READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

[Tripps]

Good man ! - don't skimp on books. Good value, they will nearly last for ever. Long after we're gone.

PS where does 'skimp' come from? Quick furtle but no answer found.

PS. The first vol of Manchester's trilogy is on its way from Abebooks. For £2.74 inc p&p it would wrong not to buy it. though at more than 900pages I doubt it will all be read.

[Stanley]

You might be in for a surprise David, he's very readable and has done his research. I'm so pleased he wrote the third book, 'Defender of the Realm. 1940-1965', I had long given up hope and knew he was dead.
I haven't started Woodward yet, I am finishing a re-read of Hilary Mantel, 'Wolf Hall'. There's a case of another wait for the third book of the trilogy. I know she's working on it and originally it was promised for this year.....

[Stanley]

Manchester has been dispatched from the US. Delivery date expected to be October 13th.

[Stanley]

I finished Wolf Hall yesterday. I shall read this week's PE first and then attack Woodward!

[Stanley]

I started on Woodward this morning. We are in the run up to the election and looking inside Trump's campaign and it's a nasty spectacle. Largely Steve Bannon at the moment. Not people I would welcome as house guests!
So far the book is reading well......

[Stanley]

But it's an increasingly ugly story. Very depressing!

[Stanley]

Still ploughing through Woodward. A story of chaos, still depressing but I feel I have to read it!

[Stanley]

I have finished 'Fear' by Bob Woodward. I trust the writer and it's a powerful and disturbing insight into the workings of the White House. I feel it can be summed up by two quotes from Trump's personal lawyer, the first was direct to Trump when he told him he could no longer represent him as he refused to sit in the well of the court listening to Trump giving witness as he knew he didn't have the mental capacity or control to be a good witness.
Later he summed up Trump's character in one telling phrase " He's a f****** liar"
Worth reading for the insights into how the Presidency works but I warn you, it will frighten you to death when you realise just how chaotic the mind of one of the world's most powerful men is.

[Stanley]

Whilst waiting for my Manchester book I am re-reading 'Bring up the bodies' by Hilary Mantel.
Tiz has recommended a book on geology and I am pursuing it.......

[Stanley]

Tiz's bookseller has reserved the geology book for me and I popped the cheque in the post yesterday. So nice to do things the old fashioned way! He's called Gerald Lucy and works from Saffron Walden in Essex. I have an idea I might be buying more off him......
( Good God! What am I saying, more books? At my age?)

[Stanley]

I'm enjoying 'Bring up the bodies' The story of Ann Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. It's 1536, not a good year......

[Stanley]

The third volume of The Last Lion arrived yesterday from the US. A 1,700 page lump and co-authored by Paul Reid. He was asked by Manchester to take all his research notes and complete the book, he had written the first 100 pages but then was brought low by a stroke. This was in 2003 and he died the following year. It took Reid 8 years to complete the task and it was published in 2012. This is why I thought that all hope of the last volume had gone. I shall report on how good a job he did...... The book quality is up to the usual US standards, impressive.
Tripps told me yesterday that he has started reading the Last Lion and he likes it, reads well. That was my impression also and I I live in hopes.

[Stanley]

PE arrived, everything else goes on hold of course......

[Tripps]

I read this review of Betnard Cribbins book today. He was born in Oldham (Glodwick) - which I'm told is a 'no go' area these days.

He's a bit older than Stanley, but his recollections of the bombing in WW II are similar- excusing an old man's (Cribbins) exaggeration -

"Every boy had a box of shrapnel under his bed, and we'd trade it like currency: 'Hey, Charlie, swap you my nose cone and a bag of sherbet for your unexploded bomb!' "

[Stanley]

I never had a nose cone....... Plenty of shrapnel and some unexploded cannon shells once..... But the spoilsports took them off me and sent for the UXB squad!
The Geology of Britain arrived yesterday delivered by Postman Pete..... I shall report Peter. I am on the last few pages of 'Bring Up the Bodies'. I shall have a look at Geology before I embark on Planet Manchester!

[Stanley]

'Bring up the Bodies' is finished and back on the shelf. Tiz will be pleased to know that next for shaving is Peter Toghill on Geology......
The massive 1,600 pages of The Last Lion is lurking in the wings.....

[chinatyke]

World Without End by Ken Follett. I know it has been produced as a TV mini-series but the book is good. Just over one thousand pages so it has kept me intrigued for a couple of weeks.

[Stanley]

I got into geology yesterday but in my present state of mind it's a bit too heavy for me so I have started Manchester......

[Stanley]

I'm 100 pages in to Manchester and it's reading well. It's at about this point that Paul Reid took over. I shall report on how well he did.
Very informative, and despite all the reading I have done on the subject I am learning new facts......

[Stanley]

I'm into Paul Reid's version now and so far I have seen a slight deterioration in the way the information is organised. It is not good but early days, he might improve!

[Stanley]

I'm on p.350..... A slight improvement and supportable because of all the information but it doesn't flow quite the same as Manchester's writing.

[Stanley]

Last Lion is hard work but rewarding, bit dire at present because we are in 1941 when everything was going against us. I'll be glad when we get an improvement!
One thing I note is that there is a mistake in describing the fate of the Bismark. The damage to the rudder and fuel tanks which was to prove fatal is put down to bombs and not the heroic attacks of the string-bag Swordfish.

[Stanley]

I'm sorry to say that this third volume of Last Lion has deteriorated into a task rather than a pleasure. Still very informative and I enjoy the research but it's not what you'd call a good read......

[Stanley]

I'm ploughing on with Last Lion and enjoying the detail revealed by Manchester's original research but not Paul Reid's treatment of it which isn't up to the standard of the original books.

[Stanley]

Reading material for my time in hospital is going to be Kipling; 'Puck of Pook's Hill' and 'Rewards and Fairies', lovely books which always sooth me!