The BOOKS thread... what you reading?

[Intothewind]

The year of the Flood - Margaret Atwood.

A fine follow up to Oryx and Crake so far.

[Wessexy Witch]

One-Three-One  Julian Cope.

http://www.headheritage.co.uk/merchandiser/item/SS131/

[peternotbaldyet]

Just finished 'Inside the Third Reich' by Albert Speer. It is fascinating. Talk about selling your soul though..!

[lotus]

Instructions for British Servicemen & a book about "Reeducation" - old ones about things before I was born, but yes, interesting

[Space]

"King Lear" by a British writer named William Shakespeare.

[jc]

I never got Shaky Will at school and still do not see what all the fuss is about, maybe someone can help explain why.

Cheers

jc

[rick a.]

The golden man...............Great book about the Spanish obsession with gold from the new world back in the early 1500's. Well written and full of interesting facts.

[Space]

I never got Shaky Will at school and still do not see what all the fuss is about, maybe someone can help explain why.

Cheers

jc

- extraordinary characters
- fantastic plots
Cool characters in great stories. What's not to like?

Yes, the language can be tough. But once you get the hang of it (and with the help of the accompanying footnotes) the plays are really a blast to read. I don't really like seeing his plays, but I do enjoy reading them -- I find the language far easier to understand reading it rather than hearing it.

If you ever do get a hankering to try Shakepeare, go with MACBETH. It is the most delicious, wild story about a king who kills and kils; the language is not as difficult as other Shakespeare plays; and it is Shakespeare's shortest play. The action starts right away and flies. One killing after another. Odd thing is a part of you actually roots for the killer Macbeth towards the end. When a work can do that, you know a great writer is behind it.

[Master Ray]

If you fancy something funny, go with MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING... love this play...

Here's a clip from the 90's version, where Kenneth Branagh has been tricked into thinking that Emma Thompson fancies him...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4JO7Pzr3K8

[Master Ray]

Just dug out my copy of 'Get In The Van - On The Road With Black Flag', by Henry Rollins, a beautiful big hardback book with so many great pictures...  it details how a 23 year old lad became the singer in his favourite band and then lost his mind a bit over the next few years...  awesome book.

[Space]

BARABBAS -- Par Lagerkvist

The Nobel Prize winning novel is about as great as they come. Short in pages -- can literally be read in one sitting -- but massive in intellectual and emotional content. Don't have to be religious at all to get into this book. Simple story about the unthinking murdering brute named Barabbas who was chosen by the people of Jerusalem to live instead of Jesus. Imagine being the guy at the center of such an event and not being able to comprehend what exactly happened to you or the guy who took your place on the cross, but still trying to grasp what it all means. How do you make your way through a second chance at life knowing you lived while Jesus was crucified in your place? We all have crosses to bear, but that's a mighty tough one to carry around.

One of the greatest books I have ever read. Lagerkvist is the most precise writer I have come across. He can get his readers to understand an entire character with just one sentence. He can cover such profound ground as this novel does in just 140 short pages. Brilliant book.

[Heno]

Just finished 'Inside the Third Reich' by Albert Speer. It is fascinating. Talk about selling your soul though..!

contemporary description is so much better than historical interpretation

you weren't there

as they say

[Master Ray]

Something a bit lighter... started reading all the Adrian Mole books in chronological sequence...

So funny.

[Bever]

Anne Frank. Visited the Achterhuis a few weeks ago.

[Shush]

Took my two lads to the Achterhuis when they were young, but old enough to understand. An excellent museum.