What are you reading at the moment?

[Pat-W]

View attachment 52669

From - 'Gavin Maxwell - a life' by Douglas Botting - I can't explain to you - how beautiful this book is. The perfect biographer for the subject. They were close friends for a number of years - hence why Botting was the only author allowed access to the Maxwell's papers and letters - and manuscripts - by Maxwell's family - who guarded his literay legacy for years after he died. Exquisite - 600 pages - not a swift read. Lots of otter porn - as you might expect - a troubled man - but that is what made him interesting - my Kindle is fully loaded with the rest of his prose - a beautiful writer. I recommend - I. - my mate is up in Sutherland this weekend - asked him to look out for an otter - Just what you need in Govanhill.

@Missoni @Scotshave @patw @Blademonkey @Skylarking @Ferry-shave

Otters in Glasgow, Iain. Fishing the river Kelvin (Glesga) for salmon, yes that's right! Salmon. Fishing the Balmore section of the river i spotted the otter for the first time.My first thought was of rescue - that poor dug (dog).It was having a bit of a rest on part of a tree that was gently floating down the river. No fish pulling on the line that day,I blame the otter, haha.On returning to the river i would see the otter every now and again going about it's business and having a great old time to itself and sometimes no more the a couple of feet away from me.
With it's high banks in places and plenty of snags the river Kelvin isn't the easiest to cast a line as my favoured method is fly fishing .
I've had some nice brown trout out of the river but I'm amazed about the salmon that make their way up this city river . what's that you say? Okay I'll tell you,the biggest weighed in at 16 lbs. All my fish are returned back to the river .Who needs the Tay or the Spey .
I still get a buzz when I come across my wee pal,the otter.

 

[Missoni]

View attachment 52669

From - 'Gavin Maxwell - a life' by Douglas Botting - I can't explain to you - how beautiful this book is. The perfect biographer for the subject. They were close friends for a number of years - hence why Botting was the only author allowed access to the Maxwell's papers and letters - and manuscripts - by Maxwell's family - who guarded his literay legacy for years after he died. Exquisite - 600 pages - not a swift read. Lots of otter porn - as you might expect - a troubled man - but that is what made him interesting - my Kindle is fully loaded with the rest of his prose - a beautiful writer. I recommend - I. - my mate is up in Sutherland this weekend - asked him to look out for an otter - Just what you need in Govanhill.

@Missoni @Scotshave @patw @Blademonkey @Skylarking @Ferry-shave

...a good snapshot of the writing style...thank you...will check him out...

 

[Digimonkey]

Otters in Glasgow, Iain. Fishing the river Kelvin (Glesga) for salmon, yes that's right! Salmon. Fishing the Balmore section of the river i spotted the otter for the first time.My first thought was of rescue - that poor dug (dog).It was having a bit of a rest on part of a tree that was gently floating down the river. No fish pulling on the line that day,I blame the otter, haha.On returning to the river i would see the otter every now and again going about it's business and having a great old time to itself and sometimes no more the a couple of feet away from me.
With it's high banks in places and plenty of snags the river Kelvin isn't the easiest to cast a line as my favoured method is fly fishing .
I've had some nice brown trout out of the river but I'm amazed about the salmon that make their way up this city river . what's that you say? Okay I'll tell you,the biggest weighed in at 16 lbs. All my fish are returned back to the river .Who needs the Tay or the Spey .
I still get a buzz when I come across my wee pal,the otter.

That's brilliant P. - my otter will need to learn Urdu or Roma - to fit in - in Govanhill. Years ago - I was mugged by an otter - late at night - the fire growing older - dram time - camping at Loch Awe - my mate and I heard a noise under the tarp we had stowed our kit in - the bastard robbed our fish sticks! Golden eyes reflected in the light of head torches. We found the holt the next morning - further round the bay - tiny tracks - indicating that the parents had kits I think - fair enough - fish sticks are rubbish. How did they get the plastic wrapper off? According to Maxwell they are extraordinary dexterous. Why don't you eat the fish you catch from the Kelvin? Ah - the answer is in the question. I.

 

[Scotshave]

The plan was to read this in the Greek islands during the first fortnight in May. However, it's not to be. But no moaning: there are many in much worse situations.

@Digimonkey introduced me to Macfarlane's writing via (as it were) The Old Ways. I like the dense, poetic prose he uses; particularly when he brings some fascinating etymology into the mix. I maybe slightly struggled with chapter four ‘Dark Matter'; as I'm a social scientist; not a natural one. That said, I was in safe hands with his deft prose.

Looking forward to reading the remainder of the work. Some work colleagues find his prose too, well...prosey or florid. I find it quite the opposite: the skill to convey often challenging and complex ideas deftly is carried off very well, imo.

 

[Digimonkey]

View attachment 52677
The plan was to read this in the Greek islands during the first fortnight in May. However, it's not to be. But no moaning: there are many in much worse situations.

@Digimonkey introduced me to Macfarlane's writing via (as it were) The Old Ways. I like the dense, poetic prose he uses; particularly when he brings some fascinating etymology into the mix. I maybe slightly struggled with chapter four ‘Dark Matter'; as I'm a social scientist; not a natural one. That said, I was in safe hands with his deft prose.

Looking forward to reading the remainder of the work. Some work colleagues find his prose too, well...prosey or florid. I find it quite the opposite: the skill to convey often challenging and complex ideas deftly is carried off very well, imo.

I mostly loved this book - I mostly love anything MacFarlane has done - the stuff about the under sea salt mines - the machinery left behind - that will become part of the strata - glorious - I only had one major issue with this book - but you haven't got there yet - ask me again in the future - I'll explain. Yours - I.

 

[Pat-W]

That's brilliant P. - my otter will need to learn Urdu or Roma - to fit in - in Govanhill. Years ago - I was mugged by an otter - late at night - the fire growing older - dram time - camping at Loch Awe - my mate and I heard a noise under the tarp we had stowed our kit in - the bastard robbed our fish sticks! Golden eyes reflected in the light of head torches. We found the holt the next morning - further round the bay - tiny tracks - indicating that the parents had kits I think - fair enough - fish sticks are rubbish. How did they get the plastic wrapper off? According to Maxwell they are extraordinary dexterous. Why don't you eat the fish you catch from the Kelvin? Ah - the answer is in the question. I.

I always catch and release no matter where I cast a line.I do know what you mean though - Re the Kelvin and add to that, they need to make their way up the Clyde first.
As for your otter,it could've been worse as I've never known a Scottish otter to miss out on the opportunity to blag some unfortunates whisky.

 

[Scotshave]

I always catch and release no matter where I cast a line.I do know what you mean though - Re the Kelvin and add to that, they need to make their way up the Clyde first.
As for your otter,it could've been worse as I've never known a Scottish otter to miss out on the opportunity to blag some unfortunates whisky.

The Edinburgh otters are all fur coat and nae knickers. ‘You'll have had your tea?' they say.

 

[Pat-W]

The Edinburgh otters are all fur coat and nae knickers. ‘You'll have had your tea?' they say.

Laffin

 

[trainman]

The Adrian Monk series of books. I loved the TV series and find the books just as interesting. Be warned, these are a very easy read so don't expect lots of twists and turns.
Dave.

 

[fatboy1971]

I dont read, sorry i have no attention span, however i listen to audio books im currently listening to clive cusslers dirk pitt series, poseidons arrow.
Its not quite sahara or inca gold, but its a good book

 

[isaiah53]

 

[Pat-W]

 

[Digimonkey]

Lets face it - a lot of us will have a lot of time to read in the near future - three recommendations - I would suggest - absolutely pertinent to our times - from left to right - I was at my partner's flat tonight and Harari was interviewed on Channel Four news - I never knew what he looked like - depressingly young for one so bright - a polymath - this is the companion volume to 'Sapiens' - which came first - you should read them both - but this is far more relevant to our current situation - ideas of giving up privacy - see corona-virus apps - cops will turn up in South Korea if you turn your phone off - all predicted in this book. Next - Black Swan theory - essential as a tool in understanding history - as important as the concept of 'othering' - I found it a bit difficult to follow in places - as I am not good with mathematics - so are we experiencing a Black Swan event currently? Not according to the third book - Osterholm - is a world respected epidemiologist - in fact an advisor for decades to the US government - the current events were - entirely predictable - the book was published in 2017 - and guess what? - he creates a hypothetical outbreak - starting in China - that causes havoc around the globe. No shit - politicians only really react to what is in front of them - no capacity for future planning - as the author points out. I recommend these books to you - I.

@Scotshave @Missoni @Ferry-shave @patw @Blademonkey @udrako @Boycie83 @RussellR5555

 

[Blademonkey]

I dont read, sorry i have no attention span, however i listen to audio books im currently listening to clive cusslers dirk pitt series, poseidons arrow.
Its not quite sahara or inca gold, but its a good bookView attachment 52720

I've been listening to audio books for some time now and have really enjoyed them, I too have little attention span and it can take me ages to read a real book although I do like the feel and smell of real books! Strange but true! P.

 

[Scotshave]

Tremendous. Funny and erudite. A textbook for when you really want to piss someone off by asking ‘Actually, do you know the origins of that word?'

For @Digimonkey, @Missoni, @Ferry-shave, @patw, @Blademonkey @udrako, @Boycie83, @RussellR5555

 

[Digimonkey]

Tremendous. Funny and erudite. A textbook for when you really want to piss someone off by asking ‘Actually, do you know the origins of that word?'
View attachment 53121
For @Digimonkey, @Missoni, @Ferry-shave, @patw, @Blademonkey @udrako, @Boycie83, @RussellR5555

Bang on mate - a fantastic recommendation - just bought - a very reasonable £1.89 for my Kindle - like I need my pedantry encouraged? Of course I do - thanks - cheers - I.