This week I will be mainly reading (Alliance book club)

[will-c]

I am reading and interesting book; The Defiance, about the dewish partisans TheBielskis brothers (played by Daniel Craig in the movie of the same name. escaping the Nazi'e in the second world war, by heading for a massive belorussian forest bigger than britian). I also bought duncan ballatynes autobiograpy today anyone can do it. I need the positive influence.

[Lindyloo]

Mcdermott, you mentioned The Last Opium Den, it was as you say originally an article for Vanity Fair and its sticks in my mind as the best article I've ever read, I didn't know it had become a book, I'll have to check it out.

Rankin's Rebus books are good, but the rest aren't much cop.  Love James Lee Burke.  Also like James Ellroy, but he can become a bit repetitive, the short staccato (that word doesnt look right but I dont know whats up with it!) repitition and wordplay can grate.  David Peace is great, I loved the Red Riding quartet, and the TV version was good.  He's not dissimilar to Ellroy but not as tiresome.

[Lindyloo]

Will C, you say the title of your memoir wd be "Snowdropping and Jellies"! Love it! I read that and thought, this guys gotta be from Glasgow - not aware of them using these words elsewhere! Fab title!

[Lindyloo]

Totally unrelated to this thread, but I notice you mentioned Mckeganey (Prof Neil, from Glasgow Uni, cant remember exact name of dept, drug related research obv) I used to quite like the guy, but his views seem to have got more conservative over the years.  Hoever, when he speaks the Scottish media bow down and listen to him avidly...its like hes the only voice in Scotland.  And he seems to be influencing the SNP, who are wanting to cut meth prescribing.  I just wish we had someone who'd pop their head up and counter his views sometimes, there seems to be a lot of anti-meth opinion in Scotland (and doubtless elsewhere.)

[will-c]

I have been away for ages, lost my laptop to crack convertors (gutted) and broke up with my ex so have been computer kinda of starved. I know I could go to the library but its finding the right time.

I finished Duncan Bannatynes Biog and I am about to Finish a biog on Bruce Lee. I still ogt a pile of Burkes to read that I have found over the past few months trawling the charity shops.

Linda I am scottish however dont know if its makes a difference but i have been down south for the past 20 odd years

[mcdermott]

Hi Lindyloo,

Like you, I got tired of Ellroy round about The Cold Six Thousand, I realized I couldn't read him any more. Recently read the first of David Peace's Japanese trilogy and that was great. *skritch, skritch, skritch*. I never realized just how tough it was for the Japanese at the end of WWII until reading that book.

However, Ellroy's biographical stuff is another thing completely. My Dark Places was great, and he's got a new one just out, which is about the women in his life and how the murder of his mother affected his relationships with them.

Trying to recall what I've read lately that's knocked me out, and I'm struggling. Struggling to even recall what I've read, to be honest. I did enjoy Tokyo Vice, which was a journalist's memoir (he's an American, working in Japan who goes up against the Yakuza.)

Reading a lot about Asia at the moment. Still watching lots of Asian movies as well.

[wastedyouth]

I have never posted in hear before but as i am reading a book for college i thought i would add my bit, im not really a reader so it seems to take me ages to read a whole book but i got "The Beauty Myth" by Naomi Wolf, i think its a book any young woman should read just to get a little insight into how much we are socialized through media, family etc.  I think the book is trying to release you from the reigns of what we as woman see as the beauty myth we think that we have to look, act, be a certain way but we dont this book makes you realise where all these ideas come from, we as woman think that we think these thoughts of wanting to be beautiful because we want to the book shows you really where all these ideas come from and how they have the ability to change who you are as a woman.  We need to think freely, not tied down by an image that we think is expected of us.  It a very intersting book, maybe more so for me because its for college but believe me when my daughter becomes of a certain age i will get her a copy of the book to read, only if to see there is an other way to think as a woman.  I hope i haven't bored anyone, but i think as addict its females coinfidence that gets hit first and why because all the things we were thaught to think go out the window when using and we may want to harp back but there is no need we are still wholey women(not man haters, just independent thinking woman)please dont think i hate men because i dont i just wish i had been given the tools to challenge men in my life but as a woman you are socialized to be subservent to your man, there is another way!, I know iv'e rabbled but i am now getting quite passionate about this subject

[Lindyloo]

I must get a copy of that book, WY, I've heard of it over the years, and I think it should be regarded as required reading for any young woman.  I'm embarassed actually that I've not read it before.  I'm about to start Robert Harris' Imperium and Lustrum, which, along with Pompeii, are the only two I've still to read.  I've been keeping them - savouring them, if you like, as Robert Harris doesn't exactly churn em out - unlike James Patterson, who seems to put a book out a fortnight - we spotted 3 of his (co-written by others, of course) in the Top 40 Fiction section of WHSmith this week! It's got to be mince if you can write it that quickly!

[mcdermott]

Apparently, the reason James Patterson churns 'em out is because he doesn't actually write 'em himself any more. His name is now a 'brand' and he has underpaid ghost writers who write the actual books.

He's no Lee Child, that's for sure. 

[Lindyloo]

Well I won't be reading James Patterson again - not that I intended to! Did get the new James Ellroy "Blood's a Rover" (intriguing title, not yet found out what it means) despite what I said about finding Ellroy too repetitive.  Whether I'll battle through it is another question.  Also got the Booker winner, The Finkler Question, by Alan Jacobson, which is supposed to be quite a funny Jewish novel.  I've always been interested in Judaism - not the religious aspect, but the community part, the food, the extended family support.  Faye Kellerman's detective novels feature a 'tec with a wife who is an Orthodox Jew, and she makes the religion and lifestyle - and food! - really sound appealing.  Incidentally, has anyone ever came across a Jewish addict?  I've never heard of/read about any.  Just a thought.

[Ursula]

There was an interesting documentary a couple of years back about the orthodox Jewish community in Stamford Hill, and there was definitely at least one heroin user in that.  I've met a couple of non-orthodox Jewish users and probably many more I didn't know were Jewish.

[Lindyloo]

That's right, Ursula, now you mention it I do recall watching it, or some of it.  I'm pretty sure they were happy to welcome him back into the community with no judgement after he'd recovered and went through rehab.  I remember thinking, it's a pity more gentile communities weren't of the same mindset.

[OP8S]

Reading a lot about Asia at the moment. Still watching lots of Asian movies as well.

Do you ever watch films made by a company Tartan-Asia Extreme ? I hasten to add that the extreme part of the name is to do with the mysterious plots & not some excusively scotch-asian bedtime practice! Their films are about the only horror films that have left me spooked, & Hollywoods more recent attempts at making the same film had none of the tension & mystery that Tartan - Asian Extreme ones have had. Well worth a look if you get the chance!

[will-c]

I am reading the philosphy of andy warhol, just a brief summary of love, sex and people according to andrew. its pretty funny.

[Lindyloo]

Someone on here recommended the Sue Grafton series, so I've taken their advice and begun at "A is for Alibi".  The first four pages I read last night before crashing out seemed very promising.  Still got wads of others on the go though, as I've already mentioned - it's just this goddamn netbook and you people keeps distracting me!