Let's see, they've got sexual violence against women, but are well receievd, this means that they MUST be incredibly stupid. There's no two ways around it. (And no other way around it for artists!)

Today I finished reading Deborah Curtis's biography of her late husband Ian Curtis, lead singer of the band Joy Division, who took his own life in his early twenties.  This is one of those books I bought a very long time (as in many years) ago but never read.  I was reminded of it a few weeks ago when I watched "24 Hour Party People".  It's a very sad story, and his wife was the biggest victim in it and she makes that very plain in her story, though she comes across still as rather compassionate and loving and puts her bitterness firmly in the back seat.

It's an interesting book, though not exactly very enjoyable to read because it's basically a book about someone who wanted to kill himself.  Still, I'm glad I read it eventually even if my interest in Joy Division nowadays is nothing like it was 12-15 years ago.

I read about 10 Discworld novels then I sort of grew out of it.  But he is a very witty writer

Reading a book about Blair's time in office.  I read Allistar Campbell's book last year and thought that would cover it, but this is from an outsider's perspective with good sources, so I'm learnign stuff and enjoying it.

Also reading Woodward's latest Obama's Wars.  Over the last year I've read every single one of his books and this is by far the worst written.  The content is interesting, but the actualy writing is basically a recounting of an interview with a source, followed by President Obama saying, "Without going into the details, that is a fair characterization of the meeting".  Again, still interesting for his usual "fly-on-the-wall" content.  The bottom line of the book is, no-one controls the Pentagon.

Over the last couple of weeks I read Atomised by  Michel Houellebecq.  Quite an interesting read though ultimately rather depressing as it's ultimately about the end of the human race as we know it.  I'm glad I read it.  I think I will seek out other books by this guy as I liked his style a lot.

I also finally read Laurie Lee's "Cider with Rosie" which most of you probably read as children or teenagers.  I loved it and regretted not reading it earlier.  Wonderful, unassuming, uncynical book about childhood.  I kind of needed something positive like this.

^When I was a kid I LOVED those pulp fiction noire novels.  I wish I could remember the name of my favorite, it had all the usual ingredients. It had femme fatales, love triangles, ex-soldier doing some PI work on the side, bodies in trunks... that kind of thing.

=-=-

I just finished re-reading Michael Lewis' Losers which is about the 1996 election campaign.  He's such a good writer.

Last night I read almost half of Machievelli's The Prince, which may sound impressive, but it's only a little book.  It has some good take-aways in it.  Don't really see why he's seen to be all evil etc..., he provides some solid advice which would have been well heeded by several leaders over the last decade or so.

Still reading this fat book about Mao Tse Tung.  He's either a real asshole or the historians who wrote this book have it in for him.  It is heavily footnoted and widely praised by credible sources though.  So far I'm just reading about the early days when he was "working" with the Soviets (by working I mean lazing about screwing everything in a dress while blowing the money the Russians were sending him on houses and books).

A you responsible for any of the actual sailing, or is it a big enough boat that others do it?

aspro said:

A you responsible for any of the actual sailing, or is it a big enough boat that others do it?

It's a 30ft mono-haul.  2 people on board.  Skipper and myself as the only/entire crew.  I'm responsible for a good bit of the sailing a lot of the time but I'm not experienced enough to do it single-handedly

Foolz said:

I haven't read any books for months.

Too busy writing.

I think about this about once a month. Did you do your annual re-cap for 2010? I did not see it here.

Yeah that was in response to your 2009 entry, we missed this years. Thanks, I will read later tonight.