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I also loved this book but the style is pretty consistent throughout so you may not have enjoyed reading the whole thing. What was it you didn't get on with? I was wondering if you found the character too odious or whether you just didn't enjoy the style of writing.

Happy Chinese New Year - how will you celebrate DS?

I've heard really good things about 'Arthur and George'. I've read the Ishiguro and the Barry books and loved them both. Happy reading!

I've used abebooks a great deal and found that US booksellers are really quick at despatching and efficient at packaging. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about British booksellers and, as such, will never use one again. A great shame but I've been sent the wrong books, had to wait nearly a...

"A Long, Long Way" by Sebastian Barry is set in the First World War and provides a very human account of life in and around the trenches. The main character is Irish and the book also provides some historical context to Ireland at that time.

A key text is still Clausewitz's 'On War', written in the early nineteenth century but still widely referred to. There are also specific works on air power (Giulio Douhet and Robert A Pape), maritime strategy (Alfred Thayer Mahan and Julian S Corbett), nuclear strategy (Colin Gray) and...

Irene talked about this book on the "Cloud Atlas" thread and I have just finished it. I did like it very much and it was interesting to read it after Cloud Atlas. I particularly liked the humour, which I wasn't really expecting, and the way it made me think about reading.

Welcome Steven

Barry gives us the story of Willie Dunne, a young man who leaves Dublin to fight in the First World War. It provides a harrowing image of life in the trenches. Barry's description of mustard gas was especially memorable for me: "There had been no warning barrage and the dense smoke didn't...

DS, can I make a request now that you are in a position of such power and influence? Can you buy some good looking players, ie not Wayne Rooney lookalikes. Maybe some of the Portuguese players... :D

Thanks for the great review Mike. I also wondered why they didn't just run away. Maybe you are right that the acceptance is what the novel is about - I hadn't thought about it like that. I'll have to give it some thought. I have spent a great deal of time thinking about this book - it's one...

Kimi did some amazing overtaking to get back up the pack on several occasions. It was a shame he was let down with engine problems - there's no doubt he's a great and aggressive driver. I think that's where Button fails. I love him but am not sure he has the aggression to win. Alonso kept...

I thought Alonso was great. It would have been great (for the Brits) if Button had won or if McLaren had but I like Alonso's style. Can't wait for the next season.

I love to learn about other countries because I find it helps me to understand my own. In fact, I have learned to appreciate the UK (good things and bad things) by spending time overseas. I don't know if I could live somewhere else. I used to think I could but now I'm not so sure. I'm even...

Sorry to be late but happy birthday and I hope you have a great year ahead of you ds.

Happy birthday!

Toblerone is so good. Surely there are no psychopathic tendencies in biting those mountains to bits...

Hi malky and welcome

Welcome bluebelle

Thanks ds. I'm just re-reading deTocqueville because I have to teach it next week and I'm a little scared... Still, it should be more exciting than the EU stuff I'm teaching this week. My reading other than that has ground to a halt because I'm trying to finish a chapter, apply for jobs and...