I've got three on the go at the moment...

Hamlet- I thought it was about time I read it.

Summerhill by A.S Neill- An account of the school of the same name. Odd in the extreme (the way it's written, not the philosophy), but very inspiring stuff.

Nietzsche- JP Stern- I've read a lot of Nietzshce, but not a lot of secondary stuff about him (normally it's vice versa with philosohy and me), so I thought I should read a quick intro. I think I get Nietzsche, but I'm never totally certain what the important bits are.

I just finished reading Master of the Senate about Lyndon Johnson's rise to Majority Leader and pragmatic/quasi-ideological swing from a classic Southern Senator to the man who would end up passing the Great Society programs. One of the best books about American politics I've read.

Am starting Darkmans by Nicola Barker. I've heard great things about this, but am having a hard time getting engaged in the first 20 pages or so.

I've just finished Richard Dawkins-The Ancestor's Tale which was good for someone who gave up biology at 14 (me not Professor Dawkins). The 100 pages in the middle with a succession of small, worm like creatures were a slog though. Currently reading too many books about the history of NHS IT systems for Uni. I think something light like Malcolm Pryce beckons next.

Heh. No, Dawkins waited until twenty years ago to give up biology.

FH - have you read Sebastian Barker's The Dream of Intelligence? it's an absolutely fucking brilliant exegesis of Nietzsche, as well as masterful poetry.

Done with The Two Faces of Islam (an abortion of a book - avoid it). Am now moving on to Madawi Al-Rasheed's Contesting the Saudi State which I am sure will crush me through sheer boredom in about 48 hours.

Darkmans as well, Gyuri? Truly a man of taste.

Stick with it, it's fantastic.

I just read On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. It's excruciating, but brilliant. A great, tight little study of how the wrong reactions at the wrong moment can ruin your entire life.
So yes, quite cheery.
Just before that I finally got round to reading Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. It was dazzling, but I think I need to read it again.

mackstress wrote:

QUOTE:

Just before that I finally got round to reading Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. It was dazzling, but I think I need to read it again.

That's pretty close to how I always feel after reading Calvino. I usually feel as if I've been dazzled, but I'm not exactly sure why.

Agnes Grey which is really great. I didn't expect so much discussion of animal rights...

I am now actually reading a book, which is a step forward.

It's Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis.

I'm not so far into it yet.

Oh I love Lindsey Davis, she's really brilliant. I hope you like it.

Her intro to this reissue is a bit up herself, but I'm hoping the book is better. It is so far.

I've started reading 'The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn'. I never seem to have time to read any more though. It does my head in.

A recent documentary on the subject prompts me to recommend a wonderful non-fiction called Into The Heart of The Sea: the voyage of the whaleship Essex, by Nathaniel Philbrick. It's the true story that inspired Melville to write Moby Dick. Incredible tale of seafaring and survival.

QUOTE:
FH - have you read Sebastian Barker's The Dream of Intelligence? it's an absolutely fucking brilliant exegesis of Nietzsche, as well as masterful poetry

I've not, no. I shall endeavour to do so, however.