Book Recommendations

[Herlock Sholmes]

Am I the only one who reads books anymore? What happened to this thread?

c.d.

Yes, it’s definitely gone quiet c.d.

I’m currently reading The Club by Leo Damrosch. It’s about the 18th century London Club that met every Friday evening at the Turk’s Head Tavern in London. I have a photograph somewhere of me standing outside the actual building (which is now a Chinese restaurant) The members were many..Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, Joshua Reynolds. It’s really good so far. I’m becoming more interested in the 18th century of late and Johnson has always held a fascination for me (although I’ve never been in his Gough Square house yet - something that I’ll be remedying in early June) The book really captures the time and the place with all of those fascinating characters.

Damrosch’s biography of Jonathan Swift is also highly recommended. He’s also wrote a book on Blake which I’m still undecided on whether to get or not. I have to admit that my impression of Blake was that he was barking mad but that’s hardly a learned opinion. It’s putting me off though. Maybe if I can get a copy cheap I might go for it but I always struggle to jump in if the subject matter doesn’t ‘grab’ me.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Yes, it’s definitely gone quiet c.d.

I’m currently reading The Club by Leo Damrosch. It’s about the 18th century London Club that met every Friday evening at the Turk’s Head Tavern in London. I have a photograph somewhere of me standing outside the actual building (which is now a Chinese restaurant) The members were many..Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, Joshua Reynolds. It’s really good so far. I’m becoming more interested in the 18th century of late and Johnson has always held a fascination for me (although I’ve never been in his Gough Square house yet - something that I’ll be remedying in early June) The book really captures the time and the place with all of those fascinating characters.

Damrosch’s biography of Jonathan Swift is also highly recommended. He’s also wrote a book on Blake which I’m still undecided on whether to get or not. I have to admit that my impression of Blake was that he was barking mad but that’s hardly a learned opinion. It’s putting me off though. Maybe if I can get a copy cheap I might go for it but I always struggle to jump in if the subject matter doesn’t ‘grab’ me.

It’s an unimportant point but the former Turk’s Head Tavern isn’t a Chinese restaurant it’s a Chinese supermarket.

[c.d.]

Glad to see the responses. It looks like print is not dead but maybe just in need of a priest at this point.

c.d.

[c.d.]

In keeping with my love of true outdoor adventure books I just ordered The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, the story of his exploration of the Amazon River. Teddy was a hard ass no question about it.

https://www.amazon.com/River-Doubt-Theodore-Roosevelts-Darkest/dp/0767913736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19C1JNTXSNOTX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.if-uZR8CsGlLazSdQblTC0w-twB_ypQ_898EhVKM7ND5ONlV6f8iEn8O4by1YEJSWuQ-Eh7cT-_CwJMZOer4pBObck6JMJbw3JnBcpPnZAtDGH8ua5Q9EzlNAjrp HVOJoMbAZu5O03nbgwrADWpDmeWOnaRl8k6mBgvBB-6L4pmrn3CmAT8jX3FgN5FKPaKpSK4wDPT_ngtzlT5OC6qA0jAZ oQGWlHqRwjHdxY-kxZA.z9oIptglcfv7DatSPAZDw5atjcV9SyVIV3wjM8vl9xs&d ib_tag=se&keywords=roosevelt+amazon&qid=1744161623 &sprefix=roosevelt+amazon%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1

c.d.

[c.d.]

I stumbled upon this one but after seeing what it is about and the reviews I knew I had to read it. I mean losing a drunken bet and having to hitchhike around Ireland with a refrigerator sounds like it should be required reading. Ordered it from Amazon. Will let you know how I like it.

Round Ireland with a Fridge

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312274920/?bestFormat=true&k=round%20ireland%20with%20a%20fridge&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_13&crid=YPANVQQJ0PKU&sprefix=round%20Ireland

c.d.

[Abby Normal]

In keeping with my love of true outdoor adventure books I just ordered The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, the story of his exploration of the Amazon River. Teddy was a hard ass no question about it.

https://www.amazon.com/River-Doubt-Theodore-Roosevelts-Darkest/dp/0767913736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19C1JNTXSNOTX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.if-uZR8CsGlLazSdQblTC0w-twB_ypQ_898EhVKM7ND5ONlV6f8iEn8O4by1YEJSWuQ-Eh7cT-_CwJMZOer4pBObck6JMJbw3JnBcpPnZAtDGH8ua5Q9EzlNAjrp HVOJoMbAZu5O03nbgwrADWpDmeWOnaRl8k6mBgvBB-6L4pmrn3CmAT8jX3FgN5FKPaKpSK4wDPT_ngtzlT5OC6qA0jAZ oQGWlHqRwjHdxY-kxZA.z9oIptglcfv7DatSPAZDw5atjcV9SyVIV3wjM8vl9xs&d ib_tag=se&keywords=roosevelt+amazon&qid=1744161623 &sprefix=roosevelt+amazon%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1

c.d.

I recently saw a documentary on Teddy and The river of Doubt. amazing!

true american BADASS and one of my heroes. fascinating individual and highly literate and great writer. Ive got a couple of his hunting adventure books and his book on tje spanish american war... his charge up san juan hill.
what a crazy bastard lol.

[c.d.]

Yep, you are officially a badass when you get shot but still go on to give a speech for 50 minutes.

c.d.

[Abby Normal]

Yep, you are officially a badass when you get shot but still go on to give a speech for 50 minutes.

c.d.

lol yeah that too. "ladies and gentleman, I dont know if you realize it, but I have just been shot in the chest, but it will take more than that to bring down a bull moose! "

oh and he used to ride a bull moose.

[Fiver]

In keeping with my love of true outdoor adventure books I just ordered The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, the story of his exploration of the Amazon River. Teddy was a hard ass no question about it.

c.d.

An excellent choice.

[c.d.]

For anyone who likes true adventure books I highly recommend The Wager: A Tale of Mutiny, Shipwreck and Murder. You read what these guys went through and you think holy ****. Pretty unbelievable. Over 35,000 reviews on Amazon. The author is David Grann who also wrote Killers of the Flower Moon. Another page turner.

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

There just some people that are built differently. I don’t believe in destiny but hey, what do I know? Teddy R, Churchill etc. To quote my gran “They just don’t make ‘em like that any more.”

[Ms Diddles]

[QUOTE=Herlock He’s also wrote a book on Blake which I’m still undecided on whether to get or not. I have to admit that my impression of Blake was that he was barking mad but that’s hardly a learned opinion. It’s putting me off though. Maybe if I can get a copy cheap I might go for it but I always struggle to jump in if the subject matter doesn’t ‘grab’ me. [/QUOTE]

Hi Herlock,

FYI it is maybe 20 years since I read it, but the Peter Ackroyd biography of William Blake is excellent.

I seem to remember it as being quite compelling and very readable too.

Highly recommended if you're interested in Blake.

[Ms Diddles]

lol. hi cd
i am constantly reading. usually two to three books at a time and have a pretty big library. Im now reading, The Elephant in the Universe, about dark matter, Western Wind, a poetry book, Honey From Stone by Chet Raymo and since its the Easter season, im rereading the New Testament.

I highly recommend all of them! : )

Interesting Abby!

I will check out The Elephant in the Universe as I do love books about quantum physics, astronomy etc.

I don't think I could juggle multiple books at the one time though.

That would just confuse me and I'd likely forget what I'd read previously.

I have friends who do that, and I've always found it strange!

Each to their own though!

[c.d.]

Hello Ms. Diddles,

I highly recommend the following:

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (fiction)

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (fiction)

The Wager by David Grann (true adventure)

All three were excellent in my opinion. Check out the reviews on Amazon.

c.d.

[Abby Normal]

Interesting Abby!

I will check out The Elephant in the Universe as I do love books about quantum physics, astronomy etc.

I don't think I could juggle multiple books at the one time though.

That would just confuse me and I'd likely forget what I'd read previously.

I have friends who do that, and I've always found it strange!

Each to their own though!

well i am Abby Normal after all! lol

yes i have been fascinated with science/ space/ physics books ever since i read Carl Sagans Cosmos in Middle school. i have over a hundred of such books in my personal library. but its been mainly the theoretical physics stuff in my adult life because its all just so whacky! quantum mechanics, relativity, dark matter/energy etc and all the crazy mysteries surrounding it! so fascinating.