Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: WeavingGryphon on April 04, 2020, 08:06

Title: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 04, 2020, 08:06
After my 12 posts marathon of what kindle food books are discounted this month-12 posts, not 12 books I was wondering, what is everyone reading or listening to?

I'm forever flicking between books so I'm reading a few by James Wong- I'm flicking between his books to help me cultivate or pick plant varieties better. John's allotment and growing in pots books and the 2020 Almanac which is so interesting. Although it's a pity they've pruned some of the sun/tide places to exclude most of Scotland in favour of Ireland this year. They could have added places rather than taking away the one port.

Novels The smile of the Wolf. I've read it, but it's that good I'm reading it again.

Audio books I'm listening to "False Value" and "The Golden thread"-the history of cloth and how it's built civilisation. Interesting content.

Modify, share your music if you like as well.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: mumofstig on April 04, 2020, 08:47
All 8 of Diana Gabaldon's books (AGAIN) in 2020 and they are big books - but what a storyteller she is, wonderful! I'm desperately waiting for the next one (come on, GB get a move on!)
I've just finished Black Wind by Clive Cussler, which is like a James Bond story, not my usual style but made a change.
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center, good chick-lit with a twist, it's about a recently disabled woman.
Plague by C.C. Humphreys, a whodunit set in plague-hit London, ok, but I've been spoilt by Diana Gabaldon  ::)
Unto Us a Son Is Given - Donna Leon. Another favourite author, police series set in Venice #28.

Right now I'm about a third of the way into The Hidden Oasis by Paul Sussman and I'm enjoying it so far. A mix of Indiana Jones meets Ancient Egypt :D




Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: mrs bouquet on April 04, 2020, 14:00
I don't do E books or have a kindle.   I love going to the library, the touch of the pages, the smell of the paper (now people don't smoke into them !), wondering who read the story before me, and did they enjoy it.
Suspecting a book shortage, I stockpiled from the Church and St B's and my library, thank goodness.   Thrillers are my choice.  I may eventually have to start the same ones over again, but because I only read at night time it doesn't really matter.  When I read them again, I will have forgotten the story anyway  :lol: :lol: Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 04, 2020, 16:29
I don't do E books or have a kindle.   I love going to the library, the touch of the pages, the smell of the paper (now people don't smoke into them !), wondering who read the story before me, and did they enjoy it.
Suspecting a book shortage, I stockpiled from the Church and St B's and my library, thank goodness.   Thrillers are my choice.  I may eventually have to start the same ones over again, but because I only read at night time it doesn't really matter.  When I read them again, I will have forgotten the story anyway  :lol: :lol: Mrs Bouquet

We can't get to an open library so we'd be stuffed.

Your missing out on "The Slug Prince", where a slug who is convinced he's a prince needs a kiss to turn back and is trying to get said kiss off you. It's down as Eldest's homework for "read a book and write down who is the main character".

I'm onto QI's facts book because it was on the Monthly sale, soo funny.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: MrsPea on April 04, 2020, 17:10
I also don't do e books or have a kindle like Mrs B lots come from second hand shops, other half gets his from ebay 10 or 20 at a time same author i wouldn't like that, We make a point of reading most afternoons for a while . :)
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: wighty on April 04, 2020, 17:14
Our Libraries aren't open and I finished my books last week so have started re-reading what we have on our shelves.  Full set of Terry Pratchets (including a signed first edition of Guards! Guards!)  Haven't read The Hobbit or Lord of The Rings for a few years now so may re-visit them and then we have all the Harry Potters.  Shouldn't run out of material as I could always dip into Paul's Sci-fi.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: GraciesGran on April 05, 2020, 07:10
Found a book by Quentin Jardine, detective story, quite gory but makes good reading.  We have hundreds of.books, going.on to the 39 Steps after.  Have read it before but it's a cracker.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: mrs bouquet on April 05, 2020, 11:57
I do miss my libraries now they are closed.  These things were taken for granted - but now.   They did email me to say my books are now dated indefinitely.    Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: snowdrops on April 05, 2020, 16:25
Unfortunately all my books are packed up at my daughters whilst my son & family are living with us so unobtainable. Mind you it would be nice to have the time or the peace & quiet to sit & read lol
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: Growster... on April 05, 2020, 21:34
For some unknown reason, I get drawn to our Cottage Hospital Charity shop in the village on most occasions.

They actually compete with the library a few yards away, and over the years, I've amassed a collection of all sorts of books, which is a Godsend at the moment!

Latest read is Charles Cumming - "A colder war", and as his other stories have been riveting, it'll need a good seeing to when I get 'into' it!

What I tend to do, is just read them, then give them back to re-sell, - you never know when you might need our fabulous Cottage Hospital...
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 06, 2020, 08:43
Unfortunately all my books are packed up at my daughters whilst my son & family are living with us so unobtainable. Mind you it would be nice to have the time or the peace & quiet to sit & read lol

Podcasts from the BBC?

We had a baking day so I had a look on the BBC sounds website and made a list.

Nature Table, what few are left, the Kitchen Cabinet, The Food programme, In Our Times, Out of Doors, Your Dead to me (really funny History programme, it's adult horrible histories without singing) and A History of The World in 100 Objects.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: snowdrops on April 06, 2020, 08:56
I’ve never done a podcast so if I get through the list of jobs i might give that a try. I have 1 book that I was bought for Christmas that I found yesterday
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: Aidy on April 06, 2020, 12:00
Big thanks to Mr Dog I am engrosed in the courses on the photo site.
Spent last night watching and taking notes on street photography, something Blackpool during the summer has loads of potential, played with the camera this morning and got the settings sorted, using a remote shutter release I should be avle to go out (when bacj to normal) and some good shots without anyone knowing.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: Growster... on April 06, 2020, 15:42
Big thanks to Mr Dog I am engrosed in the courses on the photo site.
Spent last night watching and taking notes on street photography, something Blackpool during the summer has loads of potential, played with the camera this morning and got the settings sorted, using a remote shutter release I should be avle to go out (when bacj to normal) and some good shots without anyone knowing.

Sounds very 'Candid', Aidy, and thanks for the hint, as only this morning I was wondering about getting to grips with Photoshop (yet again), and have a project in mind...
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 06, 2020, 18:48
QI books and books about chicken recipes.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: goose on April 06, 2020, 19:17
I also prefer hard copies to various methods of e-reading.

however, the best book I have read in years is called 'My name is Why'.  by lemn sissey. 

I have to declare a connection' as I went to school with him. he wasn't  just the only black kid in our school, he was the only black person in our northern town. he was fostered out and renamed 'norman' by social services.

he only found out his true identity when he was 18... he is NOT called Norman (that was the social workers name who had to deal with his situation). his name was Lemn,  (translates as 'Why').

I often wondered what happened to 'Norman'...as he disappeared when I went to high school. I recall challenging his foster brother as to his whereabouts.

I found out what had happened by reading his book. I was astounded and shocked at the situation as I had no idea at the time (ok, I was only a kid too)  yet I am now SO impressed and pleased for him and how he has excelled, not just in his own life but enriching other lives  through his story. This story recalls the failures in protecting vunerable children/young adults.

he had a really challenging start in life.  he excelled as a wold class and celebrated poet...he was the official poet for the 2012 Olympic games and has many many more accolades.

if this type of reading appeals to you...please upload it or order a hard copy
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 07, 2020, 10:35
Listening to "The museum of curiosity" audio books which are by the same people as do QI, really good, interesting and funny. They get really interesting people to donate things and tell you something about them. Normally they have my ribs hurting from laughing.
I have the audio book but you can get them off the BBC sounds, but my Echo DOT is a mare and won't do as it's told so I use audible. I still haven't found Brian Blessed's Yeti.

BBC link, there is 55 episodes about 30 minutes long each.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k3wvk/episodes/player (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k3wvk/episodes/player)
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: John on April 08, 2020, 09:15
After the post apocalyptic Second Sleep from Robert Harris, I went to ancient Rome with him in his trilogy based around Cicero. But I'm taking a break in an alternative universe now. Survival Margin (1962, also published as The Darkest of Nights)  by Charles Eric Maine. That's based on a pandemic that starts in China but comes in 2 types. A kills you but B doesn't. So the government come up with a vaccine that kills people with B - oops!
I might take a romp in Victorian England at war with the Martians soon with Mr Wells - much enjoying the War of the Worlds series on Sky at present. Far, far better than the over hyped, pathetically woke offering the BBC managed recently.

Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 08, 2020, 10:50
After the post apocalyptic Second Sleep from Robert Harris, I went to ancient Rome with him in his trilogy based around Cicero. But I'm taking a break in an alternative universe now. Survival Margin (1962, also published as The Darkest of Nights)  by Charles Eric Maine. That's based on a pandemic that starts in China but comes in 2 types. A kills you but B doesn't. So the government come up with a vaccine that kills people with B - oops!
I might take a romp in Victorian England at war with the Martians soon with Mr Wells - much enjoying the War of the Worlds series on Sky at present. Far, far better than the over hyped, pathetically woke offering the BBC managed recently.

Cheerful.

We are reading about a boy who hatched out a dragon from a funny plant in his grandad's garden and SUPERTAYTO.
Also your book on how far apart to plant potatoes. Yesterday it was the bit on onions. Highlighter function has been used a bit.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: John on April 08, 2020, 11:20
Thing is with disaster novels, makes you think it could be worse! One of the scariest disaster novels is The Death of Grass by John Christopher. A disease wipes out the grass family which includes wheat, rice etc. It's an interesting study of how people could react in extreme situations as much as anything.
Happily I've resisted Val's pleas to reduce the number of books I have so could actually keep reading for some time. At a book a day (if I could read that fast!!) I'd have to start re-reading in 2036  :D
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: Aunt Sally on April 08, 2020, 13:32
I’m on the 5th of a six book series called ‘Oxford Medieval Mysteries’ by Ann Swifen.

Light and easy to read amateur crime sleuth.

Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: Growster... on April 08, 2020, 14:37
Mrs Growster is currently re-reading the whole set of the Burracombe novels by Lilian Harry.

I can't get a word in edge ways, so have resorted to listening to Pink Floyd - 'Pulse', in the meantime...:0)
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: John on April 08, 2020, 19:53
I can't get a word in edge ways, so have resorted to listening to Pink Floyd - 'Pulse', in the meantime...:0)
Oh, the modern stuff. I'll stick with the classics, thank you. Piper at the Gates of Dawn :) They went downhill after Ummagumma which is forever linked with the Foundation trilogy by Asimov. I read it whilst playing my new album endlessly. I shall now return to pseud's corner.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: Growster... on April 09, 2020, 07:01
I can't get a word in edge ways, so have resorted to listening to Pink Floyd - 'Pulse', in the meantime...:0)
Oh, the modern stuff. I'll stick with the classics, thank you. Piper at the Gates of Dawn :) They went downhill after Ummagumma which is forever linked with the Foundation trilogy by Asimov. I read it whilst playing my new album endlessly. I shall now return to pseud's corner.

Ha ha ha!

A great chum said exactly the same several years ago!

I do well remember listening to 'One of those days' and the rest of the album on the M1 with a chum around the 70s (?), and loved it!

Trouble was that Mrs Growster and I had placed ourselves in self-isolation from record shops, as our mortgage was going through the roof, so I missed out on all of those early albums..:0(

(She did start buying me Dr Hessayon's books for birthdays etc., about then though, so I suppose that's why I'm here)!
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 09, 2020, 08:14
I am reading "Critical", written by a Dr in the intensive care unit.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: John on April 09, 2020, 08:58
I am reading "Critical", written by a Dr in the intensive care unit.
Bit too near reality for my tastes - I like my disasters to be safely fictional!
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 09, 2020, 19:19
Today at 4:23 am (to distract me from my nightmare about not having black cardamom pods) I read a book sample where all it had was the RHS boss saying how wonderful the book was, we should buy it, they actually got people who actually had allotments to write it. It had a few pictures of people lying on a blanket but nothing to show the tone or quality of the book. Pictures of a pair of people sitting on a blanket don't indicate how good the book it. Their also not relevant to anything including an allotment, the contents of the book actually are relevant. So it went into my not to buy list.

I would like to point out while it is true I don't have black cardamom pods, it's mildly annoying not nightmare worthy. I've survived this long and this lot don't know how a curry with them tastes so they can't say it's not right.
Title: Re: What are you reading while stuck?
Post by: WeavingGryphon on April 11, 2020, 08:46
I am reading about a palliative care Doctors, it's today's daily deal. Relevant and moving, bit of a sore point at the minute. I've also been reading Flower Hunters: Adventurous Botanists and the Lasting Impact of Their Discoveries by Mary Gribbin and John Gribbin. And Erebus: The Story of a Ship by Michael Palin.

I'm obviously not settling into one book but I've read a few pages of each today

I've an animated film to recommend, it's good for children but the Husband and I both enjoyed it to the point of neglecting housework. We've just got it and I'd put it on to keep everyone out from underfoot to get some laundry folded. But I watched it instead so the laundry pile is still there. It was stop motion so you got to see one of the monsters being built and trying to get one of the sculptors.

Kubo And The Two Strings with Charlize Theron (Actor), Art Parkinson (Actor), Travis Knight (Director)

Young Kubo's peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey and Beetle to unlock a secret legacy. Armed with a magical instrument, Kubo must battle the Moon King and other gods and monsters to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known.