what are you reading

ZiggyMarley · Black Bloc

I'm reading a book called Darwin's Black Box. Its anti-evolution but not pro-creation. Deals with the idea of evolution on a molecular level. Only just started but seems good.

ZiggyMarley · Black Bloc

Now on "Around The World In 80 Days"

SimonM · Black Bloc

I started yesterday and finished today a book called "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. In a nutshell, it's about the experiences of a young Afghan boy and his best friend since birth, his family's servant's son. It follows the boy through his life in Afghanistan and as he is forced to flee to America. It's a very powerful story full of love, loss, betrayal and the destruction of a much-loved country in turn by the Russians, the Northern Alliance and the Taliban.

It's not the kind of book I'd think I'd enjoy - my inclination would have been to say "well, why would I particularly want to read a book about a kid in Afghanistan?" and not bother if it hadn't had such good recommendations from several relatives who'd been passing the book around. Well worth it - it was deep but quite an easy read, and I devoured it in a matter of hours (rail replacement buses are boring).

Dear Prudence · Black Bloc

I finished reading Brighton Rock (Graham Greene) the other day. It was immensely depressing, but brilliant. I highly recommend it. And living right next to Brighton it was really cool to imagine everything that happens in the book. Really well written - Greene's portrayal of different types of humans and their behaviour is inspired, intelligent yet eerily chilling. Might read some more of his stuff...
_________________
'Men make their own history, but not of their own free will; not under circumstances they themselves have chosen'
- Marx, 1852

http://robertating.blogspot.com

Sazzle · Black Bloc

I'm a big crime thriller reader..... I love Agatha Christie being a fellow Devonian.....

Most recent book is Murder on the Orient Express or even Cat in the Mews ... brilliant just need to extend my taste beyond the Poirot books any suggestions on crime thriller books???

Sarah

Teapotboy · Black Bloc

Yes mate, you need to read "Ten Little n*gg*r" by Christie, it's set in Devon! Once you're done with that then some Mary Higgins Clark and there is a great book called "Surprise Party" by William Katz

Dear Prudence · Black Bloc

Sazzle · Black Bloc

Shockingly I already have that book .... in fact I have the same story with the 2 different titles ...

I pretty much own the whole collection was hoping to move beyond Agatha Christie to otehr crime thrillers and writers

Any ideas?

Teapotboy · Black Bloc

Sazzle · Black Bloc

I think you are forgettin the generation and era that she comes from..... pretty much the whole of the population (yes i'm generalising here) were racist so its bit unfair to pick on one writer I'm sure if you looked at most they also would be.

On a slightly jokey note.... she is from devon and whilst this does not permit her negativity racially I'm pretty sure her country roots arent doing the best in helping her..... she's a great writer and I think the way she writes and keeps you guessing to the end illustrates the strength and character that she possesses.... Sorry I feel like i'm idolising now.... shuting up

Night

Teapotboy · Black Bloc

Also the fact that she uses the term "n*gg*r" which we now see as offensive (though not exclusively, listen to rap music for example), doesn't mean she meant it offensively at the time. Compare with Huck Finn, not a racist bone in his body yet it is the only word he knows to describe a black person.

On the other hand I will admit she does seem a little anti-Semitic at times - contrarily though there are books she wrote under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott which portray a Jewish family positively.

It does seem that people on this forum tend towards grand propagandist assertions rather than considered opinions. Doesn't say much for Birmingham students really.

Dear Prudence · Black Bloc

Teapotboy · Black Bloc

It wasn't the disagreeing with me (many do), it was the calling her "blatantly racist". I didn't use the "old offensive" one, I used the "original authentic" one. If you object to the racism in the book then you should argue for the removal of all the racist content, not just the PC window-dressing of its title. So you should object to me suggesting anyone read it at all, under any title. However, I believe that me reading racist, homophobic, misogynist, whatever books doesn't turn me into a hateful person (many don't). And certainly, just changing the title is like pissing on a guy on fire.

In which case maybe we should sweep through all books everywhere and burn all the ones which don't fit your view of what is appropriate content.So we could have nice pyres in the street, it would warm up these chilly evenings.

SimonM · Black Bloc

Dear Prudence · Black Bloc