What are you reading tonight?

[William the White]

Kolyma tales by Shalamov. I read Gulag a few years ago and this gives a good first person experience. Depressing stuff at times mind

Will you let me know your opinion when you get to the end please, Harry? It's a subject that interests me. I've had the privilege of meeting some survivors of the Gulag, their whole lives lived under a shadow.

[TANGODANCER]

Quotes:

" The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage"............Mark Russell

[Il Pirate]

Just bought David Starkey's 'Henry' & 5 plays by Chekhov. Should keep me busy..........

doesn't it just make you want to smack starkey though?

Daily Mail's favourite historian. Brian Sewell of the history industry... Smack too kind...

TBF I've not read it yet, but when he's on telly, he does come accross as a bit of a t*at. Looking forward to the Chekhov tho. I don't know why, but he's been a dramatist who's work I've never seen or read, I've always skirted around him. A bit like climbing a mountain I suppose, always meaning to do it one day in your life, but never get around to it. I saw a couple of his comedy shorts on sky arts which generated my renewed interest in him.

[2399]

I bought a Guide to the Star Wars Universe made in 1994

[Bruce Rioja]

I bought a Guide to the Star Wars Universe made in 1994

Did you check the ending first, Chief?

[hisroyalgingerness]

Finished Spikeys autobiography. Great read, really funny in places but one of the saddest endings.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Why? Did he promise to carry on performing?

[Prufrock]

Read Shappi Khorsandi's book 'A Beginners Guide to Acting English' last week. I'm sure that will go down well. As it stands I actually think she is a real good comic when she mixes it up and avoids constantly talking about being Iranian. Unfortunately the entire premise of the book, cunningly disguised in the title, is about her heritage and her family's emigration. However, once I got my head around what it was, the library had it in the autobiographical section, alongside traditional autobiographies, whereas this switches from autobiography to autobiographical novel and back again throughout, I actually really enjoyed it. The weird way she tells it livens up the duller bits, and it is a really insightful look into life as an immigrant, coming as it does through the eyes of a child. Also being in book form it manages to avoid the loud annoying shouting both Omid Djalili and Shappi herself seem to portray as the only characteristic of Iranians

Recommended, even if, like many, you find her annoying.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

Trains and Buttered Toast; Selected Radio Talks by John Betjeman. It was a Christmas present from my wife, not the sort of book that I would normally buy. I've only just got round to reading it.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

What a beautiful writer Betjeman was. I will read more of his work.

[Bruce Rioja]

Trains and Buttered Toast; Selected Radio Talks by John Betjeman. It was a Christmas present from my wife, not the sort of book that I would normally buy. I've only just got round to reading it.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

What a beautiful writer Betjeman was. I will read more of his work.

Much of what I've read of Betjeman is stunning but with this quality whereby you've seen for yourself what it is that he's writing about but haven't thought to question it. Much like the songwriting of Ray Davies.

I'm going to order that book up missen now, Zulu. Cheers!

[hisroyalgingerness]

Why? Did he promise to carry on performing?

Nope. Still don't get it.

[Bruce Rioja]

Why? Did he promise to carry on performing?

Nope. Still don't get it.

I do. If Dave Spikey, or indeed Paddy McGuiness, ended their books sadly, then that sadness would come from their promising to carry on doing live stand up/TV. They're both as funny as a slow and painful death.

[Prufrock]

I'm not a huge fan of Spikey, but putting him in the same category as Paddy fooking McGuinness is a bit harsh!

[Bruce Rioja]

I'm not a huge fan of Spikey, but putting him in the same category as Paddy fooking McGuinness is a bit harsh!

Sin um both live. Every bit as shite as one and other.

[William the White]

I'm not a huge fan of Spikey, but putting him in the same category as Paddy fooking McGuinness is a bit harsh!

Sin um both live. Every bit as shite as one and other.

Naah... spikey is funny...

[Lofthouse Lower]

No likey no lightey is one of the finest one-line moments of comic genius since 'let the shuttle see the cock'

[hisroyalgingerness]

Can't help but like Spikey. Meh

[boltonboris]

I just can't help feeling that Spikey and McGuiness are robbing a living off of the back of somebody else who isn't funny.

I'm frum buuuurlton.... EEEHHHHHHHHHH?

No, still not funny

[Lofthouse Lower]

Kay = funny

McGuinness = less so

Spikey = more so

So Kay>>Spikey>>McGuinness

but good luck to all of them.

[hisroyalgingerness]

If you read his book though, he's not really robbing a living. He was on the verge of being a successful stand up in his own right, winning awards before Phoenix. It's true Kay's rise eclipsed his, but it eclipsed many of that generation of comics. He was one of a three-man writing team and has gone on to do 3 tours and a sitcom of his own. He does loads of work for charities, particularly animal charities and throughout the book TWICE made me so giddy I couldn't get to sleep without stopping and giggling about the joke.

But def Paddy's bottom of that particular pile.