An update

After much shenanigans, frustration and sheer incompetency on behalf of our old broadband provider and our impending new broadband provider, I am pleased to inform you that I should be properly back on line on next Thursday. All being well.

In the meantime, my reading's come to a grinding halt thanks to a lovely dose of conjunctivitis -- in both eyes. And just when I was getting really stuck into Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine, a wonderful book about disaster capitalism that has me watching the news broadcasts about the Burmese cyclone and the Chinese earthquake with particular interest.

To lighten the mood, I've also been working my way through Stuart Maconie's very funny look at England's North in Pies and Prejudice. He's a bit like Bill Bryson, but with a drier wit and a nice sideline in British self-deprecation.

What have you been reading lately?

Comments

[Kinuk]

Your reading through a nasty case of conjunctivitis just shows your determination. Wow!

I've been getting through books slowly these days. Just finished Midnight's Children by Rushdie and am now in the midst of The Secret River by Kate Grenville. I also finished a Polish translation of The Kite Runner. All have been great reads, but the Rushdie book was hard work!

Hope you recover soon!

[kimbofo]

Kinuk, not reading through conjunctivitis (it hurts too much!!) but reading through the period without a broadband connection... it's been almost a month now. Grrrr.

[Stephanie]

Pink Eye - yuck! Got that once from my daughter and it was not fun.

[Liz]

Light, fun reading -- "Landmark Status" by Alan Rolnick. He puts his attorney backround to use in this book about people trying to own some of Florida paradise. It's humorous and entertaining, and you'll think of Carl Hiaasen (well, this IS set in Florida!). I couldn't put it down, once I started reading it. You could say "Landmark Status" deserves it!

[Julia]

I've been in a giving up phase lately. In a short period I have given up on The Getting of Wisom, Gould's Book of Fish and Seven poor Men of Sydney. Am currently sticking with Wives and Daughters and Vietnam guidebooks.

[Juliette]

I am reading "Yellow Cake" by Ann Cummnins about Uranium mining in New Mexico. It is a good read so far.

Pink eye sounds like a festive pub drink...but it is neither festive...nor a drink. Be well.

[Wendy Smith]

I have been suffering from dry eyes recently and had to get some "artificial tears" from the chemist, so you have my sympathy. During the last week I have read The Outcast by Sadie Jones and Disquiet by Julia Leigh. I have just started Per Petterson's In the Wake - I was persuaded by your review!

[Melody]

I have begun Gordon Ramsey's autobiog. And enjoying it too so far... (Spewing we forgot to take that Mark Seymour book but hopefully we get to 'pick it up' from you not too far dwon the track...)

[Litlove]

I saw that Naomi Klein book and wondered what it was like! I'm so sorry to hear about the conjunctivitis, though - oww, nasty.

[Dean]

Reading Carmen Callil's 'Bad Faith' - about collabos Louis Darquier and his Australian wife Myrtle. It also follows the fortunes of their daughter Anne, who counselled Callil following a suicide attempt. Callil is known as the woman who set up Virago Press.

Callil is scathing about Darquier and it's a bit unfortunate because the same ideas about 'race' exploited by various Continental leaders in the middle of last century, are found with equal frequency in publications and artworks produced in countries not normally associated with extreme xenophobia - America, England, Australia...

If you read Callil's book in association with Isobel Crombie's 'Body Culture' (for example; book about 'our first photographer' Max Dupain) it becomes less easy to shift blame wholesale to the vanquished.

[Leah]

I just finished my exams and I am looking forward to a long summer of reading, reading, tv and more reading.