June Reading Thread

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Scandal · #1 Post by **Scandal** » Tue 01 Jun 2004, 11:47 pm

I hope Jack the Lad doesn't mind me starting this thread!

A Touch of Love by Jonathan Coe

(It's set in Coventry - what more could you want?

)

Lleonard Pler · #2 Post by **Lleonard Pler** » Tue 01 Jun 2004, 11:58 pm

"The Marble Quilt" by David Leavitt

"The Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace

"Querelle" by Jean Genet

And a book of interviews about the spanish writer Terenci Moix.

define psb · #3 Post by **define psb** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 12:02 am

Graham Masterton - Death Trance

amhilde · #4 Post by **amhilde** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 12:08 am

"Naked"- David Sedaris

and still working through the Oxford History of the British Isles

fluffmoln · #5 Post by **fluffmoln** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 12:47 am

"The Cold Six Thousand" by James Ellroy

Deschanel · #6 Post by **Deschanel** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 4:10 am

Oh Amhilde- Sedaris new book came out today! "Dress Your Children in Corduroy and Denim" . Big display in the book shop here.

Ellroy is really something too- I want to read "Six Thousand.."
Read "My Dark Places" last fall- non fiction about his mother's murder in 1947..

I'm reading a stack of lib. books about the art of the Ballet Russe, and a couple biogs of Nijinsky. He was a supernatural dancer who was a raging rock star on the eve of WW 1, then went insane.. Wasn't ever interested in dance before, but it's quite a story.

Dipso · #7 Post by **Dipso** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 5:58 am

I am rather partial to a bit of Mr Sedaris myself - ooh, he`s sharp as a knife, that one. I love love love the chapter in The Santaland Diaries where he works as an elf in the Christmas grotto at Macy`s. If there had been an aisle, I would have rolled in it.

This week I am mostly reading "Looking For The Lost" by Alan Booth. And it`s right good too.

amhilde · #8 Post by **amhilde** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 4:18 pm

DES! I KNOW i saw it at the bookstore when i was buying my daily candy bar- the lady had it and i almost freaked out when she said it came out on Friday. I think ive read Naked so many times its become tattered. And i foolishly lent out my copy of Me Talk Pretty One Day

Actually i just photocopied three chapters from Naked and sent them to Kris11- KRIS if you are reading this expect something in the post in two days!

bookshopboy · #9 Post by **bookshopboy** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 4:31 pm

For the first time in ages I am reading a history book rather than a fictional book. I'm reading a book called "Underground London" by Stephen Smith, which I got for my birthday from my parents. It is actually really interesting as it is all bout the history beneath London from Roman times to the present day.

I've been given loads of books on London history, presumably becuase I grew up there and live there, but this is the first time I've actually started to read one of them

. I've got the Peter Ackroyd London book and the illustrated one too, but they are a bit too weighty... but you never know, I may become obsessed with London books.

The only problem is that it is hardback, and with the weather being quite nice I cant really take it to work to read at lunchtime, so I may have to read a paperback book at the same time. I was thinking of starting "Vernon God Little" by DBC Pierre which I got half price recently.

amhilde · #10 Post by **amhilde** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 4:52 pm

The Peter Ackroyd book is quite decent- ive read about 50% of it and tend to skip around in chapters. I would also recommend A Social History of London. Believe me, youll never look at Covent Garden or Fleet Street or to Holborn area the same ever again!

bookshopboy · #11 Post by **bookshopboy** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 4:58 pm

Well, I've always to meant to read the Ackroyd book, but the size of it is quite intimidating! I got the illustrated one for last Christmas, and have briefly flicked through it.

I've also been reading (on and off) the book that accompanies the 1920s London Exhibition at the Museum of London.

fredot · #12 Post by **fredot** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 5:17 pm

Dorian (an imitation) Will Self

I have forgotten the new Ellroy book (shame on me ) I have to buy it really quick !! I'm a big fan !!

Avalon · #13 Post by **Avalon** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 5:30 pm

Just came back from the library and got myself:

Margery Allingham's "The mind readers"
Roddy Doyle's "The woman who walked into doors"
Michel Houellebecq's "Platform"

and

I had to borrow Magnus Mills's "The scheme for full employment" again, cos it's such a witty book. I kinda took it so I could lend it out to my girlfriend, but 3 months ago I lent her another book about 80's music and she still didn't get any further than bands that start with F, I think...

Still, I suggest this book to anyone - it's only got 251pages printed on pages half the size of any other regular novel.
Here's what it says on the back cover:

"I've been having a look at your daily mileage reports for December. According to this you did sixty-three miles on Wednesday the fourth, sixty-three miles on Thursday the fifth, and on Friday the sixth, one million, twelve thousand and twenty-two miles. Where did you go that day?"
"That should say sixty-three miles," I said. "Sorry, must have put it down wrong."

One of the crowd · Wed 02 Jun 2004, 5:50 pm

Im currently reading the Abbey National Complaints Procedure Booklet!!!

Flaffer · #15 Post by **Flaffer** » Wed 02 Jun 2004, 6:18 pm

Bowesy wrote:Im currently reading the Abbey National Complaints Procedure Booklet!!!

an all time classic - soon to be turned into a major motion picture