What is East Dulwich reading today?

[shambles]

I really enjoyed The Secret History so would recommend a read - it's a bit slow to get going but worth persevering. I just finished Johnny Come Home by Jake Arnott which was ace. Am about to start Istanbul Memories Of A City by Orhan Pamuk. Will let you know!

[louisiana]

I'd recommend Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin. Not to be read by anyone who is pregnant or is contemplating children. (For those already with young children, it is too late.)

Louisiana

[Keef]

Louisiana, good call, dark, but very good!

[louisiana]

Ah shambles, I also recently purchased Pamuk's Istanbul book, but the others in the pile have been read first (books on Cuba, as we were going), so yet to start.

Keef, Kevin is dark indeed, and puts a whole new perspective on parenting, for the non parent.

Louisiana

[SeanMacGabhann]

Kevin thirded - the author did a big piece in G2 this week about the Virginia Tech story as well...

[Keef]

Yeah, I heard her on Radio 4 talking about it.

[Joe likes dinner]

Back to the dickens / eastenders / illustrations - am quite a fan of george cruikshank, who did the illustrations for oliver twist, which were generally said to have done more for making the story a success than the writing.

If anyone is after a blend of Dickens / Hardy and Milan Kundera, I'd recommend some Ford Madox Ford - accepted as the first author to 'start in the middle and move backwards and forwards' and the inventor of the 'impressionist' style.

His novels are mainly set during WW1 and have a very victorian feel to them, but written in a modern way. Parade's end which is pretty collosal, but for a lighter read, go for 'The Good Soldier' - definitely one of my favourtie books! His main issue was trying to get rid of the rigid victorian formulas discussed a bit further up on the thread.

Am pretty sure i have copies of both if anyone is interested.

[Jah Lush]

I've had a copy of Parade's End for a number of years now and still haven't got around to reading it, maybe I'll give it a whirl soon. Just started Paul Theroux's Picture Palace this morning and I think I'm going to enjoy it very much.

[Huguenot]

Paul Theroux! My dreamboat....:))

[Jah Lush]

Only read one of his books before which was My Other Life, thoroughly enjoyed it too, so must seek out some more.

[Nero]

Perfect Thing, which is a history (!) of the iPod, which was launched less than 7 years ago. It's ok, but a bit involved. Nero

[mightyroar]

I agree Secret History and We need to talk about Kevin are both great.

I just read Stef Penny- The tenderness of Wolves which was fantastic.

And if you like Iain M Banks sci fi, which I do....then you HAVE to try 'Perdido St Station' and 'The Scar' by China Mieville.

Rocking good Sci Fi.

[Emma]

We have a book club going in ED. Not terribly formal or intellectual. We tend to drink a lot of wine and discuss who would best play the parts if they made a film of the book. But good books we have read recently include:

Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenberger

Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

The Go Between by LP Hartley

[SeanMacGabhann]

Loved the Niffenberger book

Emma - have I seen your book club dining in Blue Mountain of an evening (a while back now admittedly)

[Emma]

We haven't actually been there with ours yet, but def could be a potential venue for a future meeting. Generally end up in someone's house or garden in the summer or the Bishop!

Yes Time traveller was excellent. really different and read yesterday in the Standard that they are indeed making a film of it so we were ahead of the game in our book club!

[bawdy-nan]

Have you seen this. Its a website that coordinates - "bookcrossing" (n. the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise.) East Dulwich is registered as a bookcrossing zone but it seems there's only one book on the loose at the moment. Maybe we should take up the practice (especailly with those doubles we end up with)

[Nero]

Hi B-Nan,

I mentioned BookCrossing earlier up the thread. I've been doing it for a few years. I left a book on the round bench outside the hairdresser's in D Village and saw someone eyeing it, but it has never been officially 'found'. It's really good when someone finds a book you've left and logs in to tell you. Nero

[bawdy-nan]

Ah - sorry - lazy browsing ...have been meaning to do this for ages - just fantasy at the mo - you've spurred me on and I#m going to do it ... where d'you think would be a good place?

[Nero]

I think any one of our cafes would be good. Try a place where not too many people are there. Brits feel awkward if they see a book with a 'pick me up!' sticker on it and other people are perhaps watching them. If it is a nice day, a bench in Peckham Rye Park or Dulwich Park would be good. Register on Bookcrossing.com. Nero

[TillieTrotter]

Agree with praise of the Time Travellers Wife...read that for the third time recently and you just keep finding out more and more.

Mr Lush....I think I know your identity!! The Tolstoy gave it away. Am waiting to read Steve's book and the "can he hold his head up" comment meant is it any good. Unbiased critique please!!!:))

[Jah Lush]

Oh! Tillie is my cover blown? Drat! Anyway, the book is good. I read it again last week just to make sure.

[Indra]

Simon, I had no idea you read anything but dog-eared copies of Men Only

[SimonM]

>>Simon, I had no idea you read anything but dog-eared copies of Men Only<<

Well there's gratitude after I shamelessly gave your book a plug!

P.S. Please forward the latest "Men Only"...

[TillieTrotter]

capt_birdseye Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I can currently be seen on the train to London

> Bridge reading a copy of The Kite Runner. It's

> very enjoyable (the book, not the train).

Just finished The Kite Runner. What a powerful read, I was sobbing. Very good book.(tu)

[ratty]

Read "Cupcake" by Cupcake Brown.

Amazing, amazing book!