What are you reading now?

[RIP]

Got a bike though and I'm a 'Boner so I'm happy .

Hmm, a little adjustment to 'Got a bike and a 'Boner and i'm happy' - makes for a perfect BB sticker/patch?

I'm 63 so I'm just happy to settle for the bike to be honest

[thenorthwind]

economics....... I'll let you all know how we're supposed to be doing

ooh, ooh, I know the answer to this one Sir!

Be my guest, Reg...

"We're fucked".

Got a bike though and I'm a 'Boner so I'm happy .

I think that's pretty much what Marx was trying to say

[faustus]

Got a bike though and I'm a 'Boner so I'm happy .

Hmm, a little adjustment to 'Got a bike and a 'Boner and i'm happy' - makes for a perfect BB sticker/patch?

I'm 63 so I'm just happy to settle for the bike to be honest

[godivatrailrider]

Just finished the brilliant 'The Road to Wigan Pier'. I really like Orwell, wasn't sure what to expect with this but it 's excellent.

Now onto another Bettina Selby - Like Water in a Dry Land. A Journey in Modern (1994) Israel. I think this will be more of a political observation than a bike journey but we'll see .

[Dave Barter]

Just finished the brilliant 'The Road to Wigan Pier'. I really like Orwell, wasn't sure what to expect with this but it 's excellent.

Now onto another Bettina Selby - Like Water in a Dry Land. A Journey in Modern (1994) Israel. I think this will be more of a political observation than a bike journey but we'll see .

Get "Down and Out in London and Paris" by Orwell

[RIP]

Funny old bugger Orwell. But yes, a top read. Perhaps more appropriate to us lot though would be 'Down and out in Paris and London' [ah sorry Dave, snap]. In fact I might go and dig it out of the loft right now.

Got a bike though and I'm a 'Boner so I'm happy .

Hmm, a little adjustment to 'Got a bike and a 'Boner and i'm happy' - makes for a perfect BB sticker/patch?

I'm 63 so I'm just happy to settle for the bike to be honest

Have applied a bit more thought to the sticker idea. Adjusting the phrase a little more gives us the very succinct:

Bike, 'Boner, Bangin'

I believe these 'ere young persons use " bangin' " to describe some thing or pastime or situation that is "exceptionally good; extremely meritorious; superior".

Just need Dee to come up with a suitable graphic to match the phrase.

[faustus]

Funny old bugger Orwell. But yes, a top read. Perhaps more appropriate to us lot though would be 'Down and out in Paris and London'. In fact I might go and dig it out of the loft right now.

Got a bike though and I'm a 'Boner so I'm happy .

Hmm, a little adjustment to 'Got a bike and a 'Boner and i'm happy' - makes for a perfect BB sticker/patch?

I'm 63 so I'm just happy to settle for the bike to be honest

Have applied a bit more thought to the sticker idea. Adjusting the phrase a little more gives us the very succinct:

Bike, 'Boner, Bangin'

I believe these young persons use " bangin' " to describe some thing or pastime or situation that is "exceptionally good; extremely meritorious; superior".

Just need Dee to come up with a suitable graphic to match the phrase.

If we're going for alliteration, then maybe Bike, 'Boner, Barmy is more apt?

Yes, Orwell the man was a funny old bugger, but 'Coming up for Air' is another really good one, and a novel rather than non-fiction.

[godivatrailrider]

Just finished the brilliant 'The Road to Wigan Pier'. I really like Orwell, wasn't sure what to expect with this but it 's excellent.

Now onto another Bettina Selby - Like Water in a Dry Land. A Journey in Modern (1994) Israel. I think this will be more of a political observation than a bike journey but we'll see .

Get "Down and Out in London and Paris" by Orwell

Will do, where he's living as tramp. He does mention it in Wigan Pier. I'll be keeping an eye out for it 2nd hand. Cheers.

[Rob S]

Finished The Book Of Trespass last night, first book I've read for ages (just the lack of time). Really good, proper eye-opener. I've seen it mentioned on here before so I expect quite a few have already read it, but if you haven't, it's recommended.

[HUX]

Just finished Butcher,Blacksmith, Acrobat,Sweep the tale of the first Tour de France. Some of the stages started at night with only the moon to light the way

[boxelder]

Orwell - remember reading Down and out..... as a teenager and being surprised that margarine was invented 'back then'
Love Coming up for air and read it a few times - I think having spent my youth fishing, means I can relate to that idea of an activity being set in sentimental time - like mountain biking in the 1990's.......
Book of Trespass - brilliant. So much more engaging than I expected.
Now reading 'Lost Realms' by Thomas Williams - history of British kingdoms between the Romans and the 'Viking age'. Rheged is obviously the most interesting . It's taken me decades to realise that Alfred the Great etc had bog all to do with Cumbria.

[godivatrailrider]

Finished The Book Of Trespass last night, first book I've read for ages (just the lack of time). Really good, proper eye-opener. I've seen it mentioned on here before so I expect quite a few have already read it, but if you haven't, it's recommended.

I bought this for the missus as I genuinely thought she 'd be interested .... I just got accused of buying it for myself.... there may be elements of truth in that defamation! It's still on the ever growing reading pile

[Jurassic pusher]

East of Eden - John Steinbeck … such a great writer.

A great writer, I love "The Grapes of Wrath"

[Rob S]

East of Eden - John Steinbeck … such a great writer.

A great writer, I love "The Grapes of Wrath"

Grapes of Wrath is a great piece of anti-capitalist fiction! At least the first three quarters are, then it seems to lose momentum and it feels, to me at least, as if Steinbeck doesn't know how to finish it. I found the ending quite unsatisfying.

[thenorthwind]

East of Eden - John Steinbeck … such a great writer.

A great writer, I love "The Grapes of Wrath"

Grapes of Wrath is a great piece of anti-capitalist fiction! At least the first three quarters are, then it seems to lose momentum and it feels, to me at least, as if Steinbeck doesn't know how to finish it. I found the ending quite unsatisfying.

Me too! (I think I might have discussed this on this thread) I didn't expect it to be so powerful - I'd enjoyed Travels with Charley (obviously a totally different kettle of fish) and thought I should read the book he's most famous for, and didn't really know much other than the basic synopsis. I expected it to be historical, but not so obviously political. And I guess it isn't overtly, but it would take spectacular ignorance not see the parallels whilst reading it.
But yes, the ending is a bit... inconclusive. Maybe that's the point.

[godivatrailrider]

East of Eden - John Steinbeck … such a great writer.

A great writer, I love "The Grapes of Wrath"

Grapes of Wrath is a great piece of anti-capitalist fiction! At least the first three quarters are, then it seems to lose momentum and it feels, to me at least, as if Steinbeck doesn't know how to finish it. I found the ending quite unsatisfying.

Me too! (I think I might have discussed this on this thread) I didn't expect it to be so powerful - I'd enjoyed Travels with Charley (obviously a totally different kettle of fish) and thought I should read the book he's most famous for, and didn't really know much other than the basic synopsis. I expected it to be historical, but not so obviously political. And I guess it isn't overtly, but it would take spectacular ignorance not see the parallels whilst reading it.
But yes, the ending is a bit... inconclusive. Maybe that's the point.

GoW - fabulous book. What resonated with me is how poorly we still treat economic migrants when it's patently no fault of their own. The ending with Rose of Sharon feeding the old man the only thing she had left was pretty poignant. I'm not sure how it's supposed to end ... maybe there is no end as nothing's really changed.
Everyone should read it.

[Rob S]

The ending with Rose of Sharon feeding the old man the only thing she had left

I'm thinking nail and head there. They were willing to share to the point where they had nothing. It's been at least twelve years since I read it, maybe it's not so much anti-capitalist it's more showing the downfalls of capitalism when the balance shifts in favour of it. As it invariably will do without proper regulation. I still feel the story loses it's focus towards the end though.

[robsmuddygloves]

Bit late to the party, but settling down with a drink to read The Book of Trespass. A fitting read on my birthday, it's a present from my wife, quite enjoying it.

[riderdown]

It's taken me decades to realise that Alfred the Great etc had bog all to do with Cumbria.

You will be all misty eyed about Yr Hen Ogledd

His grandson Aethelstan essentially created England and Britain at Eamont Bridge in 927, and won it outright at Brunanburh

[boxelder]

It's taken me decades to realise that Alfred the Great etc had bog all to do with Cumbria.

You will be all misty eyed about Yr Hen Ogledd

His grandson Aethelstan essentially created England and Britain at Eamont Bridge in 927, and won it outright at Brunanburh

Not misty eyed, I've long thought the 'Old North' should rise again.
Rheged was 'Celtic Briton' until the mid 7th century when Oswiu (raised in Dal Riata/Gaelic) ruled 'Cumbrian' Northumbria largely through marriage.
Alfred's lot did indeed take over after Brunanburh in 937, but Eric (Bloodaxe) took it 20 years later for a while and then Danes had it all back off them in under a century (Cnut the Great - although Cumbria was ruled by Scots at that time) and then the Normans (Franks/Danes) took over.

So Alfred's gang were sort of in charge up here for about 60 years.

We dropped into Largs for chips on Thursday, on the way back from riding the Dunoon Dirt Dash and they were setting up their Viking festival. It's based around the battle of 1263, when Norway finally returned the western Isles to Scotland - hadn't realised it was so late.

[godivatrailrider]

Having finished Orwell's excellent "Down & Out in Paris and London" & "Homage to Catalonia" I'm now on Rob Lilwall's " Cycling home from Siberia" as recommended on here.
It's ok / pretty good. Could do without the godsquad BS but ... I like that he's human and not bashing out 200 mile days, makes it more relatable.
I sharn't be going to Papua New Guinea anytime soon.

After this I've got JK's new one "Ink Black Heart"

Then Brave New World I think, if the missus doesn't get me another Orwell from the library.

[ledburner]

I sharn't be going to Papua New Guinea anytime soon.

I ready the rib lilwall book years ago. I magigined Iberia was just easterly northern Russia.
How wrong I was!
My sister did VSO work in in PHG. Still very tribal in the Highlands. Village falling out & fighting, then only satisfied when a life Is taken and that's settled.
If they roasted a pig they only ate the fatty parts and didn't touch the meat. Culturally quite different to us!
Who is right ? What qualifies me to say!

[godivatrailrider]

Rob Lilwall Cycling Home from Siberia .... still.
He's in Uzbekistan so not far from Afghanistan .... there's 28 pages left. He's patently lost interest and just wants to get home. To be honest, since he left Australia the detail has been sparce. Nothing about over 1000miles through Vietnam etc
No worries . After 3 years on a bike I guess 1 day blurs into another.

[errol]

The Endurance Diet by Matt Fitzgerald.

Looking for a bit of inspiration to improve on multi day events and just improve things overall.

So far a lot of preamble but moving into more interesting bits!

[Dave Barter]

Just finished “The complete guide to everything” by Hannah Fry

A beautifully written accessible science book from which I learnt so much. Look in a mirror and try to watch your eyes move from left to right and back again quickly. Then read this book to find out why it can’t be done