The Big Read

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 17 Oct 2004, 09:58

Having been away at the Cheltenham Book Festival (Mrs. Rathbone runs the local Childrens' Book Group), it was nice to come back to all that discussion about the Chalet School. It made me wonder:

A) What is your all time favourite read? (mine is Jack Kerouac's October In The Railroad Earth)

B) any takers for setting up a virtual book group - i.e. all agreed to read the same book next week and then post our views?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 17 Oct 2004, 10:22

I'd love to, but it takes me longer than a week to read a book. I am a very slow reader - I re-read bits and like to read conversations at the pace that the conversation would have taken. None of this skimming and speed-reading nonsense for me.

Asking an all-time favourite book is far too difficult - it's like holidays, food, movies etc. You can't just pick one, or at least I can't.

Too many genres and authors - let alone fiction vs non-fiction.

If I must be pinned down - anything about spies or WW2. And if it's spies in WW2 then heck, it's a winner!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 17 Oct 2004, 10:32

Catch 22

I am reading a great book at the moment; Miracle of Castell de Sangro, its a football book and a true story. I had the connsiderable privlege of spending an afternoon drinking with the author, an American named Joe Maginnis.John Inverdale says that its the best book about footbal that he has ever read. Ive only read this one and its fantastic. Mr Magnolia should get it now if he doesn't have it already.

Next up is the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and I was hearing about an interesting book last night which is called something like The Gulag of Gulags.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 17 Oct 2004, 12:26

Dadaist wrote:I'dAnd if it's spies in WW2 then heck, it's a winner!

Dadaist, just bought a book, Garden of Beasts by Jeffrey Deaver, that sounds right up your street then. Not read it yet so can't comment.....

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 17 Oct 2004, 12:42

please keep me informed as to both the Gulag book and Garden Of Beasts.

You can't beat a good recommendation.

edit -> just checked out Amazon for these 2 titles - GoB sounds great although see what you think of it cub, Porty I couldn't find yours - just "Gulag" by Anne Applebaum which I read in Budapest

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 17 Oct 2004, 17:55

rathbone

Book group would be great idea but would need longer than a week - probably two to read it.

I can't say I have a favourite book more probably favourite book(s).

If you decide to go down the book group road - count me in.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 17 Oct 2004, 18:32

Dadaist wrote:please keep me informed as to both the Gulag book and Garden Of Beasts.

You can't beat a good recommendation.

edit -> just checked out Amazon for these 2 titles - GoB sounds great although see what you think of it cub, Porty I couldn't find yours - just "Gulag" by Anne Applebaum which I read in Budapest

That is the very book. Any good?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 17 Oct 2004, 18:55

Most definitely. It's quite long - loads of research - but slightly more concise than the three volumes of Solzhenitsyn's "Gulag Archipelago".

I left all my books at home and had to buy this at the airport on the way to Budapest - so I now have 2 copies. Do you want one of them?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 17 Oct 2004, 19:18

Yes please. Hook up when I get back or you could drop it in to the office. Very kind of you.

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 18 Oct 2004, 08:59

Once a week is probably too ambitious for me as well (nudge nudge, wink wink), but a book a month might be manageable

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 18 Oct 2004, 09:01

If you enjoyed the Da Vinci Code then try The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail by Michael Baignent and you'll see where Dan Brown ripped it o... sorry!, where he got his inspiration from.

Alternatively, just type Priory Of Sion into your search engine and enjoy months of mindless amusement.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 18 Oct 2004, 12:13

1884/Animal Farm have been long standing favourites of mine. I had the advantage of studying them at school with an English teacher that really gave you insights and made you think.

More recently, I loved reading 'Tuesdays With Morrie' by Mitch Albom. It is very thought provoking but easy to read and can comfortably be read in two evenings (and I read slow). It is very sad

but empowering at the same time to make you think about your own relationships. My next book is 'The Da Vinci Code'.

If you want to start listing the worse book you have ever read, then for me it is 'Sons & Lovers' by D H Lawrence. How I finished that I will never know!

cornerboy · Post by **cornerboy** » 18 Oct 2004, 12:24

I've just finished Bill Bryson's 'A short history of nearly everything', which kept me gripped more than many a novel I've read. Bryson is superb. Current read is a bit more specialist, a book called 'Between the jigs and the reels', by Caomhin MacAoidh, which is about fiddlers and fiddle playing in Donegal. Great account of the characters and context of a very vigorous strand of traditional music, which nurtured Enya, Clannad and Altan, to name some of Donegal's best known exports. (We shall draw a veil over Daniel O'Donnell.)

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 18 Oct 2004, 15:42

Pal of Porty wrote: If you want to start listing the worse book you have ever read, then for me it is 'Sons & Lovers' by D H Lawrence. How I finished that I will never know!

"A Prayer for Owen Meany" would be mine. Wrist slitting stuff that! (and I didn't even finish it!)

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 18 Oct 2004, 16:23

cornerboy wrote:I've just finished Bill Bryson's 'A short history of nearly everything', which kept me gripped more than many a novel I've read. Bryson is superb.

Very interested to read your views on that book. I too like Bryson's style but felt 'A Short History...' although crammed with really good analogies, felt like reading a list of encyclopedia entries by the end of the book. Incredible pulling together of vast research though.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 18 Oct 2004, 19:58

Pal of Porty, I enjoyed Tuesdays with Morrie too, very heartrendering, believe he has another book out in the same vein though not read it yet.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 18 Oct 2004, 19:59

I am a Kay Scarpetta fan, just started Trace by Patricia Cornwell

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 18 Oct 2004, 20:43

Porty wrote: Miracle of Castell de Sangro, its a football book and a true story. I had the connsiderable privlege of spending an afternoon drinking with the author, an American named Joe Maginnis.John Inverdale says that its the best book about footbal that he has ever read. Ive only read this one and its fantastic. Mr Magnolia should get it now if he doesn't have it already.

Dont have it and am slightly dubious about a John Inverdale recomendation. But a Porty recomendation is another thing - thanks.

Currently re re re reading Mary and the Giant - Philip K Dick, a master of many guises. Packing and unpacking your bookcases dredges up all sorts of past treasures!

Too difficult to name favourites - would agree with Catch 22 but NONE of his other books.

favoured authors include Primo Levi, William Gibson,Philip K Dick, William Boyd, Graham Swift,Ray Bradbury, Charles Bukowski, Hubert Selby Jr. Oh and Philip Pullman but have only read the Dark Materials trilogy; hope to explore the others in due course.

A Virtual Book Group sound like a fab idea - but would need to be no more than monthly given that the 3rd magnoliette is due to pop out soon and the night hours will presumably be taking on a dread familiarity again...

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 18 Oct 2004, 22:31

Sandra wrote:Pal of Porty, I enjoyed Tuesdays with Morrie too, very heartrendering, believe he has another book out in the same vein though not read it yet.

He has. I saw it in Waterstones but did not buy it as I have a couple of other books to read first.

However did you know 'Tuesdays' was also made into a video starring Jack Lemon of all people? I found it by rummaging through video bin ends on a wet afternoon and bought it for Ã‚Â£2.99! You would be most welcome to borrow it but you will have to supply your own hankies.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 18 Oct 2004, 23:13

Hoobie Galloobie, Jings, Crivens!

forgot about Alan Warner for my Hall of Fame.

CatzVP · Post by **CatzVP** » 19 Oct 2004, 07:38

Im in the middle of reading

Krakatoa by Simon Winchester

I love a book where you cant work out the ending....haha

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 19 Oct 2004, 09:49

Cool would love to borrow

Mimpty · Post by **Mimpty** » 19 Oct 2004, 13:32

Have just started another by M J Trow in his series about a crime-solving school teacher.(Yes, really). Didn't like them at first, thought he was a bit too lippy and he annoyed me, but I'm used to him now. I'd guess the murder count isn't so high in Porty.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 19 Oct 2004, 17:09

Sandra wrote:Cool would love to borrow

Sandra

I am struggling with sending PPM's. You can pick the video up anytime you wish between 9.00am -5.00pm from Wednesday onwards.

Enjoy

prombabe · Post by **prombabe** » 19 Oct 2004, 19:51

you're asking me to read a book in a week??? a month???????

I think you know that would be impossible,do magazines count

I have just read heat and all those luvvies with no makeup on made me feel absolutely glamourous

but if it has to be a book, the one that sticks in my mind is The Grapes Of Wrath 1st book I ever read. cccccc yaaaaaa xx

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 20 Oct 2004, 09:34

It looks like there are some takers, so the next step is to choose a book for November.

Suggestions here please by this time next week then we'll have a poll.

It could be Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty (nothing like jumping on the Booker bandwaggon early), or the one you meant to get round to but never did (The Curious Case of the Dog In the Night). You could pander to people's WW2 and Sci-fi tendencies (Philip K. Dick's The Man In The High Castle) or remember nostalgic Saturday mornings in the Children's library on George IV Bridge (Kemlo and the Space Cadets) - just remember though NO Sons and Lovers.

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 20 Oct 2004, 09:36

Come on Prombabe ( and remember I know who you are) between you and Mr. P you should be able to manage a book a month. I'm sure there was one stuffed down the back of the couch the last time I was in your living room (or was that one I had brought in myself which had accidently slipped under the cushion?)

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 20 Oct 2004, 11:10

I suggest (two I am wanting to read):

Curious Incident of Dog in the night time by Mark Haddon or
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

ifstar · Post by **ifstar** » 20 Oct 2004, 12:11

Recently read curious incident - its very easy to read and i found it difficult to put down and managed it over a weekend (normally it takes me a while to get through books).

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 20 Oct 2004, 12:12

rathbone wrote:It looks like there are some takers, so the next step is to choose a book for November.

Suggestions here please by this time next week then we'll have a poll.

It could be Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty (nothing like jumping on the Booker bandwaggon early), or the one you meant to get round to but never did (The Curious Case of the Dog In the Night). You could pander to people's WW2 and Sci-fi tendencies (Philip K. Dick's The Man In The High Castle) or remember nostalgic Saturday mornings in the Children's library on George IV Bridge (Kemlo and the Space Cadets) - just remember though NO Sons and Lovers.

I vote for "the man in the high castle".

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 20 Oct 2004, 13:28

Dadaist wrote:
I vote for "the man in the high castle".

Hey, so do I.

paulw · Post by **paulw** » 20 Oct 2004, 13:51

Sandra wrote:I suggest (two I am wanting to read):

Curious Incident of Dog in the night time by Mark Haddon or
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

I Would also suggest Angels and Demons, also by Dan Brown, very good read.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 22 Oct 2004, 22:08

rathbone

When are you going to announce what we are reading next month?

S

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 23 Oct 2004, 10:21

Hi Sandra,

The idea is for people to make suggestions up until next Wednesday and the book with the most support will be the November choice.

prombabe · Post by **prombabe** » 24 Oct 2004, 13:38

Actually Mr rathbone I'm reading a book at the moment that MR P said was one of the best books he's EVER read...... Fortunes Rock by Anita Shreve.I'm quarter of the way through it and I must admit I'm beginning to wonder why I married him,because we seem to differ with this one ......but it might get better so I'll give it a chance but I might fall behind with the monthly thing as its taken me 3 weeks to get this far but I'm ploughing on to see what happens .I'll give my revue in 2005

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

The Big Read

The Big Read

WhoDunnit

Reading?????? oh all right I'll give it a go