Books - What are you reading?

I need a gift for someone. Can you recommend a book about cycle touring, an epic ride, etc.
Something that's actually good to read.

French Revolutions by Tim Moore is very funny, if that's what you're after?

Thanks, that's just the sort of thing. I've ordered his book 'the cyclist who went out in the cold'. I heard him interviewed on the bike show podcast a while back and had completely forgotten his name.

I ended up getting a few of his books after reading French Revolutions. Gironimo is also very good, but I found 'the cyclist who went out in the cold' was probably the least funny of his cycling-related books, although it's still a pretty interesting read, I guess.

Oh well, too late now. I thought the guy I’m buying for would like that one as he’s into history and stuff.

It's all good, definitely not a shit book, I just didn't find it laugh out loud funny like FR or Gironimo.

Actually I just got an email from the book shop saying that despite their computer saying it's in stock, they can't find it. So I'll give one of the others a try instead.

Cold Comfort Farm.....surprisingly very good!

The Night Manager by LeCarre. I used to be quite a fan of his so thought I'd read this as it came up cheap on Amazon. Not sure whether my tastes have changed or this was just not his best but it was a real struggle to get through. Pacing wasn't great and it was as if half of it was Barbara Cartland inspired.

The Peoples History of the United States - Howard Zinn - sorry that is a 3 months late reply to the question about a short history of the US.

Thanks, I ended up reading 'American History: A Very Short Introduction'. It did the job although it was so short (less than 200 pages) that it ended up being a bit of a whistle stop tour.

that Zinn book at 700+ pages may have to wait to be read.

Just finished Stewart Lee's How I Escaped my Certain Fate. Really enjoyable dissection of comedy with some incredibly interesting points, basically an academic style analysis of his own comedy writing.

I'm currently reading 'The English and their History: The First Thirteen Centuries'. Not sure why I have started reading history books, I've never been that interested in history before.

I think I first picked it up thinking of reading about the history of the British Isles not realising this was just English (yes title). First 60 pages have been pretty good so I'll stick with it until I'm bored or distracted.

I agree, tough work. I think I just kinda "get" his thing now and am happy to ignore the new ones unless one comes out that really matches his old stuff.

really enjoyed the King in Yellow, inspired to reading it through the 1st true detective, fucking great book and makes me want to rewatch the series to see all the little bits where it was mentioned..

also, Buffalo Bill Cody an Autobiography is pretty fucking wild and written in such a nice way. really reminds me of swallows and amazons. getting through it at a pretty good pace

Augustus Carp, Esq.: The Autobiography of a Really Good Man by Sir Henry Howarth Bashford.

Anyone else heard of this? It's in the mould of Diary of a Nobody and really pretty good. I got a copy off Amazon that has no copyright information on it and seems to have been privately printed in an odd format.

Started this. Really liking it.

Pleasure - Zinn is worth a dip as well

As life means I can't make the launch party at LMNH tonight, treated myself to the newest Max Leonard. Enjoying it so far.

Osbert Sitwell - Left hand, Right hand

I preferred the old Max Leonard.

Malet St Waterstones has shelves full of vintage penguins. I got myself two green Maigrets to add to my expanding collection.

I've read all the George Pelacanos books now. I really like them. Anything similar I should move on to?

Very slow reply but the secret race by Tyler Hamilton about lance Armstrong and the US postal team is a brilliant listen

Tim Wu - The attention merchants

Will have you deleting your social media accounts in 2 chapters.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/dec/26/the-attention-merchants-tim-wu-review