Books - What are you reading?

Dan Simmons Song of Kali is well dank. A page turner depicting Calcutta as the central character in a dark tale. Atmospheric

Purple Hibiscus -
1st book from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Superb.

Not sure how I feel about Road to Wigan Pier. It's very of it's time. Orwell is doing his best not to come off as snobbish but not quite managing it. He came across much more sympathetic in Down and Out in Paris and London from what I remember. Still really interesting and has reminded me that I need to read more non fiction though.

Sounds interesting! Just ordered a copy for £3, thanks for the recommendation. I've not read the book but it looks like he wrote The Terror. The TV series is great, really spooky. (Although the second season, based on a completely different story seems pretty shit so far).

Sounds interesting!

It's pretty grim in its description of Calcutta and various dark Hindu cults and Castes. A contemplation of humanity crowded in sprawling urban spaces, living on top of each other Vivid descriptions of the smells, noises and sounds as background to a terrifying tale.

Will check out the Terror

That description reminds me of The City and The City by China Miéville. No idea if that's an accurate comparison though.

Yes, just read a description of The City.
Some commonality in themes. A journalist investigating a missing poet instead of a detective.

Will put The City on my reading list. Thanks

Have managed to read a decent chunk of The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera on a coach today. Absolutely loving it so far, reminds me a bit of what I've read by Michel Houellebecq. Would reccommend.
I'm going to have a bit of time to kill tomorrow, are there any interesting book shops around Lambeth/Vauxhall/Brixton kind of way? Can travel a bit.

Bump for my secondhand books available for swaps. See pics ^. Otherwise they are going to the charity shop.

@ltc do you want the ones we swapped back, or are you happy for them to go to charity?

Please pass them on! Either to a friend or charity is fine (would prefer they didn't go to British Heart Foundation though, I'm not a fan of the way they cut up live animals). Would rather someone else read them. They'd just sit on my shelf, I rarely re-read books.

British Heart Foundation though, I'm not a fan of the way they cut up live animals

This is a revelation to me, and not a welcome one given - as my closest charity shop - how much stuff I've dumped through their doors over the last couple of years.

Yeah they're understandably not very open about it.

I'll take Little Brother, Cory Doctorow please

I just popped into BookMongers in Brixton. I could have spent hours in there, I only had about 10 minutes to kill and still came away with 3 books from the one shelf I looked at. Would reccommend a visit!

They had a big stinky cat as well.

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn.

Started reading Software by Rudy Rucker after remembering a recommendation on here. Enjoying it so far, so thanks whoever you were!

Sure, pm me and I'll get it in the post

Done a few autobiographies whilst on hols the last couple of weeks.

Tony Pike - badly written shagfest but interesting if you work in or with the hotel industry, have stayed at Pikes or had a crush on Grace Jones (I score on all three)

Stormzy - again badly written but inspiring, fair play to him for what he’s achieved

Rick Ross - quite vague in parts but for obvious reasons, I like his music and it’s a good read if you’re interested in the rap game. I enjoyed it.

Benjamin Zephaniah - I was on the verge of binning it after the first chapter but suddenly it exploded into life, recommended.

Just finished Phillip Roth - Indignation. Apparently he's a bit controversial for covering the same themes over and over however I enjoyed this coming of age book. Likely to try another of his books.

Our book club really enjoyed American Pastoral. (I didn't read it for some reason.)

I've only read The Human Stain by Phillip Roth, I quite enjoyed that. Should try more of his stuff!

I Married A Communist is good I thought, as is Portnoys Complaint if you like epic wanking

epic wanking

I thought you were suggesting that Portnoys Complaint was long winded and self indulgent, looked it up and realised that you were being far more literal.

Just finished Stephen Kings latest just out, The Institute.

Compelling King chock full of his usual tropes and themes. Not challenging though enjoyable weaving of his contempt of Trumps America.

@ltc Kundera is spectacular. Some quotable quotes, his lifeisms with a bleak existential leaning.

Now onto King's lesser know Carny based true crime thriller Joyland. Detailed description of third tier theme park life are a joy to read