and tolerance that were way ahead of their times.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who likes history.

 

[Crisp Sandwich]

`

"Thirst" by John Robins. I'm finding this a bit of a struggle. Long time fan of Robins as a comedian and his podcast too but I'm four chapters into this and it's reading a bit like a self-help book with a few witty asides.

I understand that John Robins pulled himself out of an alcoholic nose-dive and that's admirable but he seems to poo-poo other peoples' beliefs such as Christianity while he himself spouts on about the healing powers of Buddhism, meditation and silent retreats.

The footnotes are rather odd too - he'll mention something like addiction or suicidal ideation and then at the bottom of the page it'll say;

"If you are struggling with {insert issue here} then contact [and then the website/phone number for Samaritans, NHS, Alcoholics Anonymous, etc.]"

 

[Matlock]

Such a nice girl- Andrea Mara. Same woman who wrote "All her fault". Good pacey thriller. Good beach read.

Amsterdam - Ian McEwan. Terrible characters, excellently written.

A family matter- Claire Lynch. Debut novel. I really liked it. It deals with the aftermath of a marriage breakdown, and how the family courts dealt with lesbians in relation to custody/access to their children.

 

[Carmona]

Finished The New Life by Tom Crewe. About Victorian homosexual (inverts/inversion) culture. A little challenging on the details of intimacy at times! Enjoyed it though.

Just started Dooneen by Keith Ridgway. Gonna be different this one. A quirky first-person voice.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

`I understand that John Robins pulled himself out of an alcoholic nose-dive and that's admirable but he seems to poo-poo other peoples' beliefs such as Christianity while he himself spouts on about the healing powers of Buddhism, meditation and silent retreats.

The footnotes are rather odd too - he'll mention something like addiction or suicidal ideation and then at the bottom of the page it'll say;

"If you are struggling with {insert issue here} then contact [and then the website/phone number for Samaritans, NHS, Alcoholics Anonymous, etc.]"

I went on a yoga retreat about 20 years ago, and on one of the days we had a woman who had ascended to something akin to a grandmaster of Yoga (I forget the actual term). Christ above she came out with some crap.

India was a majestic society where everyone was in tune with nature and they were so so much wiser than us westerners blah blah blah. Now, there were some things that are admirable in Indian culture, but that's true of most cultures. There's also some shameful shit in all cultures.

I really wish I'd challenged her about the obvious one, but I was all Zen after all the yogic breathing

 

[Crisp Sandwich]

I went on a yoga retreat about 20 years ago, and on one of the days we had a woman who had ascended to something akin to a grandmaster of Yoga (I forget the actual term). Christ above she came out with some crap.

India was a majestic society where everyone was in tune with nature and they were so so much wiser than us westerners blah blah blah. Now, there were some things that are admirable in Indian culture, but that's true of most cultures. There's also some shameful shit in all cultures.

I really wish I'd challenged her about the obvious one, but I was all Zen after all the yogic breathing

As all patrons say upon entering the pub up in Pearse Square - Namaste, Nolly

 

[knockfiarna]

Just finished The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan .
Really loved this book ,interwoven stories of different people in a small town in Ireland dealing with the aftermath of the financial crash and ghost estates etc .
Great storytelling , id recommend it anyway

 

[Chara021]

Reading two oldies for Bookclub

The Correspondent and 84 Charring Cross Road.

The Correspondent was excellent , written as a series of letters and emails by an aging lawyer. Very character led ,quite witty but with an emotional edge dealing with aging, regrets and reconnections. With a little bit of a mystery character woven into the story.

84 Charring Cross road, I’m half way through this and loving it. True story. Again format is letters written over a period of 20 years. I laughed out loud many times. Very quaint interaction that encompassed many people through the correspondence of two people.

Indicative how the love of literature can travel across an ocean and how it sparked a deep friendship that lasted from 1949 to 1968.

 

[Yermon]

Europe By Train
DK Eyewitness

50 rail trips around Europe. Planning ahead