What are you reading and book reviews [Archive] - Page 2

semi-pro waster

13-10-2008, 18:38

Just finished reading "Ender's Game", by Orson Scott Card.

Wow. Just.. wow. Well written, well executed. Not 100% certain about the epilogue bit, but it works anyway. Well worth the read.

It is a fantastic book, perhaps one of the best sci-fi books I've ever read. I only read it after it was recommended and bought for me by the girl I was going out with and I'm very glad she did. Xenocide is quite good as well and I will get round to the others at some point.

Superb, I also recommend Imajica and Galilee.

MB

Thanks, I think I've got the former already, not sure about the second but I'll have a look next time I'm back in Edinburgh.

Snuggle Ferret

14-10-2008, 11:29

Mic is reading them at the moment.

Got Twilight :D

Can I borrow after Mic's finished reading them please?

Dymetrie

14-10-2008, 23:20

I've returned to reading The Dark Tower again after getting into some classics and some crap that Jarp recommended...

I am 'of Gilead' :D

Ravenlord

16-10-2008, 20:30

Haly

19-10-2008, 15:52

I'll shortly be reading Darkly Dreaming Dexter which I just bought in Asda for the bargain price of £1 :D

Currently reading Trust me I'm a Junior Doctor. Interesting diary style book about the life of a new Junior Doctor. Tad unnerving in places :p But very interesting imo, especially as I have a friend who's recently started as one :)

cleanbluesky

22-10-2008, 20:09

I haven't been able to put George RR Martin's 'A song of Ice and Fire' series down since I picked up the first book. I'm now on the 4th, with more to go. The man is a literary demi-god; without question it's one of the finest fantasy series I've come across and I'm barely half way through it, definitely up there with Tolkien.

I doubt that, Tolkien's education was far beyond the average writer and it showed in the complexity of what he wrote. Only better educated writer I think I've read is CG Jung and he never wrote fiction.

_dogma_

23-10-2008, 17:43

I'm not about half-way through Stoker's Dracula. It's awesome though I've been finding it a little hard going in places because of his style of writing.

Ravenlord

23-10-2008, 19:22

I doubt that, Tolkien's education was far beyond the average writer and it showed in the complexity of what he wrote. Only better educated writer I think I've read is CG Jung and he never wrote fiction.

He is as different from Tolkien as say, Rowling is. He doesn't set out to create a new LOTR, far from it, the world he creates is so fantastical but also very much analogous to medieval Europe with some obvious parallels to the War of the Roses in the early books. You talk about Tolkien's education which is interesting, he weaves a fine tale in LOTR, but it's very much a linear progression throughout and the quality of his education is such that at times he is seeking such intellectual heights that for the average reader is just tedious; take for example the long, droning pages of poetry that add nothing to the plot other than to demonstrate the fact that Tolkien knows his onions when it comes to English literature.

I really suggest you read this if it tickles your fancy. As someone who has read and enjoyed both I think your assumption that it cannot equal Tolkien is wrong; what it lacks in language it makes up for in the way he weaves such a massive evolving plot and constantly keeps you guessing. The characterisation is phenomenal, as you'd expect from a series this long. I went from despising one particular character in the first book, to completely reversing my opinion of him by the third, yet it wasn't as if he'd committed some great deed, it was a gentle push by the writer as characters are explored in more depth and new facets to their personality come to the fore. He is probably the most unpredictable writer I've read. Plots lines that he seems to be setting up for chapters and chapters are suddenly 'abandoned' and something completely unexpected happens. What I think is a real credit to the series is the fact that no character is safe. Time and time again, main characters are killed off, often meeting their end in really gruesome ways, so that you are literally left scared to turn the page. It's almost cruel, he makes you love them, then takes them away from you, but then suddenly new characters spring up to take their place. They don't magically come back to life either like so many other authors are apt to do; it's a series where the lines are blurred, there is no 'good' and 'evil' and the ones you might consider bad guys often win. But then, the bad guys suddenly become the good guys, or at least a little less bad. There aren't really any good guys, and if there are, they tend to fall by the wayside rather quickly. It's an ensemble cast, there is no hero on his quest to save humanity and meet his destiny. It's pretty gritty too with everything you wouldn't put in a children's book making an appearance; graphic sex and violence, incest, fratricide, rape, heavy swearing and political intrigue that would put the Borgias to shame. A massive breath of fresh air for a genre that has lacked originality for so long.

Tak

23-10-2008, 19:24

Nearly finished Twilight - very much enjoyed the series and seriously recommend them. They are such a refreshingly new idea and are very well written :)

Tak

31-10-2008, 09:58

Finished Twilight :) Excellent series of books :)

Have just started the first of the 3 new Torchwood books "Pack Animals" - its set around Halloween which I thought was quite good timing :D

semi-pro waster

31-10-2008, 13:19

Dymetrie

31-10-2008, 14:31

Finished The Great And Secret Show last night, it's a good book, I'm not quite prepared to say great but I'll definitely read some of the others in the future. Not for a while though as I tend to notice patterns in the authors use of language or meter if I read too many by the same author in succession. I'll have to have a think about what I want to read next, a possibility is Dog Eat Dog by Edward Bunker or possibly A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley if I remember to get a copy from a mate.

I'm a definite fan of Clive Barker's work although I do feel he goes into a little bit too much detail with some of his stuff. If you enjoyed The Great and Secret Show then I'd recommend the sequel, Everville, but agree that leaving it for a while is a good idea.

No idea about Dog Eat Dog, but Brave New World is definitely worth a read :)

Glaucus

31-10-2008, 16:52

currently reading Jack Higgins - The killing Ground
Only got a few books left before I run out. I like series with the same action hero in them

Jack Higgins - Sean Dillion series
Lee Child - Jack Reacher series
Andy Remic - Carter series
Mathew Riley
Vynce Flynn
James rollins

So if anyone knows of any similar authors and series I'd be grateful.

Garp

31-10-2008, 23:22

I'm working my way through the Deathstalker Series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathstalker_(series)). Pretty reasonable Space Opera stuff. Completed Deathstalker and Deathstalker Rebellion, now onto Deathstalker War. About the main criticism has to be the utterly dire names given to characters. Jack Random, professional rebel. Ruby Journey the bounty hunter, Topaz the Investigator, Captain John Silence, Investigator Frost, Investigator Razor, Jenny Psycho the rather crazy Esper, et. al.

Pumpkinstew

01-11-2008, 02:02

Finished Twilight :) Excellent series of books :)

I read the first two and thought they were brilliant. Stuffed full of ideas and invention. Glad to hear Twilight Watch is up to standard as it's on my Christmas list.
A fourth novel - Final Watch should be out soon. Anton goes to Scotland. :cool:

I read through the first two of Bernard Cornwell's Alfred books recently - The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman. Very good. Not quite as good as the Warlord trilogy but better than the slightly disappointing Grail series.
They are set in dark age Britain and tell the story of Uhtred Uhtredson a Northumbrian raised by Danish invaders before changinging sides and joining Alfred the Greats Saxons.
I'd have gone straight into the third book but found I had the fourth on my shelf :o

Instead I read Deep Aproach to Garbadale by Iain Banks. An excellent book which is laugh out loud funny in places and also quite moving. If you know Banks' work well though the final revelation may not be so surprising.

After that was Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan. This was a cunning blend of noir detective story and cyberpunk set in world where the human consciousness can be saved, stored, transferred and downloaded into another body or 'sleeve'. The sex and violence are vividly described, lurid even, making this something of a guilty enjoyment. The mystery is logically and intelligently plotted though, even if there are elements of deus ex machina in a few of the heroes narrow escapes. Should go down well with and Gibson, Asher or Reynolds fans.

I'm now reading another Bernard Cornwell book called Rebel. It's an older one set in the American civil war and revolves around a yankee fighting for a confederate surrogate father figure (something of a recurring theme for BC). I'm finding it slow going so far.

semi-pro waster

11-11-2008, 13:40

Brave New World is definitely worth a read :)

Well I took your advice and read it. I enjoyed the book and it largely lives up to its impressive reputation. However because of the dystopian setting it is almost inevitable to compare it to 1984, which, perhaps due to the fact it was written later, I feel is the better and more complete book (and to the tune of several hundred pages it should be). History so far appears to fit with Orwell's vision of the future more than Huxley's although there is of course time for that to change.

Tak

11-11-2008, 14:05

Have just started the first of the 3 new Torchwood books "Pack Animals"

I've finished all 3 of the new torchwood books and enjoyed them all :) Have re-started the discworlds again as I needed something easy

Garp

14-11-2008, 05:59

Finished Deathstalker, read the first Darkwood novel by the same author (hmm).

semi-pro waster

19-11-2008, 00:07

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown was my most recent book, it's reasonably entertaining in an undemanding way although I fear he tries rather too hard to put a 'twist' in his books (admittedly I've only read this one and The Da Vinci code) at the expense of a more plausible storyline. I doubt I'd bother to read it again, however from my very superficial knowledge it does seem like he does his research well which is pleasing.

Garp

19-11-2008, 00:18

Urban Shaman CE Murphy

Interesting start. Not my usual type of reading, but it's okay. Heroine works as a mechanic at a Police Station, from an airplane window she sees a woman in danger running down a street, and the guy out to kill her. Rushes to the rescue from the airport, and in the process discovers she is a Shaman, of both Celtic and Cherokee descent, and it's up to her to stop an ancient Celtic god of Death from running wild over the world, whilst having to learn how to use her powers too.

semi-pro waster

28-12-2008, 15:53

Gangster by John Mooney. The story about John Gilligan, at one point considered the most dangerous man in Ireland, it is mainly about his ordering the murder of the journalist Veronica Guerin. Very interesting story although it seems a tremendous surprise that he ever rose to the top of his profession given the portrayal in the book.

I've read a fair few more books in between the one above and this one but they were mostly just non-descript thrillers to pass the time travelling or such like so barely worth the time describing. :)

BBx

28-12-2008, 16:22

Finished Twilight :) Excellent series of books :)

Can I borrow..? Pleassseee :D

BB x

Tak

29-12-2008, 10:33

Can I borrow..? Pleassseee :D

BB x

That was Twilight as in The Twilight Watch not Twilight as in the one which goes with the film you've just watched.

Not read anything new recently - haven't been in the mood to, just working my way through discworld again (finished Eric last night)

Garp

29-12-2008, 10:54

Rattled through Total Recall at a great ate of knots. Oh dear, I guess time has matured my taste or something. Reading it again for the first time in a long time (having caught the start of the film on TV the other day) I can't help but feel the book really was just a week long task, if that, for Piers Anthony. Seems very much like he was just going through the motions.

Pumpkinstew

30-12-2008, 15:22

This year I will be mostly reading...
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6904/bookpilehj8.jpg

I left myself logged into Amazon on the girlfriends laptop and her side of the family blitzed my wishlist :):cool:

Now I just have to decide which to read first, which is a nice problem to have.

BBx

30-12-2008, 16:59

That was Twilight as in The Twilight Watch not Twilight as in the one which goes with the film you've just watched.

:(

Nevermind! :D

BB x

NokkonWud

31-12-2008, 02:55

Must get back to Stephen Fry in America. Not touched it for around 2 weeks now. Bloody loved it so far as I didn't watch the TV series.

Pumpkinstew

31-12-2008, 14:37

^^
It's certainly well written although hugely derivative of Lord of the Rings in many ways.

I enjoyed the later books which contain more of Brooks' own ideas more. I read the Scions of Shannara stories prior to going back and reading the Sword of Shannara and was left a bit disappointed as a result. If you like Sword I think you'll love those. Walker Boh is comfortably his best character.

Anyone tried the Jon Shannow books? I've seen them in a collected volume. Is it worth tracking down?

Kainz

31-12-2008, 17:38

Currently reading Twilight eBook 1 at present on my iPhone. It's taken me ages to get through! Recently finished Gears of War - Aspho Fields (http://kainzy.org/2008/12/06/gears-of-war-aspho-fields/) though and thought that was superb.

Garp

28-01-2009, 21:16

Wow... people aren't reading much at the moment.

Lana and I had an idea at the weekend which I've gone and implemented (never been one to slack about.) Both of us read a fair amount, though her more than I do, and we always have a steady stream of books coming at us through her mother and a thrift shop that she helps run. We thought it would be rather cool to start writing some book reviews and put them online for people to see.

Rather than just have us two posting our reviews we were wondering if any folks here would be interested in joining in too?
First two reviews went up yesterday, and the site is still being tweaked from a layout perspective: http://www.ireadthatbook.net

Haly

28-01-2009, 21:19

Sounds like a great idea :)
I won't be participating in reviewing as I feel like I spend half my life reviewing stuff anyhow ;D But I'll certainly be keeping an eye on the site for ideas :)

Tak

28-01-2009, 21:27

I'm not reading anything new atm but have just finished Witches Abroad again. I have a few new books to read, I've just not been in the mood so am sticking to discworld.

NokkonWud

29-01-2009, 01:14

Just going to start "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo".

Tak

29-01-2009, 08:00

Just going to start "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo".

That keeps catching my eye but I've resisted so far - you'll have to give us a review at the end :) I also saw The Household Guide to Dying in tesco the other day which seems very different to what I usually read but did catch my interest. Being a good girl and not buying it atm.

loki

29-01-2009, 16:32

Haly

29-01-2009, 17:54

Just took delivery of Shake Hands with the Devil (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0679311726/ref=s9_sdps_c8_s4_p14_t1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=15MJTP75ERDC3QH22X02&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463374933&pf_rd_i=468294) by Romeo Dallaire. He was the UN commander during the Rwandan genocide. Certainly not a light hearted subject but something that I think it's worthwhile reading about.

Sounds really interesting. I studied the Rwandan genocide as part of my degree and it was fascinating although incredibly gruelling to study. By the end of reading some pieces, my faith in humanity was rather low!
Have to look out for that at some point.

I'm currently reading Jonathan Ross's book Why Do I say These Things (rather apt considering it was written before Sachsgate ;D). Nice, light reading with some interesting anecdotes.
Waiting for Defiance: The Bielski Partisans to arrive, the book that became the film, Defiance. Should make a very interesting read.

cleanbluesky

03-02-2009, 23:16

The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall
ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Prescription

Garp

03-02-2009, 23:33

The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall
ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Prescription

Sounds almost as good as my current reading:
Interpolation on Scattered Data in Multidimensions.

Sadly, I'm actually reading that for fun.

cleanbluesky

03-02-2009, 23:35

Sounds almost as good as my current reading:
Interpolation on Scattered Data in Multidimensions.

Sadly, I'm actually reading that for fun.

I read that, turns out it was Snapes.

Tak

04-02-2009, 07:52

I read that, turns out it was Snapes.

*snigger*

I've nearly finished Small Gods, I really should start something new; it isn't like I don't have a choice - there are loads of books upstairs I've not read yet, I've just not been in the mood to start them.

Jingo

04-02-2009, 13:31

Just finished The Hogfather and now picked up Russel Brand's My Booky Wook. Compelling read but mainly because I seem to relate to him in my way of thinking...

*there goes my invite to any future meets!* :o

Pebs

04-02-2009, 15:47

I read an awful lot, usually dark crime psych stuff but intertwined witha large dose of girlie fluff (easy reading no brainers!). I picked up what I thought was one such fluffy book called The Rise and Fall of a DOmestic Diva by Sarah May. Finding it very unsettling reading. It's good, just very very close to the bone and I keep having to take a break and look out the window or walk about. Odd.

Lana

04-02-2009, 17:30

I recently finished a goofy mystery by Diane Mott (Tough Cookie) and now I am back to an old favorite....Mansfield Park.

Tak

06-02-2009, 20:32

Just going to start "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo".

How goes it? :)

I just finished Small Gods and decided to read The Secret Garden again. This does mean I will start thinking in a broad yorkshire accent but I'll try to keep it out of my posts :o
My copy is starting to fall apart and come away from its binding :( :( there is a message in it which says it was a christmas gift in 1957 so it isn't doing too badly but it means I'll have to try and get another copy at some point soon.

NokkonWud

06-02-2009, 22:09

I've not even really got going yet, I've had so much going on, but from what I've had the chance to read it feels very polished and definitely intriguing, Larsson definitely paints a rather nice picture with words, or at least the translator does - any worry I had of a worrying translation is gone and the only signs that it is in fact Scandanavian is in the names of the characters and locations. So whilst it's descriptive, Larsson doesn't become dull with details like Giles Foden, which is great for me because Zanzibar by Foden is hands down the single most boring book I've ever read. It was a 40 page story over 400 pages :p.

What has surprisingly thrown me is having Swedish cities as opposed to the usual British/American/French/Italian where you have some geographical knowledge of roughly where they are, I've found that almost a little off-putting, especially as places are thrown around quite early on and it's a case of consulting the old atlas, I suppose the flip side of it is that it's a bit more of an adventure ;).

I think I'll have the majority of it read over the weekend, so I'll be able to tell you more then.

Tak

06-02-2009, 22:16

I think I'll have the majority of it read over the weekend, so I'll be able to tell you more then.

Excellent :)

Has anyone else read The Household Guide to Dying? I am still very tempted to get it but as it is so different to what I normally read I can't make up my mind :o

NokkonWud

06-02-2009, 22:55

Couldn't get away with the Dan Brown stuff, read The Da Vinci Code and it was okay, I was very surprised to see it take off like it did. I then started Angels and Demons and it just didn't do it for me.

I much preferred Michael Marshall (Smith)'s, The Straw Men for example. For me that is probably the book that brought me back into reading and it still holds a dear place in my heart.

Tak

07-02-2009, 10:51

I haven't but having read the description, I'd probably get upset reading it at the moment.

I usually do that all the time but...I don't know...its just caught hold of my interest some how.

DVC was such a success because people protested against the content so everyone else then wanted to know what all the fuss was about.
I read all 4 of his books; there is some blatant cut and paste he has done between his books (at one point I thought I'd made an error and picked up one I'd read rather than the new one I was starting because it was the same), but they kept me amused for a little while, I haven't re-read them yet but I do intend to one day.

_dogma_

11-02-2009, 17:17

Just going to start "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo".

Bought this the other day. Looking forward to reading it.

On the Bourne Supremacy at the mo. It takes a bit to get into at first but it's great once I got into it!

NokkonWud

12-02-2009, 23:12

Due to not being at home and then badly spraining my ankle I've not been able to read as much as I'd hoped, I swear I'm the busiest unemployed person in the world. I've also got to make a couple of long distance trips (Birmingham and London) at the end of the month, so I'm saving large sections for both of those.

What I will say though is that it's not the quickest book to get going taking around 60-70 pages just to paint an outline remotely describing where it's going, but it has become enthralling and the authors choice of descriptions are both accessible and interesting so you never feel like you're reading filler as opposed to describing characters and locations to make you feel there. The locations in the book do still throw me with both Scandanavian media (such as Aftenbladet which is the most well known of those mentioned) and locations leaving me both mentally tongue-tied and a little lost as to their true locations but that's mainly a minor problem and if it bothered me Google maps is but a few clicks away.

Where the book is starting to stand out for me is in the character descriptions, you feel the author has really thought about it all, from their roles in what they do to their flaws and links to their past. I can see this becoming an even bigger hit in the future than it is now. It's certainly going to make for a fascinating whodunit.

Tak

13-02-2009, 08:05

I finished The Secret Garden and am back to Discworld again now

semi-pro waster

13-02-2009, 09:15

The Odyssey by Homer is the most recent book of note I've read and it was good if somewhat rambling and way too much described about each characters lineage (I know why it was done but it doesn't really interest me so I felt it distracted from the story). A lot of modern authors could do far worse than reading it though for an understanding of how to tell a story and weave in different threads.

I've also finished Hold Tight by Harlan Coben, a book I picked up cheaply and it's a reasonably decent generic thriller, I wouldn't necessarily go out my way to read more books by Mr Coben but nor would I run screaming in the other direction either.

Snuggle Ferret

17-02-2009, 19:00

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. About the Mormon Polygamist way of life. Interesting so far, if very weird.

JUMPURS

13-03-2009, 09:30

I have just finished Dead until Dark and Living dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris, going to get the new couple of books in the series.

So whilst i am waiting i have started Twilight.

NokkonWud

16-03-2009, 02:48

Took much longer to read than it should have. I have a habbit of getting caught up in Video Games and playing them when I could be reading.

Finished it, loved it, want the new one:
The Girl Who Played With Fire (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Who-Played-Fire/dp/1847245560/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237167879&sr=8-1).

Briggykins

16-03-2009, 10:51

I'm reading A Quiet Belief in Angels (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiet-Belief-Angels-R-J-Ellory/dp/0752873687/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237196931&sr=8-2) by R J Ellory. Aside from having a brilliant title, it's a very good book. Basically it's a serial killer novel but so far (I'm about half way through) that's almost taken a back seat to the story of the guy growing up in a rural southern American town. The characterisation is excellent and the dialogue is superb. The story is sometimes a bit slow but it's revealing itself very nicely at the moment.

Haly

16-03-2009, 19:31

I finished Darkly Dreaming Dexter the other night. I managed to read 200+ pages on the train coming back from Maidstone the other week then forgot to finish it ;D
Excellent book, very easy to read but imo better than the TV series.
Definitely have to get the others in the series at some point.

Just bought Marley and Me from Asda so that's next on the list :) Then The Catcher In the Rye.

_dogma_

26-03-2009, 22:22

Marley and Me is really good. Really a heart-string tugger though. Didn't think much of Catcher in the Rye, just couldn't get into it and the boy really irritated me!

Just finished the Bourne Trilogy. Was so, so good. The third book felt like a few bits had been tacked on to make it 700 pages but overall the series was amazing!

Starting the Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It's really good so far and it reminds me of Kaim's stories in Lost Odyssey.

Tak

26-03-2009, 22:28

I might have bought Twilight and New Moon today in the 2 for £7 at tesco :o

Haly

26-03-2009, 23:10

Marley and Me is really good. Really a heart-string tugger though. Didn't think much of Catcher in the Rye, just couldn't get into it and the boy really irritated me!

Starting the Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It's really good so far and it reminds me of Kaim's stories in Lost Odyssey.

Really enjoying Marley and Me :) Extremely easy to read which is handy at the moment. Been reading it in bursts, 100 pages one night then nothing for a few days, but I'm nearly finished now :(
Catcher in the Rye seems like the sort of book I should read just so I have an opinion of it really so be giving that a shot.

You've intrigued me with Name of the Wind, I loved the stories in Lost Odyssey so sounds my kind of thing. Might have to keep an eye out for that one.

Tak

14-04-2009, 13:55

I might have bought Twilight and New Moon today in the 2 for £7 at tesco :o

Having finished both of these and really enjoyed them, I have book 3 (Eclipse) in my bag ready to start :)
Have discovered that (annoyingly) book 4 is only in hardback at the moment and I can't seem to find a paperback release date :(

_dogma_

23-04-2009, 15:17

Having finished both of these and really enjoyed them, I have book 3 (Eclipse) in my bag ready to start :)
Have discovered that (annoyingly) book 4 is only in hardback at the moment and I can't seem to find a paperback release date :(

Paperback is normally released a year after hardback release :( I was having the same dilemma but I finally caved and bought it in hard back yesterday and finished it today. That's the whole series been read since Sunday! :o
I really fell in love with these books, I feel sad now that I've finished them. :confused: Trying to get me to do anything other than read them was a struggle. I think Iain will be glad I'm now finished. I'm not really sure what transfixed me about them, I think it's possibly the fact I'm a little deranged and love anything to do with Vampires. I also think it was just so lovely. :o

The Name of the Wind was really good. To me it still felt a little like one of Kaim's stories with a spin on it. It was an entertaining read anyhow but unfortunately it's the book of a series that hasn't been written yet so it will be a while until the rest of his story is told.

Will probably be reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer next. Or Ceaser Milan's book. I've still got Red Dragon and Afraid to finish too! It should keep my busy for a while anyhow!

Haly

23-04-2009, 16:11

I must pick up the Name of the Wind soon :) Got an Amazon voucher at the moment which has been handy as I just buy things in drips and drabs to keep me busy :D
Just bought Michael J Fox's autobiography for £2.50, bargain!

I'll be reading that after I finish Dearly Devoted Dexter, the second of the Dexter series. So far I'm liking it, nice, easy read.

NokkonWud

23-04-2009, 18:53

Having finished both of these and really enjoyed them, I have book 3 (Eclipse) in my bag ready to start :)
Have discovered that (annoyingly) book 4 is only in hardback at the moment and I can't seem to find a paperback release date :(

Glad you enjoyed them. Not read New Moon yet as I went to go and get the Harry Potter books done (6 and 7). Then New Moon will get read.

NokkonWud

23-04-2009, 18:54

Just bought Michael J Fox's autobiography for £2.50, bargain!

I'll be reading that after I finish Dearly Devoted Dexter, the second of the Dexter series. So far I'm liking it, nice, easy read.

:o! I was looking at that for £10 in Tesco today!

Mondo

23-04-2009, 19:56

Reading Twilight at the moment, bought the first 3 for £3.49 each in paperback and the 4th one in Hardback for £6.49 from amazon. billy bargain ! I've paid more for 1 single hardback than those 4 combined.

Kitten

23-04-2009, 20:00

I'm sure I said in here that the book people are selling the twilight trilogy box set for under 7 quid. Can't find the post now though!

Kitten

23-04-2009, 20:04

I must pick up the Name of the Wind soon :) Got an Amazon voucher at the moment which has been handy as I just buy things in drips and drabs to keep me busy :D
Just bought Michael J Fox's autobiography for £2.50, bargain!

New one or old? Old one is superb. Not read the new one!

Dymetrie

23-04-2009, 20:08

Reading Insomnia at the moment, trying to work my way through the entire Dark-Tower-related compendium :D

semi-pro waster

23-04-2009, 20:20

Dr No by Ian Fleming was the most recent book I read, very good and a bit darker than the films unsurprisingly.

Just started reading Stone Of Destiny by Ian R. Hamilton, who if you don't know took the Stone of Scone with 3 other conspirators and returned it to Scotland. He subsequently had a rather productive career as an Advocate. Not all that far into it yet but it is interesting so far even if I don't agree with all his conclusions - however it must be remembered that I'm reading it over 50 years after the event.

Kitten

23-04-2009, 20:24

I've finished Catch 22 which was brill and i've moved onto a biography of Robert Capa called Blood and Champagne.

NokkonWud

23-04-2009, 20:25

I've finished Catch 22 which was brill and i've moved onto a biography of Robert Capa called Blood and Champagne.

Always wanted to read that. It's supposed to be amazing, never heard anything bad said about it.

Kitten

23-04-2009, 20:29

catch 22? If so, I'll send you it?

Was it you I was sending stupid white men too? I don't think I ever sent it?

SCM

23-04-2009, 20:52

Haven't updated in a while so i am currently re-reading Alastair Reynolds - Pushing Ice and i seem to be in a read all my books again phase. Haven't got cash at moment for new books and local libraries all suck for decent sci-fi and fantasy books.

Also similar for decent newer books to take out local library never gets them in :(

Kitten

23-04-2009, 20:56

you know if you request a book, they're supposed to get them in for you? At least that's the case around here - if you ask for it, they have to order it for you!

SCM

23-04-2009, 20:59

Knowing my local library it will take them ages, as even the main library about 6 miles away is not the most kept up to date either. Will need to get doing surveys again for Amazon vouchers to indulge my book needs.

Kitten

23-04-2009, 21:04

That's a shame. :(

I'm sure if you knew what you wanted, we can help out if anyone has the titles you're after :)

SCM

23-04-2009, 21:10

Thanks kitten :) Once i have had a re-read of what i have in mind author wise will start looking to see what i might want to read next. Then seeing if anyone has it here :)

Kitten

23-04-2009, 21:29

fingers crossed! :D I can pilfer some of my nan's Barbara Taylor Bradford and Danielle Steele novels if you fancy wading through them ;)

NokkonWud

23-04-2009, 21:57

catch 22? If so, I'll send you it?

Was it you I was sending stupid white men too? I don't think I ever sent it?

Yes, and no, you never :p.;D
I would very much appreciate it, thank you :)

Yep, my Stupid White Men got about 4/5's through and then repeated itself starting again. It's a freak book :p.

Haly

23-04-2009, 22:35

:o! I was looking at that for £10 in Tesco today!

Which one? You can borrow the Michael J Fox book once I'm done if that one :) Dexter's from the library.

New one or old? Old one is superb. Not read the new one!

Old one :) Looks really good.

Knowing my local library it will take them ages, as even the main library about 6 miles away is not the most kept up to date either. Will need to get doing surveys again for Amazon vouchers to indulge my book needs.

That's how I manage to get some books, online surveys are so useful for that and provides a nice treat. I'd definitely recommend having a go again if you've got the time spare.

Von Smallhausen

23-04-2009, 23:15

I am reading the novel adaption of V, written by Kenneth Johnson.

Fayshun

23-04-2009, 23:20

Just finished "The Good Guys Wear Black" about SO19, special armed police in the Met.

:thumbup:

Von Smallhausen

23-04-2009, 23:48

I think i have read that but it was a while ago.

Kitten

24-04-2009, 00:16

Jen it's probably the new MJFox Nokkon means? It's only out in hardback at the mo I think.

Karl, someone else has catch 22 but he's supposed to be bringing it back tomorrow. Soon as I get it I'll try and dig out SWM and send them both!

Haly

24-04-2009, 00:22

Ahh yeah, my mistake :o
Still, if you want that one, feel free :D

NokkonWud

24-04-2009, 01:10

Jen it's probably the new MJFox Nokkon means? It's only out in hardback at the mo I think.
That's the one :).

Karl, someone else has catch 22 but he's supposed to be bringing it back tomorrow. Soon as I get it I'll try and dig out SWM and send them both!Fankoo so much :). Must really get my books read. Got so many I have lined up to read, but the ones I really want to read will jump to the front such as Catch 22 and Atlas Shrugged.

SCM

24-04-2009, 16:15

fingers crossed! :D I can pilfer some of my nan's Barbara Taylor Bradford and Danielle Steele novels if you fancy wading through them ;)

Me and romantic novels nahhhhh :p

Kitten

24-04-2009, 16:17

Nokkon, he's bringing it in Monday.

semi-pro waster

25-04-2009, 10:31

Finished Stone Of Destiny last night and it's a captivating read - Ian Hamilton is acerbically funny, a sharp and astute commentator with a great appreciation for irony. I still don't agree with all his conclusions but I don't need to for enjoying the story. I can highly recommend it both as a bit of fairly recent history and as a yarn in its own right.

Now I've picked up The Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman by Bruce Robinson, about a quarter of the way through and it's pretty strange so far.

Tak

25-04-2009, 23:17

Finished Eclipse, now have to wait a few months (or more) until the 4th one comes out in paperback *muttergrumblemutter* :(

NokkonWud

26-04-2009, 01:44

Or buy it cheap in hardback? :p.

Currently still struggling my way through Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Just isn't as charming as the others. Doesn't help I left it about 3-4 years between reading the 5th one either, I can't remember the bloody characters outside of the main trio, Ginny, Hagrid and Dumbledore!

Some bloke is engaged to Fleur and living at the Weasleys house, but I don't even vaguely remember his character! This isn't the first time I've had this problem, it just mentioned the character "Mundungus".... WHOO!?!?

I'm amazed I can't remember these characters, I've read all the books and sadly, seen all the poor films, yet it still isn't clicking. But can remember almost everything from books I read 5-10 years ago!

What's more annoying, I can't search in case it ruins anything from either this one (which I'm now 1/2 way through) or the last one.

Haly

26-04-2009, 02:03

Change of plan: My Mum treated me to Yes Man :D
Looks a really interesting concept and probably a far bit more upbeat than recent stuff too!

semi-pro waster

26-04-2009, 09:18

It's a good book Haly, Danny Wallace tends to write quite wryly amusing stories and this one is no exception. :)

NokkonWud

26-04-2009, 10:22

Change of plan: My Mum treated me to Yes Man :D
Looks a really interesting concept and probably a far bit more upbeat than recent stuff too!

If Danny Wallace writes it like he writes other books you're in for a treat. I still love his chapters in "Are you Dave Gorman?" :)

Haly

26-04-2009, 10:55

Excellent, two recommendations must be good :D

Kitten

26-04-2009, 12:38

Snuggle Ferret

27-04-2009, 16:54

Making my way through the Feist books.

Glaucus

27-04-2009, 18:16

Just started Lee Childs new book - Gone Tomorrow. As usual gripping from the first page.
Suicide bombers are easy to spot. They give out all kinds of tell-tale signs. Mostly because they're nervous. By definition they're all first-timers. Riding the subway in New York at two o'clock in the morning, Reacher knows the twelve giveaway signs to look out for. Watching one of his fellow-passengers, he becomes sharply aware: one by one, she ticks off every bulletpoint on his list. So begins the new heartstopping new thriller starring today's most admired action hero, the gallant and enigmatic loner Jack Reacher.

Kitten

28-04-2009, 05:39

reading THE BOOK THIEF. About 60 pages in, LOVING it so far, so different.

Pumpkinstew

28-04-2009, 07:59

SCM, Greenmetropolis is a good place to hunt out cheap books.

Finished the third of Bernard Cornwells Starbuck books recently. Battleflag covers the period in the American civil war between the battles of Cedar Mountain and 2nd Bull Run/Manassas. This series still hasn't hit the heights of some of Cornwells other books but goes up a couple of gears from the first two. I've learned a little bit about the US civil war if nothing else as I've been referring to wiki for maps of the battles and campaigns as I read it.

Tak

30-04-2009, 07:35

Just started Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong :o :)

Pheebs

30-04-2009, 07:41

*Finally* have managed to get round to reading the Phillip Pullman Triology again.

I had already read Northern Lights donkeys ago but about a year or so ago I started reading The Subtle Knife and although I vaguely remembered what had happened in the first book I was a bit like "Eh... I know that name... but I don't know why... who? What..? Eak!"

So. Re-read Northern Lights (such a satisfying read) and just finished The Subtle Knife and am on to The Amber Spyglass.

I forgot how enveloped I become in a book when it's a decent series. Just... read as much as I can, when I can and then am gutted when it's all over.

Impressive bits of work though and lets my imagination run wild :) If you haven't read them already do so as they're so remarkable, really quite fascinating :)

NokkonWud

30-04-2009, 11:09

I've managed to avoid the films, primarily because plastic face repulses me, so I'm gonna read the books at some point.

Mondo

26-05-2009, 20:13

Half way into Eclipse now, loving it ! :D

Kitten

27-05-2009, 20:47

The Book Thief (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Thief-Markus-Zusak/dp/0552773891/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243453136&sr=8-1) was one of the most amazing books i've read in the last few years. Narrated by death, it's tragic and inspiring, wonderful and awful at the same time. Full of desperation and hope. Moved me to near tears on several occasions and made my heart hurt too :(. Such a strange combination but one that works so, so well. At first it's a bit weird because it's very different but stick with it, it's SO worth it. I borrowed this but will be buying it as I can guarantee I'll want to read it again. I don't recommend books that often but I can't rate this one high enough.

After finishing that I went onto Company of Liars (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Company-Liars-Karen-Maitland/dp/0141031913/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243453265&sr=1-1) by Karen Maitland. A mish-mash band of people in the 14th century end up travelling together to avoid the plague. It's very interesting because it really brings to your consciousness just how superstition ruled and how simple life was although a lot more complicated at the same time (food was very simple but you had to catch/prepare and cook it yourself - as an example). Makes you understand how people thought and what they did. It's interesting because it plods on with them and their travels, touching tragedy along the way. Nothing really seems to happen, but everything happens. It's difficult to explain but I really enjoyed it.

Then continuing the historical theme, onto Dissolution by CJ Sansom (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dissolution-Shardlake-C-J-Sansom/dp/0330450794/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243453451&sr=1-1). In the time of the reformation, (this one is set in 1536, just after Ann Boleyn's execution), Dr Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform is sent by Thomas Cromwell to investigate the murder of another of the King's commissioners at a monastery. This is the first in the medieval-murder series which currently consists of 4 novels. I really enjoyed this, the smells and sounds of the period are put across well and it's an enjoyable twist on the murder/thriller genre.

I think all of the above (certainly the first two) were available in Tesco for their 2 for 7 quid offer. Well worth it imo.

semi-pro waster

27-05-2009, 23:30

Been a while since I've updated and read a few books in the interval.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy was one, despite (or perhaps because of) all the critical acclaim I didn't enjoy it all that much. It is a passable enough story but the idiosyncratic writing style (misses apostrophes about half the time when they should be there yet puts them in at other points, lack of speechmarks and lack of names for characters amongst other issues) detracts from it, I can almost see reasons for not naming the characters as it allows projection but it doesn't flow as well as it should and the ending is a bit of a cop out. Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape it details the struggles of a man and his son against the environment and occasionally other survivors. If this is one of the best novels of our generation the paucity of selection to compare it against is writ large.

A Snow Ball in Hell by Christopher Brookmyre. It makes no attempt to be great literature but I've always found Mr Brookmyre's novels to be entertaining and intricately plotted with a satisfying storyline throughout which winds up all the interweaving strands at the denouement. This one is about a cop, a master thief and a serial killer who've all been in previous outings but have unfinished business of various descriptions with each other.

Inconceivable by Ben Elton. I'm slightly torn on this one because it was somewhat better than I expected yet I spent distinct periods of the book not really enjoying it all that much, it seemed almost as if there were too many cliches. The story of a young couple who are somewhat fruitlessly attempting to have children and how they go through the travails that entail from this, the husband is also an aspiring writer who needs a story - it's written in the format of a diary, the juxtaposition of feelings is amusing at times and there are some good lines but it does have the feeling of a one trick pony which should have been sent to the glue factory a while back. I might be being slightly harsh here and it could be that if I was a bit older the problems would resonate more with me but I cannot be sure of that.

Kitten

27-05-2009, 23:50

I think Inconceivable was made into Maybe Baby. Which is one of the few examples of a film being better than the book it was based on. I find Mr Elton very hit & miss.

semi-pro waster

28-05-2009, 00:02

I think Inconceivable was made into Maybe Baby. Which is one of the few examples of a film being better than the book it was based on. I find Mr Elton very hit & miss.

T'was indeed, I've never watched the film and based on the book alone I wouldn't be going out of my way to watch it but given your recommendation I'll not bodyswerve it should I get the chance. :)

I've still got to decide what I'm reading next as although I've also started The Curious Memories of Thomas Penman by Bruce Robinson it hasn't really kept my attention so I'll just finish it as and when, probably alongside another book.

Kitten

28-05-2009, 00:07

I think it's the cast more than anything, I don't remember much about it but I know Joely Richardson and Hugh Lawrie play the main couple, and you can't go far wrong with them imo. I seem to remember thinking it wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be.

Fayshun

29-05-2009, 08:44

Dexter in the Dark, the 3rd Dexter book. I only started it yesterday and I'm 7/8 finished, I can't put it down.

9/10 on the Faysh book-o-meter.

_dogma_

29-05-2009, 16:52

Snuggle Ferret

30-05-2009, 14:48

SidewinderINC

30-05-2009, 18:09

Dexter in the Dark, the 3rd Dexter book. I only started it yesterday and I'm 7/8 finished, I can't put it down.

9/10 on the Faysh book-o-meter.

I haven't started Dexter by Design yet, might pick that up next week.

Kitten

30-05-2009, 22:45

Just finishing up the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

It's really very good. It is a slightly modern version of Stoker's Dracula. Most of the story is from letters which the girl is reading and finding out why her father is going mad all over the world looking for Dracula.

Oooh I have this and started it, but I didn't carry on because I misplaced it. Worth a read I take it then? Will have to dig it out. Been reading the Jesus Dynasty (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jesus-Dynasty-Stunning-Evidence-History/dp/0007220596/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243719844&sr=8-1) at the moment which focuses on the evidence we have on the 'real' Jesus Christ, his family and his life. Easier to let amazon tell you really:

Tabor's scholarly detective work begins with his accidental discovery on a dig in Israel of what many now think was Jesus' family tomb. Tabor pieces together new archaeological evidence, combined with the earliest surviving Christian documents to reconstruct Jesus' real family history as a royal dynasty in exile. Jesus was leader of a messianic movement -- one far different to the revelations of his maverick follower Paul who was responsible for what we know as Christianity today. Was Jesus far more human than the Church has led us to believe? Was his royal bloodline meant to free mankind or just a chosen few? And why did dissident follower Paul have a more lasting effect on Christianity than Jesus himself? Find out the controversial truth in 'The Jesus Dynasty'.

Is interesting. Good to read if you can be objective and read it with an open mind.

Fayshun

31-05-2009, 20:09

Dexter in the Dark, the 3rd Dexter book. I only started it yesterday and I'm 7/8 finished, I can't put it down.

9/10 on the Faysh book-o-meter.

I'm a bit :/ about the end, dissapointing.

Final scores on the doors 7/10.

Kitten

31-05-2009, 21:45

I had a break from the JD to read some trashyness over the sunny weekend. Finished two girly books both decent sunshine reads :D

One is called 'Bed Rest (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bed-Rest-Sarah-Bilston/dp/0751538337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243802578&sr=8-1)' and the other is called 'A Good Girl comes Undone' (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Girl-Comes-Undone/dp/0751539635/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243802669&sr=8-1)

Fayshun

31-05-2009, 22:07

I haven't started Dexter by Design yet, might pick that up next week.
Damn you, I didn't even know it was out.

£5.99 on Playtrade, sorted!

:D

SidewinderINC

01-06-2009, 00:53

Damn you, I didn't even know it was out.

£5.99 on Playtrade, sorted!

:D

muahahahaha, after prompting you to buy the first three it seems only fair that I mention the fourth :p

Fayshun

01-06-2009, 03:41

muahahahaha, after prompting you to buy the first three it seems only fair that I mention the fourth :p
I hear Jeff Lindsay is writing Dexter is Delicious as we speak, it features cannibalism.

Om nom nom nom!

semi-pro waster

02-06-2009, 10:59

Finished a couple of books this morning, one was The Curious Memories of Thomas Penman by Bruce Robinson and despite some earlier reservations it is quite good although the ending is a bit incongruous given the books largely whimsical start.

The other was The Talk Of The Town by Ardal O'Hanlon (yes, that Ardal O'Hanlon) and it's more accomplished than I'd have expected yet slightly disappointing in that the ending feels somewhat unfinished leaving a lack of final conclusion. Perhaps that was always the aim and the reader is meant to fill in the blanks so to speak but I tend to prefer that the author doesn't leave you in stasis regarding their work - I've submitted myself to the authors imagination up to this point so I don't want to feel abandoned at a fairly crucial moment.

Next up might be Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith.

Snuggle Ferret

02-06-2009, 17:45

Things my girlfriend and I have argued about by Mil Millington.

I wanted a sunny break from Feist so picked this up from our landlord's bookcase. Very silly and is based on a similar website.

Mondo

08-06-2009, 21:45

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn. Read them all now.

Wow, I admit, it is not the greatest literature in history, but I am addicted, to the characters as much as the written text. Now i am reading the unpublished Midnight Sun, it is Twilight in Edward's perspective from Stephanie Meyer's website just to get my fix. I've also started to read Twilight again from the start, second reading actually makes a lot more sense, the characters seems a lot more thought out than i realised, their thoughts, actions and sentences have reasons to them where I passed it off as storytelling on the first read through.

I also watched Twilight the film again too, it made a lot more sense after reading the books, made the film 10 times better.

NokkonWud

08-06-2009, 22:26

The last of the Harry Potter books still. It's better than book 6, but neither of the last two are comparible to the first 5.

Mondo

08-06-2009, 22:36

The last of the Harry Potter books still. It's better than book 6, but neither of the last two are comparible to the first 5.

Book 5 bored me to tears, took me 2 years to finished that one.

NokkonWud

08-06-2009, 23:23

I really enjoyed it. :p. Much better than 6 which was a 600 page book which could have been done in 200.

Mondo

09-06-2009, 00:03

I really enjoyed it. :p. Much better than 6 which was a 600 page book which could have been done in 200.

Probably because why i put it down after about 100 pages or something. I can read a book a day when the book is good. I read the first 4 HP books in a week, would've been shorter if i didn't have to go away for a day. The 5th one just Zzzzzzzzzz. I read Break Dawn in a week, and only read that on my commute and free time between serving customers in the shop.

75 pages into Midnight Sun, wow, i want to buy this now !!!!!!!!!!

Fayshun

09-06-2009, 00:14

I'm 3/4 of the way through "Dexter by Design", thanks Zinc!

I'm also flitting between "Do Ants have Arseholes" and "Do Bats have Bollocks", two books I picked up in Tesco for £2 each. They're a collection of questions and answers from the readers of "Old Git" magazine.

Snuggle Ferret

09-06-2009, 14:53

Having a break from Feist and reading Escape by Carolyn Jessop. Google it as I don't want to offend anyone with religious views :-)

_dogma_

10-06-2009, 12:31

Just read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Was quite good, though, not as good as the Twilight series it did still keep me up reading it to the early hours of the morning. It's a bit predictable in some places. I'd say if you liked Twilight you'll probably like this.

ETA: Kitten if you can't find your copy of the Historian would be more than happy to send you mine. It's definitely worth the read :)

Mondo

12-06-2009, 15:16

Just read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Was quite good, though, not as good as the Twilight series it did still keep me up reading it to the early hours of the morning. It's a bit predictable in some places. I'd say if you liked Twilight you'll probably like this.

Have ordered a copy in Hardback from amazon, should be here tomorrow :) Wanted to get it today but Waterstone ony have it in Paperback and it costs more :huh::'(

semi-pro waster

21-06-2009, 09:19

Just finished Dr Strangelove or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb by Peter George which is a novel based on the screenplay adapted by Stanley Kubrick, Peter George and Terry Southern from an original short story called Two Hours To Doom by Peter George - so if you're following at the back that means Mr George has effectively rewritten this twice and got paid for all three incarnations of it which is not bad going by anyones count. It's a decent enough novel as you'd expect from the source material with a few scenes that either weren't shown or weren't shown fully in the film.

I did also read Child 44 previously and much enjoyed it for the most part, it's not destined to be a great work of literature but it's well told and involving.

I've additionally finished The Assault On Liberty by Dominic Raab about the erosion of our basic rights under various guises - while I don't agree with all of his analysis it is a well presented with coherant arguments and both interesting and worrying conclusions to be drawn from it. I'd recommend anyone with even a passing interest in law to have a read.

Fayshun

21-06-2009, 09:31

I'm 3/4 of the way through "Dexter by Design", thanks Zinc!

Oooh, forgotted. Finished it soon after and I'm awaiting the publication of "Dexter is Delicious" when Jeff Lindsay finishes writing the bloody thing.

With the last two Dexter books, I think the endings were a bit rushed, I'd look at how few pages were left and think "how's this going to tie up in that short a space?". Both could've been 20 pages longer.

Still I'm loving the slight differences between book Dexter and TV Dexter. Especially Cody and Astor ;)

Kitten

21-06-2009, 15:08

Just spotted your post Dogma, thanks for that I'll let you know if it's not where I think it is!

Just moved onto Dark Fire, the 2nd in the Shardlake series by CJSampson - Dissolution being the first in that series.

Fayshun

21-06-2009, 15:46

I'm 206/261st the way through "Dalek I Loved You" by Nick Griffiths, a memoir of a Dr Who fan. Only started it this morning. Very funny, dry humour. Was a quid in Poundland. Money well spent!

Pumpkinstew

24-06-2009, 21:54

I'm about halfway through American Gods - Neil Gaiman.

It's all building nicely at the moment I'm just waiting for the blue touch paper to be lit.

Tak

24-06-2009, 22:02

Just re-reading Angels and Demons again - I had started the Dresden books again but I only have 1 and 2 atm as I lent them out ;D

NokkonWud

24-06-2009, 22:37

For those still waiting to get "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" I saw it in Borders today, currently for sale for £3, at that price you really should get it.

Little write up on my site here:
http://www.nokkonwud.com/?p=562

SCM

10-07-2009, 01:30

Just finished reading Robert Jordan's first Wheel of Time book and once i got into it enjoyed it a lot, so taking a trip tomorrow to get books 2 and 3 from Waterstones to carry on reading more. Will do my usual buy them all routine in time as got that feeling i will lose myself in the series.

volospian

10-07-2009, 08:45

Kitten

10-07-2009, 08:48

I just read 'The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas' (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/qid=1247212114/ref=a9_sc_1?ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=boy%20in%20the%20striped%20pyjamas) - a little tale about two boys who strike up a friendship either side of an Auschwitz fence.

Brilliant, very short (read it in about 1.30 hours), very simple but very effective.

volospian

10-07-2009, 09:02

I'm currently reading The First Man in Rome, part of the Masters of Rome series, by Colleen McCullough. It covers the incredible career of Gaius Marius and the early part of Lucius Cornelius Sulla's career. These are the people who started the collapse of the Roman Republic and paved the way for Caesar the dictator and the birth of the empire (indeed this book covers the early life of his parents. Caesar's father is Gaius Marius' brother in law, Sulla is also his brother in law as both Marius and Sulla married Caesar women. It's interesting that the Caesar family is intrinsically interwoven into the collapse of the republic).

It a pretty big book, written in very small font it is still a good few inches thick and goes into incredible detail. There are loads of major characters, and all of them really lived. Famous names such as Scaurus, Drusus, Cotta, Caesar and so on. It's not really for the feint hearted as the amount of names, all sounding similar, can lead to some confusion, also it covers the mechanics of the republic in depth, detailing the cursus honorum and all the offices that are involved. However, it does have a detailed glossary and character list in the back for when you get lost, lol.

If you have any interest in Rome, this series is an invaluable read.

Matblack

10-07-2009, 09:17

I've got a silly book on the go but I'm listening to Guillermo del Toro's book The Strain, the unabridged version is available on iTunes and its very good, read by Ron Pearlman too :)

MB

Dymetrie

10-07-2009, 09:31

I've been reading some recommendations from Mrs Dym recently, including breaking my Iain Banks cherry with The Crow Road (awesome, just awesome) and The Wasp Factory (freaky, just freaky).

Currently reading The Witching Hour by Anne Rice which is very nicely written, however I'm ~400 (iPhone) pages in and the story is only just starting!

Lined up I have Iain M Bank's 'Culture' series and the 'Sookie Stackhouse' series by Charlaine Harris (as we've been watching True Blood which is excellent and has an Essex Boy playing one of the lead characters \o/).

_dogma_

10-07-2009, 10:11

I'm reading the Heroin Diaries by Nikki Stixx. Really enjoying it, I love reading about peoples messed up lives!

But The Selfish Gene on the back burner for now as it was giving me a headache!!

NokkonWud

10-07-2009, 11:20

Nearing the end of "Devil May Care", the new James Bond book by Sebastian Faulks, and so far it's quite .. average. I wouldn't overly recommend it, if it wasn't a 'Bond' book then it wouldn't have gotten close to the reviews or popularity its had. Shame.

Moving onto "My Sisters Keeper" by Jodi Picoult when I finish it. Should be on it by the end of the weekend.

Kitten

10-07-2009, 12:13

If you have any interest in Rome, this series is an invaluable read.

Will have a look at these thanks! :)

Belmit

10-07-2009, 14:06

Just about to start 'Why Does E=mc^2?' by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw. Came highly recommended and looking forward to it!

SCM

10-07-2009, 16:05

Shame he died without finishing the series :(

Someone else will be finishing the series off as before he died he was dictating his work onto tape for completion later.

Fayshun

10-07-2009, 19:49

The Wasp Factory (freaky, just freaky).

Very, very freaky.

Tak

10-07-2009, 20:35

Finished the first Bourne and while it was initially a bit hard to get in to, as the book progressed it did become a highly compelling read. I've only seen the films once and have a terrible memory for things like that that so couldn't draw comparisons between them (Jhadur says it is very different and has started reading the 1st book himself).

I'm now on to book 2 and again the first chapter or two was ... hard? No, just more like you actually had to pay attention - no easy read, there were things you needed to understand before the story could really get going. I'm now half way thru chapter 11 and again it has become highly addictive and compelling and, probably most importantly, enjoyable.

vix

10-07-2009, 23:21

I'll give it a go again, I found it really hard to get into but if it gets easier I'll persevere! It is very very different to the film though and I couldn't get my head around that. I'll usually read a book before I see a film, but to be honest I didn't even realise the films were based on books!

Tak

11-07-2009, 09:20

I started watching the second film last night and it was nothing like the book - I think at one point they use a trick which is in book 1 but that was it; even the geographical location is completely different.

semi-pro waster

11-07-2009, 09:58

Just finished Filth by Irvine Welsh and quite enjoyed it, recognising a lot of Edinburgh in there although equally a lot of it is an Edinburgh that I've never fully seen, some of the vernacular is spot on and peculiarly Scottish but there's a bit that was completely new even to me so it might be a bit of a task to get into if you're not used to it. If I was of a cynical nature I'd wonder why one of Mr Welsh's least likeable characters happens to be a Jambo but I'm sure he wouldn't have used that device just to have a dig. ;)

Going to start If This Is A Man by Primo Levi as it's part of the OcUK book club, looks like it could be an interesting read albeit about a rather disturbing subject matter.

NokkonWud

11-07-2009, 12:30

Does anyone want the new James Bond book, 'Devil May Care'? I only have about 40 pages left and no one I know will want it.

volospian

12-07-2009, 12:49

Someone else will be finishing the series off as before he died he was dictating his work onto tape for completion later.

Yeah, I'd heard that. Hopefully they will be finished sooner as someone can dedicate the time to them.

NokkonWud

12-07-2009, 15:13

Read the first 3 chapters of "My Sisters Keeper" by Jodi Picoult and loving the way it's written so far. Nice to read a 'proper' book after that new James Bond book.

Del Lardo

12-07-2009, 15:32

Does anyone want the new James Bond book, 'Devil May Care'? I only have about 40 pages left and no one I know will want it.

Brilliant book. Highly recommended.

Snuggle Ferret

15-07-2009, 12:55

Just about to finish the last Feist book. All good, some brilliant, some ok but all worth reading if you like Feist.

Glaucus

15-07-2009, 14:51

Star wars - Outcast.

Just finished it, very good indeed and like where it's heading.
I like easy reading.

On another note why the hell hasn't ebook taken of?
Why are very few books offered in ebook form, and why are the readers £200. surly it's a memory card and an oled/led screen and some basic software.

I prefer reading from a hard copy. But like games, the advantage of having it downloaded and in my hand within minutes would win me over.

Burble

15-07-2009, 15:03

I'm currently reading 'The Aquariums of Pyongyang' by Kang Chol-Hwan.

It's a true story written by a chap who spent 10 years in a North Korean gulag because of the alleged guilt of his Grandfather. I've read it before (I absorbed it in a single evening last year) and always planned to re-read it so finally got around to ordering myself a copy.

The book was translated from Korean to French, then French to English and there are times where it shows but it doesn't detract from what I found to be an absolutely fascinating read.

NokkonWud

15-07-2009, 16:20

I prefer reading from a hard copy. But like games, the advantage of having it downloaded and in my hand within minutes would win me over.

I've always been dubious and I genuinely believe that staring at the screen would give me a headache. Also the fact I could get around 50 paperbacks for the price of a single reader keeps me a book reader as opposed to an ebook reader.

Glaucus

15-07-2009, 16:31

I've always been dubious and I genuinely believe that staring at the screen would give me a headache. Also the fact I could get around 50 paperbacks for the price of a single reader keeps me a book reader as opposed to an ebook reader.

yeah the price is stupid. I would of thought if they use that new screen. Which is great for black and white. That doesn't refresh it keeps the image. That remove any headache concern.

It just seems stupid companies aren't waking upto the internet. Music/film/books are all behind the times.

_dogma_

15-07-2009, 16:51

Finished Nikki Sixx, was awesome. I love reading about people's misery!

Now on Emperess Orchid by Anchee Min. Really pretty book about the last Emperess of China. Based on a true story and is very well written. The descriptions and characters are very indepth. Not finished yet but shouldn't take too long.

Pebs

16-07-2009, 23:35

Just finished Before I Die by Jenny Downham.

People should read this book. It's going to be rolling around my thoughts for a long long time. Beautiful.

Will

17-07-2009, 08:40

Just started reading the Kite Runner - it's a book I've been meaning to read for a long time. I love those sort of stories and I'm gripped so far (almost tempted to bring into work!).

I wish I made more time for reading :( Bloody technology is so distracting!

Pumpkinstew

17-07-2009, 09:40

I've been reading some recommendations from Mrs Dym recently, including breaking my Iain Banks cherry with The Crow Road (awesome, just awesome) and The Wasp Factory (freaky, just freaky).

Lined up I have Iain M Bank's 'Culture' series

Some of the sci-fi ones manage to be even more freaky than the Wasp Factory. You have ben warned:D

My reccomendations are Espedair Street and Use of Weapons. Two books that absolutely blew me away. Although you're generally onto a winner with Banks, I can't think of a bad book he's written.

Pumpkinstew

17-07-2009, 09:49

On another note why the hell hasn't ebook taken of?

They won't become popular until the price comes down and they won't become popular until Steve Jobs starts flogging white ones with rounded edges:p
Serious answer: you sort of answered your own question. Readers are still expensive and not many books are available so it's not attractive to consumers.
Publishers aren't keen on them anyway as they're terrified of having their industry shaken up in the same way that music has. It's happening though and the effect will snowball.

I've had some joy with DSreader on my DS lite, although it only reads .txt files.

Burble

17-07-2009, 10:18

Apparently the Amazon Kindle is going to launch in the UK around Christmas. I've used a Kindle 2 and Kindle DX and they're by far the best ebook reader I've used.

Despite being a gadget freak I can't see me getting one. Even though the screen on the new Kindles are easy on the eyes I still prefer reading from paper than a screen.

Snuggle Ferret

17-07-2009, 17:26

After the Feist marathon, am going onto an Eddings marathon.

semi-pro waster

17-07-2009, 18:22

I've just finished If This Is A Man by Primo Levi - it's about his experiences at Auschwitz and trying to understand them. It's a remarkable book by an equally remarkable man - the prose is, if anything, understated yet paradoxically it is all the more powerful for that. He appeared to bear little rancour towards his former captors which is in itself astonishing but the almost clinical way he describes it is strangely moving as he is clearly trying to make sense of the inexplicable and inexcusable. I'll be reading The Truce soon which relates some of his life after release.

I'm now reading Kiss The Girls by James Patterson for a complete change of pace before starting The Truce, slightly accidental that I'm reading it but a colleague gave me the book after a chat about what we were reading so I couldn't really refuse.

Mondo

20-07-2009, 08:34

Went back to The Time Traveler's Wife, I had stopped about a year ago 350 pages in as it got a bit tedious in the middle. Picked it up again this morning about read about 30 pages which the story had moved along, finally !

Mondo

21-07-2009, 23:39

Just ordered Before I Die by Jenny Downham, it's supposed to be a heartbreaking read, but i am kind of looking forward to it...thanks Pebs for the recommendation. :)

SCM

24-07-2009, 01:00

Dymetrie

25-07-2009, 07:50

Currently reading The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

Holy incest-tastic batman :shocked:

And here was me thinking that the homo-eroticism in the Vampire Chronicles was distracting!

Dymetrie

25-07-2009, 07:51

Some of the sci-fi ones manage to be even more freaky than the Wasp Factory. You have ben warned:D

My reccomendations are Espedair Street and Use of Weapons. Two books that absolutely blew me away. Although you're generally onto a winner with Banks, I can't think of a bad book he's written.

Coolio!

I shall schedule them in for once I've finished The 'incest' hour :p

BBx

28-07-2009, 13:06

Just finished reading 'Scarred' by Sophie Andrews.

Its not for the faint hearted. Its an excellent book and I cried at the end :(

So difficult to understand that what I was reading was real life.

BB x

Pebs

28-07-2009, 15:53

Just ordered Before I Die by Jenny Downham, it's supposed to be a heartbreaking read, but i am kind of looking forward to it...thanks Pebs for the recommendation. :)

Enjoy :)

vix

28-07-2009, 16:06

Re-reading Harry Potter books at moment and up to Half Blood Prince started these before i got books 2 & 3 of Robert Jordans Wheel of Time series, which i will be moving onto after i finish the Harry Potter series.

I re-did Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows this weekend as they are the two I have read the least, and to be honest I almost forgot what they were about!

Now reading 'Gridiron' by Philip Kerr. I really need some new books as I keep reading the ones that are on my shelves! I have the urge to read Jurassic Park again but can't find it anywhere :/

Mondo

28-07-2009, 19:02

Finished The Time Traveler's Wife, finally. It's better than i thought now that i've finished it. It started really well but got kinda stuck in the middle and ended really nicely. Now i am really looking forward to the movie out next month !

semi-pro waster

01-08-2009, 12:35

Finished The Truce and it is equally as remarkable a book as If This Is A Man, two books that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet by James Herriot is the most recent book I've read, very easy to get through but quite funny and surprisingly touching in places which I didn't expect.

Haly

01-08-2009, 14:10

It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet by James Herriot is the most recent book I've read, very easy to get through but quite funny and surprisingly touching in places which I didn't expect.

Used to love James Herriot books when I was younger :) Must go back to them sometime.

Princess Griff

05-08-2009, 21:51

Haha amazing I used to love the James Herriot books! I'd completely forgotten about them!!! Might have to dig one out!

Im currently reading;
'Brutal Art' by Jesse Kellerman
'The Host' by Stephenie Meyer

and have just finished reading 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini - which was brilliant, same author as 'The Kite Runner' - which is one of the next on my list!!! Am also intrigued by the new Dan Brown book....

Garp

05-08-2009, 23:58

Currently working my way through "The Dark Elf Trilogy" by RA Salvatore, having just finished "Planet Pirates" trilogy by Anne McCaffrey.

Mondo

06-08-2009, 13:51

Enjoy :)

Bah, was reading it with 30 pages to go on the train to work and got all emotion, had to stop reading ! :o

Matblack

06-08-2009, 13:53

Reading an 'easy' book at the moment, In Your Dreams by Tom Holt the follow up to The Portable Door and the second book in the JW Well's cycle. Very funny :)

MB

Kitten

06-08-2009, 17:12

Oh ****knuckle, just erased my post by accident, arrggghhhh!!

Ok, I just read Peter James - Dead Tomorrow. Good novel, interesting subject, similar vein to all his other Grace novels, but good, with an interesting little side story running through.

Currently reading Twilight. Really enjoying it. Some bits are incredibly raw and emotive, and quite intense to read. Finding it hard to put down.

Following this I have the 3rd Shardlake book - Revelations by CJ Sansom and the other 3 in the Twilight series but not sure what I'll read first.

Oh, also have Dear Fatty by Dawn French on the go but that's a memoir so you can dip in and out of it as you want to.

Princess Griff

06-08-2009, 18:05

Oh my god I loved the Twilight trilogy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dont like the film, but the books were so good!

Mondo

06-08-2009, 20:16

I LOVE TWILIGHT, all 4 of them ! The last one is the best though :)

Tak

06-08-2009, 20:33

Current rumour is book 4 in paperback this month :)

BBx

06-08-2009, 20:36

Mondo

06-08-2009, 20:39

Any chance I can borrow this?

Will pay you for p&p :)

BB x

Absolutely :)

PM me your addy and i'll post it to you tomorrow in time for the weekend :)

Mondo

07-08-2009, 00:56

Just finished Before I Die, only because I had to stop reading on the train today with 20 pages left because i was actually crying ! :'( I didn't find it that great at the start, nor the middle but when the end was coming, all that had come before made sense and all the more poignant and powerful for it :'( It feels like I have actually lost a friend when the book was over. I guess I am lucky in life so far that i haven't had anyone I love left me yet, so I have not had to experience those feelings. I do dread the when that day comes as this book has really taken me to pieces by the end.

/me sniff

Garp

07-08-2009, 01:41

Current rumour is book 4 in paperback this month :)

I believe it's already out over here, so should be with you guys soon I'd expect (I'm sure I counted 4 books in the bag Lana got from her friend)

Kitten

07-08-2009, 07:37

I got the hardback from the library. Walked in, asked for it, arrived within a week.

NokkonWud

07-08-2009, 17:47

Currently reading "Jelleyman's thrown a wobbly" by Jeff Stelling. It's a book focusing on the preparation before and the act of Soccer Saturday, the greatest show on TV. Very enjoyable so far.

Recently finished My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult which was utterly fantabulous and as well written a book as I've read in years, brilliant characters, emotive story and beautifully detailed, I recommend everyone read it, especially before seeing the movie which is totally different.

semi-pro waster

10-08-2009, 20:47

Just finished The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert A. Heinlein and it was good with humour and multiple interesting strands of story up until the final 50 or so pages, at which point I got that horrible sinking feeling that there wasn't enough space left to tie it up satisfactorily. Unfortunately I was right, it seemed as if he'd expended all his energy in creating this multi-layered universe initially and then realised that he either couldn't finish it properly or worse still couldn't be bothered and hurriedly left it in a parlous state which doesn't give it any satisfying conclusion.

Next up is Enigma by Robert Harris, no idea if it is any good or not but it was lying about on the bookshelf so I might as well read it.

Mondo

10-08-2009, 21:02

I have Enigma too, a friend recommended to me 10 years ago.....and i still have not read it.

Aitch

10-08-2009, 23:28

Any chance I can borrow this?

Will pay you for p&p :)

BB x

I should be getting my copy of the Time Travellers Wife back from a work colleague any day now as she has finished it. Would save on postage :)

Excellent book I would recommend to anyone - very cleverly thought out plot with genuine characters, friendship and romance.

Aitch

10-08-2009, 23:30

I have Enigma too, a friend recommended to me 10 years ago.....and i still have not read it.

Fatherland by Robert Harris is also well worth a read.

Mondo

11-08-2009, 00:30

I should be getting my copy of the Time Travellers Wife back from a work colleague any day now as she has finished it. Would save on postage :)

Excellent book I would recommend to anyone - very cleverly thought out plot with genuine characters, friendship and romance.

It's been posted :)

Kitten

11-08-2009, 12:40

Fatherland by Robert Harris is also well worth a read.

So is Pompeii.

Halfway through New Moon & surprised how in tune I am with Bella's feelings. This is extraordinarily well written in my opinon.

Mondo

11-08-2009, 17:04

Halfway through New Moon & surprised how in tune I am with Bella's feelings. This is extraordinarily well written in my opinon.

Some people might say it's not deep, but i really like it !

Pebs

12-08-2009, 08:41

Mondo

12-08-2009, 13:59

I'm so glad you liked it. I felt the same about the start, plus she's not really all that likeable initially but the fog clears after a while and it all makes sense.

I am going to read it in 1 sitting some time, its not a long book at all, and it should easily done in an afternoon, 2 hours top.

Reading One Day at the moment, only 4 chapters in (page 80 !), it's brilliant, and I think it'll be on the big screen in the next few years.

semi-pro waster

12-08-2009, 21:16

I have Enigma too, a friend recommended to me 10 years ago.....and i still have not read it.

At the rate I'm getting through it I should be done by the weekend I expect so I'll be able to add my voice to the support for reading it or not at that point. :)

NokkonWud

13-08-2009, 11:19

Finished the Jeff Stelling Book, 'Jelleymans Thrown a Wobbly', and for any one who is a fan of Soccer Saturday it's a must read book. It's genuinely laugh out loud funny in places and covers a lot of information on not just the new panellists (Le Tissier, Merson, Thommo, Nicholas) but the older guard too (Rodney Marsh, Frank McLintock, George Best, Alan McInally, Alan Mulllery) as well as some of the fill in guests (Paul Walsh, John Salako, Tony Cottee etc..) and tells of stories in bars the night before, show preparation, what actually goes on and of course, there's a whole load on the man, the myth, the legend, Chris Kamara.

Anyone who likes football or that show or are intrigued by Jeff Stelling then I can't recommend it enough. The book covers Stellings career from how it began, the lucky breaks as well as the not so lucky ones (becoming the face of Sumo wrestling on Channel 4, working on TV-am with Sir Frost) but isn't swamped with all the details of his growing up and all this information comes at the end of the book rather than the start, it literally starts up at Soccer Saturday and works backwards.

Very good.

Matblack

13-08-2009, 15:27

Reading an 'easy' book at the moment, In Your Dreams by Tom Holt the follow up to The Portable Door and the second book in the JW Well's cycle. Very funny :)

MB

I've finished this now and I have to say I really really enjoyed it, I've read other Tom Holt books and enjoyed them but with this little series he's struck gold. The series which starts with The Portable Door revolves around JW Wells and Co, a rather 'niche' company based in the City of London and one of its new recruits.

Holt is a very prolific author but he produces quality work unlike some of the other writers in the comic fantasy genre he doesn't have the acerbic wit or darkness of Robert Rankin but is much closer to a Terry Pratchett style despite setting his books in a London and roughly now in time frame.

If you aren't ready to launch into a series but would like to try Tom Holt's work then Who's afraid of Beowolf or Expecting Someone Taller are both very good too but for me the JW Wells series are the best so far.

MB

Haly

13-08-2009, 15:33

Sounds quite interesting :) Might have to look for that in the library next.

I'm not really reading anything at the moment, attention span seems to be nil. But keep meaning to go back and read some Terry Pratchetts.

Garp

13-08-2009, 17:44

Currently working my way through "The Dark Elf Trilogy" by RA Salvatore, having just finished "Planet Pirates" trilogy by Anne McCaffrey.

Enjoyed his work. RA Salvatore is a pretty solid fantasy writer, with a penchance for the D&D universe the book is set in. Drizzt is an interesting Drow (Dark Elf) character, a supreme fighter born in the midst of betrayal, but good hearted unlike the majority of his race who live their lives driven by ambition where murders and massacres are perfectly fine as long as no one sees you.

_dogma_

13-08-2009, 17:56

Now on Emperess Orchid by Anchee Min. Really pretty book about the last Emperess of China. Based on a true story and is very well written. The descriptions and characters are very indepth. Not finished yet but shouldn't take too long.

Finished this. Was good but finished very open ended so I'm now reading the 2nd part called The Last Empress.

Again, very good, so far. Loose ends from the first book are tied up. The descriptions are still as pretty and it's an enjoyable read. I'm learning stuff I had no idea about and it's brought out an interest in China's history.

Kitten

13-08-2009, 18:56

^^ Dogma, have you read 'Memoirs of a Geisha'?

_dogma_

13-08-2009, 20:31

Yeah, It's really good. :) I was actually planning on reading it again after I'm finished this one but I don't think my copy moved house with me!

The Last Empress and Empress Orchid are a bit similar to it Memoirs of a Geisha. So if you liked Memoirs you would like these :)

Kitten

13-08-2009, 20:32

That's what I was thinking.. .I was going to suggest you read it if you hadn't:D

semi-pro waster

16-08-2009, 20:56

Finished Enigma today and I can't wholeheartedly recommend it, like the previous book I read it was pretty good up until the end where again it felt like it had been rushed through as if he hadn't decided how to finish it properly. It's good for the most part and the characterisations are fairly solid but with an ending that feels so much of a cop out it is just unsatisfactory.

Next up is In Silence by Erica Spindler - I'm hoping for more of an ending to this one at least.

Treefrog

20-08-2009, 01:18

Currently working my way through "The Dark Elf Trilogy" by RA Salvatore, having just finished "Planet Pirates" trilogy by Anne McCaffrey.

Ahh, my son has just finished them :)
There's another three(?) trilogies after that and all just as worth reading. I can also recommend the "Cleric Quintet" by the same author, especially as Cadderly makes an appearance in one of the later Drizzt stories.

Garp

20-08-2009, 02:18

Ahh, my son has just finished them :)
There's another three(?) trilogies after that and all just as worth reading. I can also recommend the "Cleric Quintet" by the same author, especially as Cadderly makes an appearance in one of the later Drizzt stories.

Did he? Completely missed him! Read the Cleric Quintet earlier this year. Very good, though I'm not entirely convinced there was 5 books worth of material there.

NokkonWud

20-08-2009, 12:23

Jamie Carraghers autobiography. Read through about 70 pages last night and it's been very good so far. He's keen to point out his story isn't like the usual, predictable life stories of so many other footballers.

semi-pro waster

20-08-2009, 20:03

In Silence was done with late last night and it was much better than the previous two in that it actually had an ending, we're not talking about a great work of literature and I'd guessed the villain of the piece after the first fifty pages or so but it was entertaining enough.

Now it is Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, seems pretty good so far and very evocative.

semi-pro waster

23-08-2009, 22:11

Cannery Row is brilliant, the novel I'd imagine On The Road was intended to be, an intricate evocative portrait of a small segment of a specific American lifestyle. I felt involved with and interested in the characters, something that I simply didn't find at all with Jack Kerouac's work.

Age and Guile by P.J. O'Rourke is next on the random selection of the bookshelf.

volospian

26-08-2009, 13:51

Fatherland by Robert Harris is also well worth a read.

If you like Fatherland, Winter, a Berlin Family 1899-1945 by Len Deighton is a very interesting read, as is SS-GB by the same author.

Glaucus

26-08-2009, 20:46

Pegasus Bridge - Stephen E. Ambrose
Read a 1/3rd of it in the last two hours. Almost upon d-day and it's been a great read so far and it's only been the training and backgroud. It's great as it's fast paced even through training.

Cheers Goose and the others for the recommendation.

Finished reading it and by far the best book I've read in ages.

On to Vulcan 607 now.

SCM

28-08-2009, 16:48

Ok i am now well into the 4th in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and completely hooked. Took a little while to adjust to the series with first few books being hard to get into just with the writing style etc but glad i kept at them :)

Goose

29-08-2009, 07:29

Haly

29-08-2009, 11:20

Been reading the book of Slumdog Millionaire, Q&A by Vikas Swarup.
Infinitely superior than the film. I found the film quite average and overrated but my Mum had mentioned the radio serial was good so I thought I'd give the source material a shot. Very enjoyable book, quite harsh at times but a satisfying read while still being very easy to read.

Does make me start wanting to take up charity work though! But I think that's the credit to how well it manages to be emotive but not over the top.

Tak

29-08-2009, 11:26

I finished the 3 Bourne books a while back and really enjoyed them all. I will say the beginning of each can be a bit to get through but they improve vastly as they go on.
Part of me is thinking about getting the 4th and 5th books even though I know they are written by someone else - I think part of it is morbid curiosity as I can't see how reasonably someone could continue the character Bourne after the 3rd book he is over 50 and "slowing down" in book 3 so either they're going to "super soldier" him or someone else becomes Bourne

I am only reading Pratchett atm as I've not been in the mood for anything new - I'm up to Making Money

Kitten

29-08-2009, 11:38

Finished the twilight series now reading the fourth Shardlake book 'revelation' by CJSansom. Pondering whether or not to read 'the host' but don't want disappointment after the other four.

Princess Griff

31-08-2009, 23:00

I've just finished The Host
Was no where near as good as Twilight, and took a whle to get in to as it was quite confusing! But was still a good read!
7/10

BBx

01-09-2009, 09:16

I am currently reading 'Jordan - A Whole New World'.

It is carp!

BB x

semi-pro waster

05-09-2009, 12:59

Age and Guile by P.J. O'Rourke is now finished, very entertaining read for a collection of random articles and stories, I'd fundamentally disagree with him on a number of topics but I reckon it would be entertaining to do so.

Now reading What do you care what people think? by Richard Feynmann, well sort of, it's a collection of stories that he has told about himself and his life. Like the man was I'd expect this to be nothing less than fascinating, so far I haven't been disappointed in the slightest.

Fayshun

06-09-2009, 21:57

I've just ordered "If Chins Could Kill" the Bruce Campbell autobiography off Amazon, awaiting delivery.....

BBx

08-09-2009, 21:41

I'm 100 pages into 'Betrayed' by Lyndsey Harris and nothing in particular has happened so far :/

Whenever I read a book I need it to grab me from the first page/chapter otherwise there is no point. Really poorly written, every chapter so far ends with a cliffhanger type sentence encouraging you that something interesting is going to happen, but it hasn't so far :/

There really isn't a point to completing this, other than finishing what I have started.

Am just waiting for it to get better... but for how long?

BB x

Kitten

08-09-2009, 22:22

Give it up verbs, life's too short to waste it on crap books!

BBx

08-09-2009, 22:27

Reading reviews on Amazon it does get better.

I paid a whole 50p for this from the car boot!

BB x

Kitten

08-09-2009, 22:33

verbs?? Predictive text sucks ;D

BBx

08-09-2009, 23:13

I thought it was my new name! :D

BB x

Glaucus

09-09-2009, 11:20

Vulcan 607 (Paperback)- by Rowland White (Author)
It was to be one of the most ambitious operations since 617 Squadron bounced their revolutionary bombs into the dams of the Ruhr Valley in 1943...When Argentine forces invaded the Falklands in the early hours of 2 April 1982, Britain's military chiefs were faced with a real-life Mission Impossible. Its opening shot, they decided, would be Operation Black Buck: to strike a body blow at the occupying army, and make them realize that nothing was safe - not even Buenos Aires...The idea was simple: to destroy the vital landing strip at Port Stanley. The reality was more complicated. The only aircraft that could possibly do the job was three months from being scrapped, and the distance it had to travel was four thousand miles beyond its maximum range. It would take fifteen Victor tankers and seventeen separate in-flight refuellings to get one Avro Vulcan B2 over the target, and give its crew any chance of coming back alive. Yet less than a month later, a formation of elderly British jets was launched from a remote island aribase to carry out the longest-range air attack in history. At the tip of the spear was a single aircraft, six men, and twenty-one thousand-pound bombs, facing a hornet's nest of modern weaponry: the radar-guided guns and missiles of the Argentine defences. There would be no second chances...It was the end of an era - the last time the RAF flew heavy bombers into combat before they were replaced by their digital, fly-by-wire, laser-guided successors. There were many who believed it couldn't be done. Drawing on extensive interviews with the combatants, Falklands residents and British High Command, and with unprecedented access to comtemporary military records, Rowland White takes us, for the first time, to the beating heart of the legendary raid. "Vulcan 607" is a story of ingenuity, courage and sheer bloody-mindedness that's destined to become a classic.

8/10
A really interesting story and what a feat of determination. Got a little bored around the middle of the book, but it soon picked up again.

BBx

11-09-2009, 14:41

Knipples

11-09-2009, 15:06

I've lost my passion for reading, I have to force myself to read at the moment, and I hate that because usually you cant get my head out of a book. Ive got my next 4 or 5 books all lined up on the shelf waiting, but am still not even half way through the book I started at the beginning of August.

I don't know why it is, and I wish I knew. :(

Fayshun

11-09-2009, 23:51

I've just ordered "If Chins Could Kill" the Bruce Campbell autobiography off Amazon, awaiting delivery.....
Where's my book? :(:angry:

BBx

12-09-2009, 10:24

Where's my book? :(:angry:

Ur a victim of the postal strikes Sir. :(

BB x

Fayshun

12-09-2009, 23:25

Ur a victim of the postal strikes Sir. :(

BB x
Err, actually, I'm a victim of my own idiocy, it's been a while since I ordered from Amazon and my old bank details were registered... :o

I have now updated them.

Stan_Lite

14-09-2009, 08:37

I'm currently wading my way through The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny

Here's the publisher's bumph:

A gripping fantasy packed with wizardry, swordfights, battle, romance and politics Chronicles of Amber is a fantasy masterpiece.

Amber is the one real world, casting infinite reflections of itself -- Shadow worlds, that can be manipulated by those of royal Amberite blood. But the royal family is torn apart by jealousies and suspicion; the disappearance of the Patriach Oberon has intensified the internal conflict by leaving the throne apparently up for grabs.

In a hospital on the Shadow Earth, a young man is recovering from a freak car accident; amnesia has robbed him of all his memory, even the fact that he is Corwin, Crown Prince of Amber, rightful heir to the throne -- and he is in deadly peril . . .

I think "fantasy masterpiece" is slightly optimistic. The plot is fairly good as is the style of writing. What really lets this series down (I bought the omnibus version) is the shocking number of typographical errors - including poor spelling and poor grammar. It's not just the odd error here and there, there are 2 or 3 on every page. If this work was proof read, I sincerely hope the proof readers have found alternative employment.

I picked this up on my way up to Shetland. I needed a book so I just picked one up from the fantasy section in Waterstones in Aberdeen. I think I would enjoy it, were it not for the terrible mistakes in it. I find myself picking fault with the grammar and spelling, rather than enjoying the story.

Pity really :(