What Book Did You Read Last Night??? (2 Viewers)

[travispickle]

I'll never trust your opinions on books again. No love for Rings of Saturn or Crash? I can't be dealing with that.

I am enjoying Crash and I will return to it; I've also been doing a bit of reading about Ballard's childhood background and its influence on his writing which is interesting.
Incidentally I found a good book recently by Iain Sinclair called My Favourite London Devils which includes a terrific interview with Ballard amongst others; worth checking out.
Anyhoo, I didn't enjoy Rings as much as Austerlitz; I wonder how I would have felt if I'd read them the other way around? They're so close in style so it feels like you're reading the same book again; and I think I just felt fatigued by the whole thing. I enjoyed Austerlitz much more, I have to say, but I think I'm done with Sebald for now.

 

[Lili Marlene]

I'm reading this woke fantasy book, Children of Blood and Bone, the biggest thing in YA right now and it's making me want to claw my fucking eyes out it's so crap. I won't give up though! Just warning you off it in advance.

 

[pavlos]

I've become obsessed with this 1930s spy thriller writer called Eric Ambler recently. Read three in a row and they are all brilliant.

I picked up Epitaph for a Spy in an Oxfam shop recently based purely on the cover, it was brilliant, I really enjoyed it! Will definitely search out a few more of his. Had never come across him before.

 

[David Kronenbourg]

Kill All Normies by Angela Nagle about the rise of the alt-right online. Interesting stuff

 

[travispickle]

Currently reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; kinda suits the sultry weather we've been having.

 

[Lili Marlene]

Kill All Normies by Angela Nagle about the rise of the alt-right online. Interesting stuff

Do you have the edition where she misspells Barack Obama 's name in the first sentence?

I believe there's an updated edition coming out in a few months.

 

[David Kronenbourg]

Do you have the edition where she misspells Barack Obama 's name in the first sentence?

I believe there's an updated edition coming out in a few months.

Hahah no, I must have the updated version

 

[Lili Marlene]

Hahah no, I must have the updated version

I think they fixed the typos in the second printing. It was such a funny and obvious mispelling that, considering the subject matter, I was convinced there was a trolling element to it where she was gonna make fun of the reader later in the book for getting worked up about it.

 

[Diddles]

For the tenth or so time am reading Julian May's Saga of the Exiles, fucking love it so much.

 

[IFF]

Currently reading belladonna by dasa drndic

 

[ann post]

salt sugar fat by michael moss.

recommend.

 

[dunderhead]

finished Irvine Welsh's Dead Men's Trousers. not too impressed. enjoyed it but bit of a ridiculous affair, even for the Trainspotting crew. Had forgotten that The Blade Artist was a book about Begbie post Porno era. Only realised it when reading a few reviews of DMT now. Will obviously give a thorough backstory to where Begbie is at the start of the new one but not essential . Having said that, if I'd remembered that I'd have probably read it beforehand. He should leave it here with the boys from Leith. not that he's leaving on a great note or anything

 

[rettucs]

Most of the way through this



Just over half-way through this and it's a great read. He picks an area of the country and delves into Spanish history and how it impacted that area. Obviously a lot of it relates back to Franco and the Spanish Civil war, but it also talks about the residual impact of then on current times. The chapter on the costa del sol and how it became the colossal kip it became, is fascinating (ie: it has enough british people to be Britain's 12th biggest city). Also bits about Flamenco music, taboos about sex and porn inflicted by the catholic church, the heath system.

 

[travispickle]

Just started Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You Mr Rosewater; pretty much a hoot so far

 

[nooleen]

beautifully written but unrelentingly miserable story of a couple during and after the vietnam war

 

[snakybus]

Anyhoo, I didn't enjoy Rings as much as Austerlitz; I wonder how I would have felt if I'd read them the other way around? They're so close in style so it feels like you're reading the same book again; and I think I just felt fatigued by the whole thing. I enjoyed Austerlitz much more, I have to say, but I think I'm done with Sebald for now.

This was how I felt about Saturn as well, which I read last year. I found it really great but tough work at times, whereas Austerlitz was a joy once you got a hundred pages in. Maybe fiction is just more our thing. I think I need to read Saturn again. But uh... not for a while.

 

[hermie]

Just started Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You Mr Rosewater; pretty much a hoot so far

Great book!

 

[travispickle]

This was how I felt about Saturn as well, which I read last year. I found it really great but tough work at times, whereas Austerlitz was a joy once you got a hundred pages in. Maybe fiction is just more our thing. I think I need to read Saturn again. But uh... not for a while.

I'm with you Snakey! Yeah I wanted to read Sebald as he was recommended by various friends over the years, and I also wanted a break from fiction for a while. I'm glad I read him but I'm done now!

 

[IFF]

Most of the way through this

View attachment 12373

Just over half-way through this and it's a great read. He picks an area of the country and delves into Spanish history and how it impacted that area. Obviously a lot of it relates back to Franco and the Spanish Civil war, but it also talks about the residual impact of then on current times. The chapter on the costa del sol and how it became the colossal kip it became, is fascinating (ie: it has enough british people to be Britain's 12th biggest city). Also bits about Flamenco music, taboos about sex and porn inflicted by the catholic church, the heath system.

I really liked it when I read it a few years ago

 

[pavlos]

Most of the way through this

View attachment 12373

Just over half-way through this and it's a great read. He picks an area of the country and delves into Spanish history and how it impacted that area. Obviously a lot of it relates back to Franco and the Spanish Civil war, but it also talks about the residual impact of then on current times. The chapter on the costa del sol and how it became the colossal kip it became, is fascinating (ie: it has enough british people to be Britain's 12th biggest city). Also bits about Flamenco music, taboos about sex and porn inflicted by the catholic church, the heath system.

Great read that alright.