In this cold weather I read.
What are you reading?
Is it any good?
Would you recommend it to others?
Is it any good?
Would you recommend it to others?
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ArishMell · 70-79, M
I don't read very much - I ought read more! Most of my books are factual in various ways
Of fiction, I enjoyed Robert Harris' [i]The Second Sleep[/i].
This is a dystopia eight hundred years beyond our own time, but a very unusual form. Most futurist tales use ever more advanced science and engineering, but this follows long after an apparently world-wide, total collapse of [i]our[/i] civilisations in [i]our[/i] close (21C) future.
The main location is a fictional village in the real SW English county of Devon, with part of the action in the city of Exeter. England has recovered from the collapse (the first "Sleep") but only to an approximation to the late-17 / early-18C. The nation has become an autocratic Christian theocracy that bans any attempt to learn anything about the past; and the story is of the investigation into the disappearance of a priest
Another unusual point is that the writing gives us its characters' "eyes", as in seeing puzzling relics from our time - an era they little or nothing about.
....
Of very different style, one of my Christmas presents was the first of a trilogy I had long promised myself after hearing it dramatised on the radio some years ago.
This is Philip Pullman's [i]His Dark Materials[/i]. I will have to read it [i]and[/i] the other two books!
Another fantasy I have long thought to read is Mervyn Peake's [i]Gormenghast,[/i] of dark doings within the labrynthine court of something like a Mediaeval / Renaissance European kingdom. BBC TV once made a very enjoyable and rather tongue-in-cheek screen version, with some wonderful, deliberate anachronisms.
.....
Of [u]factual[/ul books, I heard parts of [i]How To Argue With A Racist - and win[/i] - sorry I forget the author - serialised on BBC Radio Four's, weekday morning book-serial slot, and bought it. (I was introduced to [i]The Second Sleep [/i]in the same way.)
I read part of it then mislaid it and have not yet found it!
I did learn from it about those commercial DNA tests claiming to reveal your ethnicity. For most people these extremely inaccurate so rather meaningless tests are merely fun (do the arithmetic!), but sadly, they are exploited by racists trying to "prove" imagined "pedigree". Usually unsuccessfully - but then of course, it's the test that's wrong, not their own ancestors' breeding!
.
Have also finished reading Bill Gates' [i]How To Avoid A Climate Disaster[/i]. Subtitled "The Solutions We Have And The Breakthroughs We Need", I respect his research, which is fully and properly cited; and I admire his optimism.
Plenty of statistics, explanations and suggested policies [i]not[/i] needing us all leading hair-shirt lives, but helping raise the living standards of all those presently in deep poverty around the world. First-rate thinking, and I agree with many of his ideas, but they call for world-wide technical, political and social co-operation I fear becoming less and less likely.
I ignore the anti-Gates campaigners, seemingly mainly based around US party-politics. Indeed, I bought the book partly to learn what Mr. Gates [i]himself[/] says, not what someone on some social[?]-medium tells me what to think what he says.
Among the many papers and books Gates cites, I have but am yet to read:
Professor Emeritus (Uni. of Manitoba), Vaclav Smil's [i]How The World Really Works[/i] - "A Scientist's Guide To Our Past, Present and Future".
This is a much more sober, scientific assessment of mankind's condition, and I bought his and Gates' books more or less as companion volumes. They were even on the same book-shop shelf!
....
Whilst I must catch up on the various narratives of explorations and expeditions I have:
I am partway through Jill Heinerth's [i]Into The Planet[/i] - "My Life As A Cave Diver".
Hailing from Canada, the author narrates her path to being a leading, professional diving and cave-diving instructor, photographer and writer. The stage I have just reached illustrates her struggle to be accepted in a somewhat macho activity, as a caver and diver who happens to be female, rather than a female caver and diver.
......
So plenty of good reading, whatever the weather!
Of fiction, I enjoyed Robert Harris' [i]The Second Sleep[/i].
This is a dystopia eight hundred years beyond our own time, but a very unusual form. Most futurist tales use ever more advanced science and engineering, but this follows long after an apparently world-wide, total collapse of [i]our[/i] civilisations in [i]our[/i] close (21C) future.
The main location is a fictional village in the real SW English county of Devon, with part of the action in the city of Exeter. England has recovered from the collapse (the first "Sleep") but only to an approximation to the late-17 / early-18C. The nation has become an autocratic Christian theocracy that bans any attempt to learn anything about the past; and the story is of the investigation into the disappearance of a priest
Another unusual point is that the writing gives us its characters' "eyes", as in seeing puzzling relics from our time - an era they little or nothing about.
....
Of very different style, one of my Christmas presents was the first of a trilogy I had long promised myself after hearing it dramatised on the radio some years ago.
This is Philip Pullman's [i]His Dark Materials[/i]. I will have to read it [i]and[/i] the other two books!
Another fantasy I have long thought to read is Mervyn Peake's [i]Gormenghast,[/i] of dark doings within the labrynthine court of something like a Mediaeval / Renaissance European kingdom. BBC TV once made a very enjoyable and rather tongue-in-cheek screen version, with some wonderful, deliberate anachronisms.
.....
Of [u]factual[/ul books, I heard parts of [i]How To Argue With A Racist - and win[/i] - sorry I forget the author - serialised on BBC Radio Four's, weekday morning book-serial slot, and bought it. (I was introduced to [i]The Second Sleep [/i]in the same way.)
I read part of it then mislaid it and have not yet found it!
I did learn from it about those commercial DNA tests claiming to reveal your ethnicity. For most people these extremely inaccurate so rather meaningless tests are merely fun (do the arithmetic!), but sadly, they are exploited by racists trying to "prove" imagined "pedigree". Usually unsuccessfully - but then of course, it's the test that's wrong, not their own ancestors' breeding!
.
Have also finished reading Bill Gates' [i]How To Avoid A Climate Disaster[/i]. Subtitled "The Solutions We Have And The Breakthroughs We Need", I respect his research, which is fully and properly cited; and I admire his optimism.
Plenty of statistics, explanations and suggested policies [i]not[/i] needing us all leading hair-shirt lives, but helping raise the living standards of all those presently in deep poverty around the world. First-rate thinking, and I agree with many of his ideas, but they call for world-wide technical, political and social co-operation I fear becoming less and less likely.
I ignore the anti-Gates campaigners, seemingly mainly based around US party-politics. Indeed, I bought the book partly to learn what Mr. Gates [i]himself[/] says, not what someone on some social[?]-medium tells me what to think what he says.
Among the many papers and books Gates cites, I have but am yet to read:
Professor Emeritus (Uni. of Manitoba), Vaclav Smil's [i]How The World Really Works[/i] - "A Scientist's Guide To Our Past, Present and Future".
This is a much more sober, scientific assessment of mankind's condition, and I bought his and Gates' books more or less as companion volumes. They were even on the same book-shop shelf!
....
Whilst I must catch up on the various narratives of explorations and expeditions I have:
I am partway through Jill Heinerth's [i]Into The Planet[/i] - "My Life As A Cave Diver".
Hailing from Canada, the author narrates her path to being a leading, professional diving and cave-diving instructor, photographer and writer. The stage I have just reached illustrates her struggle to be accepted in a somewhat macho activity, as a caver and diver who happens to be female, rather than a female caver and diver.
......
So plenty of good reading, whatever the weather!
ElwoodBlues · M
I raced thru the "Deadly Education" trilogy by Naomi Novik and now other family members are reading it. It's about a school of magic, but nothing like Hogwarts.
"The Overstory," by Richard Powers, is wonderful. I highly recommend it.
On a long holiday car trip we listened to "Sense and Sensibility" as read by Rosimund Pike. Pike does a terrific job of performing different voices and different accents, and she brings out Jane Austen's dry wit beautifully.
I happen to adore the historical novels of Alan Furst, often set in unfamiliar corners of WWII. "Night Soldiers," "Dark Star," "Mission to Paris," you really can't go wrong.
If you like science fiction, check out the "Ancillary Justice" trilogy by Anne Lecky.
And then there's always the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett. Difficult to classify, but always very humorous.
"The Overstory," by Richard Powers, is wonderful. I highly recommend it.
On a long holiday car trip we listened to "Sense and Sensibility" as read by Rosimund Pike. Pike does a terrific job of performing different voices and different accents, and she brings out Jane Austen's dry wit beautifully.
I happen to adore the historical novels of Alan Furst, often set in unfamiliar corners of WWII. "Night Soldiers," "Dark Star," "Mission to Paris," you really can't go wrong.
If you like science fiction, check out the "Ancillary Justice" trilogy by Anne Lecky.
And then there's always the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett. Difficult to classify, but always very humorous.
sunriselover · M
@ElwoodBlues Not into Austen but I know a lot of people are.I used to walk near where she lived between Canterbury and Ashford, Kent.
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
I've been delving in the work of Samuel Perry, Phillip Gorski and Andrew Whitehead. All are sociologists, but they also have different other backgrounds. At least 2 of them are Christians and have interests in religion & theology. All of them have written about Christian Nationalism... sometimes together sometimes with other co-authors sometimes by themselves.
Right now I'm reading a solo work by Gorski called: [i]"American Covenant: A history of Civil Religion from the puritans to the present". [/i]
I think all 3 of them are worth reading if you want to understand contemporary American politics.
Right now I'm reading a solo work by Gorski called: [i]"American Covenant: A history of Civil Religion from the puritans to the present". [/i]
I think all 3 of them are worth reading if you want to understand contemporary American politics.
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Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@sunriselover I don't really know what you mean with "white fundamentalism". If you mean "white supremacy" and/or "religious fundamentalism", I think you have equivalent ideas inside the UK though.
The UK itself has a long history of colonialism [i](like a lot of other Europeaan countries btw)[/i], which was partially backed up by a conception of whiteness. An idea that settlers took with them to the new world. The region that has the largest segments of Christian Nationalists in the United States are regions that predominantly have British roots. That same region (the deep south) is also the region that tried to secede in the 19th century and enforced the Jim Crow laws till late in the 20th century. This entire dataset on which these ideologies are founded, have largely migrated from Britain. I can't imagine the UK is free from these datasets in 2024. Especially not when the colonial system was maintained till after the 2nd World War, which is roughly 75 years ago. Datasets (ideas) don't disperse that quickly, and they will influence the next generation.
You also have manifestations of this in parties like UKIP and English Defense League. And a segment of the population voted for Brexit because Xenophobic tendencies were there biggest priority while making their decision.
The UK itself has a long history of colonialism [i](like a lot of other Europeaan countries btw)[/i], which was partially backed up by a conception of whiteness. An idea that settlers took with them to the new world. The region that has the largest segments of Christian Nationalists in the United States are regions that predominantly have British roots. That same region (the deep south) is also the region that tried to secede in the 19th century and enforced the Jim Crow laws till late in the 20th century. This entire dataset on which these ideologies are founded, have largely migrated from Britain. I can't imagine the UK is free from these datasets in 2024. Especially not when the colonial system was maintained till after the 2nd World War, which is roughly 75 years ago. Datasets (ideas) don't disperse that quickly, and they will influence the next generation.
You also have manifestations of this in parties like UKIP and English Defense League. And a segment of the population voted for Brexit because Xenophobic tendencies were there biggest priority while making their decision.
sunriselover · M
@Kwek00 Is this all covered in the book you mentioned?
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@sunriselover No... the 3 authors I mentioned only focus on the United States. Gorski does go back to the 17th and early 18th century... talking about ideas that came in from settler movements.
You can also find a talk by Robert P. Jones on youtube, called: "History Is Lunch: Robert P. Jones, "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy", who wrote a book called: "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: And the Path to a Shared American Future". That touches on the settlers and the ideas they brought from Europe. This book is purely invested in the ideology.
A meta-analysis of contemporary Right-Wing Populist parties can be found too. Cas Mudde wrote a good one called: "Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe", that has a segment talking about the UK. This is a broad overview though, talking about the main ideas that fuel these kinds of parties and why people vote for them. Another title is "Radical-Right-Wing-Populism in Western Europe" by Hanz-George Betz.
... This far-right conservatism that usually comes with xenophobic tendencies has a long history. Some intresting works on that have been written by Zeev Sternhell. I think: "The Anti-Enlightenment Tradition" is worth reading. He takes the ideas back too Burke and Herder. He also wrote some really good works on Fascism: "The Birth of Fascist Ideology" and "Neither Left nor Right: Fascist Ideology in France". These books purely talk about the ideology.
And you can read Far-Right ideological works... If you want a british right winger that published a lot, you might find Oswald Mosley intresting. I think, that the biggest influence for the contemporary right-wing comes from France though, with books like "view from the right" (Part I, 2, 3) by Alain de Benoist.
But yeah, there are loads of authors talking about this toppic. And considering our cultural backgrounds, I wouldn't say these ideas are rooted out. 75 years since WW2, is not enough to change the ideas of an entire country. Segments of the population are still influenced and believe in certain core ideas, and sometimes create a movement.
You can also find a talk by Robert P. Jones on youtube, called: "History Is Lunch: Robert P. Jones, "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy", who wrote a book called: "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: And the Path to a Shared American Future". That touches on the settlers and the ideas they brought from Europe. This book is purely invested in the ideology.
A meta-analysis of contemporary Right-Wing Populist parties can be found too. Cas Mudde wrote a good one called: "Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe", that has a segment talking about the UK. This is a broad overview though, talking about the main ideas that fuel these kinds of parties and why people vote for them. Another title is "Radical-Right-Wing-Populism in Western Europe" by Hanz-George Betz.
... This far-right conservatism that usually comes with xenophobic tendencies has a long history. Some intresting works on that have been written by Zeev Sternhell. I think: "The Anti-Enlightenment Tradition" is worth reading. He takes the ideas back too Burke and Herder. He also wrote some really good works on Fascism: "The Birth of Fascist Ideology" and "Neither Left nor Right: Fascist Ideology in France". These books purely talk about the ideology.
And you can read Far-Right ideological works... If you want a british right winger that published a lot, you might find Oswald Mosley intresting. I think, that the biggest influence for the contemporary right-wing comes from France though, with books like "view from the right" (Part I, 2, 3) by Alain de Benoist.
But yeah, there are loads of authors talking about this toppic. And considering our cultural backgrounds, I wouldn't say these ideas are rooted out. 75 years since WW2, is not enough to change the ideas of an entire country. Segments of the population are still influenced and believe in certain core ideas, and sometimes create a movement.
i've been reading little women - yes it is good, its classic, but i'm not sure if sw would like it. wildwood - it is ok. i thought it would be more like narnia. it has nice illustrations. im not sure sw would like it, unless they like children's books? and im reading divine disruption which is really good, but again not sure if most people on sw would like it. it's about a family who lost their mother, and talking about keeping faith when life breaks your heart.
PleasurePunch · 100+
Yes I am into the audio archives of Dave Emory. (WFMU -Spitfirelist.com)
He talks a lot and has a lot to say about the whole history of fascism in the world and especially the growing fascism in America ..the idea is yes even here it is happening, so no refuge for armchair scholars who think they can just THINK about it all.
Maybe truth is no shield but the endless little lies and selfies and tv shows we do...are no bulwark. The livable earth is being destroyed to service uber overarching wealth and power as its consumers change pretty outfits and look for admiration and swap g rated recipes and discuss their cute kids...
and everyone still wonders why the sui*ide rates are skyrocketing
He talks a lot and has a lot to say about the whole history of fascism in the world and especially the growing fascism in America ..the idea is yes even here it is happening, so no refuge for armchair scholars who think they can just THINK about it all.
Maybe truth is no shield but the endless little lies and selfies and tv shows we do...are no bulwark. The livable earth is being destroyed to service uber overarching wealth and power as its consumers change pretty outfits and look for admiration and swap g rated recipes and discuss their cute kids...
and everyone still wonders why the sui*ide rates are skyrocketing
hunkalove · 61-69, M
I'm reading Living the Beatles Legend, by Kenneth Womack (2024). A biography of Beatles' roadie Mal Evans. Very well-done but maybe too much information. I doubt I finish it.
Jenny1234 · 51-55, F
Right now I’m binge reading foster care memoirs. I would recommend but they aren’t for everyone
I would recommend My Brilliant Friend
I would recommend My Brilliant Friend