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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 21:06:18 GMT
Just finished the shortest history of Germany by James Hawes. Anybody interested in 20th century European history or the relationship between us and Germany and German domination of Europe should give it a go. It debunks the myth of who 'started' WW1, see also 'Ring of Steel published a couple of years ago, and the causes of WW2 long ago questioned in 'the Origins of the Second World War' by AJP Taylor and is a fascinating read.
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on Apr 13, 2018 22:20:39 GMT
sounds an interesting one that, NYE. might add it to my very long list.
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Post by gazz on May 18, 2018 14:06:31 GMT
After not even opening it following its arrival since time ago, I finally got around to starting Jack Reacher number 15: 'Worth Dying For' and have just finished it today - it's another excellent read. number 16: 'The Affair' has already been delivered this week, but when I actually get around to reading it is anyone's guess - I'm an impulsive guy! As I draw closer to catching up with the Reacher series, and with Lee Child releasing just one book per year, I've looked at what else is out there and another series has caught my eye - David Baldacci's 'Amos Decker' series may be just what I'm looking for. 'Memory Man' seems to be the first in the series, so I might grab that later in the year when I've finally caught up with Reacher - if anyone's read them I'd really appreciate their opinion.
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on May 25, 2018 21:43:58 GMT
lennie - we've had two 'dark materials' in word association in the last few days. are you on a retainer?
any good? i bought the trilogy in one tasteful volume a while back but haven't bothered with it yet.
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Post by dudleyhatter on May 26, 2018 11:24:28 GMT
They are a pretty good read ARS, I liked the title of The Subtle Knife and picked it off the shelf in the public library., started to read it and felt like I was missing something. Kept going on through to the end and realised it was book 2 of 3! Went back and started from one!0
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on May 26, 2018 11:45:34 GMT
They are of a mind ARS.
Long time since I read the original though. Just read Pullman's latest which is a Dark Materials prequel called La Belle Sauvage.
As long as you remember it is a teenager's/youth novel it's OK to a point.
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on May 26, 2018 11:54:33 GMT
Just finished "Lost In France" The story of Leigh Richmond Roose. The first superstar goalkeeper who played between 1900 and 1915 for Wales, Stoke, Sunderland etc. He was quite a character who refused to sign pro forms because his amateur expenses were so good (travelling by train from London, overnight hotels etc which included liaising with various ladies in each town/city he played in) and kept up his medical studies at the same time. They had to re-write the rule book because of him. In those days the keeper could bounce the ball to the halfway line before releasing often resulting in him having a pot at goal. He would entertain the crowd by sitting on the crossbar when the ball was at the other end of the field. He was believe killed at Gallipoli but turned up in France where it is assumed he went missing in action. Great story, well told and could make a brilliant film as he loved sticking it up the FA and trumped up Chairmen. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Richmond_Roose
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on May 26, 2018 21:48:42 GMT
As long as you remember it is a teenager's/youth novel it's OK to a point. that's why i've never bothered before. that 'young adult' label. doesn't mean it can't be magical and have a real quality to it, and i can find my inner child ok...it's just that if you start with the understanding that it's not written for you, then there could be a disconnect from the off.
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on May 27, 2018 6:07:00 GMT
A bit like Harry Potter then, ARS. Never really got started with any of those books.
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Post by gazz on May 27, 2018 11:00:43 GMT
A bit like Harry Potter then, ARS. Never really got started with any of those books. I never really got into the movies either, with the ones I saw seeming just a little too schmaltzy for me.
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on May 29, 2018 19:10:24 GMT
yeah i never did potter either, but i kind of got the impression that potter was for children and the 'dark materials' trilogy was for a slightly older audience.
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Post by gazz on Jun 7, 2018 5:49:39 GMT
I finally got around to reading Jack Reacher number 16: 'The Affair' this past week or so and, following the three weeks of nights that ended yesterday morning, I found myself still wide awake at half 3 this morning - that's when I decided to surrender to my f***ed up sleeping pattern and come downstairs to finish the book to pass the time.
I f***ing hate my job sometimes, well, most times - but I love these Jack Reacher books!
Number 17: 'A Wanted man' is already here and waiting to be read, I'll report back when I can get around to finishing it.
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Post by archie on Jun 7, 2018 8:14:21 GMT
I recently received a magazine from the old boys association of the Birmingham school where I did 6th form. In the section called 'Old Edwardian Publications' was Lee Child's The Midnight Line. Turns out that Jim Grant (aka Lee Child) did his first year at KES when I was in my last although I've absolutely no recollection of him.
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Post by gazz on Jun 7, 2018 12:55:15 GMT
I recently received a magazine from the old boys association of the Birmingham school where I did 6th form. In the section called 'Old Edwardian Publications' was Lee Child's The Midnight Line. Turns out that Jim Grant (aka Lee Child) did his first year at KES when I was in my last although I've absolutely no recollection of him. My Dad worked at Granada TV for donkeys years until quite recently and he remembered his name when I mentioned it to him. His wiki page says he was a presentation director and eventually became a trade union shop steward at the studio, of which my Dad was also a member - I imagine that's how he remembered him.
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Post by gazz on Jun 13, 2018 14:55:47 GMT
Jack Reacher number 17: 'A Wanted man' is now finished and is another excellent read with some decent twists and turns.
A man witnesses three men going into a concrete bunker in rural Nebraska and only two men coming back out, while the third man lay dead inside. Meanwhile, Reacher is on his way out of Nebraska and hitches a ride - so begins an eventful journey.
I've already ordered number 18: 'Never Go Back' and it is due any day now. This is the book that the second Tom Cruise movie was based on, which I have seen a handful of times now, so it will be interesting to see just how faithful he stayed to the book.
As always, I'll report back when I've finished it!
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