Hangover Square (Patrick Hamilton)

Patrick Hamilton

Hangover Square

A darkly funny book set in mainly in Earls Court about a guy stuck in a drunken culture due to the love of a lush woman (in both senses) and how has increasingly frequent flips into a different mindset a bit, or definitely, schizophrenic like. I won't write a spoiler but this is well worth reading. Well written, plot never dull, tense, dark and at times depressing. It was written during the first couple of years of WWII and I guess parallels the by turns depressing and euphoric feelings and the need for many to switch off from reality. Above all it's about relationships, the good and the bad, and how we should hold onto the good and ditch the bad - if we're of sound mind and soul that is. A contemporary of Orwell and that shows in subject and style.

The Undoing Project (Michael Lewis)

Michael Lewis

The Undoing Project

A book I tried to read and although sections are interesting I couldn't keep the thread. Not sure if cos I had gaps between reading or cos it jumps around a bit but probably a bit of both. One of the few books (although they seem to be mounting?) I couldn't finish and gave up half way through. A shame as sure the end brings everything together but I'd have forgotten all the strands by then anyway!

The Hardmen (Velominati)

Velominati (Brett Kennedy, Frank Strack, and John Andrews)

The Hardmen: Legends of the Cycling Gods

Entertainingly written account of selected cycling hard men (aren't they all?) and why. Probably one for cycling enthusiasts but even as a commuter and occasional hill climber who never puts myself "into the red", well not intentionally although a few Devon hills have done their best to beat me, I can appreciated the descriptions of what the riders put themselves through. The writing is a bit matey and as it's the Velominati who are self proclaimed guardians of serious cycling rules it's a little bit contrived at time. At first I was a little niggled by the style but once I realised that it the authors are American I gave them a bit of leeway and just went with the flow. Very good covering different styles and includes women cyclists and some blasts from the past.