The GOT Book Club

[DownOnTheUpside]

They’re a bit hard to get hold of but if you can track down The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever they’re a great read (a huge time investment though, there’s ten of them and the longest is 650odd pages)

The main character of the stories surround Thomas Covenant, an embittered and cynical writer, afflicted with leprosy and shunned by society, is fated to become the heroic savior of the Land, an alternate world. In ten novels, published between 1977 and 2013, he struggles against Lord Foul, "the Despiser", who intends to escape the bondage of the physical universe and wreak revenge upon his arch-enemy, "the Creator".

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Woman in work gave me The Demon Cycle books by Peter Brett, have to say they’re a pleasant slab of fantasy. On book 4 of 5 now and he could’ve cut it down to a trilogy I feel but they’re still enjoyable reads. Series is 7/10 thus far.

 

[summerisle]

They’re a bit hard to get hold of but if you can track down The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever they’re a great read (a huge time investment though, there’s ten of them and the longest is 650odd pages)

The main character of the stories surround Thomas Covenant, an embittered and cynical writer, afflicted with leprosy and shunned by society, is fated to become the heroic savior of the Land, an alternate world. In ten novels, published between 1977 and 2013, he struggles against Lord Foul, "the Despiser", who intends to escape the bondage of the physical universe and wreak revenge upon his arch-enemy, "the Creator".

I read that yonks ago, you're right there's a load of sequels, which I thought at the end just became a money making exercise.

 

[fandjango]

They’re a bit hard to get hold of but if you can track down The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever they’re a great read (a huge time investment though, there’s ten of them and the longest is 650odd pages)

The main character of the stories surround Thomas Covenant, an embittered and cynical writer, afflicted with leprosy and shunned by society, is fated to become the heroic savior of the Land, an alternate world. In ten novels, published between 1977 and 2013, he struggles against Lord Foul, "the Despiser", who intends to escape the bondage of the physical universe and wreak revenge upon his arch-enemy, "the Creator".

These aren’t too hard to find in Amazon but also they are brilliantly produced as a set of audiobooks on audible
Totally fantastic books

 

[fandjango]

They’re a bit hard to get hold of but if you can track down The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever they’re a great read (a huge time investment though, there’s ten of them and the longest is 650odd pages)

The main character of the stories surround Thomas Covenant, an embittered and cynical writer, afflicted with leprosy and shunned by society, is fated to become the heroic savior of the Land, an alternate world. In ten novels, published between 1977 and 2013, he struggles against Lord Foul, "the Despiser", who intends to escape the bondage of the physical universe and wreak revenge upon his arch-enemy, "the Creator".

 

[COYBL25]

Monte Cassino - Ten Armies in Hell.

Patrick Caddick Adams.

The battle for Monte Cassino, is a battle that’s always fascinated me, so I had high hopes for this book.

There’s nothing wrong with it, but in my opinion the fact that author concentrated on so many regiments ( Allied and German ) and their particular individual battles, the book loses focus on the main battle for Cassino.

It would’ve been better ( imo) if he’d focussed on the overall battle, which considering the colossal loss of life on both sides, rarely gets a mention in the battles of War War 2.

 

[chrismpw]

The missus bought me a book at Christmas. At Christmas I tactfully pointed out that Wilbur Smith had been a great author, but now his books are written by other people and to me the stories aren't so well told. I also said that the rest of my collection is paperback, so the hardback doesn't really go. I also said that with my ageing eyes I don't really read very much anymore, so books aren't great, which is why I have a kindle. When I do reluctantly read, which is infrequently, I prefer the kindle. I haven't yet touched the Christmas book, as I've been too busy (writing my own!).

So despite this as a birthday gift she got me the latest Wilbur Smith.
Not for the kindle.
A hardback.
And - I kid you not - the sequel (4th book) to a trilogy I haven't read and haven't got.

I am trying to show gratitude.

 

[Daz1878]

View attachment 125430

Monte Cassino - Ten Armies in Hell.

Patrick Caddick Adams.

The battle for Monte Cassino, is a battle that’s always fascinated me, so I had high hopes for this book.

There’s nothing wrong with it, but in my opinion the fact that author concentrated on so many regiments ( Allied and German ) and their particular individual battles, the book loses focus on the main battle for Cassino.

It would’ve been better ( imo) if he’d focussed on the overall battle, which considering the colossal loss of life on both sides, rarely gets a mention in the battles of War War 2.

You're totally right - it's often overlooked, and it was a real bloodbath. I mainly know what my grandad (who was there with the Black Watch) told me about it, but I really should do some reading up on it. From what you've said, there might be better books out there on the subject? Must look into it...

 

[COYBL25]

You're totally right - it's often overlooked, and it was a real bloodbath. I mainly know what my grandad (who was there with the Black Watch) told me about it, but I really should do some reading up on it. From what you've said, there might be better books out there on the subject? Must look into it...

There was nothing wrong with the book and he tried to put a lot of things right in it :

The fact that the Poles weren’t given enough credit for taking the Cassino, where the British had failed. The virtually unrecognised incredible bravery and skill, of the specialist Moroccan Mountain troops, fighting the Germans hand to hand deep behind enemy lines up in the mountains etc.

He tries to cover too much at once and the book suffers as a result imo.

I’d like to see someone like Antony Beevor write it up, as his many books on modern military history, almost read like novels, with the way he writes.

 

[BigMick]

Mother Night - Kurt Vonnegut. (1961)

An early Vonnegut that purports to be the memoir of Howard W. Campbell jnr., written while in an Israeli jail awaiting trial for crimes against humanity. Campbell was an infamous Nazi radio propagandist but also an American spy - unfortunately hardly anyone knew he was a spy and at the time of writing only one other living person knows the truth.

Campbell later made a brief appearance in Slaughterhouse 5.

It's classic Vonnegut, written in his normal economic style and full of warmth, black humour, wisdom and humanity.

Slaughterhouse 5 is certainly his most famous book and arguably his greatest, but Mother Night and Breakfast of Champions have always been my favourites and there are four or five others I'd also recommend.

 

[Bishop Thumpety-Thump]

My night shift reading tonight is A History of Britain Volume One 3000BC-AD1603, by Simon Schama. I just read about the build up to the Norman Conquest. Fascinating, he really brings the convoluted political aspects of it all to life. It's a bit heavy at times so I couldn't read it at home, but as a lonely nightwatchman I'm getting right into it!

 

[Bilko]

Has anyone read " one flew over the cuckoo's nest ". It's one of those books I've read a few times over the years. A lot of people say they saw the film, which I think is good also, the book is narrated by the Chief throughout , which changes the dynamics of the story.

Really worth a read if your looking for something.

 

[Daz1878]

View attachment 125441

Mother Night - Kurt Vonnegut. (1961)

An early Vonnegut that purports to be the memoir of Howard W. Campbell jnr., written while in an Israeli jail awaiting trial for crimes against humanity. Campbell was an infamous Nazi radio propagandist but also an American spy - unfortunately hardly anyone knew he was a spy and at the time of writing only one other living person knows the truth.

Campbell later made a brief appearance in Slaughterhouse 5.

It's classic Vonnegut, written in his normal economic style and full of warmth, black humour, wisdom and humanity.

Slaughterhouse 5 is certainly his most famous book and arguably his greatest, but Mother Night and Breakfast of Champions have always been my favourites and there are four or five others I'd also recommend.

I have this on the pile, with quite a few other Vonneguts. Having read Slaughterhouse 5 very recently, I remember Campbell well - quite clever how it leads you to think that

Spoiler

Edgar Derby's execution is on account of the way he stands up to Campbell, but it turns out it's simply because he took a teapot from the ruins of Dresden.

I'm certainly keen to read more of his books, so really should bump them up the never-ending list.

 

[COYBL25]

Has anyone read " one flew over the cuckoo's nest ". It's one of those books I've read a few times over the years. A lot of people say they saw the film, which I think is good also, the book is narrated by the Chief throughout , which changes the dynamics of the story.

Really worth a read if your looking for something.

A rarity, in that the film and the book are equally as good.

Only Jack Nicholson could’ve played McMurphy so perfectly.

 

[Noble Savage]

My night shift reading tonight is A History of Britain Volume One 3000BC-AD1603, by Simon Schama. I just read about the build up to the Norman Conquest. Fascinating, he really brings the convoluted political aspects of it all to life. It's a bit heavy at times so I couldn't read it at home, but as a lonely nightwatchman I'm getting right into it!

I've heard of that author in my quest to find a decent book on Caesar's mini invasion of the South East .
Is there a decent bit of that event in the book because I can't find any decent books on it that aren't Ladybird or bloody Oxbridge ?