What Are You Currently Reading

[jodieohdoh]

I'm reading The Good Book by A C Grayling. Not sure it's a cultural necessity but rather an interesting idea certainly.

[RDR]

Just completed 'JFK an unfinished life' by Robert Dallek.
800 odd pages and heavy going at times but very well written and a good balanced view of his life and tenure as president. Covers the good, bad and frankly ugly bits.

[dimairt]

Re-reading "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey. It was an important book in the early '60s, as was the film version in '75, but I'm not so sure that it holds up now.
Have you read an old favourite recently or a classic and found it less than you remembered or though it might be?

Le durachd,

Eddy

[banjo]

i still have the soundtrack album to that movie.

[jodieohdoh]

Have you read an old favourite recently or a classic and found it less than you remembered or though it might be?

To be honest, no book I've ever considered to be a classic has failed me on re-reading. I don't re-read very often mind you. The only "classic" to have disappointed me was Ulysses by James Joyce. And that's only because I couldn't get past the first couple of chapters : ) Maybe I should have another run at that one...

I just realised I told a lie. I loved the Chronicles of Narnia when I was a kid, that didn't stand the test of time at ALL. NOt that the whole Christian allegory thing passed me by, I understood all that when I first read the books- but it didn't bother me then. It does now! Maybe not chronicles, definitely chronic!

[Bridie]

I recently re read some of George MacDonald's childrens books that I loved as a youngster and they did improve for me.Bugger me all the books I loved as a child were full of theodicity and I didn't know - I just saw magic instead of religious doctrine. If I had thought I was getting spoon fed yet more religion I'd have dropped them for a Dennis Wheatley or an Aleister Crowley

[jodieohdoh]

The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. Tiny typeface, narrow margins, and 540 odd pages to conquer. Best get on with it then!!

[Boxer6]

"Catch-22"

Joesph Heller actually was a bombardier apparently, though steadfastly denied that the character of Yossarian was in any way autobiographical!

Aye, right!!

[RDR]

Sea Wolves - History of British WWII Submarines by Tim Clayton

[The Egg Man]

Fast and Bonnie - A History of William Fife & Son, Yachtbuilders

[stranger]

Have you read an old favourite recently or a classic and found it less than you remembered or though it might be?

Jack Kerouak, On The Road, The book held great appeal to the teenage me, I tried to re-read it a few years ago in my late 30's and found it didn't connect in quite the same way.

[Vinegar Tom]

The Glasgow Story by Colm Brogan (1952)

Very interesting read ; but not really a history of Glasgow - more a sketch of the City at mid century through the eyes and prejudices of an upper middle class Glaswegian.He doesn't much care for socialists or some religions , but it makes for a fantastic book if you read it "in your head" in the voice of Cliff Hanley or Tom Weir.

[Sharon]

For reading inspiration, and surprise, try The Random Book Club, a new venture by the very wonderful "The Bookshop" in Wigtown.

http://randombookclub.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/randombookclub

[dimairt]

Just finished a biography of Harold Wilson by Ben Pimlott. At over 750 pages, it's a bit of a door-stopper and it took some time to read but I enjoyed its fair, balanced approach. Wilson had his faults and failings but he achieved a lot, personally and politically.
The news of David Milliband's departure is echoed here in Wilson's rise to the top - George Brown (!) was favourite to succeed Gaitskill - and in the calculating behaviour of Roy Jenkins who thought that it was right to be party leader and then Prime Minister.

Durachdan,

Eddy

[RDR]

Just finished a biography of Harold Wilson by Ben Pimlott. At over 750 pages, it's a bit of a door-stopper and it took some time to read but I enjoyed its fair, balanced approach. Wilson had his faults and failings but he achieved a lot, personally and politically.
The news of David Milliband's departure is echoed here in Wilson's rise to the top - George Brown (!) was favourite to succeed Gaitskill - and in the calculating behaviour of Roy Jenkins who thought that it was right to be party leader and then Prime Minister.

Durachdan,

Eddy

Makes me think about who the greatest post war Labour leader was.
My own thoughts would be it was Atlee.