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What Are You Reading

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
"Goshawk Squadron" by Derek Robinson. I first read this about 20 years ago and it blew me away then and prompted me to hunt down as much as I could that he'd written.

It was his first novel and coming back to it again, it really is one of his best. No wonder it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. A wonderful, shocking, darkly humorous and ultimately white-knuckle ride about war in the air.

goshawk-squadron.jpg
 

DNO

One Too Many
Messages
1,815
Location
Toronto, Canada
"Goshawk Squadron" by Derek Robinson. I first read this about 20 years ago and it blew me away then and prompted me to hunt down as much as I could that he'd written.

It was his first novel and coming back to it again, it really is one of his best. No wonder it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. A wonderful, shocking, darkly humorous and ultimately white-knuckle ride about war in the air.

goshawk-squadron.jpg

Terrific book. I didn't know about the Booker nomination.

In a lighter vein, you might try the first three books in the 'Bandy papers' series by author Donald Jack. They are: Three Cheers for Me, That's Me in the Middle and It's Me Again. He has won the Leacock Award for Humour three times for books in the series. They deal with the misadventures of Bartholomew Bandy in the RFC. Much more lighthearted than Robinson's books but a decent read.
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
Terrific book. I didn't know about the Booker nomination.

In a lighter vein, you might try the first three books in the 'Bandy papers' series by author Donald Jack. They are: Three Cheers for Me, That's Me in the Middle and It's Me Again. He has won the Leacock Award for Humour three times for books in the series. They deal with the misadventures of Bartholomew Bandy in the RFC. Much more lighthearted than Robinson's books but a decent read.

You know what DNO, I've been meaning to read the Bandy Papers for several years now after having had them recommended to me. I think it might just be time to pick up "Three Cheers for Me" now.

Actually maybe we should start a WWI aviation thread in the WWII section - there's already a Great War thread in there, and I know there's a couple of other members who are interested in the subject.

You haven't happened to have picked up "Fire in the Sky" (that history of the AFC) yet have you? That's one of the most readable histories of the war I've seen.

Cheers,

Tim
 

DNO

One Too Many
Messages
1,815
Location
Toronto, Canada
You know what DNO, I've been meaning to read the Bandy Papers for several years now after having had them recommended to me. I think it might just be time to pick up "Three Cheers for Me" now.

Actually maybe we should start a WWI aviation thread in the WWII section - there's already a Great War thread in there, and I know there's a couple of other members who are interested in the subject.

You haven't happened to have picked up "Fire in the Sky" (that history of the AFC) yet have you? That's one of the most readable histories of the war I've seen.

Cheers,

Tim

I haven't found 'Fire in the Sky' yet (not much of an online shopper I'm afraid). I believe I have a copy of the Bean volume that dealt with the AFC, however. (Not too sure where it is right now though!)
 

Stray Cat

My Mail is Forwarded Here
More fans of Simenon! He is one of my favorites. I usually by a copy for my kindle as well as a tangible copy. Four of his stories will be rereleased in the coming months.
I must get me that Kindle-stuff.. soon! :D

Currently reading a book that I doubt any of you can find, it's been printed back in 1930s; and it's written by a French author, but on the book there's only one of his/hers pseudonyms: Maurice Teilleche; the book is roughly translated as "The life craft" - or more loosely "The art of living".
 

LizzieMaine

Bartender
Messages
33,755
Location
Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
Currently having a lot of fun with a compilation of the work of the greatest sports cartoonist who ever lived -- "Willard Mullin's Golden Age of Baseball: Drawings 1934-1972." It's taken over forty years after Mullin's retirement for a representative collection to appear, and this one doesn't disappoint. The Brooklyn Bum has a starring role, along with Willy the Giant, St. Louis Swifty, Phillie the Whiz Kid, and all the other unique characters Mullin devised to represent the various major league teams.

mullin51.jpg


Aside from the nostalgic value, Mullin's cartoons are brilliant examples of how to convey motion and excitement in a static image.
 

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
I recently purchased two new books...

"The World of 'Upstairs, Downstairs'":

images


It puts a context to the Victorian, Edwardian and early 20th-century world, as portrayed in that legendary TV series "Upstairs, Downstairs". Fascinating reading. I'm about halfway through.

I also bought: "The Look of the Century". A book about how design and technology has changed and shaped the last 100 years...

!B3O8cWw!2k~$(KGrHqYOKj!EyOtbps9CBMlhg-jrtw~~_35.JPG
 

Nobert

Practically Family
Messages
832
Location
In the Maine Woods
A Simenon fan? Well, well.. :yo:
May sound funny, but I'm currently reading his: "Monsieur Gallet, décédé" (Deceased Mr. Gallet) from 1930.

Actually, this is only my second or third Simenon. My mother is the big mystery/detective fan in the family, and I occasionally pick up a thing or two from her.

I do find Maigret an interesting contrast to the British detectives, who are usually eccentrics who solve complicated cases via their extreme cleverness, picking up clues that anyone else would have missed and threading together the story in their brilliant minds. Maigret is a middle-aged, working-stiff lawman who solves his cases by good, old-fashioned police work and an intuition honed from years of experience dealing with people from all walks of Parisian life. He knows the city and its denizens, which seems to be where he gets his insight.
 
Messages
12,734
Location
Northern California
I must get me that Kindle-stuff.. soon! :D

Currently reading a book that I doubt any of you can find, it's been printed back in 1930s; and it's written by a French author, but on the book there's only one of his/hers pseudonyms: Maurice Teilleche; the book is roughly translated as "The life craft" - or more loosely "The art of living".

Downloaded two more of Simenon's just rereleased today. :D
 

Stray Cat

My Mail is Forwarded Here
I do find Maigret an interesting contrast to the British detectives, who are usually eccentrics who solve complicated cases via their extreme cleverness, picking up clues that anyone else would have missed and threading together the story in their brilliant minds. Maigret is a middle-aged, working-stiff lawman who solves his cases by good, old-fashioned police work and an intuition honed from years of experience dealing with people from all walks of Parisian life. He knows the city and its denizens, which seems to be where he gets his insight.
Well said. :eusa_clap
Maigret, unlike all the others is not a private-eye. He's a governmental officer, but of a clumsy variety. He's studious and somewhat moody. He likes to take vine for lunch, and he smokes like there's no tomorrow..
Simenon amazes me, how down-to-earth his characters are.
...
Unlike Maigret-books, try reading one of his mindful novels like "La vérité sur Bébé Donge" (The Truth About Bebe Donge or UK title: The Truth of Our Marriage) - that one was a jewel. :nod:

Downloaded two more of Simenon's just rereleased today. :D
Teasing me much? :yo:
 
Messages
12,734
Location
Northern California
Well said. :eusa_clap
Maigret, unlike all the others is not a private-eye. He's a governmental officer, but of a clumsy variety. He's studious and somewhat moody. He likes to take vine for lunch, and he smokes like there's no tomorrow..
Simenon amazes me, how down-to-earth his characters are.
...
Unlike Maigret-books, try reading one of his mindful novels like "La vérité sur Bébé Donge" (The Truth About Bebe Donge or UK title: The Truth of Our Marriage) - that one was a jewel. :nod:


Teasing me much? :yo:

Teasing? Just a tad.
:D
Simenon paints a picture as well as any author I have read.
 

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