What are you reading?

[mattyhall22]

I am waiting to get my hands on the new Joe Ledger book "Extinction Machine" by Jonathon Maberry.

[Deano]

Desperately unhappy to hear about Iain Banks

[nicwing]

Just returned from a week away during which I read Redemption song the biography of Joe Strummer. Its a huge tome but I heartily recommend it to those of us 'punks' of a certain age who love the great man's work. A beautifully written account of his life.

Sadly gone too early.

[Mr Moore]

'God is Not Great' by the late Christopher Hitchens. I would love to of been present at one of his many debates. It annoys me how the many intellectuals now attack his principles and ideas and find floors in his views, yet when he was alive they hardly uttered a verb. Joe Strummer biography seems like it would be worth a read.

[sheppsea]

I'm reading 'A Clash of Kings', which is the second in the A Song of Ice and Fire series (known as Game of Thrones on the TV!)

I highly recommend this book, even if, like me, you're not normally into fantasy.

[Puff Scotty]

I'm reading 'A Clash of Kings', which is the second in the A Song of Ice and Fire series (known as Game of Thrones on the TV!)

I highly recommend this book, even if, like me, you're not normally into fantasy.

It's a lot better in book form than on the TV..if you read the books first it's very difficult to ratify the TV characters with their written 'form'...

[Pandyboy]

I'm reading the first book as it makes the serise make sense!

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[Drewmidorn]

The Game f thrones series is great. A bit of a lull around the fourth book but it feels like it is back on track now. Looking outward to the next one.

[senor_robusto]

'God is Not Great' by the late Christopher Hitchens. I would love to of been present at one of his many debates. It annoys me how the many intellectuals now attack his principles and ideas and find floors in his views, yet when he was alive they hardly uttered a verb. Joe Strummer biography seems like it would be worth a read.

personally, i f**king can't stand the man!! he was a hypocritical, cowardly (in his principles), misogynist, alcoholic who didn't so much 'intellectually evolve', as turn his back on his ideals & beliefs (he was a member of the communist party) and become a mouthpiece for the neo-conservative of america!! he was also a big supporter of the wars in the middle east!! he was, i admit, technically a great intellectual and was very quick witted......

there is a great video on youtube of him taking on george galloway in a debate at some new york university!! i may not be his greatest fan, but george galloway totally destroys him!! hitchens tries a couple of dirty attacks on him, george galloway just slays him!! the full video is worth watching, so many of hitchen's fans have edited the video down to make him look good....... he still looks like, as george galloway puts it, 'a slimey, hypocritical, alcoholic slug':

alex

[senor_robusto]

i'm enjoying 'the simon iff stories and other works' by aleister crowley!! basically, it's a collection of fictional detective stories written by crowley (the great beast 666), simon iff being an idealised version of crowley as he wished to see himself in old age!! i don't normally read fiction or detective stories, but this is thoroughly entertaining!

alex

[Mr Moore]

He wasnt a neo conservative, he was a socialist mate and I can tell by your post thar you already know that. I dont fully understand why large ranks in the Left disowned him after his questioning of certain religions that he perceived as fascist or medieval in conception. I dont fully agree with him myself but I thought his defending of Rushdie was absolutely spot on.
You called him quote ' cowardly in his principles '
Im not sure what you mean by that.

[butternutsquashpie]

He wasnt a neo conservative, he was a socialist mate and I can tell by your post thar you already know that. I dont fully understand why large ranks in the Left disowned him after his questioning of certain religions that he perceived as fascist or medieval in conception.

Well sure, but to fit in with the American society, he couldn't be deemed a socialist AND be respected. That word is akin to the devil in certain places in America. That being said, he would need to have certain conservative views to be have his views be even listened to.
I'm not sure if he is a communist or a neo-conservative, frankly, i don't give two shites about his political sidings. It just makes enemies of us all. Many a great mind in history stays clear of the political game like Neil Armstrong, Erwin Rommel, etc. But alas I digress.

Despite that, he was an intelligent man above all. In fact, of the three razors, I love his the most:
"A stance stated without evidence or correct backing can be disproved without evidence as well." Not the exact words, but google: Hitchen's Razor. You'll find it!
Ugh, look at me digressing again.... Focus Jeremy!!

Methinks large ranks with left wings would've disowned the bloke because any attack on a culture or identity is seen as blasphemy in society nowadays ( no pun there, i promise!). In order to get the common votes of the Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc. ANY party can NOT be seen with a man so famous for hating on religions. In the end, it's about keeping an image. And he had to be slightly hypocritical in order to keep him well understood in the public eye. Maybe not to the extent of "cowardly in principles".... But, you know.....

[butternutsquashpie]

Oh, and to avoid the digression of the thread it self, ,

I lent my mate my newly bought Hunter S. Thompson book: "The Great Shark Hunt" For 7 quid on amazon, i would recommend that thing WITHOUT A DOUBT.

I'll start on that book after he finishes with it.... Whenever that will be

[cigarsam]

Bloody hell butter you nearly convinced me you were a learned gentleman!

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[butternutsquashpie]

Bloody hell butter you nearly convinced me you were a learned gentleman!

Oh? What'll it take to FULLY convince you then??