Best reads - Club Together Book Club?

We seem to have the original start topic from Rowena but unfortunately without all the interesting replies. What have you been reading recently? I've just read "The Co-op's Got Bananas" by Hunter Davies. I've always enjoyed reading his books and articles. This one was about himself, growing up in the North through WW2 and onwards to the start of his career in journalism. I paid £2 for this secondhand hardback on Amazon! 

It's a pity that the original thread seems to have got lost as there were some excellent recommendations on it. I read 2 or 3 books a week at home, more when we're away so I'd certainly say yes to the idea of a book club.

I mainly read crime and thriller novels - all the popular British and American writers but I also like picking up books at random from our local library shelves.

Two of the best of these random picks I've read recently are "All the light we cannot see" by Anthony Doerr, set during World War II and "To the bright edge of the world" by Eowyn Ivey set in Alaska. Both great for their brilliant descriptive writing. Highly recommended!

I have not read a fiction book for ages!!! However I do like political autobiographies and current reading Ed Balls, Speaking Out. Not quite House of Cards but an interesting insight and as yet no mention of Strictly!! Recently finished Alan Johnson's third book. It was whilst reading this that I realise all his books were named after Beatles songs. Whilst I appreciate that not everyone wants to read about politics Alan's first book, This Boy is about growing up in post war London in the fifties and nothing about politics. For anyone of a certain age it will bring back poignant memories of those days and the struggles many of us endured.

David

I enjoyed "This Boy" too, I went on to read the next book "Please Mister Postman" which gets steadily more political doesn't it and a bit fragmented? Might read The Long and Winding Road but am just about to start on Chris Mullins political diaries.

On this trip I've read 3 Ian Rankin "Rebus" novels and 3 Peter James's Roy Grace ones. For a change I'm now reading a Penguin Classic, Robert Graves' "Wife to Mr Milton" based round the English Civil War of 1642. It's written from the point of view of Marie Powell, who married John Milton at the age of 16. It's a bit of heavy going but does give an insight into the politics of the age.

I was really pleased to see that Zadie Smith has a new novel out....."Swing Time".

I've read all her books, starting from 'White Teeth' and have enjoyed them all.......so just waiting for the paperback.

I have finished Ed Balls, Speaking Out. Not a bad read with some interesting insights although anyone looking for "juicy bits" would no doubt be disappointed!!! 

Next on the agenda is something which I expect to be a bit grimmer but often history is like that. The book is called "The German War" by Nicholas Stargardt a history Professor from Oxford. He sets out to commentate on the Second World War from a German perspective, but not from the High Command or political leaders point of view but from the point of view of ordinary Germans. Its a thick volume and closely typed, so a lot of reading.

David

I'm really enjoying Chris Mullins political diaries which start at the beginning of "new labour"  they are quite revealing about the various characters around at that time. The bureaucracy in the EU was also revealing, I'm waiting for the expenses bit, this will be even more entertaining! 

Brue

I looked at the Chris Mullins books but was a bit confused about the chronological order. Is his latest book Hinterland part of the series?

David

I was confused too and started with the last diaries "A Walk on Part." I've got "Hinterland" lined up to follow which is a political memoir following the end of the diaries, probably covering previous ground already but I think it will be a good read. The diaries are quite personal, sometimes the noisy baby who won't sleep takes centre stage, if you had one of those you feel some sympathy.