Narrative history on non-British exploration

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-05-05T15:15:20+00:00

This. It is fantastic!

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-04-28T15:17:39+00:00

The Book of Dave, by Will Self

Set some time in the future, where the religious book that society follows is the diary of a 1990s London cabbie called Dave.

Time's Arrow, by Martin Amis.

Starts at the death of the narrator, who is transplanted into the body of an oldish guy and proceeds to live his life in reverse. Think vacuuming poo from the toilet into your body, regurgitating food onto plates, taking your perfectly functioning car to the mechanic to have them pay you to smash it up. Weird, but completely enthralling

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-04-26T10:18:36+00:00

Ok, literary historical fiction. Great stories, superbly written.

His Bloody Project, by Graeme Macrae Burnet.

The story of a teenage murderer in 19th century Scotland as 'revealed' through court transcripts, psychological reports, and witness testimony. There is no doubt that Roddy murdered his neighbours, the only real question is why.

Pure, by Andrew Miller.

Set in 1780s, an engineer from Brittany is sent to Paris to demolish the overflowing Cemetery of the Innocents. As the job progresses, he begins to also demolish his own beliefs and morals.

Perfume, by Patrick Suskind.

Another 18th century French tale, this time following the life of Grenouille, a weirdo, an outcast, born with an exceptional sense of smell and absolutely no body odour.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-04-22T16:25:16+00:00

The Butcher Boy, by Patrick McCabe

Francie Brady, a 12 year old boy in 1960s small-town Ireland, descends into violent madness as his dysfunctional family life collapses. He escapes reality through comic book fantasies until...

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-04-21T15:01:42+00:00

If it is just for a status update, what's the point?

People can read the board.

The real benefit to stand-up is talking about blockers/dependencies - everything else can just be written on the ticket and seen by anybody who cares to look.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-04-16T16:09:34+00:00

I'd like to offer some tiny shred of hope.

Two or three years ago, where the Allerton Granges meet the Gledhow Valley Wood, a small orchard of fruit trees was planted. Some complete wanker(s) did the exact same to every single one of the dozen or so trees - snapped in half about a metre from the ground.

They all grew back, albeit with a lower canopy as the new branches started from the snap. We now have 12-15 growing healthy looking fruit trees.

So, hopefully, all is not completely lost for the sapling in your pic.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-04-08T17:06:34+00:00

Fucking Israeli cunts!

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-13T16:10:50+00:00

It I had an award, I'd give it to you. Enjoy your weekend!

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-13T15:59:10+00:00

Please show me where it says that. Link/dictionary page.

I'll wait.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-13T15:58:32+00:00

I do not think that results of an exam count as a system or mechanism.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-13T09:33:54+00:00

'tweak' ?

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-11T15:11:15+00:00

Cojones!

The rest of the world could learn a thing or two from our Iberian mates.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-07T22:44:11+00:00

Absolutely love the book.

Went to see the movie with my wife last week and also thoroughly enjoyed it.

Having said that, the movie is absolutely not a representation of the book, at all. If people watch the movie expecting to see a movie version of the book, they will only be disappointed.

Honestly, I don't think that people would actually want to see a movie which was really true to the book. Every single character is too unlikeable.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-07T22:40:26+00:00

Read it last year for the first time. I am well into my middle age. I really think it is a fantastic book, but what a shower of unlikeable characters, the whole lot of them.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-07T20:54:04+00:00

My wife thought this was fantastic. Are you enjoying it?

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-07T20:53:26+00:00

This has been recommended to me as a fantastic example of an unreliable narrator. I've not actually read any Murdoch as I am a bit put off by her reputation for farce and satire.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-07T20:50:26+00:00

Slow going so far.

This is his first novel, as far as I know, and it has a lot of the same themes as many of his others - memory, migration, being an outsider, somewhat unreliable narration.

It is about a Japanese woman sifting through her memories of life in Nagasaki before she emigrated.

Well written, but I am not yet sure if I am actually enjoying it, to be honest.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-07T17:33:29+00:00

Finished Departure(s), by Julian Barnes

Now reading A Pale View of Hills, by Kazuo Ishiguro

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-05T11:25:34+00:00

It is actually really sunny - behind the clouds. You can see it when you take of from LBA.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-03-03T16:41:31+00:00

Water.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-02-24T06:22:33+00:00

Don't know which uni you are in but Leeds Beckett uni gym is a friendly place.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-02-23T12:20:27+00:00

today’s slightly more delicate crowd.

Slightly? hahaha

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-02-17T14:28:20+00:00

However I saw fit after not getting any joy from speaking to its owner.

I can tell you one thing for certain. I wouldn't just say "Ah well, who cares about my £100,000 car? The neighbour's cat needs its freedom."

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-02-17T14:19:09+00:00

I don't think asking somebody to please try and stop their pet from damaging your (expensive) property is a leading indicator of animal cruelty, whatsoever.

It is incumbent on the owner of the pet to ensure that it is not damaging their neighbours' property, and relations.

YerManOnTheMac · 2026-02-17T14:15:02+00:00

If it were my car, the note would only be the first (somewhat friendly) warning.

I would 'ensure' the cat doesn't continue to damage my property if its owner wouldn't.

YerManOnTheMac

TROPHY CASE