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What book(s) are you currently reading or listening? 06 January
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this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2024
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I have started my year-long read for this year: The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Two chapters a week will get me through it by December.
Otherwise, I am two thirds through The Rings of Saturn which is a melancholic reflection on death, remnants and legacy over the course of a walking tour of the Suffolk coast, where I live and work. I have been aware of it for ages, and it has finally hit the top of my pile. A thoughtful and easy read, though it does seem a little over-romanticised.
And I am continuing with Peter Frankopan's The Earth Transformed. This is a history of the world taking account of changes in climate and environment: both their effects on history, and human effects on them. Informative, although the detail obscures the main points at times.
Finally, I am continuing with the Doctor Who novel The Death of Art. Some well researched worldbuilding and atmosphere and an enjoyable writing style, but an overcrowded plot that gets bogged down as a result.
That's an interesting idea to have an year-long series. Specially for a book that you may find difficult to read or get into. I should do that.
I think you mentioned The Earth Transformed before too. How is it going, still enjoying it?
The Earth Transformed - this is a much longer read than I was expecting. It is certainly still interesting, but also continues to include a LOT of detail and examples that make it difficult to keep in mind the overall points that the author is making. I have read a good few 'popular histories' - which is what this ultimate is - that are clearer. I'm going to continue though.
Any recommendations? ๐
One I recently enjoyed is 1177 BC: The Year Civilisation Collapsed by Eric H Cline. Totally different subject, but all his examples clarify rather that obscure the point.
Another on a similar topic is John Perlin's A Forest Journey: The Role of Wood in the Development of Civilization which I found to be very dismissive in a couple of areas such as coppice woodland, but still very clear.
And another - a classic - is Oliver Rackham's The History of the Countryside which looks at the UK countryside and is both clear and thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the list, I'll add them to my list and look them up next time at the bookstore!