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The Book Thread
Started by Gigolo-Aunt




721 posts in this topic
Mikey
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01-06-2020, 05:34 AM -
Read Monty Don's book about his dog Nigel yesterday. It's really about his garden/gardening like all his books plus all the dogs he's owned over the years. Was actually very good and pretty touching. Finished it in one go.

Just started this last night:

[Image: 410RFSPP7CL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg]

Never read anything by the author before but my uncle gave it to me and he usually gets it spot on with books.
Neave
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01-06-2020, 08:10 AM -
Let us know how that works out mate, looking to read more contemporary stuff but there's so much garbage out there Laugh

Just saw it was published in 1992, so it's nigh on 30 years old, but still.
Mikey
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01-06-2020, 08:33 AM -
Will do. I ordered that Corpse Walker book last week so got that up next Pondlife
Neave
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01-06-2020, 08:44 AM -
Have started that actually. Its focus is more on Maoist China and the victims of the rightist/intellectual/spiritual purges, GLF etc rather than contemporary China. I'm only about a third of the way through though, so it's got plenty of time to shift over. Didn't immediately take to it as the first few interviews are a bit short, but it's become really interesting with the longer interviews Sound
Neave
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01-07-2020, 10:27 PM -
Will just put this here for when you get to it Mikey and Begbie (if you've bought it): The Yu District Chief's Wife Fat Cunt

Just read this interview and have had to go and do something else for a wee while as I'm depressed as fuck now Laugh
Walter Sobchak
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01-08-2020, 02:13 PM -
Not sure if I mentioned this before, but its' a really impressive meditation on migration and love, and the refugee crisis. It doesn't really fit into any one genre, but jumps around, in an almost dreamlike state. Not sure why , and I've not read him for years, but it reminded me of Kundera's writing.

[Image: exit-west-11.jpg]
Shuto Makino
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01-08-2020, 02:28 PM -
Hekens

Really liked Exit West.
(08-21-2017, 01:25 PM)i8hibsh Wrote: I AM A LONER BY CHOICE
I AM SINGLE BY CHOICE
I HAVE NO KIDS BY CHOICE

Neave
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03-16-2020, 11:12 AM -
Would imagine this thread will be getting another airing soon. Should try and keep it going as things slow down  Sally

Have read all three of these:

(12-30-2019, 06:02 PM)Neaven Staismith Wrote: What did the fam get for Christmas? Looking forward to getting into my presents:

[Image: 9iLVhZKl.jpg]

[Image: CjicQvVl.jpg]

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Only enjoyed one Laugh
Steinbeck's is about the steady creep of capitalism into civic and political life. Would've been shocking if I read it 60 years ago, isn't today. Passoa's is a collection of randomly written diary entries pieced together posthumously: there's a time in my life I would've totally loved this 'my job is shit and life is meaningless' stuff, but this isn't it. I'm about 20 pages from finishing The Castle by Kafka and I fucking hate it. Read two of his books now and that's me done, never again. Could only read about 20 pages at a time or I'd fall asleep at half 9 and be out for the night Warnock

The Corpse Walker was really interesting. Didn't cover as contemporary a time period as I thought, focussing mostly on 50s-80s China, it's still really insightful. Absolutely jos in parts. Think a few of the fam said they had bought it so would be interested in hearing their thoughts.

Really need to read something enjoyable again after a poor run, so going for things I know I like. Torn between Prestor John by John Buchan or Waverley by Walter Scott for a decent yarn. Will follow that by picking this back up:


[Image: OpP4rDCl.jpg]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Barely-Ima...184708172X

It's an A-Z of really rare or unusual creatures, each with a chapter-length essay which start off about its origins and biology, but then touch on historical or social issues relevant to it, like how isolated or unconquered people viewed them as superstitious etc, when they were first encountered by Europeans, what modern threats there are and so on.  For example the axolotl is its A, and it tracks similar amphibians back to prehistory, then moves to how the genus had been mythologised in different cultures, then mentions a bit about when the Spanish first encountered them with the conquistadors, then how they're under threat nowadays because their natural habitats are being poluted or drained. I've had it for a while and pick it up now and again, it's always interesting.

What are the fam reading from the comfort of their hazmats?
This post was last modified: 03-16-2020, 11:13 AM by Neave.
Roger H. Sterling
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03-16-2020, 11:26 AM -
I'm working my way through the Witcher series just now after watching the telly show. They're surprisingly good, easy to get into, and easy enough to follow now I know who is who. Looking forward to watching the telly show again once I've finished the first two books.

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Shuto Makino
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03-16-2020, 12:13 PM -
(12-30-2019, 11:21 PM)Makween Wrote: [Image: image.jpg]

Have had this lying next to my bed for a few weeks now. Genuinely looking forward to reading it, but hardly seem to have any time to read for pleasure thesr days.

Just to confirm the above post, I'm just about finished the introduction now Heh Really miss reading for pleasure.
(08-21-2017, 01:25 PM)i8hibsh Wrote: I AM A LONER BY CHOICE
I AM SINGLE BY CHOICE
I HAVE NO KIDS BY CHOICE

Jeff Resnick
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03-16-2020, 12:15 PM -
(03-16-2020, 12:13 PM)Makween Wrote: Just to confirm the above post, I'm just about finished the introduction now Heh Really miss reading for pleasure.

Take it you're similar to me - reading that much for research etc that the last thing you want to do is pick up a book and read?
Roger H. Sterling
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03-16-2020, 12:34 PM -
Would you not be better with some fiction at least?
Jeff Resnick
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03-16-2020, 12:40 PM -
(03-16-2020, 12:34 PM)Roger H. Sterling Wrote: Would you not be better with some fiction at least?

For me, its makes no difference. I just don't have any will to pick up a book after reading all day. I used to be a pretty regular reader, 1-2 books a month minimum, but I'm quite exhausted by reading anymore beyond uni work tbh.
Roger H. Sterling
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03-16-2020, 12:44 PM -
Audiobooks / podcasts?

I always wondered that about guys who manage to make their hobbies their job. At what point do you just start to hate it? Laugh
Jeff Resnick
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03-16-2020, 12:48 PM -
(03-16-2020, 12:44 PM)Roger H. Sterling Wrote: Audiobooks / podcasts?

I always wondered that about guys who manage to make their hobbies their job. At what point do you just start to hate it? Laugh

I listen to podcasts usually around sports. But there's also that many, that its a crowded market and I cant be arsed sifting through to see what I like and don't.Laugh

Audiobooks I just cant do. Don't like them at all.
Hung S.J.
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03-16-2020, 12:56 PM -
(03-16-2020, 12:34 PM)Roger H. Sterling Wrote: Would you not be better with some fiction at least?

Yeah, read a story. Fuck reading some politico book after a full day of research
Chris Benoit
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03-16-2020, 01:02 PM -
Since I’ve been working on my own I started getting audiobooks to listen to while I’m driving around. Dusted off The Stand by Stephen King last month, 48hrs long  Monty But
dokratrow
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03-16-2020, 01:12 PM -
(03-16-2020, 01:02 PM)Chris Benoit Wrote: Since I’ve been working on my own I started getting audiobooks to listen to while I’m driving around. Dusted off The Stand by Stephen King last month, 48hrs long  Monty But
Decided I was getting too much attention from women so recently listened to the Silmarillion and the last Game of Thrones book on Audible, 15 hrs and 48 hrs apiece
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Definitely better with some fiction if you're researching in books all day rather than forcing yourself through some climate change slog and forgetting everything you read anyway the moment you set it down.
This post was last modified: 03-16-2020, 01:12 PM by dokratrow.
Frei me a river
Nelson Seegero

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03-16-2020, 01:17 PM -
The finger nails Dismay
Shuto Makino
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03-16-2020, 02:45 PM -
(03-16-2020, 12:15 PM)Jeff Resnick Wrote: Take it you're similar to me - reading that much for research etc that the last thing you want to do is pick up a book and read?

Yeah, I get to the end of the day and very often just end up watching Youtube Heh Even box sets etc require a level of concentration I often don't have.

(03-16-2020, 12:34 PM)Roger H. Sterling Wrote: Would you not be better with some fiction at least?

Fiction is easier (although not always, as some of my research is on fiction), but I hate the idea of ending up one of those academics with incredibly specific, siloed knowledge in one tiny area, who just recites platitudes about everything else. So I buy non-fiction books on issues I find interesting/important, struggle to read them, and refuse to start anything else new until I have Monto

(03-16-2020, 12:44 PM)Roger H. Sterling Wrote: Audiobooks / podcasts?

I always wondered that about guys who manage to make their hobbies their job. At what point do you just start to hate it? Laugh

Very quickly Lampoon

Nah, podcasts are great for what I described above tbf.
(08-21-2017, 01:25 PM)i8hibsh Wrote: I AM A LONER BY CHOICE
I AM SINGLE BY CHOICE
I HAVE NO KIDS BY CHOICE




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