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

[Crisp Sandwich]

Stalingrad by Antony Beever.

Listening to this on Borrow Box. It's interesting and utterly depressing too. Had heard there was extreme violence in this particular part of WW2 and it wasn't an exaggeration unfortunately.

But you'd expect that somewhat in a book about war. The depressing thing about it is the the callous cruelty to other human beings, on both sides. And they were just as bad to people on their own side who didn't meet their expectations.

The Germans in Leningrad used kids as human shields and the order that came down from Stalin was to shoot the kids. You were almost in as much danger from your own side as you were from the enemy.

Great book. I read that last year - Beevor really got hold of that story.

I have his book "Berlin: 1945: The Downfall" to read but, with the good weather, I haven't had the time necessary to really get into it.

Roll on the dark days of winter.


Currently reading "Rita Hayworth & The Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King.

You can see how Frank Darabont made a now-classic film from this material - King laid out the story in a clear but entertaining way so the roadmap was there.

When King is on form - you're in for treat. The problem is that he's had nearly as many misfires as bonafide hits now.

Either way - I have been reading this book with Morgan Freeman's voice in my head.

 

[Carmona]

Rene Descartes
Had a broken heart
But was no longer glum
Once he posited “Cogito ergo Sum”

Thomas Gould
Had Cork North Central fooled
He roared like a bawd
Now the Guards are shouting “fraud!”

Rodri
Poetry
Said no to Madrid
Thinks they’re on the skid

Terrier, that day job, how's it going? Keep at it, will ya.

 

[BlackpoolTerrier]

Terrier, that day job, how's it going? Keep at it, will ya.

LOL, they're only a bit of craic C - and they're meant to be shite

James Joyce
Genius Dublin voice
Chose the date of Ulysses
As a tribute to his Mrs


Mick Lyons
For whom the whole PROC pines
Became its fascinator
Starting the Rugby Football Skills Translator

 

[Bedouin79]

Just about to start The Nerd Reich by Gil Duran… I’ve a tonne to get through just had no time recently… bought anniversary edition of pet semetary

 

[Carmona]

I'm 100 pages (of 600) into The Weight of Angels by John Boyne. It's actually quite a light read. One of those "What could have been" novels which is a sub-sub genre that can get on my tits. I mean, it's all fiction anyway, so .........

But back to the actual book, It's about Oscar Wilde and 'what could have been' if he had lived. Without spoiling it for anyone - I believe it's coming out this month; I'm reading an uncorrecetd proof copy - in this telling Oscar is not convicted, but his friend Lord Alfred Douglas is. And he does the time and passes away as poor Oscar did in real life.

Lots of witty banter, as you can imagine. His attendance at the coronation of 'Prince Bertie' is funny. A little early to judge the novel though. In fact I think my friend who gave me the book said she thought it petered out/got a bit much towards the end. Let's see.

 

[Yermon]

The Plot Against Ireland - by Myles Dungan

Covering the machinations and intrigue of The Fenians, Invincibles, Parnell, Irish Parliamentary Party, The Times, British Intelligence, various agents provocateur, Treachery etc etc in Ireland's struggle for self-determination.

Very entertaining so far. Fifth book I have on my new kindle - my Library is so bloody full I have to stack books behind other books. Had one years ago and found Kindle isn't as good as having the hardcopy book itself imho, but boy is it a dream when it comes to storage.

 

[El Guapo]

Started this yesterday and I am absolutely burning through it. Blackly funny.

Tottenham's prose is sneeringly fantastic - if, at times, somewhat impenetrable (I've had to look up words in the dictionary a few times).

If you like Charles Bukowski, Bret Easton Ellis or Martin Amis then "Service" might be for you.

Finished this on your rec crispy.

Very good in fairness.

Rare a book has comic timing but this was impeccable "do you guys have a bathroom?"

 

[El Guapo]

Two decent ones.

Black Bag, Luke Kennard



Good craic absurdist comedy. An out of work actor get a gig recreating a psychosocial experiment. It's a bit uneven but very funny.

He becomes a cypher for a kind of alt manophshere movement and a kind of living sexual confession Box for a sexy professor type who may be as bored and lonely as everyone else.

it was solid

 

[El Guapo]

Savages by Don Winslow



About two dope traffickers who get involved with the Baja Cartel.

it's shit cool and more stylised than a tarantino flick.

Good entertainment

 

[nelly sham]

Dungeon Crawler Carl ... it's eh... out there.

Very enjoyable all the same