Discuss the last book you read, or are currently reading

[Nigeyb]

^ Thanks David. I enjoyed your review.

[Nigeyb]

George Psychoundakis (Greek: Γεώργιος Ψυχουντάκης, November 3, 1920 – January 29, 2006) was a Greek Resistance fighter on Crete during the Second World War. He was a shepherd, a war hero and an author. He served as dispatch runner between Petro Petrakas and Papadakis behind the German lines for the Cretan resistance and later, from 1941 to 1945, for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). During the postwar years he was at first mistakenly imprisoned as a deserter. There he wrote his memoirs, which achieved worldwide success.

After the liberation, Psychoundakis was arrested as a deserter and was confined for 16 months despite having been honoured by the British with BEM (Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service) and £200 as an award for his services during the war. While in confinement he wrote his memories of service in the SOE and the Cretan resistance movement. His former superior Patrick Leigh Fermor, later Sir Patrick, discovered his plight by accident and managed to secure his release by clearing up the misunderstanding.



After reading his manuscript, Patrick Leigh Fermor translated it into English, and assisted in getting it published, under the title Cretan Runner: His Story of the German Occupation in 1955. The book has since been translated into a number of European languages. After his release from prison, Psychoundakis was first forced to fight in the civil war. Then he worked as a charcoal burner in the Cretan mountains to support his family until his book was published.

Here's my review....

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4/5 - well worth reading

[Nigeyb]

Mark wrote: "Suggs' autobio, I'm happy to say, is a whole lot of fun."



Reading it now and really enjoying it.

Thanks Mark :-))

[David]

Sweet Tooth....

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Nigeyb]

^ Thanks David. I used to love Ian McEwan and then stopped reading him and haven't picked up one his books for eons. No rhyme or reason to it, however your splendid review is the spur I need.

Sweet Tooth is another memorable and ingenious addition to McEwan's already-impressive canon.

I'll work back from Sweet Tooth

[David]

Thanks Nigey. There is a newer McEwan publication, just from the past couple of months, about a female judge and her dilemma when dealing with a child custody case. It sounds intriguing.

[David]

Volume Two of Danny Baker's autobiography...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

^ Huzzah. Love it David. Thanks. I have this on order from my library and cannot wait to get my mitts on it.

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished Beware of Pity. It's very good.





Here's my spoiler-free review...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[David]

The Sun Will Shine Tomorrow by Maureen Reynolds

It didn't quite stink the place out, but...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[Nigeyb]

^ I share your pain. Modern language in period novels is inexcusable - and entirely avoidable.

What are your favourite WW2 home front / POW novels. We'll take Slaves Of Solitude as a given.

[David]

That's an interesting question, Nigey. My research has been almost wholly on the factual side, where Tony Rennel writes brilliantly on the key aspects of the conflict, including POWs and demobilisation.

Three Men In New Suits

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

was pretty good. It was short and written around the time of demobilisation, so comes across as authentic.

Jessie Kesson's Another Time, Another Place which, of course was made into a beautiful film starring Phyllis Logan is also very good.

I must investigate the fictional side further and put the history tomes to one side. Thanks for the prompt.

[Nigeyb]

^ Thanks David. I shall investigate.

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished...





Bermondsey Boy: Memories Of A Forgotten World by Tommy Steele

I think many Hamiltonians would get a lot out of this book. It's very London-centric, and offers many insights into live in London in the 1930s and during the Blitz and beyond. As the title suggests, Tommy grew up in Bermondsey in South East London where life was very different to today.

Here's my review...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished a wonderful book...





The Restless Generation by Pete Frame

Review here...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[David]

Review of Diary of a POW here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[David]

The Sprog - over 100 snappy chapters! Reviewed here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

Just finished...





Between the Woods and the Water

Here's my review....
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

^ Superb - and well worth reading

In addition to continuing with the splendid Children of the Revolution: The Glam Rock Story 1970-1975 by Dave Thompson, I have also just started Going Off Alarming by Danny Baker.

So many great books, so little reading time.

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished...




Going Off Alarming by Danny Baker

Review here...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

Nigeyb wrote: "I've just finished...






Going Off Alarming by Danny Baker"

Danny is interviewed on the latest Word podcast (no 223) (available on iTunes etc). It's only 30 minutes however for fans of the great man it's a treat...

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/WordPodcast

https://www.facebook.com/WordInYourEar

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished...





City of Dreadful Night by Peter Guttridge

Review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished my first book of 2015....





Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov

Click here to read my review.

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished...





Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. by Viv Albertine

I devoured it. It’s just brilliant.

Click here to read my five star review.

[Mark]

Couldn't agree more with you re Viv's autobio. Brilliant. In fact, I enjoyed her book so much that I felt inspired to go back and give The Slits yet one more chance. Sadly, I still found their recordings to be completely un-listenable. It's a funny ol' world, sometimes.

[Nigeyb]

^ Thanks Mark. I saw you'd lavished five stars on her book too.

Don't like The Slits? Don't like "Cut"? It certainly is a funny ol' world, sometimes.

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished..




"Revolution" by Russell Brand

Click here to read my review

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished....




Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan

Click here to read my five star review

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished...





To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris

Click here to read my review.

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished...





Anger is an Energy: My Life Uncensored by John Lydon

Click here to read my review.

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished....




May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes

Click here to read my review

[David]

Tune InWhat a blast. I just wanted to be in The Cavern audience. If only we had a time machine.

What do we want?
A time machine!
When do we want it?
Er... doesn't matter, really.

Review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Nigeyb]

Great review. Thanks David. I've heard Mark on the Word podcast.


946 pages! Hats off to you Sir.

[David]

He was a terrific Word guest.

I feel a 57-62 Beatles covers Spotify playlist brewing.

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished...





Strange: Punks and Drunks, Flicks and Kicks by Richard Strange

Click here to read my review.

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished Orwell by D.J. Taylor

Click here to read my review.

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished...





"Jack Carter's Law" by Ted Lewis

Click here to read my review

[Nigeyb]

I've just finished...




How Music Works by David Byrne

Click here to read my review

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished...





Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth About Sugar, Obesity and Disease by Robert H. Lustig

Click here to read my review

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished...




"A Prospect of Wivenhoe: Snapshots of an English Town" by Martin Newell

It's a gem of a book and you should read it.

Click here to read my five star review.

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished reading...





Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks by Daryl Easlea

Talent + Invention + Mystery x Fanbase = Longevity

Click here to read my review

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished....





Queen Lucia (1920) by E.F. Benson

Click here to read my review

[David]

Head in hands on this one.

One wonders how it ever got to publication.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

^ Yikes. Thanks for the warning David.

[David]

Scotland's Cruel Sea: Heroism and Disaster off the Scottish Coast

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished reading...





Creation Stories: Riots, Raves and Running a Label by Alan McGee

Click here to read my review

[David]

I read the bit about My Beauty in the bookshop.

Must investigate further as McGee is a wonderful, complex character.

I'll pick up a copy once I've filed down the CD Himalaya to Ben Nevis proportions.

Thanks for posting.

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished reading...





The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield

Click here to read my review

[David]

The Children Act

Review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

I have just finished reading...





I Know This Much: From Soho to Spandau by Gary Kemp

Click here to read my review

[David]

Crikey, I've no idea why my last posting links to a Harry Potter book review. I'll fix it once I get access to a proper IT resource instead of this sub-standard Android app. I have yet to broach any of the Potter volumes, so have no idea how this came about.