I haven't read that one yet, but I have Read Road to Wiggan Pier, which is a book that was commishened by the Left Book Club, which was a socialist group. It is book made of 2 parts, the first chronicals the year he spent amoung cole miners in northern England, and the second part he describes and clarifies his feelings about socialism. It was so contraversial that the editor published a rebuttal in the book.

It came out a year before Homage to Catelolina, so if you are really curious about the evolution of his socialist idiology, then you might want to read that and Down and Out in Paris and London (which was his first book) beforehand.

I plan on reading Coming up for Air next, which I belive is the only one of his fiction books that I have left to read. Then I'll probably read Homage to Catelonia after that.

Cool MrBob, thanks! I've read a few of his essays in the Everyman's Library edition and he certainly is one eloquent, thought-provoking mofo. I see will have to read Down and Out in Paris and London first. What I find interesting is the progression of an artist, so I usually will take things is chronological order. Thanks for the tip. :up:

Finished Michael Connelly's The Black Echo. Going to stick with the Harry Bosch series and read The Black Ice next.

FICTION
Just finished South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami and The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald.
Just started Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie.
Next up: Love in the Time of Cholera by Garcia Marquez and War Trash by Ha Jin.

NON-FIC.
The Fatal Shore: the Epic of Australia's Founding
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda

Just finished this. Was nagged into reading it by my good lady and really enjoyed it.

Just Finished:   White Fang, by Jack London
Up Next:   To Build A Fire, by Jack London

Glad to have helped.

Just Finished:   To Build A Fire, by Jack London
Up Next:   A Christmas Story, by Jean Shepherd

Queer eye for the Straight Guy: The Fab 5's Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better.

Now reading: State of Fear - Michael Crichton

I normally don't buy Crichton's books in hardcover as they almost always disappoint me, but this looked intriguiging. So far it's pretty good, but I'll have to reserve judgement until I've finally finished the book.

The Last Precient by Patricia Cornwell
Still reading it ,since this is my first novel, I am having hard time getting into the Kay Scarpetta storyline.This novel was a gift so I can't complain!

Just finished up Book 2 of the Dark Tower series. Haven't really decided what to read next, as I won't get Volumes 3 and 4 until Christmas.

Reading The Prison , by , R.Patrick Gates.

Next up The Grass Crown , second in the Rome series by Colleen McCullogh

Just finished: The Silmarillion (incredible)

Just started: His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (great already)

Finished Comming up for Air by George Orwell. Great book, that is about a middle class guy that reflects back on growing up in his old home town that he hasn't visted in 20yrs. He decides to go back to find that the town has changed more than he could imagine.

Finished Simmon's Hyperion cantos - and didn't really care for it other than the first book.

Read Fight Club - excellent.

I think I'll start Lamb by Christopher Moore next.

Last night I finished Brass by Helen Walsh. What a brilliant, amazingly written book. But so dark and desolate. Parts of the book feel like it's sucking out part of your soul as you read it.

This morning I read the entirety of Naked Pictures of Famous People by Jon Stewart in its entirety. Hilarious...especially the opening essay about the Kennedys. A welcome reprieve after finishing Brass last night.

I'm starting Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel by Susanna Clarke tonight

Just finished Shoe Dog by George Pelecanos. Starting Headhunter by Michael Slade.

SPEER: The Final Verdict

by

Joachim Fest

Brother Assassin--Fred Saberhagen [Berserker novel, with a weird concept of fightning the Berserker war by going back in time.]
Arrogance--Bernard Goldberg.
Tomorrow's Crimes--Donald Westlake
and a 'Best SF of the Year' anthology in each car.

Just finished Pacific Beat by T. Jefferson Parker.

Next up, Off Season by Jack Ketchum.

Finished Michael Connelly's The Black Ice.

Next up is The Waste Lands - book 3 in Stephen King's Dark Tower Series.

Just finished the DaVinci Code and was sorely disappointed. Currently reading Only Forward by Michael Marshall Smith (which is an extreme, odd sci-fi novel). Also, while I've got this little soapbox, let me urge anyone looking for a good read to pick up "The Straw Men" by Michael Marshall (same author as above, but it's a different style of writing, so he drops the "Smith"). It's an amazningly intense book, with an odd style of writing. Highly, HIGHLY recommended. It's not sci-fi, just a very dark, moody thriller that deserves more recognition than its received so far. Also, if you enjoy it, pick up the follow-up book "The Upright Man."

Finished Off Season by Jack Ketchum last night. Wow, what a chilling book. :up:

Also started Michael Crichton's latest State of Fear.

Reading Matthew Lewis' The Monk, not as shocking as I expected, but it is 18th century...
Next up is probably some history stuff. Damn, I have too much to read.