What are you reading now?

[Serial_Apologist]

Just galloped through an advance of “ Out of the Darkness: Greenham Voices 1981-2000”

A wonderful collection of new testimonies from Greenham women. A startling and revelatory book, that deserves a wide audience. New light is cast on how the women ran the camp, the myriad forms of non violent direct action they employed, the way they educated each other, their extraordinary strength in the face of consistent and undeserved hostility.
It is a truly inspirational and humbling guide to real empowerment, that seems exactly right for the current moment, when we too need to move out of the darkness. And it is not remotely worthy or preachy, but frequently funny, illuminating, and actually a really easy read, that can speak to all of us regardless of our own political views.

Read it in three sittings, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Let’s hope that the mainstream media outlets, so complicit in the attacks on the women during the existence of the camp, can give it the right coverage.
Published in September.

Indeed, they were slagged off disgracefully in the trashbloids. Didn't know about this one, so thanks for the recommendation. Notwithstanding your comment about "political beliefs" I'm not so sure some will change their views, teamy: rigidity of thinking now seems irretrievably inbuilt when it comes to the populist right.

[richardfinegold]

'Agent Zigzag' by Ben Macintyre.

There have been some incredible stories to come out of the Second World War but the story of double agent Eddie Chapman must be the most amazing of them all. You read with utter disbelief how he managed to get away with it. I can't recommend this book enough and will be truly sorry when I finish it.

Great story and book. Have you read Operation Mincemeat?

[Petrushka]

Great story and book. Have you read Operation Mincemeat?

Yes, indeed I have. Many years ago I read the 'The Man Who Never Was' by Ewen Montagu which was the original, if censored, take on the same tale and I still have it.

Both this and Eddie Chapman must be the most amazing and bizarre stories to come out of the Second World War. Still wanting to read the truth about the Rudolf Hess flight which was up there with the bizarre but the papers are closed for 100 years, possibly to save the Royal Family some embarrassment and possibly because theories of the Nuremberg Hess being an alleged imposter might be true. Being closed for that long must mean they contain something worth hiding.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Most of the way through Wolf Solent (John Cowper Powys). A pretty slow, sluggish, baffling, infuriating read if I'm honest but I'm not giving up. Difficult to imagine what sort of ending could make the slog worthwhile but I shall persevere!

Well, I did finish it. My above failure to imagine was proved 100+% justified. Still, the ending is now in pole position for my just-announced prize for the Most Bathetic, Anticlimactic Cup of Tea in World Literature.

Other nominations please!

A moral dilemma arises. Should I shred the book to avoid the infliction of further suffering, or simply return it to the charity-shop round?

[gradus]

David Sedaris The Best of Me, an extraordinary mix, occasionally witty sometimes funny; often cruel without a balancing warmth or sympathy except perhaps for himself and for me that detracts from his skill as a comic writer. According to the jacket others feel differently.

[LMcD]

Great story and book. Have you read Operation Mincemeat?

Yes - and I recently read his latest - 'Agent Sonya'. My admiration for Mr Macintyre knows no bounds.

[vinteuil]

... the ending is now in pole position for my just-announced prize for the Most Bathetic, Anticlimactic Cup of Tea in World Literature.
Other nominations please!

... the Bible





.

[Joseph K]

I finished Owen Jones's Establishment last night. It was good, though not containing anything too analytical or beyond what I already knew. It was strange reading it in light of the fact about everything that kicked off not long after it was published, Corbyn etc.

I now feel like I want to reread something by David Harvey, I mean I still don't feel I've satisfactorily absorbed everything in the Enigma of Capital. Then I still have Marx's Capital Vol. 1 sitting unread. Decisions, decisions...

[Petrushka]

Howards End by E.M. Forster

[richardfinegold]

Yes - and I recently read his latest - 'Agent Sonya'. My admiration for Mr Macintyre knows no bounds.

I have Sonya but haven’t read it yet

[richardfinegold]

Howards End by E.M. Forster

Read that a few years ago. The screen adaptation was actually pretty good

[richardfinegold]

Shall We Stay or Shall We Go, by Lionel Shriver. A book with 18 different endings. Worth it for the insight on Death, Dying, National Health Services,

[LeMartinPecheur]

... the Bible.

Um, reference for the cup of tea please!

[french frank]

Um, reference for the cup of tea please!

Genesis 25, 29-34? Didn't Esau sell his birthright for a cup of tea?

[Bella Kemp]

Genesis 25, 29-34? Didn't Esau sell his birthright for a cup of tea?

Is that the Alan Bennet Authorised Version?