What are you reading?

[DaggerHam]

Russell Shorto's - The Island at the Centre of the World
Historically interesting..

[FrankOFile]

Ah, good morning you daft old sod. If I’ve offended you in any way I can only say it was probably intentional. Are you one of those people who can’t differentiate between anti semitism and opposition to the State of Israel? I can’t be asked to check tbh.

Ah, that old chestnut rolled out by every anti-semite.

You haven’t answered my question about Schindler's Ark? Were you disappointed with the ending?

Look, I get you’re probably Jewish and pro-Israel but if you’re accusing me of being anti-Semitic then you can FRO. If you truly cannot understand the difference between opposition to Israel and antisemitism then you’re either thick as sh-it or a fanatical Zionist. Either way, I’m done engaging with you. Ciao!

Well, well, well. He departs with his tail between his legs. You are wrong on all counts, which is not surprising.
On the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, your simplistic analysis of the world is reflected in the new rise of anti#-semitism. As the Evening Standard reports,’Figures show antisemitic hate crimes recorded by the Metropolitan Police in the wake of Hamas’s October attack on Israel were more than 13 times the number for the same period in 2022. A total of 679 offences were recorded from October 7 to November 7, 2023, compared with 50 in the equivalent period the previous year and 81 in 2021.’

Yet you choose to ignore this in your commenting - I guess they deserve it after all and these hate crimes were all in the name of anti-Zionism anyway.

Your ‘engaging’ on the subject has been trite and suspiciously virulent - ciao or no ciao.

[Proposition Joe]

Can't you save this bollocks for the other thread?

[aylesburyos]

Welcome to Hell. A book about Turkish football & culture. Love Turkey, the food & its football. Excellent read

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Welcome to Hell. A book about Turkish football & culture. Love Turkey, the food & its football. Excellent read

Damn, I thought someone wrote a book about the fitted sheet we wrote ‘Welcome To Hell’ on in pen for the Peterborough playoff semi final 2nd leg

[Long slender neck]

Its World Book Day

Are you a parent who tries or one who cant be bothered?

I'm currently reading The Ordanance Survey Tresure Hunt. Its a book of various OS Maps, accompanied by quiz questions about each one, some general knowledge, anagrams, find... etc

[Friend or fart]

LSN is OS book any good? I have a map fetish. The UK is the best mapped country in the World. We don't sing out our own praises enough.

[Proposition Joe]

Its World Book Day

Are you a parent who tries or one who cant be bothered?

Kid's gone in wearing his Hey Duggee outfit (yes, not a literary character but we have HD books so that'll do for now). Would love to make an effort but Time and Life say a wholehearted 'no' at the moment.

[Long slender neck]

LSN is OS book any good? I have a map fetish. The UK is the best mapped country in the World. We don't sing out our own praises enough.

Here's what to expect

[Long slender neck]

Its World Book Day

Are you a parent who tries or one who cant be bothered?

Kid's gone in wearing his Hey Duggee outfit (yes, not a literary character but we have HD books so that'll do for now). Would love to make an effort but Time and Life say a wholehearted 'no' at the moment.

Mine has painted their finger red and gone as character from The Magic Finger. Not my choice.

[CEB]

About to start Michelle Zauner’s Crying In H Mart

[Proposition Joe]

Stuck on Ben Lerner's 'Leaving the Atocha Station'. Early days and the second time I've tried to start it, but it's hard going. Really rambling, lengthy prose. Kind of annoying. This review on Goodreads is making me consider binning it off because life's too short (although so is the book):

"That this book is impressively boring is probably the most positive thing I have to say about it. I found it vapid and remarkably without point."

[Friend or fart]

I am reading Frostquake by Juliet Nicolson. It is supposed to be about the big freeze of 1963 & how that event altered the UK for ever. I find the book somewhat annoying. She name drops all the time and gives the line that she had a hard time living in her family's many homes. She was only 8 in 1963, which I think makes her memories not particularly reliable. I was 15 and did a paper round every morning, never failing. I think I am much more expert on the that bloody cold Winter. I suppose on reflection, the fact that she was a somewhat upper class twit, she saw: the fashion revolution ( mini skirts etc ), Political change, Social liberation etc, a little before us Working Classes. But my brother used to get very, very early Private Eye which I avidly read & I knew what a Modernist ( soon to be a Mod ) was. On a school trip to Italy, our Latin Master told me: " Evans, you had better remove that giraffe neck, Paisley shirt before we get to Florence or you will frighten the natives! "

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Mines gone to nursery as Peter Rabbit and looks unbelievably cute. Of course, he had a meltdown for about an hour and refused to put it on cos it was different to his normal routine and might “hurt his head”. In the end I put my legs in to show him it was fine and he put it on and was buzzing.

I’ve just started No country for old men. Never read Cormac Mccarthy but enjoying this writing so far

[BIGRON]

Not a big reader but currently reading The Club by Mandasue Heller , not dissimilar to Martina Cole novels that I quite like.

[Mick McQuaid]

I've seen a few moany articles this year about the cost of costumes for world book day this year and that some schools are doing dress comfy for reading instead. Kids school has given the option of either which I think is a bit of a cop out. Mine's gone for Sharon the party crow from Grimwood, hands down the best kids books out there.

[Yanzi Gravy]

Its World Book Day

Are you a parent who tries or one who cant be bothered?

I'm currently reading The Ordanance Survey Tresure Hunt. Its a book of various OS Maps, accompanied by quiz questions about each one, some general knowledge, anagrams, find... etc

I found a copy of that in a charity shop on ghd weeken in excellent condition for £1 which I thought was amazing value . I gave it to a friend who is house bound at the moment and loves maps . He was very pleased. I think this was an unwanted Christmas gift possibly .

[mildandbitter]

Rereading George Pelcanos' novels in order, Currently on Shoedog.

[mildandbitter]

LSN is OS book any good? I have a map fetish. The UK is the best mapped country in the World. We don't sing out our own praises enough.

Here's what to expect

That looks brilliant

[ChorizO]

Moby’s first biography, ‘ Porcelain’. Interesting tales of the birth of the rave scene in NY at the time.

[Dunners]

Always enjoy reading John Gray. He makes you question yourself. This article is no exception, and provides plenty of plausible predictions for the near future.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Been trying to be more selective with my book choices.

Just finished Maya Angelou - I know why the caged bird sings. Probably the best writing I’ve ever read and a real eye opening insight into racial divides in America in the 30s and 40s

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

and why does it?

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Because it’s the only world it knows, man

[Proposition Joe]

I just finished "Far" ("Lejos") by Rosa Ribas after reading this article - https://www.theguardian.com/world/artic ... rosa-ribas - and it was excellent, thoroughly recommended.