OneGuyFromBarlick

Speaking of spooky things. Having just finished Bleak House and rummaged through my dwindling book pile I picked up 'Three Men on a Bummel' in which he mentions Mr Turveydrop (the master of deportment), one of the characters in Bleak House. Patted myself on my back at my newly acquired knowledge.

Nice one Ken. I too enjoy picking up literary allusions in my reading and try to use them wherever possible in my own writing.

Nearing the climax and the end of Millennium III.

Finished Three men on a Bummel. Much like reading the script for a Monty Python show. Amusing but took some of the incidents a little too far to be vaguely plausible. On the whole quite readable considering it was written in 1900.

From Wiki:
"Jerome (Klapka Jerome) was born in Caldmore, Walsall, England. He was the fourth child of Marguerite Jones and Jerome Clapp (who later renamed himself Jerome Clapp Jerome), an ironmonger and lay preacher who dabbled in architecture. He had two sisters, Paulina and Blandina, and one brother, Milton, who died at an early age. Jerome was registered as Jerome Clapp Jerome, like his father's amended name, and the Klapka appears to be a later variation (after the exiled Hungarian general György Klapka). The family fell into poverty owing to bad investments in the local mining industry, and debt collectors visited often, an experience that Jerome described vividly in his autobiography My Life and Times (1926).
I have often wondered if he changed the Clapp for the same reason as a lady I once knew. She was divorced but had kept her husbands name and I asked her why, she told me her maiden name was Clapp and said it had unfortunate connotations which had embarrassed her at times.
Yesterday I finished Millennium III. Wonderful afternoon's entertainment and I am really sorry to see it finish, definitely a re-read later! I think Larrson has the edge on John le Carré'.

Economy of a Northern Monastery is a bit of a culture shock after Millennium. I think I'll go back and read the trial scene again, it's that good!

I cracked and got Millennium III off the shelf. The last 150 pages are even better second time round!

My good friend dropped off some books for me to read. (4 off). We both have similar interests and quite often interchange books. I'll start with the Noam Chomsky , 'Failed States, and the abuse of power'. I'm a big follower of Chomsky and listen to a lot of his YouTube interviews. That's me sorted for the next few weeks.

Isn't it funny how we both seem to have a streak of masochism. That's what reading Chomsky or the Economy of a Northern monastery is!

Chomsky tells it like it is. Even from the opening pages you begin to wonder if we have done the right thing in having such close ties with America. He makes it clear that its not the general populations fault but their type of government that are setting the rules of engagement for the rest of the world.

I'd go with that. Trump is a supreme example of malignant style of government.

By the way, I have John Bolton's book on order and will report when I have read it. The expected delivery date is July 17th but has been changed twice. I expect it to come despite Trump's attempts to stop publication.

A strange man loomed in the back yard..... It was Ken. He has decided that it's time I did some proper reading and has given me a 900 odd pages brick, Bleak House. I shall enjoy it and thanks Ken...

One of our Earby & District Local History Society members has just had this book published.

If you find yourself in Barlick feel free to drop a copy in, usual terms Wendy. (And get the bonus of a free book!)
I shall almost certainly be starting Bleak House today.

It isn't a history society publication Stanley, copies to be ordered direct from the author.

Right!

I finished the Bolton Priory book, more useful information about Northern Monasteries. The main impression is that they were the earliest form of the modern limited company cum social service.
Started Bleak House but remember me telling you that the delivery date for the John Bolton book was jumping about? News yesterday that it has changed again, it's been sent and will arrive today. Is this to avoid any problems with what I believe is still an impending ban in the States? Will Donald be knocking at my door? It reminds me of the Spycatcher furore when we had to order it from abroad and got it despite Thatcher's ban.

Bolton arrived yesterday with the good news that I had a credit of £2 as the price has fallen since I pre-ordered it. I fear Bleak House will have to go on the back burner while I see what John Bolton has to say.
Printed and bound in Croydon so I'm supporting the economy. Nicely produced. Must have been a gamble to proceed with this in the light of Trump's noises about blocking publication. Echoes of Spycatcher....

Finished Noam Chomsky's Failed States. He mainly covered the period of the Bush 2, and Blair years. (up to 2005) Came down very hard on the American Republican Party and slated Blair for backing Bush on his war interventions. A book full of facts and references that its hard to hold them all in your head. Very depressing factual reading especially about America's support for Israel and what they are doing in Palestine. Big Satan (USA) and little Satan (UK) about sums it up.

Same story emerges from Bolton Ken. He's a bit too gung ho and right wing for my taste but what he is relating has the ring of truth. It's not a pretty picture.
One quote already struck me, he says that he had always regarded Trump as a spoiled 11 year old. He admits he was wrong, it should have been one year old......

Next book...'If Only they didn't Speak English', notes from Trumps America, by Jon Sopel, (2017) BBC's American editor. An easy to read account of the background leading to the election of Trump to the Presidency. Based on his personal observations of what was going on at the time and why American Politics suddenly went downhill from that point in time.

Reading Mist Over Pendle again, must be at least 4th time over the last donkeys years!! Very easy reading in bed to put me to sleep.

I always enjoyed that book also Gloria.
Bolton is giving the inside story of the Trump/Kim meeting at Panjumjon. It is not a pretty picture

Bolton isn't a page turner, you have to concentrate. Lots of hawkish right wing views and self-justification but embedded in there is valuable first hand insight into how Trump 'works'. The overall impression is of chaos in the West Wing! Worth reading just for that.