The Book Thread

[Hercule_Poirot]

Just finished reading Wawrick Todd goes the Tonk and Warwick Todd back inthe baggy green. I found both books to be quite funny.

 

[year of the roo]

Just finished reading the Da Vinci Code and quite liked it, he raised some very interesting issues. I am not too concerned whether the ideas are his own or how well written it is (wasn't as bad as many suggest). I am now going to read Dan Brown's other lesser known books.

 

[dbcrow]

I have almost finished the Da Vinci code. A bit like somebody else on here said - I"m only reading it to see what the fuss is all about.

I'm glad I found this thread though, I've been looking to find new authors to read, so have got some other good ones from here.

But if anybody can recommend any others, I'd be interested.

 

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

Reading a lot of Grisham at the moment. Just finished The King of Torts, reading Runaway Jury now, I've got The Partner still to read as well.

My favourite is The Last Juror, then The Rainmaker and The Summons.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

My favourite is The Last Juror, then The Rainmaker and The Summons.

I just finished The Last Juror - bloody good!. I've got A Time to Kill on my list of books to find.


Reading 1984 right now, going to read Catch-22 after that.

 

[O'Brien]

I just finished The Last Juror - bloody good!. I've got A Time to Kill on my list of books to find.


Reading 1984 right now, going to read Catch-22 after that.

Animal Farm is also a must.

Though you'll need to be familiar with Stalinist/Trotskyist politics to fully appreciate it.

 

[raskolnikov]

Animal Farm is also a must.

"All animals are equal but some are more equal than others" - brilliant book.

Somebody lent me the whole Harry Potter series the other day. I have finished the Philosophers Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. They are really good reading.

 

[Contra Mundum]

Currently reading MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS by Antonia Fraser.

What an interesting and tragic figure Mary is in Scottish and British history. Became Queen of Scotland 6 days after her birth. Married the King Francis II of France when only 16, became a widower at 19 and then tragedy really struck. She was definately more beautiful than Queen Elizabeth I, and had this unbelievable ability to totally captivate any male with her looks and charm. Was the rightful Queen of England, and Elizabeth knew it, which is why she kept Mary in captivity for 19 years, until she had her decapitated in 1587. Mary had the last laugh though, her son King James VI of Scotland, became the King James II of England after Elizabeth's death.

That is a magnificent book; Her book on Cromwell is the best single volume work on the subject, also her "Six wives of Henry VII" and "Gunpowder Plot" are absolute belters. People accuse her of Catholic bias but I don't see that myself.

I am reading two great books at the moment:

1. Gramsci and Language by Peter Ives
2. How Mumbo Jumbo conquered the world by Francis Wheen

Francis Wheen is a genius and also ********ing funny!

 

[Contra Mundum]

Animal Farm is also a must.

Though you'll need to be familiar with Stalinist/Trotskyist politics to fully appreciate it.

that is bull********! it was a comment on totalatarianism generally including the fascist variety

"Keep the abadistras flying; "Homage to Catalonia" and "Down and Out in london and Paris" are far superior than Animal Farm I would commend that you read them first

 

[MrMeaner]

that is bull********! it was a comment on totalatarianism generally including the fascist variety

"Keep the abadistras flying; "Homage to Catalonia" and "Down and Out in london and Paris" are far superior than Animal Farm I would commend that you read them first

On the first point, "1984" dealt with totalitarianism generally, "Animal Farm" was concerned more with the Russian variety. Each of the main characters has a double from Russian history (ie Snowball - Trotsky; Napoleon - Stalin; the dogs - Cheka/NKVD; and so on).

On the second point, really? I couldn't make it past the first few chapters of "Aspidistra." Maybe I should give it another go.

I agree with you on "Homage to Catalonia" and would add that "Road to Wigan Pier" is also up there.

 

[Contra Mundum]

On the first point, "1984" dealt with totalitarianism generally, "Animal Farm" was concerned more with the Russian variety. Each of the main characters has a double from Russian history (ie Snowball - Trotsky; Napoleon - Stalin; the dogs - Cheka/NKVD; and so on).

On the second point, really? I couldn't make it past the first few chapters of "Aspidistra." Maybe I should give it another go.

I agree with you on "Homage to Catalonia" and would add that "Road to Wigan Pier" is also up there.

I have heard the story about the characters reprsenting those Russians but I put that down to a sort of "Paul is Dead" ex post facto interpretation of the book.

I have an original Left Book Club version of "Road to Wigan Pier' - should be compulsory reading for all those who want to wind back the welfare state.

Of the three books I have mentioned "Aspadistra" is the most difficullt to read.

 

[pav_is_god]

I'm reading an old book that I found in my old man's shed - Tobruk by Chester Wilmot (pub 1945). Not a bad read so far and amazingly the English used doesn't sound like those old 1940s news reels.

 

[MrMeaner]

I have heard the story about the characters reprsenting those Russians but I put that down to a sort of "Paul is Dead" ex post facto interpretation of the book.

That's fair enough. At the moment, I cannot find any reputable sources for that theory (as opposed to google). However, for me, the parallels are too stark to be coincidental. For example, Snowball being usurped by Napoleon and then exiled, pursued and (presumably) killed by the dogs - meanwhile Trotsky was similarly undermined by Stalin, exiled and killed by the NKVD (or one of their agents). It is also worthwhile to remember that "Animal Farm" was written in 1943 (it was published in '44). Trotsky was killed in 1940.

Also, at the time that Orwell was writing the book, Russia was an ally of Britain against the Axis powers. Thus, 'Uncle Joe' could not do any wrong (after being - rightfully - demonised through the 1930s). It was this lionisation that Orwell was warning against.

 

[Contra Mundum]

That's fair enough. At the moment, I cannot find any reputable sources for that theory (as opposed to google). However, for me, the parallels are too stark to be coincidental. For example, Snowball being usurped by Napoleon and then exiled, pursued and (presumably) killed by the dogs - meanwhile Trotsky was similarly undermined by Stalin, exiled and killed by the NKVD (or one of their agents). It is also worthwhile to remember that "Animal Farm" was written in 1943 (it was published in '44). Trotsky was killed in 1940.

Also, at the time that Orwell was writing the book, Russia was an ally of Britain against the Axis powers. Thus, 'Uncle Joe' could not do any wrong (after being - rightfully - demonised through the 1930s). It was this lionisation that Orwell was writing about.

I take your point MrMeaner - anyway the guy was an incredible writer - sure beats the bloody Da Vinci Code with its legion of card board character cliches!

 

[MrMeaner]

I take your point MrMeaner - anyway the guy was an incredible writer - sure beats the bloody Da Vinci Code with its legion of card board character cliches!

Agreed.

Now back on the topic of the thread. Lately, I have been devouring the Rebus series of books by Ian Rankin. Not highbrow but great escapism and some of the best crime fiction that I have read in a while.

 

[- PC -]

Where do I start??

My mum was a book freak and I caught the bug. Started with Enid Blyton and Famous Five and CS Lewis Witch and the Wardrobe .

Moved to Agatha Christie ..Hercule was cule Miss Marple was not my cup of tea.The into general crime Ed McBain and the 87th Precint was great police procedural. Then along came Alistair MacLean and I started to develop an author fetish , where I read ALL the authors books, so went through Wilbur Smith, Isaac Asimov,Robert Ludlum, Nick Carter series,John D MacDonald ,Ross McDonald and Carter Brown in my teens..lots of willing wanton women.

Then more general spy/action/sports genres and also King and Koontz, then whatever took my fancy after that..did a lot of biographies etc and now mainly interested in the same as when i was a teen

Reading Megatrends again and may read Tofflers Third Wave

Favourite Author? A lot of mine are dead so I would have to say every time I see a Steven King novel I give it more interest than most

 

[Pointy Birds]

Do yourselves a favour, folks.

'Undercover' by Damian Marrett

The best Australian true crime writing since Ned Kelly scribbled down 'The Jerilderie Letter' on the back of a summons.

 

[O'Brien]

that is bull********! it was a comment on totalatarianism generally including the fascist variety

"Keep the abadistras flying; "Homage to Catalonia" and "Down and Out in london and Paris" are far superior than Animal Farm I would commend that you read them first

I have to disagree with you on this Mark.

Orwell wrote in the preface of the Ukrainian edition of Animal Farm:

“Nothing has contributed to so much to the corruption of the original idea of socialism as the belief that Russia is a socialist country and that every act of its rulers must be excused, if not intimated. And so for the past ten years I have been convinced that the destruction of the Soviet myth was essential if we wanted a revival of the socialist movement”

Indeed when his publisher Gollancz refused to publish Animal farm, Orwell observed:

“…felt immediately that to publish so savage an attack on Russia at a time when we were fighting for our existence side by side with her could not be justified…”


And when he turned to Secker & Warburg to publish Animal Farm having been rejected by Gollancz (communist) and various other conservative publishers… he described Animal Farm as:

“It’s about animals, and very anti-Russian”.

It’s essentially an allegory of Communist Russia:

Human beings –capitalists
Animals –communists
Wild creatures-peasants
Pigs- Bolsheviks
Rebellion – October revolution
Neighbours – western armies
Hoof and horn – hammer and sickle
Spontaneous demonstration – may day celebration
Order of green banner – order of lenin…..
Napoleon – Stalin
Snowball – Trotsky.

I’ve read all of Orwell’s books, most of his essays and have much of his correspondence:

-George Orwell: An Age Like This 1920-1940 : The Collected Essays, Journalism & Letters
-George Orwell: As I Please, 1943-1945 : The Collected Essays, Journalism & Letters

Personally 1984 is still my favourite, though Homage to Catalonia is also a compelling read. I greatly admire the man..

 

[Contra Mundum]

I have to disagree with you on this Mark.

Orwell wrote in the preface of the Ukrainian edition of Animal Farm:

“Nothing has contributed to so much to the corruption of the original idea of socialism as the belief that Russia is a socialist country and that every act of its rulers must be excused, if not intimated. And so for the past ten years I have been convinced that the destruction of the Soviet myth was essential if we wanted a revival of the socialist movement”

Indeed when his publisher Gollancz refused to publish Animal farm, Orwell observed:

“…felt immediately that to publish so savage an attack on Russia at a time when we were fighting for our existence side by side with her could not be justified…”


And when he turned to Secker & Warburg to publish Animal Farm having been rejected by Gollancz (communist) and various other conservative publishers… he described Animal Farm as:

“It’s about animals, and very anti-Russian”.

It’s essentially an allegory of Communist Russia:

Human beings –capitalists
Animals –communists
Wild creatures-peasants
Pigs- Bolsheviks
Rebellion – October revolution
Neighbours – western armies
Hoof and horn – hammer and sickle
Spontaneous demonstration – may day celebration
Order of green banner – order of lenin…..
Napoleon – Stalin
Snowball – Trotsky.

I’ve read all of Orwell’s books, most of his essays and have much of his correspondence:

-George Orwell: An Age Like This 1920-1940 : The Collected Essays, Journalism & Letters
-George Orwell: As I Please, 1943-1945 : The Collected Essays, Journalism & Letters

Personally 1984 is still my favourite, though Homage to Catalonia is also a compelling read. I greatly admire the man..

Jesus! you learn something everyday! Thanks for the info O'Brien

 

[aesop]

I'm currently reading, and thoroughly enjoying, Love In The Time of Cholera by Marquez. Captivating stuff.

For those not familiar with him I suggest you have a read of One Hundred Years of Solitude. My favourite book ever.

 

[MrMeaner]

I have to disagree with you on this Mark.

Orwell wrote in the preface of the Ukrainian edition of Animal Farm:

“Nothing has contributed to so much to the corruption of the original idea of socialism as the belief that Russia is a socialist country and that every act of its rulers must be excused, if not intimated. And so for the past ten years I have been convinced that the destruction of the Soviet myth was essential if we wanted a revival of the socialist movement”

Indeed when his publisher Gollancz refused to publish Animal farm, Orwell observed:

“…felt immediately that to publish so savage an attack on Russia at a time when we were fighting for our existence side by side with her could not be justified…”


And when he turned to Secker & Warburg to publish Animal Farm having been rejected by Gollancz (communist) and various other conservative publishers… he described Animal Farm as:

“It’s about animals, and very anti-Russian”.

It’s essentially an allegory of Communist Russia:

Human beings –capitalists
Animals –communists
Wild creatures-peasants
Pigs- Bolsheviks
Rebellion – October revolution
Neighbours – western armies
Hoof and horn – hammer and sickle
Spontaneous demonstration – may day celebration
Order of green banner – order of lenin…..
Napoleon – Stalin
Snowball – Trotsky.

I’ve read all of Orwell’s books, most of his essays and have much of his correspondence:

-George Orwell: An Age Like This 1920-1940 : The Collected Essays, Journalism & Letters
-George Orwell: As I Please, 1943-1945 : The Collected Essays, Journalism & Letters

Personally 1984 is still my favourite, though Homage to Catalonia is also a compelling read. I greatly admire the man..

Thanks O'Brien that was the sort of info that I was looking for above.

I would give anything to again have the time to dwell on such things. I miss being an Arts student.

 

[MrMeaner]

Do yourselves a favour, folks.

'Undercover' by Damian Marrett

The best Australian true crime writing since Ned Kelly scribbled down 'The Jerilderie Letter' on the back of a summons.

If looking for fictional crime writing, try the Murray Whelan series by Shane Moloney. Also adds more than a little political satire. The series also gives a fantastic sense of the changing landscape of Melbourne from the early-1980s to the mid-1990s.

 

[Contra Mundum]

Thanks O'Brien that was the sort of info that I was looking for above.

I would give anything to again have the time to dwell on such things. I miss being an Arts student.

MrMeaner you should make time - I have the good/bad fortune of being an insomniac so I can plough through the books. They keep me sane as the world goes to hell in a handcart.

 

[MrMeaner]

MrMeaner you should make time - I have the good/bad fortune of being an insomniac so I can plough through the books. They keep me sane as the world goes to hell in a handcart.

Don't get me wrong, I still make time to read. What I meant was that I wish I had the time to again focus on deeper meaning rather than just skating across the surface of a good story.