What are you reading and book reviews - Page 64

semi-pro waster · 09-01-2011, 23:26

Finished the Richard Hannay compendium about a week ago, there's a lot of reading material in there. Good stories all although you've got to remember the context of the time they were written as there are a fair few terms and attitudes expressed that we'd find anachronistic.

Next up was Scat by Carl Hiaasen. I think this is one of his kids books as the humour is slightly less dark, it just feels less involving although there's a nice appearance from a character who is in one of the previous books.

Tomorrow I'll be starting Master & Commander by Patrick O'Brian. I've read a few of his other novels and seen the film of this one but oddly I can't remember reading this one at the moment, if I discover I have then I may switch to something else.

Kitten · 10-01-2011, 07:30

Are you using your bookmarks?

Tak · 10-01-2011, 08:14

I got Mennonite in a little black dress as a review book from waterstones - wasn't sure I was going to like it but I am loving it

Kitten · 10-01-2011, 08:20

I got that too, haven't started it yet but found it on the coffee table shelf yesterday!

semi-pro waster · 10-01-2011, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

Are you using your bookmarks?

Know your place. :-p

I'm not just being rude, that's the one I'm using. Thank you, it's a pretty definite fastening on the bookmark so it'll never just fall out.

Burble · 10-01-2011, 13:53

I can't see me buying any more Karl Pilkington stuff. He comments in the first chapter that he expected the Pyramids in Cairo to have a rendered wall. WTF? Oh come on, I know he's a bit dense but if that's an attempt at comedy it fails.

Garp · 10-01-2011, 23:57

Pagan Christianity http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Christia.../dp/141431485X

Interesting book so far, but not without it's faults. It's written by a pair of Christian authors trying to pull apart Christian practices and traditions, focusing around the church, looking at the roots of the traditions and trying to establish where and why we actually do them, and oftentimes the Pagan roots behind it. So far no mention of the obvious things like Christmas being moved to December 25th to cover up an existing Pagan winter celebration.

It's reasonably well written, aimed more at a plain language narrative rather than a detailed study, but I can't help but keep arguing a little bit with it in stages. Some of their assertions don't hold water completely. E.g. They pretty much assign the Altar and it's presence in Communion as being reflective of Pagan rituals and Roman court practices. Communion covers the last supper and sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross as the final sacrifice to God for atonement of sins. It seems more likely the roots behind the use of an Altar is tied in to Judaism and their use of an Altar for sacrifices.
That said I have no evidence for my viewpoints, but what they offer seems pretty weak to me.

Del Lardo · 11-01-2011, 04:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jingo

Just finished Men at Arms by Lord King Pratchett and I think it's been superb throughout...

I've really become endeared to Gaspode, and it's great to have the progressive Carrot storylines alongside the building of the Watch

I think the Watch & Death books are my favourite thus far

AGREED

Also been reading through An Idiot Abroad: Karl Pilkington's Diaries and it's far funnier than the tv series imo- after years of radio I can hear his voice mumble every word!

Sam Vimes is by far my favourite character of all books and for me Night Watch remains the pinnacle of the Discworld series. I would love to see it made into a film though only if it was rated 15/18 and kept the darkness that ran throughout the book.

semi-pro waster · 17-01-2011, 21:04

Master & Commander was pretty good, much like the rest of Mr O'Brian's books that I've read. Well told, detailed descriptions and a good sense of period.

Now I'm reading Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones - it's a book I've not read in about 15 years or more and I've had a hankering to read it for a couple of months so last time I put in an order with Amazon I bought it. I'm enjoying it all over again, it's fairly simple as it's intended for children but quite funny.

Will · 17-01-2011, 22:26

A week in December by Sebastien Faulks - absolutely captivated by it so far but I do like Faulks' writing style.

I'm also enjoying some John Keats poetry.

I am next going to read the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - which is something I've been meaning to read for many years that my father insisted I should read - I now have a wonderful hardback copy of it (I got it for Christmas) which I shall devour.

I'm also reading diet and nutrition books by various doctors and nutritionists - but that's more of a filler bit of reading.

09-01-2011, 23:26	#631
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	Finished the Richard Hannay compendium about a week ago, there's a lot of reading material in there. Good stories all although you've got to remember the context of the time they were written as there are a fair few terms and attitudes expressed that we'd find anachronistic. Next up was Scat by Carl Hiaasen. I think this is one of his kids books as the humour is slightly less dark, it just feels less involving although there's a nice appearance from a character who is in one of the previous books. Tomorrow I'll be starting Master & Commander by Patrick O'Brian. I've read a few of his other novels and seen the film of this one but oddly I can't remember reading this one at the moment, if I discover I have then I may switch to something else. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

10-01-2011, 07:30	#632
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	Are you using your bookmarks? __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

10-01-2011, 08:14	#633
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	I got Mennonite in a little black dress as a review book from waterstones - wasn't sure I was going to like it but I am loving it __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH!

10-01-2011, 08:20	#634
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	I got that too, haven't started it yet but found it on the coffee table shelf yesterday! __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

10-01-2011, 23:57	#637
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	Pagan Christianity http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Christia.../dp/141431485X Interesting book so far, but not without it's faults. It's written by a pair of Christian authors trying to pull apart Christian practices and traditions, focusing around the church, looking at the roots of the traditions and trying to establish where and why we actually do them, and oftentimes the Pagan roots behind it. So far no mention of the obvious things like Christmas being moved to December 25th to cover up an existing Pagan winter celebration. It's reasonably well written, aimed more at a plain language narrative rather than a detailed study, but I can't help but keep arguing a little bit with it in stages. Some of their assertions don't hold water completely. E.g. They pretty much assign the Altar and it's presence in Communion as being reflective of Pagan rituals and Roman court practices. Communion covers the last supper and sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross as the final sacrifice to God for atonement of sins. It seems more likely the roots behind the use of an Altar is tied in to Judaism and their use of an Altar for sacrifices. That said I have no evidence for my viewpoints, but what they offer seems pretty weak to me. __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

10-01-2011, 13:53	#636
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	I can't see me buying any more Karl Pilkington stuff. He comments in the first chapter that he expected the Pyramids in Cairo to have a rendered wall. WTF? Oh come on, I know he's a bit dense but if that's an attempt at comedy it fails.

17-01-2011, 21:04	#639
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	Master & Commander was pretty good, much like the rest of Mr O'Brian's books that I've read. Well told, detailed descriptions and a good sense of period. Now I'm reading Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones - it's a book I've not read in about 15 years or more and I've had a hankering to read it for a couple of months so last time I put in an order with Amazon I bought it. I'm enjoying it all over again, it's fairly simple as it's intended for children but quite funny. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

17-01-2011, 22:26	#640
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	A week in December by Sebastien Faulks - absolutely captivated by it so far but I do like Faulks' writing style. I'm also enjoying some John Keats poetry. I am next going to read the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - which is something I've been meaning to read for many years that my father insisted I should read - I now have a wonderful hardback copy of it (I got it for Christmas) which I shall devour. I'm also reading diet and nutrition books by various doctors and nutritionists - but that's more of a filler bit of reading. __________________ *No No!*