What are you reading? (2025)

Sardonicus

Sardonicus

WHADDA YOU MEAN IT'S NOT IN THE COMPUTER
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So far in January...

"Hyperion" by Dan Simmons

Finally got round to this because I had read "The Terror" & this was continuously mentioned as his best WORK. I did have to skim a bit over the TECHNOBABBLE that I always find a struggle on the rare occasions I read sci-fi, but overall I admired the breadth of imagination of "The Canterbury Tales In Space" & I thought he executed the future world convincingly. The tales of the priest & the scholar stuck with me the most. At some point down the line, I might try the sequel.

"Murder On The Marlow Belle" by Robert Thorogood

Book 4 of this cosy crime series that I've really enjoyed so far, but despite an excellent IDEA for a murder, it all felt incredibly RUSHED, like he knew the publication deadline was approaching & just had to get it finished. It's a shame because it needed to be a bit longer & more time spent with the main characters. Still, got #5 on pre-order.

"The Murder At The End Of The World" by Stuart Turton

2nd time I've been drawn in by the HIGH CONCEPT murder mystery blurb by this author & 2nd time I've been disappointed. He has great ideas but the execution is poor - I'm not convinced by the world building & the characters fell flat.
 
I'm reading PITY by ANDREW MCMILLAN which I really wasn't expecting much from as I've not bothered with his FILTHY POETRY but so far it's REALLY GOOD
 
Being lazy, I took a screenshot from Goodreads….

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Currently reading ‘Bellies’ by Nicola Drinnan
 
I'm still on

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I've just got to the part about India, with is far more interesting than Pacific Islands and Australia (in context of the British Empire). It's 600 pages, thankfully this part is compelling enough for me race through today, as I have an equally long Dan Jones looking at me on my to-read-pile.
 
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This was a last-minute addition to the BOOK PILE as I really didn't fancy it out of the BOOKER LIST but in fact it's REALLY GOOD
 
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Oh well. If we all thought the same there'd be no call for MIXED BISCUITS

I hardly ever DNF, either I'm very determined or very undiscerning

Also I read The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks which like most of his books was OK but not all that. Actually I'm being kind it was HALF-BAKED at best.
 
Shirley said:
Oh well. If we all thought the same there'd be no call for MIXED BISCUITS

I hardly ever DNF, either I'm very determined or very undiscerning

Also I read The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks which like most of his books was OK but not all that. Actually I'm being kind it was HALF-BAKED at best.
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I'm a big believer in abandoning books at page 100 if it isn't clicking.

WHEN THE FUN STOPS STOP
 
"I'm Not With The Band" by Sylvia Patterson

I think my fellow old TOTP/90s music ENTHUSIASTS @AGinAg (38), @octophone, @VoR, @Shirley & @funky might all enjoy this book.

Former Smash Hits journalist in the 80s & 90s along with numerous other music publications for decades now. I'd forgotten just how much Sylvia's off-the-wall humour for Ver Hits informed my own at a young age. This book, partly a collection of meetings & interviews with various musical icons of the past 40 years & partly an autobiography of her struggles with her alcoholic mother, is written in a similar style.

Prince is unsurprisingly a COMPLETE ODDBALL, Madonna in the "Ray of Light" era PROFESSIONAL BUT HAUGHTY, Kylie a sweetheart who gives little away in 25 years of interviews, Britney showing signs of mental struggles as early as 2001, & Jon Bon Jovi mercilessly LAMPOONED as a pompous humourless TIT. Interviews with Richey from The Manics & George Michael take on added poignancy with hindsight.

It's also a fascinating insight into how the music industry & how stars approach interviews & public imagery change over the years. The old random questions that get thrown at pop stars from The Hits like "have you ever grown parsnips in a gumboot?" just wouldn't FLY nowadays with today's media trained, PR conscious stars.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants some insight into some of the biggest musical icons & the changing industry over the past 40 years.
 
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I think I actually have this in the house but I've never got round to it, to my shame.
 
Just finished Nova Scotia House by Charlie Porter. (ARC - Due out later in March)

4/5

A really poignant and emotional novel spanning the AIDS crisis set mainly in London. Obviously there are themes of grief but also a celebration of love and relationships. A warning that the book is written in a stream of consciousness style which I initially struggled with, but once you get used to it, it’s a lot less jarring.


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Stephen King - Rose Madder

Found this in MINT CONDITION on one of those book swap table thingys at work so thought WHY NOT. Haven't read any King WORKS in a long time & this one I think I read at about age 16, although bits of it always stuck with me.

Still held up well, STRONG character work, with the depictions of domestic violence stomach churning. Doesn't seem to be one of his best loved books, I can see why the whole fantasy element seems UNNECESSARY as the main story is compelling enough & that's definitely the bit that seems to need working on more, but overall, pretty strong.
 
I read the latest MURAKAMI and OK it's not his greatest work but I still enjoyed it. But then I haven't read the previous version of it
 
AGinAg (38) said:
I'm still on

View attachment 32972

I've just got to the part about India, with is far more interesting than Pacific Islands and Australia (in context of the British Empire). It's 600 pages, thankfully this part is compelling enough for me race through today, as I have an equally long Dan Jones looking at me on my to-read-pile.
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Finally finished this. Very good, but it was a tough read - very dense and detailed.

Can't face another weighty history epic, so I've gone for Young Mungo now, which is a much lighter affair than the horrors of British colonisation, although only just.
 
Oh YES PLEASE

She's essentially just the working class Miriam Margolyes thesedays, but I'm very much buying what she's selling
 
Then I read THIS which was quite good although fuck knows what the WRITING A PLAY in the middle was supposed to be about

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Just read my first of his Death at the Sanatorium which I enjoyed, now moving onto his first book

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