What are you reading now?

[LMcD]

'Philomena' by Martin Sixsmith.

[gradus]

Leave it to Psmith - Wodehouse really ought to be prescribed by psychiatrists .

Certainly should and he's a tonic for anyone feeling under the weather.

[Barbirollians]

Leave it to Psmith - Wodehouse really ought to be prescribed by psychiatrists .

[CallMePaul]

Just finished Storm Pegs by Jen Hadfield, an English-born poet who has setled in a remote part of Shetland and has also spent time in Canada. Her book describes incidents in her life and shows her love of Shetland and its dialect. She also criticizes the BBC Shetland drama as not giving a realistic picture of Shetland life - although this is not a good representation of Ann Cleeves' books.

In conjunction with this I am also reading Jen Hadfield's recently published Selected Poems. I first became aware of her work in the anthology These Isles, We Sing published a few years back.

[Jonathan]

I recently read Cosimas Kinder: Triumph und Tragödie der Wagner-Dynastie by Oliver Hillmes and as a follow-up I am into The Death of Franz Liszt; Based on the Unpublished Diary of Lina Schmalhausen, introduced, annotated, and edited by Alan Walker. The 22-year-old Fräulein Schmalhausen, a Liszt pupil of limited talent, was devotedly obsessed with him and was present during his painful, in all senses, last days in Bayreuth. She offered him valued support until ejected by Cosima. The Wagner clan had no interest in its coming to light and the 84-page diary was only unearthed by Walker in 1977. It contains a day-to-day description of Liszt's demise in July 1886. Lina's comments may not be an entirely reliable record in every detail but along with Alan Walker's experts notes it offers fascinating, if depressing, insights into the humiliating circumstances of the great man's final demise.

The Schmalhausen diary is a profoundly depressing read, showing how appallingly treated Liszt was in his last fortnight even by Cosima. She seems to have been too busy to realise or bother with her dying father.

[richardfinegold]

I have been reading Robert Harris's 'Pompeii.' This is only the second book of his i have read. I love Roman history and this book is entertaining not only for the story but also identifying the sources of the historical detail. It is really amusing and adds alot of appeal for me. It was oroif read by Prof Mary Beard. Great fun.

Quite a bit of the detail Harris uses comes from Mary Beard’s book about Pompeii

[gurnemanz]

I recently read Cosimas Kinder: Triumph und Tragödie der Wagner-Dynastie by Oliver Hillmes and as a follow-up I am into The Death of Franz Liszt; Based on the Unpublished Diary of Lina Schmalhausen, introduced, annotated, and edited by Alan Walker. The 22-year-old Fräulein Schmalhausen, a Liszt pupil of limited talent, was devotedly obsessed with him and was present during his painful, in all senses, last days in Bayreuth. She offered him valued support until ejected by Cosima. The Wagner clan had no interest in its coming to light and the 84-page diary was only unearthed by Walker in 1977. It contains a day-to-day description of Liszt's demise in July 1886. Lina's comments may not be an entirely reliable record in every detail but along with Alan Walker's experts notes it offers fascinating, if depressing, insights into the humiliating circumstances of the great man's final demise.

[smittims]

Yes, I think one needs to go at a leisurely pace to enjoy it. Some of James' sentences, dictated, I believe, rather than written out, can challenge one's grasp of grammar and syntax. .

[vinteuil]

.

Henry James : The Wings of the Dove

I read it many many years ago when I was in a period of reading all of James.
I think I read it far too swiftly then ; I am now re-reading at a much more considered pace - and appreciating it much more. Golly it's good...

.

[Jonathan]

Not reading just yet but recently purchased the late Christopher Fifield's book "The German Symphony between Beethoven and Brahms, the fall and rise of a genre". There are loads of unsung composers to discover about in this book!

[Petrushka]

I'm still continuing with the 'Chips' Channon Diaries. Despite some silly opinions, particularly about Nazi Germany and Italy, not uncommon in British aristocratic circles, which aged badly in a few short years, the writing is vivid and witty. I've just read his vivid and moving description of the death and funeral procession of King George V in January 1936 and it's writing of a high order.

I'm alternating the Diaries with Jane Austen, currently half way through Sense and Sensibility.

[LMcD]

I loved Michael Frayn's First to Last, televised with Joss Ackland as Mr.Holly. I wish they'd repeat it. I have the book, but it's not the same.

The untimely death of Ray MacNally led to Joss Ackland's being cast as Mr Holly. I found the silent greeting towards the end incredibly moving.
I've just finished 'Brothers In Arms', Paul Gough's study of the life and work of Paul and John Nash.

[smittims]

'It was oriof read by Mary Beard '.

unlike message 4002

[Ian Thumwood]

I have been reading Robert Harris's 'Pompeii.' This is only the second book of his i have read. I love Roman history and this book is entertaining not only for the story but also identifying the sources of the historical detail. It is really amusing and adds alot of appeal for me. It was oroif read by Prof Mary Beard. Great fun.

[smittims]

I loved Michael Frayn's First to Last, televised with Joss Ackland as Mr.Holly. I wish they'd repeat it. I have the book, but it's not the same.