Books - what are you reading just now?

I've just finished the final instalment of the Bernard Sampson books (Game, Set & Match , Hook, Line & Sinker , Faith, Hope & Charity) - thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Now I've started Kleptopia, by Tom Burgis
It's a novel style, non-fiction, about financial corruption, money laundering, dark money, shell corporations and political lobbying.

I only heard of it because recently the books main antagonists, a Kazak company called ENRC tried to prevent it's release, and tried to sue the publishers. So it came more into the public consciousness.

It's opened well, so hopefully will carry on and improve ??
 
Just finished The Collector by John Fowles. Brilliant and horrible in equal measure.

I read The Light Between Oceans earlier in the year and thought it was wonderful!
 
srixon 1 said:
South. The story of Ernest Shackleton’s expedition to Antarctica in 1914/15. I’ve read it before but a long time ago. Incredible tale of hardship and survival.
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Have just seen some amazing footage of the Endurance. A search team has discovered its location in Antarctica.
 
Doon frae Troon said:
Reading my first Wilbur Smith novel, so far so good.
Previous read Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club which I found to be pretty awful.
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Just finished his 2nd Thursday Murder Club novel, “The man who died twice” thoroughly enjoyed it. What did you not like about the 1st book, his portrayal of septuagenarians?
 
One Pair of Feet by Monica Dickens (1942). Gentle and humerous reminiscences of the authors year as a nurse during WW2, but also interesting as a little social record of a nurses life and of healthcare provision during wartime and pre-NHS.
 
Fade and Die said:
Just finished his 2nd Thursday Murder Club novel, “The man who died twice” thoroughly enjoyed it. What did you not like about the 1st book, his portrayal of septuagenarians?
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I got the feeling I was reading a future Death in Paradise [which I also don't like] script and his attempted injection of humour did not work in black and white. [for me]
 
Fade and Die said:
Just finished his 2nd Thursday Murder Club novel, “The man who died twice” thoroughly enjoyed it. What did you not like about the 1st book, his portrayal of septuagenarians?
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I thought the story was decent, but the writing was poor.
 
Working my way back through the Discworld series (for the umpteenth time), on to Witches Abroad which is a little bit of Cinderella and a little bit Pratchett magic. Great book with the usual Pratchett social observations nailed to a tee.
 
Just started The Match by Mark Frost and already really enjoying learning a bit of background on some of the greats of yesteryear…Hagen, Sarazen, Nelson and Hogan, plus of course the background to the match itself…when a pair of top amateurs were pitched against…erm…Hogan and Nelson.

Remembering of course that back in the day amateur did not mean of lower ability - and in fact as far as status and standing in the game were concerned, amateurs had been considered higher than professionals. Remembering also that in 1930 Bobby Jones as an amateur had won The Open; The Amateur Championship; The US Open and The US Amateur Championship - the original Grand Slam.

Anyway…back to the book…it’s 1957 and the morning of The Match and the players are arriving at Cypress Pt.
 
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Well...The Match by Mark Frost was an excellent and informative read for any interested in the history and development of golf - and the background to some of the main protagonists in the game of the early to mid C20th. I can now place such as Hagen, Sarazen, Jones, Hogan, Nelson, Venturi and Palmer on a timeline - and I know the huge place in the story of the game of such as Harvie Ward, Lawson Little and Frank Stranahan.

And a complete change now (as is my wont) - Daphne du Maurier's The Flight of the Falcon. I really enjoy her books and this is proving a good read.
 
Just finished Pat Barker's Regeneration. Now considering the other 2 books in the trilogy.
 
Finished reading Daphne Du Maurier's The Flight of the Falcon. A good and interesting mystery set in 1965 Italy with reflections back to Italy of WW2. Thought provoking comment in the Introduction to the edition that had me thinking..indeed...

'(the conflict between the brothers)...may not seem too extreme to those who remember how nations have been swayed to commit and justify acts of atrocity under the influence of a charismatic leader.'

Anyway - for something completely different. A book that I have known all of my life as it was my mum's and it sat in our family home bookcase for as as long as I can remember...she'd have got it in her early 20s. I never read it...but I know my dad has and now I will. P.C.Wren's Beau Geste
 
JamesR said:
I've just finished the final instalment of the Bernard Sampson books (Game, Set & Match , Hook, Line0 & Sinker , Faith, Hope & Charity) - thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Now I've started Kleptopia, by Tom Burgis6
It's a novel style, non-fiction, about financial corruption, money laundering, dark money, shell corporations and political lobbying.

I only heard of it because recently the books main antagonists, a Kazak company called ENRC tried to prevent it's release, and tried to sue the publishers. So it came more into the public consciousness.

It's opened well, so hopefully will carry on and improve ??
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A good read - recently finished it and now on another Tom Burgis book - The Looting Machine - Warlords, Tycoons, Smugglers and the Systematic Theft of Africa's Wealth.

Both books are fairly damning in their revelations - and even though one was already aware of some of shenanigans, I doubt one will ever look at big 'resource' businesses and politicians without suspicion again.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Finished reading Daphne Du Maurier's The Flight of the Falcon. A good and interesting mystery set in 1965 Italy with reflections back to Italy of WW2. Thought provoking comment in the Introduction to the edition that had me thinking..indeed...

'(the conflict between the brothers)...may not seem too extreme to those who remember how nations have been swayed to commit and justify acts of atrocity under the influence of a charismatic leader.'

Anyway - for something completely different. A book that I have known all of my life as it was my mum's and it sat in our family home bookcase for as as long as I can remember...she'd have got it in her early 20s. I never read it...but I know my dad has and now I will. P.C.Wren's Beau Geste
Click to expand...

Beau Geste is a fine novel. If you enjoy it, its loose sequels are worth looking up too.
 
Just finished Mick Herron's Slow Horses, on which the recent TV series is based.

Not bad, so may read some more from the series.
 
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