What are you reading?

[revolution saint]

Although I like to give the impression of being a well read and sophisticated reader, I feel its about time I came clean and confessed to my literary sins. The truth is that in my youth I was a huge fan of the Danish writer Sven Hassel's war novels, indeed during my late teens I read little else.

To those unfamiliar with this writer these books record the (semi-fictional) misadventures of a small group of German soldiers serving in a penal regiment. Told in the first person by 'Sven' (who you can readily tell did actually serve in the German Army during WWII) the memorable 'cast' he assembled for the delight of his readership lives with be still:

 

Porta - The central personalty in many ways, this crooked corporal was always ready with a pair of pliers for pulling gold fillings from the teeth of the dead. He saw no reason why war should be any more dangerous, uncomfortable, or unprofitable than was absolutely necessary.

Tiny (AKA Little John) - A enormous psychotic bear of a man it was best to not to annoy - Porta's chief partner-in-crime. Like his mate best kept away from brothels .....

The Old Man - The veteran sergeant and family man who somehow managed against all the odds to keep most of this motley crew alive and away from the firing squad. The only thing left that could really upset him was the killing of children.

The Legionnaire - A experienced ex French Foreign Legion killer with a fatalistic attitude, "Allah is wise" was his usual response to almost anything.

Heide - The only real Nazi in this squad of misfits and hated by all.

Barcelona - Formally a officers batman who has now fallen on hard times. Always ready with a hilarious tale of his time serving a eccentric Prussian General.

Sven - A lazy incompetent soldier ridiculed for being a foreigner stupid enough to volunteer for the German Army. Lumbered with carting around a heavy machine gun.

The 'Stabs Feldwebel' - Porta's enemy. Corrupt, bureaucratic, and utterly self serving, he made damn sure he was well away from the front line at all times.

 

Cynical, humane, sometimes hilariously funny, very often extremely brutal, these books are most definitely not for the squeamish. Although he has his imitators, I don't think I've ever read anything quite like them.

OGPU Prision, SS General, Legion of the Damned, Blitzfreeze, March Battalion ..... it's all coming back to me now as if I read them yesterday rather than 30 years ago. Are these books the cheap & trashy war 'pulp' they appear to be, or profoundly powerful anti war literature ?

Buggered if I know, but I can tell one thing - they do leave an impression on a lad.

 

I think I must have read virtually every Sven Hassel book when I was younger. I read "Legion of the damned" when I was nine and started from there until I was about 12. Amazing really that I was allowed to read that type of stuff at that age but I did and loved them. A friend of mine was banned from reading them so I had to smuggle them to him. I think the thing that stood out for me besides the obvious blood thirsty nature of the books was the camerarderie of the characters - they were mates in the same way our little gang at school were mates. Probably not the most wholesome reading material for pre-teens though. All good fun and I've often wondered what it would be like to read them again.

[revolution saint]

I agree revolution saint. I read The Given Day by Dennis Lehane a few years ago and thought it was a wonderful read. It's set against the Boston Police Dept. strike around about the time of prohibition and tells the story of the struggle within the Police Commissioner's family when his son (also in the police) becomes a union organiser. Powerful, emotional stuff. I must go back and read some of his earlier stuff.

 

Is the Kenzie & Gennaro series good?

 

Mystic River is a stunning film, I wonder if I could read the book after enjoying the film so?

 

 

 

Absolutely right re Conan Doyle Chapel End Charlie. Have you seen the recent BBC re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes. I actually quite like it.

 

Re Rebus, I think because it was on the TV I sort of dismissed it as I've got images of the actors in my mind. But he is very popular. Perhaps I'll try one and see how I get on. Didn't I see that Rebus has now retired? I bought my Mum the latest from Ian Rankin a couple of years ago and he had moved on to write about the Police internal investigations but Rebus was not part of that series. She is a real fan and wasn't best pleased.

 

I can highly recommend Stuart MacBride's series about Aberdeen-based policeman Logan McRae. Very, very dark but very funny. The dialogue is wonderful. Very blue, very creative workplace humour. He has two bosses; a fat, sweet eating male superior who never stops shouting and a complete ***** of a lesbian who gets him to do all the work and has some of the best lines written for her I've ever read. Her language would make you blush.

 

Mystic River definitely bears up to reading after seeing the film - I thought the film was excellent but the book gives much more layers to the characters. The Kenzie/Gennaro books are just as good and well written IMO much better than any other American crime writer out there at the moment.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I think I must have read virtually every Sven Hassel book when I was younger. I read "Legion of the damned" when I was nine and started from there until I was about 12. Amazing really that I was allowed to read that type of stuff at that age but I did and loved them. A friend of mine was banned from reading them so I had to smuggle them to him. I think the thing that stood out for me besides the obvious blood thirsty nature of the books was the camerarderie of the characters - they were mates in the same way our little gang at school were mates. Probably not the most wholesome reading material for pre-teens though. All good fun and I've often wondered what it would be like to read them again.

 

I'd bet a whole English pound you'd think twice before knowingly allowing a 9 year old child of your own to read Sven Hassel !

 

Have you ever read Guy Sajer's remarkable war autobiography 'The Forgotten Soldier' detailing his experiences on the Russian front while serving with the elite Grossdeuschland Division? It comes across almost like non-fiction version of a Sven Hassel novel, and just like Hassel, the authenticity of the author's actual war record has been called into question.

 

To me however this book rings so very true I find it difficult to doubt. I remember vividly his tale of the time when his unit was caught exposed on the limitless Russian 'steppe' during a terrible blizzard, and how when machines (and even the poor horses) succumbed to the awful cold only the poor bloody infantry could still endure.

 

If anyone reading this decided to only read one book about what it really meant to serve in the front line infantry during WWII, then 'The Forgotten Soldier' would be my recommendation.

[Hamilton Saint]

Have recently read David Lodge's new book, A Man of Parts. It's about the life of H.G. Wells. Excellent. Also read last week Freedom, the latest novel of Jonathan Franzen. Also very good. Have just started John Fowles's Daniel Martin, the only major novel of his I've yet to read; and so far, so good.

[Raging Bull]

Got a thing for James Patterson at the moment, just finished Worst Case which was ok. His books are good for reading at night because the chapters are short if your in danger of falling asleep!!

[revolution saint]

It's a bit of a girly book but "One day" by David Nicholls. About half way through and it's good so far, totally character driven (which I normally hate - I need a bit of plot) but it's well written and in places quite funny. I suspect if you didn't go to University in the late 80's / early 90's then it won't resonate so much and it also has a bit of celebrity culture critique which is becoming a bit of a tired cliche. That said it's quite decent and reminiscent of Nick Hornby and Tony Parsons but updated a bit.

[Raging Bull]

It's a bit of a girly book but "One day" by David Nicholls. About half way through and it's good so far, totally character driven (which I normally hate - I need a bit of plot) but it's well written and in places quite funny. I suspect if you didn't go to University in the late 80's / early 90's then it won't resonate so much and it also has a bit of celebrity culture critique which is becoming a bit of a tired cliche. That said it's quite decent and reminiscent of Nick Hornby and Tony Parsons but updated a bit.

 

Anne Hathaway's got a bit of a dodgy old accent in the film adaptation, dont understand why they didn't go for a proper yorkshire lass or at least an english bird who understands the dialect.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Has anyone read 'Whatever happened to the Corbetts? by Nevil Shute.

 

It's about the bombing of Southampton during WW2.

 

It was written in 1938!!!!!!!!!

 

Just finished reading, enjoyed it considerably.

 

Was written before the war on what he thought would happen and the problems that lay ahead.

How life would be and how people coped.

 

It's not a long book but well worth a read

[revolution saint]

Anne Hathaway's got a bit of a dodgy old accent in the film adaptation, dont understand why they didn't go for a proper yorkshire lass or at least an english bird who understands the dialect.

 

I deliberately avoided the trailer until finishing the book, which I did yesterday. Having seen the trailer now I agree with you - the casting of Emma isn't what I expected. They've obviously done it for the American market though. Have to say the book was excellent - uses a device similar to the time traveller's wife and it works really well.

[miserableoldgit]

The Good, the Bad and the Multiplex (What`s Wrong with Modern Movies?) by Mark Kermode. I know that MK really divides opinion, but you can`t get away from the fact that he is very knowledgable and is passionate about the subject. I personally love listening to his reviews, most of which turn out to be fair and accurate IMHO and I enjoy listening to his "rants" with Simon Mayo on Friday afternoon on Radio 5. This book is funny whilst making some serious points about modern movie-going. Very enjoyable.

[pap]

The Good, the Bad and the Multiplex (What`s Wrong with Modern Movies?) by Mark Kermode. I know that MK really divides opinion, but you can`t get away from the fact that he is very knowledgable and is passionate about the subject. I personally love listening to his reviews, most of which turn out to be fair and accurate IMHO and I enjoy listening to his "rants" with Simon Mayo on Friday afternoon on Radio 5. This book is funny whilst making some serious points about modern movie-going. Very enjoyable.

 

I saw an excerpt from this book on the Interwebs. This focused solely on the concept of diminished expectations. Namely, that we'll go any watch any old shyte because we've been used to watching any old shyte for a long time

[swannymere]

Graham Hurley - Angels Passing No.3in the Joe Faraday detective series based in Pimpey, very entertaining and well written, surprised he's not higher profile.

[Dr Who?]

One day, and not far from the end, but really enjoying it. Need to finish the book, so me and the wife can go and watch the film.

[ecuk268]

The Time Travellers Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer.

 

Fascinating look at how ordinary people lived in the 1300's. What they ate, wore, where they lived, what happened when they got ill, what jobs they had.

 

A lot's been written about Kings and Lords but this looks at the lower classes and the types of lives they led.

[revolution saint]

Before I go to sleep by S J Watson. It's about a woman who wakes up every day with no memories of the previous 20 years, unable to remember what she learnt the previous day except by what she's written in her journal and it's the journal that forms the basis of the narrative. Good book so far, kind of like Memento on an English, domestic level.

[revolution saint]

Before I go to sleep by S J Watson. It's about a woman who wakes up every day with no memories of the previous 20 years, unable to remember what she learnt the previous day except by what she's written in her journal and it's the journal that forms the basis of the narrative. Good book so far, kind of like Memento on an English, domestic level.

 

Just finished this and it's really very, very good. Maybe a bit slow to start with but once it gets going utterly gripping. An intelligent and exciting book and I didn't guess the end either.

[Saint_Jonny]

Just finished reading this...

 

 

Mind blowingly good. Just ordered another book from the same series, "A deepness in the sky". And the sequel to the above book,got released this week, a coinsidence surely, as I've just finished it and its 20 years old. Funny old world.

 

I wont be reading any of them though until I've finished this..

 

 

Yes I am a total nerd.

[Berkshire Saint]

Had a bit of reading spree in the last few weeks. Usually just use up my lunch breaks reading so can get through quite a lot. When you work in a town as ****e as Addlestone there's nothing else to do really! Like to read two books at a time, usually one fiction and one non-fiction. I did History and Politics at Uni so have been keeping up my interest in that with the non-fiction.

 

In the last month or so have read: Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, The Information by Martin Amis (was ok, not as good as London Fields or Money though-took me quite a long time to get into it), The Great Gatsby and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

 

Just started One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest and also reading a book called 'Where Power Lies' which looks at the relation between our Prime Ministers and the media from Lloyd George to Cameron. Really interesting stuff.

[sebastian firefly]

happy like murderers

for the third time

the most disturbing book ive ever read

again

[revolution saint]

Had a bit of reading spree in the last few weeks. Usually just use up my lunch breaks reading so can get through quite a lot. When you work in a town as ****e as Addlestone there's nothing else to do really! Like to read two books at a time, usually one fiction and one non-fiction. I did History and Politics at Uni so have been keeping up my interest in that with the non-fiction.

 

In the last month or so have read: Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, The Information by Martin Amis (was ok, not as good as London Fields or Money though-took me quite a long time to get into it), The Great Gatsby and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

 

Just started One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest and also reading a book called 'Where Power Lies' which looks at the relation between our Prime Ministers and the media from Lloyd George to Cameron. Really interesting stuff.

 

Fair play reading two books at a time - it's something I've never managed to do. Where the power lies sounds pretty good but "One flew...." is a great book and definitely worth reading.

[richpassivity]

'Truecrime' by Jake Arnott

[timebomb]

Hate - My Life In The British Far Right by Matthew Collins.

 

Heard an interview with Collins on R4 some time ago, quite an eye opener seeing how mad these kn0bs really are!

[Hamilton Saint]

happy like murderers

for the third time

the most disturbing book ive ever read

again

 

Which of those four books was your favourite?

[K,Billy's supersound]

 

read this a few months back the first in a series of 12. really enjoyed it.

[revolution saint]

Stephen King's latest brick of a book, 11.22.63, and about halfway through. I always look forward to his books even though some can be a bit disappointing. This one is about a school teacher who finds a way to go back in time, and decides to stop Lee Harvey Oswald. Thing is he can only go back to 1959 so he needs to spend at least four years in the past. At times it's a bit of a homage to 50's smalltown America which I suspect is a bit exaggerated but I enjoy reading about that period and King is nearly always readable anyway. Oh and if you're one of King's "constant readers" then you'll be interested to know he goes back to Derry and "IT" at one stage.

[sebastian firefly]

Which of those four books was your favourite?

 

"happy like murderers". gordon burn

 

punctuation fascist!!!

Edited 16 November, 2011 by sebastian firefly

[Winnersaint]

A Place Called Armageddon by CC Humphries. A fictional account of the seige of Constantinople in 1453. Also Racing in the Dark the autobiography of cyclist David Millar. Charts his rise and the conflicts he faced as a pro trying to compete without doping.

before he eventually gave in. Here was a young bloke who had everything, lost it, and had to rebuild his life as a pro rider. Fascinating stuff, although not as much of an expose of doping in cycling as Paul Kimmage's Rough Ride which is generally regarded as the book which blew the lid off drug use in the sport. Found the strained relations between the Kimmage and Millar alluded to in the latter's book interesting.

[Miffy]

Just finished 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time', really enjoyed it, so much I finished it in 2 days. Written from the perspective of a 15 year old with Aspergers syndrome (according to the blub, although the author has denied this to be strictly the case). It is both very amusing, but also thought provoking. I highly recommend it.

 

Just started on World War Z, following the recommedations from this thread.

[notnowcato]

Just finished Mafia State by Luke Harding, interesting read on modern Russia.

 

Started New York Trilogy by Paul Auster, intriguing opening few chapters.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I have just finished 'Hitlers Armada' by Geoff Hewitt, which deals with Operation Sealion, the planned Nazi invasion of the UK in the summer of 1940.

 

We all know the legend of that summer don't we - The Few, a handful of heroic pilots of the RAF's Fighter Command won the Battle of Britain in their Spitfires and Hurricanes and saved the nation from the threat of invasion after Dunkirk. Well it turns out that's far from being the full story. The real truth is that Sealion was never a feasible military operation in the first place because of the simple fact that to conduct any such large scale amphibious in the English Channel the Germans would first have had to secure command of the sea - and the Royal Navy might well have objected !

 

The German Navy that started WWII in September 1939 was a mere fraction of the size of our huge fleet, and even that modest force was significantly reduced by heavy losses in warships sunk and damaged during the invasion of Norway - in particular the 10 vital destroyers sunk at Narvik. In addition to this severe problem the Kriegsmarine had no specialized landing craft at hand or even practical experience in conducting operations of this type.

 

So to mount Sealion, the Germans would have needed to transport large numbers of troops across the channel in a hastily assembled ragtag collection of rubber boats, coasters and hundreds of river barges converted into ad hoc landing craft towed by tugs. With little or no effective escort, slow moving convoys of these barges would have surely been effectively defenseless against attack by the swarms of destroyers and cruisers the RN had amassed to guard our shores.

 

What about the Luftwaffe some might say ? Well, the record shows that although some ships had been lost to air attack, the Luftwaffe never actually did enough to stop the RN conducting operations, so the (daylight) prospects of the Luftwaffe effectively protecting the invasion fleet from attack were remote to say the least, and during the hours of darkness it would have been completely useless. How about long range artillery on the French coast shelling our ships ? Impressive to look at, but the record shows they never actually hit a single ship during the entire war.

 

So even had the Luftwaffe somehow won the Battle of Britain, we would still have been safe from invasion as long as the Royal Navy still existed. A conclusion that may challenge a well entrenched nation myth and enrage fans of the RAF, but the author makes his case powerfully and to this lifelong student of WWII the conclusions drawn seem controversial but irrefutable.

[Saint_Pedro]

Just finished this and it's really very, very good. Maybe a bit slow to start with but once it gets going utterly gripping. An intelligent and exciting book and I didn't guess the end either.

 

Just finished this myself- a great story, and like you, never saw the ending coming - an excellent book.

[Pugwash]

Mrs P brought home a book for me a while back. I was in one of those moods when I wanted something easy and well-paced to read. This one was a novel about a Knight Templar returning to his home in Sweden. I expected it to be a bit formulaic, but was very pleasantly surprised. Well written (translated from Swedish), absorbing and intelligent. Then found out it was the third of a trilogy, so bought the first two volumes and thoroughly enjoyed them. Look out for them - usually cheap on ebay:

 

Jan Guillou - the Knight Templar Crusades trilogy.

 

It was also made into Scandinavia's most expensive film a few years ago. Also worth a look - multiple languages used - English for 'Frankish', Swedish and Arabic (both subtitled).

[Marsdinho]

The Day The Devils Dropped In - By Neil Barber

 

 

Brilliant account of the British airbourne drops in Normandy, in the few hours leading up to the D-Day invasion. Wont go in to details about the story, but the way that this book is written really makes the personal stories and accounts stand out. Its as if you are there and are being given a running commentary as the events unfold. A great book in its own right, but essential reading for anyone planning on visiting the site.

[View From The Top]

Just finished The Return of Captain John Emmett and it's the best book I've read in a couple of years.

[saintbletch]

I've been reading some really good stuff lately.

 

I read an excellent 3 book series by David Ashton based on the real life Edinburgh detective / author James McLevy whose own books were said to be an inspiration to Conan-Doyle. Ashton is an actor and wrote the McLevy books following a series of very popular radio 4 plays. Set in the mid-19th century, the author has attempted to embroil McLevy, who is a real grinch of a man, in cases relating to significant Scottish historical events of the time - (Gladstone's succession of Disraeli, The Tay Bridge disaster and even Scottish involvement in the American Civil War). Not the sort of books that change your life but very well drawn characters, very well told stories, superb dialogue and excellent period language. I was left wanting another book in the series but will have to make do with the Radio 4 plays instead.

 

Following on from a recommendation on here to read C J Sansom's excellent Matthew Shardlake series, I went looking for a similar sort of historical crime fiction and found the John Shakespeare series by Rory Clements. Shakespeare (yes he is William's elder brother!) is an 'Intelligencer', working for Sir Francis Wallsingham. Wallsingham was apparently one of the first people to exploit intelligence for national security and espionage. Anyway, that makes Shakespeare something like a very early MI5 and MI6 agent. The series is set in the late 16th century and is incredibly thoroughly researched. It's very similar in plot and style, if not quite in the same league as the Shardlake series. Shakespeare is called on to investigate issues of national security and always has his hands tied behind back by his own high morals and having to tip-toe amongst the politics and power brokers. If you like historical fiction, I'd really recommend it - after you've read Matthew Shardlake first.

 

If I can make just one recommendation it would be Into the Darkest Corner by debut novelist Elizabeth Haynes. It tells the story of a woman who forms a relationship with a very controlling partner. We're told that this control eventually turns to violence and the book tells of her ordeal and the obsessive compulsive disorder it leaves her with. The book is a brilliantly written psychological thriller with a narrative that is split in two, as each alternating chapter tells of her ordeal 4 years earlier and then her current situation. What you come to realise is that the ordeal isn't over. The way the author portrays OCD, mental illness and domestic violence is absolutely compelling. Very, very good.

[saintbletch]

Before I go to sleep by S J Watson. It's about a woman who wakes up every day with no memories of the previous 20 years, unable to remember what she learnt the previous day except by what she's written in her journal and it's the journal that forms the basis of the narrative. Good book so far, kind of like Memento on an English, domestic level.

 

I've just started this following the recommendations on here. Very good so far.

[saintbletch]

Just finished The Return of Captain John Emmett and it's the best book I've read in a couple of years.

 

The Independent review said it's set to be the new Birdsong only better! That's praise indeed.

 

I think I'll give it a spin next.

[ecuk268]

Just started "11/22/63", the latest Stephen King. About a guy who goes back in time with the aim of stopping the assassination of John Kennedy.

 

If you like King, you'll enjoy this one. A big bugger (750 pages) with numerous references to earlier books.

[revolution saint]

I've been reading some really good stuff lately.

 

I read an excellent 3 book series by David Ashton based on the real life Edinburgh detective / author James McLevy whose own books were said to be an inspiration to Conan-Doyle. Ashton is an actor and wrote the McLevy books following a series of very popular radio 4 plays. Set in the mid-19th century, the author has attempted to embroil McLevy, who is a real grinch of a man, in cases relating to significant Scottish historical events of the time - (Gladstone's succession of Disraeli, The Tay Bridge disaster and even Scottish involvement in the American Civil War). Not the sort of books that change your life but very well drawn characters, very well told stories, superb dialogue and excellent period language. I was left wanting another book in the series but will have to make do with the Radio 4 plays instead.

 

Following on from a recommendation on here to read C J Sansom's excellent Matthew Shardlake series, I went looking for a similar sort of historical crime fiction and found the John Shakespeare series by Rory Clements. Shakespeare (yes he is William's elder brother!) is an 'Intelligencer', working for Sir Francis Wallsingham. Wallsingham was apparently one of the first people to exploit intelligence for national security and espionage. Anyway, that makes Shakespeare something like a very early MI5 and MI6 agent. The series is set in the late 16th century and is incredibly thoroughly researched. It's very similar in plot and style, if not quite in the same league as the Shardlake series. Shakespeare is called on to investigate issues of national security and always has his hands tied behind back by his own high morals and having to tip-toe amongst the politics and power brokers. If you like historical fiction, I'd really recommend it - after you've read Matthew Shardlake first.

 

If I can make just one recommendation it would be Into the Darkest Corner by debut novelist Elizabeth Haynes. It tells the story of a woman who forms a relationship with a very controlling partner. We're told that this control eventually turns to violence and the book tells of her ordeal and the obsessive compulsive disorder it leaves her with. The book is a brilliantly written psychological thriller with a narrative that is split in two, as each alternating chapter tells of her ordeal 4 years earlier and then her current situation. What you come to realise is that the ordeal isn't over. The way the author portrays OCD, mental illness and domestic violence is absolutely compelling. Very, very good.

 

Totally agree about "Into the darkest corner and if you liked that then you'll love "Before I go to sleep".

 

Just started "11/22/63", the latest Stephen King. About a guy who goes back in time with the aim of stopping the assassination of John Kennedy.

 

If you like King, you'll enjoy this one. A big bugger (750 pages) with numerous references to earlier books.

 

I enjoyed 11.22.63. As you say, has echoes of previous books but in a good way. I certainly liked it far more than "Under the dome"

[manji]

Britain's War Machine-Weapons, Resources and Experts in the Second World War by David Edgerton

 

A myth busting history that deconstructs the image of Britain in 1939 as a plucky underdog against Germany and shows us as a massive global power.It even suggests we would have won without US intervention.

[saintbletch]

Totally agree about "Into the darkest corner and if you liked that then you'll love "Before I go to sleep".

 

A superb read revolution saint. Thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not easy to carry off a plot device like a 20 year memory loss credibly throughout a book and keep the reader with you, but Watson accomplishes it well. Also surprised to see that S J Watson is a man. He writes female emotions very convincingly (I imagine!). Not surprised to read that the film rights have been bought by Ridley Scott though.

[richpassivity]

Just started JOSEPH HELLER's 'Catch 22'

[View From The Top]

Just started JOSEPH HELLER's 'Catch 22'

 

In my top 3 "greatest books of all time".

[pap]

I am about a quarter of the way through Hocus Pocus. Apparently, Vonnegut wrote the "book" on loads of little scraps of paper (or whatever he could find).

 

Non-linear, extremely easy to read but with a large streak of madness running throughout. Loving it so far.

[Saint_Pedro]

About half way through Oscar Wilde's "A picture of Dorian Gray". A bit hard work at times as the language is so very descriptive, but there are some fantastic quotes, e.g

"Men marry because they are tired. Women marry because they are curious. Both are disappointed." and

"When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance."

[ecuk268]

Didn't under the dome get more hype, billed as the new stand?

 

I didn't read that one, didn't appeal for some reason.

 

I found it OK but was disappointed with the ending.

 

Nowhere near as good as The Stand.

[saintbletch]

Enjoyed A Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. A short, well written exploration of 60 year old man reflecting on his life, the choices he made, the relationships he's built and the impact of some emotional decisions he made long, long ago.

 

Now reading The Return of Captain John Emmett following the recommendation on here. Only just started it but I can tell I'm in good hands.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I'm just getting into 'Cold Granite' by Stuart Macbride, which is yet another grim Scottish crime story in the mold of Rebus or Taggart except even darker. The story revolves around a police manhunt in the granite city of Aberdeen for a serial killer who prays on (and horribly mutilates) very young children - which I'm sure you can appreciate is a pretty hard read at times.

 

Even so I can't put it down.

[badgerx16]

Snuff - Terry Pratchett's latest Discworld episode

[Gingeletiss]

The HAB theory by Allan W. Eckert. Read it many years ago, and got a 1st edition copy for Christmas. A good read if you're into fiction based on fact about world disasters

 

 

A substantial number of people place The HAB Theory on their personal "top 20 books" lists.

 

When Amazon.com went live, a personal review of The HAB Theory brought genuinely interesting E-Mails from correspondents all over the world. That level of interest lead to this site and to republishing of the book.

 

The HAB Theory presents a great many mysteries that mainstream science couldn't explain back then and still mostly ignores it to this day.

 

This is a place to explore ideas presented in The HAB Theory. Here you will find some of the more riveting statements in the book reproduced.

 

Allan W. Eckert's character: Herbert A. Boardman (HAB), is based on a real person, an electrical engineer named: Hugh Auchinchlos Brown.

 

The real life HAB proposed and researched what we now know as "The HAB Theory" and presented his ideas in a book titled: Cataclysm's of the Earth. It has been out of print for decades, but you can now read it online for free here.

 

Two other non fiction books that inspired The HAB Theory are also back in print, and available again from all major booksellers. Both are by Professor Charles A. Hapgood. These links will take you to amazon.com where other readers offer their reviews:

"The Path of The Pole"

"Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings"