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Post by erogenous on Apr 7, 2021 2:07:30 GMT
I've just ordered a couple.
Secondhand time.... About stain/comminism and a penguin classic so should be decent.
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Post by iancransonsknees on Apr 7, 2021 4:51:37 GMT
That's easily put to bed.
One half of the board will be reading Marx's Communist Manifesto, the other Hitler's Mein Kampf.
I'm currently getting through the Mr Men and Thomas the Tank collections (actually Mick Wall's Led Zeppelin biography, it's hard going).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2021 6:33:37 GMT
Recently finished "The Body - A Guide For Occupants" by Bill Bryson. Currently reading "The Beast, The Emperor, and The Milkman" - by Harry Pearson (a book about cycling racing in Flanders) Next book to read - "The Secret War: Codes, Spies and Guerillas 1939-1945" by Max Hastings
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Post by musik on Apr 7, 2021 8:36:56 GMT
Mikhail Bulgakov The Master and Margarita
Stephen King It
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Post by noustie on Apr 7, 2021 9:23:51 GMT
I’d recommend the Bernie Gunther series if anyone is into historical / detective type stuff. The detective side of it really plays second fiddle to the depth of research into the setting, particularly Berlin, and really captures the mood of the time. Most of the books are set around real events ranging from 1928 as the seed starts to take root all the way through to Nazi’s living in Argentina and Cuba into the 50’s. The main character is a Social Democrat, like the majority of folk in Berlin even in the election of 1932, and because he refuses to become a Nazi member he’s sacked from the police force but because he’s so good at what he does they keep dragging him back in. Finished the last in the series Metropolis and they’re all decent – arguably the worst was is Field Grey but that was the first one I read which hooked me on the entire series. Brief description of each book/ orderSpectator article on the series
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Post by iancransonsknees on Apr 7, 2021 15:22:34 GMT
Mikhail Bulgakov The Master and Margarita Stephen King It I read The Master and The Margarita 20 odd years ago, an excellent read. Great back story around its publication too. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_and_MargaritaI read it after finding out it was the inspiration for Sympathy for the Devil.
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Post by partickpotter on Apr 7, 2021 15:36:18 GMT
Just finished Lady Sings the Blues, Billie Holiday’s autobiography.
An astonishing read.
Thoroughly recommend
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Post by phileetin on Apr 7, 2021 15:42:56 GMT
Reading Lord of the rings again (read hobbit last week )
I'd recommend Jeffrey archer ... clifton chronicles series and As the crow flies ... very similar story lines. In fact i enjoy most Archer novels.
Lee Child jack reacher ok but getting a bit samey now .
Most stephen king novels good , except the final in the gunslinger series - crap ending ( he went a bit nuts after his accident ) but last novel ok and the Mr Mercedes series was good.
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Post by Seymour Beaver on Apr 7, 2021 16:16:45 GMT
Just finished 'The Dice Man' by Luke Reinhardt. Read it because I discovered it was the inspiration for Talk Talk's 'Such a Shame". It actually made me physically cringe at times (the book not the song).
Just started a collection of short stories by Graham Greene - the first of which is 'The Third Man' - one of my favourite films of all time.
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Post by raythesailor on Apr 7, 2021 16:36:00 GMT
Just finished 'The Dice Man' by Luke Reinhardt. Read it because I discovered it was the inspiration for Talk Talk's 'Such a Shame". It actually made me physically cringe at times (the book not the song). Just started a collection of short stories by Graham Greene - the first of which is 'The Third Man' - one of my favourite films of all time. If you have not already try “Our Man In Havana” Bear in mind the period in which it was written and is set in.
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Post by prestwichpotter on Apr 7, 2021 16:47:45 GMT
Just started "Why Nations Fail - The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty" by Daron Acemoglu.
I'm a few chapters in and so far so good......
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Post by Seymour Beaver on Apr 7, 2021 16:50:14 GMT
Just finished 'The Dice Man' by Luke Reinhardt. Read it because I discovered it was the inspiration for Talk Talk's 'Such a Shame". It actually made me physically cringe at times (the book not the song). Just started a collection of short stories by Graham Greene - the first of which is 'The Third Man' - one of my favourite films of all time. If you have not already try “Our Man In Havana” Bear in mind the period in which it was written and is set in. I have indeed - and have a dvd of the film - also directed by Carol Reed. Le Carre's homage to 'Our Man in Havana' ('The Tailor of Panama') is also worth a read (though the Pierce Brosnan film leaves much to be desired).
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Post by iancransonsknees on Apr 7, 2021 17:21:36 GMT
Just finished 'The Dice Man' by Luke Reinhardt. Read it because I discovered it was the inspiration for Talk Talk's 'Such a Shame". It actually made me physically cringe at times (the book not the song). Just started a collection of short stories by Graham Greene - the first of which is 'The Third Man' - one of my favourite films of all time. Again I read the series about 20 years ago. Very gonzo.
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Post by iancransonsknees on Apr 7, 2021 17:25:59 GMT
I'd recommend the Hunter S Thompson diaries. Basically letters he sent chronologically throughout his life, they almost form an autobiography. I don't think the third and final compilation was published.
Anybody who likes a bet look up The Last Bloody Mary I Own and 12 Grand by Jonathan Rendall. 12 Grand the series is on All4, highly recommend it. I bought his unfinished Tyson biography. He's woefully and criminally unknown and underrated.
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Apr 7, 2021 17:33:59 GMT
Just finished 'The Dice Man' by Luke Reinhardt. Read it because I discovered it was the inspiration for Talk Talk's 'Such a Shame". It actually made me physically cringe at times (the book not the song). Just started a collection of short stories by Graham Greene - the first of which is 'The Third Man' - one of my favourite films of all time. Excellent choice. Graham Greene is brilliant. Brighton Rock and The End of the Affair are superb. The Quiet American is worth a read too. I read Ali by Jonathan Eig recently, don't normally do autobiographies but this was excellent, very balanced account of his life full of contradictions. Got Hamnet and Shuggie Bain to have a go at next.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Apr 7, 2021 17:48:26 GMT
Currently reading the Greg Isles series. The Devils Punchbowl at the moment.
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Post by musik on Apr 8, 2021 0:31:00 GMT
Mikhail Bulgakov The Master and Margarita Stephen King It I read The Master and The Margarita 20 odd years ago, an excellent read. Great back story around its publication too. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_and_MargaritaI read it after finding out it was the inspiration for Sympathy for the Devil. I've almost only started, 50 pages or so ... I find it well written.
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Post by The man from Utch on Apr 8, 2021 1:34:15 GMT
Three Magic Words U.S. Andersen
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Post by wilcopotter on Apr 8, 2021 6:08:29 GMT
I read The Master and The Margarita 20 odd years ago, an excellent read. Great back story around its publication too. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_and_MargaritaI read it after finding out it was the inspiration for Sympathy for the Devil. I've almost only started, 50 pages or so ... I find it well written. [br Bulgakov’s Heart of a dog is a great book too, I’d recommend it.
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Post by wilcopotter on Apr 8, 2021 6:12:52 GMT
Just finished 'The Dice Man' by Luke Reinhardt. Read it because I discovered it was the inspiration for Talk Talk's 'Such a Shame". It actually made me physically cringe at times (the book not the song). Just started a collection of short stories by Graham Greene - the first of which is 'The Third Man' - one of my favourite films of all time. Excellent choice. Graham Greene is brilliant. Brighton Rock and The End of the Affair are superb. The Quiet American is worth a read too. I read Ali by Jonathan Eig recently, don't normally do autobiographies but this was excellent, very balanced account of his life full of contradictions. Got Hamnet and Shuggie Bain to have a go at next. Haven’t read all of Greene’s books, but The Ministry of Fear is probably my favourite to date. End of the affair is great too. Going to read The Honorary Counsel next, apparently Greene’s favourite of his own books.
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Post by erogenous on Apr 8, 2021 22:59:20 GMT
Mikhail Bulgakov The Master and Margarita Stephen King It I nearly went for master and margarita instead.. would you recommend it? Just seen the above posts so please ignore!!
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Post by cobhamstokey on Apr 8, 2021 23:04:19 GMT
Salford Lads the rise and fall fall of Paul Massey Fast Living the real Gary Holton Viv Graham and Lee Duffys Paralell lives
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Post by lawrieleslie on Apr 10, 2021 12:10:37 GMT
I’m a John Grisham fanatic. His lates A Time For Mercy is up there with his best. If you’re into Falklands conflict then Beyond Endurance is a fascinating look into how Whitehall took no notice of the numerous warnings from people close to Argentina such as the British Ambassador in Buenos Aries and the Captain of HMS Endurance, Captain Nick Barker, who wrote the book. In it he is very critical of the dismissal of many warnings passed to Whitehall that could have prevented a conflict as had been done in 1977. Barker was to later be passed over for flag rank despite his extensive Antarctic experience and also Commanding Officer of a minesweeper and 4 frigates.
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Post by mtrstudent on Apr 11, 2021 3:08:30 GMT
I'd recommend the Hunter S Thompson diaries. Basically letters he sent chronologically throughout his life, they almost form an autobiography. I don't think the third and final compilation was published. Anybody who likes a bet look up The Last Bloody Mary I Own and 12 Grand by Jonathan Rendall. 12 Grand the series is on All4, highly recommend it. I bought his unfinished Tyson biography. He's woefully and criminally unknown and underrated. [snip] Just finished & enjoyed Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but what a nutter. The Black Company - dark fantasy recommended by a mate. Thinking, Fast and Slow - completely changed how I see the world when I first read it. Want to see what I think now.
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Post by Squeekster on Apr 11, 2021 8:52:30 GMT
Reading Lord of the rings again (read hobbit last week ) I'd recommend Jeffrey archer ... clifton chronicles series and As the crow flies ... very similar story lines. In fact i enjoy most Archer novels. Lee Child jack reacher ok but getting a bit samey now . Most stephen king novels good , except the final in the gunslinger series - crap ending ( he went a bit nuts after his accident ) but last novel ok and the Mr Mercedes series was good. I find some of Stephen Kings books start off really well and get you gripped but with a crap end, like you say the dark tower, under the dome and the stand were great till the end which turned out to a damp squib. The Jack Reacher books are good and I do like the Strike books, you'd never know it was JK Rowling if it was common knowledge.
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Post by wrighter on Apr 11, 2021 9:10:29 GMT
The Last Tommy
have loads of WW1 books
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Post by partickpotter on Sept 7, 2021 14:22:59 GMT
Just finished this book... and thought it was worth sharing. It's an autobiography of an astonishing woman, born in 1969 in Somalia telling her story growing up in the horn of Africa before ending up as an asylum seeker in Holland. The book works on so many levels - the story of an incredibly brave and resilient person, the lived experience for women in an Islamic society and an assessment of how the West should approach Islam in immigrant populations. Thoroughly recommend. One of the best books I've read in years!
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Post by harryburrows on Sept 8, 2021 8:00:34 GMT
Reading Lord of the rings again (read hobbit last week ) I'd recommend Jeffrey archer ... clifton chronicles series and As the crow flies ... very similar story lines. In fact i enjoy most Archer novels. Lee Child jack reacher ok but getting a bit samey now . Most stephen king novels good , except the final in the gunslinger series - crap ending ( he went a bit nuts after his accident ) but last novel ok and the Mr Mercedes series was good. Interesting your reading list is almost identical to mine although I read Lord or the rings in 1970 . You are right about the jack reacher novels they get a bit samey after the 1st half dozen . As for Stephen King, his early work is amazing . I stopped reading him 20 years ago after 2 or 3 disappointing releases
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Sept 8, 2021 8:08:13 GMT
Hamnet was excellent, a joy to read and humanises Shakespeare in an entirely understandable way.
The Mercies was the last thing I read. A dramatisation of the real witch trials, abuse of power by the Church and life in remote Norway in the late 17th century. Sounds a bit dry but it was good.
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Post by flea79 on Sept 8, 2021 8:10:36 GMT
im reading Jeffrey Archers prison diaries, really interesting read, first one is available free through prime reading, the others are three quid a go!
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