Books! . Currently I’m working my way through the one hundred books that you need to read (I need a list I’m old) and those I’ve read as a younger man, probably as some sort of therapy.
This week I’d recommend John Wyndham all , Harper-Lee (first) , Wells (War of the Worlds) and Misery (King) . Oh I often read authors that aren’t de rigueur .
All I’ve read before, does anyone else reread novels.
If you've never read it and like post-apocalyptic fiction, Station11 by Emily St. John Mandel is superb. Possibly even the best book I've ever read (or level with The Secret History by Donna Tartt).
Just finished "Act of Oblivion" by Robert Harris, which was very good though I felt the ending was a little rushed. Recently read "The Sanctuary" by Andrew Hunter Murray which was a bit predictable if I'm honest and now moving on to "The Marlow Murder Club".
Loved The Wasp Factory and I’m very familiar with Robert Harris but I’m intrigued by the best book you’ve ever read @MindlessDrugHoover so I’ll give that a go although , I might cheat and get it on Audible .
I’m reading Cormack McCarthy’s The Road. Beautifully written, despairingly sad.
For non fiction, I’m deep into Rage by Bob Woodward, his second book about the Trump Presidency after Fear. His many hours of direct interviews with Trump and his cabinet and staffers give a deep insight into how Trump sees himself and the Presidency and why others chose to work with him.
On my darker days, when I ponder on the rise of Trump and the desire of people for ‘strong man’ leaders, the Road becomes less a work of fiction and more one of prophecy,
Loved The Wasp Factory but The Bridge is one of my favourite ever novels although it’s been a fair few years since I last read it.
These days I tend to go for light, easy reading thrillers or mysteries. Harlan Coben is always worth a read if you like page turners.
Back in the days (before kids basically) when I had more time to read I was a lot more pretentious (Beckett for example - hard work but worth the effort) but one from those days that I would always recommend (if you have time) is Gravity’s Rainbow. It really does take you into a time and place.
Shadow of the wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, is my favourite book.Had me engrossed from page one, almost spoiled the holiday we were on at the time as I couldn’t put it down!🙄
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is an absolute joy. I’ve steered away from watching the new TV adaption because I know it will ruin everything that I imagine the book is
I think the only novels I’ve read more than once are all William Gibson - Pattern Recognition would be my favourite.
If anyone wants an entire series of not overly well known but utterly brilliant “pulp” fiction - the Parker novels by Richard Stark. The first in the series is most well known as the book that the Lee Marvin movie Point Blank was based on. A couple of the others have been made into lesser movies too, notably “Parker” with The Stath in the title role unintentionally doing a wild array of mystery accents.
People have no problem with listening to an album hundreds of times or watching a favourite movie time and time again . One of the few advantages of being older is that you can read a novel in your twenties and revisit it forty years later . True I tend to skim through them but you are reintroduced to that younger version of yourself .
I’ve read most of Michael Connelly’s, Stephen King’s, Ian Rankin’s and John Connolly’s works more than once. The latter’s many times. It is the evocation of time and place more so than the story that brings me back.
I will be attending an evening with John Connolly next month and then I shall spend several evenings with Charlie Parker and those who stand with him (both dead and alive).
The author I continue to reread the most is Raymond Chandler. His "hardboiled" detective stories about Philip Marlowe are not just page turners but true literary works of art. Terrific characters and story lines, a world weary hero in all literature I root for the most and, perhaps best of all, countless wry, humerous and true observations about man and womankind, and the Los Angeles they inhabit. I've just finished reading The Lady In The Lake, I think The Little Sister is my favourite book.
Comments
“Jesus died for somebody’s sins. But not mine” is THE best opening line of ANY album ever made in any genre EVER.
Man's achievement is to have created a world of rhyme, in the intimate imagination which is as real in its way as any country on the map. Sir Karl Popper, in one of his most important papers, calls it "The Third World" or "World 3". The first world is the objective world of things. The second world is my inner subjective world; but, says Popper, there's a third world, the world of objective contents of thoughts
Teilhard de Chardin calls this third world the "Noosphere", that is, the world of the mind
(OOBE The Orb) Now THAT'S a good opening to an LP
Very much enjoying the new Cloud Nothings album https://open.spotify.com/album/2ZMv0ch0GInCVnIJ6GaGNw?si=nMJyGTIdTdmqrBqk4z7ItA
Also, Record Store Day tomorrow. Anyone planning to queue up at an ungodly hour to get their hands on some goodies?
No
100% correct. Sign of the Southern Cross and Bible Black show his versatility🤘
Books! . Currently I’m working my way through the one hundred books that you need to read (I need a list I’m old) and those I’ve read as a younger man, probably as some sort of therapy.
This week I’d recommend John Wyndham all , Harper-Lee (first) , Wells (War of the Worlds) and Misery (King) . Oh I often read authors that aren’t de rigueur .
All I’ve read before, does anyone else reread novels.
I've read The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks 5 times now.
Not bad for a debut novel
I can't think of many I've reread, but I do tend to read about 3 books at once
If you've never read it and like post-apocalyptic fiction, Station11 by Emily St. John Mandel is superb. Possibly even the best book I've ever read (or level with The Secret History by Donna Tartt).
Just finished "Act of Oblivion" by Robert Harris, which was very good though I felt the ending was a little rushed. Recently read "The Sanctuary" by Andrew Hunter Murray which was a bit predictable if I'm honest and now moving on to "The Marlow Murder Club".
Loved The Wasp Factory and I’m very familiar with Robert Harris but I’m intrigued by the best book you’ve ever read @MindlessDrugHoover so I’ll give that a go although , I might cheat and get it on Audible .
Station Eleven is brilliant
I’m reading Cormack McCarthy’s The Road. Beautifully written, despairingly sad.
For non fiction, I’m deep into Rage by Bob Woodward, his second book about the Trump Presidency after Fear. His many hours of direct interviews with Trump and his cabinet and staffers give a deep insight into how Trump sees himself and the Presidency and why others chose to work with him.
On my darker days, when I ponder on the rise of Trump and the desire of people for ‘strong man’ leaders, the Road becomes less a work of fiction and more one of prophecy,
Mariachi El Bronx perhaps? (mariachi alter-ego of The Bronx). Saw sonic boom six a lot of times over the years supporting the likes of Capdown.
The Road is brilliant. But incredibly not even his bleakest book.
Loved The Wasp Factory but The Bridge is one of my favourite ever novels although it’s been a fair few years since I last read it.
These days I tend to go for light, easy reading thrillers or mysteries. Harlan Coben is always worth a read if you like page turners.
Back in the days (before kids basically) when I had more time to read I was a lot more pretentious (Beckett for example - hard work but worth the effort) but one from those days that I would always recommend (if you have time) is Gravity’s Rainbow. It really does take you into a time and place.
Shadow of the wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, is my favourite book.Had me engrossed from page one, almost spoiled the holiday we were on at the time as I couldn’t put it down!🙄
I really enjoyed There There by Tommy Orange, and about to start reading the new sequel(ish) out this month.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is an absolute joy. I’ve steered away from watching the new TV adaption because I know it will ruin everything that I imagine the book is
I think the only novels I’ve read more than once are all William Gibson - Pattern Recognition would be my favourite.
If anyone wants an entire series of not overly well known but utterly brilliant “pulp” fiction - the Parker novels by Richard Stark. The first in the series is most well known as the book that the Lee Marvin movie Point Blank was based on. A couple of the others have been made into lesser movies too, notably “Parker” with The Stath in the title role unintentionally doing a wild array of mystery accents.
The Lincoln Highway and Rules of Civility are both excellent also.
Indeed. Outer Dark feels like an academic exercise in bleakness. I think I had to give up in the end.
People have no problem with listening to an album hundreds of times or watching a favourite movie time and time again . One of the few advantages of being older is that you can read a novel in your twenties and revisit it forty years later . True I tend to skim through them but you are reintroduced to that younger version of yourself .
I’ve read most of Michael Connelly’s, Stephen King’s, Ian Rankin’s and John Connolly’s works more than once. The latter’s many times. It is the evocation of time and place more so than the story that brings me back.
I will be attending an evening with John Connolly next month and then I shall spend several evenings with Charlie Parker and those who stand with him (both dead and alive).
🤘🤘
I was actually thinking of Blood Meridian but that's a good shout.
Add in All the Pretty Horses and there's your Baron of Bleak right there.
@MindlessDrugHoover Agreed. The whole of the Border Trilogy is just fantastic, though. Always the chink of light to keep you reading.
The author I continue to reread the most is Raymond Chandler. His "hardboiled" detective stories about Philip Marlowe are not just page turners but true literary works of art. Terrific characters and story lines, a world weary hero in all literature I root for the most and, perhaps best of all, countless wry, humerous and true observations about man and womankind, and the Los Angeles they inhabit. I've just finished reading The Lady In The Lake, I think The Little Sister is my favourite book.
@Steve_Peart you might like the Parker novels I mentioned earlier if you like Chandler. Similarly hard boiled but more antihero.