I don't think we've had one of these since Dunc started the new "board" so has anyone read any good books recently? I've just finished Sebastian Faulk's "Birdsong" - it's the first time reading a book has made me cry (apart from the review of the 95/96 season!)

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2000

Answers

Rock n Roll, I give you the best years of my life, Bruce Welsh(Shadows Interested in the early days mainly at Rutherford Grammar, his friendship with Hank Marvin, the journey to London and the 2 I`s where incidentally if you are reading this Dunston Lass or maybe Macbeth a pal of mine who never let on to me went with them, Eddie Silva who lived at the back of you Brenda. Eddie went on to play the clubs, drive for Eddie Stobart and last time I was down I was informed he had died. The book is a great memory jerker for people of my age group, every band of the time gets a mention , Welsh never went solo as in his words he was a crap guitarist, more of a organiser and living in the shadow of Hank who now resides in Perth Australia, fully paid up member of the Jehovahs. Not going to dwell on the subject but have just read "Murder of the Innocents", 10 stories covering child murders, Jamie Bolger and Mary Bell are inc, rivetting reading but??

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Birdsong is excellent - esp the battle chapters (less keen on the pre- war romance yarn as I think it doesn't fit in well. If you like that, you must read Pat Barker's regeneration trilogy - also all about WWI. Excellent. Also recommend Antony Beever's 'Staliningrad' to anyone who hasn't read it. It is a history book, but so well-written and lively. A 'tour de force' as they say.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Thanks you lot - I was wondering what to read next! I shall definately buy Birdsong and Stalingrad. I tend to read non-fiction now, mostly because I am usually pretty disappointed with a lot of the fiction I have read. I love travel books, Bill Bryson`s, of course, I adore the humour in them. I love books on America, love visiting it too. When I have got dressed, I shall check my bookshelves and tell you what I have read lately!

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Just rereading Irwin Shaw's "The Young Lions". Amazingly sensitive for a book written only 5 years after WWII. I always seem to read books like this at the turning of the seasons - bit of a prick to the conscience when you're feeling hard done by for some spurious reasons to remind yourself of what you missed by the Grace of God. I can guarantee that I'll be onto "A Bridge too Far", "The Forgotten Soldier" and "Tank" come the Autumn. Might risk the Spike Milligan memoirs again if I feel up to the emotional wrenches when he slips from humour to depression.

Of course, there's always the latest Falco novel by Lindsey Davis to catch up on. He's a private investigator in Ancient Rome and the books always raise a chuckle.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Not exactly high-brow stuff, but I read Alan Shearer's biography when I was sunning myself in Tenerife recently. Canny read, very much in tune with his "speak no evil" character. His observations on each of the managers he has worked with are very interesting, generally picking the positives out of each relationship.

He's actually quite an interesting character, if a little introspective.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Since Christmas I`ve been wading my way through the two `This Sceptered Isle` books. Quite fascinating. Trouble is, they are the kind of books where you are inundated with so many hundreds of interesting facts and anecdotes, that you just can`t remember them.

On checking my shelves, my books seem to breakdown into travel, history, football, dog related, art (mostly photographic), a smattering of fiction, and last but not least, arctophilia (good eh?!)

Best history book I`ve read (if you can use the term best) is a book called `The Holocaust`, by Martin Gilbert. I read it a long time ago, it is exhausting and emotionally draining, but I am so pleased that I read it.

One of the best travel books I have read lately is called `Almost Heaven` (can`t remember the author off hand). Kind of like Bill Bryson, very amusing in places, but travelling through the back roads of America - decidedly chilling in places. It shows a side of America seldom mentioned in travel books! Well worth a read.

Best fiction I`ve read of late are the `Vampire` books of Anne Rice, `Interview with a Vampire`, `The Vampire Lestat` etc., very enjoyable, though I suspect they wouldn`t appeal to a men as much as women. (Anyone out there with a comment on this?)

I forgot to mention biographies - lots of them. Mostly of my heros, Charlton Heston, Yul Bryner, Shearer, too many to list. Though I must admit old Charlton Heston is slipping down my list now, due to his involvment in the Gun Lobby.

Am I boring you now? Ok, I`ll go and start the housework!

Oh, that`s reminded me of another book I`ve read lately - `Fifty Years of Womans Hour`! No I`m not joking! It was fascinating, as it covered the whole of my lifespan, plus a couple of years I might add, and discussed the way attitudes have changed to many aspects of women`s lives.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

I got Birdsong for Christmas but I am saving it for my Hols.

Currently reading Primary Colours which was made into a film which I haven't seen. Book is well written but the Amerian voting system continues to by a mystery to me.

Jay

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

I've just finished The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells and am feeling totally bereft. Its a wonderful read about friendship and mother/daughter relationships - probably one for the girls.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

ALMOST HEAVEN - now that was brilliant!

Travel book (by MArtin Fletcher?) around bizarre parts of USA. Places that speak Elizebethan English etc. Excellent. Recommend it.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

My reading habits swing between the sublime and the ridiculous, so here goes; just finished re-reading Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf, which prompted me to go back and reread his selected poems...'Blackberry Picking' is a fantastic description of late summer as a kid.

Am also reading Carl Hiaasen's Native Tongue, which is *very* funny.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Beardo re: Almost Heaven

It was excellent wasn`t it? I really love visiting the States, but it certainly made me think twice about travelling in some of lesser known places. You would think that the cities would be the most dangerous spots - but it seemed to be that there is a complete `other` culture over there too.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

So bizarre - almost unbelievable. There is such a myth about US life when you consider that so many people there are living a life far from the stereotypes.

If you really like travel/history books I think the best book I could recommend is Hedrick Smith's 'The Russian'. He was a Ney York Times correspondent based in Moscow in the early 1970s and this was an account of his experiences. First of a genre of travel writing, but - in my opinion (and I used to live there) - by far the best. The Fletcher book reminded me of it because of its easy style. Smith did a 1990's sequel 'The New Russians' but I don't think it has the same buzz. You should be able to pick it up in any 2nd-hand book shop for a few quid.

Jonathan Raban's travel books on the states (Hunting Mr Heartbreak, Old Glory etc) are also worth a read.

Dr Beardo

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Jay..re: the American voting system..it's a mystery to us too!! ;-)

I haven't really been reading anything terribly highbrow either lately. Have only just made time to start reading at all in the past year or so when I realized how much my job had taken over my life and away from things I loved. Just finished Bobby's biography..excellent read, amazing man. Now reading Left Foot in the Grave...going to the other extreme of the management experience ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Thanks Beardo - I`ll look out for those.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

I've ben reading the Evening chronicles "Bobby's Dazlers". does that count as a good read?

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Galaxy - I read Martin Gilbert's "The Holocaust" about three years ago. I invariably read in bed (it's me age you know!) but I found I just couldn't read that before going to sleep because I couldn't get it out of my mind. Last summer we got a Holocaust survivor called Paul Oppenheimer to come and speak to the Y10 kids at school - he was absolutely marvellous - not emotional or sentimental at all but absolutely amazing to listen to. I've never known that bunch of hooligans to sit so quietly for so long!

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000

Jacko! At last, I`ve found someone else who bothered to read the book. It was an exhausting read - I was overwhelmed by the fact that at almost every turn of the page another thousand people were killed. It made a big impact on me, and strengthened my disgust that such attitudes still exist in the form of the KKK, National Front etc.

I thought the idea of bringing a holocaust survivor into school was superb. What a priceless teaching aid. I`m not suprised that his account was not emotional - it`s something I`ve noticed before in documentaries. But let`s be honest - what need would there be to embelish the facts - the truth is beyond comprehension anyway.

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2000