The GOT Book Club

[COYBL25]

The latest from the always excellent, Stuart Macbride - the Coffin Makers Garden.

It isn’t one of his many D/S Logan novels, but book 3 in the occasional D/Insp Ash Henderson series.

The initial problem with this book, is that it’s been nearly 6 years since the last book in this series, so the first hundred or so pages are spent with the plot and reacquainting the reader with the characters. Which doesn’t make for great reading tbh.

However once you get past this, the book really kicks into life, as the hunt for two independent serial killers is on.

MacBride is without doubt one of my favourite authors, as he manages to weave great characters in with brutality, darkness, light and real humour, which is a rare gift.

Much like Rebus, his books would very easily translate into television with the right cast and production.

 

[gonetomorrow]

I've just started Carlo's autobiog - the one that was only recently translated into English.
He's obviously had a hand with it but he's quite witty.

 

[AndyC]

Just finished reading this, it’s a terrific read about the genius Nikola Tesla and how he was screwed both financially and credit wise by Edison, Westinghouse and JP Morgan.
Thoroughly recommend it.

 

[degsy]

Just finished reading this, it’s a terrific read about the genius Nikola Tesla and how he was screwed both financially and credit wise by Edison, Westinghouse and JP Morgan.
Thoroughly recommend it.

Yep read it about 15yrs ago very illuminating

 

[Bilko]

Sci fi comedy, easy enough read, enjoyable, think he might make it into a series of books.

 

[Del-boy]

Currently reading The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist. I’m not political and thought I’d struggle with this one but it’s a very good read.

Prior to this finished Roger Moore’s biography. My word is my Bond, which I enjoyed being a Bond fan.

One of the best books I have probably read is based on air combat in WW2. It’s called A Higher Call and is written by a guy who was a German Ace during the war. If you like history and in particular WW2, this book is an absolute must.

One area he covers is when he was fighting the Americans in the air over Europe. A badly mauled American B17 is just about still flying and trying to get back to England. The German pilot instead of shooting them down actually guides them back in the direction of England away from the flack guns. A must read.

 

[Philw]

Currently reading The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist. I’m not political and thought I’d struggle with this one but it’s a very good read.

On my rather long Kindle library to read list.... Really going to need to spend more time reading if I'm ever going to get through the whole list!!

 

[Philw]

Also, @random what's happened to the daily book reviews??

 

[random]

Also, @random what's happened to the daily book reviews??

furlough finished and back working for a living

will still review as and when I finish another one

make sure you read the ones I recommended & let us know what you think about them

 

[degsy]

Also, @random what's happened to the daily book reviews??

I'm glad...in a good way...he's took a break, give me a chance to catch up

 

[Philw]

furlough finished and back working for a living

will still review as and when I finish another one

make sure you read the ones I recommended & let us know what you think about them

Haha, damn the covid situation recovering to the point where you can go back to work

Will do, defo added a bunch to my to read list.

I'm glad...in a good way...he's took a break, give me a chance to catch up

I'm never catching up. Better just to accept the fact and read what you can/want!!

 

[kev]

Currently reading The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist. I’m not political and thought I’d struggle with this one but it’s a very good read.

On my rather long Kindle library to read list.... Really going to need to spend more time reading if I'm ever going to get through the whole list!!

Excellent book that should be read by all.
Paperback from just £2.50 (Wordsworth Classics Edition) https://www.waterstones.com/book/th...ts/robert-tressell/lionel-kelly/9781840226829
FREE ebook http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3608
FREE audio version https://librivox.org/the-ragged-trousered-philanthropists-by-robert-tressell/

 

[Philw]

Excellent book that should be read by all.
Paperback from just £2.50 (Wordsworth Classics Edition) https://www.waterstones.com/book/th...ts/robert-tressell/lionel-kelly/9781840226829
FREE ebook http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3608
FREE audio version https://librivox.org/the-ragged-trousered-philanthropists-by-robert-tressell/

Yeah, think I picked up the ebook free on Amazon. Not sure tho, was a few yrs ago and still not got to it!

 

[kev]

Yeah, think I picked up the ebook free on Amazon. Not sure tho, was a few yrs ago and still not got to it!

You need to be careful which version you get. The book was first published in 1914 (in a heavily edited version) and at a price that ensured it wasn't read by many of it's target audience i.e. the working class. A cheaper edition was released in 1918 (edited even more ruthlessly)
The original handwritten Manuscript was only discovered in the late 1940s and it became obvious that whole chapters had been 'cut' and rearranged in those early editions. (much of the socialism removed) and even a different ending to the book.
The first FULL edition, printed as the author intended was not published until 1955
Many books still on sale now (including some e books) are based on early butchered editions.
The Wordsworth Classics Edition, linked in my first post, is the full text as Tressell intended (and just £2.50 for a p/b copy)

As stated, much of the socialism was edited out of early editions BUT that wasn't the only reason for its editing. This is not a book for literary purists. The grammar and punctuation are poor and It is a long book, it is also repetitive in places.
Remember when reading it that this was a book written by a painter and decorator who was in ill health and he wrote the book in the evenings after work (when lucky enough to have work) and during the periods where he was too ill to work.
It is a book that will have you laughing and crying in equal measure, but most of all it should make you furious at the injustices of capitalism.

Rant over. Enjoy.

 

[Del-boy]

You need to be careful which version you get. The book was first published in 1914 (in a heavily edited version) and at a price that ensured it wasn't read by many of it's target audience i.e. the working class. A cheaper edition was released in 1918 (edited even more ruthlessly)
The original handwritten Manuscript was only discovered in the late 1940s and it became obvious that whole chapters had been 'cut' and rearranged in those early editions. (much of the socialism removed) and even a different ending to the book.
The first FULL edition, printed as the author intended was not published until 1955
Many books still on sale now (including some e books) are based on early butchered editions.
The Wordsworth Classics Edition, linked in my first post, is the full text as Tressell intended (and just £2.50 for a p/b copy)

As stated, much of the socialism was edited out of early editions BUT that wasn't the only reason for its editing. This is not a book for literary purists. The grammar and punctuation are poor and It is a long book, it is also repetitive in places.
Remember when reading it that this was a book written by a painter and decorator who was in ill health and he wrote the book in the evenings after work (when lucky enough to have work) and during the periods where he was too ill to work.
It is a book that will have you laughing and crying in equal measure, but most of all it should make you furious at the injustices of capitalism.

Rant over. Enjoy.

I’m about halfway through it. It’s a great read and a real eye opener that’s still relevant today.