What are you reading?

[Nordic Saint]

The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer.

 

An utterly brilliant, first-hand account of 3 years fighting and surviving on the eastern front, as it was overwhelmed and driven ever farther westward towards Germany, written by a French boy from Alsace who joined the German army in 1942 at the age of 15. Many of those fighting alongside him were younger. This is the best book I've read for years.

[Saint Claude Van Damme]

As a late arrival to Stephen King I have now almost read everything he's written and there are some great books as well as some bad ones in my opinion. Good reads would be The Stand, Misery, 11.22.63, Salems Lot and the Bill Hodges detective series. All worth checking out.

[scotty]

'Operation Mincemeat' by Ben Macintyre.

 

If you have ever seen the old black and white film 'The Man Who Never Was' then you already will know something about the subject of this book. If you have not, then prior to the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 (Operation Husky) British intelligence mounted a operation intended to decieve the Germans into believing that Greece, rather than the island of Sicily, was the planned landing place. If the Germans could be fooled then the war might be shortened and thousands of allied lives could be saved.

 

In order to achieve this objective a recently deceased corpse of a unfortunate sucide victim was secretly obtained, the body was dressed-up as the entirly fictitious 'Major Martin' of the Royal Marines and set adrift off the coast of Spain to wash ashore. Attached to the body was a briefcase containing various letters addressed to Allied commanders in the Mediterranean concerning this fake Greek invasion. In order for this plan to succeed then it was vital that one of the many German spies working in wartime Spain would get hold of the misleading letters and pass this seeming crucial intelligence 'windfall' on to Hitler and his generals ...

 

What ensues is a brilliently told tale as thrilling as it is remarkable. A story of deceit, spycraft and a inspired plan that in reality was perhaps not quite as foolproof as that old film made it look ... oh and easily the best book I have read this year by the way.

 

According to his biography, the ruse was an idea of Ian Flemings, while he was serving in Naval Intelligence. Loads of the Bond background stuff came from that period as well.

[Pugwash]

Since getting a kindle a couple of years ago, it's made book reading so much easier. I've been chomping my way through a lot more novels than I used to and have been revisiting other works of authors who wrote a blockbuster or two when I was younger.

 

One such is John Le Carre. I read Tinker Tailor, Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People in my youth, as well as watching the BBC adaptations starring Alec Guinness. I've recently read the first two in the 'Smiley' series and while they are relatively short by modern standards, they are a darn good read and his style is unmistakable. The second Afterword to 'A Murder of Quality', written in 2010 just after the Coalition took power, is a really insightful piece on public schools and the preponderance of Old Etonians in the upper echelons of government.

 

Just started 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold', his breakthrough novel. I think there was a Richard Burton film of this one, but I've never seen it.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

'1000 Years of Annoying the French' - by Stephen Clarke.

 

An exhaustive - and gleefully partisan - look at this nation's often problematic relationship with our Gallic neighbours. In his zest to poke fun at France and everything French the author holds little back - from 1066 'and all that' not being a successful French invasion (because the Normans were not really French of course) to poor old Joan of Arc being bumped-off by her fellow countrymen rather that the hated English, no French achievement or national hero is spared. Even Napoleon does not escape unscathed - Bonaparte's 'boner' apparently being rather on the diminutive size if you know what I mean.

 

Written more to amuse the general reader, rather than present as a serious work of objective historical scholarship, Stephen Clarke has nevertheless done his homework and most of this book is built upon foundations of some surprising impressive historical research - as filtered via his wicked sense of biased Anglo-Saxon humour. You so often hear people say that they "laughed out loud" at something that they have seen or heard when they really haven't, but reading this book I genuinely did just that on more than one occasion.

 

So if you adore the froggies this may not the ideal book for you - for everyone else it is great fun.

[Polaroid Saint]

Just got a copy of Bad Wisdom. F*ck me, what a read.

 

Beautifully written account of a half- imagined road trip to the north pole to save the world via Elvis, leylines, drug cocktails and horrible horrible groupie sex.

 

The sort of book Bearsy would read to kids at bedtime.

 

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[Snopper]

I`m half way through Lawrie Mac`s `A Lifetime`s Obsession.` It`s excellent and very `Lawrie.`

[Tamesaint]

Masaryk Station by David Downing. This is the sixth and, sadly, the last of his 'station' novels. I don't think I've been as hooked on a series of novels since Olivia Manning's Balkan and Levant trilogies, and this is in the same class. Great descriptions of Germany from 1938 to 1948 as seen from the perspective of an Englishman living there.

 

I can echo this. I saw Norfic's post a few weeks ago and started on the station series. I am currently halfway through the third one and am finding them engrossing. Thanks Nordic for your recommendation.

[Saint in Paradise]

"The Long Journey Home" by Flora Leipman.

 

IN THE 1930s Flora Leipman left the Glasgow of her childhood for Leningrad, expecting to help build a socialist paradise: instead, her whole family fell victim to Stalin's purges.

 

Very harsh life and she was unable to return to the U.K. until freed by top-level talks between Geoffrey Howe and Andrei Gromyko in 1984.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-flora-leipman-1098829.html

[ecuk268]

On a similar vein, I've just finished "Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar" by Simon Sebag Montefiore.

 

It's basically the story of Stalin's life and of those around him. Quite a complex character both ruthless and sentimental.

 

Like Hitler, he was often very kind to domestic servants and junior staff but quite unforgiving to his fellow politicians and senior military officers.

 

Very readable if you like your history.

[Tamesaint]

Just finished The Great Tamasha by James Astill.

 

If you are interested in India , Cricket or the IPL this is a very good book. There are some great chapters digging through the glitz of the IPL and what is revealed is not too complimentary.

 

Cricket fans interested in the new competition the 100 due to be launched in England in 2020 may have cause to be concerned.

[miserableoldgit]

"School Days to Spitfire" by Gordon Mitchell, the son of RJ Mitchell. Story of RJ Mitchell and the design of the Spitfire. Very interesting with lots of familiar Southampton references.

 

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[miserableoldgit]

Also just recently finished this. A superb book consisting of reports by visitors/tourists to Germany between the wars, right up to the outbreak of WWII. Illustrates how people of all political persuasions were taken in by Hitler's regime....to begin with.

 

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[Hamilton Saint]

Just read "The Horseman" (2017) by Tim Pears. It was given to me by a friend, who lives near to where the book is set--on the border of Somerset and Devon. It's a wonderful novel. It doesn't have much of a plot, but revels in the landscape and natural history of the region. It follows the seasonal rhythms of farm-life in 1911-1912, focusing on a twelve-year old boy--a carter's son--who is obsessed with horses. It's the first of a planned trilogy. The second book, "The Wanderers", was release last January. I'll be reading that one for sure.

[Nordic Saint]

Just read "The Horseman" (2017) by Tim Pears. It was given to me by a friend, who lives near to where the book is set--on the border of Somerset and Devon. It's a wonderful novel. It doesn't have much of a plot, but revels in the landscape and natural history of the region. It follows the seasonal rhythms of farm-life in 1911-1912, focusing on a twelve-year old boy--a carter's son--who is obsessed with horses. It's the first of a planned trilogy. The second book, "The Wanderers", was release last January. I'll be reading that one for sure.

 

You might also like A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr. But, I'm currently reading something a bit different to that: A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution by Orlando Figes. I never fully realized just how anarchic it was. All of the gory details are here.

[Uncle Albert]

Factotum - Charles Bukowski

'Bout time someone posted on this thread.

[ecuk268]

"I Think You'll Find It's More Complicated Than That"  by Ben Goldacre.

The author is a GP and also does research in epidemiology. He looks at the many media articles regarding health of the "A daily cup of coffee halves your life expectancy" type and drills down to the data behind them.

A lot of them turn out to be misleading even from the so-called quality end of the media. Government is also often at fault in the way that they present statistics.

I found it fascinating, and it changes the way that you interpret these reports. 

[Jeremy]

Last three are Shuggy Bain, A Clockwork Orange and now reading Anne Frank's Diary. 

[Uncle Albert]

Ask The Dust-John Fante

He was Bukowski's god, 'nuff said.

Edited 23 February, 2021 by Uncle Albert

[Winnersaint]

The Family Corleone by Edward Falco - recently re-read The Godfather for the first time in about 40 years so doing this more out of curiosity than anything else.

[miserableoldgit]

Currently re-reading all of the Sharpe books in chronological order, ready for the new Sharpe novel in September.

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, miserableoldgit said:

Currently re-reading all of the Sharpe books in chronological order, ready for the new Sharpe novel in September.

I also bought the whole set off Amazon and was steadily working my way though them. I got about halfway but had to stop for a while but now I can’t remember where I’d got to.

[miserableoldgit]

20 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I also bought the whole set off Amazon and was steadily working my way though them. I got about halfway but had to stop for a while but now I can’t remember where I’d got to.

I bought mine piecemeal very cheaply fron eBay as I got rid of my original one years ago. Looking forward to the new one, which starts a day or two after Waterloo, when it is published in September. I have the complete DVD set and have watched them a number of times. Also just read this:- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1783529571/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_QHC13PJ1R6TZH5K2W1PT It is brilliant!

[badgerx16]

2 hours ago, miserableoldgit said:

Currently re-reading all of the Sharpe books in chronological order, ready for the new Sharpe novel in September.

I find the problem with some of the later written books, that are actually set prior to the original set or fill in gaps in the timeline, is the introduction of events in Sharpe's life that never get mentioned in the books written earlier but set later in his campaigns, and Cornwell hadn't thought of at the time.

 

If you want more background on the Regiment, try Mark Urban's book "Rifles".

Edited 20 August, 2021 by badgerx16

[miserableoldgit]

22 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

I find the problem with some of the later written books, that are actually set prior to the original set or fill in gaps in the timeline, is the introduction of events in Sharpe's life that never get mentioned in the books written earlier but set later in his campaigns, and Cornwell hadn't thought of at the time.

 

If you want more background on the Regiment, try Mark Urban's book "Rifles".

The problem is that BC started writing the books (I think that "Sharpes Eagle" was the first) and then the TV series came along. The TV series became popular and introduced characters that were not in the books (Private Harris for example). Sharpe started off as a dark haired Londoner, which is why they probably cast Paul McGann originally. After his accident he was replaced with Sean Bean and the books changed to suit.Some of the books were written at the behest of the TV producers.

[badgerx16]

1 hour ago, miserableoldgit said:

The problem is that BC started writing the books (I think that "Sharpes Eagle" was the first) and then the TV series came along. The TV series became popular and introduced characters that were not in the books (Private Harris for example). Sharpe started off as a dark haired Londoner, which is why they probably cast Paul McGann originally. After his accident he was replaced with Sean Bean and the books changed to suit.Some of the books were written at the behest of the TV producers.

The TV company are not responsible for Sharpe's Prey, where his lover dies in childbirth, as does their baby son, and he ends up in Copenhagen helping the navy capture the Danish fleet. None of this had previously been alluded to as part of his history in the earlier books that chronologically occur after these events.

[Dr Who?]

Currently re-reading the Stephen King books. Read them the for the first time about 30 years ago. A couple of his newer ones are ok. 

[Saint Luke]

Halfway through book Eight of the Expanse - really is an excellent series.

You(I) really care about the characters and the whole premise is pretty interesting.

The series is excellent too although they have changed some things - one forced by the actor who plays Alex being under investigation for abuse - so interesting how they are going to get round that in series 6.

 

Roll on book 9 and series 6.

[Hamilton Saint]

I've recently re-read Tolstoy's epic novel "War and Peace". This is the third time I've read it--after picking up the recent translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. It's a fantastic read--combining the lives of four intertwined families with the events of Napoleon's invasion of Russia (1812-1814). There is an amazing twenty-chapter account of the Battle of Borodino. The book is considered a difficult read. Granted there are some dry chapters where Tolstoy philosophizes about his theory of history (driven by social forces, her argues, not great historical figures), but the bulk of the book is focused on a  fascinating group of principal characters, who are fleshed out with great insight and human sympathy. It's a gripping read that I highly recommend.

[Winnersaint]

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall. Basically a journeyman’s to geopolitics, looking at how the choices countries make are limited by their physical geography.
 

[Snopper]

Just started John le Carre`s last book - straight into it, the writing is superb as ever.   He is missed already.

 

[Saint Luke]

The Last Astronaut by David Wellington

[Hamilton Saint]

I've just read The Restless Generation (2007) by Pete Frame. It's a chronological survey of the UK music scene in the 1950s. It starts with the trad jazz movement centred on brothers Bill and Ken Colyer. Then it focuses on Lonnie Donegan and the skiffle movement. Donegan was the banjo player in Chris Barber's jazz band. He began playing brief interludes of skiffle music in the middle of Barber's trad jazz concerts. The skiffle movement emerged in the coffee bars of London's Soho region and lasted for a couple of years before burning out. And then came the birth of English rock 'n' roll, also centred on Soho--especially at the 2Is Coffee Bar on Old Compton Street. Some key figures there were Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde, and Cliff Richard. This is a fascinating and informative read if you are at all interested in the music of that period. I always wanted to know more about the history of skiffle and its influence on English rock 'n' roll. This is the book that tells the full story. [Also of interest on the same topic is Billy Bragg's book Roots, Radicals and Rockers:How Skiffle Changed The World (2017).]

[Snopper]

I`m re-reading The Inquisitive Elf` by Eunice Close, first published in 1965 as part of Dean`s Little Poppit Series.  It`s a tale of daring, danger but ultimate release and ends with a reminder of morality, much needed in the world we live in today.  A classic of its time.

[badgerx16]

Father Christmas has dropped by with 2 books for me; a book of wood turning projects, which means my lathe will be getting more of a work out, and Dave Grohl's lockdown induced autobiography "The Storyteller".

[Saint Luke]

Leviathan Falls - Book 9 and last book of The Expanse series.

 

[Nordic Saint]

I'm currently reading Harry Pearson's Far Corner and it's the funniest book about football I've ever read. 

"We went up and stayed with my parents and drove all over the North East looking for a house to rent. Catherine is from  Hertfordshire, so as we meandered across the region I pointed out local sites of historical interest: "Tow Law (Chris Waddle played there), Langley Park (home village of Bobby Robson), Blyth ( made it to the fifth round of the FA Cup), Billingham (where Gary Pallister got started)... Often after five or six hours of this Catherine was so overcome with emotion she would burst into tears..."

[miserableoldgit]

Came across a nearly new copy of a biography of Nelson, written by CS Forester and published in 1929. I was obviously aware of his "Hornblower" series, but didn't know about this. A very good read!

[sadoldgit]

I have recently been given a pile of Bill Bryson books and am just finishing the Notes From A Small Island. I can see what all the fuss is about. For a Yank he gets the British sense of humour and even writes like a Brit. I know he had spent much of his life here but for someone born and raised in the US he really manages to nail Britain in the late 20th century.

It was particularly interesting to read about his experiences at The Times. He joined about a year after I left (when the previous owner, Lord Thompson, closed the paper down for 11 months in a dispute with the unions). His experience with the unions at the time, the NGA, SOGAT, NATSOPA (my union) along with the NUJ was absolutely spot on. His mention of the Blue Lion in Gray’s Inn Rd, brought back many happy memories of boozy lunchtimes and after work sessions. I had left by the time that Murdoch bought the titles and moved them to Wapping so I had no experience of what that was like. It was interesting to hear about it from his perspective as many of the picket lines were manned by ex colleagues of mine. Some 5000 people lost their jobs. I got out just in time and ended up at The Guardian. Whilst the newspaper industry needed a shake up production wise, the Murdoch approach was brutal and left scars on the industry for years to come. I was lucky enough to work in the industry for 30 years, during its golden age (for its workers, not for its management 😉).

His tales of his travels around the country, even for those of us brought up and working in big cities and towns, are a reminder of what a parochial, small minded, island mentality we have, but charming and mostly warm hearted, nevertheless.

An excellent read and I am looking forward to the next in the pile, A Walk In The Woods.

 

Edited August 23 by sadoldgit
Typo

[badgerx16]

"Match of my life" - edited by Joe Batchelor and Alex Crook;

18 former Saints players, from SRL and MLT to Terry Paine and Cliff Huxford, share memories of their careers at The Dell and St Mary's, and pick out 1 particularly memorable match that they played in.

 

[badgerx16]

"Winkle" - the biography of Britain's greatest pilot, Eric 'Winkle' Brown. From being adopted as a baby by an Edinburgh couple, to holding the Guinness record for the most types of aircraft flown by a pilot, via visiting pre-war Nazi Germany, a wartime career in the Fleet Air Arm that continued on into the 1970's, flying alongside and befriending future NASA astronauts as a test pilot, helping build the reformed German naval air arm and being adopted as an honorary Kreigsmarine veteran, serving as Naval Attache in Bonn ( where John Le Carre lodged with him and his family whilst completing "A Small Town in Germany" ), and sailing with Prince Philip.

A complex and irritable character, but the encountering and name dropping of so many important historical figures from the 1930s up to the 2000s evidences an amazing journey.