What book(s) are you reading currently? - Page 227

**ultimatewarlord** · December 27th, 2017, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLinc

Just started The Caves of Steel, by Isaac Asimov.

Which gives me another chance to link the amazing bbc radio version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z_GJrRDxwo

Quiquag · December 30th, 2017, 11:35 PM

Started reading William Hjortsberg's Falling Angel.

It was adapted to a movie called Angel Heart, starring Mickey Rourke, Lisa Bonet and Robert De Niro back in 1987.

I really enjoyed the movie; an intense thriller, highly recommended.

When the film was released, it was quite controversial for its adult themes and then family friendly actress Bonet from the Cosby show on tv, in a sex scene. Just reading the book so i can compare it to the movie.

**gordian_knot** · December 31st, 2017, 08:12 AM

Giving my very old and battered copy of this another run-through.

**Roubignol** · January 6th, 2018, 09:14 PM

I received as gift the French translation of this book:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Author: Yuval Harari
A tenured professor in the Department of History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

ISBN : 978-0062316097

The author synthesizes various research and theories in several fields of science (biology, archeology, anthropology, ethology, etc ...) about our species (and other human species).
After having read the first third of this book during this afternoon, I recognize that it is really interesting.

megawad · January 6th, 2018, 10:56 PM

I have three in the hopper right now that I am reading: "The Fire This Time" by Jesmyn Ward, a collection of essays about race in the US; "A Storm of Swords" which is book 3 in the Game of Thrones series by George RR Martin; and "Sandra Day O' Connor" by Joan Biskupic, a bio of the first female Supreme Court Justice.

**73north** · January 7th, 2018, 09:02 PM

CONWAY'S ALL THE WORLD'S FIGHTING SHIPS 1922-1946

by Robert Gardiner and Roger Chesneau
Published by Conway Maritime Press. 1997
I managed to buy this again for only £ 14 on ebay !
( after stupidly selling my old copy a few years ago - ' to make space ' )

Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946 is the third in a series of 4 books which, as the title suggests, lists all the worlds fighting ships built during the period in question. Initially, these were post-WW1 years in which some countries favoured disarmament whilst others harboured expansionist plans.
This was also a time when the Aircraft Carrier would totally eclipse the mighty Battleship as "King of the Seas."

Conway Maritime Press are well known for their factual books on ships - especially warships, in which they provide the finest technical documentation. "All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946" is hard-back measuring 12½" x 8¾" with 456 pages of detailed and factual information.

After a brief foreword and an explanation of abbreviations used, the navies of the world are listed by country in order of their size and importance at the beginning of the period in question - i.e. Great Britain and Empire Forces, USA, Japan, Germany, etc and continuing right down to the world's smallest navies from the Middle East, Far East and Latin America.

Each country's ships are then displayed by "class" commencing with the largest capital ships and progressing all the way down to the smallest torpedo boats (or whatever) with the oldest vessels mentioned first. For each class there is one or more of those profile line drawings which have become Conway's trademark.

These are followed by all the usual technical details such as; Displacement, dimensions, machinery, armour, armament and complement followed by the names of each ship within that class - its builder, date laid down, date completed and fate.

These are accompanied by a very "readable" text from which we learn of the political intrigue of the day, variations between vessels, refits, new equipment, whatever defects or other problems beset either the class or a specific ship and a short résumé of the fate of each vessel.

Altogether, the book is well illustrated with an excellent selection of historic black and white original photographs throughout with at least one picture on almost every page.

In summary, this is an excellent technical work of reference and one which will continue to stand the test of time.

**tamsmith** · January 7th, 2018, 09:30 PM

Sikunder Burnes by Craig Murray.

Decent book. Makes you think.

**CARLTON BROWN** · January 7th, 2018, 10:54 PM

Fire & Fury by Michael Wolff

gubbeiladan12 · January 7th, 2018, 10:58 PM

Im reading Bilbo på JRR Tolkien right now.

**chaudys4** · January 7th, 2018, 10:59 PM

On Some Faraway Beach
The Life and Times of Brian Eno
by David Sheppard

I'm a big fan. It's a good read. Thankfully the U2 parts aren't too thick, haha!

December 31st, 2017, 08:12 AM	#2263
gordian_knot Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gordium Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 6,524 Thanked 13,823 Times in 1,209 Posts	Giving my very old and battered copy of this another run-through. __________________ - "The whole of anything is never told." - Henry James "Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable." - George Orwell

January 6th, 2018, 09:14 PM	#2264
Roubignol Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mice Planet Posts: 3,882 Thanks: 15,974 Thanked 29,726 Times in 3,826 Posts	Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind I received as gift the French translation of this book: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Author: Yuval Harari A tenured professor in the Department of History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem ISBN : 978-0062316097 The author synthesizes various research and theories in several fields of science (biology, archeology, anthropology, ethology, etc ...) about our species (and other human species). After having read the first third of this book during this afternoon, I recognize that it is really interesting.

January 7th, 2018, 09:02 PM	#2266
73north Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 16,324 Thanked 39,351 Times in 1,847 Posts	CONWAY'S ALL THE WORLD'S FIGHTING SHIPS 1922-1946 CONWAY'S ALL THE WORLD'S FIGHTING SHIPS 1922-1946 by Robert Gardiner and Roger Chesneau Published by Conway Maritime Press. 1997 I managed to buy this again for only £ 14 on ebay ! ( after stupidly selling my old copy a few years ago - ' to make space ' ) Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946 is the third in a series of 4 books which, as the title suggests, lists all the worlds fighting ships built during the period in question. Initially, these were post-WW1 years in which some countries favoured disarmament whilst others harboured expansionist plans. This was also a time when the Aircraft Carrier would totally eclipse the mighty Battleship as "King of the Seas." Conway Maritime Press are well known for their factual books on ships - especially warships, in which they provide the finest technical documentation. "All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946" is hard-back measuring 12½" x 8¾" with 456 pages of detailed and factual information. After a brief foreword and an explanation of abbreviations used, the navies of the world are listed by country in order of their size and importance at the beginning of the period in question - i.e. Great Britain and Empire Forces, USA, Japan, Germany, etc and continuing right down to the world's smallest navies from the Middle East, Far East and Latin America. Each country's ships are then displayed by "class" commencing with the largest capital ships and progressing all the way down to the smallest torpedo boats (or whatever) with the oldest vessels mentioned first. For each class there is one or more of those profile line drawings which have become Conway's trademark. These are followed by all the usual technical details such as; Displacement, dimensions, machinery, armour, armament and complement followed by the names of each ship within that class - its builder, date laid down, date completed and fate. These are accompanied by a very "readable" text from which we learn of the political intrigue of the day, variations between vessels, refits, new equipment, whatever defects or other problems beset either the class or a specific ship and a short résumé of the fate of each vessel. Altogether, the book is well illustrated with an excellent selection of historic black and white original photographs throughout with at least one picture on almost every page. In summary, this is an excellent technical work of reference and one which will continue to stand the test of time.

December 30th, 2017, 11:35 PM	#2262
Quiquag Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 52 Thanks: 13 Thanked 592 Times in 52 Posts	Started reading William Hjortsberg's Falling Angel. It was adapted to a movie called Angel Heart, starring Mickey Rourke, Lisa Bonet and Robert De Niro back in 1987. I really enjoyed the movie; an intense thriller, highly recommended. When the film was released, it was quite controversial for its adult themes and then family friendly actress Bonet from the Cosby show on tv, in a sex scene. Just reading the book so i can compare it to the movie.

January 6th, 2018, 10:56 PM	#2265
megawad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: USA, midwest. Posts: 201 Thanks: 87 Thanked 1,955 Times in 196 Posts	I have three in the hopper right now that I am reading: "The Fire This Time" by Jesmyn Ward, a collection of essays about race in the US; "A Storm of Swords" which is book 3 in the Game of Thrones series by George RR Martin; and "Sandra Day O' Connor" by Joan Biskupic, a bio of the first female Supreme Court Justice.

January 7th, 2018, 09:30 PM	#2267
tamsmith Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Coming close to the Slippery Slope. Posts: 7,800 Thanks: 77,915 Thanked 280,416 Times in 9,078 Posts	Sikunder Burnes by Craig Murray. Decent book. Makes you think.

January 7th, 2018, 10:54 PM	#2268
CARLTON BROWN Grand Vizier Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ruraltania Posts: 3,219 Thanks: 35,687 Thanked 35,624 Times in 3,211 Posts	Fire & Fury by Michael Wolff

January 7th, 2018, 10:58 PM	#2269
gubbeiladan12 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 28 Thanks: 53 Thanked 140 Times in 22 Posts	Im reading Bilbo på JRR Tolkien right now.

January 7th, 2018, 10:59 PM	#2270
chaudys4 Vintage Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Western Mass, USA Posts: 919 Thanks: 15,665 Thanked 17,497 Times in 906 Posts	On Some Faraway Beach The Life and Times of Brian Eno by David Sheppard I'm a big fan. It's a good read. Thankfully the U2 parts aren't too thick, haha!