Topic: What was the last book you read?

[Nitramdorf]

Found a bit of a gem a while back and just read it - Before and After by Andrew Shanahan. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

It's a post apocalyptic story involving a 600lb man and his dog. Found it quite sad in places as he recounted his previous life. It's a bit like The Martian, in that he has to solve problems and I was really rooting for him.

Apparently it's now being filmed and a follow up book is released this Friday. I'm desperate to find out what happens.

[Ray K]

Recently started The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, my first le Carré, which I'm also enjoying so far.

Funnily enough, just finished The Spy Who... yesterday. I had read Tinker Tailor a while back, so I'm trying to get into Le Carré by reading them in the proper order, which should help.

[Hedley Lamarr]

Just finished Mel Brooks autobiography, absolutely hilarious.  Be a sad day when he shuffles off this mortal coil.

He’s only called Brooks because Brookstein didn’t fit on his drum.

[Ziltoid]

Great book about Punk and Fell Running and there similarities.  The story of fell runner Gary Devine (who is 3-4 years older than me and although i didn't do a lot of fell running I'd run against him in Cross country races - he was far better than me).  It also touches on the punk sensibilities of doing your own thing against the establishment - squatters rights etc.



Finally read this.  I read Cartel not knowing there was a prequel so I've finally finished the series.  Love his writing (and his stuff he does on Twitter calling out Republican corruption)

[afc tukrish]

Finally read this.  I read Cartel not knowing there was a prequel so I've finally finished the series.  Love his writing (and his stuff he does on Twitter calling out Republican corruption)

Thought The Power of the Dog was good, but The Cartel and The Border were far superior in dealing with the causes and implications of the drug war. The Power of the Dog sort of read like Winslow wrote it to be a film, whereas the other two he wrote because he was progressively shocked by the escalating failures of the drug war.

Highly recommend Broken, collection of short stories/novelettes, if you liked the POTD series...

[damomad]

Great book about Punk and Fell Running and there similarities.  The story of fell runner Gary Devine (who is 3-4 years older than me and although i didn't do a lot of fell running I'd run against him in Cross country races - he was far better than me).  It also touches on the punk sensibilities of doing your own thing against the establishment - squatters rights etc.

I'll be getting onto that one cheers, have been trying to get back into the running recently so need all the motivation!

Books I've finished recently:
Dave Grohl - Storyteller - Well written but contains stories that are appropriate for dinner parties, not enough grunge. 3/5
Kim Gordon - Girl In a Band - Written while Kim was in divorce turmoil, would have been a better book if her head was in the right space, too much negativity 3/5
Sayaka Murata - Convenience Store Woman - Funny, quirky, easy read. A work life doesn't have to be complicated to lead to contentment.  4/5
Adrey Kurkov - Death and the Penguin - Story set in Ukraine of a loner who write obituaries about mostly criminals who aren't dead yet. He also has a pet penguin. Really sweet book. 4/5
John le Carre - The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - Stone cold classic novel. One of the best, it will keep you thinking throughout and will give you a satisfying ending. 5/5
Ondjaki - Transparent City - Book about Angolan city which is on the brink of chaos. Some wistful passages intertwined by violence. Definitely a contemporary piece of work  4/5
Michael Crawley - Out of Thin Air  - Book about a top tier athlete running with Ethiopian Olympic grade Marathon runners. Interesting to see what it takes. In short, a miserable existence! 3/5

Currently reading Running The Light by Sam Tallen. Really enjoying it, its about a standup comedian who is in peril. Depressing and laughout loud funny throughout, highly recommened for US stand up fans.

[TepidT2O]

My wife has bought me the Dave Grohl  book.  Despite me never knowingly having heard a foo fighters song and I certainly couldn’t name one.

Is it still worth it?

[Lad]

Richard Beard...Sad Little Men : Public Schools and the Ruin of England.

A great insight into the current rulers of this country and their schooling from the author, himself an ex boarder at one of the country's top public school. He is critical of the whole tiered  education  system to say the least.

[damomad]

My wife has bought me the Dave Grohl  book.  Despite me never knowingly having heard a foo fighters song and I certainly couldn’t name one.

Is it still worth it?

One chapter is dedicated to him drinking too much coffee.
Another is about him trying to get home from tour to make his daughters school dance.
You get the gist?

Read the Nirvana chapters, skip the rest.

[Ziltoid]

I'll be getting onto that one cheers, have been trying to get back into the running recently so need all the motivation!



Currently reading Running The Light by Sam Tallen. Really enjoying it, its about a standup comedian who is in peril. Depressing and laughout loud funny throughout, highly recommened for US stand up fans.

Read the Sam Tallent book when it came out, though it was brilliant.  Stanhope said it was the best book ever written about life on the road as a stand up.

[S]

Read Nina Simone’s Gum by Warren Ellis (of Bad Seeds fame) over Christmas. Really unique and strangely powerful book, loved it.

Now reading Pat Nevin’s autobiography. I’ve always liked listening to him as a pundit and this is a good insight into his personality. Just got to the part where he claims we cheated in the cup final of 1989…because it should be illegal to bring on Ian Rush as a sub!

[jillcwhomever]

I am going to retry reading Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian trilogy books beginning with The Winter King. I did try some years ago but it was tough going with the number of characters involved. It will have to go some to beat Mary Stewart's trilogy though.

[Sangria]

I am going to retry reading Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian trilogy books beginning with The Winter King. I did try some years ago but it was tough going with the number of characters involved. It will have to go some to beat Mary Stewart's trilogy though.

Have you read the 4th book in Stewart's trilogy? I had a hard time reconciling it with Merlin assuring Arthur that the Orkney boys would be a credit to his kingdom.

[jillcwhomever]

Have you read the 4th book in Stewart's trilogy? I had a hard time reconciling it with Merlin assuring Arthur that the Orkney boys would be a credit to his kingdom.

I absolutely adored The Wicked Day she wrote the best Mordred of all the authors.

[Nitramdorf]

I am going to retry reading Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian trilogy books beginning with The Winter King. I did try some years ago but it was tough going with the number of characters involved. It will have to go some to beat Mary Stewart's trilogy though.

I can recommend Jack Whytes Legends of Camelot series. It's a 9 book series but well worth it.

[jillcwhomever]

I can recommend Jack Whytes Legends of Camelot series. It's a 9 book series but well worth it.

I haven't even heard about that one before, thanks for the recommendation..

[Sangria]

Presumably you've read Rosemary Sutcliff's Sword at Sunset (which is a follow up to The Lantern Bearers, the third of the Eagle trilogy). Another of her historical novels, less well known than her British novels, is Flowers of Adonis, which is about Alcibiades of Athens.

[jillcwhomever]

Presumably you've read Rosemary Sutcliff's Sword at Sunset (which is a follow up to The Lantern Bearers, the third of the Eagle trilogy). Another of her historical novels, less well known than her British novels, is Flowers of Adonis, which is about Alcibiades of Athens.

I keep looking at her books, but haven't taken the step yet. More to put on my list though. 

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Reading "Notes from the the Underground" by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Pretty hard slog to be honest with you

[red_Mark1980]

Reading "Hellhound on His Trail" which goes heavy on James Earl Ray and the lead up to him murdering MLK.

Although a podcast I've begun listening to is attempting to showcase the conspiracy theories out there that it wasn't Ray that murdered MLK.

It's an area of modern US history I have limited knowledge of and after reading a number of JFK books, I can say I don't really have a strong opinion one way or the other. When I was younger I was convinced that Oswald was indeed a patsy but there's a lot of noise out there.

I never really knew there was opposition to the line that Ray acted alone and was indeed responsible for murdering MLK.

[damomad]

Reading "Notes from the the Underground" by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Pretty hard slog to be honest with you

I think I spent more time reading it than even Brothers K and still couldn’t finish it!

[Andy @ Allerton!]

I think I spent more time reading it than even Brothers K and still couldn’t finish it!

I'm determined to read it, but fucking hell

[StevoHimself]

I struggled through The Rachel Papers for months at a time. so, if you enjoyed that, his others will probably impress you more. I know that Money is the most lauded, but I think that London Fields is his best. He does have some nice ones and you always feel it is an accomplishment to read them; it's a strange feeling to have, but it's rewarding.

Le Carré, love his work. I do think you started with the best though.

I read the latest Tim Weaver - The Stranger at the door - in the David Raker series. Enjoyed it. Must read some more 'worthy' stuff next month though.

Tbf although I enjoyed The Rachel Papers I don't think it was amazingly paced and defintely gives the impression of an author at the beginning of his career. Ironically, Money, London Fields and Time's Arrow are the ones I have sitting on the shelf. I've been thinking Money once I'm done with TSWCiftC.

[StevoHimself]

I think I spent more time reading it than even Brothers K and still couldn’t finish it!

That's good to hear because I liked (maybe admired is the better word) but didn't love Notes. It's the only Dostoevsky I've read and while it didn't put me off reading his others at some point it, it didn't exactly do the opposite either.

[boots]

Reading book 2 of NK Jemisin's Broken Earth series. Wholly unusual, yet interesting book.

[RedSince86]

The Plotters by Kim Un-Su.

Set in an alternate Seoul, Korea where assassinations are common practice with rival factions competing for contracts with the Plotters, Assassins and crematers being the job roles in this dangerous industry.

Hopefully this is made into a film in Korea, the book is fantastic, it hooks you in straight away.

[S]

Finished The Rachel Papers a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more of Amis. Recently started The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, my first le Carré, which I'm also enjoying so far.

I loved The Rachel Papers. I think if you go into it knowing it's a debut, you have a lot more fun with it.

Money is a masterpiece. I need to get more of his novels because the only other one I've read is The Pregnant Widow, which was very disappointing.

If you're into non fiction I'd recommend checking out his memoirs Inside Story and, one of the best you'll ever read, Experience.

Kim Gordon - Girl In a Band - Written while Kim was in divorce turmoil, would have been a better book if her head was in the right space, too much negativity 3/5

I read this when it came out, which feels like an age ago now. I felt the exact same as you.

[jillcwhomever]

It's just been announced that Philip Pullman is releasing another book which will be a companion book to the original His Dark Materials trilogy and his latest book of dust trilogy, it's due to be released on the 28th of April this year. It's called the Imagination Chamber and that's another one on my list for this year. 

[AndyMuller]

Finished 'The Power of the Dog' over the weekend and loved it. I will be reading something lighter as my next book before I jump into 'The Cartel' as it was heavy going!

[UntouchableLuis]

Read 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke after seeing it recommended  in a few places.

Was not disappointed. One of my books of the last few years. Started fairly slowly but quickly became hooked.

Definitely recommended for anyone who likes books which are 'riddles' in a way, reminded me of Shutter Island. Won't say more than that.

[ToneLa]

That's good to hear because I liked (maybe admired is the better word) but didn't love Notes. It's the only Dostoevsky I've read and while it didn't put me off reading his others at some point it, it didn't exactly do the opposite either.

He may have been a Nazi bastard but try Knut Hamsun's Hunger

It's sort of a Notes lite. I like it, very vivid, existential. Easier read with a good modern translation

[Sangria]

He may have been a Nazi bastard but try Knut Hamsun's Hunger

It's sort of a Notes lite. I like it, very vivid, existential. Easier read with a good modern translation

Speaking of Nazi bastards, has anyone read Peter Rabbit - Tank Killer by Beatrix Potter and Sven Hassel?

[KillieRed]

^^^I would read that.

I haven’t read a fantasy book in ages but I picked up “The Name of Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss at work, and my it’s incredibly well imagined & written. Loving it so far.

[Sangria]

"Peter Rabbit: Tank Killer" - A collaboration between Beatrix Potter, author of 'The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin', and Sven Hassel, author of 'SS Death Bastard Regiment'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6-YPiqOh_w

[neilmc74]

^^^I would read that.

I haven’t read a fantasy book in ages but I picked up “The Name of Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss at work, and my it’s incredibly well imagined & written. Loving it so far.

I listened to the audiobook last summer and thought it was a great listen.  I am halfway through the follow up "the wise Man's fear" and think it might be even better.

[Drinks Sangria]

Reading 'The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro,' by Joe McGinnis.

Joe McGinnis is an American sports writer who became obsessed with football, specifically Italian Calcio in the run up to the 1994 World Cup.

He basically read an article in a magazine in the mid 90s about a provincial Italian village team who'd risen from the amateur ranks through all the divisions in quick succession to get up to Serie B. He then flies out to Italy to live there for a season and follow the team, Castel Di Sangro, as they play their first season in Serie B. I believe, they're still to this day the smallest team (in terms of town population) to play that high up the pyramid - 5,000 population total.

I'm about half way through and although the author can somewhat be a bit grating in his occasional brashness (not unlike a lot of American sports broadcasters) he clearly has decent knowledge and loves the game. Still not googling about the team as I don't want to spoil it for myself.

[KillieRed]

I listened to the audiobook last summer and thought it was a great listen.  I am halfway through the follow up "the wise Man's fear" and think it might be even better.

Excellent, I’ll put a request in.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Reading 'Childhood's End' by Arthur C. Clarke.

It's a book about first contact with a vastly superior race.

[Sangria]

Reading 'Childhood's End' by Arthur C. Clarke.

It's a book about first contact with a vastly superior race.

Have you read the reverse perspective, about a vastly superior race's first contact with humanity? I don't usually read that kind of thing, but Jacob Rees-Mogg's autobiography is fascinating.

[rob1966]

18yr old Crew Chief/Door Gunners brutal story of flying in a Huey gunship in Vietnam