Continuing this new thread in purely book form. Currently reading The Way of Wyrd by Brian Bates, which was a gift from my sister who is a pagan and deeper into this type of thing than me. I’m thoroughly enjoying it, easiest way to describe it is like an Anglo Saxon Carlos Castaneda. Lovely hardback edition too. New Murakami is up next.
another great book from Kevin Barry
Found this at a local National Trust today. Cover took me straight back to childhood. On the reading pile for nostalgic reasons then on to my kids.
Currently reading Martin Amis’ Experience, an autobiography, mainly covering his relationship with his dad, very funny in parts, especially the bits involving his dental issues.
Picked up Dave Haslam’s Sonic Youth Slept On My Floor and David Sedaris’ Happy Go Lucky at one of those shopping centre free book stand things the other day so one of those next.
I’ve started reading Vuelta Skelter book by Tim Moore. It starts with the 1936 Tour De France that was happening concurrently with the start if the Spanish civil war. The book is basically about the 1941 Vuelta gran tour and the political situation in Spain back then. Also, the author is riding the 1941 tour while writing the book.
It was recommended by someone who’s taste I trust and it started pretty good. The author is clearly a great writer.
Couple of new arrivals
Firstly from Psychedelic Press
Secondly courtesy of @reubenturner thank you so much!
Can’t help feeling there’s some synergy here!
Shroom by Andy Letcher has some good history on UK mushroom use.
Niche but an intense description of a mental breakdown, basically Waugh describing what happened to him in the 50s
Love an old Penguin
Want !!
Started reading The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin.
I think is the first scifi book I’ve read as I’ve always been quite sceptical about scifi. I found myself enjoying it quite a lot. In a nutshell, they talk about two worlds, one anarchist and the other capitalist. There’s a couple things to learn by these anarchist haha
I’ve gone back into books big time. A big interest of mine has always been the years between the World Wars. It was my original plan to study this period for a Masters degree, but life…
This period gets more relevant to our current times than not, with some great writers, pieces of literature, insights, that are worth going back to. The latest read is ‘The World of Yesterday’ by Stefan Zweig - someone who was very well read in his time, but almost forgotten now. A life lived through crisis, witnessing the passing of an era, and the fears of the world to come.
Another writer who is unfashionable and barely read these days, but has a lot of wisdom to offer - Isaiah Berlin.
That Zweig memoir looks fascinating. Did you see this last year?
Another great writer on this period is Arthur koestler, both his fiction and non-fiction. And thanks, that looks right up my street ![]()












