Question What are you reading?

[Tangled up in Blue]

To my shame, The Spanish Holocaust took me almost three months. Really heavy going; an excellent if upsetting read. It's not about the civil war per se, more about the oppression behind the lines. Many of the Republicans were no angels, but the Francoists were just terrible. They were so cruel to imprisoned Republicans even Himmler (****ing Himmler!) suggested they were going too far.

You did much better tnan me!I didn't get any further than the end of the prologue.

Just picked up Dan Hancox's The Village Against the World.

The village in question is of course Marinaleda, (100 kilometres from Seville),whose Mayor,Juan Gordillo,got a bit of publicity recenty for his Robin Hood antics.

Looks like a good read.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Cloud Atlas by David Michell. Finding the first chapter a little hard going TBH.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
An Officer And A Spy - Robert Harris

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Cloud Atlas by David Michell. Finding the first chapter a little hard going TBH.

As is the whole book,I'm afraid.IMO,at least.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Yeah Yeah Yeah.The Story of Modern Pop.Bob Stanley.This is an absolutely wonderful read for any pop music fan.Describes the history of pop from the first UK pop chart in 1952.Can't praise it too highly.

 

[MK Shrimper]

As is the whole book,I'm afraid.IMO,at least.

Seems to be a bit aimless IMHO. Maybe it'll start to pull together now I've finished the 18th century bit.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Seems to be a bit aimless IMHO. Maybe it'll start to pull together now I've finished the 18th century bit.

TBH,I only picked it up because a writer mate recommended it highly.As I said it didn't do anything for me, though I quite like some of Mitchell's other books,especially Black Swan Green.

 

[prawntobewild]

I am now starting a run of very long books - the first of which is "Wild Swans" by Jung Chang - it has won a couple of the various book of the year awards back in '92 & '93.
It's a factual account of 20th Century life in China as told by 3 generations of related women.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Yeah Yeah Yeah.The Story of Modern Pop.Bob Stanley.This is an absolutely wonderful read for any pop music fan.Describes the history of pop from the first UK pop chart in 1952.Can't praise it too highly.

Glad to hear that's good. I enjoy any articles I read by Bob Stanley (he often does pieces in The Times) so I can see this one making the Christmas wishlist!

 

[Uncle Leo]

I am now starting a run of very long books - the first of which is "Wild Swans" by Jung Chang - it has won a couple of the various book of the year awards back in '92 & '93.
It's a factual account of 20th Century life in China as told by 3 generations of related women.

Haven't read that, but have read the biography of Mao Zedong that Jung Chang wrote with her husband (which, curiously, always reminds me of Birmingham City as I was reading it on the train to a game there many years ago) and that is just stunning. Heard great things about Wild Swans too.

 

[prawntobewild]

Haven't read that, but have read the biography of Mao Zedong that Jung Chang wrote with her husband (which, curiously, always reminds me of Birmingham City as I was reading it on the train to a game there many years ago) and that is just stunning. Heard great things about Wild Swans too.

Indeed I've had the book at least 18 months & was told it was really good - I was a bit put off by the length of it but have decided to bite the bullet!

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

The Chap, Issue 71. Learning about the art of wit, and the difference between an American & british black dress trouser. :sherlock:

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

I Am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes.

As Steveo said a few weeks back, it's a brilliant novel, one of the best I've read in ages.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Just started Tony Benn's A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine.The Last Diaries.

Hugely enjoyable.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Finished Morrissey's Autobiography, very well written (unsurprisingly), although some things like his sexuality, vegetarianism & songwriting inspirations are only mentioned in passing it's a fascinating read if you like indie/rock music and imho fully deserving of it's 'Penguin Classics' status. Next up.....Beyond Religion by the Dalai Lama.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Eleven Kinds of Loneliness.Richard Yates.

I read Revolutionary Road a while back but haven't picked up anything else by RY.

These are excellent short stories which punture the 1950's myth of the American dream.

 

[prawntobewild]

After reading "Wild Swans" I am now on to "Monsoon" by Wilbur Smith - a 950 pager - see y'all next year.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Finished Morrissey's Autobiography, very well written (unsurprisingly), although some things like his sexuality, vegetarianism & songwriting inspirations are only mentioned in passing it's a fascinating read if you like indie/rock music and imho fully deserving of it's 'Penguin Classics' status. Next up.....Beyond Religion by the Dalai Lama.

Got a copy of this.Looks like a good read.

 

[prawntobewild]

I have consulted my Oijua Board & Father Christmas is bringing my copy.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

[video=youtube_share;jXTQmeZ-oy0]http://youtu.be/jXTQmeZ-oy0[/video]

Been re-reading Juan Mayorga's play, Way to Heaven.*

*Irony alert.

From Himmelweg in German,it refers to the path between the infirmary and the train, in a concentration camp.