Reading matter

[backontrack]

A place where we can discuss books, poets and plays. What are you reading right now? What is your favourite book?

 

[SteveP29]

At the moment: White Line Fever, Lemmy

For the future: Stephen King's Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr Mercedes, Finders Keepers & End of Watch) and Michael Palin's complete diaries.

Favourite book: The Dirt, Motley Crue. You just can't imagine how those 4 made it into their 30's, never mind their 50's

 

[Howardh]

A place where we can discuss books, poets and plays. What are you reading right now? What is your favourite book?

Does an Ordnance Survey map count? I'm not being silly either, they are just like books to me,I can look at them, imagine the scenery, work out the geology, enjoy the history, predict the future. Covers everything!!

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Does an Ordnance Survey map count? I'm not being silly either, they are just like books to me,I can look at them, imagine the scenery, work out the geology, enjoy the history, predict the future. Covers everything!!

I *like* that reply. That's imaginative. And I can relate to that, I have memories of doing something similar as a child - though to a much lesser degree of sophistication than it sounds like you do (In my case, I recall correctly, it tended to be more like, longingly looking at these places on OS maps that looked delightful from the map but which we couldn't possibly afford to go to).

Back to the present, and I'm currently getting through Moondust, by Andrew Smith - a fascinating book which describes his attempts to interview the surviving Apollo astronauts to find out how their lives changed and how they felt they were affected by the Moon landings and the fame that that brought them.

 

[backontrack]

Does an Ordnance Survey map count? I'm not being silly either, they are just like books to me,I can look at them, imagine the scenery, work out the geology, enjoy the history, predict the future. Covers everything!!

Of course it does! Wainwright loved poring over Ordnance maps by the fireside, and he was a legend. I like that reply too.

 

[Cowley]

Does an Ordnance Survey map count? I'm not being silly either, they are just like books to me,I can look at them, imagine the scenery, work out the geology, enjoy the history, predict the future. Covers everything!!

I'm exactly the same Howard. I once laid all of mine out in the garden and made a great big map of mainland UK out of them, I had a some big gaps though which I'm working on filling, they range from 1950s ones (they were my grandparents ones) up to current ones.
I recently worked for a retired lady that used to work for Ordinance Survey who was fascinating to talk to (I ended up knocking two hours off my bill because I couldn't stop asking her questions about it).

 

[Howardh]

I'm exactly the same Howard. I once laid all of mine out in the garden and made a great big map of mainland UK out of them, I had a some big gaps though which I'm working on filling, they range from 1950s ones (they were my grandparents ones) up to current ones.
I recently worked for a retired lady that used to work for Ordinance Survey who was fascinating to talk to (I ended up knocking two hours off my bill because I couldn't stop asking her questions about it).

I was offered a job with the OS in Southampton in the very late 70's - I would have been a junior something-or-other;they tested me for colour blindness and 3D glasses!

However with the change of government (Thatcher came into power) there was almost immediate cutbacks with the civil service and the job offer was withdrawn :cry:

Just think - OS maps might now have yellow motorways, blue buildings....!! Seriously -one thing I would never have motorways the same colour as waterways they would be red/yellow as they were on the old Bartholemew maps (? anyone)! Might have had to work my way to the top though to fix that one!

 

[CarltonA]

Does an Ordnance Survey map count? I'm not being silly either, they are just like books to me,I can look at them, imagine the scenery, work out the geology, enjoy the history, predict the future. Covers everything!!

You might like this book: Two Degrees West by Nicholas Crane (Coast). He navigates through the country in a straight line, using OS maps.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1352462.Two_Degrees_West

I too like studying maps as well as the sabre maps website.

 

[backontrack]

Books-wise, I'm currently reading Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. It's a very entertaining book. For school I'm having to read Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, but that doesn't interest me very much; the book is packed with explanations of things like doublespeak, to the detriment of Winston Smith's character development.

 

[90sWereBetter]

I'm currently reading through Robert Muchamore's CHERUB series, which I remember starting when I was in high school, but never got around to completing. I'm just about to finish Mad Dogs, which is Book 8 in the saga. My favourite in the series so far was Divine Madness (book 5), as it built and built and built to a pretty great ending. Interestingly the next book, Man vs Beast (book 6), is my least favourite so far as it felt rushed and compressed.

I'm not sure if or when I'll read the CHERUB prequel series Henderson's Boys or the second CHERUB series that Muchamore is currently writing. I've grown so attached to the current set of characters that I'm not sure if I'll like the new set.

I'm also reading the Scotland Yard Murder Squad series by Alex Grecian. I'd recommend The Yard (book 1) and The Harvest Man (book 4). Sadly, I've got a feeling the next book may be the last of the series, judging from its title and blurb.

Also reading the Teacher series by Jack Sheffield, which I feel is a pretty nice and feel good series, though sometimes you want to shout at Jack to actually ask Beth Henderson out.

Non-fiction wise, I'm reading the autobiographies of Damon Hill and Johnny Marr, as well as Everywoman by Jess Phillips MP.

Yeah, I tend to read quite a lot.

 

[me123]

The last book I read was "The Limits of the World" by Andrew Raymond Drennan (he hasn't written much before, but could be one to watch). I actually thought it was a non-fiction book, but it's fiction inspired by the real life circumstances in the DPRK. He's clearly done his homework; although fictional it bears a striking resemblance to many real life stories from people who have escaped the Hermit Kingdom. Highly recommended.

 

[najaB]

A place where we can discuss books, poets and plays. What are you reading right now?

Haven't started it yet, but just got The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy from the library. I've seen the series, listened to the radioplay and watched the film but never read the books.

 

[Cowley]

Haven't started it yet, but just got The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy from the library. I've seen the series, listened to the radioplay and watched the film but never read the books.

That would definitely be in my top five of all time.

 

[EM2]

That would definitely be in my top five of all time.

Number one for me!
I'm currently reading 'Itch' by Simon Mayo, it's aimed at young adults but it's a really good read.

 

[backontrack]

I've really got into some of Seamus Heaney's poetry lately, I really like the way he writes about nature. And he has a nice style, with some great metaphors and lines that stick in your mind for days.

Wordsworth is the king of nature poetry though of course.