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Kwoo
59 posts

Books!
Jan 11, 2020, 22:33
What are you reading at the moment? Comics, novels, poetry, any kind of book! Or even magazines. But preferably non-online sources.

I have a few things going on.
Re-Reading Wilhelm Reich's 'The Mass Psychology of Fascism'
Colette's 'Journey For Myself'
Brion Gysin / Genesis P-Orridge 'His Name Was Master'
Anya Davidson - 'Band For Life'


Sorry if this has already been covered, but I had a search and couldn't find a thread specifically on this!
tomatoman
118 posts

Re: Books!
Jan 12, 2020, 14:30
Currently reading Emily Maitlis "Airhead". My admiration for her as a TV journalist have only been expanded by this read.
Good person, good journalist.
jb lamptoast-morsley
jb lamptoast-morsley
2447 posts

Re: Books!
Jan 12, 2020, 15:53
Recently finished Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens - a history of mankind and where it might be heading. As good as people say. One of the best academic books I've read.

Now reading An Autobiography by M.K Gandhi
Monganaut
Monganaut
2365 posts

Edited Jan 12, 2020, 23:40
Re: Books!
Jan 12, 2020, 23:36
Bloody hell, y'all make my current reading look like the lightweight fluff it is.

Just finished:- Hawkwind - Sonic Assassins
Pretty detailed overview of the band, albums and members up until a few years ago. Easy read with lots of info I wasn't privy to till now, v. enjoyable.

Goshawk Squadron - Derek Robinson
Was an Xmas pressie that I wasn't sure about, but quite enjoyed in the end. Kinda gritty/black humored look at the trials and tribs of a WW1 fighter squadron in France.

Just starting - Follow Me To Ground - Sue Rainsford
Great little 'folk horror' tome about 'non human' healers and their interactions with the local folk. Good stuff.

In the midst of...

Ghostly Winter Tails V4 - Blackheat Editions
Bunch of short stories with an Xmas ghost theme. Hit and miss, mostly hit. No M R James' here, but enjoyable enough tales.

Best American Mystery Stories 2010 - Edited by Lee Child
Not a duffer in the short story collection of various authors. If you like you're Americana dark, this fits the bill wonderfully.

The Desert War - Alan Moorehead
Definitive account of the second world war in Libya and the Middle East by Journo who was embedded in various parts of the British Army during the conflict. Exciting, Terrifying and inciteful. Huge tome and heavy going in parts, but deffo worth plowing through if this stuff is your kinda thang. It is amazing we 'won' this part of the war considering some of the dodgy tactics used and much of the outdated and antiquated equipment used which useless on other 'fronts'. Deffo as much luck as judgement would be my overview of the battles we won.

The Heart Of England - Edward Thomas
Collection of essays published in 1906 on I guess, what the essence of England was at the time. Landscape, wildlife, tradition etc... In terms of wildlife etc, it makes me realise what we've lost, even in my lifetime.

This Dreaming Isle - Dan Coxon (editor)
More short stories in the mystery/fantasy/ghost vein. Some Sci Fi, Some Folk Horror, all with a Brit bent...good mix, enjoying a lot.

The Luxury of Dreams - Mark Automaton
Biog of co-founder of 70's uber DIYers 'Instant Automatons'. Not the best written account of the scene, but interesting enough overview of a band making the most of a shoestring budget. Brought back some nice memories of the scene, and bands in it if yu were there'. He's still at it too, good man!

Still got a book token to cash in from Xmas. What do you think I should get...so far it's a toss up between two David Stubbs titles. 1. Future Days...basically a Krautrock overview or 2. Mars By 1980. An intro/overview of electronic music from early to now? any other suggestions willingly received.
Anchor
31 posts

Re: Books!
Jan 13, 2020, 12:33
Re reading Head On. Lost my OG copy years ago and was given a new copy for christmas. I've not read it since 1994 so it's like a new book!

I am also reading The Orchard Keeper by Cormac Mcarthy.

I also have Pro Cycling monthy on the go as I do every month.
Pursued By Trees
Pursued By Trees
1135 posts

Re: Books!
Jan 14, 2020, 23:27
Before I regained gainful employment, I was combating my lack of activity by spending a fair amount of time each day on an exercise bike and reading a lot of Peter Cheyney, Edgar Wallace and the like (getting through a book every couple of days).

Presently I'm back to reading mainly books about film (easier to dip in and out of) ... presently Fredric Dannen's 'Hong Kong Babylon'. This as I've been on a bit of an extended Hong Kong film binge for the last year or so. I must have watched a little over 200 so far. It's gotten to the point where I can tell the original Cantonese audio track from the dubbed Mandarin track. Not happy when Anthony Wong sounds wrong.
Kwoo
59 posts

Re: Books!
Jan 17, 2020, 11:46
Pursued By Trees wrote:


Presently I'm back to reading mainly books about film (easier to dip in and out of) ... presently Fredric Dannen's 'Hong Kong Babylon'. This as I've been on a bit of an extended Hong Kong film binge for the last year or so. I must have watched a little over 200 so far. It's gotten to the point where I can tell the original Cantonese audio track from the dubbed Mandarin track. Not happy when Anthony Wong sounds wrong.


That book sounds really great. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a copy.
I helped my ex with his thesis on Wong Kar Wai, so I absorbed a lot and the passion remains. It would also relate excellently to the line of work I'm in at the moment (working for a festival).

Would love to know what you're watching! There's some very interesting new work from China that I'll get to see in the next while.
woolybacque
woolybacque
42 posts

Re: Books!
Jan 24, 2020, 10:55
Monganaut wrote:


Still got a book token to cash in from Xmas. What do you think I should get...so far it's a toss up between two David Stubbs titles. 1. Future Days...basically a Krautrock overview or 2. Mars By 1980. An intro/overview of electronic music from early to now? any other suggestions willingly received.


if you're still considering...H is for Hawk by Helen McDonald, about the trials & tribs of taming a Goshawk!
Monganaut
Monganaut
2365 posts

Re: Books!
Jan 26, 2020, 12:58
Not read that one, though re-read 'Kes' early last year. Was every bit as good as I remember. Just finished a book called 'The Salt Path', which is kinda inspiring. 'Bought a couple who lose everythng, and the guy is battling a serious illness who decide to alk the SW Coast Path. Good stuff, though I did find myself skipping the odd bit here and there...could have been edited a little tighter.

Plumped for 'Mars By 1980' with my book token. Stubbs and myself are of a similar age to recall the excitement about electronic music in the late 70's earl 80's. Many of his recollections tally well with my memories of much of the period he covers. Enjoying it so far.

Also reading Orwells 'Coming Up For Air'. One of his lesser known books, but enjoying it immensely. Seems nostalgia for your past when things seemed 'better' is a human condition, not locked to any age.
Kid Calamity
9042 posts

Re: Books!
Jan 26, 2020, 15:00
I used to read books by Ben Elton avidly, until... the more mainstream, commercial crowd pleasing stuff around 1992. I used to enjoy seeing him live and the books like 'Gridlock' and 'Stark'. Anyway, on a holiday a few months ago I saw someone had left his 'Identity Crisis' in a guests library so grabbed it.

Lady Calamity finished the one she'd taken out there with her first, so snatched it off me. I was still dawdling along with my Stewart Lee, so didn't mind, too much. I road up, I've started it now and am again dawdling along. It's not bad, actually. Ben Elton as I used to like him. Satyrical and up to the moment, whilst very amusing.
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