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I came across this on the London Review of Books list of Christmas books. Has anyone read it? Any good? And how, I wonder, should we pronounce the author's name?

Gotaas, Thor
Running: a global history
Reaktion, 2009
978-1861895264

Nice work Tom, even if you did mention the C word
My guess would be Got Arse. Hmm ... Thor Got Arse ... Norse God of Brighton perhaps?

Did the Vikings get this far south? But yes, that seems plausible.
It's curious, from the blurb the book could either be fascinating or utter tripe. I shall hie me to a bookshop and browse a copy before spending the Burra Mem's gin money. A quick check of catalogues found no copies in any of the public libraries I use.

Hie ... thank you! Clue in today's Times2 Crossword: 'Go quickly (archaic)' - had no clue (erm, other than that one)

Archaic? What do they mean? In everyday use chez Roper.
Serendipitous though, wouldn't you say? Like the compliers who were supposed to have put the codenames for various D-Day operations into the Telegraph crossword.
Time for a Friday evening run now: a quick five miles up and down the front.

To encounter the word for the first and second time within hours? Serendipitous indeed, sir. Happy seafront plodding.

In a clumsily-attempted segue I too must dash for a Friday night appointment with our very own Seafront Plodder, along with Captain Tom, at the Dorset Arms. It'll end in tears, or at the very least the Spice Merchant Pre-Brighton 10k tactics no dount to the fore. I fear tomorrow's (2nd Anniversary) B&H ParkRun 5k will be a perilously wobbly affair ...

Steer clear of Spice Merchant: a friend's hen night is due in there. Wedding tomorrrow. Bride was a gymnast in her youth, but runs a bit now: turned cartwheels at the end of the Race for Life

I suspect that will only encourage the Plodder.
Can't deny him a ruby again - almost hit meltdown last time we pulled the 'we're not hungry' stunt. Will watch out for cartwheeling brides-to-be.

(30-10-2009, 06:59 PM)Sweder Wrote: [ -> ]I suspect that will only encourage the Plodder.
Can't deny him a ruby again - almost hit meltdown last time we pulled the 'we're not hungry' stunt. Will watch out for cartwheeling brides-to-be.

After his Crawley triumph, it seems only right that SP has as much curry and and beer as that poor stomach can take. Which I suspect is rather a lot.

(30-10-2009, 05:42 PM)tomroper Wrote: [ -> ]Archaic? What do they mean? In everyday use chez Roper.

Hie thee to victory, good Sir - mastery of language do oft prove to good profit.

Providence, working through my son, has just given me a copy of Mr Gotaas's work, as a late birthday present...not his fault, but Amazon's.
I shall read it and offer a review.