Books - What are you reading?

Yeah I'm loving Kundera so far, can see him becoming a favourite.

I'm finally getting towards the end of Catch 22. Only 20 pages to go. I have to say it has been one of the longer books I've read and I cannot wait to finish it. It is terrible.

I think that would have been me, You're welcome

I never finished the sequel (Closing Time) either.

Just finished bad blood, couldn't put it down, thoroughly enjoyable read!

I couldn’t finish it. Ditched it about half way.

I'm about 90% of the way through Cosmopolis by Don Delillo. I haven't enjoyed it much, very blokey. The only other thing I've read by him was a short story that I can't remember the name of but which I much preferred. Anything else worth giving a go? I know Underworld is his biggy but it's about 850 pages and I'd struggle to maintain interest in something that long, even if I loved the author.

Pretty sure I've got Underworld on my To Read shelf. You can have it if you want to try it.

Thanks for the offer but I'm definitely not in a hurry to read it! I've still not got round to the Hunter S Thompson books you sent me.

Fair enough. Its been sat on the to read shelf for a reason. Looks large and dull.

Yep! If it's anything like Cosmopolis I definitely wouldn't finish it.

Having a go at Stephen Fry's 'heroes', about ancient Greek heroes. Very enjoyable. Apparently there's another one called 'mythos' which I should have read first but so far it doesn't seem to matter.

Catch 22. It is terrible.

Interesting. Read it in my teens and loved it. Can't remember any details. Probably best not to revisit, eh?

Catch22 is great!

I also read it young and loved it.

I've just finished London Overground by Iain Sinclair. Occasionally pompous, occasionally hilarious, generally interesting.

He's definitely a writer, writing for other writers, and as a non-writer, that got a bit tiresome eventually, but he is a clever and interesting man with a good concept.

I'm reading some Wodehouse next, for a break, then something by Angela Carter on Sinclair's recommendation.

I think Underworld is a genuine tour de force and any reservations you have about its length will quickly dissipate.

I'll probably give it a go at some point. Just probably not any time soon!

Yes - I read London Overground and I'm nearly finished London Orbital after starting it nearly a year ago. It is taking this long because I only tend to read books on train journeys.
Will Self rates it - figures.

Oh, I read An Advertisement For Toothpaste by Ryszard Kapuściński the other day and loved it. Anyone read any of his other stuff?
I'm a big fan of the Penguin Modern Classic series, they're £1 each and small enough to fit in a bum bag. Some really interesting stuff in there too.

Recently read Fair Stood the Wind for France, H E Bates, very enjoyable, a beautiful story.
Currently on Notes from Walnut Tree Farm by Roger Deakin, if you like your nature writing, read this, in fact, give any of his books a go.

Cannot recomend ‘estuary’ by Rachel Lichtenstein enough if you are interested in London and its history.

I liked that book a lot. It was kind of like the Sinclair book (I think they're friends) in that there are a few flights of fancy in it which aren't always easy to follow, but some great stories too.

The parts about the defensive forts off the Kent coast, the ship sunk with all the weapons on it etc were great.

This book represents the last time I use a google search to find a good book.

Chapter 1 - I used to be good a tennis and it's windy in Illinois
Chapter 2 - Good actors don't feel like they're being watched

1 Attachment

Silent Spring- I think the birds were all asleep after trying to get through her book.
But an unquestionable monument in another sense and I am pleased I have paid my dues.
Gonna read one of David Lodge’s campus novels cos that’s me that is. I dipped in to Nice Work and it was very funny.
Then back to the heavy stuff. I haven’t read Malcolm X’s autiobiography yet because I am an ignorant low life, so must make amends.

Just finished We - was a really good read.