READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

[plaques]

Finished, 'If Only they didn't Speak English', notes from Trumps America, by Jon Sopel, (2017) BBC's American editor. An insight into what makes America tick. Quite a lot of detail that we never hear about but also confirms a lot of suspicions that are in the back of your mind. Interesting and well worth reading. I would recommend a library loan rather than a purchase but that's me.
Library review...
In this fascinating, insightful portrait of American life and politics, the BBC's North America Editor, Jon Sopel sets out to answer our questions about...

[Stanley]

There are so many good books out there.... How can people be bored?

[Stanley]

Back into Bolton again after a Private Eye interlude. Bolton is not a nice man, a right wing hawk and his book is a dry account of what was happening behind the scenes. It is the latter that is the saving grace of the book, it gives a very believable picture of a West Wing in chaos and Trump's staggering ignorance and lack of objectivity. I suspect Bolton will really get into his stride on Trump after he is sacked which won't be long now.

[plaques]

A good way through 'The Dark History of the Tudors' Henry V111 and all that. A book my pal lent me, being a Frenchman found it interesting but mainly its a picture book with a brief synopsis of what was going on. One of those books I would perhaps pick off the library shelf as a background read.
Came across a stash of Terry Pratchett's books that I'd put away in a safe place and forgot all about, as one does. My next reads.

[Stanley]

I don't have to go to the shelves.... Thanks to you, I have Bleak House sitting there like a large brick and am looking forward to getting back into it. After Bolton it will be a page turner!

[PanBiker]

Sally has been tidying one of our bookshelves and came across a small book which may interest Stanley. "A Man and His Lathe" written by L.H. Sparey and published by Tool News Publications in 1951. It's only about the size of a Ladybird book but is aimed at the home shed man. Inside the front cover it says: "Published in the interests of of Better Service by T.Garner & Son Ltd, Hand and Machine Tool Division, Redbrook Works, Gawber, Barnsley.

Yours if you want it Stanley.

[Stanley]

That is quite a rare item now Ian. Published originally by Model Engineer as I remember and it was the first book on turning I ever read. Still a classic. Never seen a copy published by an engineering firm.

[PanBiker]

If you have read it, I'll shove it on Ebay then, thanks for the heads up. I will report back.

[Stanley]

I have it Ian and it lives in the shed, I still refer to it occasionally. This is a replacement, I wore my first one out.
I have an idea this is the expanded version of the original Man and his Lathe.

[plaques]

Picked up my first Terry Pratchett book, part of the disc world series. Its like reading the Goon show on steroids. Looks like a book that's suited to people who don't think in straight lines but are always running off at a tangent. May well suit grasshopper minds like mine.

[Stanley]

I finished John Bolton's book yesterday thank God! my verdict...
I freely admit I don't like Bolton, his politics or his attitudes but basically I think he is honest. That being the case a boring reprise of events while he was involved in the Oval Office is useful for the inside track. In the process of doing that he gives a clear picture of Trump's failings which are just as bad as we suspected and that is of course why Trump fought to stop publication. Bolton demonstrates very clearly that Trump was and is running the Presidency with possible benefit to himself in mind. Numerous examples of his erratic behaviour, often doing a midnight tweet reversing what he had agreed during the day with his advisers. These flaws explain the high staff turnover, disagreeing with Trump is now a plus on a CV. Don't buy the book unless you are a compulsive nosey bugger like me. Having said that I am glad I persevered, it has reinforced my previous opinions based on news stories.
The bottom line is that Trump is not fit to be President.
Back to Bleak House which will be a stroll in the park after this!

[Stanley]

Enjoying re-immersing myself in the intricacies of Bleak House.

[plaques]

Bleak House. My reactions through the book. 0>200 pages, get a move on. 201>500 , beginning to understand. 501> 700 , getting interesting, 701> 960 (end), loath to put it down, summary at the back of the book, should have read this first. Pleased I'd read it.

[Wendyf]

I have an inherited set of 8 Dickens classics if anyone wants to borrow more....

[Stanley]

Ah, I read the summary first Ken.

[plaques]

I have an inherited set of 8 Dickens classics if anyone wants to borrow more....

I've five books lined up at the moment so its going to be some time before I may be asking about them. I know Dickens is long winded on his descriptions but on the other hand they do give you an on the spot idea how ordinary people lived in that period.

[Wendyf]

Apart from Bleak House I have Martin Chuzzlewit, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of 2 Cities, Dombey & Son and The Pickwick Papers. Having just investigated them, good eyesight is necessary and no dust allergies!

[Julie in Norfolk]

I've just found the Damien Seeker books. They are a good read if you like historical whodunnit novels. These are set in Commonwealth times, Oliver Cromwell in charge. I definitely recommend the series of books based on the one I've finished and the next ones I'm going to buy!

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/shon ... an-seeker/

[Stanley]

Bleak House is going to keep me going for a while. You are right Julie, he gives a very good picture of society in the mid 19th century. I was treated to the drunken brick worker amongst other things yesterday.

[plaques]

Don't need to go back to the 19 century. I've seen it first hand when I was a kid. One of my childhood pals used to take a beating nearly every saturday night until he got old enough (about 13) to square up to him and hold his own. Also stopped his mum getting a beating by threatening some retaliation.
It still goes on even today.

[Stanley]

Yes Ken, you are right. One thing about Covid, it has shone a spotlight on domestic abuse. I was listening to a good discussion about it on Woman's Hour and the law is still skewed against the woman.

[Stanley]

I set aside the dire news in PE yesterday and started to re-read the last 100 pages of Millennium III by Stieg Larsson. Possibly the most satisfying 100 pages of any book I have ever read. I have 40 pages left for today.....

[Stanley]

Really enjoyed that 40 pages. Back on the shelf and I shall plunge into the chicanery PE is exposing this week.

[plaques]

Finished Terry Pratchett's The Fifth Elephant. Part of the Disc World series. Total fantasy, Dwarfs, Humans, Trolls, wolves, werewolves, vampires, all rolled into one big story. The fun bit was his extensions to common sayings that added humor to every page. Nice break from today's serious world. Now got a stock of 12 more of his books to go at.

[Stanley]

I have heard so much about Terry Pratchett that I'm going to have to have a look at him!