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Not read any chronicles and never will.
One of my first memories remember Grandad reading The Teddy Bear Coalman to us…
“And another bag, bang it went”.I didn’t read much as a kid.
WWII book or two.
633 Squadron one and a few Dick Francis novels.Once I was 18+ it was only Timeform annuals.
Value Is EverythingNever attempted Proust. Philosophy isn’t my thing and the stack of books I have to read is huge.
There is more decent non fiction these days than ever before.
If anyone is interested I could recommend half a dozen decent reads from last year but I doubt if anyone is
Most out-of-copyright works described somewhat pompously as Classics of the Western Canon can be downloaded onto a Kindle e-reader for next to nothing; hence I have a vast virtual library of largely unread or toe-dipped tomes that I wouldn’t have dreamt of buying as books, including Proust’s gargantuan ramble. I’ll save it and all for the long days decaying in the Care Home
Wind in the Willows and The Hobbit, yes indeedy ID, but not the others, including The Lord of the Rings which I found a let down after Bilbo’s adventures
Desert Island books would be the collected works of Thomas Hardy and PG Wodehouse
Of modern fiction I recently read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt which was quite enjoyable. Have you read it Clivexxxx?
No. I read one of her early books and didn’t do much for me
John Macgahern is the novelist ive worked through the last couple of years. Quite brilliant imo
Best novel I read last year was Mayflies Andrew ohagan. Very resonant but don’t buy his booker nominated novel Our fathers. Its crap. Light perpetual Frnacis Spofford was a really fine novel too
the find last year was David Hepworths books on pop music. As well as very acute observations and great anecdotes, his wit has you laughing out loud time and again. Brilliant stuff
Overall though the best book I read was A certain idea of France. Bio of De Gaulle. Superb. The two Hitler Years books were excellent too
For lighter reading now im working way through the George V Higgins crime novels. All dialogue and superb
“Overall though the best book I read was A certain idea of France. Bio of De Gaulle. Superb.”
Agree, an excellent biography. Not something many British people admit to but I am a great admirer of De Gaulle, despite his mistakes and his capacity to be utterly infuriating.
Yes and the other side of him was very revealing. He was extraordinarily intelligent and prescient. I just also loved the way he couldn’t care less what people thought of him
Interestingly Churchill has been seen as a bit of an adversary, but the book demonstrated that there was a lot of mutual respect and regard between two fellow outsiders and loners
It was hard to put down wasn’t it?
Peter Hitchens wrote a review of the book, which is a fine piece of writing in its own right:
https://www.firstthings.com/article/2019/04/a-certain-idea-of-france
Political opponents often have respect for each other. That’s what has been lacking in recent years. Tony Benn told us how much respect he and Thatcher had for each other. I don’t read much these days: not sure how that has happened. Last book I read was Nick Hornby’s How to be Good. Don’t seem to find books that I find un put down able these days. Too many box sets to watch perhaps. I’ve just ordered Ivor Herbert’s The Winter Kings having learned of his death yesterday. It’s a book I’ve always wanted.
Best thing about the Red Rum book IMO was the full Flat and NH form book career listing at the back.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Someone on Facebook showed a photograph of his wife, who painted the cover picture, with Red Rum. Annoyingly, the shop put a price sticker on the cover of my book. Why do they do that?
That’s capitalists for you, moehat!
Ever see that photo of Spike Milligan dressed as a tramp, holding a placard: “Please help this man become a capitalist.”
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I’d forgotten that – good line, tbf.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Memories!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I have a picture of Red Rum somewhere, signed by Billy Ellison (+ Red Rum!); my dad brought it home one day for me, can’t remember the exact circumstances, suspect Billy might have been on a signing tour
I bought a copy of Ivor Herbert’s book about Red Rum a few years ago in a second hand book shop for the grand sum of 50p. As I recall, I think it stopped after his second victory in the Grand National, so it must have been a fairly early version.
One thing I remember is Rummy often had to run on ground with “firm” in the going description, even in winter and at venues like Haydock. The idea of getting firm ground in February there nowadays is unimaginable. A sign of how much effect watering has had?
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