This week, I are mostly reading....

WindSock

Labirynth by Kate Mosse. Just started it. Haven't had time to read a book in ages and it was recommended to me. I look forward to reading it.

Thrill

Berlin: The downfall 1945. Author: Antony Beevor. (Non Fiction)

I hope it's as good as Stalingrad, by the same author, which I read last week and thought was excellent.





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John

It is, in fact I thought Berlin was much better (and I thought Stalingrad was fantastic).

HalloweenJack

Garrinhca's biography by Ruy Castro.

It's really interesting, full of anecdotes and there's a lot of emphasis on his love life.

HalloweenJack

JangoFett wrote: »

I finished Glamorama, its excellent!! LOVED IT!!

I'm a big B.E.E. fan but I found Glamorama really difficult to read. I thought there was just too much going on. I didn't really "get" it.

He thinks he's in a film but what's happening is real???

wildsaffy

Am slowly reading this - relishing in the descriptive narrative.

Excerpt:;)

"Ibrahim the Mad was one of our most entertaining when he was young. It was said that there was a smile at the corners of his lips from the moment of his birth, and from early boyhood he was a specialist in inappropriate interjections.

To be precise, he perfected a repertoire of bleats that exactly mimicked the stupid comments of a goat in all its various states of mind; a goat that is surprised, a goat that is looking for its kid, a goat that is protesting, a goat that is hungry, a goat that is perplexed, a goat that is in rut. His most popular bleat, however, was that of a goat that has nothing to say. This bleat was the perfect parody of unintelligence, empty-headedness, inanity and harmlessness.

If you want to know what it sounded like, just go up past the ancient tombs to where the limepit is. It is in the wild ground near there that Ibrahim the Mad still watches the goats, even though he is no longer sane. You should beware of his great dog. It is a very fine animal that takes each goat back to its owner every evening, without Ibrahim the Mad having to do anything at all, but it is a somewhat ready-fanged dog that recognises a stranger straight away by the smell.

If you cannot find Ibrahim there, then listen for the sound of the kaval, and follow it. He blows it so sadly that it makes you stand still and go into mourning. He does not bleat himself any more, but listens to the goats as they wander from shrub to shrub, and you will soon recognise the bleat of a goat with nothing to say."

IvyTheTerrible

wildsaffy wrote: »

Am slowly reading this - relishing in the descriptive narrative.

I loved this book! Have you read the trilogy he wrote before, I thought it was brilliant

owlwink

Decided to start Bram Stoker's Dracula and I am about a quarter through it. Very enjoyable even with the predictability that floats over the story. Even though the genre has been sucked dry, it still holds a strong vitality to this day. Worth a look.

Lizzykins

Thrill wrote: »

Berlin: The downfall 1945. Author: Antony Beevor. (Non Fiction)

I hope it's as good as Stalingrad, by the same author, which I read last week and thought was excellent.





.

I adored both but I just can't get into The Battle for Spain which is by Beevor too and concerns the Spanish Civil War. I think it's too detailed for a Spanish Civil War novice so if anyone could recommend a starter book I'd be pleased.

owlwink

Lizzykins wrote: »

I adored both but I just can't get into The Battle for Spain which is by Beevor too and concerns the Spanish Civil War. I think it's too detailed for a Spanish Civil War novice so if anyone could recommend a starter book I'd be pleased.

1. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War by Paul Preston

Not only is this the best introductory text on the civil war, but it's also an enlightening read for anyone already versed in the subject. Preston's clear and precise text is a perfect backdrop for his marvelous selection of quotes and pithy style, a combination that has - quite rightly - received widespread praise. Aim for the revised edition, first published in 1996.
2. The Spanish Civil War by Antony Beevor

Beevor's concise and detailed account of the Spanish civil war presents the complex mix of events in a clear manner, using a smooth and readable narrative with an excellent appraisal of both the broader situations and the difficulties faced by individual soldiers. Add to that a fairly cheap price and you have a praiseworthy text! Get the expanded version, first published in 2001.
3. The Coming of the Spanish Civil War: Reform, Reaction and Revolution in the Seco

While many accounts of the civil war concentrate on bloodshed, this text outlines the preceding events. Newly republished in an updated form, Preston discusses the changes, decline and possible collapse of political and social institutions, including that of democracy. This book is certainly essential reading for anyone studying the civil war, but it is also fascinating in its own right.
4. Franco: a Biography by Paul Preston

A biography of Francisco Franco - the man who led certain forces to victory in Spain's civil war before ruling until his death in 1975 - this masterful book uses a combination of new sources, older texts and the author's own deep insights to create a compelling biography. Preston's style is, as ever, highly enjoyable.
5. The Spanish Civil War by Hugh Thomas

If you want real depth - and you like reading - ignore the other books in this list and get Thomas' mammoth history of the Spanish Civil War. Numbering over a thousand pages, this weighty tome contains a reliable, accurate and impartial account that examines the full range of nuances with deft and style. Unfortunately, it will be simply too large for many readers.
6. A New International History of the Spanish Civil War by Michael Alpert

Instead of focusing on the conflict in Spain, this text examines the surrounding events, including the reactions - and (in)actions - of other countries. Alpert's book is a well-written and convincing piece of historiography which would augment most studies of the Civil War; it's also essential for anyone studying international politics in the twentieth century.
7. Comrades by Paul Preston

This is the fourth of Preston's books to appear in this list, and it's the most intriguing. In nine biographical 'portraits' (essays) the author examines nine key figures from the Spanish civil war, starting with those on the political right and moving over to the left. The approach is fascinating, the material excellent, the conclusions enlightening, and the book wholly recommended.
8. Spain's Civil War by Harry Browne

Part of Longman's 'Seminar Studies' series, this book offers a compact introduction to the Spanish Civil War, covering such topics as international aid, 'terror' tactics and the conflict's legacy. Browne has also included a subject bibliography and sixteen annotated documents for study and discussion.
9. The Spanish Civil War by Patricia Knight

If pick eight is still too large, try this very concise introduction by Patricia Knight; it only fills 128 pages. Despite that, the author enhances the basic discusses with comparisons between Spain and later fascist regimes in Europe, as well as providing a small amount of source material and bibliographic information.
10. The Spanish Tragedy by Raymond Carr

This text is probably the classic work on the Spanish civil war, and unlike other historical 'classics', the work is still very valid. Carr's style is good, his conclusions thought provoking and his academic rigour excellent. Although the title may suggest otherwise, this isn't an attack on the civil war in the same manner as some works on World War 1, but an incisive and important account.

Any help?????????????????????//

raah!

And don't forget "Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell.......really I don't know if that's a good book compared to all those others (nor do I know anything about the spanish civil war really) .

It is, however, nice and short, and i read it without knowing a single thing about the spanish civil war, so perhaps it's a good book for a novice

owlwink

raah! wrote: »

And don't forget "Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell.......really I don't know if that's a good book compared to all those others (nor do I know anything about the spanish civil war really) .

It is, however, nice and short, and i read it without knowing a single thing about the spanish civil war, so perhaps it's a good book for a novice

Good old Orwell..........:D Keeping things ambiguously simple. Delightful

Tar.Aldarion

Jingo - Terry Pratchett

MooseJam

um I'm not reading anything this week, will probably pick one up next week though and if I do I'll make sure to tell you all

Tar.Aldarion

You can read?

raah!

heh heh, take it easy bub. This week, he are mostly reading : Nothing

That's perfectly in accordance with the title, and even if it wasn't that wouldn't be a nice thing to say anyway

P.S:I am reading "Poor Folk" by Dostoyevsky, there are on ly 13 pages left, then I'll go back to the stupid leaving cert :P

Darondo

The Green Flag by Robert Kee

Tar.Aldarion

raah! wrote: »

heh heh, take it easy bub. This week, he are mostly reading : Nothing

That's perfectly in accordance with the title, and even if it wasn't that wouldn't be a nice thing to say anyway

P.S:I am reading "Poor Folk" by Dostoyevsky, there are on ly 13 pages left, then I'll go back to the stupid leaving cert :P

Calm down, I'm joking 'bub'. :-)

raah!

O.K I'll calm down, it'll be hard, as I'm very worked up..... but I'll calm down

Now I'm reading "house of the dead" also by Dostoyevsky

FruitLover

owlwink wrote: »

Even though the genre has been sucked dry

Booo

An Sionnach Rua

Thieves of Time by Terry Pratchett. Second book of his that I've read, lives up to the hype surrounding him, I suppose.

owlwink

FruitLover wrote: »

Booo

ha ha:D

RonMexico

sheesh wrote: »

The Great Shark hunt. hunter s thompson (Again).

Ah what a great book. Some real gems in there!

John

Haruki Murakami Norwegian Wood

Hrududu

Finished reading Life of Pi. I avoided it for years thinking I woulndnt like it. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying it.

Currently reading Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

Tetra

This Charming Man by Marian Keyes.

boogle

The Grapes of Wrath. Figured I'd see what all the fuss was about. So far it's a real hoot...

John

Antony Beevor The Battle for Spain

jackbhoy

Vietnam (The Definitive Oral History, Told from All Sides) by Christian Appy.

Amazing book and easily the best (of many) I have read on this topic. I'd highly recommendend it.

Back to fiction for me today, just starting The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Hrududu

Just started East of Eden, should keep me going for a while.