What are you reading and book reviews

Tak · 14-07-2006, 17:24

I know there are quite a few of us with very healthy reading appetites so I thought it would be cool to see what other people are reading. I'm always interested in trying new genres so if anyone really wants they can put in any reviews of excellent (or terrible) books they've read.

Starting it off, I normally have a couple of the books on the go at once. Sometimes I will get so caught up in one that I'll forget the others which is why some on this list might not change as often as others.

Bag book - The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

Bedroom book - Eric by Terry Pratchett

Bathroom book - Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Pratchett

(I'm currently working my way thru the Discworld books in order so the bedroom book should follow an obvious pattern

)

Dymetrie · 14-07-2006, 17:40

Currently reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman...

Gonna have to select something new as I'll probably finish that on the train tomorrow (must remember to charge phone so it doesn't die and I'm left without book or music!), will probably grab another Gaiman book, or more than likely Good Omens, a book which never gets old

Desmo · 14-07-2006, 17:45

The last time I read a book was probably around 8-10 years ago......until we went on holiday last week

Piggy packed away a copy of Dan Browns Da Vinci Code for me and once I got reading I couldn't put it down

It found it easy to get into and easy to read (not in the Billy Blue Hat sense

)

I've now moved on to Dan Browns Deception Point and I'm finding it the same. Easy to pick up and put down, you don't have to be totally engrosed in it to be able to follow the story. At least that's how it seems to a "non-reader".

Tak · 14-07-2006, 17:48

Dan Brown's books are very much "easy reading" - I read Digital Fortress in just over 4 hours (Mic wasn't impressed getting up for a day shift to find that I'd not actually gone to sleep yet

)

William · 14-07-2006, 18:04

I am mostly readin' seed packets and Crime and Punishment - Dostoyevsky.

leowyatt · 14-07-2006, 18:46

At the moment I'm trying to finish read Golden Past, Red Future. It's only a small book but it's finding the time to read it.

All in all it's a great read if you're a Liverpool fan and details the Champions League winning season.

EDIT: Another vote for Digital Fortress here it's a good read.

Blackstar · 14-07-2006, 18:49

It doesn't matter what order you read the discworld, i've read them all i speak the truth they are ace.
I read David Attenbourghs autobiography which i would highly reccommend.

Dymetrie · 14-07-2006, 18:51

Gonna agree that Digital Fortress is good

and an update, I have loaded:

Good Omens - Pratchett & Gaimen
The Minority Report - Philip K Dick

onto my phone

Stan_Lite · 14-07-2006, 19:24

Current reads are:

Bedtime/travelling - Wit'ch Gate, book 4 of the banned and the banished series by James Clemens.

Not a particularly good fantasy series (by quite a bit) but is very easy to read so I'll perservere with it (and anyway, I bought the bloody things so I'm damn well going to read them

). The characters are very one-dimensional and the plot is poorly managed and predictable. The author repeats himself frequently using the same descriptive phrases repeatedly.

The writing style is amateurish and simplistic, which makes it easy to read but not particularly interesting. I also find the author's frequent references to the physical form and functions of pubescent/pre-pubescent girls quite disturbing - although this seems to have, thankfully, trailed off by the 4th book.

Slack time at work - Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan.

I found this this morning whilst tidying the workshop on the rig and thought I'd have a bit of a read.

Looks like it's going to be a damn good read so far. It is an autobiography of a convicted IRA man (Brendan Behan) who was sent to Borstal in Liverpool in 1939 for terrorist activities (and later to jail in Ireland for attempted murder but that is not covered in this book).
The 50 or so pages I have read so far deal with his arrest and the first few days on remand with flashbacks explaining how he came to be involved with the Republican movement.

This promises to be a simply but well written account of a young man's experiences, giving a fascinating insight into his own mind and also the prison/young offenders system of the late 30s and early 40s.
Looking forward to the next quiet few hours.

Stan

Tak · 14-07-2006, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackstar

It doesn't matter what order you read the discworld, i've read them all i speak the truth they are ace.

Oh I know that, I've read then all several times before, its just every now and then I decide to re-read them all in order - I do this with a lot of series'

14-07-2006, 17:24	#1
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	What are you reading and book reviews I know there are quite a few of us with very healthy reading appetites so I thought it would be cool to see what other people are reading. I'm always interested in trying new genres so if anyone really wants they can put in any reviews of excellent (or terrible) books they've read. Starting it off, I normally have a couple of the books on the go at once. Sometimes I will get so caught up in one that I'll forget the others which is why some on this list might not change as often as others. Bag book - The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman Bedroom book - Eric by Terry Pratchett Bathroom book - Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Pratchett (I'm currently working my way thru the Discworld books in order so the bedroom book should follow an obvious pattern ) __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH!

14-07-2006, 17:40	#2
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Currently reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman... Gonna have to select something new as I'll probably finish that on the train tomorrow (must remember to charge phone so it doesn't die and I'm left without book or music!), will probably grab another Gaiman book, or more than likely Good Omens, a book which never gets old __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

14-07-2006, 17:45	#3
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	The last time I read a book was probably around 8-10 years ago......until we went on holiday last week Piggy packed away a copy of Dan Browns Da Vinci Code for me and once I got reading I couldn't put it down It found it easy to get into and easy to read (not in the Billy Blue Hat sense ) I've now moved on to Dan Browns Deception Point and I'm finding it the same. Easy to pick up and put down, you don't have to be totally engrosed in it to be able to follow the story. At least that's how it seems to a "non-reader". __________________

14-07-2006, 17:48	#4
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	Dan Brown's books are very much "easy reading" - I read Digital Fortress in just over 4 hours (Mic wasn't impressed getting up for a day shift to find that I'd not actually gone to sleep yet ) __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH!

14-07-2006, 18:04	#5
William Vodka Martini Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Church Broughton Posts: 533	I am mostly readin' seed packets and Crime and Punishment - Dostoyevsky. __________________

14-07-2006, 18:46	#6
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	At the moment I'm trying to finish read Golden Past, Red Future. It's only a small book but it's finding the time to read it. All in all it's a great read if you're a Liverpool fan and details the Champions League winning season. EDIT: Another vote for Digital Fortress here it's a good read. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

14-07-2006, 18:49	#7
Blackstar Ambassador of Awesome Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edinburger Posts: 3,676	It doesn't matter what order you read the discworld, i've read them all i speak the truth they are ace. I read David Attenbourghs autobiography which i would highly reccommend. __________________ Jim Garrahy's Fudge Kitchen

14-07-2006, 18:51	#8
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Gonna agree that Digital Fortress is good and an update, I have loaded: Good Omens - Pratchett & Gaimen The Minority Report - Philip K Dick onto my phone __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

14-07-2006, 19:24	#9
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	Current reads are: Bedtime/travelling - Wit'ch Gate, book 4 of the banned and the banished series by James Clemens. Not a particularly good fantasy series (by quite a bit) but is very easy to read so I'll perservere with it (and anyway, I bought the bloody things so I'm damn well going to read them ). The characters are very one-dimensional and the plot is poorly managed and predictable. The author repeats himself frequently using the same descriptive phrases repeatedly. The writing style is amateurish and simplistic, which makes it easy to read but not particularly interesting. I also find the author's frequent references to the physical form and functions of pubescent/pre-pubescent girls quite disturbing - although this seems to have, thankfully, trailed off by the 4th book. Slack time at work - Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan. I found this this morning whilst tidying the workshop on the rig and thought I'd have a bit of a read. Looks like it's going to be a damn good read so far. It is an autobiography of a convicted IRA man (Brendan Behan) who was sent to Borstal in Liverpool in 1939 for terrorist activities (and later to jail in Ireland for attempted murder but that is not covered in this book). The 50 or so pages I have read so far deal with his arrest and the first few days on remand with flashbacks explaining how he came to be involved with the Republican movement. This promises to be a simply but well written account of a young man's experiences, giving a fascinating insight into his own mind and also the prison/young offenders system of the late 30s and early 40s. Looking forward to the next quiet few hours. Stan