Books

[Steve H]

Currently reading 'Julia' by Sandra Newman, a retelling of Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty-four' from the point of view of Orwell's anti-heroine. Doubleplusgood so far - she captures the dirty seediness of Oceania well; the blocked toilets and bed bugs and coarse soap that makes the skin itch.

[Aruntraveller]

I am currently reading "Young Mungo" by Douglas Stuart.

It is set in 1990's Glasgow and is a very vivid portrait of that time. I don't know enough about Glasgow to comment on its complete accuracy, but it has brilliantly realised characters and wonderful dialogue. 

Apparently, the BBC have commissioned a TV adaptation of the book.

[Nearly Sane]

I am currently reading "Young Mungo" by Douglas Stuart.

It is set in 1990's Glasgow and is a very vivid portrait of that time. I don't know enough about Glasgow to comment on its complete accuracy, but it has brilliantly realised characters and wonderful dialogue. 

Apparently, the BBC have commissioned a TV adaptation of the book.

I read Shuggie Bain, his previous book, and felt conflicted by it. I did think that the dialogue and catacterisation were the best bits. I did also feel that it went down the route of 'poverty porn' a lot and wasn't the most balanced reflection of life. I think he writes in some was in a picaresque style so it's more exaggerated than accurate in that sense. I hadn't felt inclined to pick up Young Mungo on the basis of Shuggie Bain, but I might well do now given you are enjoying it.

[Aruntraveller]

Well, now that you mention it, poverty porn..hmm.

Also, it is much more violent than the fiction I normally read. Still, I did find it engrossing and very well-written.

Having now looked at the themes of "Shuggie Bain" I probably won't read that, as it sounds as if the author was mining the same seam.

[Steve H]

About 2/3 through 'Byzantium' by Judith Herrin, a brief history of the Byzantine Empire. I red JJ Norwich's three-volume history a few years ago. The Byzantines were horribly fond of punishing people by blinding, but, as she points out, it was at least preferable to the death penalty, which they used only rarely. Also, she points out that Byzantium never developed anything like an inquisition, nor burned heretics at the stake. Well, for good or bad, it lasted for a millennium, which is not bad going.

[torridon]

I'm starting on The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopan.  But at 700 pages long, and reading a couple of pages a day, it means being in for the long haul