Just read Dave’s comment that he is reading on his Kindle more, during this strange time. We’ve been playing board games, watching films, TV, but I haven’t had much time to read yet. Been in the garden quite a bit, and doing school work with the boys. Must settle down to some reading though. I thought a thread for recommendations of different media, or other ways of spending free time well, would be useful.
Just what I was thinking of! I will start with my all time favourite post disaster novel.. Set in The Usa after a world pandemic... Earth Abides by George Stewart. Beautifully written, stark, and strangely comforting. I have read it several times from my teens to recent times. Take a look...
I'm about to start one of theo's books - The Knotted Thread. It's one of the few books on my kindle that I've paid for - thanks to bookbub.com I have about 200 free ones to wade through...
You join a select band of readers, BB! Thanks for the plug. Just about to finish the first draft of the 6th Winfrith book, provisionally titled 'The Incoming Tide' and set in Saxon London (Lundenwic) and Steyning in Sussex.
Being a Jason Bourne addict, I just binge-watched the TV series Treadstone. Not quite up to Bourne's high standards, but worth a watch anyway.
Still working at the moment but I suspect next week I'll be binge watching a few things: S4 of The Man in the High Castle for starters. I've got Roger Daltry's biography to read and Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens (old, I know, but gold) plus a few bits and bobs to do around the house. If anyone is looking for a fictional tale recommendation then I would suggest An Englishman in Madrid by Eduardo Mendoza: set at the eve of the Spanish Civil War it follows the time spent by the hero Anthony Whitelands in Spain valuing an aristocrats art collection under the watchful gaze of the Spanish authorities and soon to be warring factions, the Soviets and the British Embassy. I'm not that well read to be fair but this, and Mohammed Hanif' novel A Case of Exploding Mangoes (a satire surrounding the assassination of Pakistani president Zia ul Huq) are firm favourites of mine.
Is Man in the High Castle any good? I really fancied it, then someone I know said they didn’t like it. I put it off and then forgot about it.
Thought I better start reading something. Played safe and went with ‘The Third Man’. I’m a huge fan of Graham Greene, and it’s due a re-read. After that, I’ll start with yorkshire’s recommendation and see how I feel after that.
I really like it. It does take a surreal turn or two. Got to remember that it's Philip K Dick who wrote Bladerunner (do androids dream...) so it's not entirely straightforward. Starts off playing it straight and then midway through the first series... If you've seen Fringe then you'll know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, one gaping plothole aside (more to do with actor's availability between series) then I would recommend that you do! Best thing was Life starring Damian Lewis. Cruelly cut short by the writers strike... an absolute travesty. Brilliant but, alas, unfulfilling.
I like books, have hundreds of them, some of which I read several times often finding something new in them. I have just been reading "Tall Tales and Wee Stories" by Billy Connolly. He describes how in his stage act he would simply have a list of stories to go through for a couple of hours, rather than having a prepared script. Now he can no longer perform, he has put his stories into a book, and there are dozens of them. Providing you can take his use of language, and the subject of some of the tales, it is very funny. It was needed to lighten the mood.
I like the story of how his wife, Pamela Stevenson, made him give up drinking - by refusing sex after he had dipped his willy in a gin & tonic whilst drunk. Years ago, she did a tour of Queensland with her own comedy show and, before each show started, she had a habit of walking around the aisles selecting various individuals to go up on stage with her. I was one of those 'lucky' ones - and was introduced to the audience as 'Jason the Nipple Tweaker'. I tried to prove her correct but she wouldn't let me.
One of the other 'lucky' ones had a bit of a harder time with her. I can't for the life of me remember why, but she seemed intent on getting him to take his jeans off - he, not unnaturally, wasn't overly willing. She made a sudden grab at his flies and pulled the zip down - only to jump back screamming. The poor guy had no underpants on.
I've read Rog's biography, it was good easy and interesting read, quite a grounded guy all things considering and a very understanding wife of many years.