Alex's 2013 Books & ramblings

Back for more - Not one for reading goals or challenges, more of a 'freedom' or even more accurately a 'magpie' reader ...ooh nice shiny thing over there i must read.

All said I do want to read more from my shelves this year ......

last years thread:http://www.librarything.com/topic/146537

Alex

Read books:

Late DEC/JAN 14
Flesh wounds
The housekeeper and the The professor
Mini-missions for Simplicity
The shining girls ***
The explorer
Communion Town
The innocent

FEB/MAR
Where the Bodies Are Buried
Ancillary Justice
The Gospel of Loki
Lexicon
The Daylight Gate

April/May
When the Devil Drives
The Panopticon
Invisible cities
The Night Circus
The Machine

June/July
Testimony Smythe
The Spanish game
The lost Art

August/Septemer
Typhoon
A Foreign Country
Bottleneck
Neverwhere
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Oct/Nov/Dec
Oxcrimes
Fleshmarket
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
The Town Below The Ground: Edinburgh's Legendary Underground City
The Bone clocks
The Blackhouse
Ancillary Sword
The Children Act
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Strange Weather in Tokyo
A Colder War
A Pocket Guide For The Flaneur Of Life
My Morning View: An iPhone Photography Project about Gratitude, Grief &…
Be Free Where You Are
This Could Help
The One Skill - can't seem to add to my books
Guide to getting lost - Flaneur Society

Current reads:

Recent buys:

South of the Border, West of the Sun
Invisible Cities
Birthday Stories
Sputnik Sweetheart
Stoner
Arcanum
Ancillary Justice
The Gospel of Loki
Gemsigns
Binary ((R)Evolution)
Nexus
Crux
Trucksong
My Morning View
The one skill -Leo Babauta
Typhoon
Foreign Country
The Spanish Game
A Colder War
A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
More Than This
The Man with Compound Eyes

spare 2

Hopefully you don't mind me taking spare 3, Alex. Great to have one of my best buddies in the group back again for 2014.

Hope you're having a enjoyable holiday break, Alex. Best wishes for 2014 - you're off to a good start here!

Hi Alex!

Welcome back, happy you're here in 2014!

Happy New Year, Alex! I hope that you have a great reading year in 2014.

2014 is starting well for the Blackcaps as well (NZ cricket) Ryder is back to his sublime self - absolute beauty to watch + Corey Anderson just got 100 in record breaking time/balls ..... great start to the year indeed

Alex - The NZ team is getting its act together finally.

I hope you will have a wonderful 2014. Thanks for being a regular and much valued frequent visitor over at my place mate.

Looking forward to following you again this year.

while moseying around the threads/groups tonight found this Gameboard of the Gods looks very good ....

Ballance, Rankin and Borthwick in. Will it make any difference? I don't think so but all three are deserving of a chance.

ENG Had a good start but got the 6th wicket wobbles again ......Cook again does not seem to know what to do

Rankin selection is/was 'absolutely bonkers' .... why you ask in addition well known fact he has not played a match since Nov - He was going thru a fitness test 40 mins before the match .... FFS

Stokes again showed he is one of the few good things to come out of this Ashes tour......

Happy fourth Thingaversary, Alex!

2 kind souls have told me its my Thingaversary ....... didn't even realise, so must celebrate with books!

Last day before I go back to work, so do I torture myself with more cricket via ENG ???? now there dis a $6M question ......

My brother is going to suffer big time, hasn't been a morning he has risen before 11:00 am ....

I'll third the Happy Thingamijigamy wishes then mate. Looks like it is down to the newbies again with Carberry, Ballance and Stokes standing between pride and ignominy.
Cook must lose the captaincy, Pietersen should go too as he looks so half-hearted.
Agree on Rankin - I wanted to see him earlier in truth but he clearly wasn't fit. They have destroyed the confidence of Finn who should be playing for sure.

My mum keeps talking to me about the cricket, mainly when I am on the phone to her while she is watching it *annoying*
So I am not sure what is going on. Last I heard Jesse Ryder got out for a duck on his first ball since being "away".

22 > Then next match got a 104 - see here : http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-west-indies-2013-14/engine/current/mat...

I know you really wanted that link :) of course you would be watching it even when on the phone ....

21> Cook needs to lose the captaincy but stay as batsman if he can get that form back, Pietersen am in the keep him, Bell needs to be kept at 3rd, now who to select as Captain & Vice is the question - who has 'real' leadership qualities to get them out the current hole ???? While Broad is being touted am not a fan of Bowler-captains it just doesn't work IMO. So Pietersen, Bell ???

ODIs could be interesting .... am loving watching Stokes

Happy thingaversary. Am not watching cricket.

Captain Cook.

*snerk*

Captain Cook.

Someone didn't really think that through, did they?

25 > No they didn't !

The explorer oooh can see why its getting rave reviews Tis rather good .... next in the sequel comes out this month too ....

Yep RD he got murdered in the tropics too didn't he?
My biggest beef Alex is that this central contracts nonsense has really diminished the county game and there is no proper structure left. Cook, Bell and Pietersen are quality as batsmen no doubt but they should be sent back to their counties to get the runs to justify being back in the team. I like the look of either Varun Chopra or Jimmy Adams as captain. We need a bit of nous. Moen Ali and possibly Taylor for the first two tests with Ballance making the batting up. Eckersley of Leicester is a real biffer of a wicket keeper in the Gilchrist mode and I would give him the job. Stokes plays. Jordan, Broad, Masters and possibly Overton as bowlers as a spinner wont get out Sri Lanka and Moen Ali can do that anyways. When the weight of runs justifies and if the replacements falter Bell, Cook and Pietersen can be considered later in the summer.

If the ECB, take up even half those suggestions then they will have woken from their conservative slumber .... we can only hope this occurs, not sure what else is needed if not :)

Have a wonderful weekend, Alex!

well my trip to UK is on - have not been back since I was a kid, so plan is to do all the touristy things this first time back .... not really well travelled ( every time I was about to do my O.E something happened in my family which I ended up taking care of ...sound familiar!?)

anyway with my brother stay with me permanent, seems I shd take advantage of the extra $$ & catchup on my stopped youth to travel now...

Any tips or must do for travelling from NZ & U.K let me know so I can add them to the lists ...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Great news that you are travelling back to the UK this year for a holiday, Alex. Will you base yourself in Oldham's grim streets mate, heaven forfend?!

Any idea when you will be there, I will probably catch a few days in Blighty either side of my US trip.

Hope your Sunday is all you want from it.

Spent today reading The explorer seems at first to be your basic sci-fi space travel, but has plenty of twists, with time travel, paradoxes etc ... very good read - next book in the series comes out this month.

Paul - my plan at the moment is to go over in Autumn so August/September, while family vista will be required not too much, much of the family have splintered over UK & the world these days. Leeds will probably be involved to visit my Dad's side.

Thinking of reading the John lawton books ( inspired by Cushla)

discovered the published order is not the best reading order - heres a guide for anyone else thinking this way as well

"A Lily of the Field (2010), Second Violin (2007), Riptide (2001), Blackout (1995), A Little White Death (1998), Old Flames (1996), and Blue Rondo (2005). This sequence is open to debate, as some of the stories have multiple time-frames. All of the Troy novels are available on Kindle."

But am also taken by Brookmyre & to be honest i think he may win

Late August I will be in UK and close to Leeds of course.

Excellent stuff, do let me know once your dates are firmed up & see if we can arrange a coffee or drink :)

Captain Cook! Classic- yes I am that far behind :)
Thanks for the link, and I am glad Ryder improved from duck to century. Good for him.

Alex, are you planning a trip to the motherland? Cool.

The Explorer

A tense, claustrophobic and gripping science fiction thriller from the author of The Testimony.

When journalist Cormac Easton is selected to document the first manned mission into deep space, he dreams of securing his place in history as one of humanity’s great explorers.

But in space, nothing goes according to plan.

The crew wake from hypersleep to discover their captain dead in his allegedly fail-proof safety pod. They mourn, and Cormac sends a beautifully written eulogy back to Earth. The word from ground control is unequivocal: no matter what happens, the mission must continue.

But as the body count begins to rise, Cormac finds himself alone and spiralling towards his own inevitable death … unless he can do something to stop it.

------

Now some sci-fi readers will not like, is the science perfect far from it, is it really sic-fi, probably not, its more about the human condition.

"On the surface, The Explorer seems to be a slim Sci-Fi adventure but within thirty or so pages the story becomes one about humans - how fragile we are and how our minds cope within our own existence. Without spoiling the twists, it's fair to say that Cormac is a troubled soul. As he narrates his own story and we are given glimpses into his mind we're shown a terrifying experience. It's not a psychological horror, but if you walk away without feeling a little disquieted I'd be surprised."

36 > Yes & there may e some book buying while I am there ... so Premium economy seats with the extra baggage allowance :)

Came home to a nice surprise, some very kind soul has sent me The innocent ..... Thanks to whoever it was !

Haven't got a whole lot of reading done this past week, unless you count reading travel guides, deciding where will spend my time in the U.K ....

Plan to read Communion Town this weekend though .....

For your Friday humour watch this - absolutely Genius!

http://dotsub.com/view/6c5d7514-5656-476a-9504-07dd4e2f6509#.Uti1oHARDVA.faceboo...

I will admit to being guilty and not Innocent, Alex for that one. Enjoyed it when I read it years and years ago if memory serves.

Have a great Sunday, mate. Is Morgan the future as captain do you think? He showed a remarkable brain for the game even in defeat t'other day.

Was listening to podcasts in the early hours this morning ( as I kept my mind busy away from the pain messages - no whining just an explanation, reading is not feasible in these times).

Hear read this, were talking about Rushdie & Midnight's children, reminded me how much I want to get back to that ... more reason to read from our shelves eh ?

Paul, I do think Morgan should be the future Captain, great cricketing brain, awareness & tactical, next step is to get him into the Test team .... will watch with interest how things change/develop over next months with ENG team, ad to say don't think they have reached the bottom depths yet.

innocent does look very good ....... right up my street so to speak

Communion Town

Communion Town reveals the shadows and sinister inhabitants of a city that never appears the same way twice.

On crowded streets, in the town squares and half-empty tower blocks, the lonely and lost try to make a connection. A weary gumshoe pounds the reeking sidewalks, seeking someone he knows he will never find. Violence loiters in blind alleys, eager to embrace the unsuspecting and the reckless. Lovers are doomed to follow treacherous paths that were laid long before they first met.

This city is no ordinary place. Here, the underworld has surfaced; dreams melt into reality and memories are imagined before they are lived. Ghosts and monsters, refugees and travellers – the voices of Communion Town clamour to tell the stories of the city, stories that must be heard to be believed.

---------------
As a lover or words, wordplay & city dweller , loved this dreamlike & Eerily creepy at times, the chapters could be read ashore stories if that is your want.

But they are linked both by the city and by a mysterious man-thing who becomes more prominent (and more terrifying or eery) as the book progresses.

Absorbing, thought provoking & a books that grabs hold of you .... can see why this made the Booker lists.

If you like China Mieville this may just be the book for you.

Got me some nice new walking/hiking shoes yesterday (gotta love Kathmandu sales) ... now to go find some tracks to test them out

So are you all making 2014 happen ? Just got my 4 weeks leave approved from work today so my 3 week trip to UK just got real ....

Loving the The innocent .....

a small splurge on BD ... just cos:

South of the Border, West of the Sun
Invisible Cities
Birthday Stories
Sputnik Sweetheart
Stoner

Love them Murakamis, Alex. Invisible Cities, too.

You've intrigued me with Communion Town.

The innocent

The setting is Berlin. Into this divided city, wrenched between East and West, between past and present; comes twenty-five-year-old Leonard Marnham, assigned to a British-American surveillance team. Though only a pawn in an international plot that is never fully revealed to him, Leonard uses his secret work to escape the bonds of his ordinary life - and to lose his unwanted innocence. The promise of his new life begins to be fulfilled as Leonard becomes a crucial part of the surveillance team, while simultaneously being initiated into a new world of love and sex by Maria, a beautiful young German woman. It is a promise that turns to horror in the course of one terrible evening - a night when Leonard Marnham learns just how much of his innocence he's willing to shed.

-------------------------------------
Nothing happens as such that you are aware of for three quarters of the book until our everyman, the somewhat endearing British geek is plunged into a grand guignol not of his making and totally alien to the place where you would have expected the excitement you were owed to come from

skill which McEwan brings to bear in creating images that remain with you long after you finish reading ... what more can you ask for

48 > Jim, I reckon Communion town will be right up your street .......

>47 roundballnz: oooh, you got Stoner- I heard that reviewed on Nat Radio and the guy raved about it. It is on my WL now too :)

How are you shoes from Kaathmandu? I would have advised against getting Kathmandu branded shoes, (I know, the horse has bolted...), but maybe you got Teva or another of the better brands they well? I used to work there, a lot came back (including ones I bought).

51> I didn't buy Kathmandu branded, bought Salomon, read a few reviews all good except for dork who complained they were too hot after watching movies in them ???!!

Yeah stoner has been sitting there for nearly a year, just felt right this time so hit the buy button :) ... will let you know how it goes

Alex - Obviously I'm pleased that you seem to have enjoyed The Innocent. Read it an age ago and thought it quite different from a lot of his other stuff. Sort of Le Carre meets Bainbridge.

Flower has thrown in the towel I see. Would love to see England go back to the basics with a solid opening pair, a reliable number 3, stroke players in 4 & 5, an allrounder, a wicket-keeper batsman, three seamers and a spinner
I think Bell, Carberry, Pietersen, Root etc need a spell back in the counties making runs before coming back. Leave Cook perhaps in the test side as our premier bat but I would suggest:
Cook, Robson, Moeen Ali, Morgan, Ballance, Stokes, Buttler, Broad, Rayner, Masters, Anderson

I think Flower had to, the big question there is will ECB appoint the right replacement ??? they clearly want Giles which is still questionable, other name around Flemming, Kirsten am sure others will come calling as well.

Cook was starting to show some old form, so I agree leaving him their for the tests, my honest poi noon is that Root was pushed into the tests far too early, needs some time back in the counties thing bring him back up.

Broad, stokes, Morgan Butler impressed, Anderson ?? is it too much cricket???

Questions have also to be looked at the bowling attack as a group, how you use the talent you have & bring thru the next big thing.

NZ are coming right after couple of Horror years this summer has been a pleasure to watch ! 4-0 over India I will take that the Tests will be litmus test though

New Zealand generally and Taylor especially have been impressive, Alex.
Madness at my old soccer club as you may have seen and then to cap off a crazy weekend we go and thrash local rivals Huddersfield 5-1. Bizarre- you couldn't write it.

My workplace has announced a org restructure in my business unit - phew! the universe has looked after me once again my role is not threatened .... lost count how many bullets I have dodged in recent years.

55> Absolutely Nutty .... I had seen some of the news about your dear club ..... was going to go read up on it this weekend & avoid news of mine ( who shd be dumping but won't)

This from a fellow supporter or shd that be sufferer : "Moyes: "I don't know what we have to do to win." That is abundantly clear."

Alex - Your lot stuck with Ferguson when most would have sacked him. David Moyes is no Alex Ferguson though, I think.

Latest from Elland Road suggests that the manager has not been bulleted. Hope this is true at least.

David is far from Fergie, even a very young Fergie ...... Thing is while the results are not the best, I kinda expected that not matter who we brought in, its the attitude & more recently the "scared rabbit" look ... if the above is what is being said publicly what is is like within the team/camp ??? ..... there lies the problem

Sorry the Moyes experiment has failed the sooner the club realise that the sooner we can do something about it.

As for the saga at Leeds its turning into a right circus ... How can you have lawyers advising someone their contract has been terminated, then the next day advising the world He is staying on ???!!

Waitangi day down under today, so day off work, great weather despite impending tropical storm coming down, day spent watching cricket & out walking in Cornwall park ( which am lucking to have on my doorstep)

Now to get some reading done .....

Wohoo NZ Vs IND first innings for Blackcaps 503 .... NO that is not a typo!

Won't bore you with more cricket talk, nothing about a 600+ innings & record breaking innings of 302 ... no nothing of the sort ....

In other Great news booked my Air tickets to the UK ( got a great deal) leaving NZ on 29 Aug & Leaving London on 19 Sept ... going to be fun 3 weeks! now the fun of filling those in.

Came home to a nice surprise , much needed after a frustrating day at work ... The Gospel of Loki is a stunning looking book as well :)

*peers fearfully in* no more wood-louse talk, is there? Or mosquito or whichever insect it is...*whew* for dodged work-bullet.

No more cricket talk .... can't promise it won't come back but you are safe currently

Ancillary Justice absolutely brilliant, don't often give anything over 4 stars ... but this gets the treatment

now for The Gospel of Loki

Despite wishful thinking, Moyes still heads my football team .... & seems on track to destroy it in one season.
hmmm a bit of Rugby/league to take my attention away methinks

Popped in to the "Unity Books" sale today, not as much form this year ... but still well worth visiting

Amazon daily deals ... mini rant .....

See this is why I ***ahem*** love Amazon - while I can see the kindle books in daily deals under my logon, once I click said book it becomes "unavailable" .... no doubt these deals are only for the US .... if so then give me the UK deals ... having none is just not on ...I thought we lived in a global economy??? maybe not

of course shd i search i can find said kindle book just not at deal price ! ... ###$$$^^%%$@#!

Ok first 2 weeks of my holiday 90% booked .....Think I deserve Takeaways for Dinner .... no doubt I will change my mind in 5 mins time though

or do I finish my book ???? decisions decisions ....

90% booked....so your flight goes to Paris instead of London then? ;)

Takeaways for dinner, no question. And read your book, as the last 10% of holiday booking can be done at work. Just blame the typhoon/cyclone (what was it again? I think her name was Luci). We have had her rain here all day, it has just let up now and I hear a vicious rumour that it is going tp be 27 degC tomorrow!

Alex - I've switched to amazon.com.au and get a daily deal on kindle there. It's probably not as great as the US or UK, but I've gotten quite a few good deals since I signed up.

69 > Sadly my flight is still going into London ..... can only Fly into Manchester if I take 3+ Flights via obscure route .....

Flights & First 2 weeks - minus 3 days accommodation/Train tickets ( still thinking if Rail pass will be better choice). 3rd week is more independent wandering including getting back to Saddleworth

Luci comes with a nice Temps & 95%+ humidity - those in Auckland are used to such weather though :) I forget its Winter your way already ... *** runs from the room****

Nice to see your trip taking shape, mate.
Big game today. Fancy the reds to win - but which one?

I think we both know who was going to win that .... just a matter of by how much !

Unfortunately my Mum is a Liverpool fan - so will get the gloating phone call :)

I have rarely seen Manchester United go down at home so tamely. Liverpool do look the real deal and got two valid penalties and one entirely dodgy one which was thankfully missed. Fellaini looks pants doesn't he?

I think even in Pre-Fergie days we still had more heart than currently being displayed, which tells you a lot about the state of the dressing room ....

I do think Liverpool are looking very good odds to take the League out this year ..... I hope they hold onto Rodgers he is the real deal .....

Flu-jab for the season done, also appears wasn't my imagination my asthma is playing up, the joy of seasonal change, just in time seems Oxis my prescribed reliever is out of stock (all the signs of a pharmac subsidy crap, hope don't have to shift).

I see that Oxis contains formoterol, a long acting bronchodilator, which is one of the two medications in Symbicort, the preventive medication I take for asthma, which also contains budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid. I hope that your medication is back in stock soon.

Yeah, its symptom controller, take it early before things get bad, most relievers don't work for me - give me the shakes so bad can't even write with a pen ....

got a nasty feeling with symbicort being pushed etc - that this is coming off the market - if that 's the case, its problematic for me.

crossing my fingers xxxxx

Shortlist for Arthur C Clarke award: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/18/sf-shortlist-arthur-c-clarke-award-...

God's War by Kameron Hurley (Del Rey)
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (Orbit)
The Disestablishment of Paradise by Phillip Mann (Gollancz)
Nexus by Ramez Naam (Angry Robot)
The Adjacent by Christopher Priest (Gollancz)
The Machine by James Smythe (Blue Door)

Programme for AK Writers festival is out ...... some interesting stuff there

http://writersfestival.co.nz

>78 roundballnz: Sorry to hear that, Alex. I get a bit jittery when I take albuterol if I haven't had it in weeks or months, but that side effect seems to wear away after the second or third dose.

Well been given a script for "Serevent" which is not a turbuhaler ( my preferred delivery mechanism) .... but lets see what happens, I think next Doc visit need a good sit down to review what I shd be on for my asthma.

*Happy weekend wave*

So, I have shortlisted 9 events for AK http://writersfestival.co.nz .... I think I may need to trim more or maybe not ?

Loving Lexicon ...... Will have to think How can explain why without spoilers ....

>84 roundballnz: A few hotties too with Catton and Lackberg. No greater mix for me than beauty with brains.

Hope your asthma medication is in synch mate as, as a fellow sufferer, I know the claustrophobic feeling that comes with fighting for breath.

Am goodish Paul, just going thru a bad seasonal change bump (added med change did not enthuse me), peak flow is back over 300 so all is good in the world .... will be better once hits my 400 norm

You know I think you may enjoy Lexicon - can I tempt you ???

Happy that the asthma is better controlled. No way in hell would I get on a plane if asthma wasn't under excellent control, not even for a short flight.

Happy trails!

Lexicon

"Imagine, if you will, a secret agency, who's sole goal is to figure out the easiest way to control you. Now imagine if they had come up with a process that was not only insidiously easy, but near-infinte in its reach as well. Like Internet level reach. Now imagine that their way of controlling you was through simple words or sounds. Pretty scary, huh? Now imagine that one of their less moral leaders (in a fairly shallow pool to begin with) discovers a very important word. A word that can control EVERYONE. Now imagine that he discovers that it only controls ALMOST everyone - that there is an outlier who is not affected by this magic word."

Tempted yet ??? You know you want it .......

'allo

Just passing by....love that you have narrowed it down to 9 events for the writer's festival.

>89 roundballnz: Oho - I like the sound of that one! Wishlisted!

You got me, Alex, and I picked up Lexicon. Looking forward to your comments on it.

Something a bit different The Daylight Gate -

GOOD FRIDAY, 1612. Pendle Hill, Lancashire

Two notorious Lancashire witches are already in Lancaster Castle waiting trial. Why is the beautiful and wealthy Alice Nutter defending them? And why is she among the group of thirteen on Pendle Hill?

This Lancashire, This is Pendle, This is witch country.

92 . Lexicon definitely got me thinking ...... I should write that up soon but not tonight

So its that time of year again, was going to have a weekend break but thinking of getting a tattoo instead

Plan is to get a rose thorn wrist band with a couple of Roses ( least see if Paul can guess the colour) + Saddleworth in Olde English ( a cap to my old man) Saedela Weorth - or maybe just Saedela .....

Hmmm

Well Alex you ought to be a red roser I suppose. I may hold out hopes that you'll renege and come over to us whites but I'll not take too long a breath.

Have a great weekend.

Sometimes its good to work with young things - cause they let you borrow usb drives with over 2,000 books in them :) while am sure not all will be my thing, a good many will.

>97 roundballnz: Take the books first Alex and then you can always prune if you don't want one or the other.

A little bird tells me it is your birthday today, mate. Have a great day over in NZ (what is left of it).

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Thanks for Birthday wishes .......

Been finalising holiday plans this weekend with a bit of reading in between Brookmyre ... was having trouble how to spend the last week, Decided on spending Saturday - Tues based in Manchester but day tripping outside (a day each for Manchester, Liverpool, Saddleworth area, & York**) & Then Wed-Fri in London ( fly out Fri Evening).

When exactly will you be in York, Alex? If you are going there very soon we might be able to meet up and chew the fat.

Paul,

Didn't think you would be over there then, would be great to catchup if we can, I will be based in Manchester, with option of travelling to York Sat-Tues (13th Sept-16th), if you are around then let me know.

Let's see Alex. I am actually going to be in England for about a fortnight from tomorrow -well your today.

Have fun! .... rather jealous need some time off work myself

Need a new Football team - try this for a bit of Fun ....

http://www.buzzfeed.com/robinedds/which-english-premier-league-team-should-you-s...

Happy Easter!

I now have more Easter Chocolate than I can eat in a weekend - thanks to Birthday catchups yesterday - no guessing what I got!

Hmmm thinking that gym membership was a good thing last week :)

Armageddon 2014:

http://www.booksellers.co.nz/book-news/terry-brooks-armageddon-literary-event

SO you aren't flooded out or blown away then? I have not caught the TV news, but I hear Akl got pasted by the wind. We had steady rain all day yesterday and stormy wind all the preceding night. I got hardly any sleep :(

Yeah, all fine now, But was quite blustery Wed & Thurs morning ... was even talk of closing the Harbour bridge with 120K gale winds but by Thurs afternoon had blown thru & was middle of summer again!

Sounds like the SI West coast got hit hard though ......

Do like Brookmyre I think will have to go & read the early stuff as I have finished all the books in the recent series ....

Now reading The Panopticon excellent writing ....

Tried too buy a new Kindle - seems international versions are out of stock - with no estimated delivery dates ... maybe i wasn't meant to buy one after all that!

If you like your speculative or post-apocalyptic Australia sounds your thing - Try Trucksong ..... heard about it myself on 'The writer & the critic podcast" been waiting since for E-book as has not made the shops here ....

& David Mitchell is back .... can't wait

http://www.theguardian.com/books/interactive/2014/apr/22/david-mitchell-novel-bo...

>113 roundballnz: Hurrah!

The Panopticon

does the word "fuck" make you uncomfortable? if so, you will not like this book.

A darkly entertaining first-person narrative about Anais Hendricks: a lively, intelligent, witty fifteen-year-old girl who has spent her life in and out of care homes, has been arrested hundreds of times, has been doing every drug possible and having sex since she was a child, and may have put a police officer in a coma. At the beginning of the book, she's being transferred to the Panopticon, a home for young offenders housed in an old, gothic building

But as you all know, or should do I like Dark books - so I loved it - sensitive should tread carefully before opening this book.

>105 roundballnz: I don't know how it happened but I finished up with Arsenal. Darryl will be pleased.

>116 PaulCranswick: LMAO ... too funny!

Finally got round to re-signing up to the library today ( my old one lapsed) with the intention of reading older books & buying less ... or buying only those I really want - as I have to share a house with a non-reader.

anyway will be interesting experiment, predict i will read different/more varied books, rather than just what is being pushed by the booksellers etc

Alex - congrats on joining the library. I use their digital library quite a bit to get audiobooks and also download a few e-books to the family iPad from time to time. Library is also good for getting dvds, my family use it for documentaries, foreign films and tv series.
Anyway quite a bit you can do from home without even bothering to visit the actual library. I usually only go there to pick up my requests.

>116 PaulCranswick: Pleased as punch!

>119 avatiakh:
Having been out of libraries for a little while, I was stunned at how few 'physical' books are in the library .... will check out the digital library as well

Had a bit of a splurge:

Typhoon
Foreign Country
The Spanish Game
A Colder War
A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
More Than This
The Man with Compound Eyes
Americanah ** Gift**

+ Trucksong uploaded a couple weeks back ....

BTW if you are in Auckland, that Book barn place near 277 has greatly improved ..... most books are under $12:00

For those who missed it Ancillary Justice won the Arthur C Clarke award ..... Hells Yeah !

Ancillary Sword comes out later this year will be interesting to see if its just as good .....

Ooh, haven't been to Book Barn for a long long time. My library is at Botany and has very few books so I usually browse online and request books.
That's a great book haul. I got Hotel Florida in the mail today.

Seen on twitter today - very apt I think :

"Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in. Schopenhauer"

Interesting list ... the hunt for the NZ classic

http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/keep-calm-carry-reading-kiwi-classics/

https://www.facebook.com/GreatKiwiClassic?ref=hl

>125 roundballnz: Great list mate, I will make use of that one for sure.

Have a great weekend.

David Mitchell - Bone clocks - proofs ...

https://twitter.com/david_mitchell/status/465857414747930624/photo/1

The Night Circus ...... absolutely magical

Something to put a smile on your face Auckland civil defence were posting warning messages on Twitter today because its expected to drop to 2C over night ...... my reaction cannot be posted due to expletives :)

The Machine - now that is a book .......

After reading machine I have picked up the James smythe book from my shelves The Testimony .... while quite different has the potential to be just a as great .... can see why some are mentioning him in the same breath as Iain Banks .....

tiny book splurge ahead of Queens birthday weekend - well would be wrong not to right ? & they are all from my wish list ... so .....

No Harm Can Come to a Good Man
The Echo
The Lost Art

also want to get a couple of pre orders done for
The Bone Clocks
Ancillary Sword
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Also see that Flintoff is coming out of retirement to play for Lancashire .... excellent news far too talented to have retired so young .... just bit too much of a Lad for those in charge to handle methinks

I can't remember where I came across James Smythe, but I have two arrivals from BD in the past couple of weeks - The Explorer and The Machine...just no time to read at present.

>131 roundballnz: Nice little splurge there Alex. I don't have a one either unless they are hiding on my unused Kindle.

Freddie Flintoff should liven up things a bit. Not sure he'll get anywhere where he was but he'll walk into Lancashire's side.

Have a great long weekend.

Nice book haul, Alex.

Enjoy your weekend!

Don't you love the English language ...

"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe"

>132 avatiakh: I would pick the Machine but then am biased having read both ......

>133 PaulCranswick: See there is an interesting little T20 match coming up this week .....

Since I have just bought myself a nice camera obstentially for my trip, I shd behave on the book buying front shan't I ..... hmmm

I'll put that one on my bedside pile so I can feel guilty about not reading it straight away. Did you get to the Whitcoulls clearance? I got a few quality nonfiction books for $5 - $10 a book, mostly crud left now though they still have some good stuff at 50% off.

Nice

Sadly I don't work anywhere near a bookshop never mind a mall with Whitcoulls so have resigned myself to checking crud .....That said missed this one, have well & truly gone over this months budget.

>136 roundballnz: And Yorks prevailed in that interesting little game too mate!

Have a fantastic Sunday, Alex.

>139 PaulCranswick: just catching up on cricket .... the morning after NZLvENG Rugby ... very interesting one the AB's were definitely found wanting ...... going to be a real Test series

New short story ... Haruki Murakami: “Yesterday” http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2014/06/09/140609fi_fiction_murakami?m... …

via @NewYorker

>125 roundballnz: my dad told me 'they' were hunting for the great kiwi classic. I was miffed that hadn't seen a forum to vote, or even heard of it! I would have voted for The Bone People, I think. So I am glad it won! Dad said Keri Hulme's acceptance speech was great.

>140 roundballnz: sounds like the All Black's victory was by the skin of their teeth! I switched off after the haka :)

>142 LovingLit: AB's were very lucky to get away with that, current form does not bode well for the WC next year, others have taken a step up & AB's look to be playing on past form than current. ..... could be interesting ride, including tri nations ..... but of course more importantly no SBW & his shirt incidents :)

Hoping tomorrow does not bring another day of disappearing file/structures ... am wiling to believe there is a Geek fairy to wave a wand tonight .... yeah I know its pushing reality .... but its Friday

Been a bit quiet on here of late, have been reading, but more towards non-fiction ilk, which lends itself to blogs, periodicals etc ....

Bit of family kerfuffle including my mum's side of family causing fun for my Trip back to U.K (lets say I don't have the seal approval from conservative self-appointed head of family) ... balls in their caught if they don't want to catch up plenty else ai can be doing ... funny thing my Dad's family are complete opposite - maybe its the Yorkshire - Lancashire thing :)

No2 Parent now needs support services, also needed a trip to ED on weekend to be convinced - How did I end up with 2 stubborn/independent parents ? cause I am nothing like that myself :P

Now Feet up & maybe a book tonight - after I flicker briefly round the threads

Hmmm BD & pre-orders strike again - Pre ordered Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage Bought the hardback at reasonable price .... funnily enough today the price has dropped significantly (over $10) ... sorry twice burned won't be pre-odering again - don't enjoy being taken the piss out of.

cancelled my order as still not dispatched ... might do the Kindle thing

The Barnes & Noble bookshop near my parents' house is selling it for $15.95 USD, and the Amazon Kindle edition is $10.99. I think I'll get the hardcover edition this weekend.

>147 kidzdoc: the Hardcover here is selling for $45.00 NZ - hence why I buy my books online - will wait for the hardcover but pretty bad service by BD.

saw a couple of books out while I was out & about ( trying to walk off the cupcake excesses - have a friend who has been experimenting & everyday has brought in samples for critique - a little too much!)

revenge Yoko Ogawa
Shriek: An Afterword Vanermeer - was very tempted here!
The Bees - keeps hitting my sightline probably means i shd get it!

Today's task decide which paperer backs will travel with me & what I 'need' on my kindle to survive the air/train travel ....

Not long before i take off now ..... trying to take why stuff i take to minimum despite everyone telling me "you can't survive without xxxxxxx"

very spring day here today ..... & I am willingly heading into late summer/autumn :)

Just in case ....

UK Peeps I will be over there by this time next weekend - if anyone wants to meet up while i am in Manchester ( 13-17th) or London ( 17th-21st) Message me & we can see if it can happen

Enjoy your trip Alex.
My advice is that you don't need to take a lot, just make sure you have a jacket suitable for cooler evenings and comfortable walking shoes.
Good luck with your reading choices, I always take too many books with me. Make sure they are all books you don't mind ditching once you've read them.

>151 avatiakh: definitely have good walking shoes, outside of work i live in my Salomons' they are blissful even after a day out walking .... good thinking on the books, suspect i may take a very limited choice & buy as I travel.

I agree with Kerry. I'll bring my Kindle, and probably no more than one or two print books, as I invariably buy 15-20+ books on my trips to London. It probably goes without saying that an umbrella is a must, along with (for me) a raincoat.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage arrived yesterday, sadly this delectable morsel will have to wait till i come back ......

For those who have the hardback, do take the cover off, what is underneath is a delight to the senses .....

Having an awesome time in Scotland .... While having fun in Edinburgh accidentally slipped into shops today & bought books ( good think I travel light & have around 10-12Kg to play with :))

The Blackhouse: Book One of the Lewis Trilogy - Peter May
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
The Tartan Special One
Their Lips Talk of Mischief
Fleshmarket
The Town Below The Ground: Edinburgh's Legendary Underground City

So pleased that Scotland is treating you well. Great book haul, The town below the ground will be an interesting read, I think one of Rankin's novels touches on this. Their Lips Talk of Mischief also looks good.
Buying books is another good reason to travel with only a change of clothes!

>156 avatiakh: - Now If someone had told me Scotland & England were going to have a indian summer I could have brought less again - even more room :P

Anyone who cares am posting pictures on FB - sorry can't get the hang of pictures on LT - just friend me if you are interested ......

And they are envy inducing indeed. *sigh*

Bit of Tartan noir selection for your fancy ....

http://scottishbooktrust.com/reading/book-lists/ultimate-tartan-noir-books

I may or may not have ordered books via BD I have seen on my journey - luckily for me I shd arrive home before they do so they will not been seen to arrive :)

Been trying to behave myself - bought a couple of books which could not be found online or at home really

Sounds like you are having a grand time exploring bookshops, buying books. The Tartan noir booklist makes me realise that I need to go further than just reading Rankin.

It was great to meet you on Wednesday, Alex. I enjoyed your photos on Facebook. Have a safe journey home today!

Now If someone had told me Scotland & England were going to have a indian summer I could have brought less again - even more room

Exactly.

What bookshops did you visit in London (other than Watermark Books in King's Cross station, of course)? And what did you buy there?

Great to see you had such a splendid time back in the old country mate. Safe journey home Alex and try to polish off some of your new buys on that looooooooooong journey home.

>164 kidzdoc:

Watermark - Kings cross picked up The reason i jump & OxCrimes & The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot
Housmans picked up The London adventure;: An essay in wandering - (new press of an out of print)

visited Waterstones & couple of others small but rested to buy more

This was on top of my mini splurge already in Edinburgh & couple bought online as realised I would go oversight otherwise :)

>165 PaulCranswick: It is indeed a long journey home 24hrs + - plenty of time to read - invested in nook light so can read without causing pain ton my neighbours

> 163 - Try Brookmyre I think he may just be your thing if you Like Rankin

Bone clocks arrived while I was away .... happy Happy joy joy dance ...... what to read ? I have so much choice - lovely dilemma really BUT

Finished Neverwhere on the plane & started Oxcrimes - Neverwhere is very good, takes a bit to build up momentum but once there its Fun!

I know I was on 11 hour flights but why do that make it almost compulsory to sleep its like being 3 again ....

Welcome home - there's a review of Bone clocks in the New Yorker by James Wood that I saw David Larsen (NZ Listener reviewer) complaining about on twitter.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/08/soul-cycle

Murakami strikes again finished the book in 2 days without really trying to absolutely brilliant .... but then I am a converted reader of his.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage right now would say its one of his best ... ask me again in a few weeks

Day 1 back at work survived - well just about - returned to find we now have a "culture project" with associated workshops ... sigh ..... just let me play with some data & do what you pay me for - ah well another 4 days to go till the weekend!

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, Alex. I'll read it next month for Mark's challenge.

OK seriously thinking of upgrading my Kindle .... just as ai decide Amazon bring out a new version

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KDRU028/ref=pe_455200_124155380_kods_em_ebour2102r

from my reading the only difference between the Paperwhite & New one is the resolution 167ppi vs 212 pip + subtle weight difference - am i missing anything ?

If that s the case as reader I would better with paperwhite - right ?

No comment, I bought a kindle touch on trademe last year. Perfect for the amount of use it gets - I bought it mainly for travel but carry it with me all the time so I'm never without something to read when I'm out and about.

I've got Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage sitting on my 'read me read me' shelf so happy that you liked it so much.

Survived the 14+ Hours Power outage ( there was a tiny little fire in one of the major substations for the city) ... definitely have tea withdrawals now ....

Oxcrimes

"OXCRIMES, from Profile books is a fundraising book of short crime stories with contributions from a strong group of authors - some of whom will be favourites, many of whom will be new to readers"

As I have said before short stories are not usually my thing, so unusual for me to buy from a 'bricks 7 mortar shop" & to read ... but the great thing here, short story collections is a chance to find "new to you" authors. In this collection the option of comparing them, up close, with more favourite writers is a bonus. Particularly as the list of contributors is so top notch, and the standard of the stories is not to be quiffed at.

Some of the Authors are now on the "read them now" list .....

Now a little fantasy or Science fiction I think before I open The Bone clocks ...

To survive reality shock have started planning my next holiday, was thinking I shd go to Melbourne & visit my little brother, but also want to go to Tongariro its been too long, I suspect Tongariro will win :)

Good morning Alex :)
Well, if it would be me I probably would vote for Tongariro as well. I had to look it up :) - but it looks stunning! Just love National Parks. I really enjoyed Gauja Nationalpark in Latvia this year.

In terms of the kindle I still have two of the older models - The kindle keyboard and the small kindle which came out a few years back and they both do their job. I do prefer prober books, but I ALWAYS have my kindle with me so that I am never without one. I did own for a some time a kindle fire - it's a good and fast tablet but I didn't enjoy reading on it as much. Now I own a mini iPad with a kindle app on it and I usually use it for when I read at night time.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage - Treated myself to the audiobook version and I also still have The Bone Clocks on standby.

I am not a great fan of short stories either unless it is someone like Kafka :)

I still have the keyboard Kindle, but would like to upgrade so can read on the plane/bus when its dim ..... don't like the light on iPads etc for reading.... something to think about may a Xmas present for myself :)

Fleshmarket

Picked this up when visiting "Mary King's Close" in Edinburgh a few weeks back ....

Definitely get the feel & grime of Edinburgh during the time - a good engaging read. while the main character is young don't let that put you off into thinking its Y.A fluff.

The Town Below The Ground: Edinburgh's Legendary Underground City

Picked up at the same time, first half is okay, Historical background to Underground of Edinburgh ....

If your reading has a Sci.Fi or fantasy bend to it - you may be interested in the latest Coode st podcast for upcoming books ... it is after all the festive boo season !

http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2014/10/05/episode-204-books-were-looking-f...

So whats the next book to be, need something with a bit of substance after a few books to give space to Murakami's latest outing ... so Bone clocks or Arcanum ?? Hmmm

Bone clocks i t was ...... very good choice, only 100 pages or so in & already can tell its going to be a good one

If you get chance don't pass this one by

The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors was linked in FB History group I am on, looks quiet good ..... wait for the Kindle version/sample I think

>181 roundballnz: how far are you in now? I am almost 3/4 done with my audiobook and so far I really enjoy it, although I still haven't figured where we are going with this "radio people". However, as the stories in themselves are quite captivating I always seem to forget about them and then ......... voila there they are again, in the most unexpected place.

Just finished reading Strange Weather in Tokyo what a wonderful little book.

>182 roundballnz: sounds interesting. Have you read already The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Penman? Very good as well.

>183 drachenbraut23: I am about 1/3 thru, as i posted on your thread loving it , did you catch the link to Black swan green ? ... amuses me how it does this in all his books.

*Book Bullet alert*
Discovered a new C J Sansom book is out Lamentation (The Shardlake Series)

>184 roundballnz: Nope, haven't read that one yet. That and Number9 Dream are still on my TBR.

The Bone clocks - definitely a 4.5 even a 5 * book ..... Right Now I would say its Mitchell's best book ever

>186 roundballnz: I have only read Ghostwritten which I loved for 4/5ths of it. Not sure why I haven't got round to the rest as they are on the shelves. Will wait for this one to appear via paperback.

Enjoy what is left of your Sunday, mate.

saw this elsewhere on someone's thread - think this will be a better way to rate books going forward, but with my twist , evolution on it, not sure the star rating ever feels right for me ....

"Books will be rated:

Unfinished - self explanatory really, it was so bad I couldn't finish it

Average - an OK book but one I wouldn't really recommend

Good - a good example of the genre, one I'd recommend

Brilliant- books that everyone should read, really outstanding and memorable"

>187 PaulCranswick: Thanks, we have an extra day this weekend , no time has not shifted, just Labour weekend .... so another day to read ..... do make sure you pick it up, would be interesting to see you take on it , I do think its Brilliant, would even say Murakami's latest pales in comparison ...

>189 roundballnz: Interesting that you made the comparison with Murakami, Alex. I often think of Mitchell as our version of him. Enjoy your extra day.

>189 roundballnz: >190 PaulCranswick: Well, I have to join in your comparison. I also think that Mitchell is a kinda Western Murakami. Also, Murakami's usually uses 2 stories to interconnect, whereas Mitchell writes several stories (which could be independent) and manages to connect them in a way.

>188 roundballnz: Like that rating system. The star or number rating doesn't always work for me either and I am always amazed at the people who do this incredible complicated mathematics to rate their books, such as 3.75 or something like that :)

Been trying to convince myself, That i don't need a new bookshelf, I think I am losing that battle .... tiny little book problem..... Least its not raining outside like most of the country

I have only just started The blackhouse but seems have fallen on a great new author to add to my crime or Tartan noir stable .... think I will be very muchly acquiring the other 2 books in the series ....

>186 roundballnz: best ever! That is a big call, and a tempting one....

>192 roundballnz: hm, me too. The stacks are building up. The next problem, however, is where to house the bookshelf!!

>194 LovingLit: Or what needs to leave so you can bring in another bookshelf ?

The Blackhouse

"When a brutal murder on the Isle of Lewis bears the hallmarks of a similar slaying in Edinburgh, police detective Fin Macleod is dispatched north to investigate. But since he himself was raised on Lewis, the investigation also represents a journey home and into his past"

"If you like mysteries set in remote locations in the United Kingdom, brooding weather, a tortured detective, a hostile boss, family secrets and some gritty forensic scenes, .... then pick this up, in my opinion its top shelf for its genre ....

Now off to obtain the other 2 books or at least add them to my "soon to buy list"

Sounds like a plan....and I'll add The Blackhouse to my tbr list and will get to it eventually as I enjoy reading Scotland from time to time. Another crime writer I want to try is Denise Mina.

The Blackhouse sounds great Alex. Gone straight onto my WL. I hope you will enjoy Strange Weather in Tokyo and actually even so that you don't do zombies (I assume reminds you too much of your neighbours noisy children LOL) you may want to give The Girl with All The Gifts a go. I read it not long ago and thought it was pretty enjoyable.

Ancillary Sword different to Ancillary justice but still a dam good read, good ideas something to muse.....

What if you once had thousands of bodies and near god-like technology at your disposal?

And what if all of it were ripped away?

The Children Act was more than enough to keep me away from the T.V on a Monday evening

>195 roundballnz: a few of the windows in our house would need to go so that we have some wall!
*thinking about removing some*

>201 LovingLit: Nice! :P ..... Who needs windows ....

Nicely done: http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariannarebolini/literary-london-spots?sub=3210921_287603...

Hi Alex,
hope your Asthma will behave soon again.....tell it off, so that it starts to be good again. Yes, breathing is very important.
I always thought that the mild weather in New Zealand would be good for asthmatics, but maybe it is the humidity?

I think for the Humidity is a significant factor, Auckland sits continuously with Humidity in the 80% + from now day/night. the further south you go the less likely you are for to get this, so of course i love in Auckland :)

Did notice the difference when I was in the UK with no humidity how pleasant the Indian summer was compared to Auckland.

seasonal shift always throws a spanner in the works, but as I get older, its take a bit more to adjust.

Loving First Fifteen lives of Harry August hope to finish this in between catching up on Hobbit movies 1 & 2 before 3 comes out .....

You see another wonderful reason to come for another visit to the UK. Well my best friend is going back to New Zealand by the end of next year *loud sobbs* we have been best pals for over 15 years. However, that means I probably will visit NZ at one point as well :)
I have been saving already all the wonderful pics for hiking you posted *smile*.

Yep, getting older.........so true, I seem to take a little longer to recover after I had my flare ups with my health issues..........baaaaaaaaaah!

Great to hear that you are loving First Fifteen lives of Harry August have got that one on my WL. Was waiting for you to finish to hear what you think.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

"Harry August is a kalachakra, a man who is reborn at the same point in time over and over with his memories intact. When a little girl warns Harry on his eleventh death bed that the end of the world is coming sooner with each cycle, Harry goes on the offensive. Can he stop the end of the world, even with the help of the Cronus Club?"

I picked this up by chance while browsing books when visiting Edinburgh, I do not regret it for a moment. Thought provoking on social/political/Philosophical/Time itself ( go on you want to say Timey wimey). The story captivates & holds you till the end. This will stay in my thoughts for some time ..... Claire definitely has a way with words one to watch ( has another writing Alter ego who i forget right now)

So result: Brilliant

While out on my wanderings today found a copy of The New Zealand wars trilogy - Maurice Shadbolt - nice thought I missed my chance to get a copy, been on my long list of to read books ....

Strange Weather in Tokyo

Quiet book, you could say its a meditation, time seems allusive when reading this one .....

not for those who need a 'plot'

Loved it !

something magical about coming home to xmas cards ......

A Colder War

"Russia is flexing its muscles. It has annexed Crimea and is now putting the screws to the Ukraine. At the same time, Putin has again charged another billionaire industrialist with crimes, in a power play to probably get his company. The world may be on the brink of a new cold war. It is fertile ground for a top notch spy novelist."

This is a classic spy novel

Would be helpful to read Foreign country first so you know the main characters back story ....

Off work till the 29th, so hope to find a couple of days there just to to read .....

To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism

Interestingly outside LT its referred to as : To Save Everything, Click Here: Technology, Solutionism, and the Urge toFix Problems that Don't Exist

Great read if you are interested like me in Technology ethics

Taster:
In the very near future, technological systems will allow us to make large-scale and sophisticated interventions into many more areas of public life: politics, culture, public debate, even our definitions of morality and human values. But how will these be affected once we delegate much of the responsibility for them to technology? The temptation of the digital age is to fix everything—from crime to corruption to pollution to obesity—by digitally quantifying, tracking, or gamifiying behavior. But when we change the motivations for our moral, ethical, and civic behavior, we may also change the very nature of that behavior itself. Technology, Evgeny Morozov proposes, can be a force for improvement—but only if we abandon the idea that it is necessarily revolutionary and instead genuinely interrogate what we are doing with it and what it is doing to us.

From urging us to abandon monolithic ideas of “the Internet” to showing how to design more humane and democratic technological solutions, To Save Everything, Click Here is a dazzling tour of our technological future, and a searching investigation into the digital version of an enduring struggle: between man and his machines

The Year has finished yet, but seems we are picking Favourites already ....

Hmmm ( sorry can't remember how to add book images)

Five favourites (no particular order)

The Night Circus
The Housekeeper and the Professor
The Machine
The Bone Clocks: A Novel
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

Simmering under:
The Blackhouse: Book One of the Lewis Trilogy & Strange Weather in Tokyo & The Children Act

Took a day to read some life inspiring reads .....

A Pocket Guide For The Flaneur Of Life
Be Free Where You Are
This Could Help
The One Skill - can't seem to add to my books

Bookmarking

http://www.northernsoul.me.uk/best-reads-2014/

Landlord just dropped off a Christmas hamper, its a small thing but don't think I will ever get over the kindness/generiousity of this - the only Landlord I have known to do this

That's so sweet! Only thing I've ever known a landlord to drop by to give out is notice of a rent increase.

Looks like you've got a few more good books to squeeze in before 2015.

BBC Xmas - available on iplayer Good Omens Radio dramatisation .... Normal geo blocking seems off for this series ....

Tis Christmas eve eve here already .... But will jump off internet for the next day soon

Have a great day everyone, drink, eat & be merry

Alex, I thought The Night Circus was magical as well and hope to make time to listen to the Good Omens broadcast--one of my favorite books! It's Chrismas Eve's eve, and so I am starting the rounds of wishing my 75er friends the merriest of Christmases or whatever the solstice celebration of their choice is.

Happy Christmas, Alex!

Merry Christmas, Alex! (I think there are less than four minutes left of it in Auckland, right?) It was great to meet you in London this September, and I look forward to getting together with you again in the near future.

ETA: Rats. I'm two hours late. I hope that you had a good day yesterday!

Merry Christmas Alex! Well, I guess you had a great time so far and I hope this will continue for the rest of the festive season!

Happy Boxing Day, Alex!

Thanks for all the Festive wishes, You guys are awesome ..... Boxing day has started perfectly with Bacon Butties - Yum!

Yum indeed! You've reminded me that it must be time for a ham sandwich...

Always enjoy your company in the group, Alex. Have a wonderful festive season, buddy.

Back to work tomorrow - the question is what time will I get there ?

But this is where I will be in April - eye on the prize

https://www.facebook.com/WalkingLegends/photos/a.478063902568.249310.87272982568...

I don't see any bookstores up there...

>229 kidzdoc: LMAO! ..... No, that would be a travesty, but am sure there will be in the luxury hotel at the end of the day

Thanks to Darryl for posting the Verso books link, I now have more E0books to add to the virtual TBR

Kashmir
The Lives of Things
The End of the Revolution
Polemics
Comradely Greetings
Capitalism: A Ghost Story

So while working yesterday I listened to the 2014 Reith lecture series, being Atul Gawande

I definitely want to read/acquire Being Mortal Now, for those who haven't go listen, He is a excellent speaker & definitely gives you pause to think.

>232 roundballnz: I'll listen to the Reith Lectures by Atul Gawande next week.

At the risk of repeating myself, I've attended one of his talks in person, when he spoke at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco several years ago shortly after his book Better: A Surgeon's Performance was published. As you said, he was an excellent speaker, and he was very comfortable talking about the book, answering questions from the audience, and chatting one on one. I talked to him for several minutes at the conclusion of his lecture, but unfortunately there was a very long line of people behind me, so we had to cut it short.

>232 roundballnz: Brilliant book Alex. I will listen to the Reith Lectures as well. I wanted to go to one of his lectures when he was in London in November, but was unable to go due to delayed appointments.
Being Mortal was a brilliant book, which addresses quite acute issues of our society. I am sure that you will enjoy this.

Happy New Year from Atlanta!

Its 2015 now, so would b wrong not to use that shiny new thread now ....

https://www.librarything.com/topic/185055