Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell.

Letters, Harold Nicholson & Vita Sackville-West.

Can't resist letters. Maybe it's because you can pick it up for 5 minutes or an hour.

Currently enjoying DILLIGAF The life and rhymes of Kevin Bloody Wilson.

Funny and yet insightful showing the many sides of KBW.

A Time to Betray - Reza Kahlili (pseudonym)

The true story of one man's betrayal of Iran's Revolutionary Guard by becoming a CIA operative during the rule of Ayatollah Khomeini, and subsequently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.


This book gives real insight why radical islam is at it's current boiling point, with complicity from many western / eastern nations through duplicity, the pleading of ignorance or direct support. All of which may or have not been used for domestic and/or international political advantage depending on the machinations of the times.

At times one of the hardest books I've read, not due to language but the brutal honesty of situations recollected.

Peter Freedman wrote on Apr 30^th, 2014 at 10:14pm:



There we have you in a nutshell.

Will be interested to hear what you make of the last chapter I think it is. Couldn't hack it myself.

           I read War&Peace back in the 70's, and now I don't remember anything much of it at all, I've only retained the memory that it was incredibly turgid and had a lot of incredibly long names in it that I had to keep going back to check on, I kept getting the characters confused.
   I'm am avid reader and used to read a lot of historical and political treatises, non-fiction, but these days I stick pretty much to Sci-Fi, I've become too cynical in my dotage, lol.

                                           Escapism RULES!
                                                   

Emma wrote on May 4^th, 2014 at 3:16am:


          Right with you on keeping track, put simply, I've given up trying, lol.
   I remember those I've read more than once as a rule, and often find myself partway into a book and realising I've read it before. If I can't remember the finish I keep reading, if I can I put it aside.
  I use Libraries all the time, books are far too expensive now. If I read one that has a sequel or is part of a series I only need to ask, if they can't immediately supply the other(s) they will generally get it in for me. If I like a book I'll look for others by the same author, or read the blurbs or reviews on it, they often reference other similar books that I will then look for.
     I find I get absorbed into the written word far deeper than anything onscreen, and as you say, that's mostly bubble-gum for the brain anyway. Many's the time I've been lost in the pages to look up and realise I've read on into and/or beyond the night, or a decent bed-time anyway, lol. I totally avoid reading before any important event or appointment for that very reason, lol, I've made that mistake in the past and paid for it. You have NO idea how unreasonable or unforgiving your wife can be if you leave her waiting in the rain with the kids because that book was just too good to put down, lol. 
      (true story!)