Currently Reading

[Jack the Stripper]

I’ve entirely switched to audio books the last couple of years. They are more engaging to listen to when the writer is actually the narrator. I have downloaded a few with a different narrator to the writer and some them I’ve listened to 5 minutes and thought I can’t do 10 hours of that.

I do still like to buy the physical copy as a collector. A lot of them I’ve purchased over the years have been signed by the author.

[Zzzptm]

A James May audiobook is a tricky thing, because he's so soothing, it could lead to naps and rewinding!

[Jack the Stripper]

I did get the limited edition signed leather bound edition of Judas Priest: 50 Heavy Metal years from Rufus Publications in a couple of weeks ago. Stunning quality book and was very happy to be given the low number of #6 as well.

Will post some pics if anyone is interested when I get some spare time.

I would like to see those pictures Jack.

Sorry for being late on this Thel but finally got some motivation to take some photos today.




















Obviously a beautiful and stunning book. Comes in a snakeskin type leather bound box with gold leafing and the book itself is bound in the same type leather with a lenticular trident on the front. The book goes through all the different albums and accompanying tours with photos from each of those periods that make up each chapter in the book. All 500 are signed and numbered and was very happy to get a low #6

[Thelemech]

That is awesome Jack!! Thanks for sharing!! 

[Zzzptm]

I'm starting in a series of books about the aftermath of WW2 - the population movements, the rebuilding, the recovery.

Found out that every German city has a series of hills at its perimeter - rubble mounds from WW2 where the grass has grown over them. Many of these rubble mounds are the highest points in the city.

[Zzzptm]

Finished Michael Palin's "Erebus" before I got into my next set of books on rebuilding Germany - Savage Continent and The Long Road Home. Already finished the shorter book, Life After the Third Reich.

[Thelemech]

Looking through the Larousse Greek and Roman Mythology. Fascinating stories and a bit of a nostalgic trip for me as I use to read Greek myths as a young kid. 

[Zzzptm]

Sounds like some good fun.

I recently re-read the essays in Stanislav Lem's "One Human Minute". Great thinking from a great mind.

[Typhon]

Looking through the Larousse Greek and Roman Mythology. Fascinating stories and a bit of a nostalgic trip for me as I use to read Greek myths as a young kid.

So did I.    In fact, I still have several paperbacks in my bookcase on the subject.  I reference them whenever I watch a movie about one of the myths.

[Zzzptm]

Reading H. Keith Melton's "The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception."

Stuff in there GUARANTEED to make for interesting conversation-starters at office parties and what-not.

[Zzzptm]

Albert Camus - The Myth of Sisyphus

Very much enjoying this essay.

[Zzzptm]

Started on Heller's Catch-22, great novel about life in the trenches of the bomber cockpits.

[Vyn]

I recall Catch-22 being a difficult to understand book when I was 10 years old, but then being pretty funny when I had to read it for a lit course in college. Haven't picked it up since then, but I'd recommend it to anyone. It's not 1984, or more relatedly Slaughterhouse-Five, but cut from the same cloth.

[Zzzptm]

I've seen the movie and was familiar enough with a number of plot points and devices that I figured, "Well... why not?" I'm about a fourth of the way through, on the chapter about ex-PFC Wintergreen.

[Zzzptm]

Just finished "Unruly" by David Mitchell. It's a great read, as I enjoy gonzo history - tell the story with wit and cutting back and forth to current situations or interesting metaphors, and Mitchell does it very very well. I'm already a fan of his from seeing him on UK comedy panel shows and his sitcom work, so when I saw the book advertised in the tube, I got a copy and read it through as we went from hotel to tourist destination in the last two weeks.

By choosing to speculate on internal dialogues, Mitchell really brings these characters alive, free and clear of the propaganda made up about them to justify one change in dynasty or another.