In this I include Kindle versions. I love the 'feel' of real books but Kindle is just so practical when I have to travel so much in connection with my job.
Here are some of the books I have read in 2012, and comments.
Watermelons - James Delingpole - Excellent expose of the scare-mongering and downright lies at the heart of the so called Global Warming industry. Delingpole delves into the organizations that are milking this manufactured 'scare' and exposes the hidden agenda of control and the inherent socialist 'principles' behind this scam. He does this with a light touch and manages to convey complex information and facts in a not too serious and never dull manner. Hopefully he will stick with the mission and maybe look at Fracking next?
The Hunger Games triology - Suzanne Collins - Read these and skip the very poor movie adaptation of the first book. These books really do 'grip' and one gets the sense of despair and isolation - something that is so missing in the movie.
Jack Reacher series - Lee Child. Not meaning to be disrespectful but these are good 'airport' books (even if read on Kindle!) They are not deeply challenging intellectual books but a good yarn about someone with a strong moral compass who seems to attract trouble and who knows how to deal with it! Oh! I have just heard there is a Jack Reacher movie! Tom Cruise in the title role - why oh why would you make a parody? Because the lightweight and vertically challenged Cruise could never seriously be cast as Reacher. Does Hollywood ever read books? Or are they too busy making caring ads seeking to control other peoples' lives?
Jerusalem - Simon Sebag Montefiore This is a 'biography' of a city. For me it sounds an unusual concept but this works and one does get a sense of the character of the city and how it has developed, over such a long time. My only complaint is that the most recent history seemed to be the least explored. I found myself at the end of the book before I realized I was close! The % counter on the Kindle misled because of all of the notes and, a Kindle drawback, one doesn't get that visual check that one does, from a real book.
Our Culture - What's left of it - Theodore Dalrymple - Always enjoyed his columns for The Spectator and this books carries on the tradition of observations on a world that most of us don't see - the under-belly of British (or maybe that's just English) society. The writing is clear and precise. This really should be required reading for all of the 'ology' students at universities. All those who aspire to rule us should understand what exists out there in the real world rather than what they believe exists in their welfare- dependent Utopia.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series - Stieg Larsson - Again, better than the film version. Gripping and the way that this history unfolds? Brilliant.
Eye of the Needle and others - Ken Follett - Good yarns, well written and researched and well worth re-visiting.
Blood Hunt and Doors Open - Ian Rankin. There really isn't much to say - Rankin, as always, is simply superb.
Shibumi, Satori and The Loo Sanction - Trevanian - I first read Shibumi and the Loo Sanction something like 30 years ago. The return to this much under-rated author was well-rewarded. I urge you to find out the quality, for yourself.
Here are some of the books I have read in 2012, and comments.
Watermelons - James Delingpole - Excellent expose of the scare-mongering and downright lies at the heart of the so called Global Warming industry. Delingpole delves into the organizations that are milking this manufactured 'scare' and exposes the hidden agenda of control and the inherent socialist 'principles' behind this scam. He does this with a light touch and manages to convey complex information and facts in a not too serious and never dull manner. Hopefully he will stick with the mission and maybe look at Fracking next?
The Hunger Games triology - Suzanne Collins - Read these and skip the very poor movie adaptation of the first book. These books really do 'grip' and one gets the sense of despair and isolation - something that is so missing in the movie.
Jack Reacher series - Lee Child. Not meaning to be disrespectful but these are good 'airport' books (even if read on Kindle!) They are not deeply challenging intellectual books but a good yarn about someone with a strong moral compass who seems to attract trouble and who knows how to deal with it! Oh! I have just heard there is a Jack Reacher movie! Tom Cruise in the title role - why oh why would you make a parody? Because the lightweight and vertically challenged Cruise could never seriously be cast as Reacher. Does Hollywood ever read books? Or are they too busy making caring ads seeking to control other peoples' lives?
Jerusalem - Simon Sebag Montefiore This is a 'biography' of a city. For me it sounds an unusual concept but this works and one does get a sense of the character of the city and how it has developed, over such a long time. My only complaint is that the most recent history seemed to be the least explored. I found myself at the end of the book before I realized I was close! The % counter on the Kindle misled because of all of the notes and, a Kindle drawback, one doesn't get that visual check that one does, from a real book.
Our Culture - What's left of it - Theodore Dalrymple - Always enjoyed his columns for The Spectator and this books carries on the tradition of observations on a world that most of us don't see - the under-belly of British (or maybe that's just English) society. The writing is clear and precise. This really should be required reading for all of the 'ology' students at universities. All those who aspire to rule us should understand what exists out there in the real world rather than what they believe exists in their welfare- dependent Utopia.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series - Stieg Larsson - Again, better than the film version. Gripping and the way that this history unfolds? Brilliant.
Eye of the Needle and others - Ken Follett - Good yarns, well written and researched and well worth re-visiting.
Blood Hunt and Doors Open - Ian Rankin. There really isn't much to say - Rankin, as always, is simply superb.
Shibumi, Satori and The Loo Sanction - Trevanian - I first read Shibumi and the Loo Sanction something like 30 years ago. The return to this much under-rated author was well-rewarded. I urge you to find out the quality, for yourself.
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