Black Cat Bone

The previous Michael Connelly books I've read have definitely been a cut above your average crime fiction pot-boiler, and I'm hoping this one is no exception.

Just ordered this.

Making slow work of this due to work and life bothering me.

I've started this and, so far, it's one of the better reads regarding that crazy 12 weeks from the announcement of his candidacy to his assassination.

Just finished David Szalay's All That Man Is. And apparently man is a collection of 9 weakly written, ineffectual and unconnected short stories.

Now back to the crime fiction:

I've just finished that Szalay book too and I'd agree with you.

Entertaining and elegantly-written biog with Damon the unmentioned mockney elephant in the room.

Recommended.

I'm not sure it's a 'work of 'staggering genius' mind you, but great nonetheless.

A few of you on here may be interested in this crowdfunded book, entitled "A Guide To Modernism In Metro-Land" by Joshua Abbott.
It's halfway to being fully funded so please take a look and sign up if you fancy a copy of the book.



Modernism in Metro-Land started as a website in 2011 and has grown to explore modernist buildings throughout suburban London. Inspired by John Betjeman’s Metro-Land (1973) television programme and the architectural books by Ian Nairn, the website examines the growth of the suburbs from the 1920s to the present day through its modernist designs. Featuring architects such as Charles Holden, Erno Goldfinger and Norman Foster, Modernism in Metro-Land also shows the development of modernist architecture in Britain from its introduction in the 1920s right up to the brink of the 21st century. As well as the website, Modernism in Metro-Land also hosts tours of the modernist stations of the Piccadilly and Central Lines, as well as being a fixture of the annual Open House London weekend with its Stanmore Art Deco house walking tour.

And, no, I'm not on commission.

The Cornwell Shakespeare book was entertaining and informative if you are interested in how theater was back in those days.

Next up is this

Deebank wrote:

Entertaining and elegantly-written biog with Damon the unmentioned mockney elephant in the room.

Recommended.

I'm not sure it's a 'work of 'staggering genius' mind you, but great nonetheless.

I really enjoyed that.
A cut above the usual rock star memoire; he had such a strange upbringing - working class bohemian.
I like the way that it ends of the cusp of success and also how Albarn is just hinted at - the Popscene annuals and the "Modern Life is Rubbish" graffito.
There is no point scoring or argument settling.

On the downside I got little feel for what made them stand out from the crowd at the time musically and how that alchemy happened and some of the turns of phrase lean towards the overly flowery but never spiral into Morrisseyesque jarring clangers.

Better read as a personal period piece rather than an exposition on Suede.

Copehead wrote:On the downside I got little feel for what made them stand out from the crowd at the time musically and how that alchemy happened.

Wasn't that the point of the book?

It was the failure that made them? Ditching Justine and giving Butler free rein?

On a similar note I've been listening to Dog Man Star a bit lately - the end of side two is a staggering work of genius

Deebank wrote:

Copehead wrote:On the downside I got little feel for what made them stand out from the crowd at the time musically and how that alchemy happened.

Wasn't that the point of the book?

It was the failure that made them? Ditching Justine and giving Butler free rein?

On a similar note I've been listening to Dog Man Star a bit lately - the end of side two is a staggering work of genius

Have you heard their last album - it is a real return to form?

I got the point about Freischman leaving giving them space but got little sense of the relationship of Butler and Anderson that her leaving allowed to flourish, he seemed far closer to Osman, obviously.

Copehead wrote:

Deebank wrote:

Copehead wrote:On the downside I got little feel for what made them stand out from the crowd at the time musically and how that alchemy happened.

Wasn't that the point of the book?

It was the failure that made them? Ditching Justine and giving Butler free rein?

On a similar note I've been listening to Dog Man Star a bit lately - the end of side two is a staggering work of genius

Have you heard their last album - it is a real return to form?

I got the point about Freischman leaving giving them space but got little sense of the relationship of Butler and Anderson that her leaving allowed to flourish, he seemed far closer to Osman, obviously.

Luke Haines has quite a lot to say about it all in his excellent - and very funny - biog Bad Vibes. Highly recommended!

John Harris's The Last Party is also very good on this pivotal point in the formation of Britpop.

Deebank wrote:[
Luke Haines has quite a lot to say about it all in his excellent - and very funny - biog Bad Vibes. Highly recommended!

John Harris's The Last Party is also very good on this pivotal point in the formation of Britpop.

Thanks for reminding me about that, I had bought it but it had never downloaded to my kindle for some reason.
Now it has and the opening chapter about being attacked by a dwarf on stage is one of the funniest things I have ever read.

Just re-started this - the subject matter is well known, but there is some fantastic detail here regarding the four main components of 'the team' (Bernstein, Sondheim, Laurents and Robbins) as they worked on the idea for years before the realisation of "West Side Story" on Broadway in 1958..... quite a bit of background on NYC itself at the time, and how that informed the musical.

Diamond Dog wrote:

I've started this and, so far, it's one of the better reads regarding that crazy 12 weeks from the announcement of his candidacy to his assassination.

This was excellent and well worth picking up if you're interested in the Robert Kennedy 'phenomenon' of 1968.

Copehead wrote:

Deebank wrote:

Copehead wrote:On the downside I got little feel for what made them stand out from the crowd at the time musically and how that alchemy happened.

Wasn't that the point of the book?

It was the failure that made them? Ditching Justine and giving Butler free rein?

On a similar note I've been listening to Dog Man Star a bit lately - the end of side two is a staggering work of genius

Have you heard their last album - it is a real return to form?

I got the point about Freischman leaving giving them space but got little sense of the relationship of Butler and Anderson that her leaving allowed to flourish, he seemed far closer to Osman, obviously.

Brett’s only recollection of Richard Osman was good.
Apparently he stormed into the room and announced “The sixties were shit!”

Meanwhile, back in "Now Reading".....

Diamond Dog wrote:Meanwhile, back in "Now Reading".....

We are talking about books we are readig
And teh are about music as well

What more do you want/1111!!!!@@

I've had a Negroni and I am watching the Manics at the Osle of Wight festival


They are fab

Sorry for the spelling msralee x