So, what are you reading at the moment? Volume 6

[Nïckslïkk2112]

About to read again Plague's Progress - a Social History of Man and Disease by Arno Karlen

Now I know we're all doomed, I've switched to something a bit more lighthearted.

Bill Bryson - The Road to Little Dribbling, more notes from a small island

It's OK not as good as the original and he gets a bit too political.

After reading about his becoming a UK citizen, I would suggest that the UK citizenship test should be reading his Notes from a Small Island and if you don't laugh you can feck right off.

[Slim]

I'm reading, but mostly listening in audiobook form, to the second Jack Reacher novel Die Trying. Quite a page turner, except that I don't have to turn the pages and that would be dangerous anyway on a bicycle.

Some of the depictions of violence are a little grimmer than they need to be. I don't mind it myself but I know from reading reviews on Amazon that it does put off some readers.

The first one was written in the first person from Jack's perspective, this one is third person which I prefer. It's gone a little bit Bond-film-ish in the colourfully unrealistic nature of the villain, in the second half.

[dom]

Malcolm Gladwell's  Talking to Strangers where he takes a long look at miscommunication both deliberate and inadvertent.  He stipulates that we tend to default to truth.  As a rule its easier to believe what we're being told is the truth and this of course allows lies to prosper.

A great historical perspective on the issue.  A good read, so far anyway

[pxr5]

I'm still banging my way through the Game of Thrones books. They don't seem as good now the TV show has finished - and the poor way it ended. Still, there is a lot more detail that was missing from the TV show, whereas the earlier TV episodes stuck to books, even as far as the dialogue. I'm on book: (5.1) A Dance with Dragons 1: Dreams and Dust, with only 5.2 to go before I'm up to date. Maybe GRRM will get the next one out sometime this decade.

[DavidL]

Just started producer Ted Templeman's biog. I'll be interested to know just how he managed to get all those albums to sound so bloody good!
Sadly, parts will now be imbued with a certain poignancy given today's news of EVH's passing 😢

[Ricky4001]

Marin Montgomery, What We Forgot To Bury. A schoolgirl stalks her jail bird father's ex-girlfriend, with a few plot twists. An easy page-turner read and surprisingly long for a Kindle First monthly free download.

[pxr5]

I've finished the Game of Thrones books at last - well at least as far as George R. R. Martin has published so far. It's a relief tbh as they are really dragging now and there is a lot more detail in the later books than in the TV show. So I started a shorter, older book last night - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Often mentioned along with Orwell's 1984 addressing dystopian futures. Written in the 30s it's a good, thought-provoking story, but some of his predictions are miles off the mark which makes it a bit cringe-worthy in places. Interesting nevertheless - so much so they a TV series from it this year (which is better than the book imo and minus the prediction mistakes).

[pxr5]

Jo Nesbo - The Knife. I've read all of Jo Nesbo's books and this is the 12th in the Harry Hole series. I was a little disappointed in this one compared to the earlier stories in the series. It's all getting a bit stale, yet I've just noted yet another is out now (which is getting some poor reviews). Anyway, currently reading Corpus by Rory Clements - set in a 1936 Britain it follows murder/mystery based against a growing Nazi/Communist political background. An intriguing story with a further 2 books to go in the series. I'm really liking this one.

[Ricky4001]

I finished Ken Follett's The Evening And The Morning, a prequel to his Pillars Of The Earth trilogy.  As with the other books, it is a really easy read and very entertaining.  I've moved on to Stephen King - The Institute, again very easy to read, if a bit disturbing.

[Reg]

Alastair Reynolds' Bone Silence. The last in the Revenger trilogy. 

To be followed by Peter F. Hamilton's Saints Of Salvation. The final book in his stunning Salvation trilogy.

[Slim]

I'm reading, but mostly listening in audiobook form, to the second Jack Reacher novel Die Trying. Quite a page turner, except that I don't have to turn the pages and that would be dangerous anyway on a bicycle.

Some of the depictions of violence are a little grimmer than they need to be. I don't mind it myself but I know from reading reviews on Amazon that it does put off some readers.

The first one was written in the first person from Jack's perspective, this one is third person which I prefer. It's gone a little bit Bond-film-ish in the colourfully unrealistic nature of the villain, in the second half.

Since I wrote this I've finished that one, and also read (mostly listened to) the third and fourth Reacher novels Tripwire and The Visitor and now I've started the fifth, Echo Burning. All good entertaining stuff. Of the first four I'd say Tripwire is the strongest.