What book you reading ?

[mothhawk]

I'm dipping in and out of E. Nesbit's complete works. I've read most of the stories before, they are terribly old fashioned and out of date now, but I love them for the odd, matter of fact little snippets that shed a light on a bygone world and its ways. For example:

"The ground was quite flat, and covered with smooth, hard snow that shone and sparkled like the top of a birthday cake that has been iced at home. The ones done at the shops do not shine and sparkle, because they mix flour with the icing sugar"

Also, one of my all-time favourite films is The Railway Children. Yes, I'm a soppy softie.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,

Finished the last book about two weeks ago then got the lurgy. I have just started this fictionalised account based on and around true events that took place at Roswell,New Mexico.

(Courtesy of :- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1100400.Majestic )

It is time for the truth to be told....

On July 2, 1947 something crashed in the desert outside of Roswell, New Mexico. An explosion of light and sound made the sheep wail, the chickens squawk, and the children scream. And then the ranchers heard a noise they thought could only have come from the devil himself.

For forty years, Majestic Agency director Wilfred Stone helped the CIA pretend the landing never happened. Then his conscience got the better of him.

This is the real story, told to reporter Nicholas A. Duke by the guilt-racked shell of the man who once worked tirelessly to cover it all up. It is a truth so terrifying that Whitley Strieber had to call it fiction.

Geoff.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
A chapter into War In 2080 by David Lanford, so far so good just a bit of history as background but already you can see where the book is heading written in 1979 before the Falklands War and both Desert campaigns it will be interesting to see if any of his predictions have panned out.

Courtesy of :- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2520082.War_In_2080 War in 2080 looks at the trends of current military technology and scientific progress and extrapolates these into the future, working on the assumption that human civilization will expand too swiftly to be destroyed by the military. Introductory chapters deal with the present and the near future, considering war and weaponry confined to the Earth and its vicinity. Later discussion centres on interplanetary and even interstellar war, examining such 'science-fiction' concepts as planet-busters, death rays and ecological war, but bearing constantly in mind that, for such warfare to be possible, new strategies must be invented and many logistical problems solved. Attention is also given to the possibilities of encountering hostile
intelligences, possibly of a higher technological order, elsewhere in the Universe.

EDIT:- Some interesting thoughts and possible futures for us on this planet, with capabilities exceeded of some ideas already here and being used.

Geoff.

[Nicos]

Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier - the author of The Girl with the Pearl Earring ,

[bramble]

Becoming Michelle O'Bama. A bit overloaded on detail but gives a very interesting insight into her and her family life.

[mothhawk]

Samuel Pepys diary for 1666, the year of the Great Fire of London, but that's in September and I've only got as far as May. It takes a bit of getting used to, as of course it's a diary so he abbreviates sentences in the same way that probably most of us do in diaries, it's more like note taking. I find it interesting that he records most weeks the number of new plague victims and whether the total is going up or down. Bit of deja vue there.

[1batfastard]

Hi all,
Two chapters into Last Reminder by Stuart Pawson. Have never been into crime novels but this isquite amusing in a way as I just see a cross between Gene Hunt ( Spiders From Mars) & an ex policeman we know seems to fit quite aptly. So far I am enjoying it which after all is the intended purpose...

Detective Inspector Charlie Priest’s day hasn’t started well. Late for the first time in twenty years, thanks to a hangover, he’s got a grisly workload to face. Hartley Goodrich has been found dead in his armchair, right beside the flowerpot that caused the gaping gash to his head.
(Courtesy of Google Books).

EDIT:- Actually quite surprised by this book quite funny every now and then but just a good read all told.


Geoff.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
One chapter into Nimitz Class by Patrick Robinson, Just up my street and starts off with a nice piece of action. I also have Kilo Class but if this is the standard of writing then I'll be buying more of Mr Robinsons work....

The US Nimitz Class carrier is a state-of-the-art war machine. Suddenly she disappears from the radar screens, and vanishes with all her crew. The hunt is on for the killers, and the entire force of the West's defence swings into action. Courtesy of:- https://www.wob.com/en-gb .

EDIT:- Although the action is thick and fast at the beginning it's the actual story behind that action that what makes this book enjoyable.

Geoff.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
Just about to get into The Day Sasquatch Became Real For Me by Steve Isdahl. If you believe in cryptid beings that are still yet to be officially declared Living / Sentient / Not extinct etc.etc. no matter how you want to put them you should enjoy this book. Steve has a couple of youtube channels but this one ( https://www.youtube.com/c/proguide66 ) is the one I watch, he even has his own web page.

WARNING:- If you are anti hunting then avoid his other channels unless you can put that part to the back of your mind and watch the magnificent scenery and wildlife that is filmed by Steve.

I came across it a couple of years ago and have watched with fascination hearing about other peoples experiences of Sabeh /Sasquatch / Bigfoot / Yeti / Yowie / Ap-eman / Hairy Man etc. etc. etc. Mainly from Canada and the US but also from all around the globe and yes even in the UK of people who have encountered these beings and other strange happenings.

While well outside the wheel houses of many peoples comfort zone the Victims / Experiencers / Everyday folk who tell they're story are often not believed to the point of being ridiculed and even ostracized by Work colleagues / Family and friends, Many keep they're own experience to themselves never to utter a word, as apposed to the many tend to think them alongside Fairies / Pixies / Ghost's / UFO's etc. etc.

Imagine this scenario:- You see whatever / Day or Night, your on your own, you know what you see or are experiencing is real but there are no other witnesses. Even if your with a friend you both see whatever or your friend does not see whatever who do you tell ? Do you mention anything ? who do you report it to ?

You have no proof of what was for you was a 100% real experience again who do you tell ? As before many keep those experiences bottled up for years for the fear of what I have already mentioned and Steve's channel is a safety valve for these people who can finally get rid of all the Angst / Guilt / Anger / Despair / Depression whatever you want to call this pent up emotion that just has no outlet for them to share they're experiences.

Since Steve started sharing these stories IMPO he has really shone the spot light on this topic and I may add upset a few people along the way, obviously you will get the odd bad one that is all bull but Steve tries and succeeds for majority to wheedle these out. As it is many just sound to the non believer as twaddle so your already off to a late start in many peoples eye about these beings and other cryptids YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VERY OPEN MIND!

I look at it like the species that have been declared extinct yet have been found still alive by those willing to do the dirty work and look into the crevasses where others will not venture people such as Forrest Galante. You could look at it another way The world is covered by Ocean (71% approximately) yet we humans have only explored 20% of this, according to Google 80% has not been explored and still holds it's secrets or you believe in whatever God religiously has anyone ever met him/her ?

Anyway as always the choice is your own as to whether you believe in whatever, I believe in these beings just like UFO's and other taboo subject matter for many. Many say you can't prove existence of these beings but can you prove they do not exist ? if so where is your evidence ?

Geoff.

[Nicos]

Another Tracy Chevalier book - the Virgin Blue.

Enjoying it much more than the previous one.

[Nikkinak]

I've just finished reading 'the hiding place' and have started 'the hidden life of trees'. Very interesting

[Mr Bones]

West With Giraffes - by Lynda Rutledge.
A novel based on the true story of the cross-country road trip America's first giraffes took in 1938. Really enjoying it

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
One chapter into Richard Wilson Biography - One Foot On The Stage. I watched the iconic One Foot In The Grave all through the complete series run very entertaining and very funny, but I have also watched him other programmes through the years and I particularly used to love him in Only when I Laugh especially the interaction he had with James Bolam/Peter Bowles/Christopher Straull/Dereck Branche and the other main characters, another very funny series.

Geoff.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
Six chapters into The Girl From Venice by Martin Cruz Smith, enjoying the book so far....

The Girl from Venice is a 2016 historical fiction novel by American author Martin Cruz Smith. The novel details the encounter and subsequent relationship between Innocenzo Vianello, a fisherman from Pellestrina, and Giulia Silber, daughter of a wealthy Jewish family from Venice, and is set in early 1945. (Courtesy wikipedia)

Geoff.

[1batfastard]

Hi All,
Three chapters into A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson, Enjoying the book as it is quite amusing in part you just imagine yourself doing the journey....

From the author of Notes from a Small Island and The Lost Continent comes this humorous report on his walk along the Appalachian Trail. The Trail is the longest continuous footpath in the world, and it snakes through some of the wildest and most spectacular landscapes in America. Courtesy:- https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/bill...CABEgI67PD_BwE

EDIT: Quite an interesting book with bits of history here and there and some rather funny moments especially the joke in Chapter 20.

Geoff.