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Post by murphthesurf on May 3, 2019 20:45:35 GMT
Time for some updates all round, please! Will everyone's book-load suddenly start to increase in a couple of weeks....... .......... ie. when we'll have nowhere to go on Saturday afternoons for the next few months? (Or possibly )
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2019 20:52:37 GMT
A walk in the woods by Bill Bryson
His attempt to walk the 2,200 (ish) miles of the Appalachian Trail up the eastern USA, which he eventually reduced to around 600-800 miles.
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Post by thehoof on May 3, 2019 20:55:35 GMT
Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained - Peter F Hamilton ( Sci- Fi).
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Post by trickydicky73 on May 3, 2019 20:57:31 GMT
The Tiny Jacket, but I just can't get into it.
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Post by lordb on May 3, 2019 21:12:06 GMT
Kindle is knackered Back to actual books.
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Post by innocentbystander on May 3, 2019 21:18:37 GMT
Ian Hunter's Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star. Mott's American Tour in 1972, when you could still find classic guitars in pawn shops. Not read it since I lent my first edition to someone in 1976, never saw it again, but it's stuck in my mind ever since. Wonderful.
Before that: The Secret History by Donna Tartt, slow but very compelling. Very well written.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on May 3, 2019 21:43:31 GMT
Book juggling at the moment which is a bit wank and I need to have a plan to read read until there's one.
Quirky and Curious Staffs-Andrew Bearmore. Local history/mystery etc. The Old Ways - Robert Macfarlane. Fabulous rambling book about rambling, sense of place etc. Marvellous section about the Guga Men of the Highland islands and the dark arts of map/chart reading. It's like reading a dream. Mint. Thomas Sheridan - the Druid Code. Fucked up practical majik and stuff.
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Post by Boothen on May 3, 2019 21:53:58 GMT
Currently reading The Divine Comedy, and have the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle up next.
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Post by thequietman on May 7, 2019 11:35:06 GMT
Colin Kapp - Unorthodox Engineers. Jolly good if you've got a bit of a phsyics/engineering background.
Solzhenitsyn - August 1914 - a bit slow but interesting.
Got some Robert Heinlein books to read next that Telford kindly sent me. Red Planet, Waldo & Magic Inc, Farmer In The Sky.
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Post by telfordstoke on May 7, 2019 20:01:21 GMT
Got Stephen Fosters She Stood There Laughing off eBay and starting that tonight. And still got half of Sunday’s Oatcake to read too
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Post by lawrieleslie on May 8, 2019 14:47:17 GMT
Just finished SAS Nazi Hunters by Damien Lewis..true story of the SAS men who helped to train French Resistance in and around Moussey France. Nazi barbarians caught 22 of the SAS men and executed them in cold blood. They also burnt to death 3 female SOE operatives. But worse was to come because the Nazis suspected French of harbouring some of the SAS and used torture and murder to try and get information. This included the murder of women and children and burning down of villages. Second half of the book concentrates on the small team of SAS who spent many years tracking down these sickos and bringing them to justice as war criminals. Many of the twats avoided prosecution because the germans were quickly seen as valuable allies against Stalin as Cold War emerged right after the war. Kind of wish I hadn’t read it as find it very difficult, after reading it, to separate these monsters from any German nationals past and present given its only 1 or 2 generations ago. Cruel, barbaric, inhuman and arrogant race in my eyes. Sorry.
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Post by Boothen on May 8, 2019 18:57:28 GMT
Just finished SAS Nazi Hunters by Damien Lewis..true story of the SAS men who helped to train French Resistance in and around Moussey France. Nazi barbarians caught 22 of the SAS men and executed them in cold blood. They also burnt to death 3 female SOE operatives. But worse was to come because the Nazis suspected French of harbouring some of the SAS and used torture and murder to try and get information. This included the murder of women and children and burning down of villages. Second half of the book concentrates on the small team of SAS who spent many years tracking down these sickos and bringing them to justice as war criminals. Many of the twats avoided prosecution because the germans were quickly seen as valuable allies against Stalin as Cold War emerged right after the war. Kind of wish I hadn’t read it as find it very difficult, after reading it, to separate these monsters from any German nationals past and present given its only 1 or 2 generations ago. Cruel, barbaric, inhuman and arrogant race in my eyes. Sorry. You've recently been into The Works ain't ya? Had that in my hand myself, but ended up grabbing 'Fishers of Men' instead - a first hand account of the FRU during the troubles.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on May 8, 2019 19:15:55 GMT
Just finished SAS Nazi Hunters by Damien Lewis..true story of the SAS men who helped to train French Resistance in and around Moussey France. Nazi barbarians caught 22 of the SAS men and executed them in cold blood. They also burnt to death 3 female SOE operatives. But worse was to come because the Nazis suspected French of harbouring some of the SAS and used torture and murder to try and get information. This included the murder of women and children and burning down of villages. Second half of the book concentrates on the small team of SAS who spent many years tracking down these sickos and bringing them to justice as war criminals. Many of the twats avoided prosecution because the germans were quickly seen as valuable allies against Stalin as Cold War emerged right after the war. Kind of wish I hadn’t read it as find it very difficult, after reading it, to separate these monsters from any German nationals past and present given its only 1 or 2 generations ago. Cruel, barbaric, inhuman and arrogant race in my eyes. Sorry. Yeah the Saxe-Coburgs....
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Post by lawrieleslie on May 8, 2019 20:03:20 GMT
Just finished SAS Nazi Hunters by Damien Lewis..true story of the SAS men who helped to train French Resistance in and around Moussey France. Nazi barbarians caught 22 of the SAS men and executed them in cold blood. They also burnt to death 3 female SOE operatives. But worse was to come because the Nazis suspected French of harbouring some of the SAS and used torture and murder to try and get information. This included the murder of women and children and burning down of villages. Second half of the book concentrates on the small team of SAS who spent many years tracking down these sickos and bringing them to justice as war criminals. Many of the twats avoided prosecution because the germans were quickly seen as valuable allies against Stalin as Cold War emerged right after the war. Kind of wish I hadn’t read it as find it very difficult, after reading it, to separate these monsters from any German nationals past and present given its only 1 or 2 generations ago. Cruel, barbaric, inhuman and arrogant race in my eyes. Sorry. You've recently been into The Works ain't ya? Had that in my hand myself, but ended up grabbing 'Fishers of Men' instead - a first hand account of the FRU during the troubles. You’ve picked the wrong one Boothen. Read them both and found Fishers of Men ok for the first half as he describes his training and qualifying for FRU, then just gets boring. Not the Works mate but Kindle.
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Post by RICH68 on May 8, 2019 21:26:35 GMT
When footballers were skint-Jon Henderson Only 6 chapters in,but really enjoyable.
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Post by murphthesurf on May 8, 2019 21:47:59 GMT
Just finished SAS Nazi Hunters by Damien Lewis..true story of the SAS men who helped to train French Resistance in and around Moussey France. Nazi barbarians caught 22 of the SAS men and executed them in cold blood. They also burnt to death 3 female SOE operatives. But worse was to come because the Nazis suspected French of harbouring some of the SAS and used torture and murder to try and get information. This included the murder of women and children and burning down of villages. Second half of the book concentrates on the small team of SAS who spent many years tracking down these sickos and bringing them to justice as war criminals. Many of the twats avoided prosecution because the germans were quickly seen as valuable allies against Stalin as Cold War emerged right after the war. Kind of wish I hadn’t read it as find it very difficult, after reading it, to separate these monsters from any German nationals past and present given its only 1 or 2 generations ago. Cruel, barbaric, inhuman and arrogant race in my eyes. Sorry. Your conclusion is absolutely 100% right, Lawrie, and IMO everyone should, for instance, visit Auschwitz as part of their schooling - if they do, they'll never, EVER, forget it.
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Post by musik on May 8, 2019 21:53:38 GMT
Today at the Library I read the short story "Some words with a mummy", by Edgar Allan Poe, from 1850.
Sometimes it feels like I'm the reincarnated Poe.
I'm also reading a collection of horror stories, called "Autumn essence", several diff authors.
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Post by itsmorethanagame on Aug 4, 2020 21:50:50 GMT
A bit of a shameless plug I’m afraid! But like most High Street Retailers, my little business has really suffered during the Covid epidemic. I’ve used the time to finally get in the 21st Century and create a website. Still a lot of stock to add but it’s now up and running. For anyone who likes to read, we have a pretty eclectic range of books with new titles arriving every week. Our prices are usually very good and lower than Amazon! Any feedback whether it be good or bad is welcome! www.bookwiseonline.co.uk
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Post by Seymour Beaver on Aug 5, 2020 8:48:51 GMT
Just finished SAS Nazi Hunters by Damien Lewis..true story of the SAS men who helped to train French Resistance in and around Moussey France. Nazi barbarians caught 22 of the SAS men and executed them in cold blood. They also burnt to death 3 female SOE operatives. But worse was to come because the Nazis suspected French of harbouring some of the SAS and used torture and murder to try and get information. This included the murder of women and children and burning down of villages. Second half of the book concentrates on the small team of SAS who spent many years tracking down these sickos and bringing them to justice as war criminals. Many of the twats avoided prosecution because the germans were quickly seen as valuable allies against Stalin as Cold War emerged right after the war. Kind of wish I hadn’t read it as find it very difficult, after reading it, to separate these monsters from any German nationals past and present given its only 1 or 2 generations ago. Cruel, barbaric, inhuman and arrogant race in my eyes. Sorry. Only just come across this but you raise an interesting point. I have often found myself in situations (usually but not exclusively businesswise) here in the UK where I have been in the presence of someone who displays narcissistic or psychopathic tendencies. When I've done so I've then imagined them in 1930's Germany and how they would be behaving with a government who not only tolerated but actively promoted and rewarded bullying, cruelty, discrimination and intimidation - and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have taken much pursuading to join the SS or gestapo and climb a very different greasy pole. I'm also pretty sure that they would be - as they are now - role models for plenty of impressionable and sycophantic lackeys to do their bidding. So I don't believe the Germans are an inherently cruel and arrogant race - any more than we have the potential to be. What happened is a reminder that evil exists in every society and how - given a perfect storm - it can be unleashed. Something no-one should ever be allowed to forget.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Aug 7, 2020 23:52:36 GMT
Skipping betweeen three...
Jenny Uglow - The Lunar Men... an Historical/Esoteric look at the Midlands magnate pioneers of the Industrial Rev, Benji Franklin's visits etc,,,, To the sea with a cut etc...
Revisiting Thorsson ! s Elder Futhark since seeing the XR runic intent....
Medieval Graffiti {The Lost Voices of England's Churches} Matthew Champion...
Always got Albert Lyons 'Predicting The Future' at hand for easy reference...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2020 7:10:01 GMT
Famine Diary : Journey to a new word by Gerald Keegan.
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Aug 8, 2020 10:41:14 GMT
Just started Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel - basically a history of mankind going back 13,000 years which tries to explain why different cultures evolved to dominate the world, hard going but fascinating stuff.
For example, he tries to explain what conditions led Pizarro to be able to defeat an army of 80,000 Incas with just 168 Spaniards...sounds impossible when you consider the bare numbers...
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Post by bucknall67 on Aug 8, 2020 10:43:30 GMT
Just read Michael Parkinson's autobiography.
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Post by Dutchpeter on Aug 8, 2020 11:04:51 GMT
I’m reading three at the moment. ‘Eddie Mac, Eddie Mac‘ about Eddie McCreadie’s two year tenure as Chelsea manager 1975-77. Not brilliant, but interesting. Eddie claims to have invented the Diamond formation. Thanks Eddie 😁 Second book is ‘Memoirs of an old yard dog’ is a Bradford Park Avenue fan reminisce 1960-74. Good read, I love footie books about the 60s and 70s. Last Book is ‘Run Silent, Run Deep’ a fictional account of an American WW2 submarine and it’s crew. I loved the film and the book is even better. As an ex submariner it comes across as totally convincing, not surprising as author Edward L. Beach was a former submarine captain.
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Post by mattador78 on Aug 9, 2020 14:53:44 GMT
Just finished the “Big Show” Pierre Klosstermanns autobiography of his time in the raf in World War Two. Really enjoyed it as a description of how intense the war became for the fighter pilots changing to ground attack after the Battle of Britain ends and how intense the air war becomes in the last few months of the conflict. Also started the Witcher books at home and have the account of operation Barras in my car for when I’m waiting pick my daughter up from work.
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Aug 9, 2020 16:46:05 GMT
Just finished SAS Nazi Hunters by Damien Lewis..true story of the SAS men who helped to train French Resistance in and around Moussey France. Nazi barbarians caught 22 of the SAS men and executed them in cold blood. They also burnt to death 3 female SOE operatives. But worse was to come because the Nazis suspected French of harbouring some of the SAS and used torture and murder to try and get information. This included the murder of women and children and burning down of villages. Second half of the book concentrates on the small team of SAS who spent many years tracking down these sickos and bringing them to justice as war criminals. Many of the twats avoided prosecution because the germans were quickly seen as valuable allies against Stalin as Cold War emerged right after the war. Kind of wish I hadn’t read it as find it very difficult, after reading it, to separate these monsters from any German nationals past and present given its only 1 or 2 generations ago. Cruel, barbaric, inhuman and arrogant race in my eyes. Sorry. Only just come across this but you raise an interesting point. I have often found myself in situations (usually but not exclusively businesswise) here in the UK where I have been in the presence of someone who displays narcissistic or psychopathic tendencies. When I've done so I've then imagined them in 1930's Germany and how they would be behaving with a government who not only tolerated but actively promoted and rewarded bullying, cruelty, discrimination and intimidation - and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have taken much pursuading to join the SS or gestapo and climb a very different greasy pole. I'm also pretty sure that they would be - as they are now - role models for plenty of impressionable and sycophantic lackeys to do their bidding. So I don't believe the Germans are an inherently cruel and arrogant race - any more than we have the potential to be. What happened is a reminder that evil exists in every society and how - given a perfect storm - it can be unleashed. Something no-one should ever be allowed to forget. Indeed so. I think your summary is effectively the basis of Hannah Arendt's excellent work on the Adolf Eichmann trial, which introduced the idea of the banality of evil... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichmann_in_JerusalemInterestingly, The Stanford Jail Experiment is on tv this week (may be tonight?) which, again, underlines in pretty unpleasant viewing the same concept. Dangerous to draw conclusions from what people post on social media of course, but it's not hard to imagine there being several candidates on here with whom a bullying, discriminatory and prejudicial regime would sit quite nicely thank you.
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Post by potterinleeds on Aug 9, 2020 20:14:00 GMT
Simcock Mow Cop (1975) by Jack Simcock. Autobiography of the artist Jack Simcock, friend of Arthur Berry, who lived at Mow Cop for many years, most well known for his haunting black & white portraits of people in front of local buildings. Not a straightforward autobiography, more about getting under the skin of a small local area where you live for a long time.
I've been after a copy of his poetry book (also published 1975) entitled Midnight Till Three for a while now, but they are hard to come by nowadays.
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Post by innocentbystander on Aug 9, 2020 20:56:13 GMT
Dodgers by Bill Beverly. Picked it up in a book-swap phone box, expected a standard airport thriller but got a lot better. A tense terse literate story of four young black LA gangsters trying to navigate across white America keeping as low a profile as possible, in order to assassinate a judge. Great stuff.
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Post by bucknall67 on Aug 17, 2020 22:20:57 GMT
You've been usurped John by a new guy on what are you reading right now!!
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Post by Seymour Beaver on Oct 2, 2021 20:53:36 GMT
A Vanished Landscape by Paul Johnson.
Memories of a childhood in 1930's Stoke -on - Trent.
A sort of Potteries version of 'Cider with Rosie'
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