Books - What are you reading?

Let us know how you get on with it. It's on my to do list after being one the Economists books of the year. (2019 I think?)

Grapes of Wrath........never read before........quite depressing.........

I've just ordered some books through them. Of course the prices are a bit higher, but it's more important for me to support bookshops, especially during the new lockdown.

Just reading And then there were none.

I love the old school writing style and diction.

I try and imagine it’s being narrated by the Armstrong and Miller pilots

Coupla recents that I found some proof copies of and just inhaled:

Spaceman of Bohemia
Mikhail and Margarita

Biggest joy is being able to concentrate enough to read, in this year of dread > paralysis > brain fug.

Is Catch 22 a good read? It's famous so I feel I should read it and I spotted a copy at a used book shop but couldn't be bothered waiting for the queue to buy it.

Just finished Billy Connollys Made in Scotland which was neat.

Now onto Bill Bryson's The Body

Grapes of Wrath

Did I imagine it or is this the name of a wine shop somewhere?

Catch 22 - piece of shit. Absolute waste of time.

Now I really want to read it :D

Agree. I rarely not finish a book, but I couldn't finish catch 22.

I recently ditched Blood Meridian too.

Catch 22 - piece of shit. Absolute waste of time.

And the sequel (Closing Time).

Catch 22 is a book for teenagers. You read it as a 14 year old and think it's the best thing ever, and then you return to it a decade later and realise that it's actually pretty shit.

Closing Time, on the other hand, isn't even a book for teenagers. It's just shit.

Not only is a shit. It’s long. The copy I had the type was tiny. Took so long to read because I hated reading it

If you like comedy. Tom sharpe

I wouldn't say that Catch-22 is a waste of time, but I certainly think it's overrated. It's quite thin in content given its length, and it's definitely one of those books that could/would not have been written before the widespread use of typewriters. It's one of those 'idea' books that can be summarised quite briefly. There are definitely a couple of good ideas in it, but I didn't find it hugely rewarding or memorable.

I loved Catch 22 as a teenager. Will avoid the urge to re-read it and potentially ruin it for myself!

^^^ Grapes of Wrath is an excellent book, as is East of Eden (more depressing)

Catch-22 is great! Although likewise I havent read it since I was young

I read a lot of Steinbeck when I was a teenager. I read some of his short stories recently and enjoyed them a lot. I need to revisit some more of his stuff I think!

Catch-22 was one of only 2 books that I couldn't finish.......

Anyone want this lot? £20 Inc postage for all of them.

Bit of a mix, but clearing out some shelf space.

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Done a flurry of sending samples to my kindle this morning. Just finished the most recent Rampart Trilogy book, which was pretty fun but I'd been dawdling over what to read next.

The Malazan Book of the Fallen
Earthsea book 1
(both recommended on here. feel ashamed not to have dipped in to Earthsea yet)
A Psalm for the Wild-Built - Becky Chambers. I enjoyed 'To Be Taught, if Fortunate'.

Really hoping I get on with the first 2 as the idea of a couple of meaty series to get stuck in to is definitely appealing. There's a certain comfort in knowing you've got a shit ton of pages to go before the thing you're currently enjoying ends.

I know nothing of Becky Chambers, but her books look interesting. Will pick one up from Abe books.

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There's a certain comfort in knowing you've got a shit ton of pages to go before the thing you're currently enjoying ends

Followed by the inevitable onset of dread as you approach the final chapter of the final book in the series.

(sorry)

Ha. I rely on the series inevitably getting shitter and shitter, so by the time you've finished the last book you're glad it's over :-D
cough Dune cough