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

I've started reading Terry Pratchett's 'The Long' series. I started with the short story in 'A Blink of the Screen' and am now on 'The Long '.

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I've finally finished with the OU so now i can read for fun. That means I've just finished The silmarillion and am now about to read The Children of Hurin (i may leave out Beren and Luthien)

I've never met anyone who has actually finished the Silmarillion. Well done.

I also struggled with the 'Long' books and took them back to the library in the end. But I've struggled with reading generally while I've been ill so maybe I should try again.

But not yet. Current book is the Ladybird Book of Drawing

Mol

I've read The Silmarillion all the way through, but that was many years ago. As I recall, I borrowed a copy, which could explain why I haven't read it since.

Manhood - The Bare Reality.

It's a hundred photographs of penises and interviews of their owners. Sometimes talking about their penises but mostly talking about being a man.

PP

Started a couple of books on Kindle. To Play the King by Michael Dobbs and The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London by Judith Flanders.

Maybe this thread has died. Maybe I'm the only one still reading, or the only one who wants to share what they're reading. Any way...

I'm currently reading Isabella: She-wolf of France, Queen of England by Alison Weir, and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, both on Kindle. I'm also reading The Witches: Salem 1692 by Stacey Schiff, and How to be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman, both print books.

I've just finished 'A Shepherd's Life' by James Rebank - not read any of those ones, though I did see the television series based on 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell'.

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Currently putting my reading/viewing time primarily on Ivan Tors' "Science Fiction Theater" with the Truman Bradley introductions, which ran 3 seasons, 1955 through 1957, available on YouTube.

One can't argue with the cast.

The most enjoyable series of books I have enjoyed lately has been "Wolf of the plains" by Conn Iggleden.

Has anyone read any of these?

It's about the rise of the Khan Empire. Surprisingly informative and a very good read;
There several in the series and I hope they are all as good as the first.

With the best of intentions, I bought a 2nd hand copy of The Satanic Verses.

It is currently sitting on top of my Tsundoku.

PP.

David Bowie's son, Duncan Jones has started an online book club, based on his father's favourites. This month is Peter Ackroyd's Hawksmoor, which seems to be out of print.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/david-bowie-book-club-duncan-jones-top-100-favourites-hawksmoor-peter-ackroyd-fiction-reading-2018-a8137596.html

I have read it before and still have the paperback, but now I've downloaded the audio book so Derek Jacobi can read it to me.

Anyone else reading Hawksmoor this month? He's promised the next book will be easier to get hold of.

I'll see if I can find it. Duncan Jones is a good person to listen to in that regard and I enjoy Peter Ackroyd books anyway.

This week I am mostly reading Edgar Rice Burrough's 'Venus' books – which I've not read since last century and had forgotten what happens. The first two books have a satire on Communism with the lurking background threat of the sickle-phantic Thorists. The third one, published in 1938, has the enemy the Zanis and their duplicitous ally Muso, who are of course Nazis and Mussolini. And of course there's the inevitable plot in which everyone the main character, Carson, bumps into is a princess, prince or important noble (except for the baddies he defeats in single combat).

I also noticed a pattern with Burrough's heroes' names: Tarzan – Carson – Carter. Similarly his love interest princesses are Dian, Duare, Dejah.

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Finished How to be a Victorian, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Unlike a lot of historians, Ruth Goodman has lived her subject and really knows what she's writing about.

Reading the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman again - already about one third of the way through The Subtle Knife. Also reading The War the Infantry Knew by Captain J. C. Dunn. It's a doorstop of a book, so it will take a while to get through.

Currently listening to a talking book version of Fred Pohl's "Gateway".

Watching DNA's "Dirk Gently" on BBCA.

The superpowers dialogue from the latter is amusing.

Reminds me of my own 'applied psychokinetics'.

I'm now on The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. Nearly a quarter of the way through it.

Today I've been to Wigan.

I visited the Pier.

I really ought to have read The Road to Wigan Pier before now.

PP.

I may have to give up reading for a while soon. My optician said that I may have a retinal tear. I'm seeing a specialist on Tuesday. If I need treatment, I probably won't be able to read for a few weeks.

So it's audiobooks for you then?