Raven
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Stalingrad, by Antony Beevor, is 99p on the Kindle today.
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1 hour ago, Hayley said:
I was tempted by The Salt Path after I read an article about Ray and Moth, which sort of summarised the journey they took and how it ended up being a book - it's just not the kind of book I usually read. Your review hasn't really convinced me to try it but I'll definitely look up 500 Mile Walkies (which I didn't know was the inspiration for their trip, I don't think that was mentioned in the article).
I don't read many biographies, and I actively steer clear of ones that deal with overcoming hardships, trauma or illness as I generally read for a bit of escapism, not to get bummed out!
There is a review I wrote of 500 Mile Walkies, many years ago, here: https://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/3119-ravens-reads/&page=2&tab=comments#comment-127514
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I have read a book (a whole one, with words and everythin'...).
The Salt Path
By Raynor Winn
When Ray and her husband Moth find themselves evicted from their family home and business, just days after Moth is diagnosed with a debilitating and terminal illness, they opt against going on a council housing list and decide to walk the South West costal footpath instead. What at first appears to be ill-thought out move turns into a long and sometimes painful journey of recovery.
I usually give books that have "The most inspirational book of this year" comments on their cover a very wide berth, but having grown up in the South West and knowing the coast well, this appealed to me and when I found a copy at my parents last month, I started reading it before picking up my own copy when I got home.
This is not a travel book in the traditional sense; it is the story of two people who - having lost everything - are trying to work how to start over again in their mid-fifties whilst also dealing with the looming spectre of their own mortality. It was originally written by Ray (from her point of view) for Moth as a memory aid (as memory loss is a part of the illness he is suffering from) so it is a more intimate book than it may have been, had it originally been written for a general audience, and it certainly feels very personal. The main themes of the book - loss and homelessness, that dominate the first section of the book - are slowly countered by a growing sense of optimism as the book unfolds, but these themes never disappear completely and I cannot say I found the book to be as uplifting as some of the comments I had read previous to picking it up myself.
I did, however, feel that by the end of the book the pair had been on a journey that had certainly changed their lives.
Given the subject matter, the book certainly isn't the easiest of reads; there are patches - especially at the beginning - where Ray tends to wallow in the apparent hopelessness of their situation (their lack of money and the right equipment certainly don't help) and I did find some of that aspect of the book rather tedious (especially as Ray has a tendency to get a bit self-absorbed). The parts of the book that worked best for me were the descriptions of the people they met and places they travelled through, as well as the wildlife they saw along the way, but to a point that is missing the point of the book, which is really about the journey Ray and Moth are on mentally and physically, and from that point of view these aspects of the book are pretty much the backdrop against which their trials play out.
Although I did enjoy large parts of the book, I'm not interested in reading more about what happens to Ray and Moth (the sequel, The Wild Silence, was published in paperback earlier this year, but it isn't a book I'll be reading).
It is difficult for me to give this a "Recommended" rating, but if travel/nature/personal development stories are your thing, you might very well enjoy this, otherwise I'd say steer clear!
If you do want a more light-hearted and informative book on walking the South West Costal footpath, however, I would recommend 500 Mile Walkies, by Mark Wallington, which is also referenced in passing at the beginning of this book as the original inspiration for their trip*
One thing I have taken away from this book is that I want to try more travel writing/nature inspired books.
*A side note is that I found Ray's descriptions of places, especially at the start of the book, sounded very much like Mark Wallington's (sometimes even down to having the same weather in the same locations!). I'm sure it was just coincidence, but part of me does wonder.
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, by John le Carré
Starship Troopers, by Robert R. Heinlein
The Crow Road, by Iain M. BanksAll 99p on the Kindle today!
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The Mahabharata.
The whole damn thing.
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Missed this completely, but I'm sorry to hear about your/your boyfriend's cat as well.
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The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler, is just 99p on the Kindle today - a great book, if you've not read it before!
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I started watching The Expanse on Amazon Prime last week.
I watched the first season a couple of years back (when it was on Netflix) but didn't get more than a couple of episodes into the second season as I just didn't find it that interesting at the time.
The program keeps getting very good reviews and award nominations, however, and it's now on it's fifth season, so I decided to give it another go and this time around I've found it much better.
The first season is a bit of a slow burner, but it really starts to pick up in season two - I had to force myself to go to bed last night, as the cliff-hanger at the end of the latest episode was a good one!
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I've been watching England play cricket for over 30 years now, and yesterday's defeat to India has to be the most depressing loss I've seen.
From working themselves back into the game, to a position where they could have won it, they just went to pieces. I'm used to batting collapses, but I've never seen the bowling go so badly wrong at the same time. It was an all-round failure, and England look broken.
It's going to be a long winter in Australia if they don't turn this around, and quickly...
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The first seven Rivers of London novels are 99p on Kindle today.
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Quite probably for both, but this [forum] isn't the right place to get an evaluation or advice on what they are worth!
(We are a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs who just talk about books we are reading, we are not experts on books generally!)
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Watched Alita: Battle Angel on Amazon last night. A two hour film that stops half way through the story. Quite a violent film as well, that is also oddly twee in places.
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50 historical and military themed e-books from Pen and Sword, for just 99p each:
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/ebookpromotion
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7 hours ago, Hayley said:
There are enough books on the floor already!
There can never be enough books on the floor, if you can navigate between all of the rooms in your abode! -
2 hours ago, Hayley said:
I don't have all my books with me in my new house yet...What is wrong with you?
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4 hours ago, Brian. said:
A Brief History of the Third Reich by Martyn Whittock (3/5)
This is an interesting book which covers German political history from the end of WWI through to the end of WWII. Although there are some areas of battle covered, the book concentrates on the political rise of the Nazi party and how they managed to take control of German and most of Europe. It goes right back to the start of the party and includes how Hitler joined the party and rose through the ranks which is rarely covered when this subject is explored. Whittock looks at policy decisions, decisive moments along the way, how the populace were handled, and eventually the downfall at the end of the war. There are some echos with what we can see today with some political figures around the world and how they use the same tactics to convince people that they are victims of some grand conspiracy. The book loses a few marks for me due to it's fairly dry tone. I accept it is hard to inject much energy into such a complex subject but I still think it is possible to make it a more engaging read.
I don't know if you saw it, but The Nazis: A Warning From History was 99p on the Kindle last month. It also documents how the Nazis rose to power, but it also goes into detail on how the party worked once they were in power. The book was written to accompany the BBC series by the same name.
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1 minute ago, Hayley said:
Oh wow so they have good offers on the books? I feel like I missed out here! Mine just had loads of posters and t-shirts!
Yes, I don't think it's been mentioned but the books are usually discounted.
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I may have discovered M&S Baby Charlotte Potato Salad.
I may have eaten about half the pot, already this evening.
I don't think the rest is going to last much longer...
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2 minutes ago, Hayley said:
I suppose, when you think about it, you could put together a really good selection of books that are also films/ tv series/ have albums based on them!
With regard to the novels they stock, I think their MO is largely books that have been made into films or cult classics. I picked up a couple of Charles Bukowski novels in there, for £3 or £4 each.
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Good reviews!
Looking forward to what you have to say about Nineteen Eighty-Four and Howl's Moving Castle!
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They had books ranging from Fitzgerald to Austin (or should that be the other way around, alphabetically speaking?) in my local before it closed, by on a recent trip to the branch in Portsmouth they had a quite selection (although mostly along the lines of those listed by others above...).
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5 hours ago, Virginia said:
I mean, I GUESS, if I'm taking more than one of my grands to the movies, plus popcorn and a drank, I could spend more. It's just the idea of spending that amount on one movie. Makes no sense but I can't do it! LMBO!!
How much would it normally take for you to get to see a film? (I mean, in the cinema, as an individual adult)
In the UK it varies wildly...
My sister can get into her local for £5.00 whilst I have to pay about £12.00 (for a single ticket)
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I'd never seen Whittaker in anything before Doctor Who, so I didn't know what to expect, and although I have warmed to the character as her series have progressed, I don't think she will be topping my list of favourite Doctors any time soon (I would have said "needy" rather than "girly" btw!)
Chris Chibnall's had written for both Torchwood and Doctor Who previously, but he was never one of my favourites and there are better Who writers out there.
As you say, the stories have generally been dull (which is about the worst charge to level at Doctor Who) but more than that, after the witty and polished dialogue from both Russell T. Davis and Steven Moffat, some of the dialogue in the last two series has been painful to sit through.
It will be interesting to see what happens next...
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1 hour ago, Hayley said:
I am genuinely shocked. Although I know you're right that it works out well if you'd be buying cinema tickets for a whole family. Do you get to keep the film forever too?
You can watch it as many times as you like, but it will be part of the regular service from October 6th so I don't see the point in paying extra at this point!
The price for Black Widow is £19.99 in the UK, btw.
Brian's Book Log - Ongoing
in Book Blogs - Discuss your reading!
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Sounds like a good way to spend an afternoon!