Books - what are you reading just now?

Very impressed with the Shardlake books by CJ Sansom.
Stumbled on one by accident and, so impressed, I searched out the rest of the series on ebay and read them all. Several great characters.
Nice thick books too averaging around 650 - 850 pages. No padding, every page engrossing.
I can't wait until a bit of time is past for me to re-read them again.

They are sort of crime/mystery fiction in Tudor times but set around historically accurate events.
I never thought I'd go for this sort of stuff but Sansom is just brilliant. At the end of each book he explains what were genuine and factually accurate characters and events.
Interesting and neat idea to separate out the fact from the fiction once the story is done…I can imagine thinking ‘blimey - that really happened…?’
 
Just re-read after many years 'As I walked out one midsummer morning' by Laurie Lee. What a beautiful book.
Lee - a bit of a dodgy character.
Have you seen Two Women, one of his last books.
Also: "Controlling, tormented and with a love of alcohol and young women, his behaviour led to his teenage daughter Jessy having a drug-fuelled breakdown."
 
I love his Bernie Gunther character.
I've got Metropolis but have held back on reading it as I'm going to re-read the whole lot in order again soon.

Oddly, I haven't really enjoyed Kerr's other non Gunther books much.

Have you seen the German made TV series Babylon Berlin?
Brilliant series also set in the seedy world of pre-war Berlin.

I've read most / all of these as well - to be fair - to him - they were written really as a stand-alone - movie devpt type = and he got some deals / made some cash out of that [writing in the mid-90's was not esp rewarding]
I agree they are not as good but that does not make them bad - IMO far better than 95% of the stuff out there getting lied about on Amazon
I read the first Babylon Berlin book - wasn't bad - but haven't found the others yet - not seen the series but given enough time I may do
 
I was a fully licensed adult by then :p
When I was 10 I was already reading all my Dads books - MacLean, Deighton, Gabin Lyall etc - all in preparation for my planned career
I also read the Exorcist which my mother had stopped reading - which possibly diverted planned activities due to diabolic interventions

Lesson - sometimes you can grow up too fast
Fresh of the press just for you Ian , the 2021 book of Italian football legends :whistle::eek:
 
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Fresh of the press just for you Ian , the 2021 book of Italian football legends :whistle::eek:
The Euros final had me looking up Luigi Riva and Gianni Rivera, as the names of these greats have stuck with me from back in the day when Italian football and these players were mysterious and exotic to a wee Glaswegian lad.
 
The Euros final had me looking up Luigi Riva and Gianni Rivera, as the names of these greats have stuck with me from back in the day when Italian football and these players were mysterious and exotic to a wee Glaswegian lad.
SILH---Do you remember Riva's goal celebrations-wide eyed, arms a bit out from the sides, palms forward and charging up the field screaming--As a schoolie I loved his passion!!
Came from Caliagri ( sp ) or somewhere else really unfashionable didn't he??-Sicily, maybe???
I've got the Brazil vs Italy final on the comp---now that was elegance at its best(y)
 
SILH---Do you remember Riva's goal celebrations-wide eyed, arms a bit out from the sides, palms forward and charging up the field screaming--As a schoolie I loved his passion!!
Came from Caliagri ( sp ) or somewhere else really unfashionable didn't he??-Sicily, maybe???
I've got the Brazil vs Italy final on the comp---now that was elegance at its best(y)


OOPS- SORRY-- wrong thread,...should have said -have started on 'The Curious Incident Of The In The Night-Time' by Mark Haddon.
V.interesting premis, having an Aspergers syndrome lad as the hero -good so far and so logical
 
OOPS- SORRY-- wrong thread,...should have said -have started on 'The Curious Incident Of The In The Night-Time' by Mark Haddon.
V.interesting premis, having an Aspergers syndrome lad as the hero -good so far and so logical
…of the dog in…

Yes an excellent read - as is his follow up about cancer ‘A Spot of Bother‘
 
Currently on the "The Man Who ..." PI series by Stephen Donaldson (written under pen name of Reed Stephens but now published as by Donaldson). Rather more lightweight than, say, his "Covenant" or "Gap" books, but still well written & entertaining .
 
OOPS- SORRY-- wrong thread,...should have said -have started on 'The Curious Incident Of The In The Night-Time' by Mark Haddon.
V.interesting premis, having an Aspergers syndrome lad as the hero -good so far and so logical
Great book. And if life ever returns to normal and they put on another staging, I'd thoroughly recommend the play of the book. Saw it a couple of years ago and was the best bit of theatre I've ever seen. Really captures the feeling of Christopher being overwhelmed by sensation overload.
 
Great book. And if life ever returns to normal and they put on another staging, I'd thoroughly recommend the play of the book. Saw it a couple of years ago and was the best bit of theatre I've ever seen. Really captures the feeling of Christopher being overwhelmed by sensation overload.

Excellent sumnation Beedee. ---'and if life ever returns to normal' ( whoever thought would we would ever be saying that in the 22nd century?)
 
Just finished Len Deighton's Berlin Game, so I thought I'd move onto the next Bernhard Sampson book, and read Mexico Set.
 
Following recco's on here, I'm reading Robert Harris-Dictator / Yannis Palaiologos-The 13th Labour Of Hercules and....just to lighten the mood ; Adam Kay-This is Going To Hurt.
Looks like I'm in for another all nighter, sitting up-I really must try reading one at a time:whistle:
 
Bill Bryson, Notes from a Small Island. I realise I'm late to this party but better late than never. Very funny, well observed book. It raised many a smile and a chuckle.
 
Bill Bryson, Notes from a Small Island. I realise I'm late to this party but better late than never. Very funny, well observed book. It raised many a smile and a chuckle.

Choosing a seaside B and B to stay in without his wife's help was very funny.
One without a counterpane of course.

I recently finished the latest Ian Rankin book......superb.
 
Choosing a seaside B and B to stay in without his wife's help was very funny.
One without a counterpane of course.

I recently finished the latest Ian Rankin book......superb.
Funnily enough, my next book is an ian rankin one.....

I thought he was very brave booking on spec each time, and very foolish as it frequently turned out ?. The book is not a good advert for b & b, definitely confirms my preference for Airbnb now. It's as much a travel guide for places to avoid as ones to visit, I like that.
 
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