I was unaware that there was going to be a third volume. Very exciting!
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Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?
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I was unaware that there was going to be a third volume. Very exciting!
@Scepticalscribe, I am curious on how many books you read in say a week or month? Your list of books in this thread is amazing and I have a feeling it isn't even touching the tip of the iceberg!
From your many titles, the closet I could probably compare you to would be my mother, who is a prolific reader. She at any given time has a minimum of five books going, usually one in each room along with one on her Kindle. Her library is quite large and she has read several of them more than once and some she reads ever year because she likes them so much. She can read one to two books a day if she doesn't work in the yard or has to do errands etc.
Just purchased Stephen King's Dark Tower book 1.
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My wife read all of them, (I know this is a old post) and really liked them with book IV being her favorite. She did not like the last three as much. She felt they were done as a money grab from Charlaine. Can't blame her with the True Blood TV series as hot as it was during this time period.
From your many titles, the closet I could probably compare you to would be my mother, who is a prolific reader. She at any given time has a minimum of five books going, usually one in each room along with one on her Kindle. Her library is quite large and she has read several of them more than once and some she reads ever year because she likes them so much. She can read one to two books a day if she doesn't work in the yard or has to do errands etc.
Just purchased Stephen King's Dark Tower book 1.
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Just finished Deadlocked, the 12th Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Mystery novel upon which True Blood is based. It was good, but on the short side. I believe her next and final SVM novel is due in April.
My wife read all of them, (I know this is a old post) and really liked them with book IV being her favorite. She did not like the last three as much. She felt they were done as a money grab from Charlaine. Can't blame her with the True Blood TV series as hot as it was during this time period.
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Picked up 'Norse Mythology' by Neil Gaiman on Prime day (and grabbed a textbook on mathematical statistics using the 40% off deal).
Probably won't touch it until our vacation in a few weeks ... but kind of excited
Probably won't touch it until our vacation in a few weeks ... but kind of excited
Well, as far as I now, initially, she had planned one volume, and then, realised there was too much to write about.
So, the first volume concludes in 1535 with Henry married to Anne Boleyn, and with the execution of Thomas More.
By then, Hilary Mantel had planned to bring the rest of the tale to a conclusion in a second volume, but found that Anne Boleyn's story - especially the gripping tale of her fall (and subsequent execution) - comprised its own natural narrative arc. This meant that the second volume actually concludes - quite naturally and very powerfully - with the execution of Anne Boleyn herself and with the King wooing Jane Seymour. We are now in the summer of 1536.
There are four more years (action packed years) before we come to the fall of Thomas Cromwell himself, between Easter and late summer of 1540. Hilary Mantel has yet to write this - and has promised to keep it to the standard of the other two books.
Some snide (mostly male) commentators have sneered that she is finding it (psychologically) difficult to kill off Cromwell, to which she retorted this week (this is a woman whose first book that achieved critical acclaim was about the French Revolution where almost all of the major characters ended up getting killed at one another's hands) "why should that be an issue" for her?
Anyway, while some had hoped that the book might have made an appearance in 2018, it now seems more likely that we will have to wait until 2019 before we lay eyes on it.
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These days, my reading tends to depend on where (physically and also psychologically) I am at a given time, but, yes, in general, I am a voracious reader.
I love books, the written word, and the act and art of writing - few pleasures compare to losing yourself in a well written, well argued, and well-researched wok of history; I may have mentioned earlier that I am also a published author (of well received history books).
Actually, yesterday, a colleague - a serving officer in the RN - dropped into my office and we spent half an hour discussing the Tudors (and the works of Hilary Mantel) with great enjoyment and considerable excitement.
Wait you are published author too? Can you list the history books you have written? If not here maybe in a PM? I would be very interested in readying what you have written! Especially if it is about history.
I think anybody who has read your posts knows you have a one heck of a vocabulary and a firm grasp on the language.
That is awesome regarding the books you have had published.
Yes, I am, as it happens, but as for giving the details, I'd rather not, if you don't mind. Not just now, anyway.
Perhaps some other time.
I'm reading the second book of the Regeneration trilogy now, The Eye in the Door. This is something @Scepticalscribe recommended in its entirety and I can already concur.
But tonight I was intrigued by a couple of references to a Nixon biography I bumped into, so I downloaded the iBooks store sample to check it out. It's John A. Farrell's Nixon: The Life and I think I may order it up from the four-county library for the August cycle of the mobile library that visits all the little villages and hamlets in my county. If we don't use that service we may lose it, so even though I still drive a car, I like to let the library know I appreciate their outreach. I'm not planning on driving a car forever..
I have seen some fascinating movies about Nixon and lived through his presidency in real time, but I have not read a full biography and think I should. He was far more complex than the politics of his 2nd term's campaign tricks and ensuing resignation in the face of impeachment. In a way his domestic policies marked him as the last of our moderate Republican presidents. I've long thought I should know more about his background and character, wondering how such a smart guy could end up forgetting himself in that morass of deception and politics that played out in service of his personal power.
Anyway looking forward to Farrell's book for an August read. By then it will probably be competing with Regeneration trilogy's final novel, which is The Ghost Road.
But tonight I was intrigued by a couple of references to a Nixon biography I bumped into, so I downloaded the iBooks store sample to check it out. It's John A. Farrell's Nixon: The Life and I think I may order it up from the four-county library for the August cycle of the mobile library that visits all the little villages and hamlets in my county. If we don't use that service we may lose it, so even though I still drive a car, I like to let the library know I appreciate their outreach. I'm not planning on driving a car forever..
I have seen some fascinating movies about Nixon and lived through his presidency in real time, but I have not read a full biography and think I should. He was far more complex than the politics of his 2nd term's campaign tricks and ensuing resignation in the face of impeachment. In a way his domestic policies marked him as the last of our moderate Republican presidents. I've long thought I should know more about his background and character, wondering how such a smart guy could end up forgetting himself in that morass of deception and politics that played out in service of his personal power.
Anyway looking forward to Farrell's book for an August read. By then it will probably be competing with Regeneration trilogy's final novel, which is The Ghost Road.
The "Regeneration" trilogy is simply superlative - and, as I have written earlier on this very thread - a trilogy I cannot recommend highly enough; haunting, harrowing, insightful, gripping, sympathetic, - massively aware of issues of class, gender, and power - masculinity and violence - and so utterly intelligent and thoughtful, and thought provoking; beautifully written and solidly grounded in history, and exquisitely aware of language and - indeed - psychology.
I am not an expert on Richard Nixon, but the man's mind and personality must have been a complex brew crammed with contradictions; his imaginative - and intelligent - foreign policy contrasts with the ugly paranoia of his domestic political persona.
Please let us know how you find it.
Was studying both the Science of Literature & Religion at University in my youth.
Herman Hesse & Swedish poet Karin Boye was for instance some that I made my work on.
These days I tend to dive into uhmm... esoteric/health/spiritual/metaphysical/poetic literature.
Not so much fiction or novels. Cross-reading is not uncommon at all
Finished this little beautiful book awhile ago.
At the time I'm reading/studying/reflecting these and some others...
Herman Hesse & Swedish poet Karin Boye was for instance some that I made my work on.
These days I tend to dive into uhmm... esoteric/health/spiritual/metaphysical/poetic literature.
Not so much fiction or novels. Cross-reading is not uncommon at all
Finished this little beautiful book awhile ago.
At the time I'm reading/studying/reflecting these and some others...
Just started The Kingdom by Emmanuel Carrère. The book is from 2014 but was only recently translated into English. I first heard about it from a French cousin of mine, since he knows I'm interested in New Testament history:
The book combines autobiography, history, and speculation to document the lives of Paul and Luke as they wrote their portion of the New Testament. Very interesting so far
The book combines autobiography, history, and speculation to document the lives of Paul and Luke as they wrote their portion of the New Testament. Very interesting so far
Decided to read this.
I want to make time to read that too, if only to untangle my head from the mistake of having read too many reviews--by both conservatives and progressives-- of the book and of Vance's own views of his own tribe over time. Thanks for the reminder.
Decided to read this.
I have read reviews - and commentary - which have recommended this work very strongly; do, please, let me know how you find it and what you think of it. Indeed, I'd be interested in reading what @LizKat has to say about it, too.
Just started The Kingdom by Emmanuel Carrère. The book is from 2014 but was only recently translated into English. I first heard about it from a French cousin of mine, since he knows I'm interested in New Testament history:
The book combines autobiography, history, and speculation to document the lives of Paul and Luke as they wrote their portion of the New Testament. Very interesting so far
Thanks for sharing this, it looks interesting, I downloaded a sample to my Kindle.
I'm intrigued by this book as well, although originally inspired to fetch a sample by having bumped into a review in The Guardian. To say that or more could even be a spoiler of sorts... well, no, not really. I just realized from both that review and the sample that I'd probably enjoy the book although probably not for any particularly sound theological reasons of my own, more just out of curiosity about the author's approach. My confirmation verse was from Matthew so my sketchy exploration of New Testament authors leaned in that direction and trailed off way too long ago. Good to branch out whille there might still be time? Good intentions pave the way to the other place...
but not entirely sure this book would save me even if I read it. Going to do it anyway.
I'm intrigued by this book as well, although originally inspired to fetch a sample by having bumped into a review in The Guardian. To say that or more could even be a spoiler of sorts... well, no, not really. I just realized from both that review and the sample that I'd probably enjoy the book although probably not for any particularly sound theological reasons of my own, more just out of curiosity about the author's approach. My confirmation verse was from Matthew so my sketchy exploration of New Testament authors leaned in that direction and trailed off way too long ago. Good to branch out whille there might still be time? Good intentions pave the way to the other place...
Yes, Guardian reviews (and recommendations) are a source of potential books for me, as are recommendations from a few book-shops I like, where the staff are reading enthusiasts and know their stuff.
Occasionally, someone I know, like and respect will recommend a book, and that, too, will prompt a purchase.
And sometimes, whimsy strikes, and I will buy a book on impulse; I like the few pages I have dipped into, or, the topic interests me, or, I know the author has written other stuff that is interesting.
I agree with all that you say but on this occasion it was a simple recommendation from my little sister.
How strange. I picked that book up a while back... in April or March. I haven't read it yet. In fact, I came into this thread to ask for a recommendation on a thriller but I see the non-official bookclub is reading that. Another heavily panned book is "White Trash" by Nancy Isenburg, IIRC. Great read. It's a tad biased, but it does open your mind to how hard the other half has it.
I've just decided to re-read Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities.
Oh, gosh, yes.
I remember reading that book when I was enduring Prague 15 years ago on an extended research trip (and yes, that verb is written without irony; a beautiful city, but deeply dislikable inhabitants prone to offering the worst standards of service I have ever experienced married to a sullen sense of entitlement that failed to enthral me.)
Anyway, I encountered that book in a rather good English language bookshop, bought it and read it.
It was a fascinating read.
Prague?
When I was there, early in the millennium, (but before the Czech Republic joined the EU), the poor service, (actually, contemptuous, dismissive, astonishingly rude service) was one of a number of things that made me realise that the city - and it is stunningly beautiful, but I loathed it - I was there for a few months - really has - or had - a dark and murky underbelly.
At the time, from what I could see, it was clearly a place where capital was cleansed on its long journey from dubious origins to pristine unit of exchange.
For example, the city was full of empty shops with highly priced goods (at least a third more expensive than similar goods - say, Samsonite suitcases and luggage - would have cost in western Europe - and I knew the prices such things commanded in western Europe, precisely because I bought such products), shops staffed by lissom, long-legged, dead-eyed women with the looks of models, reinforced by stocky thugs in tuxedos, and entirely devoid of paying - or even, browsing - customers.
The attitudes to women bothered me, as well. It was a profoundly sleazy place.
Now, I quite liked other cities in the Czech Republic, (Olomouc, Brno, - they were nice places and entirely lacked that atmosphere of entitled sleaze) but Prague, no.
I really enjoyed Moonglow so this is next...
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ya know, i liked the film although it took some critical beatings...
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ya know, i liked the film although it took some critical beatings...