Oh, bravo. Very, very clever. And very well spotted.
An ironical juxtaposition, to say the least. If an emoticon existed to depict a round of impressed applause, I'd add it now.
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Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?
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Oh, bravo. Very, very clever. And very well spotted.
An ironical juxtaposition, to say the least. If an emoticon existed to depict a round of impressed applause, I'd add it now.
Currently reading 'Reading with the Right Brain'. It's a speed reading book that focuses on speed comprehension rather than simply reading words faster. It's quite a clever and easy system that will take practice. I read about 270 WPM and would like to be faster. Some years ago I was interested in learning how to read up to 1000 WPM but I couldn't manage to follow a particular course I downloaded which suggested reading back to front. Anyway, if I can get to 400 I'll see if I'm interested to keep going and reach 1000 or beyond. Sounds a bit far fetched but it would be really cool to be able to finish and fully remember a lengthy book in an afternoon.
This is something I'd like to do, read faster that is as it takes me ages to get through a book. I'd be worried I'd miss something though?
Yeah, Teddy Roosevelt could read several books in a day. That blew me away.
You should try reading with your left closed that way you make your left brain do all the work.
I'm kidding of course, that would give me a migraine.
Well, for what it is worth, I speed-read, and used to glory in it, but actually, the speed is not the issue, or the goal when I read. It is simply a means to an end.
Years ago, as a child, in hospital for a week with appendix issues, I had requested books as gifts, and - having nothing else to do, and being impatient to find out what happened, without realising it, I developed an astonishing capacity for speed-reading, which stunned adults.
If it is a fact based book - i.e. history (and I read a lot of history), or politics, I can fly through it. (And remember what I read). Likewise, with a lot of fiction. And, above all, with newspaper articles - I race through them. Now, with fact based texts, I'll grant that the ability to speed-read, ad take in what I have been reading, has been very useful.
However, if the text requires that you think about it while residing - say, something along the lines of philosophy, or something which deals with ideas rather than facts, and that same text requires that you actually understand the concepts you are reading about before proceeding any further - then, these days, I have given myself permission to take it more slowly - after all, it is not a race.
My usual reading diet is a mix of history, politics, cultural history, science fact, and some science fiction, or fantasy for relaxation. I also read what might be regarded as serious, fiction.
However, two days ago, I received a belated Christmas present from my brother. This is a lovely book by Nigel Slater, the cookery writer, who is my favourite cookery writer (bar none). Now, I have several of his books, and he is the only cookery writer I know whose recipes I use as culinary inspiration - and reliable standbys - rather than as a source of despairing aspiration and frustration.
Actually, I love Nigel Slater's prose style, his uninhibited and cheerful greed, his passionate interest in, and respect for, food, and the fact that, when you read his recipes, you think to yourself that 'hey, I can do that' - they make you want to cook, and make you feel that this is well within your competence, and secondly, they read as though they will taste delicious and make you want to eat. And his prose is exquisite - a pure pleasure to read.
However, two days ago, I received a belated Christmas present from my brother. This is a lovely book by Nigel Slater, the cookery writer, who is my favourite cookery writer (bar none). Now, I have several of his books, and he is the only cookery writer I know whose recipes I use as culinary inspiration - and reliable standbys - rather than as a source of despairing aspiration and frustration.
Actually, I love Nigel Slater's prose style, his uninhibited and cheerful greed, his passionate interest in, and respect for, food, and the fact that, when you read his recipes, you think to yourself that 'hey, I can do that' - they make you want to cook, and make you feel that this is well within your competence, and secondly, they read as though they will taste delicious and make you want to eat. And his prose is exquisite - a pure pleasure to read.
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I received Jamie Oliver's "Super Foods" (or wherever it's called) and would not recommend. Don't get me wrong, it maybe a fine book but I just cannot cook (apart from the very basic). I just don't have the interest in it. When I cook all I can think of is the cleaning up and think "is this really worth it?" Ha! No, I'm not really qualified to say it's a bad book but I've yet to find one.
If you had to buy one, and only one cookery book, I'd recommend Nigel Slater's very first book, which is called 'Real Fast Food'. Reading it was a sort of epiphany for me.
Anyway, it is aimed at, and intended to be read by, (and used by), people who arrive home from work exhausted and want to prepare something that is easy and tasty and freshly cooked.
Now, I enjoy watching Jamie Oliver, and I applaud his campaign to try to improve the quality of food served in schools, but his cooking - and I am a reasonably accomplished cook, I'd class myself as a very good amateur - is far too complicated and Much Too Much Like Hard Work.
As it happens, I have one of his books, the one on Italian cooking. Bizarrely enough, I didn't buy it - I won it around a decade ago, when it came as part of the first prize in a draw for a large hamper of genuine Italian food products. It is a mouth-watering read, but far too difficult and tiring to try.
By contrast, I have made many of Nigel Slater's pasta recipes, and have even tried his stunning and quite delicious minestrone.
I've just started Humbolt's Gift by Saul Bellow after finishing his book Ravelstein
I'm not much of a cook myself but have enjoyed making a few of his recipes that I've found on The Guardian website....I've become a fan of his
I'm not much of a cook myself but have enjoyed making a few of his recipes that I've found on The Guardian website....I've become a fan of his
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Well, I'm a huge fan of his; I counted last night - with this latest book, it appears that I have six of his books, some of them very dog-eared, indeed.
Not only are his recipes mostly very 'doable' - you know, when reading them that they are well within your range and they serve to make you feel competent and confident in th kitchen, rather than useless and inadequate, and frustrated, but they are usually very good to eat, too.
You read them, and think, 'that sounds delicious', and then you read the recipe again and realise 'hey, I could do that'.
In essence, he shares his enjoyment of, love of, and respect for, food, with his readers.
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I've had the same experience. One thing I like is that I find a number of his recipes can be scaled down in size, which is very desirable when cooking for just one or two people.
In one of his books, he makes it clear that he has written most of his recipes for two-three people, explaining that he knows more people who live in pairs, rather than the more traditional family set-up, and further explains that most of the recipes can be doubled to cook for four or more if that is what is required.
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I'm currently reading Staked, the 8th book of the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne. If you like urban fantasy novels, I highly recommend the series. It's very funny & clever with some wonderful characters. It's also a fun read if you like mythology as it plays a big part in the stories.
These books are a quick read and so up next is Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell.
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I cosign @Don't panic's recommendation of American Gods. It is one of my favorite books and is currently in pre-production for a TV show. I actually would recommend any of Neil Gaiman's books but American Gods & Neverwhere are my favorites. I've read both multiple times.
These books are a quick read and so up next is Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell.
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I cosign @Don't panic's recommendation of American Gods. It is one of my favorite books and is currently in pre-production for a TV show. I actually would recommend any of Neil Gaiman's books but American Gods & Neverwhere are my favorites. I've read both multiple times.
I've been wanting to read this sone for awhile now... you likey?
running blind - the 4th in the jack reacher series and most likely my last.
It was OK. A fun, light read. I would give it a 3/5. I wish I'd read it as a kid. I would have loved it. Won't be reading the rest of the series.
Finished reading War of the Worlds. What's wrong with Hollywood? Destroyed another great opportunity to tell a fantastic story. Very good book but I got a little irritated by the over use of the word 'tumultous'. Incredibly imaginative for a book of it's time though.
Started reading Harry Potter book 1 and as was warned, it isn't the greatest written book but it's easy to get through.
Started reading Harry Potter book 1 and as was warned, it isn't the greatest written book but it's easy to get through.
José Saramago - The Double
Always been interested in this book, but took me a long time to get it and read it. Almost done with it--and I can say I can't get enough of Saramago's style and am greatly looking forward to reading more of his work. This one especially has kept me interested and fascinated so far.
