Years since I read Chesterton.  'Father Brown' stories it would have been.  Currently re-reading 'Catch 22' (in the staff room at school over a salt beef sandwich), 'Bush At War' by Bob Woodward in my corner armchair with the broken springs.  The more I read about 'Dubya' the more I like him. 

Sky is black, younger daughter is about to be sent off to bed so that her mother and I can watch 'Stalag 17', the purchase of which was prompted by that picture of William Holden.

I read one book a week on average, something from a Dutch author at the mo' but before that this one, you might be familiar with :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/apr/12/featuresreviews.guardianreview13

a book about 1950's Googie architecture

I have a set of ten Maigret waiting for my attention  - Which are best? Also do I have to read them in order?

Ta!

Also awaiting my attention are all the many 'Ripley' books. Any advice on how to tackle them?

Many thanks,

Yes, I've got a depressing book about US-Iranian relations waiting, in addition to solid biographies of Acheson, Stevenson and Goldwater.  US foreign and domestic policy from Truman to Reagan is my long-term interest.  Nothing beats - Holmes and one or two others apart - classic American crime fiction.  But, whenever sombre - which I often am - I turn to P.G. Wodehouse and especially to the school prize-giving.  No matter how many times I read it it never ceases to make me laugh.  What a wonderful man Plum was, and how absurd those who accuse him of collaboration.  As if he was Ezra Pound or somebody!

I''ve been reading a lot of Cormac McCarthy lately.  Just finished "Child of God". I am seldom blown away by fiction these days but he is a master.  I am surprised and excited that people on here read Leonard and Hiaasen. Both manage to do justice to my home state and very few people can.  Hiaasen especially has done so much to catalog and decry the abuse that Florida has suffered from developers, tourists, etc. I understand why some might not see it as serious fiction but if you put it in geographical context it's kind of brilliant.

EDIT: As far as non-fiction is concerned  I've  been reading a lot of Stuart Kauffman. Evolution and Complexity theory are two pet interests of mine and he has interesting views and research on both.

Last edited by ScarletStreet (2009-07-12 13:20:20)