Book review thread

[duncs500]

The Secret World: A History of Intelligence.

I wouldn’t bother Duncs, you won’t get it…

[mikeyb]

Anyone got any recommendations for compelling non-fiction/autobiography reads?

Finding a massive lull in reading as my attention span hits rock bottom

I've just read Concorde, by Mike Bannister. It details his early flying career as well as interesting facts about Concorde, and his take on the cause of the Air France crash near Paris. Would thoroughly recommend.

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60032319

[Explosive Newt]

Anyone got any recommendations for compelling non-fiction/autobiography reads?

Finding a massive lull in reading as my attention span hits rock bottom

Yeah this is basically my genre

Amusing personal / family stories:
Kiss Myself Goodbye (Ferdinand Mount) - FM uncovers the mysterious past of his aunt and finds she was married about 6 times (numerous bigamously), had an estranged son, etc etc. https://www.waterstones.com/book/kiss-m ... 1472991980
Special mention to the audiobook of this as the guy's voice is amazing.

The Professor and The Parson (Adam Sissman) - story of Rev Robert Peters who makes up his qualifications, takes various jobs before being found out and skipping town, marries and ditches wives (one literally left on a train), pretends to be a vicar but (probably) isn't etc etc - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Professor-Pars ... 1788162110

Biomedical Stuff
Empire of Pain (Patrick Radden Keefe) - Sackler family's rise and fall and role in the opioid crisis https://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-Pain-Hi ... 529063108/

Bad Blood (John Carreyrou) - rise and fall of Theranos (company started by a Stanford drop out purporting to be able to run numerous blood tests from a single drop of blood but it was all baloney) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-Pain-Hi ... 529063108/

WWII / Cold War
Ben MacIntyre is the boss of this, see his book on Kim Philby (a Spy Amongst Friends) but I also loved The Spy and The Traitor - https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-sp ... 0241972137

The Splendid and The Vile (Erik Larson) - Churchill's home and family life and the lives of those around him in WWII. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splendid-Vile- ... 008274983/

Also
Say Nothing (Patrick Radden Keefe) - history of the troubles in Northern Ireland to the present day, told via personal stories of those involved, absolutely gripping and the stuff we are sadly ignorant about on the UK mainland. https://www.waterstones.com/book/say-no ... 0008159269

[Gavster]

Anyone got any recommendations for compelling non-fiction/autobiography reads?

Finding a massive lull in reading as my attention span hits rock bottom

The Splendid and The Vile (Erik Larson) - Churchill's home and family life and the lives of those around him in WWII. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splendid-Vile- ... 008274983/

Thanks for recommendations everyone, I'm gonna give this one a go. History is something that I've always skipped, so could be an interesting switch with this one.

[Explosive Newt]

Anyone got any recommendations for compelling non-fiction/autobiography reads?

Finding a massive lull in reading as my attention span hits rock bottom

The Splendid and The Vile (Erik Larson) - Churchill's home and family life and the lives of those around him in WWII. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splendid-Vile- ... 008274983/

Thanks for recommendations everyone, I'm gonna give this one a go. History is something that I've always skipped, so could be an interesting switch with this one.

If you're after something history wise I would go for Say Nothing. I can probably lend you a copy if I can find it!

[duncs500]

The Splendid and The Vile (Erik Larson) - Churchill's home and family life and the lives of those around him in WWII. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splendid-Vile- ... 008274983/

Thanks for recommendations everyone, I'm gonna give this one a go. History is something that I've always skipped, so could be an interesting switch with this one.

If you're after something history wise I would go for Say Nothing. I can probably lend you a copy if I can find it!

I was thinking "I'm sure someone else has recommended this book, it must be good if it's got two recommendations!".

Turns out it was just you a couple of pages ago!

[mik]

Brandon Sanderson is another writer I have on my list but never get round to. I liked what he did with the end of the wheel of time but I've never read any of his own series.

I am rather late to this party, but youngest miklet insisted I read The Way Of Kings. Only 25% through it, but - it’s good.

Forgot to come back and update this after I finished it.

Really enjoyed it. Some great characters and one in particular (who has a particular set of skills / capabilities (but isn't Liam Neeson thankfully)) who I couldn't get enough of. Unfortunately my son advises that he plays more heavily in later books in the series, so it looks like I am destined to read those too.

For sci-fi I've only read IanMBanks for years, so it was good to get into something completely different that is also very well written.

[RobYob]

Finished the nine book Expanse saga and it absolutely delivers more of the epic Sci Fi the TV series translated so well.

Very cool to read the final three books that the series didn't cover (for understandable reasons) and reach the entirely satisfying conclusion.

[mik]

@ZedLeg - I am now onto Words Of Radiance (ie book 2 in his Stormlight series). Much to the annoyance of my youngest who is insisting I read them all and don't leave big gaps....

It's also very good. But whilst I am currently 315 pages in, that's still less than a quarter of the way through it. Stoopid big books.....

[duncs500]

Finished the nine book Expanse saga and it absolutely delivers more of the epic Sci Fi the TV series translated so well.

Very cool to read the final three books that the series didn't cover (for understandable reasons) and reach the entirely satisfying conclusion.

I've got a sample of this on my Kindle. Will buy the full thing when I've cleared my backlog. I loved the TV show.

[duncs500]

Lately I've been reading:

Persians: The Age Of The Great Kings
The Secret World: A History of Intelligence
Vulcan 607

All decent, Vulcan 607 particularly so.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Just finished the Algebraist. I enjoyed it but it was a bit wordy. Unnecessarily overly descriptive of scenery etc. Sort of felt like someone had been critical of his sci-fi writing so he'd added a load of bloat to make it seem more expansive or more high brow. Loved the story itself though and the many ideas - quite different from the Culture series ideas of tech etc.

Currently on Feersum Endjinn - only just started but reading a whole chapter of what almost comically sounds like someone speaking in broad Yorkshire dialect was hard work

[ZedLeg]

@ZedLeg - I am now onto Words Of Radiance (ie book 2 in his Stormlight series). Much to the annoyance of my youngest who is insisting I read them all and don't leave big gaps....

It's also very good. But whilst I am currently 315 pages in, that's still less than a quarter of the way through it. Stoopid big books.....

Yeah, he’s still on my list.

I’ve managed to finish 2 books since I’ve been back in the office. Which is two more than I managed in all the time I was wfh

Dead Astronauts by Jeff Vandermeer - good but weird, recommend if you’ve read him before. Not a good place to start though.

Wool by Hugh Howey - picked it up because I enjoyed Silo, the show only covers the first half of the book. Well worth a look for folk who’re fans of post apocalyptic dystopia.

[ZedLeg]

Just finished the Algebraist. I enjoyed it but it was a bit wordy. Unnecessarily overly descriptive of scenery etc. Sort of felt like someone had been critical of his sci-fi writing so he'd added a load of bloat to make it seem more expansive or more high brow. Loved the story itself though and the many ideas - quite different from the Culture series ideas of tech etc.

Currently on Feersum Endjinn - only just started but reading a whole chapter of what almost comically sounds like someone speaking in broad Yorkshire dialect was hard work

I liked the Algebraist but Player of Games is my favourite Iain M Banks.

[Zonda_]

Lately I've been reading:

Persians: The Age Of The Great Kings
The Secret World: A History of Intelligence
Vulcan 607

All decent, Vulcan 607 particularly so.

Read it 3 times, it’s great

[DeskJockey]

I've been gorging on the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovich, and I can't seem to stop.

I inhaled the sixth book in less than 24h (admittedly we're on holiday, but still), and have had to resort to whatever is on my wife's Kindle as I've finished three books in a week (also read the first of the Proxima series and the fifth Rivers of London).

The Stranger Diaries is not something I would have picked up normally, but it is very good, and I'm glad I did.

[IanF]

Excellent! Glad this has popped up again.. need a few recommendations for my holiday next week

Does everyone just Kindle these books or are some still old skool dragging an extra bag around?

Also, DJ I have a mental picture of your missus tapping her fingers bored whilst you use her kindle!

[DeskJockey]

Excellent! Glad this has popped up again.. need a few recommendations for my holiday next week

Does everyone just Kindle these books or are some still old skool dragging an extra bag around?

Also, DJ I have a mental picture of your missus tapping her fingers bored whilst you use her kindle!

I'm normally all about good old paper, digital reading isn't the same.

@IanF luckily I can use the app on my phone, so her Kindle is left for her to use.

[IanF]

Ah, makes sense.. although using a phone to read a book.. shudder!

[DeskJockey]

Quite. It is emergency only!