Nino Culotta - They're a Weird Mob. One of Australia's most famous literary hoaxes, but also a massive bestseller and a wonderful, funny read too.
Book Thread
Started by
Futtocks
, Jan 03 2012 01:43 PM
151 replies to this topic
#61
Futtocks
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Posted 02 July 2012 - 09:49 AM
"Journalists are meant to be neutral, for God's sake." - Stephen 'Wiggy' Jones
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
#62
marklaspalmas
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Posted 02 July 2012 - 10:12 AM
Im reading "Fifty shades of........ narh, just kidding.
Bletchley Park seems to be quite the thing at the mo' (not sure why, some significant anniversary?) so Im reading Sinclair McKay's version of events.
Interesting.
Bletchley Park seems to be quite the thing at the mo' (not sure why, some significant anniversary?) so Im reading Sinclair McKay's version of events.
Interesting.
#63
Exiled Townie
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Posted 02 July 2012 - 07:17 PM
Shot In The Tower
by Leonard Sellers
The Blurb - The grimly fascinating story of the dozen German spies shot in the Tower of London in the Great War.
The first reaction to Leonard Sellers fascinating account of the spies who were executed in the Tower of London during the First World War is likely to be one of amazement at their ineptitude. Not one of them seems to have had any proper training or any idea of how to set about the job. However, thanks to the more liberal attitude now prevalent regarding access to hitherto `sensitive' material and to years of dogged research by Len Sellers, the remarkable, but somehow pathetic, stories of the eleven foreign agents who were caught and subsequently shot in the Tower for espionage can now be told. In these days when a mind-boggling array of equipment is available for the assimilation and transmission of supposedly secret information their antics strike one as little short of farcical, but for their efforts, inspired, it seems, more often by greed than patriotism, these men paid the ultimate price and paid it in the most historic site in Britain.
Tells the stories in a very matter of fact way. Worth a read if you are interested in spies, espionage, WW1 etc. One on the spies I actually liked the sound of, Carl Hans Lody. (The one in the middle of the book cover). When on trial for his life a very short sighted old lady was asked if the man in question was in the court room. She took ages looking around, and in the end Lody stood up in the dock, waved his hand at her and said "I'm over here." As he was being led to the firing squad, the priest leading the group took a wrong turn down a corridor. Lody tapped him on the shoulder and pointing in the other direction said "I think you'll find its that way."
by Leonard Sellers
The Blurb - The grimly fascinating story of the dozen German spies shot in the Tower of London in the Great War.
The first reaction to Leonard Sellers fascinating account of the spies who were executed in the Tower of London during the First World War is likely to be one of amazement at their ineptitude. Not one of them seems to have had any proper training or any idea of how to set about the job. However, thanks to the more liberal attitude now prevalent regarding access to hitherto `sensitive' material and to years of dogged research by Len Sellers, the remarkable, but somehow pathetic, stories of the eleven foreign agents who were caught and subsequently shot in the Tower for espionage can now be told. In these days when a mind-boggling array of equipment is available for the assimilation and transmission of supposedly secret information their antics strike one as little short of farcical, but for their efforts, inspired, it seems, more often by greed than patriotism, these men paid the ultimate price and paid it in the most historic site in Britain.
Tells the stories in a very matter of fact way. Worth a read if you are interested in spies, espionage, WW1 etc. One on the spies I actually liked the sound of, Carl Hans Lody. (The one in the middle of the book cover). When on trial for his life a very short sighted old lady was asked if the man in question was in the court room. She took ages looking around, and in the end Lody stood up in the dock, waved his hand at her and said "I'm over here." As he was being led to the firing squad, the priest leading the group took a wrong turn down a corridor. Lody tapped him on the shoulder and pointing in the other direction said "I think you'll find its that way."
"In left-wing circles it is always felt that there is something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman, and that it is
their duty to snigger at every English institution"
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
St Albans Centurions Website
#64
Steve May
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Posted 04 July 2012 - 03:20 PM
Next up, 'The Pleasure of finding things out' by Richard P.Feynmann.
A great man. Worth a hour to watch this
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related
From the days when factual TV makers were happy to point a camera at someone worth listening to and let them talk.
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
#65
Futtocks
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Posted 04 July 2012 - 03:29 PM
Thanks for that! 
"Journalists are meant to be neutral, for God's sake." - Stephen 'Wiggy' Jones
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
#66
Li0nhead
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Posted 16 July 2012 - 04:03 PM
Just found 'A game of thrones' that i bought a year or so back and gave up after 1 chapter. Going to give it another go.
#67
terrywebbisgod
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Posted 16 July 2012 - 06:25 PM
A genius.The pleasure of finding things out is my all time favourite book.A great man. Worth a hour to watch this
From the days when factual TV makers were happy to point a camera at someone worth listening to and let them talk.
Leeds Rhinos,STILL the only Grand Final winning club NOT to have cheated the salary cap.WCC Champions 2012.
#68
Bleep1673
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Posted 16 July 2012 - 06:29 PM
Just started Patrick O'Brien's Desolation Island on Kindle
Swinton RLFC est 1866 - Supplying England with players when most of your clubs were in nappies
#69
l'angelo mysterioso
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Posted 16 July 2012 - 06:54 PM
made the mistake of reading Sean Long's 'biography' on kindle
Going to download a wallander to cheer myself up after that load of dross
Going to download a wallander to cheer myself up after that load of dross
there are those among us
who think that life is but a joke
who think that life is but a joke
#70
timtum
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Posted 17 July 2012 - 04:18 PM
Beevor's D-day.
Fascinating, particularly his take on the relationships and behaviours of the allied leaders.
Fascinating, particularly his take on the relationships and behaviours of the allied leaders.
In the South of France and fancy a banger?
www.mistersaucisse.fr
"Fine sausages for the discerning customer"
www.mistersaucisse.fr
"Fine sausages for the discerning customer"
#71
Futtocks
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Posted 18 July 2012 - 12:57 PM
Today's visit to the second-hand book shop turned up:
- Erich Maria Remarque - All quiet on the Western Front
- Gerald Durrell - A Zoo in my Luggage
- Lord Kinross - the Innocents at Home
- Paul Theroux - Riding the Iron Rooster
- Frank Muir - A Kentish Lad
"Journalists are meant to be neutral, for God's sake." - Stephen 'Wiggy' Jones
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
#72
l'angelo mysterioso
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Posted 18 July 2012 - 01:53 PM
Beevor's D-day.
Fascinating, particularly his take on the relationships and behaviours of the allied leaders.
check out Max Hastings effort on D Day
Also check out 'All Hell Let Loose' by Hasrings as well. It's an analysis of WW2 from start to finish, with a powerful human element to it.
Hastings, whatever his faults is a fine historian.
Edited by l'angelo mysterioso, 18 July 2012 - 01:53 PM.
there are those among us
who think that life is but a joke
who think that life is but a joke
#73
my missus
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Posted 21 July 2012 - 10:54 PM
just got stephen kings 11/22/63 from morrisons £3.99 top price.
I knew a girl and I like her still
she said she knew she would trust me
and I her will...
she said she knew she would trust me
and I her will...
#74
marklaspalmas
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Posted 22 July 2012 - 11:44 AM
Just started Patrick O'Brien's Desolation Island on Kindle
You have previously read the first four books in the series haven't you?
#75
marklaspalmas
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Posted 22 July 2012 - 11:44 AM
Beevor's D-day.
Fascinating, particularly his take on the relationships and behaviours of the allied leaders.
Yes. yes.
#76
Futtocks
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Posted 23 July 2012 - 09:24 AM
Erich Maria Remarque - All quiet on the Western Front. The films made of this story were good, but the book stands head and shoulders above them. Superb.
Edited by Futtocks, 23 July 2012 - 09:24 AM.
"Journalists are meant to be neutral, for God's sake." - Stephen 'Wiggy' Jones
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
#77
Futtocks
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Posted 25 July 2012 - 02:55 PM
Currently reading the Frank Muir autobiography, and it is great fun.
I have also just bought a replacement copy of this wonderful reference book.
I have also just bought a replacement copy of this wonderful reference book.
"Journalists are meant to be neutral, for God's sake." - Stephen 'Wiggy' Jones
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
#78
Li0nhead
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Posted 21 August 2012 - 11:43 AM
Just found 'A game of thrones' that i bought a year or so back and gave up after 1 chapter. Going to give it another go.
Really, really getting into this now and off to get the full set of 7 books today.
#79
Futtocks
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Posted 21 August 2012 - 11:49 AM
Just finished Paul Theroux - Riding the Iron Rooster (travelling by train through China) and about to re-read 'The Most of S.J.Perelman', which is always a pleasure.
"Journalists are meant to be neutral, for God's sake." - Stephen 'Wiggy' Jones
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
"Perhaps it would be better that future criticism of sports be made on the narrow basis of what is being discussed, without reference to other sports, unless those sports offer a solution to the problem in hand." - Brian 'Pigface' Moore
"What happens in rugby union? A player takes the ball, moves forward a little and gets tackled. A whole load of players then roll about on the ground. Pheep! The referee gives a penalty." - Simon Barnes
#80
Wolford6
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Posted 21 August 2012 - 01:29 PM
I have lived in Bradford for forty years and last week, for the first time, I went to the Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth. I know many fellow board members regard me as a philistine, but I must confess that what I learned genuinely changed my preconceptions about the sisters ... I never realised what a bunch of hard faced scowling sourpusses they looked!
Their brother's portrait paintings weren't much cop either. All his subjects had potato faces.
I reckon 50 Shades of Agnes Grey would have made a much better book
Their brother's portrait paintings weren't much cop either. All his subjects had potato faces.
I reckon 50 Shades of Agnes Grey would have made a much better book
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