h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've just finished the first Dark Tower book and am looking forward to the other two I got out the library. I really should get back into my habit of reading two books at a time as there are quite a few others piling up

>>Quite the opposite! Philip Pullman has said that he regards religion as 'A malign influence'<<

(sorry for quoting but I can only get here once a day.

Edward, I said that religion reared it's ugly head, I didn't say that Pullman was pushing religion (in quite the same way that CS Lewis did)


and I'd like to ask anyone here who has read both books (Lion The Witch & the Wardrobe and any of the Pullman books) what they think about the apparent sexism in both.

People often point to the sexism in the Narnia books as a reason not to read them to children today, or not to let children read them. They "belong to another time". But the Pullman books are modern - and yet Lyra is quite clear about her place as a female, and is astounded at the progress (for a woman) that Mrs. Coulter has made in the world of men. Surely that is about as relevant?

(not views I subscribe to - I believe that a good children's story is a good story, whether modern, old or ancient. Think about Five Children and It, The Railway Children, The Secret Garden, etc etc. Later, when they are older we can address the "issues")

actually, that's very off topic. Anyone care to start a convo about it?

F19585?thread=570604

RF

I must make a note of these... Thanks!

Currently reading The History of Mathematics: A Reader edited by John Fauvel and Jeremy Grey.

Basically it's a selection of texts, no more than a few pages of each, put together by the authors to show various different methods and views. Quite fascinating. I'm only up to ancient Greece at the moment, but already I've found out how the Egyptians did multiplication and decided that the Babylonian units of measurement makes Imperial measure look systematic.

Just finished The Dice Man. Ermmm...it started well, I enjoyed it for a while, but it got very samey around the middle, and I was anxious for it to huury up and end.

Now onto Sophie's World.

An excellent book, Lucky!

History of Mathematics: that does sound really interesting - suitable b'day gift for my husband d'you reckon? He IS interested in astronomy, cars & read Bill Bryson's book. Is it a "big" book?

I'd be interested from the historic facts!

I've just read "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Lynne Truss; very entertaining and highly recommended for any editors out there.

puzzler

Eats, shoots & leaves: total agreement - I'd have it added to the English curriculum at schools

Shirps - it is quite hefty, yes. Also academic; don't expect Bryson's "little prior knowledge required" explanations (I assume you're talking about A Short History of Nearly Everything). It's intended to go with a level 2 Open University Module: http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01MA290

Bagpuss: Thanks, I'll look at the site later - shame some of the most intriguing sounding books are aimed at the, ahem, higher intelligencia Mind you, other half has 2 degrees taken quite some years ago though!

Oh dear! I kicked off a stooshie talking about Narnia and Philip Pulman, didn't I?

Currently reading 'The Plot Against America' by Philip Roth. Rather good so far! I've only read his early novels previously. (Liver! Mmmm!)

For an excellent novel with a mathematical theme...'Uncle Petros and Goldbach's Conjecture' by Apostolos Doxiadis. A short novel about a mathematician who wastes his life trying to prove a well-known mathematical theorem. The maths is made quite easy to follow...and it is related well to real life.

Also with some maths - 'Brazzaville Beach' by William Boyd. The protagonist's husband is a topologist.

Edward - thanks for the suggestions. Sadly, Uncle Petros is not to be found at any libraries in the borough, but my local has two copies of Brazzaville beach. Must remember to check it out.

Uncle Petros was given to be by a friend. It was the only English book he found in a bookshop on Zanzibar!

Hi to the both of you! If you know who publisher, it is, sometimes, worth contacting them. They will tell you if it is out of print or remaindered (if you get a really helpful publisher & the book isn't before their records began, they may tell who bought up their remaindered stock - it's a long shot, but worth a try. If you do a search on Amazon for the book: some bookshops list their stock there & you can then contact the bookshop direct.

Edward: healthy discussions are - don't you reckon?

The author has his own site (http://www.apostolosdoxiadis.com/page/).

It's a Faber & Faber p/back, ISBN: 0571205119. Available from Amazon - where it gets 4/5 star reviews - but I don't think I'm allowed to post a link to them here.

i knew i had heard of shadowmancer!

i havent read it but it is on my list of next to read along with 50 billion others.
i believe that is the one my friend bought and told me about!

I have put Shadowmancer on my list as well.

Currently I am still reading (at night) Boudicca: Dreaming the Eagle, by Manda Scott, when I can get if off Jim! It's so wonderful, and he has read about 24 pages ahead of me, and is hinting at spoilers... The book is

I'm onto the second Dark Tower book now