Books & Reading Thread 2025

[stoneblue]

2. A Clear Blue Sky - Jonny Bairstow, Duncan Hamilton



Have been away for a few days and only had the kindle app on my iPad with me so I read this.

For non-cricket fans, Jonny Bairstow is an England cricketer, whose father, David Bairstow also a former professional cricketer, committed suicide. Jonny, then aged 8, his mother and younger sister came home and found him hanging from the staircase.
His father had worries over his business, an impending drink driving case and his wife had been diagnosed with cancer just 3 months earlier and he’d been suffering from depression and stress. Like many of his generation he kept it largely to himself.
I’m not usually a huge fan of the sports (auto)biography genre, I find them a bit formulaic, but the fact that his father’s death had such a profound effect on him makes this an interesting read.
Wisden Book of the Year, 2018.

 

[RobMCFC]

2. A Clear Blue Sky - Jonny Bairstow, Duncan Hamilton

View attachment 66230

Have been away for a few days and only had the kindle app on my iPad with me so I read this.

For non-cricket fans, Jonny Bairstow is an England cricketer, whose father, David Bairstow also a former professional cricketer, committed suicide. Jonny, then aged 8, his mother and younger sister came home and found him hanging from the staircase.
His father had worries over his business, an impending drink driving case and his wife had been diagnosed with cancer just 3 months earlier and he’d been suffering from depression and stress. Like many of his generation he kept it largely to himself.
I’m not usually a huge fan of the sports (auto)biography genre, I find them a bit formulaic, but the fact that his father’s death had such a profound effect on him makes this an interesting read.
Wisden Book of the Year, 2018.

I remember the David Bairstow suicide very well.

I used to watch cricket religiously when I was a kid - went to the test at Old Trafford every year. I lost touch when it disappeared from terrestrial TV in 2005 and Ive never really regained the interest. I would never have believed that but there you go.

Jonny Bairstow seems to have a had a decent career and good luck to him.

I read Duncan Hamilton’s Brian Clough book years ago and it was superb. I assume it’s the same author.

 

[stoneblue]

I remember the David Bairstow suicide very well.

I used to watch cricket religiously when I was a kid - went to the test at Old Trafford every year. I lost touch when it disappeared from terrestrial TV in 2005 and Ive never really regained the interest. I would never have believed that but there you go.

Jonny Bairstow seems to have a had a decent career and good luck to him.

I read Duncan Hamilton’s Brian Clough book years ago and it was superb. I assume it’s the same author.

Yes, it’s the same Duncan Hamiton, I think he’s written or co-authored a good number of sports books….I’m fairly sure that I’ve read the Brian Clough one too, many years ago.

It’s a shame that you’ve lost interest in cricket….I meet up with my old Uni mates once a year for a day at a test, at either Trent Bridge or Headingley. I love the atmosphere of a packed house at a test match.

 

[jimmy blue shoes]

Just finished "A thousand splendid suns" by Khaled Hosseini. Even more heartbreaking now the Taliban are back in Kabul.

 

[ob]

Finished 'Bob No Ordinary Cat' this afternoon. Not everyone's cup of tea but I loved it. My other half bought me it for Christmas due to fact we have got a rescue cat and don't know it's history just like the one in the book. Ours was rescued from a burnt out house in which the owners died. She lived on in the house as a stray for about 18 months until rescued. No one knows her name or what age she is. She's got called Phoenix and they think about 10. We've had her for almost 2 years now. Anyway I loved it lol. Started The Cross by Steve Cavanagh as recommended on here

 

[stoneblue]

Just finished "A thousand splendid suns" by Khaled Hosseini. Even more heartbreaking now the Taliban are back in Kabul.

Brilliant book!

 

[supercity88]

Just finished "A thousand splendid suns" by Khaled Hosseini. Even more heartbreaking now the Taliban are back in Kabul.

Probably my favourite book that.

 

[inchy14]

I’m aiming for 26 books in total this year after being inspired by this thread, watch far too much tv late in the evening and going back to reading instead.

Just finished #1 ‘A time to Kill’ by John Grisham.
Started #2 ‘fire & blood’ by George Martin.

With this and my running it’ll be a busy year.

Do audiobooks count….

 

[PragueBlue]

Mistakenly put this in the 2022 thread, so just moving it here:

Got 6 of Agatha Christie's plays for Christmas, we well as a biography on her and her autobiography. Have so far read The Mousetrap and Witness for the Prosecution. Both excellent stories but I have seen them already so pretty much knew the story. Just started on Spider's Web, which is a story I don't know.

I read mainly in Czech to keep my language level up, so don't mind reading books that I have already read in English, or ones that I know the story of. Looking forward to getting to the autobiography but will work my way through the plays first.

 

[RobMCFC]

I’m aiming for 26 books in total this year after being inspired by this thread, watch far too much tv late in the evening and going back to reading instead.

Just finished #1 ‘A time to Kill’ by John Grisham.
Started #2 ‘fire & blood’ by George Martin.

With this and my running it’ll be a busy year.

Do audiobooks count….

Yes audiobooks count.

The “challenge” part of the thread title was lifted from the original 2021 reading thread - it’s nice to have a target, but the thread is more about sharing what we are each reading, reviewing what we’ve read and thereby passing recommendations on to each other.

 

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

Got through 39 books last year and two so far this month.

Currently have these on order.

Excellent interview with Chang here:

Economist Ha-Joon Chang: the Tory mini-budget was like trying to bring back terrible Tex-Mex

In a mouth-watering new book, the South Korean academic fuses his twin passions of food and economics to interrogate capitalism

www.theguardian.com

This above is a philosophical take on conspiracy theorising but written in a very readable style.

 

[JRockBlues]

For this year I think I might try and catch up a little with old friends by concentrating on some of the many series I have ongoing. Maybe even finish a few if possible or at least bring some up to date. It won't be my only reading though as I'll still be picking off the odd stand-alone book from my tbr shelves or get distracted by the shiny & new.

Lamentation by C. J. Sansom

Sixth book in the Shardlake series of historical mysteries. Everybody’s favourite hunch-backed lawyer once again finds himself embroiled in court intrigue when Catherine Parr asks him to find a book she’d rather not see the light of day. Stolen from a locked box to which only she has a key and the title page having been found clutched in the hand of a murdered printer Shardlake is tasked with finding the book and why it’s not yet seen the light of day. For if it does she would most likely follow the path of Henry’s previous wives and supporters of the Protestant faith that currently hold sway would be discredited at a time crucial to the future of the kingdom as the king draws near death.

The fictitious mystery is cleverly woven in with actual events of the time being set in the time of Anne Askew’s burning and includes mostly real people. Weighing in at over 700 pages this is another brick but there is hardly any let up in the suspense as the mystery unfolds. Although I’d guessed part of the ending I didn’t quite get to all of it. Another quality entry into a very good series. One more book to go! 4★'s


The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross

After surviving his first couple of adventures as a Laundry Files field agent, Bob Howard has been promoted to SSO and has been tasked with attending a joint-liaison meeting in Germany with other EU agencies which perform similar tasks to his own organisation. Things quickly head sideways though when after arriving at his hotel he meets Ramona, an American assassin who also happens to be a succubus who works for the Black Chamber, and they’re supposed to be working together. Firstly to disrupt what’s about to go down and then to stop an evil genius who is about to raise something from the sea floor which shouldn’t be seeing the light of day. If this was the mission all along then why wasn’t he briefed?

James Bond meets H. P. Lovecraft with a dollop of geekdom thrown in for good measure make this an enjoyable continuation of this urban fantasy series. Bob & Ramona are great characters who play off each other really well and when you add Mo to the mix it really ramps up the ante. The villain is suitably Bondian through necessity as it’s all plot-driven and the author really exploits all the foibles you usually find in that franchise.

As with the first book there is also a short story with Bob back in the office with HR on his back. This time around he gets lumbered with an intern who does exactly what Bob tells him not to do and ends up trapped in an MMORPG. Unfortunately for Bob this particular intern got the position through nepotism and if he wants to avoid some nasty repercussions then he’s going to have to rescue him.

The way the series has started it could be a rival to the Dresden books for my favourite of the genre. 4★'s

 

[ob]

Finished Steve Cavanagh The Cross today. Very good start and will read more. Downloaded Operation Mayhem by Steve Heaney

 

[RobMCFC]

At the start of this thread, I mentioned the possibility of somebody nominating a book that we could all read and comment on. Quite a few people seemed keen on the idea, so let's start the ball rolling and see what we can come up with.

Thinking about the type of book we read (as a group), I think that the following genres come up often:-

- History (war and espionage)
- Police procedurals/crime investigation
- Espionage fiction
- Stephen King - technically not a genre, but he is popular in here!
- Fantasy (a few of us)

Anybody care to shout out a few suggestions as to what might make a good group read?
I think that a standalone book with 400 pages or less would make a good candidate.

Just to re-iterate, if we do decide to go ahead with this, I don't want anybody feel that they have to join in in order to continue posting on this thread! Committing to a book means a good chunk of hours (and maybe expense) so it's entirely optional, and I want people to continue to post freely on here whether they decide to join in with the communal book or not.

 

[stoneblue]

At the start of this thread, I mentioned the possibility of somebody nominating a book that we could all read and comment on. Quite a few people seemed keen on the idea, so let's start the ball rolling and see what we can come up with.

Thinking about the type of book we read (as a group), I think that the following genres come up often:-

- History (war and espionage)
- Police procedurals/crime investigation
- Espionage fiction
- Stephen King - technically not a genre, but he is popular in here!
- Fantasy (a few of us)

Anybody care to shout out a few suggestions as to what might make a good group read?
I think that a standalone book with 400 pages or less would make a good candidate.

Just to re-iterate, if we do decide to go ahead with this, I don't want anybody feel that they have to join in in order to continue posting on this thread! Committing to a book means a good chunk of hours (and maybe expense) so it's entirely optional, and I want people to continue to post freely on here whether they decide to join in with the communal book or not.

This is my suggestion...it fails one of the suggested criteria in that it is over 400 pages long and probably a selfish choice - it is a book I have had on my "to read" list since it was released and think it could be an interesting choice. I appreciate that historical fiction isn't everyone's cup of tea.



It is the latest release from Robert Harris who is probably better known for WW2 fiction and was well received on release.

"1660. Colonel Edward Whalley and his son-in-law, Colonel William Goffe, cross the Atlantic. They are on the run and wanted for the murder of Charles I. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, they have been found guilty in absentia of high treason.

In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is tasked with tracking down the fugitives. He'll stop at nothing until the two men are brought to justice. A reward hangs over their heads - for their capture, dead or alive."

It's available in hardback and kindle. I am happy to purchase a hardback copy to pass on (logistics to be determined!).

What does everyone think?

 

[bennyboy]

This is my suggestion...it fails one of the suggested criteria in that it is over 400 pages long and probably a selfish choice - it is a book I have had on my "to read" list since it was released and think it could be an interesting choice. I appreciate that historical fiction isn't everyone's cup of tea.

View attachment 66944

It is the latest release from Robert Harris who is probably better known for WW2 fiction and was well received on release.

"1660. Colonel Edward Whalley and his son-in-law, Colonel William Goffe, cross the Atlantic. They are on the run and wanted for the murder of Charles I. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, they have been found guilty in absentia of high treason.

In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is tasked with tracking down the fugitives. He'll stop at nothing until the two men are brought to justice. A reward hangs over their heads - for their capture, dead or alive."

It's available in hardback and kindle. I am happy to purchase a hardback copy to pass on (logistics to be determined!).

What does everyone think?

I'm reading that at this moment.

 

[RobMCFC]

This is my suggestion...it fails one of the suggested criteria in that it is over 400 pages long and probably a selfish choice - it is a book I have had on my "to read" list since it was released and think it could be an interesting choice. I appreciate that historical fiction isn't everyone's cup of tea.

View attachment 66944

It is the latest release from Robert Harris who is probably better known for WW2 fiction and was well received on release.

"1660. Colonel Edward Whalley and his son-in-law, Colonel William Goffe, cross the Atlantic. They are on the run and wanted for the murder of Charles I. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, they have been found guilty in absentia of high treason.

In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is tasked with tracking down the fugitives. He'll stop at nothing until the two men are brought to justice. A reward hangs over their heads - for their capture, dead or alive."

It's available in hardback and kindle. I am happy to purchase a hardback copy to pass on (logistics to be determined!).

What does everyone think?

Funny you should mention that: The Second Sleep by the same author that you recommended last year is on my read list for this year. I read Archangel last year (my first Harris book) and thoroughly enjoyed it so I suspect that I'd probably enjoy this as well.

I was thinking of giving it a week or so to see if anybody else nominates anything, but let's say that Act of Oblivion is currently on a shortlist of one and see if anybody wants to add to it, or second it.

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to add that I'd be more than happy to read Act of Oblivion.

 

[mackenzie]

For this year I think I might try and catch up a little with old friends by concentrating on some of the many series I have ongoing. Maybe even finish a few if possible or at least bring some up to date. It won't be my only reading though as I'll still be picking off the odd stand-alone book from my tbr shelves or get distracted by the shiny & new.

Lamentation by C. J. Sansom

Sixth book in the Shardlake series of historical mysteries. Everybody’s favourite hunch-backed lawyer once again finds himself embroiled in court intrigue when Catherine Parr asks him to find a book she’d rather not see the light of day. Stolen from a locked box to which only she has a key and the title page having been found clutched in the hand of a murdered printer Shardlake is tasked with finding the book and why it’s not yet seen the light of day. For if it does she would most likely follow the path of Henry’s previous wives and supporters of the Protestant faith that currently hold sway would be discredited at a time crucial to the future of the kingdom as the king draws near death.

The fictitious mystery is cleverly woven in with actual events of the time being set in the time of Anne Askew’s burning and includes mostly real people. Weighing in at over 700 pages this is another brick but there is hardly any let up in the suspense as the mystery unfolds. Although I’d guessed part of the ending I didn’t quite get to all of it. Another quality entry into a very good series. One more book to go! 4★'s


The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross

After surviving his first couple of adventures as a Laundry Files field agent, Bob Howard has been promoted to SSO and has been tasked with attending a joint-liaison meeting in Germany with other EU agencies which perform similar tasks to his own organisation. Things quickly head sideways though when after arriving at his hotel he meets Ramona, an American assassin who also happens to be a succubus who works for the Black Chamber, and they’re supposed to be working together. Firstly to disrupt what’s about to go down and then to stop an evil genius who is about to raise something from the sea floor which shouldn’t be seeing the light of day. If this was the mission all along then why wasn’t he briefed?

James Bond meets H. P. Lovecraft with a dollop of geekdom thrown in for good measure make this an enjoyable continuation of this urban fantasy series. Bob & Ramona are great characters who play off each other really well and when you add Mo to the mix it really ramps up the ante. The villain is suitably Bondian through necessity as it’s all plot-driven and the author really exploits all the foibles you usually find in that franchise.

As with the first book there is also a short story with Bob back in the office with HR on his back. This time around he gets lumbered with an intern who does exactly what Bob tells him not to do and ends up trapped in an MMORPG. Unfortunately for Bob this particular intern got the position through nepotism and if he wants to avoid some nasty repercussions then he’s going to have to rescue him.

The way the series has started it could be a rival to the Dresden books for my favourite of the genre. 4★'s

Bloody love Shardlake. Started reading the books years back but I don't think I did them in order (just snatched them off the library shelves), so I've no idea what I've read and what I haven't now. :-(

Really need to get that in order and start again.

 

[SCEtoAUX]

I hope nobody minds me mentioning that I wrote a book :-)

"Tales from Russet Grange" - Fictional stories from a fictional golf club. Very laddish, very silly, but I do know a bit about golf clubs. It's an easy read, ideally when sat on the bog.

Pre-production edition of just 36 copies sold out to friends and family, big edit for the first edition starting in April, with a view to publishing in June or July.

www.russetgrange.co.uk

 

[RobMCFC]

I hope nobody minds me mentioning that I wrote a book :-)

"Tales from Russet Grange" - Fictional stories from a fictional golf club. Very laddish, very silly, but I do know a bit about golf clubs. It's an easy read, ideally when sat on the bog.

Pre-production edition of just 36 copies sold out to friends and family, big edit for the first edition starting in April, with a view to publishing in June or July.

www.russetgrange.co.uk

Good luck. I published a trilogy via Amazon. Really enjoyed writing and editing, which was a good job because I didn’t sell too many!