I’ve not started it yet.
I’m on audible American Tabloid at moment. Recommend to me here.
It’s a bit of a struggle but will stick at it
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Just finished 'Here comes Everybody ’ the story of The Pogues by James Fearnley. Very enjoyable. James is well able to write. I really enjoyed reading about London in the early 80s. He paints the picture well. He doesn’t spare the rod. Frank Murray, Elvis Costello, Cait o Riordan all come in for fair stick while Ally Campbell from ub40 comes across as a complete cunt.
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I’m really greatly enjoying the audiobook of Mudlarking. It’s beautifully read, if not by the author, then by a lady who sounds exactly as you’d think she should. Anyone with an interest in London, or history, or both would , I think, really like it.
It’s mellow out. Like listening to the shipping news.
@Fagan_ODowd I think you would greatly enjoy it.
I got it for free from the library using borrowbox, which is a fantastic app, so thanks to whoever recommended it on here, possibly TUM or juhnallio.
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What does he have to say about him?
The Pogues spent a lot of time touring with Costello and he produced some of their early albums. Fearnley paints him as a talented but vain primadonna. He also blames him for encouraging Cait O Riordan to abandon the band half way through an American tour. Having said that Fearnley was glad to see the back of her because he reckoned she was a shit bass player.
Right. I know MacGowan said that Costello nicked his bass player or something like that. Costello has some great stuff but he strikes me as a bit of a prick at times,
The book did suggest that McGowan and Cait were riding on and off for a while well before she married Costello.
Fearnley’s portrayal of McGowan is fascinating. They were never close but nobody really got to be close to McGowan. From the time they met in the early 80s McGowan was chronically self conscious and socially awkward. He was a chronic alcoholic even at that stage. Fearnley feels he was definitely subjected to some sort of childhood trauma.
One poignant story that stood out for me. McGowan was always filthy and would wear the same clothes for weeks on end. But when he felt he had written a good song and the band were meeting to learn and rehearse it, he would arrive in a new suit.
He didn’t wear many new suits from about 1990 on.
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Fascinating insight.
Pat Nevin has a new one out
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Listening to ‘guns germs and steel’ at the moment, a brilliant broad history of the world.
Fascinating chapter earlier about how ‘clever’ viruses are,
Brought to mind the derision seen here recently whenever anybody on radio or tv suggested same.
Super book though,
I also enjoyed Andrew Marr’s ‘history of the world’
Just finished this. Enjoyed it. Gets mixed reviews mostly because there are too many threads to the story. I thought it was eye opening on the role played by the City of London in money laundering.
Oh and you’d hope there’ll be a special place in hell for Tony Blair.
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I will say one thing - whenever Brexit is debated in the UK and Blair & particularly Alistair Campbell are rolled out then Farage and co must be laughing .
Mudlarking on audiobook. It’s a lovely listen.
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They sold their souls for Russian money.
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Finished Shuggie Bain yesterday. I’m crying here.
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A great book and he got the ending right too
It’s a great read
Currently reading about this fascinating and volatile character.
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I am reading “My War Gone By” here. I wonder who this Irish guy “Shane” is, who was a mercenary on the Croatia side cc @mickee321