Poll

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This is tight.



Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall by Spike Milligan - 3 votes
One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson - 2 votes
The Vertigo Years: Europe 1900-1914 by Philipp Blom - 2 votes

Ooh, close this month. I have both the Bryson and Milligan on my kindle, so am set whichever wins.

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Bryon's nipped ahead of Spike 5-4

Nine days to go - this could have a few twists and turns yet.

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Looking like Bill's gonna pip Spike - shame as I was hoping to read Spike, but then again Billy B is always very readable. Do I order it now or hang on a few more days?

^ 672 pages! Yikes.


I may hold fire and see what others make of it, before committing to that kind of page count.

That is long. I have it, and want to read it, but not sure I will get time. Always hard to keep up with group books, which is a shame.

Just out of curiosity I looked up all the editions of One Summer. Most have a page count in the mid 500s. I wonder why one is 672 pages long? Could it be a large print edition? lots of pictures? It DOES seem long but the Bryson books I've read have always been very readable and the pages just zipped by... I'm hoping it will win, despite its length, since it is available at my library and the Milligan book is not.

^ My library has a hard back edition that is in the mid-500s and has a paperback edition that is 672 page - it does seem quite a significant difference. Having just checked on Amazon, the paperback edition on there is apparently 560 pages, so perhaps my library has simply got it wrong?

The reviews are overwhelmingly positive so, assuming it wins, it sounds like it will be a worthwhile read. The most helpful review on Amazon UK, By John Ironmonger, concludes..

Bryson has stumbled upon a magical and pivotal summer in US history, and in his infectious, folksy style he takes us on a romp from May to September introducing a riotous cast of characters that you simply couldn't invent. Take the writer Zane Grey, for example, who earned a third of a million dollars from his books in 1927. Bryson reveals that Grey's hobbies included compiling detailed journals of his sexual exploits, and being photographed in the act. 'Edgar Rice Burroughs,' Bryson tells us, 'had a tamer life than Grey - but then, after all, who didn't?' It is this deliciously conversational style, a compote of statistics and gossip, that makes this book so compulsively readable. The summer is bookended by two events that gripped the consciousness of America - Lindbergh's crossing of the Atlantic, and Babe Ruth's record breaking season with a baseball bat. I started the book with a level of interest very close to zero in either event, but finished up almost as delirious with excitement as the crowds who swarmed to see both heroes in action. It is a heavy book, and my arms were aching as I finished it. But it is an amazing and wonderful read. I thoroughly recommend it.

Sounds rather promising doesn't it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...

I do like his books. We just all need to read full time and we'll be fine.

No kidding, Susan!

I'm excited that Bill won - looking forward to it!

I got it for Christmas. It has 509 pages, including bibliography and index. Leaving 468 for the actual reading pages.

I've now got my copy of One Summer: America, 1927.

I've dipped into it and its very readable and it should make for a great discussion. So much incredible stuff happened in the period he is writing about.

I have decided not read it all, because it's too long to read quickly, and I have so much else that I have to read, or want to read.

To echo Susan's sentiments....

Susan wrote: "That is long. I have it, and want to read it, but not sure I will get time. Always hard to keep up with group books, which is a shame."

It is a shame as it's clearly a very good book. I'll be reading the thread with interest though. Here's to another great discussion.