Off Topic The turning a new leaf thread

Had a lovely afternoon scouring charity shops for books and gave them some of mine so gave me an idea.
What are we all reading at the minute, what are some of us writing and what do you love to read and do you recommend anything?
I will recommend Ian Robertson's autobiography - pretty much as you would imagine him. And for cricket lovers Arlott, Swanton and the soul of English cricket.

 

Currently re-reading Alan Paton's 'Cry the Beloved Country'...a lyrical, very moving story set in apartheid South Africa which I first read more than 50 years ago. I'm in a phase of revisiting things I read long ago...Steinbeck's 'Grapes of Wrath' and Graham Greene's 'Power and the Glory' read earlier this year. As for non-fiction I've just finished 'The Romanovs' by the wonderfully-named Simon Sebag-Montefiore. Fascinating subject but a slightly chaotic account!

As for writing, I have almost finished editing the fifth of my historical novels set in 9th century Anglo-Saxon England and featuring Winfrith. Funnily enough...or not, depending on your point of view,..it's title (given more than 2 years ago) is 'The Knotted Thread'. Could apply to other things on here perhaps? As always it'll be available on Amazon paperback or Kindle for anyone who's enjoyed the previous ones.

I did read the Arlott/Swanton book too...interesting for those of us of a certain age, even if the prose was a bit turgid at times.

 

I have enjoyed reading the Michel Bussi novels.. Can across one and we have devoured the rest. A French author.. Who imports unimaginable twists at the end of his characterfu crime novels set in great locations.. Corfu, giverny, reunion etc

 

Reading the latest Haruki Murukami at the minute. I am always in awe at how authors have such incredible imaginations and are able to knit it together coherently. Quite a feat!

 

I'm

Maybe get a few pointers from Theo

 

Last book that I read was 'A Sting in the Tale', written by Dave Goulson, the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. A great insight into the life and survival chances of our buzzing friends - which moved me to actually joining his trust, albeit as a geographically distanced member. Don't get round to reading many novels these days and, if I do, they tend to be the old ones - like. prior to Arnold Bennett. As for writing - my wife and I started a local newspaper with the aid of a layout and digital specialist, and a printer (who is a neighbour, but works as a printer in a ministry in Bonn , and was prepared to print up to 600 copies free). I write a regular article on edible wild plants in the area (with some variations on this, plus recipes) - which creates a lot of fun as they are in German, which my wife finds great pleasure in finding every possible grammar mistake.

 

I have hundreds, possibly a thousand books, some of which are in boxes because I have run out of bookshelves to keep them all on. The trouble is that there are very few books that I want to get rid of, often re-reading them several times over the years. When we first moved to France we lived without a TV for several years because there was so much to do, but would spend free time reading. I love just holding them and seeing how the author has used words to fire my imagination.
One of my great interests is social history, which is bound together with the politics of the time. It is interesting to read the diaries of politicians from left and right who were shaping the lives of the population and how the answers they had to the problems were so different. Having read both, to then take the views of someone like John Cole who was close to, but outside of decision making as the political editor of the BBC allows you to see a very big picture. Even going back further in time authors such as Thomas Hardy or D H Lawrence give insights into social conditions through their fictional books.
This interest of course doesn't stop me from reading Tales from the Vicarage or anything else WFC related. So mainly I read non fiction, but will have something along the lines of a P D James mystery to keep me awake when there is little of interest on the TV. I do have one book on my tablet from our very own. I just do not enjoy reading from it for some reason, but it does get used when I am on the four hour ferry crossing, and I am getting towards the end. Thankfully it is easy to pick up the story from where I left off. I did read somewhere that the Kindle experience was being overtaken by the sale of paper books, so maybe I am not the only one.

 

I'm reading Trasure Island again. The reason is a long story which I will shorten. I got chatting to one of my children's drama teachers and ended up agreeing to write a play about why Long John Silver is never seen on stage with bird poo down his back. I have teamed up with a friend who is a former stand up comedian and another friend, who is a musician, is waiting in the wings to write a score, or at least some very silly songs. The project will probably end up as an adult pantomime, if it gets finished at all. In any event we will have fun writing jokes over a few glasses of wine.

 

I'm just about to read Roy Jenkins's Churchill again after quite a few years. There may have been a hundred books written about Churchill's life, I'm not sure where Jenkins's version ranks on entertainment.

 

This is one of the most inspiring books I read last year. A farmer leaves a field to nature for a year and records all that happens. An inspirational book.. Nature will win out if we let it..

 

I am reading the Man City v Watford FA Cup final programme that my sister got for me.
It's a good read, quality publication.
I will put it with my other Watford FA Cup final programme which is signed by Luther!

 

I've still not read mine, I will get round to it when the memory of the game softens a bit.

 

It's an enduring fascination that so many books are written about certain iconic characters and all come from different angles. Just goes to show the rather extraordinary lives some individuals through history have led. It does worry me to think that in years to come there may be more books in total written on someone like jose Mourinho than Churchill but I guess it's progress of sorts...

 

Oh I think Boris's biography will be fun and interesting!

 

On another note. We saw the Richard Curtis Danny Boyle film Yesterday last week.. And found it as expected very enjoyable.. Great music, tongue in cheek acting, gentle humour and a heart warming message...

 

Yes we saw it last night, great entertainment, very Richard Curtis and a reminder of how good the song writing of The Beatles was and how poor Ed Sheran is (I better duck).

 

Given the demographic on this board I doubt you have anything to worry about on that score

 

Sorry Scully, Ed Sheran is an extremely talented young man, there are some excellent young performers and groups. There is also plenty of awful music about (obviously not all agree)!!!

I agree the Beatles were special, their range of music was so diverse.

 

I read back from the brink recently (again) it made me cry a lot. A very moving read. I only like reading auto/ biogrpahies tand to be fair only read signs and emails however, here it is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/009949955X/?tag=not606-21