The GOT Book Club

[atrottel]

You actually feel like you’re there with them, it’s that well written.

One of the best books of this genre I’ve read.

You might also appreciate The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev, who features (unfavourably) in Krakauer's book. It's not as well written but it gives an alternate view of the events. At the time, there were big disputes in the climbing community about how Krakauer recounted the events (I believe, first of all, in Outside magazine). Boukreev died in the Himalayas just a year or so after the Everest disaster.

Not knocking Krakauer's book at all - it's on my bookshelf along with plenty others from him. (If you haven't already read it, try Into The Void - also made into a film.)

Other climbing book recommendations you (or anyone else) might be interested in:
K2 - Triumph and Tragedy by Jim Curran
Moments of Doubt - collection of David Roberts articles (he was one of Krakauer's mentors and an important figure in extreme climbing in Alaska)
In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods - Galen Rowell (book about the history of climbing K2 by mountaineer possibly better known for his stunning photography)

 

[wm02]

Started reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Benjamin Franklin. Definitely didn’t see that reveal coming in the second paragraph

 

[LostLegend]

View attachment 272694

Someone on here recommend this - Into Thin Air / Jon Krakauer.

Couldn’t put it down, outstanding.

The author recounts without blame, the Everest disaster of 1996, of which he was part of.

The film, with Josh Brolin, pretty much uses this book as a template.

Read this recently myself. Went through 3 of his books in a few weeks. Deffo pick of the bunch that I’ve read this one though!

I particularly liked the story of the guy who planned to circumvent the border closing by crashing himself in a plane into the side of the mountain

 

[COYBL25]

Read this recently myself. Went through 3 of his books in a few weeks. Deffo pick of the bunch that I’ve read this one though!

I particularly liked the story of the guy who planned to circumvent the border closing by crashing himself in a plane into the side of the mountain

And the Swedish guy, who rode from Sweden on a bike with all his gear !

 

[Bilko]

Just finished " sisters under the rising sun ".

Wartime true story of Australian nurses imprisoned in a camp.
Not sure the author got it right though, I struggled to connect with the characters, and the mood of the camp didn't seem realistic.
The account is true enough and an interesting factual event of world war 2, interesting enough tale, perhaps not best written.

 

[DualityNSNO]

And the Swedish guy, who rode from Sweden on a bike with all his gear !

That randomly reminded me of the premise of Herzog's "Of Walking in Ice", which is on my to read list (and a quite short diary).

 

[LostLegend]

Read a couple of classics recently.

John Steinbeck's East of Eden which absolutely blew me away.
Not read anything by him since 'Of Mice & Men' when I was still in school many years ago.

Probably some of the best characters ever penned to paper in my opinion. Cathy/Kate was such a fantastic protagonist and commanded every scene she was in.
The bromance between Samuel and Lee was another high point for me.

It seemed like every other page had a quotable passage. Just a great read overall.


Also recently finished Orwell's 1984. Something that's been on my to read list forever.

Maybe doesn't have the same impact today as it did at the time of first publication (1949) coming straight off the back of WWII and the rise and fall of National Socialism and of course the then growing Soviet Union.

While there's still a lot to like here, it does feel very ham-fisted at times. Also, you have to get your head around the 'future according to the 1940's' as well.
It's also been copied and parodied a lot since its first publication.
The story itself is great. He's absolutely nailed the feeling of paranoia and tension, the 3rd act in particular is very intense, however a lot of this felt broken up by the books many tiresome monologues. (I'm looking at you O'Brien!)

That said, it is very well written, loved the world building over all and of course it is another book awash with highly quotable passages. I enjoyed it overall and it's also made me realise that a lot of the so called 'free speech warriors' online who scream about censorship and "this is just what Orwell warned us about in 1984" have likely never read it

 

[COYBL25]

Some one recommended this on here a while ago :

In The Distance - Hernan Diaz.

Considering this is the authors first book, it’s a stunning read.

Think Cormac McCarthy, but more simply written. ( that’s not a criticism)

Set in the early days of the birth of modern America, a young, Swedish boy and his brother get separated from each other in Portsmouth docks en route to start a new life in San Francisco.

Believing that his brother has found passage back to America, using the last of his money, the boy pays for his passage across the Atlantic to try and find his brother.

The book tells the tale of the boy as he wanders across the American West, trying to get to San Francisco looking for his brother, not knowing where he is, as he slowly becomes an adult and all that he encounters.

If a book ever deserved to be made into a film, it’s this.

Magnificent.

 

[Bishop Thumpety-Thump]

Read a couple of classics recently.

John Steinbeck's East of Eden which absolutely blew me away.
Not read anything by him since 'Of Mice & Men' when I was still in school many years ago.

Probably some of the best characters ever penned to paper in my opinion. Cathy/Kate was such a fantastic protagonist and commanded every scene she was in.
The bromance between Samuel and Lee was another high point for me.

It seemed like every other page had a quotable passage. Just a great read overall.


Also recently finished Orwell's 1984. Something that's been on my to read list forever.

Maybe doesn't have the same impact today as it did at the time of first publication (1949) coming straight off the back of WWII and the rise and fall of National Socialism and of course the then growing Soviet Union.

While there's still a lot to like here, it does feel very ham-fisted at times. Also, you have to get your head around the 'future according to the 1940's' as well.
It's also been copied and parodied a lot since its first publication.
The story itself is great. He's absolutely nailed the feeling of paranoia and tension, the 3rd act in particular is very intense, however a lot of this felt broken up by the books many tiresome monologues. (I'm looking at you O'Brien!)

That said, it is very well written, loved the world building over all and of course it is another book awash with highly quotable passages. I enjoyed it overall and it's also made me realise that a lot of the so called 'free speech warriors' online who scream about censorship and "this is just what Orwell warned us about in 1984" have likely never read it

Steinbeck is my favourite American author by far. Would heartily recommend The Grapes of Wrath and The Wayward Bus if you want to read more. East of Eden is a work of genius.

 

[Bishop Thumpety-Thump]

Just finished How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. Read it over two days and haven’t been as gripped by modern fiction since I read Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun a few years ago.

 

[LostLegend]

Steinbeck is my favourite American author by far. Would heartily recommend The Grapes of Wrath and The Wayward Bus if you want to read more. East of Eden is a work of genius.

I have Grapes of Wrath on my list, I've heard it's really good.

I've been enjoying a few American authors this year with John Williams and Cormac McCarthy as well. They all have a similar vibe with their story telling (mostly with the setting) so definitely looking to read more.

 

[COYBL25]

I have Grapes of Wrath on my list, I've heard it's really good.

I've been enjoying a few American authors this year with John Williams and Cormac McCarthy as well. They all have a similar vibe with their story telling (mostly with the setting) so definitely looking to read more.

If you like apocalyptic horror, written by an American professor of literature:

The Passage - Justin Cronin

Parts of it almost read like Cormac McCarthy, the writing really is that good.

It’s a whopper though, at close on a thousand pages, but it’s a book you can’t put down - I read it the first time in around a week, I was carrying it everywhere with me !

 

[Bilko]

Just finished How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. Read it over two days and haven’t been as gripped by modern fiction since I read Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun a few years ago.

I have it bought and will be my next read. Quite like a lot of his work, humans was a good read I thought.

 

[davep]

If you like apocalyptic horror, written by an American professor of literature:

The Passage - Justin Cronin

Parts of it almost read like Cormac McCarthy, the writing really is that good.

It’s a whopper though, at close on a thousand pages, but it’s a book you can’t put down - I read it the first time in around a week, I was carrying it everywhere with me !

Good book. Have you read all three? Sure it's part of a trilogy?

 

[COYBL25]

Good book. Have you read all three? Sure it's part of a trilogy?

I`ve read all three mate.

The other two are good, but the Passage is the standout.