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Post by lollygagger on Mar 25, 2020 21:10:36 GMT
I enjoyed a short history of the world by HG Wells. From amoeba to 1930's in one book. Phew. A bit out of date now, but he's on the button predicting the unstoppable inevitability of all things.
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Post by lollygagger on Mar 25, 2020 21:24:39 GMT
An Account of Egypt by Herodotus
The first Tourist guide and over 2,500 years old. Seeing Egypt through eyes untainted by the next 2,500 years of the Romans and scientific discovery, when Gods were accepted as part of the fabric of the world. Pharaohs devoted their lives to living out a history predicted by Oracles because to do otherwise would be perverting destiny. Even if that meant personal disaster. Oracles were the real power, who knew that? And anyone could be a pharaoh, just invade and take over. But an Oracle could predict you spend 40 years enslaving the surrounding civilizations before committing suicide by sticking your head up a camels arse and if so, you did it - it's the future.
Not the easiest book to read but worth the effort if you like that kind of thing. It's not overly long.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 21:47:19 GMT
To the tune of 'Night Boat to Cairo'
The sexual life of the camel Is weirder than anyone thinks. One night in an orgy of passion It tried to bugger the sphinx. But the sphinx's posterior passage Was blocked by the sands of the Nile Which accounts for the hump on the camel And the sphinx's inscrutable smile.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Mar 25, 2020 21:51:56 GMT
Just to add, I do always enjoy reading the "Readers' Wives" pages in Razzle magazine.
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Post by JohnV on Mar 26, 2020 3:01:26 GMT
An Account of Egypt by Herodotus The first Tourist guide and over 2,500 years old. Seeing Egypt through eyes untainted by the next 2,500 years of the Romans and scientific discovery, when Gods were accepted as part of the fabric of the world. Pharaohs devoted their lives to living out a history predicted by Oracles because to do otherwise would be perverting destiny. Even if that meant personal disaster. Oracles were the real power, who knew that? And anyone could be a pharaoh, just invade and take over. But an Oracle could predict you spend 40 years enslaving the surrounding civilizations before committing suicide by sticking your head up a camels arse and if so, you did it - it's the future. Not the easiest book to read but worth the effort if you like that kind of thing. It's not overly long. never read Herodotus ...... I will have to give it a go if we are including ancient authors then I will add Xenophon Anabasis a story of betrayal and a fighting retreat
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 5:11:55 GMT
An Account of Egypt by Herodotus The first Tourist guide and over 2,500 years old. Seeing Egypt through eyes untainted by the next 2,500 years of the Romans and scientific discovery, when Gods were accepted as part of the fabric of the world. Pharaohs devoted their lives to living out a history predicted by Oracles because to do otherwise would be perverting destiny. Even if that meant personal disaster. Oracles were the real power, who knew that? And anyone could be a pharaoh, just invade and take over. But an Oracle could predict you spend 40 years enslaving the surrounding civilizations before committing suicide by sticking your head up a camels arse and if so, you did it - it's the future. Not the easiest book to read but worth the effort if you like that kind of thing. It's not overly long. I particularly enjoyed the part where, as Herodotus surveyed the pyramids, he recounts how a a somewhat smelly Egyptian bloke came up to him and said something like 'Ah my friend where you from? Rome? Ah, Christians vs lions luvly jubly. I have gift for you.'
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Post by patty on Mar 26, 2020 5:31:10 GMT
Used to read lots of sic fi..Raymond Feist. Julian May(I was fascinated by the series she wrote where the last book connected with the first, cannot remember the titles), ..cannot remember all the authors. I devoured books sometimes sitting up all night. Have read all Jane Austin plus loads historical romance, chic lit..though not the many shades series.. Crime Thrillers..Jonathan Kellerman, Faye Kellerman, Patricia Cornwall and Elizabeth George to name but a few. I have also read assorted non fiction including books relating to mental health etc..The Best is Yet to Be by Art Berg I found quite moving As to recommended books..dunno. On my long trip away I started to read again but the library on board rubbish so I read stuff I'd never normally touch and didn't enjoy. Trouble is now having attended so many writing courses and learning all about the story arc I tend to dissect what I'm reading into how good it is structurally..its taken the enjoyment out of reading. I re read Magician..Raymond Feist and did like that.
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Post by Jim on Mar 26, 2020 7:11:40 GMT
Just to add, I do always enjoy reading the "Readers' Wives" pages in Razzle magazine. Ah, now we come to the sort of book you read with one hand. Which hand though? Are they still to be found under cutside bushes, the best pages stuck together?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 8:34:02 GMT
My brother in law passed Feist's 'Magician' on to me as being one of his favourites patty. I enjoyed it, but have never read any more of the series. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on 'The Mirror and the Light' but declined to pay £25 ... and now will have to wait anyway. Rog
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 8:59:13 GMT
Just to add, I do always enjoy reading the "Readers' Wives" pages in Razzle magazine. "reading"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 9:00:55 GMT
My dad was an avid purchaser of the Fiesta magazines, as a teen with needs I used to borrow them, I say borrow, more inline with Rogers thinking of take what you want, I always skipped the readers wifes part though, just in case my dad and his wife ever took part..
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Post by JohnV on Mar 26, 2020 9:07:34 GMT
My favourite Science Fiction books are mostly from rather a long time ago
John Wyndham's "Day of the Triffids" a great book which I read for the first time about 60 years ago (Also a very much chopped and very poor TV series and a truly appalling film)
Hal Clements "Mission of Gravity" the first Sci Fi book I read that treated aliens as real characters
and a more modern one (although still a few years ago)
Larry Niven and Gerry Pournelle "The Mote in Gods Eye"
At about the same time as I read The Day of the Triffids I was also introduced to another brilliant author (not Sci Fi)
Geoffry Jenkins with his book "A Twist of Sand"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 9:25:17 GMT
My dad was an avid purchaser of the Fiesta magazines, as a teen with needs I used to borrow them, I say borrow, more inline with Rogers thinking of take what you want, I always skipped the readers wifes part though, just in case my dad and his wife ever took part.. When I was in my early 20s I lived in a mobile home site. My mate had loads of 'wrist exercise' mags. I made the mistake of asking him if I could borrow some. Next morning I opened up the front door to the whole world only to find about 100 such mags stacked up on my doorstep blowing about in the wind.. Morale of story, be careful what you wish for.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 15:12:09 GMT
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