What are you reading at the moment?

[brian]

(apart from this forum ;D)

I'm currently enjoying "I, Cladius" by Robert Graves. He really brings Claudius to life quite excellently, and it's so rich with anecdotes and detail that it reads as an actual authoritive historical account of the Roman Empire - more so than Tacitus or Suetonius! Less heavy as well, and luckily, quite averse to pointless oration and speeches, as the latter two are in the tradition of employing. In fact, it's all flowing rather nicely.

Oh, yes - that means it's a good book!

[brian]

Well, I've finished it now.

Claudius ended up being pretty weak as a character - looking at the guy's history, there was far more room for someone a little more thoughtless, vindictive, and haughty. Graves almost has Cladius as saintly! But, of course, the book finishes just as Claudius reaches his reign.

Seems to dwell far too much on the Augustine era. Proportionally to his life, there's far too much childhood scenery - and far too little of Caligula. Perhaps it's too much of a case of trying to set out a history of the early Roman Empire through a historical character association - without quite getting into the reality of that character. In other words, trying to write fact from a fictional viewpoint! Still entertaining, though.

Decided to start reading "Count Belisarius" by Graves now...

...ah, the Byzantines! Hopefully, this will be good! [and much better than Procopious!].

[nedwinkle]

Im reading this web page you daft bugger!
The book I have on the coffee table at the moment to my eternal shame is the Encyclopedia of German Armoured fighting vehicles 1939 to 1945 filled with thrilling technical details about the maybach engines in the PZKW MKIV and the fact that they had 6 forward and 4 reverse gears.
Oh the shame the shame.
: : : :

[Archangel Scream]

Dune by Frank Herbert. I've reasd it before, so I know it's a good book.

Skimmed through the others in the Dune series, but frankly they didn;t look promising. Sort of like the guy was inspired one book, then forced to extend it.

[Cadfael]

I am taking a break from Fantasy and SF, and reading the Inspector Morse Mysteries by Colin Dexter... I love a good murder. I am rather fond of medieaval murder mysteries... hence the user name. ;D

[brian]

"Count Belisarius" is reading a little slow - the POV is a little distracting and seems to take something from Herodotus . Too many digressions, and the POV character is weak. However, the anecdotal content is superb. Just a shame the POV keeps intruding on the actual story.

(POV = point of view)

[SirRob]

Nothing at the moment, but I know I'll be reading Dune after Christmas. I've heard some people were bored to death by it. :-

[brian]

The first "Dune" is an excellent novel. It's the sequels you may want to think twice about reading.

[mac1]

Dune is an absolute classic, an epic in every sense of the word. David Lynch hated his screen adaptation of it but I love that too, and the three-part-miniseries was amazing as well. Dune rules. Even the early 90's computer game is superb, but I haven't yet played the recent computer game sequel.

[brian]

Anyone actually read the "Dune" sequels? I flicked through them but appeared to be quite forced, and written in a different style to boot. Didn't look good. So I'm sticking with the fond memory of the original.

And while I'm at the in-laws for Christmas, I managed to find an old book about Ancient Rome! That's keeping me sane.

[brian]

The Splendour that was Rome by JC Stobart

Good summary of Roman history, from prehistory to well into the imperial period. Actually learned a few things! Reading downstairs.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

None too exciting so far, but I'm reading it as research for "Emperor". Reading upstairs.

[Eldanuumea]

I am currently reading The Barbed Coil by J.V. Jones and am enjoying it greatly. Her writing impresses me, and I plan to read more by her.

[knight]

I just read Huxley's "Brave New World." I loved it, and loved even more his social commentary "Brave New World Revisited."

"Dune" is also a classic, but it has been years since I read it. I read the first trilogy, or the first three Dune books, but they digressed quickly into the realm of 'uninteresting'. The first book though is a masterpiece of fiction writing.

I, however, other than starting to again read this great site (hats off again and again to Brian for his vision and persistence) I am reading a series of books, none of them fiction. "The Ancient Mysteries" is a source book for what little is known of the ancient sacred mystery schools. And Martin Buber's "I and thou" a grand philosophical work written by a jewish philosopher that is hard but very fun reading.

As for fantasy, I have recently picked up on George R. R. Martin's new series and await his new release, though I was somewhat disappointed with his second book, "Song of Swords" and I fear this is getting to be a 10 book series.

Knight

[mac1]

I am just starting Michael Moores "Stupid White Men"

[Kilroy]

Casino Royale by Ian Flemming. Starting reading tonight.

Kilroy Was Here