It's been a while since I did this - hope I don't get logged off!
An update regarding reading material - posted on the same day Iain Banks reveals his illness & belief he has less than a year left.
James Joyce - A portrait of the artist as a young man - a classic by all accounts. Have to say I read it, and was classically bored.
Iain Banks - Canal Dreams - I didn't quite get banks when I first started reading his books. I still haven't fully grasped the culture books (see below) but really have started enjoying his novels. This, about a "holiday" taken by a cellist was a riveting read (though found the ending a bit wierd/abrupt).
Stephen King - The girl who loved tom gordon - this style book is (I think) the type of book king does best. Straightforward narrative, a horror or fear inducer that isn't too far fetched (kid wanders off, gets lost) and an accessable story. Not an award winner, but a good simple story, with a proper journey in it (for the little girl, and also the reader).
Lenny Bruce - How to Talk dirty and Influence People - Bruce is too much unknown nowadays. His autobiography highlights much of where his comedy came from - basically, everday life, & wierd stuff he'd see adults do. For someone not of Bruce's generation, an interesting, accessable insight into life at the time in the US. Really good book.
Leonard Read/James Morton - Nipper Read (The man who nicked the Krays). As advised by a friend who is mad keen on the Krays, read this on their insistence. A good book, but personally I didn't know enough about how the Krays built their reputation first. The book focusses more on the prosecution building their case, making sure everything stuck and a conviction was secured. Probably my own fault for not doing proper research earlier. Interesting insight into police methods though.
Stephen King - From A Buick 8 - Apparently this was the book King was writing at the time of his accident. It had sat on my bookcase for a few years, & I appear to have gotten the novel bug. Interesting concept - fantasy car being a portal to another world, people vanish and/or obsess about the car. Once again (typical for king imo) anti climax ending.
Stephen King - Hearts in Atlantis - 5 loosely linked short stories from King. The first (low men in yellow coats) is great, and the last links very closely to it. More obvious than some of Kings other work - perhaps why I enjoyed this one.
J Sharpe -Dick Turpin The Myth of the English Highwayman - I went to York a year or so ago (might be 2 years, can't remember) & saw Turpins grave, prison cell etc. Which got me thinking about highwaymen, classic british tales etc, and so I got this book.
Blow me if pretty much everything about turpin isn't true - no black bess, no ride to york, & the "gentleman robber" highwaymen never really existed. Turpin did, though the famous stories appear to be an amalgamation of stories about other highwaymen if this book is correct.
Brian Eno - a year with swollen appendices - ever wondered what rock stars do in their spare time? Go for walks, cook & take the kids to school it appears. Bought & read mainly for the references to James (the band) who I'm a big fan of.
Irvine Welsh - Porno - follow up to trainspotting. Loved the book & film of trainspotting, so had to read this (though should have read it years ago). Great novel - a fair few twists & turns through the book right to the end.
JK Rowling - The Casual Vacancy - Whilst not thrilling in a harry potter way, I have to say I found this book to be really great. It highlights how so many of us have our shortcomings, fears of others perceptions, and looks at some of the intricacies of our personal relationships (& some of the unintended consequences of these). In parts shocking, in others, enlightening, I have to say I really enjoyed this.
Iain Banks - Dead Air - again I have to say I loved this book. Cocky, self assured dj believes he can out smart & out bluff anyone. Then worries he's bit off more than he can chew... Quite a few moments in this book made me smile. Makes me sad hearing the news today...
Irvine Welsh - Skagboys. Now, I have to say this is absolutely brilliant. Welsh goes to town with this, based on the trainspotting characters, set 2-3 years before the original book. Based in the 80's (opening chapter is the miners strike) the book is political, historical, and bloody funny! Lost count of how many times I fell about laughing - mainly at the practical jokes the lads play on each other. At the same time, the book highlights how easy it can be to descend into drug use, and how little an addict can care about their descent. Absolutely loved this book.
Oliver Sacks - Uncle Tungsten - autobiography of Sacks' childhood in blitz/post blitz britain. Mainly about how he developed his enthusiasm for chemestry, but also interesting for his insight into post war britain. Lot about his family was very interesting. The science stuff less so - but I'm not scientific enough to get everything he was trying to convey I guess.
N Connell - Walter Dew - The man who Caught Crippen - biography of the man who was sent to arrest Crippen in the US, as well as allegedly being the first man into 13 millers court when mary kelly was found (debateable!) Decent life story, little info on before he was in the police, lots of whilst in the force, little on retirement. Tragic that it is a british disease that we define people by their job, rather than who they are. Told me lots about his career, but little about him as a person.
Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath - yup, ashamed to say It took me til now to read this (rightly proclaimed) classic. The series of steps a family is forced to take, it seems at the time reasonable, but hell, you can feel the anger rise as each page turns. Hugely relevant to current times in myview.
Brian McConnell - Found Naked & Dead/D Seabrook - Jack of Jumps/N Milkins - Who was Jack the Stripper - 3 seperate books (read one after the other) on the hammersmith nudes murders of the 60's. Number of conspiracy theories galore. Have to be honest, little evidence in the 1st 2 books, a little more in the 3rd, creating a slightly more plausible suspect. However, there are still police files not available to the public that are alluded to in all 3 books which probably contain a lot more info. Interesting, but not essential.
I Am The Secret Footballer - a christmas present that was read within a week. Interesting view on much of the beautiful game. Fascinating to then start wondering who he might be? Couldn't put it down when I started.
Hubert Selby Jr - Requiem For A Dream - Bought as a christmas present by a mate, mainly because I think the film is superb. Said mate didn't know I'd been trying to borrow someone else's copy for 6 months, so a good decision by him! Anyhow, despite having seen the film first, this didn't spoil the book at all. Indeed, whilst much of the film is very true to the book, there are elements of the book which allow use of the imagination to better effect. The end of the film version is quite horrific in many ways. The book sees the characters descent, yet is not judgemental, and in some ways offers elements of self justification. Great book.
Iain Banks - Consider Phlebas - First culture novel. Hands up I'm not a massive fantasy/sci-fi books fan, & I struggled to properly get into it to be honest. I struggled to find any sympathy with any of the characters.
Nigel Cawthorne - a Brief History of Robin Hood - an examination of the stories that make up the robin hood myths - again inspired by a visit to sherewood forest. Again, fascinating to look at the myths that could hold truth, as well as some that are complete fantasy. Interestingly with Robin Hood, is the notion that several stories (verifiable ones) may have inspired the myths. There are several candidates for robin, and debate also rages over whether he belongs to nottingham, yorkshire, both, or somewhere inbetween. Indeed the one highly unlikey myth is the alleged ongoing saga against the sheriff of nottingham.
Brian Lane - an Encyclopedia of Cruel & Unusual Punishment - why historically have we looked to inflict misery, pain & death on those who fell foul (justly & unjustly) of the justice system? & what impact has all this had on judicial reform, and even on crime rates? A large book by Brian Lane seeks to answer such queries. Torture is not the answer, and execution is not a deterrent.
Iain M Banks - the Player of Games - More like it! 2nd culture novel, and for me, much more accessible - especially with the contrast of the ideal (the culture) & the Azad (possibly us? The crual barabarous race?) Gurgeh's acheivements in the book are impressive, as is his viewpoint as a gameplayer. After Phlebas, I wondered whether I'd read another culture book. I am glad I read the player of games.
Dan Ariely - the honest truth about dishonesty - not exactly an uplifting book, in many ways. However, an enlightening one! Interesting to see that wearing fakes (eg clothes) makes you more likely to cheat/be dishonest. A disclaimer at the start of a form makes you more honest. And even constantly denying temptation means that you're more likely to fall off the rails big time - better to allow yourself the occasional pleasure! Great book - I do like Ariely's studies.
PD James - the maul & the pear tree - an examination of the Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811. I was inspired to read this by Whitechapel series 3. Interesting read - if for no other reason than it highlights the needs for the development of a police force.
It's my favorite of all time. Love it. Have read the entire series. Cannot freaking wait for the movie.
