What book are you currently reading ?

Sheddie · administrator

RE: What book are you currently reading ?

Sheddie · administrator

stagger wrote:

Yes, I'm quite interested to hear as well. I've heard several times that Rusedski is not everyone's 'cup of tea' and, indeed, has only one real friend on the tour (a German who I forgot his name...mark something I think) whereas pretty much everyone likes Henman. There was a bit of tension, if I remember rightly, when Rusedski was drafted from Canada or Ukraine or wherever he is from, to play for UK tennis, but I too would like to know what Henman said about him. Somehow I just cant imagine the hen man saying anything even mildly insulting or shocking.

Greg has been quite outspoken at times with his views which has put people's backs up. He fell out with Todd Martin after their US Open 4th rd match in 1999 when Greg led 2 sets to 0 and was serving for the match at 5-4. He lost his serve and then the set but was a break up in the 4th and then 4-1 up in the 5th before somehow losing in 5. Greg's post-match comments upset Todd as Greg said: "He didn't win that match, I lost it !"

Greg did fall out with Sampras after the 2002 US Open 3rd rd match when Sampras won in 5 sets and Greg said afterwards that Sampras wouldn't go much further in the competition as he was a step and a half slower from what he used to be. An angry Sampras retorted that he didn't need to be a step and a half faster to beat Greg and then proved his point by going on to win the tournament.

Sally · Grand Slam Champion

Apparently they first fell out in 1997 when Greg was voted Sports Personality of the Year. Supposedly Tim had an article ghost-written for him called "You`re really getting on my nerves,Greg". There were so vaguely bitchy comments in that : "sitting there grinning and collecting all the prizes. Greg reached the final of the US Open and that was marvellous but I have to say I wouldn`t have minded his draw.Never in my wildest dreams did I expect him to make number 4 in the world and reach a Grand Slam final."

Then they were scheduled to play in the 1998 World Team Cup, but Tim decided that as it carried no ranking points, he wanted to go and play somewhere else instead. Greg said at the time that what bothered him was that Tim had done that without informing him first : "Tim talked to the press before I knew. This is a case of Britain`s top player not making the final decision."

After that they were supposedly not even on speaking terms and David Lloyd (Davis Cup captain at the time) made them have talks to try and clear the air.

They did play doubles together in 1999 and seemed fine with each other then. Greg`s fitness trainer at the time said that they`d "developed a mutual respect for each other which is genuine." They must be reasonably ok now, as Tim backed Greg when all the drugs allegations were kicking off.

-- Edited by Sally at 19:23, 2006-04-19

eira_arian · Lower Club Player

Just finished 'Dark Fire' by CJ Sansom - sequel to 'Dissolution' and part of the Shardlake series. Very good - I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of historical murder and mystery!

Next up is Alexander Cordell's 'Rape of the Fair Country'. Its a bit of a classic - set during the industrial revolution in Wales. I think its part of a trilogy (?) could be making that up. I started reading it when I was younger, but I didn't really get it. Enjoying it A LOT so far though :)

eira_arian · Lower Club Player

About 3/4 of the way through 'Rape of the Fair Country' now, and I have to say - it is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. It's quite possibly the best book I've ever read. The narrative voice, the beautiful descriptions, the little touches and twists which break your heart - it has them all.

If you ever get the chance to read it - do so. Incredible.

Sheddie · administrator

Interesting stuff, "Rape of the fair country" sounds like a great book, I'll have to read it.

At the moment, am halfway through yet another Alastair McLean thriller, "Breakheart pass"

A brief synopsis to set the scene: The Rocky Mountains, winter 1873...One of the most desolate stretches of railroad in the west. Travelling along it is a crowded troop train bound for the cholera-stricken garrison at Fort Humboldt. On board - the Governer of Nevada, the daughter of the fort's commander and a US Marshall escorting a notorious outlaw who is due to be hung. Between them and safety are the hostile Paiute Indians and a man who will stop at nothing, even murder !!

Salmon · Tennis legend

Rape of a Fair Country is an amazing book! Read it last year.

Ill start(and finish) Leon Uris' Battle Cry tomorrow.

eira_arian · Lower Club Player

Greenleaf wrote:

Rape of a Fair Country is an amazing book! Read it last year.

Yey! I absolutely LOVED it - finished it last night

Did you read the other two books in the trilogy?

Salmon · Tennis legend

No I have not. Could not find it any library

But Im going to the store for some massive book shopping next week, so Ill get it if I can find it. They should be very good judging by the first book.

-- Edited by Greenleaf at 08:19, 2006-05-06

Salmon · Tennis legend

I read a lot actually, so Ill name my favourites in the other two threads.

VSandhi20 · Futures qualifying

now ive finished uni, i normally use the summer to read books, anyone heard of john grisham? im reading 'the partner' at the moment. only got it yesterday!! read the 1st chapter so intriguing!!

emma · Strong Club Player

oh, this is a very old thread but maybe someone would like to contribute.

have just finished reading 'Mr Mac and Me' by Esther Freud which is just gorgeous. beautiful descriptive writing, very lyrical. a real feel good book to dip into each day. ending slightly rushed though like some novels are. its kind of based on a true story of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife visiting Suffolk and meeting a young boy where they were staying.

new book is 'The Finkler Question' by Howard Jacobson. its not my choice as I go to a book group. am finding it difficult to get into at the moment and have only read 22 pages.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

I'm reading 5

Down & Out in Paris & London - George Orwell - because I read it most years about this time. I'm always struck by how much more alive the depiction of French destitution seems compared to the British section.
Bring On The Empty Horses - David Niven - becaue I picked it up in a charity shop on a whim. Second Volume of his Autobiography, and a jolly good time, very entertaining prose style; a master raconteur.
The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 5: 1959-1960 - Charles M. Schulz - because... Peanuts, nuff said. I've done 1950-1958, and will work my way through the entire set eventually
Theory & Application of Infinite Sequences and Series - Konrad Knopp - because mathematicians! There was an article and video in which math Professors demonstrate why the answer to the sum 1+2+3+4+5+6.... for all number has an answer of -1/12. It's not a trick, or a scam, apparently it's the correct answer. I'm trying to understand how this works, and my search has led me to this book, which is supposed to be elucidating, but I'm finding it equally as impenetrable as all the other sources I've been recommended.
My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult - because I promised someone I would. I'm finding it pretty interminably dull, but will see it through.

emma · Strong Club Player

haven't read any of the above books Ali but will put 'Down & Out in Paris and London' on my list to read. have only read one George Orwell - 1984 - which was difficult to read because of the subject matter but a very important book.

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

I'm currently reading Orwell, also - Homage to Catalonia, alongside Stephen King as Richard Bachman.