What are you reading tonight?

[William the White]

For Whom the Bell Tolls is the only Hemingway book residing on my shelves. As far as I can recall it's the only book of his that I have read. Putting aside the circumstances of the times in which the plot was set I found it rather 'dark' and even, to a point at least, unsettling. I think I've mentioned in this thread before that I had the impression that the author was obsessed with death; perhaps it was my gloomy mood at the time of reading - I don't know.

Think he's definitely obsessed with war, violence, combat and - therefore - inevitably, death...

And that defining masculinity...

I think I've read all of his novels, and his truly outstanding treatise on the Spanish Corrida - Death in the Afternoon and think he was one of the last century's truly outstanding novelists in English investigating a century whose politics were defined by wars and revolutions...

That is his achievement and his limitation... because that isn't all the last century contained... though he can hardly be blamed for dying two thirds of the way through it...

[TANGODANCER]

Think he's definitely obsessed with war, violence, combat and - therefore - inevitably, death...And that defining masculinity...

Hemingway's life was as interesting and controversial as some of his novels. Much of his work was from personal experience and he sustained an amazing number of injuries and illnesses and saw much war action, both being involved, and as a correspondent. Quite an amazing and talented man really.

[Bruce Rioja]

Have around 24 hours on planes and around 8 hours in airports to do this week (should everything go to plan), so I'm taking with me;

Hemingway's Chair - Michael Palin, and Zulu's recommend - Trains and Buttered Toast - John Betjeman.

[Il Pirate]

I know he's a (ahem) Wiganer an' all; but has anyone read Pies & Prejudice by Stuart Maconie? Had to revisit it this week to do a bit of research. I'd forgotten what a good entertaining and informative read it is.

[Bruce Rioja]

I know he's a (ahem) Wiganer an' all; but has anyone read Pies & Prejudice by Stuart Maconie? Had to revisit it this week to do a bit of research. I'd forgotten what a good entertaining and informative read it is.

I gave up on it a short way in, just as soon as he started using the book as a platform to preach his political values. See also - Elton, Ben.

[thebish]

I know he's a (ahem) Wiganer an' all; but has anyone read Pies & Prejudice by Stuart Maconie? Had to revisit it this week to do a bit of research. I'd forgotten what a good entertaining and informative read it is.

aye - an enjoyable read - along with his other books about Britain - summat about high teas? always enjoyed Maconie on t'radio too... not least, Radcliffe and Maconie on R2

[William the White]

I know he's a (ahem) Wiganer an' all; but has anyone read Pies & Prejudice by Stuart Maconie? Had to revisit it this week to do a bit of research. I'd forgotten what a good entertaining and informative read it is.

I gave up on it a short way in, just as soon as he started using the book as a platform to preach his political values. See also - Elton, Ben.

Sounds like it might be a good read. Thanks for the recco Bruce...

[thebish]

I am reading London by by Edward Rutherfurd on the recommendation of Enfield.

I will probably be reading it for a couple of years!

[Il Pirate]

I know he's a (ahem) Wiganer an' all; but has anyone read Pies & Prejudice by Stuart Maconie? Had to revisit it this week to do a bit of research. I'd forgotten what a good entertaining and informative read it is.

I gave up on it a short way in, just as soon as he started using the book as a platform to preach his political values. See also - Elton, Ben.

Sounds like it might be a good read. Thanks for the recco Bruce...

I don't feel he does use it as a platform Bruce. The politics are written about within the historical context of the north. He tells it as it was, which eventualy leads to tory bitch wastes much of northern england. That aside, I wouldn't want anyone who maybe thinking of reading it to think it's all about politics, far from it.

[Lofthouse Lower]

I know he's a (ahem) Wiganer an' all; but has anyone read Pies & Prejudice by Stuart Maconie? Had to revisit it this week to do a bit of research. I'd forgotten what a good entertaining and informative read it is.

I gave up on it a short way in, just as soon as he started using the book as a platform to preach his political values. See also - Elton, Ben.

See Maconie most days as he swans around Manchester city centre in his flowery shirt

[David Lee's Hair]

Was listening to this guy being interviewed onYou and Yours yesterday. Basically, he's invented this character called Bob Servant, a burger van magnate from Broughty Ferry who replies to all manner of spam emails. The book is called Delete This at Your Peril and from the interview sounds like it's a good hoot.

Thanks to a recommendation by a lurker on here, just finished this, and its possibly the funniest thing I have ever read... Its made me look like a right tit on the bus to and from work, but well worth picking up.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Timewaster Letters is a similar exercise in the ridiculous - funny too

[clapton is god]

Was listening to this guy being interviewed onYou and Yours yesterday. Basically, he's invented this character called Bob Servant, a burger van magnate from Broughty Ferry who replies to all manner of spam emails. The book is called Delete This at Your Peril and from the interview sounds like it's a good hoot.

Thanks to a recommendation by a lurker on here, just finished this, and its possibly the funniest thing I have ever read... Its made me look like a right tit on the bus to and from work, but well worth picking up.

Okay, on that recommendation I've just ordered it.

[Prufrock]

Finished Farewell to arms. Breezed through it, really well told, if a little light, until the end, where I definitely saw the death obsession Dujon witnessed, but it really came together in a great way. The love-war parallel is really well worked, but the last two chapters go into a different gear. I like my books to change my outlook. The ones I like do it for a few days or weeks, the ones I love forever. The ending of this left me with that deep dread and horror in the pit of my stomach, a renewed sense of mortality and I think, at least a temporary deeper maturity. I think a lot of reactions to books depend on where you are in your own life at the time of reading, but that deeper probing clench is still there today.

Having finished that, started reading DH Lawrence's The Fox. First of his too, deliberately avoided Lady Chatterley. Short and accesible, sounded like my kind of author, breezing through it so far.

[William the White]

I like my books to change my outlook. The ones I like do it for a few days or weeks, the ones I love forever.

Me too... Like to share a few that did? i will if you will...

[Prufrock]

Yes, but tomorrow. Needs more though than I can give it now with 6AM staring me in the face. Remind me.

[Dujon]

I'm glad you got something out of it, Prufrock as, in my opinion at least, it's more than a tale of derring-do although it has its moments.

At the moment I'm wading through a collection of the writings of Edgar Rice Burroughs. There is nothing in them so far which, apart from the 'Goodies' vs 'Baddies', would lift them above escapism. Nevertheless they are entertaining, inventive and most definitely aimed at a tired mind needing a bit of rest and recreation. I'd best qualify that as I'd overlooked the book titled Apache Devil which involves the well known Geronimo, his son and his tribe's conflicts with the white man following the creation of Indian reservations.

At last I now understand Robert Heinlein's many references to Barsoom, John Carter and Dejah Thoris.

[TANGODANCER]

At the moment I'm wading through a collection of the writings of Edgar Rice Burroughs. .At last I now understand Robert Heinlein's many references to Barsoom, John Carter and Dejah Thoris.

Thought John Carter on Mars was a novel before its time and wondered if it inspired Stephen Donldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant which I thoroughly enjoyed at the time.

[Bruce Rioja]

I don't feel he does use it as a platform Bruce. The politics are written about within the historical context of the north. He tells it as it was, which eventualy leads to tory bitch wastes much of northern england. That aside, I wouldn't want anyone who maybe thinking of reading it to think it's all about politics, far from it.

There's so much contradiction in that little lot, Pirate, that it gasts my flabber!

[CAPSLOCK]

I read and enjoyed Pies and Prejudice

Same holiday I did The Long Firm - now that is a good 'un

The second in the trilogy slips a little and I passed on the third one

Gonna get stuck in to Lisbeth number 2, now