Books - What are you reading?

I'm interested in reading a book on climbing at some point. Any well written story of endurance is usually a good read.

Recommend White Spider, or something better?

It is the only book I have read on climbing and I am greatly enjoying it, but the style is archaic as it was written in 1959 and describes events of the 1930s. Nor does it provides any insights into contemporary climbing. By way of example, it describes the first successful ascent of the North Face of the Eiger which took 84 hours. The record now for a solo ascent is under 3 hours. But the principles of human endurance and endeavour are the same I guess.

Having said all that I would really encourage you to read it as much of the writing and sentiments are wonderful.

Reamde, and The Cold Commands, one in physical form the other on my Kindle.

I've never read Beckett. A good starter?^

The trilogy is fantastic reading.. As is, How it is.. All four are Sam at his best.

^Thanks mate.

I'll pop it on my Amazon list.

Fuck.. You just reminded me.. The trilogy is so very, very good...

I'm interested in reading a book on climbing at some point. Any well written story of endurance is usually a good read.

Recommend White Spider, or something better?

Any of Joe Simpson's books are well worth the read, although they are quite dark. 'Touching the Void' is the most famous.

White Spider and Annapurna are both historic and incredible by two amazing people and climbers: Heinrich Harrer and Maurice Herzog.

Into Thin Air by John Krakaeur (Sp?) is very good and shows why mountain climbers are different to everyone else and why people who arent that skillful should not try and climb mountains.

also Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage by Herman Buhl is pretty good

Nice one - I'll be buying those next. Do you climb?

It is the only book I have read on climbing and I am greatly enjoying it, but the style is archaic as it was written in 1959 and describes events of the 1930s. Nor does it provides any insights into contemporary climbing. By way of example, it describes the first successful ascent of the North Face of the Eiger which took 84 hours. The record now for a solo ascent is under 3 hours. But the principles of human endurance and endeavour are the same I guess.

Having said all that I would really encourage you to read it as much of the writing and sentiments are wonderful.

Any of Joe Simpson's books are well worth the read, although they are quite dark. 'Touching the Void' is the most famous.

White Spider and Annapurna are both historic and incredible by two amazing people and climbers: Heinrich Harrer and Maurice Herzog.

Into Thin Air by John Krakaeur (Sp?) is very good and shows why mountain climbers are different to everyone else and why people who arent that skillful should not try and climb mountains.

also Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage by Herman Buhl is pretty good

Thanks for the input, chaps. I'll look into purchasing one of the above!

I've read Touching the Void and Into Thin Air and would recommend both.

I remember reading both those and found them great. Both very humbling as well.

I've read Touching the Void and Into Thin Air and would recommend both.

both now on my read list.

I'm totally hooked on The Balloonist now though!

how far in are you?

Page 16, but I was gripped from page one. It's brilliant!

Go and read it then instead of posting on here! Oh I want to talk about it but can't without telling you what happens.

I'm pretending to work - tapping a keyboard is less obvious than thumbing a novel!

My gaffer naffs off in about twenty minutes though. Cuppa-and-feet-up-with-The-Balloonist time!

Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (how have I not read this until now?)

You hadn't got the picture? ;)

I'd dearly like to read this book
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/06/most-expensive-book-birds-of-america-10m

Due to reach $10,000,000 at auction.

Not because of the cost, but because the plates are just incredible, from what I've seen on the TV. I love illustrations from that era, and these seem to be the very best that have ever been produced.

I'd leave my glass of red wine at the other end of the room, however.

After recommending the balloonist on here, I have still not finished it. Kindle ruined it.
Started sense of an ending this evening, yeah, good.

^^ amazing illustrations in that book.

Nice one - I'll be buying those next. Do you climb?

I used to climb alot but bike polo took over my life and sadly i dont have the time anymore. Ill get back into it at some point, if i could just climb and ride bikes for the rest of my life id die very happy

I'm just starting infinite jest, the first fiction book I've read in ages.... It's massive.

Just finished Into Thin Air. What an astounding and terrifying book. Thanks for the recommendation.

I also read Moneyball recently. A bit so-so I think, as my sense is the author doesn't really comprehend what he is describing.

^On my 'to read' list.

Finished The Balloonist. I liked it, but can't say I loved it. The constant meandering diversions away from the adventure didn't grip me as it might have done. The character of Luisa was original and inspired, but Gustave was vague, weak and lacked direction, and Waldemar's character trickled into a cul-de-sac as the book rumbled on. The book's climax was good, but it didn't bring the story back for me.

Also finished The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell - utterly brilliant! It needs careful digestion, because the easy style of writing is easy to brush over in parts, but if it is carefully considered the book is truly inspirational. I'm not exaggerating by calling it one of the best books I've ever read.

Also just finished Simon Armitage on Ted Hughes. The collection of poems are truly great. Go buy a copy.

On the subject of Simon Armitage, I also read his first collection of poems, 'Kid'. I really loved it, although some poems leaped out where others wallowed in the shadows - but that goes for any poetry collection. Still, it was very good.

I'm now on with Ted Hughes 'River' and 'Crow' and my first Dickens, 'Bleak House'.

I am not reading Thomas Mann anymore. Dark, obsessive and constricted; too close to home.
Struggled through "Death in Venice", gave up midway through "Tonio Kroger"

Ostensibly a collection of the restaurant reviews Jonathan Meades wrote while the critic for The Times, this polemic sees him revel in his clever-dick persona so much that he barely takes the trouble to mention food at all. He just swipes the subject from his plate like a withered vegetable.Trouble is, he's an excellent and imperious clever-dick.

Restaurant criticism is an underrated sub-category of literature, as is sports journalism. Meades was integral in the snide but knowing cultural approach to describing a dinner, investing it with the seriousness it deserved, while pulling off an imaginative review with real flair. I've owned this book for years but have never finished it, as it irritates/impresses in equal measure. I will keep returning to it though, to continue admiring a really assertive and confident demonstration of critical and creative writing.