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Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 10 Dec 2020, 12:12
by Wendyf
Just been in Colne so I checked in the market and yes it's open. I wanted to be sure before I carted another pile of books down there!

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 12 Dec 2020, 13:33
by Stanley
Image

I think I shall be OK for Xmas reading. This has just popped in, over 700 pages. I have 1421 by Gavin Menzies at 500 pages and I have yet to finish Louise Levathes' book. :biggrin2:

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 12 Dec 2020, 14:20
by plaques
Bingo, Picked my Enigma book up from the library. Allowed one month to read it in. I shall put Homer to one side although I was surprised at how interesting this full translation is. Quite a riveting story considering its 200+ BC.

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 12 Dec 2020, 17:45
by Tripps
That looks interesting. Remarkable how our attitude to the place has changed. once it was never admitted that it existed - now they publish its full history. Interestingly - when you phone them, they just answer by saying 'hello'. Just in case you got through accidentally by mis-dialling.

There was a review of 'Nose Dive' in this week's Spectator. Nothing in the review to make me want to read it, let alone buy it. Made me wonder what kind of person feels the need to write 654 pages on the subject of smells. I doubt I could do a chapter. I won't tell anyone how much it cost. :smile:

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 13 Dec 2020, 02:45
by Stanley
It won't embarrass me David, It was a £30 mistake but will look impressive when anyone looks at the shelves in the library!
I have to agree with you about what drove the author. For ten years!!

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 13 Dec 2020, 08:10
by plaques
Started the 'Enigma' last night only got through 50 pages of the development phase of GCHQ. Its one of those books that have to be read carefully to maintain the continuity otherwise you feel like you may lose the plot (sorry about that). Will definitely last over Christmas.

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 13 Dec 2020, 08:31
by Stanley
And I thought it was just me slowing down due to the effects of old age..... Thanks for the reassurance Ken, all my books are like that these days!

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 13 Dec 2020, 10:44
by PanBiker
I am at about the same place as you Ken and I have read some bits twice. :smile:

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 14 Dec 2020, 03:34
by Stanley
I'm quite content with Louise Levathes on China. Fascinating history and they were so far ahead of us!

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 14 Dec 2020, 08:54
by plaques
Another few pages of 'Enigma'. What a complicated business this spying is, already knee deep in department names and acronyms to the point of giving you a headache. The level of our spying was and probably still is enormous and then we bitch on about someone try to hack our systems. He who is without sin.....

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 14 Dec 2020, 10:10
by PanBiker
Various arms of the service are not all yet reading from the same page are they. Not quite joined up enough yet. :extrawink: Not helped in the run up to WWI and through the conflict with Mr Marconi flogging obsolete technology to the admiralty to turn a coin. :sad:

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 14 Dec 2020, 18:36
by Tripps
If you're looking for a last minute stocking filler - these might be of interest.

The poetry of Donald Trump

There is also a companion volume Vladimir Putin - Life Coach

:smile:

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 15 Dec 2020, 03:02
by Stanley
I looked at the links David and what grabbed me was the Ladybird books and the Giles compendium.....

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 15 Dec 2020, 11:34
by Tripps
Forgot to say - I've sent for the GCHQ Enigma book. Can't be left out. :smile:

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 15 Dec 2020, 11:56
by PanBiker
I'm up to chapter four, British Foreign Policy 1919-39 then it's Bletchley. :smile:

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 15 Dec 2020, 12:35
by plaques
On my fourth headache with two paracetamol packets to go. Welcome to the masochist club Tripps.

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 16 Dec 2020, 02:55
by Stanley
I finished Louise and started on Gavin, '1421' so I'll stick with China for a while.

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 16 Dec 2020, 09:55
by PanBiker
I wonder if the man destined to be Bomber Harris is mentioned in the traffic we were reading from Afghanistan while he was honing his skills. :extrawink:

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 17 Dec 2020, 04:06
by Stanley
And in Mesopotamia Ian, see 'Air Power and Colonial control. the RAF 1919-1939.' By David Omissi. It took me 20 years to find a copy and it cost an arm and a leg. I looked it up on Bookfinder and see that it costs £100 more now than what I paid but there is one copy available for £75. Could be a bargain for someone.... (LINK)

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 28 Dec 2020, 19:32
by plaques
Finished 'Behind the Enigma'. Felt at times it was really heavy going made worse by having to return it to the library on a limited time scale. Made a number of mistakes in attacking this book by underestimating its complexity and diversity although not impossible to handle if you approached it right.
Tips.
1 Look through the illustrations to get a feel what is being discussed.
2 Google explanations on things like, enigma, bombe, Typex (Type X), colossus, crib, etc. you may have to wait until you come across them.
3 Create an alphabetical list of acronyms and their meaning as you go along. There are hundreds of them blending into one big alphabetical soup.
4 Most people will be familiar with past wars, conflicts and who are the bad guys, worth genning up on if in doubt.

Interesting but needs a lot of effort.

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 29 Dec 2020, 02:44
by Stanley
Must be a lot of pressure Ken, having to return to the library. I am still on 1421 and the Chinese treasure fleets but can see Enigma grinning at me every time I look up!

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 01 Jan 2021, 05:34
by Stanley
I was reading some criticism of Gavin Menzies yesterday, I admit that he occasionally gives me some small problems but he does deploy an amazing amount of evidence. On the whole I give him the benefit of the doubt. (If he is wrong so is Louise Levathes)

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 02 Jan 2021, 11:22
by plaques
Finished. The Odyssey Homer. Translated by Robert Fagles. The story of Odysseus. The first 70 pages are a bit academic describing the translation details into a more modern English. Homer's narrative given in full is still a riveting story. Easy to read. A 400 page story which considering it was told from memory god knows when BC its still a classic.

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 03 Jan 2021, 03:56
by Stanley
You tempt me Ken, I have heard others say the same.

Re: READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

Posted: 06 Jan 2021, 21:31
by plaques
Jeremy Paxman, a life in question. A nice break from the heavier stuff. Quite amusing, well written, nailing down his personal politics is impossible. Tends to be sceptical about people who wear suits and profess to know everything which just about covers 99% of current politicians. Worth a read.