What book on your table now

**robgski** · 08-10-2022, 02:27 AM

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

I guess even the best and most dedicated historian must find it hard to detach themselves from their present social environment.

I agree, and I prefer histories which are impartial as possible. That's why I also like to read older history books, especially eyewitness accounts or autobiographies. So many books, so little time.

timb64 · 08-10-2022, 07:21 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by robgski

So many books, so little time.

I remember as a 15 year old being told by my English teacher

"Life's too short to read rubbish!"

As I approach 60 that becomes more and more true!

timb64 · 08-11-2022, 10:33 AM

Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood.

The sequel to Oryx and Crake which I read about 10 years ago and never got around to following up.

A post-pandemic/apocalypse story,very prescient and easy reading (given the depressing subject matter).

**Nakedgun** · 08-22-2022, 08:28 PM - **1 Like**

Just completed: "A Woman Of No Importance, The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II" by Sonia Purnell, 2019, 352 pages.

We learn of unheralded heroes so long after they've left us, and this is particularly so for those involved in clandestine activities.

Paramount has bought the rights and developing it for Daisy Ridley to portray Virginia Hall.

.

**robgski** · 08-23-2022, 03:36 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Nakedgun

We learn of unheralded heroes so long after they've left us

That's why I often read obituaries.

timb64 · 08-23-2022, 05:59 AM

Originally posted by robgski

That's why I often read obituaries.

I love the ones for the last of the WWII veterans,they represent a small sample of really heroic lives.

**Nakedgun** · 09-14-2022, 08:39 PM

Just completed: "The Spy and The Traitor, The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War" by Ben Macintyre, 2018 (afterword 2019), 364 pages.

Fascinating story very well-written, a page turner.

.

**RobA_Oz** · 09-14-2022, 09:04 PM

We recently watched the Netflix fictional series ’Babylon Berlin’, which has intrigued both us and everyone we’ve recommended it to.

When I subsequently saw the book (on which the TV program was based) for sale I bought it out of curiosity. Although a fairly thick book, it was an easy read, and differed in several ways from the Netflix adaptation, although the story lines were basically the same, and the book covered only half of the series. There’s a second book that covers the remainder of the TV series, which I may follow up with, later.

timb64 · 09-14-2022, 11:17 PM

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.The Arthurian legend from the viewpoint of the women in the story.At 1000 pages I’m not sure I’ll stay the course!

**Nakedgun** · 09-25-2022, 08:35 PM - **1 Like**

Just completed: "The Price Of Principle, Why Integrity Is Worth The Consequences" by Alan Dershowitz, 2022, 159 pages.

His 50th book, and the first of his I've read, he explores his stance on a variety of issues and how his life has been affected by those positions.

.

**RobA_Oz** · 09-29-2022, 11:35 AM

Taking me back in time, I came across a collection of Spike Milligan works, entitled 'The New Milligan Family Collection', and failed to resist the urge to add it to my collection of Milligan's work from his time in The Goon Show and later, including several biographies.

This collection included 'A Book of Milliganimals', 'Silly Verse for Kids', 'Puckoon', 'The Bedsitting Room' and 'Adolf Hitler – My Part in His Downfall'. A previous owner had swapped "Small Dreams of a Scorpion' for 'The Bedsitting Room'.

Zany humour from another time, bless him.

lesmore49 · 09-29-2022, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by robgski

That's why I often read obituaries.

Same here. Some tremendous stories of lives lived.

**paulh** · 12-06-2022, 03:55 PM

Just finished "Silent Witness" by Richard North Patterson, my first from this author. Complex murder mystery legal courtroom thriller, if you like that sort of thing. I did, and will be seeking more from this author.

**AggieDad** · 12-06-2022, 05:14 PM - **1 Like**

I tend to have several books going at one time. Right now I am in a "retro" mode and revisiting some books I read long ago. The group is a real potpourri that includes William Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich; James Michener's Recessional; and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

**RobA_Oz** · 12-07-2022, 03:45 PM

I’ve recently finished Book V of The Expanse series, and resisting the urge to binge on the remaining works. So, I’m currently reading Bob Dylan’s ‘Philosophy of Modern Song’, Mary Hollingsworth’s history of the Medici, and Peter Rees’s ‘The Missing Man’, which is the biography of Australia’s first indigenous fighter pilot, who flew Kittyhawks in the Pacific theatre during WW2.

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08-10-2022, 02:27 AM	#1156
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,817	Originally posted by RobA_Oz I guess even the best and most dedicated historian must find it hard to detach themselves from their present social environment. I agree, and I prefer histories which are impartial as possible. That's why I also like to read older history books, especially eyewitness accounts or autobiographies. So many books, so little time.

08-10-2022, 07:21 AM - 2 Likes	#1157
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,514	Originally posted by robgski So many books, so little time. I remember as a 15 year old being told by my English teacher "Life's too short to read rubbish!" As I approach 60 that becomes more and more true!

08-11-2022, 10:33 AM	#1158
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,514	Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. The sequel to Oryx and Crake which I read about 10 years ago and never got around to following up. A post-pandemic/apocalypse story,very prescient and easy reading (given the depressing subject matter).

08-22-2022, 08:28 PM - 1 Like	#1159
Nakedgun Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,365	Just completed: "A Woman Of No Importance, The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II" by Sonia Purnell, 2019, 352 pages. We learn of unheralded heroes so long after they've left us, and this is particularly so for those involved in clandestine activities. Paramount has bought the rights and developing it for Daisy Ridley to portray Virginia Hall. .

08-23-2022, 03:36 AM - 1 Like	#1160
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,817	Originally posted by Nakedgun We learn of unheralded heroes so long after they've left us That's why I often read obituaries.

08-23-2022, 05:59 AM	#1161
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,514	Originally posted by robgski That's why I often read obituaries. I love the ones for the last of the WWII veterans,they represent a small sample of really heroic lives.

09-14-2022, 08:39 PM	#1162
Nakedgun Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,365	Just completed: "The Spy and The Traitor, The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War" by Ben Macintyre, 2018 (afterword 2019), 364 pages. Fascinating story very well-written, a page turner. .

09-14-2022, 09:04 PM	#1163
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,209	We recently watched the Netflix fictional series ’Babylon Berlin’, which has intrigued both us and everyone we’ve recommended it to. When I subsequently saw the book (on which the TV program was based) for sale I bought it out of curiosity. Although a fairly thick book, it was an easy read, and differed in several ways from the Netflix adaptation, although the story lines were basically the same, and the book covered only half of the series. There’s a second book that covers the remainder of the TV series, which I may follow up with, later.

09-14-2022, 11:17 PM	#1164
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,514	The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.The Arthurian legend from the viewpoint of the women in the story.At 1000 pages I’m not sure I’ll stay the course!

09-25-2022, 08:35 PM - 1 Like	#1165
Nakedgun Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,365	Just completed: "The Price Of Principle, Why Integrity Is Worth The Consequences" by Alan Dershowitz, 2022, 159 pages. His 50th book, and the first of his I've read, he explores his stance on a variety of issues and how his life has been affected by those positions. .

09-29-2022, 11:35 AM	#1166
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,209	Taking me back in time, I came across a collection of Spike Milligan works, entitled 'The New Milligan Family Collection', and failed to resist the urge to add it to my collection of Milligan's work from his time in The Goon Show and later, including several biographies. This collection included 'A Book of Milliganimals', 'Silly Verse for Kids', 'Puckoon', 'The Bedsitting Room' and 'Adolf Hitler – My Part in His Downfall'. A previous owner had swapped "Small Dreams of a Scorpion' for 'The Bedsitting Room'. Zany humour from another time, bless him.

09-29-2022, 09:04 PM	#1167
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Originally posted by robgski That's why I often read obituaries. Same here. Some tremendous stories of lives lived.

12-06-2022, 03:55 PM	#1168
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,307	Just finished "Silent Witness" by Richard North Patterson, my first from this author. Complex murder mystery legal courtroom thriller, if you like that sort of thing. I did, and will be seeking more from this author.

12-06-2022, 05:14 PM - 1 Like	#1169
AggieDad Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,456	I tend to have several books going at one time. Right now I am in a "retro" mode and revisiting some books I read long ago. The group is a real potpourri that includes William Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich; James Michener's Recessional; and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

12-07-2022, 03:45 PM	#1170
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,209	I’ve recently finished Book V of The Expanse series, and resisting the urge to binge on the remaining works. So, I’m currently reading Bob Dylan’s ‘Philosophy of Modern Song’, Mary Hollingsworth’s history of the Medici, and Peter Rees’s ‘The Missing Man’, which is the biography of Australia’s first indigenous fighter pilot, who flew Kittyhawks in the Pacific theatre during WW2.