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AirPrang

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Posts: 2041

(04/21/09 09:02)

Currently reading The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale. It's true crime, but in Victorian England at a time when there were only a handful of detective inspectors (of which Mr Whicher is one) to lead murder enquiries and they were regarded as not quite the done thing. Fascinating detail so far.

AirPrang

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Posts: 2061

(04/27/09 06:04)

Now on to High Achiever by Jim Curran. It's a biography of Chris Bonington and so far hasn't told me anything I haven't already read in Bonington's own books or biographies of his mates. Very disappointing, as Curran is a well regarded climber and writer who knows most of the people in the story and I'd expected more insight. Or maybe his closeness is the very problem...

Golophin

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Posts: 9506

(05/03/09 06:40)

Bookhunter

The Spanish Conquistadores by F. A. Kilpatrick

AirPrang

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Posts: 2080

(05/07/09 09:08)

Currently reading Kind Hearts & Coronets by Michael Newton, from the British Film Institutes Classics series. I love this film so I'm expecting a very interesting read in learning a lot more about it.

TheNunns

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Posts: 4480

(05/08/09 09:47)

Kentucky Woman

I just finished Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, I'm not sure why I read it. Perhaps because he's such a rebel in the Chef world. Anyway, I learned a few things but in an honest, somewhat "in your face" manner.

Gaye

LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORMS TO PASS ... IT'S ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN. - Unknown

AirPrang

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Posts: 2095

(05/13/09 12:03)

Currently reading Dark Dreams: Australian refugee stories by young writers aged 11-20 years. Some of the stories are very harrowing but it's the hope that really comes through, and the happiness at finally being safe. The stories range from family memories of 'blackbirding' (where Torres Strait Islanders found themselves virtually enslaved in Queensland) to WWII and then to people displaced by more recent unrest and conflict (Iraq, Afghanistan, the former Yugoslavia, Eritrea...)

wernoclue

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Posts: 4328

(05/13/09 11:41)

Wise Beyond her Years

The most recent non-fiction book I completed was The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale (I think). It won a couple of prizes, sounded interesting so I went for it. Although I enjoyed it initially it fell off for me about two-thirds of the way through. Don't really know why. Another woman I know who read it said the author was afflicted with factoid-itis and needed a better editor!

I'm currently reading, and thoroughly enjoying, The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride by Daniel James Brown (I think). I'm shocked to realize that with all the books I've read about westward expansion in the U.S, the Oregon Trail, the pioneers, etc., that I've never read a single volume devoted specifically to the Donner Party.

Karen

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. - Anna Quindlen

AirPrang

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Posts: 2098

(05/14/09 05:18)

I loved The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and didn't want it to end!

The Donner Party book sounds very interesting - I'd never heard of them until I was posting at Survivor Sucks Splinterverse board that was called something like The Donner Dinner Party and wondered where the name came from. I'd thought it would be something like The Brady Bunch.

Since then I've read up a bit about the Donner Party, but only what's online. Very hard times, and it also explained a lot of what was going on with the winter preparations in that 1860s house series - and quite a contrast to the extremes faced by early settlers here. Please post about it when you finish it as if it's a good 'un, I'd love to read it.

Currently reading Murray Smith's examination of Trainspotting, from the BFI Modern Classics series.

Golophin

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Posts: 9514

(05/14/09 05:52)

Bookhunter

Just ordered When Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas.

AirPrang

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Posts: 2169

(07/19/09 09:38)

Currently re-reading John Krakauer's Into Thin Air.

Gracewings

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Posts: 1193

(09/02/09 12:21)

Plato and the Platypus is the last nonfiction book I read. I had checked it out a year or so ago but never got around to reading it. When I saw it was going to be the feature of the next library discussion, I borrowed it again and loved it! Very introductory lesson to philosophy and quite humorous. Much of the humor was in the form of jokes exhibiting different philosophies -- highly recommended for a short, easy and enjoyable read!