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Book thread: what are you reading?


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2 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

Update for me.

Just finished book 7, The Surgeon's Mate. How the characters have developed so far has been fascinating. Slowly, book by book, Maturin is taking more centre stage.

As I'm alternating with other stuff, it'll be the New Year before I start The Ionian Mission.

I was recently given this as a present, and it's superb:

 

51w6uXDgIIL.jpg

I'm currently reading number 9, Treason's Harbour. I agree, I've found Maturin is taking more of a prominent role and I must say I prefer Maturin to Aubrey, especially all the espionage, which is essentially what Treason's Harbour is about.

As the characters are developing and we're learning more about their back stories I'm feeling so connected to these people, I don't think I've been so engaged by a series of books for years. Already my favourite series ever and I'm not even halfway through! 

I even had a dream recently where I was talking on the phone to Diana and Jagiello was there as well. Can't remember anything else though! 😂

Ps. I picked this up in a second hand bookshop recently. Excellent guide to the series, explains terminology and the science behind all elements of sailing as well as describing places, destinations and ships they travel on as well as providing maps of the voyages which have been really helpful for showing where some of the fictional places they visit are located. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harbors-High-Seas-Geographical-Aubrey-Maturin/dp/0805066144/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=A6YD96W27NHT&keywords=Aubrey+and+Maturin+guide&qid=1640007262&sprefix=aubrey+and+maturin+guide%2Caps%2C895&sr=8-1

Edited by The Hallucinating Goose
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On 20/12/2021 at 13:31, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I'm currently reading number 9, Treason's Harbour. I agree, I've found Maturin is taking more of a prominent role and I must say I prefer Maturin to Aubrey, especially all the espionage, which is essentially what Treason's Harbour is about.

As the characters are developing and we're learning more about their back stories I'm feeling so connected to these people, I don't think I've been so engaged by a series of books for years. Already my favourite series ever and I'm not even halfway through! 

I even had a dream recently where I was talking on the phone to Diana and Jagiello was there as well. Can't remember anything else though! 😂

Ps. I picked this up in a second hand bookshop recently. Excellent guide to the series, explains terminology and the science behind all elements of sailing as well as describing places, destinations and ships they travel on as well as providing maps of the voyages which have been really helpful for showing where some of the fictional places they visit are located. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harbors-High-Seas-Geographical-Aubrey-Maturin/dp/0805066144/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=A6YD96W27NHT&keywords=Aubrey+and+Maturin+guide&qid=1640007262&sprefix=aubrey+and+maturin+guide%2Caps%2C895&sr=8-1

I have tonight finished number 9 in the series and as a result feel I have reached quite a symbolic point for me. I wanted to read the Aubrey-Maturin series after seeing the film adaptation, which took elements from a number of the novels I have noticed from reading what I have so far but of course the main plot of that film is taken from the novel, The Far Side of the World, which is number 10 in the series and the one I will start tomorrow. So not only am I at the halfway point in the series but I have also reached the story that, at least in film form, made me immediately fall in love with these characters I have been indulging myself in these past few months. 

Bring on The Far Side of the World! 😁🌍👍

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22 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I have tonight finished number 9 in the series and as a result feel I have reached quite a symbolic point for me. I wanted to read the Aubrey-Maturin series after seeing the film adaptation, which took elements from a number of the novels I have noticed from reading what I have so far but of course the main plot of that film is taken from the novel, The Far Side of the World, which is number 10 in the series and the one I will start tomorrow. So not only am I at the halfway point in the series but I have also reached the story that, at least in film form, made me immediately fall in love with these characters I have been indulging myself in these past few months. 

Bring on The Far Side of the World! 😁🌍👍

You're storming ahead of me. 😉

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On 20/12/2021 at 13:31, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I'm currently reading number 9, Treason's Harbour. I agree, I've found Maturin is taking more of a prominent role and I must say I prefer Maturin to Aubrey, especially all the espionage, which is essentially what Treason's Harbour is about.

As the characters are developing and we're learning more about their back stories I'm feeling so connected to these people, I don't think I've been so engaged by a series of books for years. Already my favourite series ever and I'm not even halfway through! 

I even had a dream recently where I was talking on the phone to Diana and Jagiello was there as well. Can't remember anything else though! 😂

Ps. I picked this up in a second hand bookshop recently. Excellent guide to the series, explains terminology and the science behind all elements of sailing as well as describing places, destinations and ships they travel on as well as providing maps of the voyages which have been really helpful for showing where some of the fictional places they visit are located. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harbors-High-Seas-Geographical-Aubrey-Maturin/dp/0805066144/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=A6YD96W27NHT&keywords=Aubrey+and+Maturin+guide&qid=1640007262&sprefix=aubrey+and+maturin+guide%2Caps%2C895&sr=8-1

Nice one. I'd seen that one on  Amazon. I think I'll have to get that too

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  • 2 weeks later...

Eastern Horizons - Hitchhiking the Silk Road by Levison Wood. I have always enjoyed his TV series and had read Walking the Himalalyas before. This is equally good even though he states that it is not well written as it is based on his diaries of a trip taken when he was 22. In fact it fairly bounces along in an easy readable style covering his  journey principally across Russia, Georgia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. I guess the Afghan sections are the most memorable as he made the trip not that long after the western intervention in that country. The tale covers both good and bad in places he visits (although in the epilogue he points out the changes, generally to the better, in places about which he is negative since 2004) and a degree of growing up that he had to do. Worth a read if you enjoy travel books

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Susanna Clarke - Piranesi. A strange fantasy, set in an other-worldly, Borges-influenced labyrinth.
Flann O’Brien - The Third Policeman. An absurd and surreal Irish tale, revolving around murder, bicycles and immortality.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Just read John Higgs KLF book ,Chaos, magic and the band that burned a million pounds,absolutely fascinating stuff, brilliantly written full of myth,synchronicity, conspiracy and the power of the number 23. Well worth a read.

As I like to chop and change my reads I am now revisiting an old hero and starting Sharpe's Assassin, let's hope it lives up to the rest of the series 

 

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Greg Jenner - Dead Famous: the Horrible Histories guy with an examination of celebrity, from the Roman Empire to the present day. Light-hearted, but full of information.

John Irving - Avenue of Mysteries: a recent Irving - not the absolute best of his that I've read, but I'm only half way through and still liking it. No bears yet.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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33 minutes ago, Route66 said:

Just read John Higgs KLF book ,Chaos, magic and the band that burned a million pounds,absolutely fascinating stuff, brilliantly written full of myth,synchronicity, conspiracy and the power of the number 23. Well worth a read.

As I like to chop and change my reads I am now revisiting an old hero and starting Sharpe's Assassin, let's hope it lives up to the rest of the series 

 

I'm currently searching charity shops for the Sharpe books, planning on starting them after finishing the Aubrey-Maturin series. What I have noticed in charity shops round here is you see loads of Bernard Cornwell novels but hardly any Sharpe ones, I guess they're popular and get snapped up quick, or people don't want to chuck them out. A few months back I remember one charity shop near me had the entire collection in and I didn't buy them cos I wasn't considering reading them at that point. Funny how these things happen isn't it? 

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30 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I'm currently searching charity shops for the Sharpe books, planning on starting them after finishing the Aubrey-Maturin series. What I have noticed in charity shops round here is you see loads of Bernard Cornwell novels but hardly any Sharpe ones, I guess they're popular and get snapped up quick, or people don't want to chuck them out. A few months back I remember one charity shop near me had the entire collection in and I didn't buy them cos I wasn't considering reading them at that point. Funny how these things happen isn't it? 

Too right, the world playing tricks on you,I got most of my old Sharpe books about 8 year ago when the works were knocking them out for 3 for 5 ,unfortunately it led me to read them in a haphazard order and there is still a couple I've missed completely, which begs the question will you read in date written or in time order

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9 minutes ago, Route66 said:

Too right, the world playing tricks on you,I got most of my old Sharpe books about 8 year ago when the works were knocking them out for 3 for 5 ,unfortunately it led me to read them in a haphazard order and there is still a couple I've missed completely, which begs the question will you read in date written or in time order

I'm gonna make sure I get them all before I start, or at least the first 5 or so and read them in time order. I think they are all pretty much standalone stories aren't they but if I can read them in the historical chronology then why not, will just add to the experience I feel! I've still got 10 Aubrey-Maturins to go so it will still be months before I start Sharpe probably, cos I aren't a fast reader. 

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8 minutes ago, Scubby said:

One for the purists

Falling off a Cliff - Eileen Dover

Same publisher as Bathing Cats by Claude Balls?

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Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I have just finished Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse series (Shadow and the bone etc)

I am not that into fantasy but these are excellent stories and characters, but the Shadow and the Bone series does contain some rather pathetic teenage romance writing, and it is testament to the strength of the story that you can read through that.

the six of crows however is a fantastic heist story.

 

 

non-fiction Soccermatics by David Sumptor us and interesting read even if like me you don’t have that much interest football.

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On 06/01/2022 at 18:22, Route66 said:

Just read John Higgs KLF book ,Chaos, magic and the band that burned a million pounds,absolutely fascinating stuff, brilliantly written full of myth,synchronicity, conspiracy and the power of the number 23. Well worth a read.

As I like to chop and change my reads I am now revisiting an old hero and starting Sharpe's Assassin, let's hope it lives up to the rest of the series 

 

Currently re-reading the Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert anton Wilson which originally propounded the 23 enigma as well as the “law of fives” weird wacky and completely unhinged but brilliantly readable imo 

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"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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2 hours ago, Phil said:

Currently re-reading the Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert anton Wilson which originally propounded the 23 enigma as well as the “law of fives” weird wacky and completely unhinged but brilliantly readable imo 

It's been a while since I read that or his Schrodinger's Cat trilogy. Good, mind-expanding fun!

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Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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On 01/01/2022 at 18:05, Futtocks said:

Susanna Clarke - Piranesi. A strange fantasy, set in an other-worldly, Borges-influenced labyrinth.

One of the most memorable pieces of fiction I've read in years. Nothing like her previous one, and it's the kind of book that a lot of people will hate I think.

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I’m just about to start The Ripper Reports - how Jack the Ripper was reported in the Victorian Press . I’ve just finished Chaos by AD Swanston which although a Tudor mystery isnt a patch on CJ Sansom or SJ Parris 

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I have finished The Far Side of the World. 10 down, 10 to go. The Reverse of the Medal next. 

The Far Side was a significant one to reach as I said earlier in the thread cos it was the film adaptation of this that made me want to read the series. What has really struck me is how I have basically completely erased the film adaptation from my mind through reading the series and replacing the images the film gave me with a completely different universe. I've always been very reserved in the past about watching adaptations before reading the source material cos I always feel it will influence your own interpretation of the stories too much but the books are so powerful and so absorbing in this case that they have just completely disappeared any memory of the film which is such a compliment to Patrick O'Brien I feel. 

So as I say, 10 down, 10 to go and so far not one has been a disappointment. All fantastic. 

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2 hours ago, JonM said:

One of the most memorable pieces of fiction I've read in years. Nothing like her previous one, and it's the kind of book that a lot of people will hate I think.

I heard it discussed on a Radio 4 book discussion show, and it sounded to far up my street, I bought it before the programme was over.

I also bought her previous book, just to see what it's like, but haven't read it yet.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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20 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

I also bought her previous book, just to see what it's like, but haven't read it yet.

The story of how it was written is interesting in itself. Very, very unusual to get a £1 million advance (and a huge print run and translation into 15+ languages before publication) for a debut novel that she'd written in her spare time over the course of more than a decade.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/01/2022 at 16:34, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I have finished The Far Side of the World. 10 down, 10 to go. The Reverse of the Medal next. 

The Far Side was a significant one to reach as I said earlier in the thread cos it was the film adaptation of this that made me want to read the series. What has really struck me is how I have basically completely erased the film adaptation from my mind through reading the series and replacing the images the film gave me with a completely different universe. I've always been very reserved in the past about watching adaptations before reading the source material cos I always feel it will influence your own interpretation of the stories too much but the books are so powerful and so absorbing in this case that they have just completely disappeared any memory of the film which is such a compliment to Patrick O'Brien I feel. 

So as I say, 10 down, 10 to go and so far not one has been a disappointment. All fantastic. 

Nice one.

Just wrapping up the Ionian Mission. 8 down, 12 to go. It's absolutely belting stuff.

I bought this too:

 

51zeQ9joglL.jpg

Edited by marklaspalmas
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