Books - what are you reading just now?

Following on from Robin Ince's Bad Book Club, his latest title is Bibliomaniac, a nationwide tour of bookshops.

But, oh dear. The great Blackwell's in Oxford when I went there last week is now owned by Waterstones.
I knew something was wrong when entering the subterranean cavern known as the Norrington Room.
A member of staff told me why.
A day earlier I was in my favourite 2nd hand bookshop in Hay on Wye - The Cinema Bookshop - to find they now sell new books as well.
 
Stone Cross, Marc Cameron. US Marshall story. Very decent.

Art of Death, Laurence Anholt. British detective but quite quirky, a bit different.

Happy to recommend both.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Well…it took a while but yesterday I finished Anna Karenin. When did I start on it? Well only July 26th. Yup…11months for all of its 1000 or so pages (I’ve read other stuff along the way).

I savoured it and loved it…brilliant and deep characterisations…Tolstoy’s genius…and a very philosophical examination of life, the human condition, and what it’s all about - if we care to stop, open our eyes, and see the truth of what is clearly before us - and appreciate the difference between what we want and think we need, and what is right and good.

And on the flight home yesterday started and already half way through The Enemy Below, by D A Rayner. A short gripping WW2 tale of a British destroyer and German U-boat. Written in 1956 Rayner had been there, seen it, and done it. So lots of real operational detail as the destroyer tracks and hunts down the sub.

Next up main read? Maybe something a bit lighter than Tolstoy - both in tone and pages 😳

But as for AK…go on. If you read older classic stuff…treat yourself…it’s easy to read (though lots of characters and relationships to keep track of) and as the chapters are short it can be read in bite-sized chunks. It’s worth it. And there is one more book in the process - Experiencing Architecture - 2nd Edition by Steen Eiler Rasmussen. I study architecture, and reading such a book is like a routine for me. And actually, this one is nice and I think I'll use it in my dissertation. I still haven't chosen the theme, but I'm reading some info about possible architectural dissertation topics and have some ideas. I've also found this list of topics and they all are so interesting and so different, and I have to think about it. But at least with books, it's easier because I've already read a lot, and have a lot of recommendations.
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I read The Enemy Below, by D A Rayner previous month and I really liked it. I'm very interested in WWII history and stories of the sea so I enjoyed the book, but I've not seen the movie.

And now I'm reading Stalingrad by Antony Beevor - I've read less than a half, but I can say it's a good reading.
 
Whereditgo said:
Just read all 19 in the Roy Grace series by Peter James, and now revisiting an old friend Victor the assassin.
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I gave up on the Roy Grace books but I am loving the Victor the Assassin series. I don't know if it was you or someone else on here who recommended them but whoever it was, thank you.

I'm currently trying the Mark Dawson books about John Milton (assassin). Early days but decent. He's no Victor, 😄, but they are pretty readable.

On a slightly different tack, I've just finished the second Laurance Anholt book about the Mindful Detective, Art of Death was the 1st, Festival of Death the 2nd. Police, mystery books but a bit quirky. If you like the Richard Osman style of writing, try these books out.
 
JamesR said:
Our Kind of Traitor by Le Carre
His usual excellence
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Just finished that myself, enjoyed it. I'm a recent convert to Le Carre and stocked up on a load of his books, and wondering which direction to go in. I've done Spy Who Came In From The Cold and Tinker Tailor. Do I complete the Karla Trology first? The early novels seem alot bigger that his later work.
 
CountLippe said:
Just finished that myself, enjoyed it. I'm a recent convert to Le Carre and stocked up on a load of his books, and wondering which direction to go in. I've done Spy Who Came In From The Cold and Tinker Tailor. Do I complete the Karla Trology first? The early novels seem alot bigger that his later work.
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My favourites are the Karla trilogy, Russia House, Perfect Spy, A most wanted man, and a call for the dead
 
The Punishment She Deserves - Elizabeth George.
A Lynley and Havers story from five years ago. Good, solid writing and plot.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
I gave up on the Roy Grace books but I am loving the Victor the Assassin series. I don't know if it was you or someone else on here who recommended them but whoever it was, thank you.

I'm currently trying the Mark Dawson books about John Milton (assassin). Early days but decent. He's no Victor, 😄, but they are pretty readable.

On a slightly different tack, I've just finished the second Laurance Anholt book about the Mindful Detective, Art of Death was the 1st, Festival of Death the 2nd. Police, mystery books but a bit quirky. If you like the Richard Osman style of writing, try these books out.
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Also working my way through them. Absolutely terrible plots, and very formulaic - but somehow highly readable. Currently on book 7 so can't be as bad as I think.
 
Same Time Tomorrow by Bob Cryer, son of Barry. It's a biography of his dad.

It's a story of his life with examples of his gags every 3 pages or so. I'm sat here giggling away. They are old school, obviously, set up and then hit with the punchline. My kind of humour. Nothing nasty, no one hurt, gags not just stories.

If anyone liked Barry Cryer, or just likes old school comedy, give it a read.
 
Part way through - All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr.
I don't know what caused me to buy it but I am glad I did. Marvellous, absorbing, moving, beautiful prose.
 
The savage storm by James Holland.
The battle for Italy 1943.

What stunningly heartbreaking written book.
 
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