What is East Dulwich reading today?

[capt_birdseye]

What happened to the Book-swap event? Anyone interested in starting it up again?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Defo.

[citizenED]

I'm reading a book. Feel I have to announce it like that as it is a big event for me these days - not that I'm illiterate or nowt, Guv, just that I'm not in the practise of such things since the sproglets came along. Anyway, it's bit of a blur.....I mean, it's Bit Of A Blur, by Alex James.

[Keef]

Just read The Suicide Shop by Jean Teule.

Short story (only about 160 pages) of dark, and very French comedy. Would recommend it for a quick read.

[Jah Lush]

Quickly whizzed through Laurie Lee's A Rose For Winter. Beautifully written, very poetic observations about Spain in the 1940s. Before that I read Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka which was very funny and just finished Iain Bank's Raw Spirit: In Search of the Perfect Dram.

Not quite sure what's up next although I've just picked up Bernard Shaw's Cashel Byron's Profession.

[Keef]

I'm about to start Tony Parsons' "stories we could tell" which I bought for 40p at the book shop in Sydenham. It's about 3 lads in 1977 London. Mrs Keef thought you might fancy it Jah, as I think it's about the music scene... Will keep you posted.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Just finished Andrew Mueller's "I wouldn't Start From Here" - a collection of his observations from the world's various hot spots (Kabul, Tehran, Baghdad, London, Belfast) etc

He's an Australian writer with a great turn of phrase and a fantastic cut-to-the-chase mindset. The final afterword is him answering the one question he gets asked over and over again - especially by his compatriots - "But why do you live in London?"

The answer he gives should be compulsory reading for anyone who bitches about London

As well as that, World War Z, recommended by 2 forumites and supplied by one of them is JUST FANTASTIC. I'm trying to not read it and keep it for a long train journey but I just read a bit which made me laugh so much I'm.... going to post it in the "Things that made you laugh..." thread

[Jah Lush]

Cheers to Mrs Keef, Keef. I'd very much like to read that. Perhaps I could borrow it after you've read it.

[Keef]

Absolutely. Said I'd lend it to a fella at work, but he tends to keep books for about 3 months, so I'll give it to you first.

[Jah Lush]

Good man and I'll let you have that Spaced boxset.

[citizenED]

I have just finished reading "Bit of a Blur", Alex James' (the bassist from Blur) autobiog and have started on "Strangeland" by Tracey Emin. Since I hadn't finished a book for about three years before this, I think biography is the way forward for me for a while. Would welcome any suggestions for other biographies.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I find Dirk Bogarde's, David Niven's and Alec Guiness' autobiographies absolutely wonderful.

Also find Ranulph Fiennes and Catherine Hartley fascinating.

Roald Dahl's ABs are also worth a read.

And not forgetting Gerald Durrell's "My family and other animals" which is superb.

[Bellenden Belle]

Halfway through David Sedaris's latest offering - When you are Engulfed in Flames. I love this man.... has me in absolute stitches, rocking like a crazy person as I travel.

Read Sloane Crosby's I Was Told they'd be Cake last week - because funnily enough I was Told she'd be the New Sedaris. Darn blurb lied - she didn't even come close....

[citizenED]

Oh, Belle, you don't fall for the charm of the Blurbage, do you? Crazy girl. Hate it when that happens. You know "..the new (insert favourite author's name)..." only to find they are a pale imitation when you've already bought the book. Hook, line and sinker. Doh!. Don't worry - you're in good company; I do it too.

I've just read Kurt Vonnegat's latest biography/commentry - short and odd but in an insightful way. Not so much a book as a collections of musings about getting old, living in Bush's America and creativity.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

The Silmarillion-J.R.R.Tolkien.

[Jah Lush]

Just over halfway through Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, which I started a couple of days ago. A wonderful book, a real page turner, really enjoying it. Picked it up at the last book swap. Marvellous!

[TillieTrotter]

Just finished Sebastian Faulks, Human Traces......pretty heavy going but interesting subject matter. I am now embarking on The Catastrophist by Ronan Bennett as recommended by my daughter.

[Asset]

It'll have you blubbing that one Jah.

Don't get David Sedaris, I've tried Me Talk Pretty One Day and summing else (I think).

Just finished Things My Girlfriend and I Argue About which I got at the book swap, I don't know who's it was. I'm glad I took it because I haven't chortled so much at a book for ages. It's a bit silly but totally funny.

[Jah Lush]

Oh I don't mind a good blub over a good book Asset, especially when it is so beautifully written. I blubbed nearly all the way through Khalid Hossieni's The Kite Runner and it's follow up A Thousand Splendid Suns, both of which I'd highly recommend to anyone who hasn't read them.

Edited for typo.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Book Thief didn't do it for me - I read it and enjoyed reading it mostly - but it never really moved me. It did inspire me to write the following in an effort to get others in the book club to hurry up reading the feckin thing

~ A Whispered Suggestion to Hurry Up ~

I have noticed before how some humans take longer than others.

I am not part of this human's immediate future but sometimes, as now,

I like to linger and read over their shoulder

[capt_birdseye]

Read my first ever Harlen Coben last week which I picked up at the Book Swap. Terribly written, outrageous plot, unsympathetic characters, and a real page-turner. Bit of a guilty pleasure!

[Jah Lush]

Hmmm...well I can categorically state it wasn't one of mine Captain.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Guilty as charged. Asset's one too. I promise to bring more highbrow stuff next time.

[capt_birdseye]

Think it was PGC's, it was a preview copy with an odd cover. I have your Book Thief though, seeing as you swapped it for one in nicer nick!

[david_carnell]

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

A riveting account of 1950s missionary life in the Belgian Congo as told by the wife and four daughters of a baptist preacher. A wife and FOUR daughters - no wonder the man turned to the Lord.

It's actually a fascinating insight into prejudice and colonial life told in epic technicolour. Am nearly half-way through its 600 pages and loving it.