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I recently read this one Robin, dark and mysterious, I rather enjoyed it.

From the synopsis this looks like the one for me. Thanks for the recommendation and link.

Fascinating insight into Philip K Dick. I’ve read a great many of his books down the years, but know precious little about the man himself. Is there a recommended biography?

Hi Robin, I’m pleased I’m not the only Scarlett Thomas fan here, somehow I knew that your range of reading would mean that you may share my interest.

I have a trilogy of paperbacks of the original Dangerous Visions and then a double paperback volume of Again Dangerous Visions, both sets have stayed with me since the 70’s. I read about the...

I recently watched the TV adaptation of the sci fi novel Three Body Problem it had been significantly westernised from the novel, and was quite enjoyable. I read the first book of the trilogy ages...

Like you I recently (within the past few years) re-read Owen Meany, it remains not only my favourite Irving, but one of my favourite novels. It’s a masterpiece.

The memoir about her mother is definitely not as engaging as her own story, but I still thought it worth my time, and it wasn’t a difficult read.

I have the first album from back in the day, as...

Currently half way through Melmoth by Sarah Perry, and am hugely enjoying it. I did like her debut The Essex Serpent, partly because it was set in my locality. This one is different, being a tale set...

The only audiobook I’ve “read” was Geddy’s, I really enjoyed the experience. I walk a lot with my dog, but listen to music or podcasts, but would like to put some more books into the mix.

I have both a physical Mt TBR and a virtual one! The Kindle daily deals for £1 catch me every so often, and if it’s a book I’ve read and enjoyed in the past, I’ll add it to the “may read again one...

I loved this one, and also read her follow up “To Throw Away Unopened” which was quite different, more about her mother’s life and history, but nonetheless an interesting read.

I always enjoy your recommendations Robin, and so I am really looking forward to this one.

Currently reading something a little different for me, The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley. I know...

It’s in my to be read list Duncan, I bought it when I saw your post on Facebook. Congratulations to Laura, it looks really interesting

Oh that is sad, I somehow had missed the news. I’ve read a few of his recently, some at your recommendation Robin. I very much enjoyed his novels when I was consuming pretty much nothing but SF back...

Shame it doesn’t have an English translation, there are some favourites of mine in the more unlikely names, especially Pere Ubu, Wire, PiL and The Lemon Kittens

This week I read Wivenhoe by Samuel Fisher, a short novel about an alternative reality where climate has irretrievably broken down, and we face the consequences of small communities pushed together...

That’s a great book, it made me fall in love with those early albums all over again. I was a huge fan from Empires & Dance onwards, but like you it faded for me after Sparkle. I have seen them quite...

Just finished a few differing books:

Just Kids - Patti Smith … a simply wonderful account of the early formative years in New York for herself and Robert Mapplethorpe.

The Innocent - Ian McEwan...

He didn’t read very much fiction, and I think this tale connected him to his childhood, where I do not imagine there were a great many books in supply. He grew up in very poor circumstances in East...

Well I had just ordered the book and then I noticed the delivery time was 1-2 months! So I cancelled and tried other sources, but no joy. I went into three bookshops in Cambridge today, and it’s out...

A wonderful book, it was my Dad’s favourite.

Robin that one had completely eluded me, but it sounds so perfectly up my street. A friend saw the movie yesterday and instantly proclaimed it a classic and unlikely to be bettered this year, and he...

It’s a really interesting read. There’s a sister volume “A Village in the Third Reich” which looks in even more forensic detail at the impact of the advance and ultimate capitulation of the regime,...

I haven’t checked into this thread in ages. I’m away on vacation and enjoying a few good books while I’m away, including:

Titanium Noir - Nick Harkway - A noir sci-fi crime thriller, described as...

I’m on holiday and picked up a few oldies off the shelves that I haven’t thought about in a long while. Just finished JP Donleavey’s The Ginger Man a novel definitely of a previous time, but no less...

I’m sure you’ll enjoy, it’s a clever book, stories within stories, but you’ve seen the movie so there will be some familiarity. There are also some characters that link to others or appear elsewhere...

Included in my 70's collection were the two Harlan Ellison edited collections Dangerous Visions and Again Dangerous Visions. I think the first set was originally a late 60's publication, but I do...

The box of 100 SF books I found in storage were all far older, the latest would have been mid 70’s. The other two of Gibson’s I read were within the past five or so years, so that counts as more...

After finding my treasure trove of old SF paperbacks, I’ve been reading a selection of more modern SF by William Gibson. Neuromancer refreshed my memory and enjoyment of his work, and since then I...

Robin, colour me intrigued. I am ordering this one today, but will the paperback suffice or do I need to source an original hardback edition for my shelves... such a dilemma!

Whilst on the subject...

I have been spending time with a few early Kazuo Ishiguro novels this week, firstly A Pale View Of Hills and since then I have moved on to When We Were Orphans. He is one of my favourite writers, he...

I will be interested to hear your conclusions on this one. I really enjoyed The Secret History but publication ws a long while ago, and perhaps I could revisit. I do have a hardback of another of her...

Hmmm interesting. I read Solaris when I was an impressionable teen with a SciFi fixation and no deep understanding of philosophy or indeed the human experience. I enjoyed it then, but I have found...

It was the short story collection I added, I will no doubt be intrigued to explore deeper once I’ve read these.

I don’t think I’ve read any of those, but I shall investigate. Thanks for the recommendation Robin.

Edit… Also 99p on Kindle, so added to the library :)

I just read Christopher Priest’s The Prestige which was a 99p Kindle bargain. I hadn’t been aware of it, in spite of there being a movie too, although reading the plot synopsis, it seems a very...

I went to my bookshelves in search of Martin Amis novels, following his sad passing last weekend. I found one I hadn’t read, The Information, and that has been entertaining me this week.

That is timely, I just heard her interviewed on an in depth podcast [Diary of a CEO - episode 243 I think], and it was truly eye opening. I don’t have any diabetic issues, but am always interested in...

I used to love those John Irving novels but I haven't kept pace with more recent publications, although I do have a hardback of a recent one sitting unread on my shelves. A few years ago I did...

I read that when it came out, it is really sad when you learn about the lives those poor girls lived. You may be interested in a podcast series that the author did alongside the books. It doesn’t...

Wow what could have been? Mind you the gathering of four band leader super-egos in one room, sparks would have flown!

That sounds like a fascinating read, a friend also recommended that one to me recently. On the subject of rising population, I heard a podcast recently that said one in ten children born in the world...

Until it was mentioned here I have never encountered this book, but it does sound intriguing and the reviews reference many stories that I enjoy. However, I am not sure I have the energy to be that...

They would be perfect beach reading Robin, but they are also mysterious enough to enjoy while the darkness surrounds the house. I just read the wiki on the author and was saddened to read he lost his...

Excellent, I hope you'll enjoy it through to the end ... I'm pretty sure you will.

I'm just finishing Carlos Luis Zafon's The Angel's Game. I read The Shadow Of The Wind years ago, but recently...

I also loved that one, and if you loved the twist, you’ll probably really enjoy some of his later books. I read his very first novel Ghostwritten when it first came out, enjoyed it and thought...

The Bone Clocks is great too, and there is a somewhat linked shifter novel that followed called Slade House. I hope you enjoy them, I’m sure you will if you know his style, most everything has a...

When I say mentioned, it really is just that, so a Trotter name gets referenced at one point, but I’m confused why you say “not fictional” as relating to the trilogy? The story is completely stand...

I just finished the latest Jonathan Coe novel Bournville, which I recommend to any fans of his work, it is a family story set in the aforementioned Birmingham suburb, and mentions characters from...

I loved all three of those you mention, but Cloud Atlas is one of my all time favourites, David Mitchell weaves an interesting world that spans multiple interconnected novels. They are not for...

Interesting to read the Kindle thoughts. I concur with all, and find myself more and more reading in the e-format. I even bought a novel last week, that I was half way through in print, because it...

Sorry a little late to respond, I haven’t opened this thread in a while. If you like Ishiguro I would definitely read it, but it’s one of his more sedate and mannered stories. It’s set in Japan post...

The Buried Giant? It’s very different but another winner, hope you enjoy when you virtually pluck it from the shelf.

I really enjoyed this one, I’m a huge Ishiguro fan. I recommend his latest Klara and the Sun,which is in similar vein to Never Let Me Go.

The two I referenced are the only two of his I have ever read, they are so interesting and it’s incredible to think they were written in the 1930’s. I must look out for Sirius, I just read a synopsis...

I nearly bought that one a few weeks ago, would you recommend?

I haven’t read one of his novels that I have not enjoyed yet. I started with Norwegian Wood, because of The Beatles name check I...

It’s been really interesting reading your SF discussions and recommendations of the past few pages. I used to be a teenage SF fanatic, and had a huge collection of paperbacks, which I foolishly sold...

I just read Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land, which I enjoyed immensely. It is a century spanning novel, with interconnected stories set in the far past, present and near future. It has an element...

I read that years ago, it was a fun trip through his career. You may be interested in a Podcast series he hosts with Gary Kemp called Rockenteurs. They have one guest a week for an depth chat, they...