What are you reading now?

Discuss the books you've read, the movies and TV shows you've seen
glenshena
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Shuggie Bain

Post by glenshena »

Just finished reading this years (2020) Booker prize winner Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. About a Glasgow family with an alcohlic mother who dies eventually because of her drink problem, and her three children are left to fend for themselves with no father in sight, growing up in a deprived area and living on social security. It is really quite a traumatic and depressing story, involving one son who is gay, and the language used is indecent to say the least. I couldn't give it to any family members as they would be scandalized at the language used.
Not a book I would recommend to the fainthearted, especially in these depressing covid days, and I shall gladly hand it in to the library
on my next visit to Saltcoats. The funny thing is that I ordered it on Amazon and I was sent TWO blessed copies!
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brian f
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by brian f »

That sounds interesting glenshena. I will pop in to my local library to see if they have a copy when things return to normal.. Hopefully soon . Thanks
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bobnetau
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by bobnetau »

Snuggie Bain was one of the books that I bought Bobby for Christmas. I will have a read of it when he is finished with it.
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Meg
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by Meg »

Dane Love - Ayrshire, Discovering a County - pub 2003. Dipping in and out of this - lots of info about Ardrossan - including the fact that during the 1920s and 1930s it was actually the British base of the Hudson Bay Company and handled large cargoes of fur, sealskin, fish and oil. It really is an interesting stroll through our county.
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by Penny Tray »

Meg,

What Harm did the polar bears do you, not to get a mention :lol:

GLASGOW HERALD
5 JUNE 1947

ARDROSSAN AND THE ARCTIC

The Hudson's Bay Company who for over 10 years used Ardrossan as the British base for their Arctic fleet, have arranged an exhibit at the centenary industrial exhibition which Mr Tom Johnson will open at Ardrossan on Saturday.

The exhibit is a model of the 1500-ton ice-breaker and supply ship NASCOPIE.

In 1931 a half-completed ship in an Ardrossan shipyard was taken over by the company. The following year it was launched as the BAYESKIMO and used as a supply ship, going out every year to the Arctic trading posts and coming back to Ardrossan with furs, oil, and once or twice with live polar bears for transport to London.

Another ship, the BAYRUPERT, was also built at Ardrossan and became the base-port for the five other ships of the fleet. In 1932, however, Canadian Government pressure caused the company to transfer their ships to a Canadian base.

The last of them to leave was the NASCOPIE. This vessel, built in Newcastle in 1912, had for several years taken part in the annual spring seal hunt off Labrador, and included in her battle honours an encounter with a U-boat in the White Sea during the First World War.

Another of the fleet, the BAYCHIMO, was trapped in the ice many years ago, and is still sometimes sighted and respected as a ghost ship.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
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brian f
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by brian f »

glenshena wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 5:16 pm Just finished reading this years (2020) Booker prize winner Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. About a Glasgow family with an alcohlic mother who dies eventually because of her drink problem, and her three children are left to fend for themselves with no father in sight, growing up in a deprived area and living on social security. It is really quite a traumatic and depressing story, involving one son who is gay, and the language used is indecent to say the least. I couldn't give it to any family members as they would be scandalized at the language used.
Not a book I would recommend to the fainthearted, especially in these depressing covid days, and I shall gladly hand it in to the library
on my next visit to Saltcoats. The funny thing is that I ordered it on Amazon and I was sent TWO blessed copies!
brian f wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 10:44 pm That sounds interesting glenshena. I will pop in to my local library to see if they have a copy when things return to normal.. Hopefully soon . Thanks
Just reserved a copy online at my library - My position is 44/45 so I think I will have to save the pennies and buy the book from Amazon ..Kindle is a cheaper option but I don't think that will suit me .
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madge
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by madge »

Just finished The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman from Pointless tv programme

Laugh out loud funny.




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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by Hughie »

Meg wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:42 pm Took the Millenium Trilogy with me on holiday - The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, The Girl who played with Fire and The Girl who kicked the hornets' nest all set in present day Sweden. Rattling good reads. So sad the author (Stieg Larsson) died at the young age of 50, he was so talented - would recommend the books to anyone who has an hour or two to pass.

Meg
Why did I take so long to decide to read these three books - really enjoyed them. //perfect
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Meg
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by Meg »

Hughie wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:36 am
Meg wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:42 pm Took the Millenium Trilogy with me on holiday - The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, The Girl who played with Fire and The Girl who kicked the hornets' nest all set in present day Sweden. Rattling good reads. So sad the author (Stieg Larsson) died at the young age of 50, he was so talented - would recommend the books to anyone who has an hour or two to pass.

Meg
Why did I take so long to decide to read these three books - really enjoyed them. //perfect
My next favourite trilogy is The Lewis Trilogy Hughie - The Blackhouse, the Lewis man and The Chessmen by Peter May. I’ve just finished his most recent, not part of the trilogy, Lockdown! (Not covid related btw).
glenshena
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by glenshena »

Half way through James Pattersons tribute to John Lennon, his last days. A true insight into the man whom I idolized as a teenager. It was a very welcome Christmas Gift.
glenshena
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by glenshena »

Great book. Read things about the man I never knew. He was the essence of the group, composing, playing and singing. Pity they went on to drugs and the music became less melodical. My favourites are 'No reply' and 'eight days a week'. And yours?
glenshena
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Re: What are you reading now?

Post by glenshena »

bobnetau wrote: Wed Jan 13, 2021 8:08 am Snuggie Bain was one of the books that I bought Bobby for Christmas. I will have a read of it when he is finished with it.
As I was going to Scotland for Christmas I brought the book with me in the intent of taking it to Saltcoats library. But in the two weeks we were there It was never open so I handed It into a charity shop in Dockhead Street.
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