Books - What are you reading?

anyone recommend some must read graphic novels?

What kind of graphic novels? You interested in a particular genre or just after "graphic novels" of any stripe?

I've been getting into the Walking Dead volumes - someone I was speaking to mentioned Dark Earth? (Maybe?) - darker stuff pref. I've read a few of the classics Arkham/Watchmen etc., but figured there must be new stuff coming out that is good

Aha. I like Warren Ellis's stuff, Freakangels was damn good, as was Transmetropolitan, but neither are new (although nor is the Walking Dead, of course). Mike Mignola is always good value, he's got a new(ish) series out called Baltimore which is basically a vampire war story, and good fun.

cheers will look 'em up!

Tw2 you have to read " wind up bird chronicle " and 1q84 if you into Murakami . Genius .
Just finished jonathan holts The Abomination , and just started Antal Szerbs Journey by moonlight .

Man Walks Into A Pub
A sociable history of beer by Pete Brown
Just picked up a signed copy from Stoke Newington Literary festival

Give Chew, Sweet Tooth and The Boys a go if you haven't already, they're all fucking superb.

I've just finished reading this book about Bletchley Park:

The Secret Life of Bletchley Park: The History of the Wartime Codebreaking Centre by the Men and Women Who Were There: Amazon.co.uk: Sinclair McKay: Books

I had to wipe away a tiny tear several times by the end. It's not even a sad book! Just lots about the human stories of the people at the Park during and after the war. I give it 5 bombes out of 5.

Anything by Art Spiegelman and Ben Katchor

I just ordered 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' by Neil Gaiman, it's out this Tuesday.

While doing so came across and interesting speech he gave earlier this year - Neil Gaiman - Inspirational Commencement Speech at the University of the Arts 2012 - YouTube

Just finished American Gods by Gaiman, pretty good!

I enjoyed it too. Though I had the feeling that it was packed with imagery, and that I was missing half of the explicit, let alone implicit, meaning.

Just finished American Gods by Gaiman, pretty good!

Wasn't convinced by it. Reminded me of Stephen King's experiments where Imagery gets in the way of narrative

I really enjoyed American Gods. I think Imagery is the thing that Gaiman does best, tbh. It's very obvious in Good Omens which bits were done by Gaiman and which bits were done by Pratchett, Gaiman does major thematic stuff very well, Pratchett added the human interest and comedy.

What I also liked about American Gods is how meticulously researched it was. Boy really did his homework. It feels as though there is almost nothing in it that was unnecessary, it was all completely purposeful and very well thought out.

That said I really loathe that puffy hack Stephen King so any attempt to compare Gaiman with him is going to get a "YEH BUT NO BUT" from me.

Half way through master and magarita - very, very good.

Wish I'd read it a year ago and then gone to see the play at the Barbican over xmas.

Exactly what I did.

Does anyone have any of Anne Mustoe's books?

The dyslexic advantage

The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain: Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A., Fernette F. Eide M.D.: 9780452297920: Amazon.com: Books

Finished The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst tonight after a long lay off. Found it oddly compelling in the end. Ended up sat in the near dark on the patio rushing though the last chapter. Perhaps emptying my grandmother's house of her life's possessions whilst reading it (in two widely spaced binges) made it more so but I don't really think so. That only occurred to me afterward to be honest. I just found it beautifully observed and written. He writes the minutiae of slightly awkward class and status steeped interactions and the attendant interior monologues so well you feel them acutely. Best thing I've read in a long time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stranger's_Child

The Wasp Factory immediately followed by Crow Road by Iain Banks. Loved every single page of both books, for quite different reasons, obv

Just finished The Devil all the Time by Donald Ray Pollock which is pretty much in the champions league of depravity, it's kind of natural born killers meets Flannery O ' Connor . I'm also partial to Harry Crews stuff and other depressing shit like Selby jr .

Just started Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. Introduction was the fucking dryest thing I've ever read but the once you get past that it's darn good so far.

The Wasp Factory immediately followed by Crow Road by Iain Banks. Loved every single page of both books, for quite different reasons, obv

If you are interested in the dramatisation, The Crow Road is being repeated on BBC4 on 10th July.

Just started Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. Introduction was the fucking dryest thing I've ever read but the once you get past that it's darn good so far.

really? I've been stuck on page 537 or something for about a month. Must try and pick it up again...