The GOT Book Club

[gonetomorrow]

I've just finished reading: The Catholics, the church and its people in Britain and Ireland from the Reformation to the present day. It's written by Roy Hattersley (anyone remember him?) and its absolutely first class. One of the best books I've read in a long time, history come to life. The only criticism I have against it, is Hattersley's decision to include Ireland in the book because the discussion of Irish Catholicism is far to complex an issue for the limited space he affords it in this book (you'd need another book the same length to do the subject justice). He'd of been better off leaving them out altogether and writing a separate volume for Ireland. That being said it doesn't detract from an amazing and extremely entertaining book. 10/10.

I'm reading The Point of Departure by the late Robin Cook about his increasing frustration with and eventual resignation from Blair's government.

Despite their ridiculous Spitting Images both men seem like giants now.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

I'm reading The Point of Departure by the late Robin Cook about his increasing frustration with and eventual resignation from Blair's government.

Despite their ridiculous Spitting Images both men seem like giants now.

Agreed they've done better after ending their political careers then they managed during them. Both of them are far to honest for modern politics, like them or not you could respect them which is more then you can say for the bulk of the current Labour party.

 

[Sid James]

Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch. This is just good fun. It's well written with an interesting world and intriguing characters. It's the start of an ongoing series named The Gentlemen Bastards. The two following books were also excellent, but they are all fairly self-contained.

I'm about 2 thirds through this and it's brilliant, I'm listening on audible though. The fella reading it , does a really good job , which works well as a lot of the characters are quite verbose

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Change of plan. I was about to start reading The Last of Tsars by Robert Service but then I went into town and saw the brand new Star Wars book called Thrawn by Timothy Zahn which wasn't supposed to be released until Tue. This is definitely the next book I'm reading, can't wait to get started on this!

 

[summerisle]

Just bought this today in a book sale, anybody read it ? Bobbins or not ?

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Same here mate, got it on my Xmas reading list

Just getting to the end of Stoner by John Williams now - recall you were talking about it earlier in the thread.

It is immense writing [although the passivity of the eponymous character is a bit frustrating] - he's a masterful writer. Making me take stock a bit as I'm a bit of a mug for writers who hang their balls out, when it must take more skill to do something like Stoner.

I guess every up and coming writer needs to make a splash if anyone is going to take any notice, so there's less incentive to write these sort of quiet books these days. Plus few authors are good enough to make them count.

 

[gonetomorrow]

I've run out of new stuff to read so I bought Sidetracked - a Wallander detective by Henning Mankell for 50p in a charity shop. I've read it before and the rest of the series. It's great to wallow in. Wallander is such a gloomy and awkward individual. His personal life is not a success and everyone seems to treat him disdainfully. But he's a persistent copper.

 

[ToePeg]

I've read a load of John Le Car books over a while. If you like thriller, espionage then give them a read. The quality of his writing and characterisation is outstanding.
Also 'Bird Song' by Sebastian Faulkes is an excellent book. Set in WWI, a young englishman who falls in love with a married french woman and has an affair with her, then returns to the same area of France to fight in the war as an officer. Missed opportunities, lost love, friends slain, gut wrenching but wonderful.
The best book I've ever read is Les Miserable. I can't recommend it enough. It's about 1400 pages and takes a good while to get through but it's worth it, a masterpiece. When I finished it I felt like I'd lost a friend, there was a huge gap in my life for a little while.
Pappion is also a really good read. A true story written by the main protaganist. A wrongfully convicted young rogue who escapes a touterous prision sentence on a french collonised carribean island around 1930. Proper swashbuckling adventure about friendship and redemption.

 

[ToePeg]

View attachment 28612

Anyone who likes Cormac McCarthy will love this. ( the inspiration for his Crossing trilogy )

Possibly the best book I've read this year.

Set in the Wild West. Story of of an idealist young graduate who joins a Buffalo hunt.

Beautifully written. The book is as much about the scenery and surroundings as the story. You can see where McCarthy gets a lot of his inspiration from in this book.

A resounding ten out of ten.

* can't remember who recommended it on here - a big thanks !

Have you read Cormac McCarhty's 'All the Pretty Horses'? That was a good read, slow to start but a really rich detailed but simple tale. Is this similar?

 

[COYBL25]

Have you read Cormac McCarhty's 'All the Pretty Horses'? That was a good read, slow to start but a really rich detailed but simple tale. Is this similar?

I've read all of the Border Trilogy mate.

The descriptive imagery of the countryside and the elements are almost poetic in these books.

Much more gentle than usual for McCarthy.

Blood Meridian still remains his best book, but not for the faint hearted.

Lots of McCarthy fans on here

 

[ToePeg]

[QUOTE="COYBL25, post: 5409332, member: 80I've read all of the Border Trilogy mate.

The descriptive imagery of the countryside and the elements are almost poetic in these books.

Much more gentle than usual for McCarthy.

Blood Meridian still remains his best book, but not for the faint hearted.

Lots of McCarthy fans on here [/QUOTE]

I read 'The Road' a few years ago and that was gut wrenching most of the way through, bleak as bleak can be yet a must read.
His stories are never really about 'the story' but the relationships and the backdrop. He sets a scene which most authors can't get near to rival.
I'll put Blood Meridian on my kindle soon then on your recommendation.

 

[COYBL25]

[QUOTE="COYBL25, post: 5409332, member: 80I've read all of the Border Trilogy mate.

The descriptive imagery of the countryside and the elements are almost poetic in these books.

Much more gentle than usual for McCarthy.

Blood Meridian still remains his best book, but not for the faint hearted.

Lots of McCarthy fans on here

I read 'The Road' a few years ago and that was gut wrenching most of the way through, bleak as bleak can be yet a must read.
His stories are never really about 'the story' but the relationships and the backdrop. He sets a scene which most authors can't get near to rival.
I'll put Blood Meridian on my kindle soon then on your recommendation.[/QUOTE]

The Road is one of my favourites too and the ending stays with you for days afterwards.

Every time I re-read it, I find things that I've missed, but you've really got to be in the mood to read it, due to the fact it's so unrelentingly bleak.

If you like books of this genre I can highly recommend: ( if you haven't read them )

The Red Riding Trilogy ( actually four books ) - David Peace ( wrote the Damned United ).

The story of Police / Council and business corruption in the 70's / 80's, all linked to the serial killing of young girls in West York's. ( alludes to the Ripper ).

Incredible writing, but beyond bleak

 

[ToePeg]

I

I read 'The Road' a few years ago and that was gut wrenching most of the way through, bleak as bleak can be yet a must read.
His stories are never really about 'the story' but the relationships and the backdrop. He sets a scene which most authors can't get near to rival.
I'll put Blood Meridian on my kindle soon then on your recommendation.

The Road is one of my favourites too and the ending stays with you for days afterwards.

Every time I re-read it, I find things that I've missed, but you've really got to be in the mood to read it, due to the fact it's so unrelentingly bleak.

If you like books of this genre I can highly recommend: ( if you haven't read them )

The Red Riding Trilogy ( actually four books ) - David Peace ( wrote the Damned United ).

The story of Police / Council and business corruption in the 70's / 80's, all linked to the serial killing of young girls in West York's. ( alludes to the Ripper ).

Incredible writing, but beyond bleak [/QUOTE]
I'll book Mark those too, cheers.

 

[COYBL25]

Just finshed this.

As always with Beevor, he makes a potentially very dry subject readable and the book is helped along by the collaboration with Atremis Cooper.

The account of the post war turmoil in Paris following the liberation and in particular the French Communist parties attempts to seize control of France, with the help of the Soviet Union.

 

[summerisle]

View attachment 36406

Just finshed this.

As always with Beevor, he makes a potentially very dry subject readable and the book is helped along by the collaboration with Atremis Cooper.

The account of the post war turmoil in Paris following the liberation and in particular the French Communist parties attempts to seize control of France, with the help of the Soviet Union.

Looks interesting. Does it delve into the collaboration with the Germans of a surprisingly high number of Frenchmen/women ?