What are you reading - Part III.

[Pete in Lincs]

About two thirds of the way through Notes from a small Island. Bill Bryson.

A tour of the UK. First published 1993. He visits places from his past and travels around, as best he can, by public transport or on foot.

It's not that long ago, Yet he describes very well how things were beginning to degenerate, empty shops, factories etc, back then. 

Yet there are places you would want to go to for the views, or the experience of the sheer history. A great insight into the 'British experience'.

I do like his books, I still have a couple of others to reread. 

 

On Friday, from a charity shop, I got a copy of Henning Mankells' Wallendar book, The troubled man. Just 50p.

 This, oddly, is an American edition. Originally priced at $18. How it got into a remote Gainsborough shop I'd love to know.

[Wez]

Just caught up with this thread.  Since Christmas I've read Mythos by Stephen Fry, an accessible retelling of the myths of ancient Greece, it had some genuinely laugh out loud moments.

 

Followed that A Stroke of the Pen - the Lost Stories of Terry Pratchett, written under various pseudonyms before the Discworld series (although you can see how some of the ideas got re-used in the Discworld books).  I've now got Too Much Too Young by Daniel Rachel on the go, you'll be surprised from the title to hear that it's the story of 2-Tone.

 

I've got a few classics lined up courtesy of my daughter who is a bit of a bookworm.  She's given me Bram Stoker's Dracula and another Russian classic, Life and Fate by Vassily Grossman (she started me off with the wonderfully, anarchic The Master and Maragarita by Mikhail Bulgakov a couple of years ago).  I've also got Dumas' Man in the Iron Mask lined up too.

[593jones]

5 hours ago, Neil.C said:

 

Just a wonderful series of books. I am a big fan of Waugh.

 

I don't know if you have read it but his first Decline and Fall is absolutely brilliant and was made into a superb series starring Jack Whitehall and others in the recent past. -  Hilarious. 

 

Only read Sword of Honour so far, but will certainly be reading more.  There is a copy of Handful of Dust somewhere in the house, my daughter did it at college, I just have to find it!  Thanks for the head;up on Decline and Fall, I've ordered it from Amazon. 

[spruecutter96]

I've just finished "Nimitz Class" by Patrick Robinson. It's about an American aircraft-carrier being destroyed by an atomic-tipped torpedo, fired from a "stolen" Soviet Kilo-class submarine. The aftermath gets interesting. 

 

I'm not really into naval stuff myself, but it kept my attention pretty nicely (some chapters waffled on a bit, but I just skipped through them). 

 

Recommended. 

 

Chris.  

[spruecutter96]

On 9/19/2023 at 11:46 PM, Pajarito said:

Nigel "Sharkey" Ward's account on the Falkland air war, but I've stumbled upon two different options (or covers...?). 

 

I've read this in the last ten years. I seem to remember the "controversial" reference on the second cover being a bit less-than-expected in nature (but the details are very hazy, admittedly). I think this could be a bit of shameless marketing-hype. From what I do recall, it was very much worth a read, despite the publisher's enhancement. 

 

I THINK the controversial aspect was that Sharkey Ward claimed that the Black Buck Vulcan raids were a massive waste of time, money and effort on the British side. He felt the Navy could have done a better job, given half-a-chance. My apologies if I've got this wrong.  

 

Cheers.

 

Chris.   

[Pajarito]

On 2/26/2024 at 4:15 PM, spruecutter96 said:

I THINK the controversial aspect was that Sharkey Ward claimed that the Black Buck Vulcan raids were a massive waste of time, money and effort on the British side. He felt the Navy could have done a better job, given half-a-chance.   

 

Hi Chris,

Thanks a lot for the info.

Yes, this is exactly what I heard regarding Ward's disappointment about the outcome of the Black Buck Vulcan raids. I also remember having read somewhere that some of his peers critiziced him severely for having downed TC-63 (an Argie C-130H patrolling 20 miles off the north entrance of Falkland Sound), with a massive 30mm cannon salvo after the doomed cargo had already been hit by an AIM-9L missile.

Cheers,

 

Igna

[Procopius]

On 2/26/2024 at 10:50 AM, Pete in Lincs said:

 This, oddly, is an American edition. Originally priced at $18. How it got into a remote Gainsborough shop I'd love to know.

 

We get around, you know. And we're a very forgetful people.

[Whofan]

On 26/02/2024 at 16:50, Pete in Lincs said:

About two thirds of the way through Notes from a small Island. Bill Bryson.

Pete, 

 

I’ve read this, and have actually read virtually all of his books, and find them absolutely great.

 

In fact, you’ve inspired me to go to the bookcase and start re reading this book!

[Pete in Lincs]

Khaki Parish. Helen & Bill Cook. He was called up and became the Chaplain of the Derbyshire Yeomanry soon after war was declared. He met Helen in her Fathers' Rectory in Diss, Norfolk, and it was love at first sight. From then until 1946 they exchanged 6000 letters. So this book reproduces a lot of them . 36 pages in and I'm hooked. What lovely people. BTW his C. O. Was Erroll Prior Palmer whose Daughter Lucinda went on to become a show-jumping Champion. This is a keeper!

[Lightningboy2000]

Stephen Morris of Joy Division & New Order - Record Play Pause. His early life growing up in Macclesfield. Calling the phone number of the Curtis's for an application for a drummer and the determination of a group of four to become a successful post punk band in the UK in the late 70's. This is volume one mainly covering life in one of the most influential bands in the UK. I've also got part two waiting for when I've finished this one. Years ago I would have been reading everything by Arthur C Clarke, Greg Bear, Stephen Baxter etc. Talking of Arthur C Clarke, the director of Dune Denis Villeneuve is planning to create a Movie of the book Rendezvous With Rama. There were three books if I remember so that could be the best thing since 2001. Apart from 2001, Rama must be one of the most spectacular books that Clarke had written, IMHO!  

[Graham Boak]

Clarke was not the creator of Dune, Frank Herbert was.  Rendezvous with Rama itself was good, reminiscent of the older Clarke books, but the two follow-ups were awful.  (Much as the multiple Dune sequels...)

[Lightningboy2000]

13 hours ago, Graham Boak said:

Clarke was not the creator of Dune, Frank Herbert was.  Rendezvous with Rama itself was good, reminiscent of the older Clarke books, but the two follow-ups were awful.  (Much as the multiple Dune sequels...)

You misread me. Grammatically re-edited for your consumption.  "The director of Dune Denis Villeneuve". Villeneuve directed Dune, I was referring to Clarke who wrote the Rama series. Villeneuve is in the planning stages for production of Rendezvous With Rama. Having read everything from Frank Herbert to Greg Bear, Stel Pavlou, to Stephen Baxter and every single story written by Clarke I am aware who rote wot. Thanks for pointing out my grammatical error. 

[Redstaff]

Have just finished "No moon tonight" by Don Charlwood a bomber command navigator during WW2 

Very good book through training to squadron life then back instructing after his first 30 ops

For a quick easy read, I've started Jeremery Clarksons "Diddly Squat" 

Typical Clarkson type of thing, but fairly amusing in his usual opinionated style  

[Karearea]

Just finished ‘Lightning Boys’, which I thoroughly enjoyed. As it’s a compendium of different pilots’ short anecdotes, it veers towards the dramatic.

 

I’d quite like to read a longer form memoir covering general E.E. Lighting operations, although perhaps even those were routinely hair-raising! Would appreciate any recommendations.

 

Now to go and hunt down the F.2a I have stashed somewhere..

[Twobad]

Giy Gibson and his Dambuster Crew by Charles Foster.

 

Good and interesting book. There's been lots written about Gibson but not so much about the crew that flew with him on the Dams Raid. This book is a potted biography of each of the crew.

 

It's often forgotten that his crew only flew with him on that single operation (despite what is depicted in The Dambusters film) and Gibson didn't actually know them that well at all. In his own memoir he got names wrong and also incorrectly described the missions they were lost on.

 

A good read, and has put into context a lot of what was contained in Gibson's own book.

[Paul J]

The Erebus by Michael Palin. About the explorations in the Antarctic and Arctic.  A good thought provoking read illustrating the trials and tribulations of zvVitorian exploration by sea.

[Longbow]

I just finished Arnhem, 1944, by Martin Middlebrook for the tenth time. It's one of my go-to books.

Now reading Masters of the Air, by Donald L. Miller, which I'm sure needs no explanation, here.

[Neil.C]

Just started The Hardest Day about one day (18th August 1940) in the Battle of Britain.

 

A charity shop purchase, I am enjoying it enormously as I have always lived near both Kenley and Biggin Hill.

 

[Pete in Lincs]

Still only about 2/3 of the way through Khaki Parish (as mentioned above) The Derbyshire Yeomanry are in Italy now with 75 mm Sherman's. So some details in there for modellers. I'm not a religious man but the absolute faith of Bill & Helen almost drips off the pages and is to be admired. The atrocities meted out by the retreating Germans on the Italian Civilians were terrible to read. And they were all left starving by the looting. If you can find a copy buy it. Or ask and I will pass it on when finished 

[Pig of the Week]

RAF Evaders written by the delightfully named Oliver Clutton-Brock. 

A very thick book with many interesting and sometimes entertaining stories of downed aircrew escaping and evading the German and collaborating forces to hopefully get back to Blighty and carry on. 

I've only got a short way in so far and we're at the fall of France period, obviously lots of brit and allied troops milling about trying to get away, already there's a bit of an organised route via the pyrenees to Spain, or the alternative, get to Marseilles and out on a ship by whatever means available. 

Due to its size, a book to pick up, read a chapter or two, and come back to, highly recommended if you're interested in this aspect of the second world war.. 

 

[Pete in Lincs]

56 minutes ago, Pig of the Week said:

recommended if you're interested in this aspect of the second world war.. 

Always have been. Ever since I can remember. I'll keep an eye out for a used copy. Thanks 

[cmatthewbacon]

2 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said:

he atrocities meted out by the retreating Germans on the Italian Civilians were terrible to read. And they were all left starving by the looting. If you can find a copy buy it. Or ask and I will pass it on when finished 

"Italy's Sorrow" by James Holland is very good on this period of the war. Well worth a read.

best,

M.

[Pig of the Week]

45 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said:

Always have been. Ever since I can remember. I'll keep an eye out for a used copy. Thanks 

Another good one is the Sergeant Escapers, by "John Dominy"

.. in fact written by Ron Mogg under that assumed name ( for some reason.)  A very good first hand account (Mogg was actually a POW himself) of the Stalag system throughout the war as regards the RAF contingent. 

This book was of special interest to me as one of the men referred to on several occasions was from our family, and I knew him very well, in later years of course. 

Nonetheless, an excellent account of the war through the eyes of the RAF "Kriegies" and again highly recommended. 

[Pete in Lincs]

Thanks Guys. I have shelves full of books about the war in Europe. Never enough though. Oddly, the far East war doesn't hold me so much.

I've been like this since before High school. It's a fascination. Specialist subject? I really can't explain it. 

Also, there are so many people on here that seem to be the same. A huge knowledge base on the subject. Lives spent studying a previous generation.

And then I think that most of the Adults that I knew when I was young had been through it all. I wish I'd asked questions back then.

Yet, I grew up reading Science Fiction from an early age. And I still do. Maybe I'm just weird? Thanks for listening. Pete

[Pig of the Week]

27 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said:

Thanks Guys. I have shelves full of books about the war in Europe. Never enough though. Oddly, the far East war doesn't hold me so much.

I've been like this since before High school. It's a fascination. Specialist subject? I really can't explain it. 

Also, there are so many people on here that seem to be the same. A huge knowledge base on the subject. Lives spent studying a previous generation.

And then I think that most of the Adults that I knew when I was young had been through it all. I wish I'd asked questions back then.

Yet, I grew up reading Science Fiction from an early age. And I still do. Maybe I'm just weird? Thanks for listening. Pete

Luckily as a youngster I had a lot of conversations within the family, with people who were there at the sharp end, and were quite happy to talk about their experiences as I was clearly genuinely interested. My grandparents both served in the first world War (even my gran who drove ambulances)

When I was at school pretty much everyone's dad had been in WW2 and their grandad in WW1. 

l was always asking about this kind of stuff, especially when I started making models.😁