I finished Voltaire's life of Charles XII of Sweden, in English, which was very good. Currently reading Neil Sheehan, A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schreiver and the Ultimate Weapon. The subject matter is good, particularly how they organized the effort to overcome technical challenges to build the ICBM, but I don't like Sheehan's writing style. I started it in March. Eager to finish and move on ... Possibly to one of the three remaining Rachel Cusk novels I haven't read yet.
These all sound excellent and I'm especially intrigued by Voltaire's life of Charles XII of Sweden. I've been meaning to read Rachel Cusk for a while now. Speaking of the Cold War, have you read any of the books by Ben Mcintyre?
The Voltaire biography is good. The English translation is nice, it’s very plain. Rachael, Cusk I am enjoying very much. She wrote a trilogy, which was acclaimed, in my view justly. Get the first volume and read the first 10 pages. If you like it, you will like the whole thing. I have not read anything by Ben McIntyre, and this is the first I’ve heard of him.
He writes a lot about the Cold War. One of his books about Kim Philby (one of the Cambridge Five spies) was adapted for a limited TV series. I haven't seen it yet, but I plan to.
Sounds good. I have read a lot about the Cold War and Cold War espionage, including Oleg Gordievsky's brick about the KGB. Speaking of Communists and their depredations, I just started Silvester Krčméry, Break Point: A True Account of Brainwashing and the Greater Power of the Gospel. This is kinda/sorta research for my own novel, which has a subplot about a civil war, and revolutionary activity and repressive measures by the regime in response.
I have! I found it really interesting, particularly when it comes to French history. The chapter on Japan was disappointing - Elkin didn't enjoy her time there, and that really coloured her essay on it in a way that the others weren't (and she really missed an opportunity to talk about Angela Carter). But other than that, it was quite good.
I love both Japan and Angela Carter, so thank you for these important heads-ups. I am going to the library tomorrow; I'll check if they have it. You had me at "French history." ❤️
I'm also in love with short stories as a genre! This is where writing technique means everything and every word counts.
That's exactly how I feel too.
I finished Voltaire's life of Charles XII of Sweden, in English, which was very good. Currently reading Neil Sheehan, A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schreiver and the Ultimate Weapon. The subject matter is good, particularly how they organized the effort to overcome technical challenges to build the ICBM, but I don't like Sheehan's writing style. I started it in March. Eager to finish and move on ... Possibly to one of the three remaining Rachel Cusk novels I haven't read yet.
These all sound excellent and I'm especially intrigued by Voltaire's life of Charles XII of Sweden. I've been meaning to read Rachel Cusk for a while now. Speaking of the Cold War, have you read any of the books by Ben Mcintyre?
The Voltaire biography is good. The English translation is nice, it’s very plain. Rachael, Cusk I am enjoying very much. She wrote a trilogy, which was acclaimed, in my view justly. Get the first volume and read the first 10 pages. If you like it, you will like the whole thing. I have not read anything by Ben McIntyre, and this is the first I’ve heard of him.
He writes a lot about the Cold War. One of his books about Kim Philby (one of the Cambridge Five spies) was adapted for a limited TV series. I haven't seen it yet, but I plan to.
Sounds good. I have read a lot about the Cold War and Cold War espionage, including Oleg Gordievsky's brick about the KGB. Speaking of Communists and their depredations, I just started Silvester Krčméry, Break Point: A True Account of Brainwashing and the Greater Power of the Gospel. This is kinda/sorta research for my own novel, which has a subplot about a civil war, and revolutionary activity and repressive measures by the regime in response.
The Paris Notebooks sound really interesting! Have you by any chance read Flâneuse by Lauren Elkin? 🖤
No, but it's been on my radar for a while now. Have you read it?
I have! I found it really interesting, particularly when it comes to French history. The chapter on Japan was disappointing - Elkin didn't enjoy her time there, and that really coloured her essay on it in a way that the others weren't (and she really missed an opportunity to talk about Angela Carter). But other than that, it was quite good.
I love both Japan and Angela Carter, so thank you for these important heads-ups. I am going to the library tomorrow; I'll check if they have it. You had me at "French history." ❤️