Books & Reading Thread 2026

[Lou Antony Morris]

Greetings fellow Bibliophiles.

Only a very minor thing but if anyone on here buys used books online from WOB (World of Books) don’t do so direct from their website. Their customer service for those who take this route is nonexistent. The chatbot doesn’t pass you on to a human if the query can’t be resolved, and emails go unanswered.

I found this out when they sent me books with an abbreviated form of my address (I had entered it correctly when making the purchase), which the Post Office couldn’t figure out when it came to delivery.

Fortunately, I was able to retrieve them from the local sorting office.

It’s still perfectly fine to use an intermediary like Amazon or eBay, though. Both will refund you if something goes wrong.

I download all mine for free but that's good advice for people who do buy online

 

[richardtheref]

Greetings fellow Bibliophiles.

Only a very minor thing but if anyone on here buys used books online from WOB (World of Books) don’t do so direct from their website. Their customer service for those who take this route is nonexistent. The chatbot doesn’t pass you on to a human if the query can’t be resolved, and emails go unanswered.

I found this out when they sent me books with an abbreviated form of my address (I had entered it correctly when making the purchase), which the Post Office couldn’t figure out when it came to delivery.

Fortunately, I was able to retrieve them from the local sorting office.

It’s still perfectly fine to use an intermediary like Amazon or eBay, though. Both will refund you if something goes wrong.

I've used WOB for years and never had any problems whatsoever.

 

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

I've used WOB for years and never had any problems whatsoever.

Me too. I’ve spent hundreds of pounds with them through their own website, eBay and Amazon. Any problems have always been quickly resolved.

Until now. This time around I’ve been led around in circles by their chatbot and received no response from an email sent to customer service three days ago.

I still intend to buy from them. But I’ll only do so through Amazon or eBay.

 

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

Finally had an email from WOB Customer Service, apologising for the delay.

So disregard my earlier posts. It could well be that the person who handles that side of things has been off sick or something.

 

[RobMCFC]

1. Ice Town – Will Dean - 7/10
2. A Long Petal of the Sea - Isabel Allende – 8/10

Isabel Allende has been described as the world’s most widely read Spanish language author. Luckily for me her works are also available in English.

I think you can learn a lot about the world by reading fiction based on real events, and that is the case with this book, which features mostly fictional characters whose stories are based on the experiences of people who lived through a tumultuous set of events.

The story follows a group of refugees fleeing from Franco at the end of the Spanish Civil War. They are held in internment camps in France but are thrown a lifeline by poet Pablo Neruda – a real person, he was a celebrated poet in Chile, but at the time operating as a diplomat in Spain. He organised for 2000 refugees to travel to Chile on an old ship named the Winnipeg.

We follow their lives, and that of a Chilean businessman and his family, through the 40s and up to the 1970s, where, of course, they become embroiled in the violent coup that saw General Pinochet rise to power and rule with an iron fist. Unluckily for Victor, the main protagonist, he was a friend of soclialist president, Salvador Allende, killed in the coup.

It’s an absorbing read, and you really feel for some of these characters. I found the writing style a bit odd at times, almost like reading a newspaper summary of events and things that were happening to the characters. At times, the “show don’t tell” maxim is chucked out the window, and we even get two characters falling in love in this style, rather than us hearing them speak the words to each other. On the plus side, it allows the author to cover a lot of ground quickly. I did find that this style worked very well once I’d got used to it, and the chapter that covers 1970-73 creates a lot of tension and is particularly chilling.

I can’t get my head around how unlucky you would have to be to flee from a civil war and get caught up in a violent and oppressive dictatorship later on in life. It’s a book that makes you go off and read about real events when you’ve finished. For all his heroics, Neruda abandoned his sick daughter, protest singer Victor Jara was mentioned in the book, and I was disappointed to read that whilst Pinochet was indicted on many charges, he died before he faced justice.

This book captures the events in Spain and Chile perfectly, and I highly recommend it for covering a lot of ground in its 300+ pages without losing its humanity.

 

[richardtheref]

5. Death Of A Blue Movie Star - Jeffery Deaver. This is one of his earlier books from 1990. It's number 2 in the Rune series. I had read 1 & 3 probably 20 years ago. It was ok but not a patch on the Lincoln Rhyme series. However, you could see where the idea came from. 3/5

 

[fanatic1]

Love and Let Die by John Higgs. Coincidentally both the Beatles first 45 single - Love me do - and the preview of the first James Bond film - Dr No - were released on the same day. Friday October 8th 1962. Finally over 60 years on they do remain world wide British icons and phenomena. Other contenders such as Dr Who (only narrow-sci - not successful in all countries) and Harry Potter (only about 25 years old and too niche) don't really cut it. The book is a fascinating read of all the personalities involved and development through the decades. Highly recommended.

 

[Fiftyyearsandcounting]

I've used WOB for years and never had any problems whatsoever.

I have bought several S/hand books from WOB (usually via AZ). I only buy hardbacks and I wont buy ex-library. After ordering the last 2 books, I emailed WOB direct, with a clear message not to send ex-library.
They did respond by email, acknowledging my request BUT, 2 ex-library books were delivered, covered in stamps and stickers. Fair play to WOB they did refund pretty quickly, I offered the book to a charity shop, but they didn't want them (condition). Not the first time WOB (and others) have let me down, but always got my money back.

Ploughing through Dan Brown's "The Secret of Secrets". More like studying for a neurology thesis than reading a novel.

 

[surprisedbygrass]

1. Ice Town – Will Dean - 7/10
2. A Long Petal of the Sea - Isabel Allende – 8/10

View attachment 184043

Isabel Allende has been described as the world’s most widely read Spanish language author. Luckily for me her works are also available in English.

I think you can learn a lot about the world by reading fiction based on real events, and that is the case with this book, which features mostly fictional characters whose stories are based on the experiences of people who lived through a tumultuous set of events.

The story follows a group of refugees fleeing from Franco at the end of the Spanish Civil War. They are held in internment camps in France but are thrown a lifeline by poet Pablo Neruda – a real person, he was a celebrated poet in Chile, but at the time operating as a diplomat in Spain. He organised for 2000 refugees to travel to Chile on an old ship named the Winnipeg.

We follow their lives, and that of a Chilean businessman and his family, through the 40s and up to the 1970s, where, of course, they become embroiled in the violent coup that saw General Pinochet rise to power and rule with an iron fist. Unluckily for Victor, the main protagonist, he was a friend of soclialist president, Salvador Allende, killed in the coup.

It’s an absorbing read, and you really feel for some of these characters. I found the writing style a bit odd at times, almost like reading a newspaper summary of events and things that were happening to the characters. At times, the “show don’t tell” maxim is chucked out the window, and we even get two characters falling in love in this style, rather than us hearing them speak the words to each other. On the plus side, it allows the author to cover a lot of ground quickly. I did find that this style worked very well once I’d got used to it, and the chapter that covers 1970-73 creates a lot of tension and is particularly chilling.

I can’t get my head around how unlucky you would have to be to flee from a civil war and get caught up in a violent and oppressive dictatorship later on in life. It’s a book that makes you go off and read about real events when you’ve finished. For all his heroics, Neruda abandoned his sick daughter, protest singer Victor Jara was mentioned in the book, and I was disappointed to read that whilst Pinochet was indicted on many charges, he died before he faced justice.

This book captures the events in Spain and Chile perfectly, and I highly recommend it for covering a lot of ground in its 300+ pages without losing its humanity.

It's a long time since I've read a book by her but now I'm tempted . She is a fabulous storyteller .

 

[jimmy blue shoes]

Thought I'd jump aboard the Hype train for Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl. I'm listening on Audio and have to say I'm really enjoying it. Lot's of fun.

 

[surprisedbygrass]

My reading taste is towards back listed fiction but I finally got round to reading a Christmas present 2024 from my sister in law

Lessons in Chemistry / Bonnie Garmus .

it's a highly entertaining and ridiculous modern day fairy story with a thinking dog , a cute child and a neuro divergent heroine whose lack of social awareness turns into a superpower . Not sure why I enjoyed it but I could say the same about candy floss

 

[stoneblue]

Dead Lucky - Connor Hutchinson - 6/10



Jamie is an embalmer at a funeral home in Openshaw, he has a girlfriend, Rebecca, who is out of his league and he meets his best mate, Trick, every week for a few beers and snooker and on the face of it he has a perfect life.
However, Jamie has a secret which he reveals only to the dead as he prepares them for cremation. He is a gambling addict and he is in debt and running out of ways to keep it hidden.
Things get more complicated when Rebecca wants them to buy their first home together and to start saving seriously. This forces Jamie to take even more risks but everyone’s luck runs out eventually.

Whilst an okay read and despite the occasional black humour, the story was somewhat predictable and at times unbelievable. I’m sure that there’s space for a story about gambling addiction but I’m not sure that this is it.

 

[stoneblue]

My reading taste is towards back listed fiction but I finally got round to reading a Christmas present 2024 from my sister in law

Lessons in Chemistry / Bonnie Garmus .

it's a highly entertaining and ridiculous modern day fairy story with a thinking dog , a cute child and a neuro divergent heroine whose lack of social awareness turns into a superpower . Not sure why I enjoyed it but I could say the same about candy floss

This was dramatised on Apple TV (I think) a couple of years ago - an excellent adaptation as I recall.

 

[richardtheref]

6. The Chestnut Man - Soren Sveistrup. As I've said previously I do love nordic Crime. This is a Danish one. Absolutely brilliant. Reminded me a lot of The Silence Of The Lambs and also Jo Nesbo. This book came out in 2022 and the follow up is out later this year and I will definitely get it upon release. The writer also wrote the script for The Killing which I also throughly enjoyed. 5/5

 

[idahoblues]

I can’t get my head around how unlucky you would have to be to flee from a civil war and get caught up in a violent and oppressive dictatorship later on in life

I know it’s a little different but just in terms of out of the pot and into the fire, I knew a guy years ago who was backcountry skiing up in Alaska, managed to break his leg but was miraculously rescued by helicopter. On the trip to the hospital the helicopter crashed and killed everyone on board

 

[RobMCFC]

I know it’s a little different but just in terms of out of the pot and into the fire, I knew a guy years ago who was backcountry skiing up in Alaska, managed to break his leg but was miraculously rescued by helicopter. On the trip to the hospital the helicopter crashed and killed everyone on board

That is unlucky.

 

[waspish]

6. The Chestnut Man - Soren Sveistrup. As I've said previously I do love nordic Crime. This is a Danish one. Absolutely brilliant. Reminded me a lot of The Silence Of The Lambs and also Jo Nesbo. This book came out in 2022 and the follow up is out later this year and I will definitely get it upon release. The writer also wrote the script for The Killing which I also throughly enjoyed. 5/5

There is a danish series on that book and the second book one is out later this year.. I’ll be reading the book first then decide if I want to watch the series

 

[RobMCFC]

There is a danish series on that book and the second book one is out later this year.. I’ll be reading the book first then decide if I want to watch the series

I thought it sounded familiar. I've seen that series, on Netflix, I think.

 

[ob]

Finished Still Life by Louise Penny. Easily enough read which was ok. About a murder in Quebec. Didn't keep me on edge of my seat but enjoyable enough little read

 

[Vienna_70]

I’ve just started reading, A Hornet’s Nest by Jimmy Carter.

It’s about the colonies' fight against the perceived injustice of the crown's taxes and battle for independence.

It’s the only published work of fiction by an American president, provided you discount all the social media posts by the orange, racist idiot in chief.