What book is everyone reading at the moment? Part 2.

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

I've read this one before, but it was A LONG time ago. I decided to revisit for a podcast interview with Mr. Powers, and I'm enjoying it a great deal, but with a lot more clarity. Having read more Powers over the years, he has a way of developing the plot from seemingly innocuous threads into a knock-down, drag out, fight to the finish. Very enjoyable.
 
First, a bit of background. Our local branch of WHSmith is currently being used as a dumping ground for stuff other branches can't shift. It's also under threat of being closed down. Anyway, all books are at least 50% off, but if they were already marked down at the previous branch...

So I saw this on the shelf that usually has stuff that is usually really marked down and thought I'd take a risk:

It's a Ladybird book for adults, presumably those with short attention spans - 25 pages of text, 25 of pictures. Price on the back is £7.99. I assumed it would be down to a couple of quid. Actual cost - 75p.

Three authors, though Chas only contributes one page, which is mainly about how the book is his idea, but according to the fine print in the back, "The Royal Meteorological Society conducted a peer review of this publication in accordance with usual procedures for academic publications." It's a bit old (2017) so probably a bit out of date, but I'll have a read and see how it goes.

It'll probably take less time to read than it did to write this post! :eek:
 
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Lennart Hyland said:
The Marriage Portrait - Maggie O'Farrell

Continuing with some historical fiction that got a lot of praise.
In the mid 1500s Italy, Lucrezia de Medici at age of 15 was forced to marry the much older Duke of Ferrara. And this is Maggies take on what might really have happened to her.
Click to expand...

Finished this and also managed to read Of Mice and Men and a swedish novel a friend told me about, before my current read: Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote.
 
Charlotte's Web - E. B. White

I never read it as a child and saw it lying on a bookshelf in a church basement, so I picked it up. I can see why it is considered a classic, although with its frank treatment of Charlotte's death I was somewhat surprised no one had ever declared it inappropriate for children. Looking into the history of the book, I found that it has been subject to proposed bans, notably in Kansas in 2006, but elsewhere, as well. The reason was not what I expected. Apparently, talking animals are blasphemous, as God gave only humans the power of speech. The opinion of Balaam's ass on this matter is not available at this time.
 
Len Deighton, The Ipcress File. I read it a good few years ago, but this time through, I'm taking extra time to look up all the British slang and initialisms. I finally know what an RSM is. I also somewhere have a copy of the film, a good performance by Michael Caine, and really nice music.
 
Just finished Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I couldn't put it down. Set in an eerie dystopian future after the collapse of, well, everything, it's darkly humorous and often had me laughing out loud. Highly recommended.
 
John Burnet of Barns by John Buchan.

A historical novel set in the 17th century, it follows a young man of studious bent and some means, who sets forth for foreign shores to improve himself, only to be denounced in his absence.

I haven't finished it yet, but it does seem familiar. The innocent abroad, unjustly accused, and as readers of Buchan might be aware, those conveniently (for the furtherance of plot) coincidental meetings are there. Somewhat reminiscent of Stevenson's Master of Ballantrae.
 
Outsider by Stephen King, just finished it. If you like King, I think you'll like it.

Mystery where the suspect appears to have been in two places at once, supernatural elements not obvious at first but its King so you know its there, then the last third of the book makes it obvious.
 
Listening to The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah for the third or fourth time. Such a great book, really makes Alaska come alive.

Also reading "Et land på fire hjul" ("A country on four wheels"), a nonfiction book about how the car came to dominate Norwegian streets, at the cost of city residents and every other mode of transportation. A really provoking read, genuenely makes me angry at times.
 
Nelson: A Dream of Glory by John Sugden

First of an extensive 2 volume biography of Horatio Nelson, which comes highly recommended, and so far is very thorough and balanced.
 
Beamriders by Martin Caidin.

Could only make it less than halfway through. Didn't finish it. Now, I read a couple of his other books, Cyborg and Cyborg II (a couple times, even) some 45 years ago. those were the inspiration for The Six Million Dollar Man TV series, btw. So I liked them.

This one had an interesting premise, blurbed on the cover -- something about creating a transporter and infiltrating the Kremlin and whatnot. But by the time I'd quit, only one failed test had been made. The rest of it was introducing dozens of minor characters, and vague talk and talk and talk about the goings-on. I like procedurals, but nothing was progressing here -- it was all milieu description. I'd expected more of an adventure story. Boring, boring, boring. It seemed like what would be the start of a very long series (I checked -- it was a standalone or I wouldn't even have started it.)
 
Shakespeare by Bill Bryson, first published 2007, this updated edition published in 2016.

I hadn’t read this one by Bill Bryson, despite being a fan since his first book, so I grabbed it when I saw a copy in my local bookshop.

Bryson is a very thorough researcher, and in it, he’s witty as usual, and provides interesting facts to make this an easy 200 pages to read.

It’s fascinating hearing about the tantalisingly few historical records we have about Shakespeare’s own personal life, yet what we can infer from what facts we know from his era.

Definitely recommended.
 
Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn (2006).

Flynn went on to write Gone Girl. I enjoyed the movie very much. Having now read Flynn's debut novel, I might go back and rewatch GG, or read the book. I feel like I have a better idea of the subtext that Flynn likes to play with, and what that might tell me about GG.

This book is part romance subversion, part neo-noir thriller, part straightforward whodunit, and all good.

Blindsight, by Peter Watts.

A re-read. Part of my program of listening to the audiobook of a book I've read, and seeing what new understanding I get from having someone else read it to me in their own voice. Mostly I've been focusing on books I read a long time ago, that I remember being perhaps deeper than I understood at the time. This represents the shortest time between first read and listen. And yes, it did give me new understandings.
 
Eternity Road Jack McDevitt

Post Apocalyptic Travel Log, pretty good if you like that sort of thing.
 
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