Squawk

Joseph Conrad - Secret Agent (1907): Reminded me a lot of Crime & Punishment in a way, may have just been because it was translated and etc. But still with the ( ) it had a similar ring to it. Liked the book, some great bits in it that made me smile, but really didn't like the main character. I mean not dislike just general apathy really. On to Dubliners now and then *gulp* War & Peace...help. B)

No I do not. But one thing relating to this I remember was a handy not in Coming Up for Air which I borrowed from the library. In one of the final scenes there is an accidental bombing accounted to a training incident by British bombers flying over. But after this someone had written (paraphrasing plus nerdy voice) 'British bombers at the time carried dumby bombs and would not carry live ammunition at such a time.' Cracked me up.

In school all I can remember reading is a ton of goosebumps stories when I was in primary school. Practically void of any reading whilst in Secondary school.

Yoda welcomes you he does. Yes cats. You have to like cats! B)

Judo! B)

I do that too, but often it is when my mind starts to wander which I can't really seem to help so I just stop reading until my thoughts fade. I hate it when I continue to read but am not taking it in because my thoughts have trailed off for no good reason. Also it depends often how long I read for. Usually it is measured in chapters and pages not time though. Can do 2-3 hours in the morning other than that it's usually around an hour or so.

OK hi again. So I finished the first book of this Summer's read for me. Decline and Fall a rather funny book and well worth a quick read. Just generally what I thought of the book is that there are some great characters in it and some really strange farcical parts, but there isn't really anything for somebody looking for a juicy story with a big ending. It gives the impression of a dry hump, which I think is intentional of course. Don't know if anyone else has read this book by Evelyn Waugh, more than welcome to comment if you have. I gave it quite a modest score as well. Yes, should mention added percentage scores for whatever reason... And so I must return to the world of literature for the next book, good day! EDIT: Oh yes and still would love some more suggestions, just anything throw it at me people!

Well I was going to welcome you but then you mention this... HI!

I can agree with that. I'm not so sure how much character is a factor, from my experience people tend to put it up as one of the fundamental things, but for me the best character I have encountered in a book was Henry Morgan (Cup of Gold), and admittedly I have not read too many, but I would say that the book was good but just because it had a good character didn't take it up to that special place in the sky or whatever. I think that you need a certain level of character there, but once they get to a certain level it doesn't really make much difference past that.

Ooooh reading in public? Could never do that, people would distract me far more than electrical appliances. I'd be fine until some guy with a weird haircut comes along. ":readingtwo:, Oh wait no that's wrong, why??!? What is...just a bird nested and...what was this book about again? :doh:"

Like most people here in bed usually at night and when I wake up. Go into the small hours of the morning most times (actually gets easier to read as it gets later, I think), especially when I'm having bouts. Also I can never put aside proper time with it like you can other things which annoys me. I have to go from chapter to chapter or I completely lose my thread, and I think you get a better idea of what the author is going for...maybe...

Flapjacks are my weakness. Store bought, home-made it doesn't matter. I can't help it...need more! Oh and chocolate covered flapjacks even more.

"Thus I suffered much with thee and much I toiled, being mindful that the gods in nowise created any issue of my body; but I made thee my son, thou godlike Achilles, that thou mayest yet save me from grievous destruction. Therefore, Achilles, rule thy high spirit; neither beseemeth it thee to have a ruthless heart. Nay, even the very gods can bend, and theirs withal is loftier majesty and honour and might." The Illiad - Homer I swear it was the closest book to me apart from History books.

OK this should be on track soon enough when I get back down south. I am planning to read 24 books over the summer...I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN etc.

You should revolt.

Ah I see. Hockley Library has had one of those for ages now!

Yeah I saw that, was the first time in ages I need to use them and they weren't open. They have re-opened now though right? I mean what did they do with all the books whilst they were closed?

Should have shoved them on the BBQ and told them to get crispy too.

You see that sort of criticism makes me want to read it. Maybe there is a market for really really bad books that will spread this way. Lord knows if there is a man up to the task then it's me!

Oh yes I do tend to do that. What is worse though is when I start to become a fanboy. Oh and yes I absolutely love Day of the Triffids. Will add that one to THE List! And to reply to Polka: I'm not currently reading anything (yes I know a disgrace) because of work, but I will have a go at giving the ones I read a good summary in the future.

If I were a man I'd feel insulted. Wait!

Ah OK I decide to have a look at what I have read completely, I hope I can remember them. Have Been Read Burmese Days - George Orwell (90%) Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky (89%) The Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham (87%) Catch-22 - Joseph Heller (85%) Keep the Aspidistra Flying - George Orwell (83%) Coming Up For Air - George Orwell (81%) Homage to Catalonia - George Orwell (80%) The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (80%) A Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (79%) Cup of Gold - John Steinbeck (79%) Decline and Fall - Evelyn Waugh (78%) Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell (76%) First Men in the Moon - H.G. Wells (74%) Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury (68%) The Double - Fyodor Dostoevsky (67%) The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad (66%) The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood (42%) In Process of Reading Dubliners - James Joyce War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy To Be Read Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey The Idiot - Fyodor Dostoevsky New Grub Street - George Gissing The Midwich Cuckoos and Chocky - John Wyndham I don't know what normally goes on in these threads, but I'd really appreciate some suggestions from you lovely people.

They do that with the Dostoevsky translations as well (well the ones I have read). I really like it TBH. I mean it gives a clear indication of how the German minorities would've been thought of. But anyway I would like to read War and Peace.

The library near me just recently started opening on a Wednesday. You can forget the Weekends! As I said in another thread, I got to the library and will until I'm dead...Fred. There is my local one, and then there is all those South-East/Mid Essex county ones where I can reach easy enough (Southend/Chelmsford etc.). One more thing I'd like to ask though, has anyone ever been to the British Library in London? And how do you go about getting books out there, I mean do they have cards? I have no idea how it works, yes.

The same day John Lennon was shot, and the day America declared war on Japan.