Poll

POLL-WATCH 19 April 2013: Robert Graves taking an early lead. Can Graves hold on? Only 19 days left to influence the outcome...

The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939 by Robert Graves 3 votes, 50.0%
My Brother Evelyn & Other Profiles by Alec Waugh 1 vote, 16.7%
Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre 1 vote, 16.7%
Down with the Old Canoe: A Cultural History of the Titanic Disaster by Steven Biel 1 vote, 16.7%

The Long Week End is not on kindle (sigh!) and my library doesn't have it. I am currently shipping my books off to Amazon for trade-in so don't really want to buy more - would have to be a convincing argument to make me get this one.

Susan wrote: "The Long Week End is not on kindle (sigh!) and my library doesn't have it." I am currently shipping my books off to Amazon for trade-in so don't really want to buy more - would have to be a convincing argument to make me get this one.

How very frustrating.

It's available here - on Amazon - for $0.01 + $3.99 shipping, lots of copies too, $4 is almost certainly cheaper than a Kindle download (if one was available).

There's also an extraordinary number of very positive and fulsome reviews out there, so - if it was our choice - I think you'd get a lot out of it.

Convincing enough?

I am sure you are right. I just wish my library had some books that I read for various groups - they are utterly hopeless.

Susan wrote: "I just wish my library had some books that I read for various groups - they are utterly hopeless."

Maybe one month you could tell us what books (of the choices on offer) your library owns, and we could just choose between those books? Perhaps on or around your birthday? Our present to you.

It would be a poor choice and unfair to the group, but it's a kind thought :)

Hampshire library service is good, particularly for the non-fiction choices. They have two copies of the Robert Graves one. The only problem I have had is when the book is quite new and lots of other people have reserved it first.
You should be able to get it through the inter-library loan scheme, Susan, although that might cost as much as buying a second-hand copy from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-Weekend-...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-Weekend-...

I've just realised you're in the UK Susan - I'm easily confused. Please accept my apologies.

Val makes some good suggestions. Doesn't the interlibrary loan cost £2? That sounds like your best option. Or as Val also suggests, a few copies on Amazon for £0.01 + £2.80 UK delivery which is pretty cheap, and less than most Kindle downloads.

There's two copies in Brighton and Hove libraries. Brighton and Hove are in the SELMS partnership. As are...

Buckinghamshire Libraries
Hertfordshire Libraries
Kent Libraries
London Borough of Camden Libraries
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Libraries
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Libraries
Medway Libraries
Milton Keynes Libraries
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Libraries
Slough Libraries
West Berkshire Libraries

Any of those any good for you? If so, try SELMS.

Meanwhile...

POLL-WATCH update 19 April 2013: Robert Graves taking a commanding lead now....

The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939 by Robert Graves 6 votes, 50.0%
My Brother Evelyn & Other Profiles by Alec Waugh 2 votes, 16.7%
Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre 2 votes, 16.7%
Down with the Old Canoe: A Cultural History of the Titanic Disaster by Steven Biel 1 vote, 8.3%
The Pope's Jews: The Vatican's Secret Plan to Save Jews from the Nazis by Gordon Thomas 1 vote, 8.3%

Can Graves hold on? Only 19 days left to influence the outcome.

I got "Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal" by Ben Macintyre out of the library this afternoon - I think I'll read it anyway. I've also ordered a copy of Graves too.

Ben Macintyre is great - did anyone see the TV programmes on Operation Mincemeat and the other one on his most recent book Double Cross? He was so good in them and I've read all his books.

I'll probably abandon the library idea to be honest. I'll either order a second hand copy or just read the fiction choice that month.

The cost of ordering a book through the inter-library loan varies. I was charged £3.50 when I used it. On the plus side, ordering a book from within the county has gone down to 50p. (It was 50p, then 60p, then 75p, then £1.00, then back down to 50p.)

Susan wrote: "Ben Macintyre is great - did anyone see the TV programmes on Operation Mincemeat and the other one on his most recent book Double Cross? He was so good in them and I've read all his books."

Know nothing about Mr M - but looking forward to reading the book.

Susan wrote: "I'll get the book somehow. I'll either order a second hand copy or get it from the library. Nothing will stop me."

That's the spirit Susan. :-)))

lol Nigeyb! Well, the sun is out for the first time this year (feels like it anyway) so perhaps my optimism levels will rise :)

Susan wrote: "lol Nigeyb! Well, the sun is out for the first time this year (feels like it anyway) so perhaps my optimism levels will rise :)"

Just back from a whole day out in the sunshine. Wonderful.

POLL-WATCH 22 April 2013: Robert Graves still holding a commanding lead...




The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939 by Robert Graves 6 votes, 50.0%
My Brother Evelyn & Other Profiles by Alec Waugh 2 votes, 16.7%
Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre 2 votes, 16.7%
Down with the Old Canoe: A Cultural History of the Titanic Disaster by Steven Biel 1 vote, 8.3%
The Pope's Jews: The Vatican's Secret Plan to Save Jews from the Nazis by Gordon Thomas 1 vote, 8.3%

I am still waiting for my copy of The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939, however have read about a third of Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal, and have to say it's very enjoyable and interesting. Well worth reading if you have any interest in WW2 or just enjoy biographies of larger than life characters.

So many great books, so little time.

I have just finished Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre, as it looks as though it will miss out this time round, I'll add a few thoughts here...

Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal is the remarkable story of Second World War double agent Eddie Chapman. Along the way Eddie meets an extraordinary cast of characters. Here's a couple of examples:

Jasper Maskelyne who was Britain's official illusionist (and a master-illusionist at that) who came from a long line of magicians, alchemists and astronomers. In addition to his marvellous war work he also invented the coin operated toilet door.

Praetorius, one of Chapman's Abwehr (German Secret Service) minders. A fan of English folk dancing and who adored Morris dancing. As the war was concluding, Praetorius left the Abwehr, to take up a role as dance instructor to the Wehrmacht.

There are many, many more. You couldn't make some of this stuff up. It's incredible.

The most incredible thing of all is Eddie's tale: from criminal, to British prisoner, to Nazi prisoner (both in Jersey and Paris), to Nazi agent, and then to British double agent. Eddie's gift was his charm and his cunning. Almost universally liked, he seemed to win over even the most sceptical. This appears to be because he frequently developed real affection for the many people he met, including his Abwehr controllers. He also seemed to genuinely love the various women with whom he became entangled.

Ben Macintyre tells Chapman's story with skill, verve, and wit, and does his subject justice. Chapman emerges as a real life, working class James Bond-type character: handsome, charming, and drawn to danger, gambling, fine food, drink, and women. He is a seething mass of contradictions, with one essential attribute, he was the perfect double agent.

If you enjoy either good biographies, or larger-than-life characters, then you'll almost certainly enjoy this book.

4/5

If you liked that then do read Operation Mincemeat which is, by far, Ben Macintyre's best book. It is a riveting story - almost too unbelievable to be fact.

Susan wrote: "If you liked that then do read Operation Mincemeat which is, by far, Ben Macintyre's best book. It is a riveting story - almost too unbelievable to be fact."

Yes I notice a few people have made a similar observation. I can't wait to read it. Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal was a great read, so if Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory is even better then it must be quite something.

Have you read Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies? That looks like a goodie too.

My copy of The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939 should arrive any day now. Here's to a wonderful discussion. I hope plenty of BYT'ers get involved.

Nigeyb wrote: "My copy of The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939 should arrive any day now. Here's to a wonderful discussion. I hope plenty of BYT'ers get involved."

I've started reading it - and, whilst early days, so far it's fascinating. I am looking forward to this discussion.

The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939

by Robert Graves

That this book contains an alternate, idiosyncratic and personal history of Britain between World War One and World War Two, becomes very apparent when the reader arrives at the chapter headings. Here's a list of the 26 chapters contained within this book.

Contents:

Armistice, 1918
Revolution Averted, 1919
Women
Reading Matter
Post-War Politics
Various Conquests
Sex
Amusements
Screen and Stage
Revolution Again Averted, 1926
Domestic Life
Are, Literature, and Religion
Education and Ethics
Sport and Controversy
The Depression, 1930
Pacifism, Nudism, Hiking
The Days Of The Loch Ness Monster
Recovery, 1935
The Days of Non-Intervention
'The Deepening Twilight of Barbarism'
Three Kings in One Year
Keeping Fit, and Doing The Lambeth Walk
Social Consciences
'Markets Close Firmer'
Still At Peace
Rain Stops Play, 1939

50 pages in and really enjoying it.

Hi there. We're into June. "The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939" by Robert Graves is well worth reading. Come and get involved.....

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Hi there, There's still time to read and discuss our June 2013 non fiction choice: "The Long Week End: A Social History of Great Britain, 1918-1939" by Robert Graves.

It's well worth reading for anyone interested in the BYT era. Come on over and get involved.....

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

One week of June still to go - come and get involved.