Currently I'm reading the Flashman papers by George Macdonald Fraser there are 12 books in total.I was aware of them but did not realise how good they actually were until a mate recently lent them me.Harry Flashman was the school bully from Tom Brown's Schooldays and are set when Flashman is grown up and in the British army in the Victorian age.They cover a period of history starting in 1839 and set with a backdrop of the first Afghan war Afro American slave trade the Crimean war amongst others.Its a fascinating account of that period mixing fact and fiction with historical figures appearing throughout.Its certainly not pc correct and at times not for the faint hearted.He is a bully coward cad and serial womaniser it's proper boys own stuff.Its a satirical take on those times and with the immense research that has gone into these books the best history lesson I have ever had

I have read, and greatly enjoyed, the Flashman books.
George Macdonald Fraser was a prolific writer. I thought his best work was a collection of short stories based on his war service, called “The General Danced At Dawn” it’s a while since I read it,but I remember one character, captain of the unit football team, whose ethos was “Let’s get tore into them” it’s a very funny book.
IMHO, of course.

Depends what you like but

Fatherland by Robert Harris

Just finished "Guadalcanal" by Richard Frank

Excellent

Anything by James Patterson or Denis Lehane if you like crime thrillers

For anyone looking for the reality behind the myth of Victorian life…

Palaces of Pleasure by Lee Jackson takes you into the victorian world of leisure, they liked to be amused.

Just dug out the Gormenghast series.
Read them years ago so, thought I'd read them again and see how much I've forgot.

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 20, 2023 2:11 pm

For anyone looking for the reality behind the myth of Victorian life…

Palaces of Pleasure by Lee Jackson takes you into the victorian world of leisure, they liked to be amused.

I didn’t think Leisure was that old??

I have to say it ... but a good fantasy novel from a debut author: The Stone of Radnor by Paul R. Somerville. Like a Game of Thrones for a slightly younger reader, but adults too.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Radnor-G ... C89&sr=8-1

Read the Flashman Papers many years ago and found them hilarious in the main.

Also read 'The General Danced at Dawn'.

Nowadays I am a Kindle Unlimited convert as big heavy books hurt my face at night

The Katie Mcguire detective series by Graham Masterton are a very very good read.About 9 books in all and need to read them in order.Plenty of gore so be warned

Another big up for the Flashman Papers , marvellous entertainment along with brilliant history .

Another thumbs up for Flashman. Also, can't fail to be cheered up by Terry Pratchett.
Just wondering whether Bosscat has finally managed to finish The Hairy Caterpillar?

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 20, 2023 8:13 pm

Another thumbs up for Flashman. Also, can't fail to be cheered up by Terry Pratchett.
Just wondering whether Bosscat has finally managed to finish The Hairy Caterpillar?

I reckon Bosscat finished it and has now moved on to The Hairy Caterpillars Birthday Party

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 20, 2023 8:49 pm

I reckon Bosscat finished it and has now moved on to The Hairy Caterpillars Birthday Party

That's him tied up for the Summer then. Let's hope he finishes before start of next season.

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑

Sat May 20, 2023 9:13 pm

That's him tied up for the Summer then. Let's hope he finishes before start of next season.

Just in time for the release of "the big hairy caterpillar replaces Brereton Diaz".

I won't give away the ending, but it turns out that having three left feet is better than two.

Sir Matt Busby

I’m slightly biased as he is the Vicar at our church, but I’ve just finished ‘Our Daily Bread’ by Father Alex Frost. A staunch Claret, he tells some honest, sad and funny stories of his ministry so far.

For those with a passing interest in the Whitechapel Murders the book 'Severin - A Tale of Jack The Ripper' is a very good novel based around the fact that Inspector Abberline suspected that George Chapman (real name Severin Klosowski) was the Whitechapel Murderer.

The Girl With Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee.

First hand account of growing up in North Korea, and how she left. Fascinating, still often think about it.

On the same lines as Flashman - ie. informative about history but light hearted and not to be taken too seriously:

1. The 100 year old man who jumped out of the window and disappeared - Jonas Jonasson - romps through 20th century history and politics.
2. Jodi Taylor's St Mary's series - time travel (sorry, history in contemporary time) from dinosaurs right up to date.

hey are there anymore Hairy Catterpillar books I`ve finished "Birthday party"

Anything by Cormac McCarthy.

I'm two-thirds through "The Crossing", the second book of his Border Trilogy.

Set in New Mexico and Mexico they are "coming of age" tales. His prose is superb and he has the ability to maintain the reader's interest despite writing about a modicum of "events".

If you're a fan of British police procedurals/detective stories then anything by Peter James, the late Peter Robinson, Mark Billingham, Sharon Bolton, Burnley-born Stephen Booth, Stuart McBride & Belinda Bauer.

I should have added - the author is a claret fan... just in case you want to support one of your own. It's a great holiday read and and a rip-roaring page turning adventure story

Surrey_Longsider wrote: ↑

Sat May 20, 2023 3:49 pm

I have to say it ... but a good fantasy novel from a debut author: The Stone of Radnor by Paul R. Somerville. Like a Game of Thrones for a slightly younger reader, but adults too.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Radnor-G ... C89&sr=8-1

Hubby asked for books at Christmas and recently for his birthday, all by the same author, Gabriel Farago, he seems to be enjoying them and spent the weekend reading one. He says there a mix between Dan Brown and Indian Jones, but detective/investigative reporter style. Just asked and he's on "The disappearance of Anna Popov".

Thought I'd share from his point of view rather than mine for obvious reasons.

Most books by Stephen Kingtg fly by, but 11/22/63 is 10/10 for me and I think it’s his best book since his early years

davideyresleftear wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2023 2:11 pm

Most books by Stephen Kingtg fly by, but 11/22/63 is 10/10 for me and I think it’s his best book since his early years

I'm another King fan. The Institute which is one of his more recent works was another good one. I also like a lot of the ones he published as Bachman, The Running man and The Long walk are two very decent books.

Some of his early stuff is immense though, Firestarter is one of my all time favourites.

sjb wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2023 1:32 pm

If you're a fan of British police procedurals/detective stories then anything by Peter James, the late Peter Robinson, Mark Billingham, Sharon Bolton, Burnley-born Stephen Booth, Stuart McBride & Belinda Bauer.

Also add Ian Rankin and Val McDermid.

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2023 1:19 pm

hey are there anymore Hairy Catterpillar books I`ve finished "Birthday party"

Audio books don't count.
Spook yourself and read Harry the poisonous Centipede

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2023 3:52 pm

Also add Ian Rankin and Val McDermid.

And Peter Lovesey.

'The Necessary Death of Lewis Winter' by Malcom Mackay. I read his debut recently and will be reading the rest of his books. 31 when he had this book published. It gets criticised for 'telling' and not 'showing', but the starkness of its style lends itself well to the subject matter. This book is very well-written, despite what the usual I've-done-a-creative-writing-course/English-degree-brigade might think.

sjb wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2023 1:32 pm

If you're a fan of British police procedurals/detective stories then anything by Peter James, the late Peter Robinson, Mark Billingham, Sharon Bolton, Burnley-born Stephen Booth, Stuart McBride & Belinda Bauer.

I didn't realise Peter Robinson had died. I've read a lot of his books. They're good.

davideyresleftear wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2023 2:11 pm

Most books by Stephen Kingtg fly by, but 11/22/63 is 10/10 for me and I think it’s his best book since his early years

It is a good story - as are most of King's.

The Master and Margarita
Novel by Mikhail Bulgakov

Just taken delivery of this. Banned in Soviet Union until after his death. It’s something a bit different.

mikeS wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 8:17 am

It is a good story - as are most of King's.

I thought I’d try a Stephen King (not my usual …I’m more a crime and espionage man and think John Le Carre is the master) and read his Under The Dome thing (I think that was the title). Thought it was one of the worst books I’ve ever read.
Currently “enjoying” reading about Putin and Killer in the Kremlin and Freezing Order are a couple of books that really bring home just how many evil acts the Russian state gave got away with in recent years. Scary stuff.

Beyond the Wall by Katja Hoyer is an excellent account of life in the DDR during the cold war

The Sellout.... Paul Beatty.


If you like Hunter Thompson /Martin Amis/Howard Jacobson's type of stuff you'll love this.

I don't think that I've recommended "death and the penguin" on here before, by Andre kurkuv. Not too long, entertaining, sort of quaint, very original, and not one of those russian books where unless you write down the names of people as you go along, you forget who half the cast is.

I've just finished In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and thought it was brilliant. An intriguing true story which I couldn't put down.

Boss Hogg wrote: ↑

Sat May 20, 2023 1:09 pm

Depends what you like but

Fatherland by Robert Harris

Read it few few years back, a fabulous sliding doors novel, and a glimpse into the future had the third reich been victorious,

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2023 4:46 pm

Audio books don't count.
Spook yourself and read Harry the poisonous Centipede

Spoiler alert Harry is found innocent of poisoning george the caterpillar ... It was Bernie the blowfly who tried to set Harry up after Harry slept with Bernies sister