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

[Chara021]

Milkman.
Absolute shite. I rarely give up on a book and came close a number of times with this. Didn't like the style it was written in, hated the way other characters were referenced.
Finished it on holiday and threw it in the bin. Wouldn't even donate it to the take a book, leave a book shelf.

Yes I gave up on it very early on. Woeful.

 

[nelly sham]

Yes I gave up on it very early on. Woeful.

Oh, good to know that's it not just me then!

 

[Great-Bit-O-Stuff]

Milkman.
Absolute shite. I rarely give up on a book and came close a number of times with this. Didn't like the style it was written in, hated the way other characters were referenced.
Finished it on holiday and threw it in the bin. Wouldn't even donate it to the take a book, leave a book shelf.

Did it leave a sour taste in your mouth?

 

[El Guapo]

Just Finished "The Terror" by Dan Simmons



It's a fictionalised account of the a real British Expedition to find the north West Passage in 1846 which went missing all hands lost.

You've heard of it it you have read any of the Shakleton polar exploration stuff. the two ships (The Terror and the Erebus commanded by Franklin and Crozier) were iced in badly and never thawed.

Huge Horror elements to this book no spoilers saying something is stalking them in the ice..Sailers are going missing and body parts turning up daily.

it tracks their escape attempts and descent into starvation, madness and cannibalism.

I really enjoyed it, all that polar stuff was well presented and their battling of the cold and lack of food is more scary than the monster.

Cold absolutely permeates this book

The ending was a bit fanciful for my tastes. And he makes a big error I think in explaining the monster. Better to leave it to the imagination

They made a TV show out of this which is supposedly very good.

it was an excellent read

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

Power and Personality by Ian Kershaw.

Basically 12 essays by Kershaw on significant European leaders of the 20th century such as Hitler, Thatcher, Stalin, Lenin, Tito et al. He picks apart how much their personality allowed them to gain power, and how much of a part circumstances played in it. Once in power, how they they use their personality to shape their country and remain there.

Good enough.

 

[Crisp Sandwich]

Power and Personality by Ian Kershaw.

Basically 12 essays by Kershaw on significant European leaders of the 20th century such as Hitler, Thatcher, Stalin, Lenin, Tito et al. He picks apart how much their personality allowed them to gain power, and how much of a part circumstances played in it. Once in power, how they they use their personality to shape their country and remain there.

Good enough.

Kershaw is a good historian and meticulous researcher but he writes like the college professor that he is. He can be a bit too dry.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

Kershaw is a good writer and meticulous researcher but he writes like the college professor that he is. He can be a bit too dry.

I agree.

Still an enjoyable read imho. Bit more opinion in this book too, as Kershaw balances how much personality and circumstances played in the various careers.

 

[BoggyRoad]

Just Finished "The Terror" by Dan Simmons

View attachment 52694

It's a fictionalised account of the a real British Expedition to find the north West Passage in 1846 which went missing all hands lost.

You've heard of it it you have read any of the Shakleton polar exploration stuff. the two ships (The Terror and the Erebus commanded by Franklin and Crozier) were iced in badly and never thawed.

Huge Horror elements to this book no spoilers saying something is stalking them in the ice..Sailers are going missing and body parts turning up daily.

it tracks their escape attempts and descent into starvation, madness and cannibalism.

I really enjoyed it, all that polar stuff was well presented and their battling of the cold and lack of food is more scary than the monster.

Cold absolutely permeates this book

The ending was a bit fanciful for my tastes. And he makes a big error I think in explaining the monster. Better to leave it to the imagination

They made a TV show out of this which is supposedly very good.

it was an excellent read

Spoiler alert: It was a big Polar Bear

(soz I couldn't help that. No I've not read it either btw)

 

[El Guapo]

Spoiler alert: It was a big Polar Bear

(soz I couldn't help that. No I've not read it either btw)

I think I would have preferred the ending of it had been "Jaws 2, on Ice: the polar bears revenge".

But that is a minor gripe. I really enjoyed it.

The monster isn't nearly the most monstrous thing about it

 

[Matlock]

Holiday reading from last week -

The correspondent-Virginia Evans. 8/10 Really enjoyable. The story of a woman's life told through her letters to others and some of their replies.

Eurotrash- Christian Kracht. 7/10 Odd style, but I liked it. Like a darker version of Bertie Wooster maybe?

Murder bimbo- Rebecca Novack 6/10. Entertaining light read. Woman kills a politician who definitely isn't based on Donald Trump!

The infinite sadness of small appliances- Glenn Dixon 9/10. Loved it. Dystopian si-fi, but with a lot of heart.

Just started Donal Ryan's "where are all the kings". Good so far.