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Post by potterinleeds on Sept 29, 2018 10:50:18 GMT
The Table Rappers by Ronald Pearsall. About Victorian 'clairvoyants' and all the shenanigans they got up to with spirit photography and ectoplasm and the like. Some obscure items in there I had never read about before, like the "fire test" where they held on to red hot coals, and how seances were used as a cover for drug-taking and meeting ladies (and gents) of the night etc. Proper moustache-twirling, pea-souper, Gladstone bag type stuff. Oh going to have the library hunt that down, sounds like a gem. I find so-called 'Dark Victoriana' fascinating. Another recommendation is Henry Mayhew's London Life and the London Poor and London's Underworld. Mayhew went round in the mid to late 19th century cataloguing the lives of criminals, con-men, prostitutes and those who did the worst jobs imaginable - it's horrifying and eye-opening in equal measure, with some brilliant social history too. On another note, can recommend the recently published The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers (2017), all about the 'Cragg Vale Coiners' on the moorland up here. Great fiction based on a true story - uncanny, brutal, involving and odd.
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Post by marylandstoke on Sept 29, 2018 13:07:16 GMT
Just started The Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne. I think most of us would agree you can tell if your going to like a book or a film in the first few and this is going to be a cracker
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Post by wizzardofdribble on Sept 29, 2018 13:34:30 GMT
Fishers of Men...Rob Lewis
A fascinating account of covert operations in Ireland early 70s to mid 80s.
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Post by murphthesurf on Oct 4, 2018 7:40:50 GMT
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Post by thequietman on Oct 4, 2018 11:11:54 GMT
Usually got 2 or 3 books on the go so I can pick one up depending on my mood at the time.
Just read First Man In: Leading From The Front, Ant Middleton's autobiography. Totally riveting, read it in a single afternoon.
Working my way through the Dune series again, currently on Heretics of Dune.
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Post by lordb on Oct 4, 2018 11:43:45 GMT
Usually got 2 or 3 books on the go so I can pick one up depending on my mood at the time.
Just read First Man In: Leading From The Front, Ant Middleton's autobiography. Totally riveting, read it in a single afternoon. Working my way through the Dune series again, currently on Heretics of Dune.
the terrible film has always out me off, are the books good then?
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Post by thequietman on Oct 4, 2018 21:49:15 GMT
Usually got 2 or 3 books on the go so I can pick one up depending on my mood at the time.
Just read First Man In: Leading From The Front, Ant Middleton's autobiography. Totally riveting, read it in a single afternoon. Working my way through the Dune series again, currently on Heretics of Dune.
the terrible film has always out me off, are the books good then? The film was awful. The books vary, depending on what sort of style you like. Dune is worth reading even if you don't do the others. If you've read any of CJ Cherryh's Faded Sun trilogy or her Morgaine books, it's a similar feel but with less abject misery. Dune - excellent. Great story, plenty of action, plenty of study of the human condition Messiah - a poor follow up. Got the feeling of being cobbled together from short plots + rushed into print for the cash Children - a bit slower than Dune but very good God Emperor - incredibly slow, lots of philosophy, my favourite Heretics - slow builder but ok. Not read it for years, reading it now, seem to remember a climactic ending Chapter House - remember very little of it other than being disappointed by it
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Post by lordb on Oct 5, 2018 11:09:11 GMT
the terrible film has always out me off, are the books good then? The film was awful. The books vary, depending on what sort of style you like. Dune is worth reading even if you don't do the others. If you've read any of CJ Cherryh's Faded Sun trilogy or her Morgaine books, it's a similar feel but with less abject misery. Dune - excellent. Great story, plenty of action, plenty of study of the human condition Messiah - a poor follow up. Got the feeling of being cobbled together from short plots + rushed into print for the cash Children - a bit slower than Dune but very good God Emperor - incredibly slow, lots of philosophy, my favourite Heretics - slow builder but ok. Not read it for years, reading it now, seem to remember a climactic ending Chapter House - remember very little of it other than being disappointed by it thanks I'll give Dune a go
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Post by estrangedsonoffaye on Oct 5, 2018 11:17:28 GMT
Keep The Aspidistra Flying - George Orwell.
Comically self deprecating piece by Orwell, identifying his issues/concerns with Socialist movements and the paradox of wanting to prosperous without being a slave to money.
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Post by cooper67 on Oct 22, 2018 21:47:17 GMT
Just re-reading The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.
A great read.
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Post by mattintheprem on Oct 22, 2018 22:19:46 GMT
Keep The Aspidistra Flying - George Orwell. Comically self deprecating piece by Orwell, identifying his issues/concerns with Socialist movements and the paradox of wanting to prosperous without being a slave to money. Just finished reading that one myself, Orwell was a troubled soul but makes for great reading, it feels very close to being his own life story. What did you think of it?
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Post by estrangedsonoffaye on Oct 22, 2018 23:39:40 GMT
Keep The Aspidistra Flying - George Orwell. Comically self deprecating piece by Orwell, identifying his issues/concerns with Socialist movements and the paradox of wanting to prosperous without being a slave to money. Just finished reading that one myself, Orwell was a troubled soul but makes for great reading, it feels very close to being his own life story. What did you think of it? Funnily enough Orwell didn’t particularly rate the work as far as I’m aware but was desperate for money, much like Comstock throughout. It’s quite a jarring piece of work, but it struck with me on many points. It’s depiction of poverty, as with most of his work is exceptional and truly you feel just sad about the situations described in the text. Gordon is a wholly unlikeable fellow, but you can’t help but sympathise with him on a lot of levels, we’d all like more money...but to not tarnish our principles, we all feel as though we are held back by the mundane need to put food on the table etc. In the end it’s a great argument for abandoning grand ideas regarding capitalism/socialism in general, if we all aimed to put the Aspidistra in our own houses rather than trying to be something we’re not, would we all be better off? Overall, it’s one of my favourite Orwell novels, and having read it about 3 times now it’s an underrated classic. What about yourself?
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Post by harryburrows on Oct 23, 2018 0:42:05 GMT
The film was awful. The books vary, depending on what sort of style you like. Dune is worth reading even if you don't do the others. If you've read any of CJ Cherryh's Faded Sun trilogy or her Morgaine books, it's a similar feel but with less abject misery. Dune - excellent. Great story, plenty of action, plenty of study of the human condition Messiah - a poor follow up. Got the feeling of being cobbled together from short plots + rushed into print for the cash Children - a bit slower than Dune but very good God Emperor - incredibly slow, lots of philosophy, my favourite Heretics - slow builder but ok. Not read it for years, reading it now, seem to remember a climactic ending Chapter House - remember very little of it other than being disappointed by it thanks I'll give Dune a go I might re read it . I read it back in the 70s , you will enjoy it mate
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Post by musik on Oct 23, 2018 1:44:10 GMT
Lost Book of Enki.
But I've had thousand other things to do as well: health problems to take care of; trying to track Kate; the poltergeist in the building; the weird water leakage in my bathroom; starting my own company; searching for a parallel part time job, for instance, so I haven't got the time for it.
Journey of the souls by Michael Newton is another one I haven't finished yet. The library keep wanting it back all the time. It must be the most wanted book in the world.
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Post by mattador78 on Oct 23, 2018 6:17:52 GMT
Just reading Hue 1968 by Mark Bowen, just finished a triple bill about Scipio Ghenghis and Charlemagne
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Post by mattintheprem on Oct 23, 2018 20:42:02 GMT
Just finished reading that one myself, Orwell was a troubled soul but makes for great reading, it feels very close to being his own life story. What did you think of it? Funnily enough Orwell didn’t particularly rate the work as far as I’m aware but was desperate for money, much like Comstock throughout. It’s quite a jarring piece of work, but it struck with me on many points. It’s depiction of poverty, as with most of his work is exceptional and truly you feel just sad about the situations described in the text. Gordon is a wholly unlikeable fellow, but you can’t help but sympathise with him on a lot of levels, we’d all like more money...but to not tarnish our principles, we all feel as though we are held back by the mundane need to put food on the table etc. In the end it’s a great argument for abandoning grand ideas regarding capitalism/socialism in general, if we all aimed to put the Aspidistra in our own houses rather than trying to be something we’re not, would we all be better off? Overall, it’s one of my favourite Orwell novels, and having read it about 3 times now it’s an underrated classic. What about yourself? Very impressive critique, I wish I could put something to match this but I can say I did enjoy it!! I especially related to the part where he gets his royalty payment in the post from the States out of the blue, intends to pay back his sister and spend the rest wisely & instead goes out for slap up meal, gets pissed, goes with a hooker & ends up in the nick for the night. I can really relate to his complete lack of will power and money sense.......... I was brought up in a way to not have any selfish desires to chase the dollar, preferring a hard-working but reasonably comfortable life. I sometimes regret coming from a middle class, if not remarkable, household. Young people do sometimes need a desire to progress and escape from their surroundings as a driver to achieve great things in life. But often that means treading on plenty of heads to scramble up the slippery slope & I do value my ethics, morals and compassion for others which my parents taught me to hold dear. Chose it after i'd re-read 1984 recently, moving on for another dose of Animal Farm now, any of his others you can recommend?
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Post by musik on Oct 23, 2018 21:14:03 GMT
The manual to my fan in the kitchen.
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Post by lordb on Oct 23, 2018 21:41:28 GMT
Funnily enough Orwell didn’t particularly rate the work as far as I’m aware but was desperate for money, much like Comstock throughout. It’s quite a jarring piece of work, but it struck with me on many points. It’s depiction of poverty, as with most of his work is exceptional and truly you feel just sad about the situations described in the text. Gordon is a wholly unlikeable fellow, but you can’t help but sympathise with him on a lot of levels, we’d all like more money...but to not tarnish our principles, we all feel as though we are held back by the mundane need to put food on the table etc. In the end it’s a great argument for abandoning grand ideas regarding capitalism/socialism in general, if we all aimed to put the Aspidistra in our own houses rather than trying to be something we’re not, would we all be better off? Overall, it’s one of my favourite Orwell novels, and having read it about 3 times now it’s an underrated classic. What about yourself? Very impressive critique, I wish I could put something to match this but I can say I did enjoy it!! I especially related to the part where he gets his royalty payment in the post from the States out of the blue, intends to pay back his sister and spend the rest wisely & instead goes out for slap up meal, gets pissed, goes with a hooker & ends up in the nick for the night. I can really relate to his complete lack of will power and money sense.......... I was brought up in a way to not have any selfish desires to chase the dollar, preferring a hard-working but reasonably comfortable life. I sometimes regret coming from a middle class, if not remarkable, household. Young people do sometimes need a desire to progress and escape from their surroundings as a driver to achieve great things in life. But often that means treading on plenty of heads to scramble up the slippery slope & I do value my ethics, morals and compassion for others which my parents taught me to hold dear. Chose it after i'd re-read 1984 recently, moving on for another dose of Animal Farm now, any of his others you can recommend? Coming up for Air by Orwell is good. Easier to read as well.
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Post by marylandstoke on Oct 24, 2018 18:13:16 GMT
Just finished Dopesick..Dealers, Doctors and the drug company that addicted America by Beth Macy. An absolutely amazing book. Superb read.
Half way through Geronimo by Tim Moore, his account of the 1914 Tour of Italy bike race “recreation” that he did. Easy to read and funny. My guess is that he is more know to you guys over in Blighty. No idea why he would have his book in the middle of the Southern Maryland library system but it does make me want to read more of his stuff.
And, in full disclosure, this months Classic and Sportscar has landed in the PO Box but sometimes that’s more just looking at the pictures and trying not to drool.
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Post by potterinleeds on Oct 24, 2018 18:23:49 GMT
Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse (in English, as my German's not good enough). I read it first about 35 years ago but re-reading it as a 50 year old I find am appreciating the subtleties more. In fact, I have read nothing by Hesse that I haven't liked.
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Post by musik on Dec 15, 2018 3:11:04 GMT
Finally, I finished Michael Newton "Journey of the souls" (in Swedish 'Själarnas resa) last Sunday early morning.
Fascinating book One of the most fascinating books I've read
It's telling you about the different levels of souls: beginner, middle and advanced. When you read this it becomes a joy to figure out on what level people you meet are. Just because someone is on the advanced level doesn't mean that person is "better" in any way. The beginner human soul might just be in life number one, and who knows, reach advanced level quicker?
It explains why we are here. First time ever I've seen someone actually saying this in clear context.
The book is based on many many years of research, people talking during hypnosis about earlier lives.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Dec 15, 2018 3:27:47 GMT
'Solstice Trackways' following the winter sun. 'An account of the ancient Peak District Copper Trade Routes.' by Frank Parker. {pamphlet}. and maps.
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Post by marylandstoke on Dec 15, 2018 5:26:27 GMT
Lanterne Rouge by Max Leonard....The last man in the Tour De France. Great read. Was very poignant as I was getting close to the end as the news unfolded and Paul S was mentioned in a couple of places.
God, No.......Penn Jillette Possibly one of the best books I have read.
Funny, clever, interesting. A really, really good read.
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Post by marylandstoke on Dec 15, 2018 5:34:06 GMT
Next up....The Joy Of Hate by Greg Gutfeld Triumph over the whiners in the age of phony outrage.
Can’t get a Yorkie to park on but do realize I can’t see the Branston unless Mrs Md points it out. Hoping it has some method for melting snowflakes.
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Post by musik on Dec 15, 2018 10:36:18 GMT
Two short stories collections.
One is called: "Shadows at the evening lamp - 30 night pieces" and the other one: "Sights in the night - a horror gallery". Both published by Aleph.
Both more famous short stories and completely unknown work in these collections.
Guy de Maupassant Jean Richepin Charles Dickens Arthur Conan Doyle Gustav Nicolai Maurice Level and others in "Shadows".
Rickard Berghorn Edgar Allan Poe Arthur Machen Washington Erving Ambrose Bierce Richard Middleton and others in "Sights".
What's your opinion on short stories?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2018 0:07:51 GMT
Fishers of Men...Rob Lewis A fascinating account of covert operations in Ireland early 70s to mid 80s. Just finished "The Shankill Butchers" struggle to come to terms with what humans will do to other humans. Very grim tale indeed. Reading Little drummer girl at present. After struggling to understand the tv adaptation. Fishers of men is next on my Kindle to read.
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Post by cooper67 on Dec 16, 2018 14:24:07 GMT
Fishers of Men...Rob Lewis A fascinating account of covert operations in Ireland early 70s to mid 80s. Just finished "The Shankill Butchers" struggle to come to terms with what humans will do to other humans. Very grim tale indeed. It is. Did finally get what he deserved.
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Post by riverman on Dec 16, 2018 15:15:55 GMT
Don Quixote. Been meaning to for years but never got around to it. A lot funnier and easier to read than I expected considering when it was written.
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Post by marylandstoke on Jan 1, 2019 6:38:33 GMT
Just finished David Millar’s book.
Very good read and amazing it’s not got a ghost writer (or did he cheat on that too)
I really wasn’t following cycling at that point of his career and to be honest I am only really engaged when the TdF rolls around.
I know we have some people on the EE who really know cycling and I am endebted because I believe I hunted this book down because of some of our members mentioning it. I adore the fact that our board has, outside of the 90 minutes, such an amazing wealth of knowledge. One minute it’s Polish strikers, the next that apple cider vinegar will help with you pigeons plumage.
Salt of the Earth.
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Post by wilcopotter on Jan 1, 2019 19:45:31 GMT
Let’s go (so we can get back). Jeff Tweedy (Wilco - Lead Singer) autobiography. Next up, Stoke & I 1990’s.
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