Ketman Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 I don't read much in the way of new books. I've always been years behind with my reading. I've just finished Barabara Tuchman's The Guns of August (1962) and How Charles Bravo Died by Yseult Bridges (1956). Now I'm on The Gallic Wars by Julius Caesar (c.50 BC). See what I mean? I used to read a lot of fiction, but these days more non-fiction. History mostly. But back in the day I read all Graham Greene's novels, some of them two or three times, and everything George Orwell ever wrote, fiction or non-fiction. So, hello. ^Not knowing how to spell "Barbara" is the least of the ways I show myself to be unfit for literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Hello! I haven't liked Orwell's fiction, but have really enjoyed the non-fiction I've read of his. Down and Out in Paris and London has stuck with me for many years now, and is an amazing piece of writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Hello and welcome to the forum! It really doesn't matter which books you read as long as you enjoy them, and reading in general I hope you like it here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 (edited) Hi Ketman welcome, yes, what Frankie says, it doesn't matter what books you read you will find someone here who will read the same books as you. Always meant to read Caesar, how is it? I wargamed the battle of Sambre once, that was great fun , I think that was when he broke the Belgian Gauls. Oh and I think Barabara is a lovely way to spell it it certainly rolls off the tongue Edited July 21, 2012 by vodkafan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketman Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 Thanks, frankie, chesilbeach and vodkafan. It's some years since I last read Down and Out. I do remember it put me off eating in restaurants for quite a while. Caesar's commentaries are very concise and unemotional. Dispatches from the front. He talks about himself in the third person singular - Caesar did this, Caesar did that. Some modern scholars think the death toll from his campaigns in Gaul might have run into the millions. But you'd never know that from his matter-of-fact narrative. Worth a read, but be sceptical. There was no one in Rome in a position to contradict him on anything. As for those on the spot, who could have done, it's a case of "what goes on tour stays on tour". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookworm44 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Welcome, Ketmam! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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