We are off to Spain next week so there are some vital things to sort out. Namely what music to put on my iPhone (I’ve got Series 1 of The Wire on there already), and most importantly what books to take!
I’ve got a Jeffrey Deaver and an Ian Rankin on standby and have just ordered Casino Royale and Live and Let Die so that should get me through the week, in between trips to the pub and general lounging around of course.
I don’t really make time to read all that much these days, in fact I struggle to get through the two monthly magazine subscriptions I receive (Esquire and Runners World if you must know). Aside from that mostly everything I read is for work related purposes and even then I’ve got a backlog, it’s just never that high up my priority list to be honest. I’ve tried to ‘hack’ my habits to get back to reading more often but nothing has worked, my attention and thoughts continue to lie elsewhere and, if I’m honest I’m fairly happy with that at the moment. We’ll see if that changes any time soon but my take is that, if I was REALLY that bothered I’d have done something about it.
Obviously I’m not.
That said there is a part of me that is looking forward to getting away, purely to be able to completely zone out in a good book, or at the very least a trashy thriller. There is nothing quite like losing all sense of time whilst you frantically flip pages, desperate to get to the next part of the story, and the quiet sense of despair you feel when you reach the end and, just like that, it’s over. You don’t get that with every book, some just fizzle out and leave you somewhat deflated but others take you on such a journey that the temptation to re-read them immediately is almost overwhelming.
Go on then, what are you reading right now? (aside from this blog, obviously!).
Just finished Richard Morgan’s “Altered Carbon” and “Broken Angels”, which are both absolutely stunning.
Just starting Scott Baker’s “Neuropath”, which looks like utter shite, but possibly entertaining.
And while on lunch break at work I’m reading “Let the Right One In” by John Arvide Lundqvist, which is OK.
Just finished The State of the Union by Anand Menon which is a survey of the current state of the EU, warts and all, with some suggestions as to how it might be improved, not all of which are either realistic or ever likely to happen. But a good read for anyone interested in europolitics (like me).
Now about a third of the way into Lost Cosmonaut by Daniel Kalder, a no-holds-barred and satisfyingly sweary journey around the hell holes at the arse end of the former Soviet Union. Very funny, sometimes shocking, thought provoking and totally un-PC. Recommended.
Before those two, More From Our Own Correspondent. Grown-up journalism. Not as good as the first book, but not bad.
If you are going to Spain you could do worse than read Chris Stewart’s “Driving over Lemons” and “A Parrot in the Pepper Tree”- about settling in Andalucia. Funny and lovely and will make you want to set up home there. (He was Genesis first drummer, you know- but only for five minutes)
Just finished “The End of Mr Y” by Scarlett Thomas. Highly, highly five-star recommended.
just finished the absolutely brilliant “Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman, and I’m currently reading “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall”. If you haven’t read any Gaiman (and you surely must have), then I could heartily recommend any of his stuff, although especially “American Gods” as a good chunky read, or his short story collections.
As for Bond, the books are great, and they will be good holiday reads too. You could do worse than also take a collection of the short stories. They’re really good (and will include “Quantum of Solace”, then you can see what the story is really about!)
ST
About to finish David Sedaris’ “Me Talk Pretty One Day” for a book club a friend has just set up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_Talk_Pretty_One_Day
About to start Marcus Alexander’s “Who Is Charlie Keeper?” – and looking very much to it! http://www.whoischarliekeeper.com/
‘A Bit Of A Blur’ by Alex James. I’m still waiting for the bit where he owns up to what complete w@nkers they all were… still waiting…
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