What are you reading tonight?

[Prufrock]

Started reading 'Fermat's Last Theorem' by Simon Singh.

Yes. Maths. But I love good mysteries like this.

Fermat's theorum crops up in book two of the Millenium trilogy you had started.

I've just finished the final one. Was good. Also read 'It wasn't me: Why everyone else is to blame and you're not' by Chris Addison, was lightly amusing rant-y style fayre. Pretty good. Also read Henry Cecil's A Brief to Counsel which was highly recommended and very good, informative and amusing, if a bit dated. All in one week. Productive.

Just started John Campbell's biography of Crayon's hero, FE Smith.

Good man. As you know, it's quite the tome, but it is worth it. I'll arrange for us to have a drink with John Campbell when you're finished!

Finally....done! Nearly two months later. That's no reflection on the book, which I very much enjoyed, I was just swamped with work. Very much recommended if you have plenty time to spare to dedicate to a well-written, familiar, biography of a fascinating man!

[William the White]

Started Robert Service's biography of Trotsky. I think it's going to be controversial. I checked out on the website of the 'International committee of the Fourth International' http://www.wsws.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and it's fair to say they are less than happy about it.

This bunch - I was amazed they still exist - had a British Section called the Workers Revolutionary Party that I was a member of for about two years, and was as close to a cult as any Moonies or Scientologists ever managed...

But Trotsky was a great revolutionary, tremendous theoretician and excellent writer. Just a lousy politician - too honest, too principled, too incapable of shoddy manoeuvres to succeed in the dirty struggle that followed Lenin's death. Stalin, who would not recognise a principle if it snogged him in broad daylight, wiped the floor with him, proceeded to destroy the Bolshevik party and put a stain on socialism that damaged it mortally throughout the 20th century.

So, that's what I bring to the book, I'll see how seriously it challenges...

[Prufrock]

I quite like Trotsky. But he can't have been that bright. You'd think he'd be wary or blokes wearing odd 'taches and overcoats. Smuggle an ice pick? In Mexico (I'm sure we were taught Chile at school)? Come on.

[stelios18]

I'm reading Jennie Geghart. But i have to recomand Belami

[Prufrock]

After finishing my mammoth FE biography (and waiting for PB to come good on his promise) I've started the Wasp Factory. Racing through it. Brilliantly odd so far. Like Catcher in the Rye on mushrooms.

[William the White]

I really rated The Wasp factory - but, strangely, though I've tried, never found a way into anything else Banks wrote.

For me, the Trotsky biog continues... Up to page 135 and 1914 - so far we have a portrait of Trotsky obsessed with political struggle from a young age, a brilliant orator and writer, but personally arrogant and lacking the stamina for the serious theoretical work symptomatic of Marxist politics. He was capable of alienating both Menshevik and Bolshevik wings of the Russian Social Democrats and equally incapable of building a faction of his own.

I can see why the Trotskyists dislike it, but it rings reasonably true to me.

[TANGODANCER]

Into Jerusalem and finding it fascinating historically. One serious off-put is the long footnotes at the bottom of a lot of pages. Very relevant and can't be ignored, but seriously interupt the flow of the main text. A long, slow read ahead, because there's too much to ponder on for just speed reading, but I'm signed on for the trip.

[stelios18]

tango dancer i think its a great book, i hope it's not too bibleic. who is the author?

[TANGODANCER]

tango dancer i think its a great book, i hope it's not too bibleic. who is the author?

Simon Sebag Montefiore.

[Bijou Bob]

Just finished a book detailing Mossad's capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina in 1968 and now onto another Stuart Macbride novel. I've never known an author mix black humour with such gritty material before. Sadly, I've only got one of the series left to read

[William the White]

Just finished a book detailing Mossad's capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina in 1968 and now onto another Stuart Macbride novel. I've never known an author mix black humour with such gritty material before. Sadly, I've only got one of the series left to read

Really? Very surprised if it was that late.

[thebish]

Just finished a book detailing Mossad's capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina in 1968 and now onto another Stuart Macbride novel. I've never known an author mix black humour with such gritty material before. Sadly, I've only got one of the series left to read

Really? Very surprised if it was that late.

it was 1960...

[Bijou Bob]

I beg your pardon, the operation started in 58, not 68. Typo!

[Prufrock]

Memebase. S'been a long day. Now I'm smiling.

[thebish]

Memebase. S'been a long day. Now I'm smiling.

loser!

[William the White]

I've now finished the biography of Trotsky by robert service - just in time to meet my deadline-to-be-a-better-person taken on new year's eve, to read at least a book a month.

It's a highly tendentious and hostile biography. I also think Service is a million miles away from feasibility in suggesting Trotsky as likely as Stalin to have indulged in murderous internal oppression of the order of the Great Terror of 1937-38. Especially since Trotsky denounced and exposed it at the time.

The book gave me more insights into Trotsky's early life and personal life than I'd had previously - so good for that. It's a well written work, for the most part, but unimpressive history.

Not sure what's next, but after this and Jerusalem I think a work of fiction beckons...

[Prufrock]

Memebase. S'been a long day. Now I'm smiling.

loser!

Indeed. My two faves.

[thebish]

[Prufrock]

[Bruce Rioja]

Memebase. S'been a long day. Now I'm smiling.

You ever read any of Gary Larson's The Far Side, Prufrock?