What are you reading tonight?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Tbf it seems impossible that it was the proof Fermat had (judging from where the book seems to be going).

Either there was some mistake in Fermat's calculation, we're all idiots or it's impossible to prove. It's a nice little read, though.

I reckon Fermat came up with a different, more elegant proof. As you say, impossible to know, and yes, a good read.

[Harry Genshaw]

Just finished one that was recco'd by a few on here including CAPS (where's he got to?) - The Ghost Runner. Excellent and moving read.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Started reading this at the weekend and have almost finished. http://www.amazon.com/The-Wizard-Lies-D ... B006W3YC76" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's a sometimes disjointed read (it feels as though it could be a collation of several people's work) but also very compelling.

Goodness me Madoff had some balls.

[mrkint]

I forgot to ask on saturday, do you mind if I borrow that after you've finished mummy? Does look rather good.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I forgot to ask on saturday, do you mind if I borrow that after you've finished mummy? Does look rather good.

Yep, no worries.

I'm going to have to think about getting all my books put on some e-lending platform soon - I've already got about 8/9 books out on loan at the moment.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I forgot to ask on saturday, do you mind if I borrow that after you've finished mummy? Does look rather good.

Yep, no worries.

I'm going to have to think about getting all my books put on some e-lending platform soon - I've already got about 8/9 books out on loan at the moment.

I can't do it anymore. The OCD is too overpowering and makes me want to kill people who bend the spines. All my books look pristine, except those I've lent out.

[Annoyed Grunt]

I forgot to ask on saturday, do you mind if I borrow that after you've finished mummy? Does look rather good.

Yep, no worries.

I'm going to have to think about getting all my books put on some e-lending platform soon - I've already got about 8/9 books out on loan at the moment.

I can't do it anymore. The OCD is too overpowering and makes me want to kill people who bend the spines. All my books look pristine, except those I've lent out.

Pft.....I don't lend mine....they look like they've just come off Waterstones shelf....even have to wash my hands before reading.....

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I don't have this problem. My books often end up looking like I've played football with them, as they are transported around in a gym bag or whatever. So no, I don't mind them looking used. It's just when they go permanently missing I get upset.

[Bruce Rioja]

I don't have this problem. My books often end up looking like I've played football with them, as they are transported around in a gym bag or whatever. So no, I don't mind them looking used. It's just when they go permanently missing I get upset.

Indeed. Mine look like Judith Chalmers' Passport, with food-stains, wine-stains and mucky fingerprints chucked in for the measure.

[thebish]

I don't have this problem. My books often end up looking like I've played football with them, as they are transported around in a gym bag or whatever. So no, I don't mind them looking used. It's just when they go permanently missing I get upset.

Indeed. Mine look like Judith Chalmers' Passport, with food-stains, wine-stains and mucky fingerprints chucked in for the measure.

you should get some of these - they are wipe-clean!

[Bruce Rioja]

^ Let me know where you got those from.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Amazon just delivered to me "The Riddle of the Labyrinth: the Quest to Crack an Ancient Code and the Uncovering of a Lost Civilisation" - not only is that one of the longest book titles ever but the author could join our team of mispronounced/spelt players - Margalit Fox. (I can hear the argument now at the Registrar's, "I said Margaret you daft b@stard, M a r g a r e t").

[boltonotter]

Half way through Homer's Odyssey - Just finished the part with the Cyclops! ! ! ! great stuff

[William the White]

Half way through Homer's Odyssey - Just finished the part with the Cyclops! ! ! ! great stuff

Whose translation are you reading?

[Prufrock]

How do you know he's not reading it in Greek?!

[William the White]

How do you know he's not reading it in Greek?!

I don't... Perhaps he'll tell us...

Mine is the Robert Fagles translation from 1996 - do you know and how do you rate this one, Pru?

[Prufrock]

That's the Penguin one right (I think it is)? Most of the translations I've read I've read with the Greek next to it, so I probably wasn't looking for the same thing as someone newish to the whole thing (I was hoping for the answers to my homework. Away with you flowery freedoms!). It's a hard line to walk between accuracy and accessibility. There are a couple of books I haven't read in Greek (Book of Ships for one ) which I can base an opinion on, and that translation is decent. A little loose at times, but then I think you have to be. My fav that I have come across is the Loeb though. Absolute godsend when you had two hundred lines to do for the next day . .

Never, ever, buy a poetic translation though. I have never understood people f*cking around with the entire thing in order to make it rhyme! The one I got was awful. Made the opening line wrong! Actually, having said that, I've reminded myself of a great bit in I think the Penguin version of the Odyssey. It's the stringing of the bow and the Greek is all dactylic for the action, and then slow spondees for the settling of the dust afterwards. That translation absolutely nailed that. It's a fair talent, good translation.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Accidently left my Madoff book at the office over the weekend, so now I'm halfway through Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton (the latter complements the former, as it happens). Great read. Looking forward to reading his 'solutions' in the second half, now he has so skillfully articulated the esssential problem of modernity!

[Bruce Rioja]

Accidently left my Madoff book at the office over the weekend, so now I'm halfway through Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton (the latter complements the former, as it happens). Great read. Looking forward to reading his 'solutions' in the second half, now he has so skillfully articulated the esssential problem of modernity!

I'm with Charlie Brooker when it comes to Alain de Botton - “an absolute pair-of-aching-balls of a man… a slap-headed, ruby-lipped pop philosopher who’s forged a lucrative career stating the bleeding obvious”.

[bobo the clown]

I don't have this problem. My books often end up looking like I've played football with them, as they are transported around in a gym bag or whatever. So no, I don't mind them looking used. It's just when they go permanently missing I get upset.

Indeed. Mine look like Judith Chalmers' Passport, with food-stains, wine-stains and mucky fingerprints chucked in for the measure.

At least we can be grateful for that list of stains being restricted to those items Bruce.

Phew !!