What are you reading and book reviews - Page 51

semi-pro waster · 24-09-2009, 21:59

Finished The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins yesterday (and just noticed that I forgot to even say I was reading it) which was very interesting, not least for spotting the obvious foreshadowing of his anti-religion tirades. It's both well explained and surprisingly humourous so he conveys quite complex concepts easily enough to be understood or at least I felt like I understood them.

What do you care what people think? was just as entertaining as I'd hoped as well, Richard Feynmann was truly a fascinating man.

I'm now reading Hotel Pastis by Peter Mayle (he also wrote A Year In Provence and it has started off quite well so far plus it's a nice change of pace and depth from the previous two factual books.

semi-pro waster · 29-09-2009, 19:31

Hotel Pastis was a very nice light read, I'd call it fluff if the term didn't have such negative connotations. Nothing taxing but after the previous book it was exactly what was required.

I've now started Sir Nigel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which is apparantly loosely based on a real knight, it promises to be interesting at least.

Flibster · 01-10-2009, 14:38

Just received the new Terry Pratchett book - Unseen Academicals. Signed copy too.
Not allowed to read it yet though.

semi-pro waster · 14-10-2009, 16:03

Sir Nigel was as interesting as I'd hoped, well told and a riveting read full of quaint chivalry and a curious sense of pugilism.

The Summons by John Grisham was next, just an easy book to read over a couple of days. Much like any other John Grisham book, if you like any of them you'll probably like this, if not steer well clear. Not something with much depth but then you'd not expect that, also I find that if I read too many books by the same author in too short a period of time I tend to start noticing characteristics in their writing which becomes distracting.

//edit had nothing on the go for the past few days due to studying for an exam but I'll no doubt be starting something again very soon.

Tak · 14-10-2009, 20:08

Re-reading the Anita Blake series - yes I know a lot of people think they are pap but I enjoy them and have the next one I'm missing on order

Fayshun · 14-10-2009, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fayshun

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

It came, it's hilarious.

I've nearly finished it.

BBx · 15-10-2009, 09:31

James Patterson - The Midnight Club
Its ok. Its about the Maffia and how they are controlling the Criminal World and killing people and stuff. Bog standard JP tbh.

James Patterson - You have been warned
Interestingly written, bit obvious. Nice easy read. Is about a Nanny/amateur photographer who witnesses a murder. Read it in less than a day.

Jeffery Deaver - Praying for sleep
Starts off a bit slow but the end gets better. Quite good actually.

Currently reading Bestial by Harold Schecter which is about the life of a serial killer in the states. Starts off a bit slow (skipped a chapter which was basically stats) getting interesting now. Was one of the books in the hotel library.

Also picked up James Patterson 8th Confession to add to mine and dad's collection

good times. Hopefully I can read that before the end of the month so I can give it to him

I read a lot of 'boy' books. :/

BB x

Briggykins · 12-11-2009, 09:36

Nearly finished Just After Sunset, a collection of short stories by Stephen King. Despite being a fan of the mystery/horror/thriller genre, I'm not a big fan of King's novels. His short stories, however, are usually excellent. This collection is generally decent - there are a couple of filler-type stories and the kind that don't really go anywhere - but on the whole it's a good read. Most of them deal with King's supernatural-tinged rural world which is what he's good at. However, the few that don't are hit-and-miss - Mute, about a cuckold who picks up a mute hitchhiker, is brilliant in a sort of Jeffrey Deaver kind of way, whereas The Gingerbread Girl is a pretty standard (and verb-heavy) story about someone who gets kidnapped.
Other highlights for me were N, a fairly common story that King spices up with some modern OCD and psychology elements, The Cat From Hell, which was darkly humourous in a typical King way, and Stationary Bike, a horror story about a exercise cycle which just goes to show King can find horror in anything. It's definitely worth picking up if you're in any way a horror/mystery fan, although there is quite a lot here for those who aren't as well.

_dogma_ · 12-11-2009, 13:53

Just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

I thought it was really good but a bit predictable. It was very easy to read but there were some bits that I didn't really understand about the company type things. It's quite graphic and violent but it's not overly done.

Fayshun · 12-11-2009, 14:06

I've got Neil Armstrong's Biography but I keep leaving it on my desk at home

24-09-2009, 21:59	#501
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	Finished The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins yesterday (and just noticed that I forgot to even say I was reading it) which was very interesting, not least for spotting the obvious foreshadowing of his anti-religion tirades. It's both well explained and surprisingly humourous so he conveys quite complex concepts easily enough to be understood or at least I felt like I understood them. What do you care what people think? was just as entertaining as I'd hoped as well, Richard Feynmann was truly a fascinating man. I'm now reading Hotel Pastis by Peter Mayle (he also wrote A Year In Provence and it has started off quite well so far plus it's a nice change of pace and depth from the previous two factual books. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

29-09-2009, 19:31	#502
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	Hotel Pastis was a very nice light read, I'd call it fluff if the term didn't have such negative connotations. Nothing taxing but after the previous book it was exactly what was required. I've now started Sir Nigel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which is apparantly loosely based on a real knight, it promises to be interesting at least. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

01-10-2009, 14:38	#503
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	Just received the new Terry Pratchett book - Unseen Academicals. Signed copy too. Not allowed to read it yet though. __________________

14-10-2009, 16:03	#504
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	Sir Nigel was as interesting as I'd hoped, well told and a riveting read full of quaint chivalry and a curious sense of pugilism. The Summons by John Grisham was next, just an easy book to read over a couple of days. Much like any other John Grisham book, if you like any of them you'll probably like this, if not steer well clear. Not something with much depth but then you'd not expect that, also I find that if I read too many books by the same author in too short a period of time I tend to start noticing characteristics in their writing which becomes distracting. //edit had nothing on the go for the past few days due to studying for an exam but I'll no doubt be starting something again very soon. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

14-10-2009, 20:08	#505
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	Re-reading the Anita Blake series - yes I know a lot of people think they are pap but I enjoy them and have the next one I'm missing on order __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH!

15-10-2009, 09:31	#507
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	James Patterson - The Midnight Club Its ok. Its about the Maffia and how they are controlling the Criminal World and killing people and stuff. Bog standard JP tbh. James Patterson - You have been warned Interestingly written, bit obvious. Nice easy read. Is about a Nanny/amateur photographer who witnesses a murder. Read it in less than a day. Jeffery Deaver - Praying for sleep Starts off a bit slow but the end gets better. Quite good actually. Currently reading Bestial by Harold Schecter which is about the life of a serial killer in the states. Starts off a bit slow (skipped a chapter which was basically stats) getting interesting now. Was one of the books in the hotel library. Also picked up James Patterson 8th Confession to add to mine and dad's collection good times. Hopefully I can read that before the end of the month so I can give it to him I read a lot of 'boy' books. :/ BB x

12-11-2009, 09:36	#508
Briggykins Vodka Martini Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Exeter Posts: 753	Nearly finished Just After Sunset, a collection of short stories by Stephen King. Despite being a fan of the mystery/horror/thriller genre, I'm not a big fan of King's novels. His short stories, however, are usually excellent. This collection is generally decent - there are a couple of filler-type stories and the kind that don't really go anywhere - but on the whole it's a good read. Most of them deal with King's supernatural-tinged rural world which is what he's good at. However, the few that don't are hit-and-miss - Mute, about a cuckold who picks up a mute hitchhiker, is brilliant in a sort of Jeffrey Deaver kind of way, whereas The Gingerbread Girl is a pretty standard (and verb-heavy) story about someone who gets kidnapped. Other highlights for me were N, a fairly common story that King spices up with some modern OCD and psychology elements, The Cat From Hell, which was darkly humourous in a typical King way, and Stationary Bike, a horror story about a exercise cycle which just goes to show King can find horror in anything. It's definitely worth picking up if you're in any way a horror/mystery fan, although there is quite a lot here for those who aren't as well. __________________

12-11-2009, 13:53	#509
_dogma_ Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife. Posts: 278	Just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I thought it was really good but a bit predictable. It was very easy to read but there were some bits that I didn't really understand about the company type things. It's quite graphic and violent but it's not overly done. __________________

12-11-2009, 14:06	#510
Fayshun Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Adrift in the Orca Posts: 6,845	I've got Neil Armstrong's Biography but I keep leaving it on my desk at home __________________ We must move forward not backward, upwards not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling...