What book are you reading?

[DzM]

Just Kids, Patti Smith's memoir focusing on her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe in 70s New York. Beautifully written, Ms Smith has a wonderful way with language. As I read it I'm hearing it entirely in her spoken voice.

Ms. Smith was interviewed on Fresh Air about this book a month or two ago. I'm sure it's still in their archives. Interesting (and long) interview.

[James]

Read:
Areas of My Expertise - John Hodgman
I liked and found it very funny in places, but the "clinical" writing and almanac format exhausted me a bit. I've also got More Information Than You Require by the same author, which I know I'll enjoy and am looking forward to reading, but I'd like to get some distance in between them.

Re-reading
A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
I really enjoyed this when I got it from the library at some point round May, but I retained pretty much fuck all. It's great if you're not very science-y and want to know more about it without getting bogged down in jargon.

[old barney greyheron]

Bill Bryson..The Lost Continent...laff out loud funny.

'is it me, or is everything shit?'...got this at xmas..to be honest it's a bit shit.

[Brian]

Started Keith Richards' autobiography, Life, right before the new year. To be honest, I don't much care for the writing style, which is a bit stream-of-consciousness and frequently repetitive. But the subject matter is so interesting that it's not too difficult to look past the writing. I never before appreciated the sharp trajectory of the Rolling Stones' success, both in terms of popularity and their development as musicians and songwriters. Fo example, Jagger and Richards first started writing songs in 1963 and within four years took the band from a blues cover band to one that recorded Their Satanic Majesties' Request, followed in short order by Beggar's Banquet (1968), Let It Bleed (1969), Sticky Fingers (1971), and Exile on Main St. (1972) -- one of the most impressive runs by any band, anywhere and any time.

[cagliostro]

I just finished the Eoin Colfer Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy book. It felt like the Brady Bunch movie did - everybody looks and acts very similar, but an underlying feeling of wrong wrong wrong. Still, it wasn't as horrid as the Adams heads said it was, but was also not in the ballpark of Adams, which I didn't expect it to be.

Now I'm starting Against All Things Ending by Stephen R. Donaldson and I'm expecting further disappointment.

[NewJerseyRich]

"Bad things happen" Harry Dolan
A nifty little whodunnit mystery. This is Mr Dolans first novel, very good. Can't wait for his second work

[Low D]

I just finished the Eoin Colfer Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy book. It felt like the Brady Bunch movie did - everybody looks and acts very similar, but an underlying feeling of wrong wrong wrong. Still, it wasn't as horrid as the Adams heads said it was, but was also not in the ballpark of Adams, which I didn't expect it to be.

I thought it had it's moments where it seemd Colfer was channelling Adams' spirit, and on it's own a good book either way (if you're into Norse god humour). And about 1000 times better than that movie. Eeck. "Does she or doesn't she? That's the ultimate question." I almost walked out (but then realized i was in my living room).

[Pogues to Niagara]

"How Come & The Pogues musical direction"
A fascinating read, complete with a villain, a musical hero with a mysterious past, Irish drinking songs, multi-cultural non-drinking songs, lots of anger, I can't put the damn thing down!

*****

[PistolPaddyGarcia]

In the name of the father

[DownInTheGround]

It has only taken me a year but I have finished Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain....pretty good, if not orthodox, history of err modern Britain!

[cagliostro]

"How Come & The Pogues musical direction"
A fascinating read, complete with a villain, a musical hero with a mysterious past, Irish drinking songs, multi-cultural non-drinking songs, lots of anger, I can't put the damn thing down!

*****

I've been finding it a bit repetitive.

[Clash Cadillac]

http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Rise-Fourth-Reich-Jim-Marrs/?isbn=9780061692666

I am really enjoying this book so far (about 100 pages in). I highly recommend you check the link above to see if the subject matter appeals to you. NOTE: this is NOT a fiction book.

[old barney greyheron]

Clash, i'm gonna get hold of that book...I just finished 'The Secret Hunters' by Ranulph Fiennes, the toe-less explorer...now I can't sleep as it messed my head up..it's sort of fiction, but not really...mainly about a Jewish woman describing life in nazi Germany. Very strong stuff, and very upsetting.

[Heather]

Currently keeping up my obsession with The Sound of Music and reading The Story of The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. This is the story that inspired the movie. It doesn't only cover the story from the movie (in which some of the events happened at different times to the real story), it also covers what happened when they escaped from Austria.

Maria Von Trapp was no looker. She was a very plain and stern looking woman, nothing like the actresses who have played her on screen or at the theatre.

So far I am only up to Chapter Six, but it's very interesting and well written and I cannot put it down. As I'm reading it I'm hearing Julie Andrews voice narrating it to me.

[PistolPaddyGarcia]

Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs