Reading - July 2014

Guitarist (August 2014 / Issue 383)

Country Of The Blind by Christopher Brookmyre (1997)

Comfort reading.

The Week (28 July 2014 / Issue 977)

The Week (5 July 2014 / Issue 978)

Notable for containing an obituary of its owner, Felix Dennis - a remarkable man. Have gone and purchased his book "How To Get Rich" in tribute - not because I intend to get rich, but because it is an excellent and entertaining book.

How To Get Rich by Felix Dennis (2006)

I am never going to be rich, but having read this book I am reasonably convinced that this is no bad thing.

The Week (12 July 2014 / Issue 979)

Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson (1995)

This is in my top 10 favourite books, but it's the first time I've read it in ages. It is good though. I read it for comparison with Dara O Briain's book.

Tickling The English by Dara O Briain (2009)

A book with a bit of an identity crisis. Is it a tour diary? Yeah, much of it is. Is it a(nother) rumination on English/British identity? Kinda. Dara makes some interesting points and is funny (I'd be tempted to see his show) but the real clincher is at the end, where he points out that the notion of a national identity isn't really anything to do with any alleged shared characteristics but with a shared culture.

Cider With Roadies by Stuart Maconie (2003)

All of Stuart Maconie's books have punning titles but this is probably the best. A highly amusing account of life as a music obsessive and his time as an NME music journalist.

The Week (19 July 2014 / Issue 980)

Guitarist (Summer 2014 / Issue 384)

The Week (26 July 2014 / Issue 981)