Robster59
Tour Rookie
On the second of Winston Churchill's History of the Second World War. It's all really to close to what is happening now.
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 ??
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
Have you read his other books in the trilogy? Cider with Rosie and A Moment of War?'As I walked out one Midsummer morning.'
Laurie Lee 's account of his travels in Spain.
Read them in order - the characters don't always last - they are great though - the last two in particularJust finished Mick Herron's Slow Horses, on which the recent TV series is based.
Not bad, so may read some more from the series.
Beau Geste done and dusted. It may be from 1924 but what a cracking adventure and read. Much recommended. I can now watch the 1939 film adaptation starring Gary Cooper, Ray Millard and Robert Preston. Always an issue that for me. Watch film or read book first.Beau Geste is a fine novel. If you enjoy it, its loose sequels are worth looking up too.
Will check out Tenement Kid as I also was a Glasgow tenement kid. Ours wasn't a slum but it was slipping down the Mount Florida hill and our close is no longer there. We moved from MF 6 yrs before Gillespie moved there but I remember growing up there quite clearly.Just finished Bobby Gillespie's Tenement Kid. For the uninitiated, he is the lead singer with Primal Scream.
It's surprisingly well written, and his formative years were very much like mine - born a year after me, grew up in a Glasgow slum, mad about Celtic and punk rock as a teenager.
Keeping on with the music theme, I'm about to start Lonely Boy by Steve Jones. It's the basis for Danny Boyle's Pistol series.
After that, it's The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. I loved A Gentleman in Moscow, The Rules of Civility less so. Hopefully this is up to the standard of the former.
Beau Geste done and dusted. It may be from 1924 but what a cracking adventure and read. Much recommended. I can now watch the 1939 film adaptation starring Gary Cooper, Ray Millard and Robert Preston. Always an issue that for me. Watch film or read book first.
Next up...The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton.
Reading Dead Lions now, as enjoyable as the first (if not better)Read them in order - the characters don't always last - they are great though - the last two in particular
Will watch the show later in the year