Welcome to the Platform Book Club, where you can talk all things books. Join our bi-monthly book club review and read our chosen title for a chance to win £20 in book vouchers; talk about books you’ve read, liked, hated, have yet to read; books you’ve written, your favourite authors or genres or characters. It’s an open book, so to speak. Here you can post links to articles of interest, recommend book bloggers or chat in the book-themed forums.
Suggest a book for the May/June Book Club Review
We'll be announcing the winning review of Bodies Electric by Colin Harrison at the end of April - so there's still time to post one - and at the same time launching the May/June Book Club Review. Can you recommend a title for us avid readers to get stuck into over the summer?
We'll be announcing the winning review of Bodies Electric by Colin Harrison at the end of April - so there's still time to post one - and at the same time launching the May/June Book Club Review. Can you recommend a title for us avid readers to get stuck into over the summer?
A215 - Creative Writing
I plan on starting this module in October. Has anyone else done this? I've read the reviews and overall it seems like a very good course. What's your opinion?
I plan on starting this module in October. Has anyone else done this? I've read the reviews and overall it seems like a very good course. What's your opinion?
Your favourite reads from German literature
Who are your favourite German authors? Thomas Mann? Gunter Grass? Juli Zeh? The Guardian has a special focus on German life this week, including a chance to share your favourite reads from German literature. Find out more here.
Who are your favourite German authors? Thomas Mann? Gunter Grass? Juli Zeh? The Guardian has a special focus on German life this week, including a chance to share your favourite reads from German literature. Find out more here. 2 Average: 2 (3 votes)
Literary review
I came across these literary reviews of the Mr Men books. I think that they are superb (the reviews!) Should all books be reviewed this way in future?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1SM813W6H36YA/ref=cm_pdp_rev_all?ie=UTF8
Regards
Tony
I came across these literary reviews of the Mr Men books. I think that they are superb (the reviews!) Should all books be reviewed this way in future? http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1SM813W6H36YA/ref=cm_pdp_rev_all?ie=UTF8 Regards Tony
Jean Auel's last book!
The Land of the Painted Cave comes out on the 29th of March- it is the sixth and final book and I am soooo looking forward to reading it - I loved Miss Auel's first and second book and then the other three a little less so, but I really do have to see how the story ends!
The Land of the Painted Cave comes out on the 29th of March- it is the sixth and final book and I am soooo looking forward to reading it - I loved Miss Auel's first and second book and then the other three a little less so, but I really do have to see how the story ends!
First kindles, now byooks. What do you think to this latest way of reading?
Byook is a new reading experience apparently. Using codes and rules defined by movies, this ebook is enriched with pictures, animations and sounds that strengthen the reader’s immersion. But what do you think? There's a video trailer here.
Byook is a new reading experience apparently. Using codes and rules defined by movies, this ebook is enriched with pictures, animations and sounds that strengthen the reader’s immersion. But what do you think? There's a video trailer here.
Happy World Book Day 2011
Today - Wednesday 3 March 2011 - is World Book Day and you can find out more info here. In the spirit of the day, if you could be any character in any book who would it be and why?
Today - Wednesday 3 March 2011 - is World Book Day and you can find out more info here. In the spirit of the day, if you could be any character in any book who would it be and why? 2 Average: 2 (1 vote)
Any Kindle readers out there?
I'm a recent convert to the Amazon Kindle. In fact, it's rekindled (sorry, bad pun) a passion for reading. I read that JK Rowling is absolutely against releasing the Harry Potter books on Kindle as it's "not the same" as reading from a paper-based book.
A pity - there'd be a few less trees cut down, and space saved on the bookshelf! I don't think it detracts from the reading experience either - the screen is excellent. And buying a book immediately over 3G/WiFi. Excellent.
What does anyone else think? Of course, needn't be limited just ot the Kindle - there are other great e-reader devices out there.
I'm a recent convert to the Amazon Kindle. In fact, it's rekindled (sorry, bad pun) a passion for reading. I read that JK Rowling is absolutely against releasing the Harry Potter books on Kindle as it's "not the same" as reading from a paper-based book. A pity - there'd be a few less trees cut down, and space saved on the bookshelf! I don't think it detracts from the reading experience ...
Suggested reading
Hello.
I am a massive fan of history books, whether it is historical novels or fact based books on historical figures. I read lot of Shakespeare and poetry, mainly Byron, Shelley etc.
However, I am looking to venture into literature from 20th century and the present day, does anyone have any good suggestions that might be worth me trying out?
Thanks all
x
Hello. I am a massive fan of history books, whether it is historical novels or fact based books on historical figures. I read lot of Shakespeare and poetry, mainly Byron, Shelley etc. However, I am looking to venture into literature from 20th century and the present day, does anyone have any good suggestions that might be worth me trying out? Thanks all x
Read an e-book week, March 6th-12th
I really cannot imagine life without my Kindle now. As an avid reader, buying books has never been easier or more enjoyable. As an OU graduate and new/second time around language student who moves regularly from country to country, it has been a real boon to be able to buy books in English so easily on the move. Nice also to see my own two novels in print on Kindle and Nook. They reflect my travels too as one is set in Cairo - very topical right now with all the unrest - and the other in The Hague.
I really cannot imagine life without my Kindle now. As an avid reader, buying books has never been easier or more enjoyable. As an OU graduate and new/second time around language student who moves regularly from country to country, it has been a real boon to be able to buy books in English so easily on the move. Nice also to see my own two novels in print on Kindle and ...
World Book day - Thursday 3rd March
Anyone doing anything special or attending anything interesting to celebrate?
Anyone doing anything special or attending anything interesting to celebrate?
Creative writing lecturer wins book award
Critically acclaimed, her biography of Montaigne, How to Live: A life of Montaigne, was previously one of only three shortlisted for the Costa Biography Book Award 2010.
How To Live: A life of Montaigne is the first full life of Montaigne in English for nearly 50 years, and is not a straightforward biography in the traditional sense.
Sarah relates the story of his life by way of the questions he posed and the answers he explored. It traces his bizarre upbringing (when he was made to speak only Latin), youthful career and sexual adventures, his travels, and his friendships with the scholar and poet Etienne de La Boetie and with his adopted 'daughter', Marie de Gournay.
The Duff Cooper Prize was named for Duff Cooper, First Lord of the Admiralty and wartime British Ambassador to France, made 1st Viscount Norwich shortly before his death in 1954. It celebrates the best in non-fiction writing, with the first annual prize being awarded in 1956. Previous winners include Robert Service, William Dalrymple, Peter Hennessy, Seamus Heaney and John Betjeman.
Sarah teaches for the Arts Faculty in London, where she also teaches for City University.
Sarah Bakewell, associate lecturer for Creative writing (A215), was announced the winner of the 2011 Duff Cooper Prize on 22 February. Critically acclaimed, her biography of Montaigne, How to Live: A life of Montaigne, was previously one of only three shortlisted for the Costa Biography Book Award 2010. How To Live: A life of Montaigne is the first full life of Montaigne ...
What’s on your bookshelf?
What does your bookshelf say about you? Is it full of your favourite authors, a pile of books you haven’t yet found time to read or is it pretty much empty as you prefer to digest your literature digitally?
Let us know what’s on your bookshelf and why. And find out what’s on student blogger Carrie’s bookshelf and why. Here are some examples on Platform’s Flickr account of what folk store on their shelves at home and you can watch this video (blelow) as Platform editor Jane Matthews gives you a guided tour of her own bookshelf...
Let us know what’s on your bookshelf by commenting on this article, or email your bookshelf pictures to platformeditor@open.ac.uk with a short description and we’ll upload them to Flickr.
What does your bookshelf say about you? Is it full of your favourite authors, a pile of books you haven’t yet found time to read or is it pretty much empty as you prefer to digest your literature digitally? Let us know what’s on your bookshelf and why. And find out what’s on student blogger Carrie’s bookshelf and why. Here are some examples on ...
BOOK CLUB REVIEW – February/March/April 2011 – Bodies Electric by Colin Harrison
To start off the first Platform Book Club Review of the year off we’re asking you to read Bodies Electric by Colin Harrison. Those of you on creative writing courses might find it particularly useful as it’s been flagged as an excellent example of characterisation. And for those of you not interested in depth of character, it’s a hard-boiled detective story without the detective.
Here’s a teaser:
Only 35, Jack Whitman is head of long-range planning at a major media-entertainment empire. Two years have passed since his cherished wife, pregnant with their first child, was killed in a mindless spasm of New York violence. Now, emotionally numb and blindly ambitious, and with the corporation on the verge a merger, Jack is caught in a power-play between the scheming CEO and the aging chairman. As alliance shifts and trust erodes, Jack tastes the bitterness of corporate politics at the highest and most ruthless level.
You have until April 30 to grab a copy (perhaps your local library will have copies if you don’t want to buy it), read the book and post your review here on this forum – whether you loved it, hated it or only skimmed the first few chapters before giving up, we want to hear from you. The review we like the most scoops £20 in book vouchers. So get reading!
To start off the first Platform Book Club Review of the year off we’re asking you to read Bodies Electric by Colin Harrison. Those of you on creative writing courses might find it particularly useful as it’s been flagged as an excellent example of characterisation. And for those of you not interested in depth of character, it’s a hard-boiled detective story ...
Genesis The Book of Creation, how comprehensible is it?
The universe sprung out of nothing says Stephen Hawkings who was born in the 20th century.
GOD created the universe and all that is in it says Genesis the book of creation which has been in existence since about 1513 BCE.
How valid are these two arguments?
The universe sprung out of nothing says Stephen Hawkings who was born in the 20th century. GOD created the universe and all that is in it says Genesis the book of creation which has been in existence since about 1513 BCE. How valid are these two arguments?
Whose yet-to-be published memoir would you like to read...
Tony Blair´s memoir is grabbing the headlines at the moment and many people are saying that they won´t read it. But whose yet-to-be published memoir would you like to read? Prince Philip? Rupert Murdoch? Another Jordan one?
Tony Blair´s memoir is grabbing the headlines at the moment and many people are saying that they won´t read it. But whose yet-to-be published memoir would you like to read? Prince Philip? Rupert Murdoch? Another Jordan one?
September/October 2010 Book Club
The book club choice for September/October is… The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes. So grab yourself a copy, get reading and we look forward to receiving your reviews.
Once again we´re giving you two months - until October 30 - to read the book and post your thoughts, comments, objections or reviews in this forum. And, as ever, there´s a £20 book token for the best of the responses – whether you like the book or loathe it.
Want to know more about the book? Here’s the blurb:
When journalist Ellie looks through her newspaper´s archives for a story, she doesn’t think she´ll find anything of interest. Instead she discovers a letter from 1960, written by a man asking his lover to leave her husband – and Ellie is caught up in the intrigue of a past love affair. Despite, or perhaps because of her own romantic entanglements with a married man.
In 1960, Jennifer wakes up in hospital after a car accident. She can´t remember anything – her husband, her friends, who she used to be. And then, when she returns home, she uncovers a hidden letter, and begins to remember the lover she was willing to risk everything for.
Ellie and Jennifer´s stories of passion, adultery and loss are wound together in this richly emotive novel – interspersed with real ´last letters´.
The book club choice for September/October is… The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes. So grab yourself a copy, get reading and we look forward to receiving your reviews. Once again we´re giving you two months - until October 30 - to read the book and post your thoughts, comments, objections or reviews in this forum. And, as ever, there´s a £20 book token for ...
Connect the dots between Britain's 20th century novelists
Ever wondered how authors are connected? Then try this interactive tool and connect the dots between Britain´s 20th century novelists.
The tool was developed by the OU´s OpenLearn Explore team for the OU/BBC co-production In Their Own Words: British Novelists which aired on BBC Four in August 2010, and is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The series tells the story of the British novel in the 20th century by those who know it best, the authors themselves. Explore the Openlearn page to find other resources connected to the series.
The tool was created in conjunction with academics from The Open University’s Faculty of Arts to help promote literature and creative writing courses.
Ever wondered how authors are connected? Then try this interactive tool and connect the dots between Britain´s 20th century novelists. The tool was developed by the OU´s OpenLearn Explore team for the OU/BBC co-production In Their Own Words: British Novelists which aired on BBC Four in August 2010, and is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The series tells the story of ...
MAY-JUNE BOOK CLUB CHOICE The Man From Beijing by Henning Mankel
The book choice for the May/June Book Club is The Man From Beijing by Henning Mankel , author of the Inspector Wallander mystery novels which were adapted into a TV series featuring Kenneth Branagh .
The book is a political thriller and detective story that delves into a world of international corruption and vengeance stretching over hundreds of years, linking China and the USA of the 1860s with modern-day Beijing, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
One cold January day the police are called to a sleepy little hamlet in the north of Sweden where they discover a savagely murdered man lying in the snow.. Going from house to house, looking for witnesses, they uncover a crime unprecedented in Swedish history. When Judge Birgitta Roslin reads about the massacre, she realises that she has a family connection to one of the couples involved and decides to investigate.
We´re giving you until the end of June to read this one, so you have plenty of time to squeeze it in between study, work and everything else life throws at you. To join in, simply get your hands on a copy of The Man from Beijing, then read it and reply to this forum topic with your comments/reviews by 30 June. There´s a £20 book token for the writer of the best one, to be judged by the editors of Platform. (See terms and conditions below).
Terms and conditions
The prize must be taken as offered and is not transferable or exchangeable for a cash equivalent. The winner will be the person who has written the best review according to the Platform team and will be picked and informed in early July from the replies to this topic. The username of the winner will be published on Platform. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
The book choice for the May/June Book Club is The Man From Beijing by Henning Mankel , author of the Inspector Wallander mystery novels which were adapted into a TV series featuring Kenneth Branagh . The book is a political thriller and detective story that delves into a world of international corruption and vengeance stretching over hundreds of years, linking China and the USA of the ...
