It’s WWW Wednesday. This meme is from shouldbereading.
I’m a slow reader and don’t have a lot of reading for myself time. I also have numerous books going at one time–a different one stashed by each sitting place. So I don’t do these often.
• What did you recently finish reading?
“The Last Lion” by William Manchester. This massive biography of Winston Churchill runs 1112 pages on my Nook. And this is Volume I. The last 80 pages are notes, bibliography and footnotes. Lots and lots of footnotes. The original copyright is 1961 with a later update and reissue. The author had the advantage of actually meeting Churchill as a young man.
Manchester is quite readable, not caught up in his own ego about convoluted sentences and overuse of esoteric vocabulary. He does exhaust his subject with amazing details. His exploration of the late Victorian and Early Edwardian society that shaped both Winston Churchill and his parents was repeated almost word for word in a documentary film on PBS “Secrets of the Manor House.” I did stumble and skim 40 pages of the politics that guaranteed the Gallipoli campaign in World War I failed. Important information but not my personal cup of tea.
The details of Churchill’s family life and daily pursuits brought a great deal of loveable humanity to one of the great heroes of the modern era. Highly recommended reading. But take your time. It’s worth it.
• What are you reading now?
I just started “The Doomsday Vault” by Steven Harper. The first chapter with Clockwork plague victims becoming Zombies almost turned me off. I do not do Zombies. But the story of the characters who live in his Steampunk world triumphed over the nastiness. I am fascinated by his interpretation of steam powered airships and may steal some of it…
• What do you think you’ll read next?
Not certain. I have several things lined up on my Nook–”Dead Man’s Hand” by Pati Nagel, (BVC) “Rotten Row” by Chaz Brenchley, (BVC) and “Deeds of Men” by Marie Brennan.(BVC) But tonight my brother is bringing me an old paperback of the original “Phantom of the Opera.” That may trump everything else for a while.
What about you? What have you been reading lately? Put the link to your WWW Wednesday entry in comments, or just tell us!
