manji Posted 31 July, 2010 Share Posted 31 July, 2010 Watching The Door-Kevin Myers. An amazing account of his time as a freelance journalist in Belfast in the 70's. Sometimes it reads like a Rock n Roll Autobiography.....with bombs and kneecapping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
equalizer Posted 1 August, 2010 Share Posted 1 August, 2010 Thought I'd try some Charles Bukowski, so just about to start reading his novel, women. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baj Posted 1 August, 2010 Share Posted 1 August, 2010 The Bible. Seriously, thought it was a bit rude not to give it at least 1 read in my lifetime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 1 August, 2010 Share Posted 1 August, 2010 Which one Baj? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baj Posted 1 August, 2010 Share Posted 1 August, 2010 which one baj? niv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 16 August, 2010 Share Posted 16 August, 2010 The Bible. Seriously, thought it was a bit rude not to give it at least 1 read in my lifetime Pretty much had to read that as a kid, being part Italian. It came, part and parcel, with the guilt. At the moment, I'm reading The Dam Busters. No, not the 1951 Paul Brickhill edition, but one written by Max Arthur, who specialises in historical works, using first hand accounts. It makes for a especially personal history, to those who directly lived through the event, and gives an insight into details that are often overlooked, because they don't make the headlines. I've only just started it and already I'm looking for the next moment when I can pick it up again, without interruption. This one is going to be a page turner. In fact, bugger it, I'm off to turn a page or twenty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 21 August, 2010 Share Posted 21 August, 2010 The Passage by Justin Cronin. It's massive, but it's a very good read so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
equalizer Posted 22 August, 2010 Share Posted 22 August, 2010 Hellraisers by Robert Sellers, a biography of those hard drinking womanising great actors, Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole and Oliver Reed. A great read, some of their antics make for some great stories, there is no one in the film industry today that can compare to these heavyweight boozers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suhari Posted 30 August, 2010 Share Posted 30 August, 2010 Picked up a copy of 'The Curious Indcident of the Dog in the Night-Tie'; was well thought of when it came out a few years back. Somehow though I can't get the enthusiasm to start it...... Is it worth reading? Read it; liked it. Was not what I expected at all. In many ways a very 'easy' read; but then again, its not. Good book. Now back to the Rebus series....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 30 August, 2010 Share Posted 30 August, 2010 The Passage by Justin Cronin. It's massive, but it's a very good read so far. Just finished. Good book, apparently it's the first of a trilogy so i'm looking forward to the other 2 books. Film companies have been clamouring to get the rights to this series! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamLeGod Posted 31 August, 2010 Share Posted 31 August, 2010 It's not what you think by Chris Evans. Really interesting story of how things went for him. The guy really is a genius, albeit whilst being the absolute epitome of chancers. Really well written, feels like you are just sat having a chat with the bloke over a pint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 6 September, 2010 Share Posted 6 September, 2010 (edited) Just read The Hills Are Stuffed With Swedish Girls by Richard Happer. The strapline is Walking Scotland's beautiful West Highland Way in search of fun and fanny. Picked this up 'cos there was a load of press about Ordnance Survey trying to ban it 'cos the cover is blagged from the old pink Landranger covers but have to say that it's a pretty good read; the title and strapline lead you to think that this is a right lads book about pishing it up and ****ging your way along the West Highland Way. Whilst there is an element of this in the book the title and strapline are clearly designed to sell the book but the actual story is both funny, sad, descriptive and informative about the Way. It's a light read and won't ever trouble the Booker prize contenders but it's a great little book to pass a rainy Sunday with. ISBN 978-0-9562428-0-8 Edited 6 September, 2010 by Redbul Added the ISBN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Majestic Channon Posted 18 September, 2010 Share Posted 18 September, 2010 Dave pelzers books at the moment A child named it The lost boy A man named Dave Chilling stuff which gives you some perspective and makes you realise how lucky you are, what a bloke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 18 September, 2010 Share Posted 18 September, 2010 "Rebels and Traitors" by Lindsey Davis. A superb story of the English Civil War Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjphilsaint Posted 21 September, 2010 Share Posted 21 September, 2010 The Great Blue Yonder - Alex Shearer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 21 September, 2010 Share Posted 21 September, 2010 Just about to start, To The Baltic With Bob, by Griff Rhys Jones, which is supposedly an epic sailing misadventure. I've read the first lines of the opening paragraph and already chuckled. It looks as though it might be a hoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 22 September, 2010 Share Posted 22 September, 2010 Blood, Sweat and Treason - Henry Olonga The Zimbabwean cricketer started wearing a black armband during games to protest against the Mugabe regime (as did Andy Flower). He was then informed that Mugabe had given orders for his death. So he and Andy wisely decided to come to the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 22 September, 2010 Share Posted 22 September, 2010 I am currently reading both: The Religion by Tim Willocks: I loved his first three books (Green River Rising especially) and this had great reviews on Amazon, loads with nearly all giving 5 stars, but it's a bloody, historical novel, which isn't really my thing. 2 reasons to read it, one not to, so it's getting a go. Making History by Stephen Fry, I like his books, but they're never as good as you expect them to be, so I'm hoping this is better. I'm listening to The Time Traveller's Wife audiobook in the car, seems pretty good so far, funny idea. The last audiobook was Roddy Doyle's The Woman Who Walked into Doors. It was 6 and a half CDs of grimness, then the CD was damaged just when it came to the pay-off bit at the end. Last book was Pandaemonium by Christopher Brookmyre. I've loved everything he's written, especially when he's ranting about the church, but this was actually pretty rubbish. He went all science fiction on me and he can't write from a kid's perspective at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 22 September, 2010 Share Posted 22 September, 2010 As used on the famous Neslon Mandela - Mark thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithd Posted 23 September, 2010 Share Posted 23 September, 2010 just got back off holiday so spent my beach/pool time reading the girl with the dragon tattoo to see if it lived up to the hype i liked it, very good. guessed a couple of things straight away but of course thats all they were, guesses. good thriller, liked the main characters a lot and have just ordered the 2nd and 3rd books of the trilogy via the gift of amazon for an outrageous 7 quid in total Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 23 September, 2010 Share Posted 23 September, 2010 I've just finished reading The Age of Absurdity - How Modern Life Makes it Hard to be Happy by Michael Foley. I was expecting it to be a sort of rant/diatribe about modern society in the same vein as the Grumpy Old Men TV series, but it's actually a lot more to do with psychology and the reasons why modern human beings are so irrational and stubborn. Very interesting read. I've now started on Adrian Mole - The Prostrate Years by Sue Townsend. I remember reading the first one (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 & 3/4) when I was about 12 and loved it, even though I probably didn't get a lot of the adult humour. In this latest chapter of Adrian's life, he is 39 years old, working in a second-hand bookshop and living with his wife and daughter in a converted pigsty on the outskirts of Leicester. I've only got a few pages in so far but already I have had a few LOL moments (whilst on the tram to work, which was quite embarrassing) so I can't wait to read the rest of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 23 September, 2010 Share Posted 23 September, 2010 Just finished The Book, The Film, The Tee Shirt by Matt Beaumont. Written in a similar style to e (an hilarious book of the mayhem at an ad agency brought to us through the medium of the emails sent between the characters) comes The Book, the Film, The Tee shirt which tells the story of the production of a tyre ad using the diary entries of the main protagonists. Written in an almost Tom Sharpe style, the book charts the decline and fall of many of the characters from a-list Hollywood celebrities and their off screen tiffs, the ad agency boss, his mistress, his pregant wife, a Hollywood director and an absolute tw*t of a tyre company exec!!!! It's amazing and hilariously funny how spectacularly everything falls apart.... ISBN 9780007127689 http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/matt+beaumont/the+book2c+the+film2c+the+t-shirt/4718006/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 24 September, 2010 Share Posted 24 September, 2010 I'm currently hooked on 'The Angel's Game' by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. He wrote The Shadow of the Wind', a book I couldn't put down. Both books are set in Barcelona and are thrillers with a Gothic twist. Highly recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 3 October, 2010 Share Posted 3 October, 2010 Cold Caller by Jason Starr Wonderful piece of pulp fiction. The story revolves around a once ambitious and rising ad man in New York who loses the ad job and ends up cold calling for a telemarketing firm around Times Square while he tries to get his life back on track. A scuffle on the Metro means he's late for work for the third time that month which results in him getting sent home. Thus begin a series of minor events that culminate in him killing his boss and his life begins spiralling out of control but towards a completely unexpected denouement. 7/10 for pace and unputdownableness. WAHEY!!!! A new word!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolution saint Posted 13 October, 2010 Share Posted 13 October, 2010 About 150 pages into "Count of Monte Cristo". At 1300 pages and 170 years old it's a bit daunting but actually it's really easy to read and it rattles along at a fair pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
equalizer Posted 2 January, 2011 Share Posted 2 January, 2011 Halfway through Gray Matters, Andy Gray's autobiography. Not a bad read so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 2 January, 2011 Share Posted 2 January, 2011 (edited) Really getting back into books over the past couple of months, I currently have two in the bathroom and another two on the bedside table, surprised myself how easy it can be to read more than one book at a time. Got a couple that I had asked Santa for which won;lt be to many people's tastes but I make no apology for the choices. 'Those Dirty Miners' a history of the Kent Coalfield. by J.P. Hollingsworth ISBN: 9781840335088 It's not really about the coal, it really isn't. To appreciate the emotive side of the colliers lives and what they stood to (and did) lose ,one has to appreciate where the people came from and how they were treated like second class people by not only the pit owners but also the people of Kent initially. There used to be signs in shops and boarding house that read 'NO MINERS, NO DOGS'!! They were hard men who were made hard by their circumstances; many walked from the north esat to kent for the work and their stories were 9still are) passed down the generations. I was quite enlightened to read how even the early capitalist (name eescapes me) who persevered and persevered in prospecting was actually a massive philathropic type and one of his succesors had his roller converted for use as an ambulance and set up the very first St John ambulance station at the pits, converted his mansion for use as lodgings and helped the miners to build their own welfare clubs, one or two still in use to this day. Edited 2 January, 2011 by hamster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
equalizer Posted 2 February, 2011 Share Posted 2 February, 2011 Operation Thunderchild by Nick Pope about Alien attacks on the RAF, about halfway through at the mo, can be a bit dull in places but I want to keep going to find out what happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 8 February, 2011 Share Posted 8 February, 2011 A Fraction Of The Whole by Steve Toltz. Hilarious, I'm only about 150 pages into this 700 page epic, but the way it's going I'm going to have to take a day off work to finish it. It's an hilarious and moving family history. http://blogcritics.org/books/article/a-fraction-of-the-whole-by/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the stain Posted 8 February, 2011 Share Posted 8 February, 2011 Just finished How I Escaped My Certain Fate, by Stewart Lee. Bit of biography, bit of exposition of how comedy works. Really very good and very funny. I particularly like the bits that tie stand-up and experimental music together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 February, 2011 Share Posted 8 February, 2011 I'm into the fifth of a 6 book series by Karin Slaughter, American crime writer. It's called 'Faithless'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 8 February, 2011 Share Posted 8 February, 2011 Just finished Tom Clancy's latest effort, Dead or Alive which felt like no more than a 700page preamble to set up another series of books. I'm now 1/2 way through The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Thought I'd give it a go to see what the fuss was about and I must say it's rather good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkshire Saint Posted 10 February, 2011 Share Posted 10 February, 2011 Just finished How I Escaped My Certain Fate, by Stewart Lee. Bit of biography, bit of exposition of how comedy works. Really very good and very funny. I particularly like the bits that tie stand-up and experimental music together. Just bought that amongst a load of others. Looking forward to reading that. Just finished 1984 by George Orwell, really enjoyed it. Don't know why I didn't get round to looking at it years ago! Also just finished 'The End of the Party-The Rise and Fall of New Labour' by Andrew Rawnsley. Fascinating account of the Labour governments from 2001 to 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted 13 February, 2011 Share Posted 13 February, 2011 Heartstone by C J Sansom. Fifth book in the Shardlake series - each book better than the last. Series is about a hunchback lawyer in the turbulent later years of Henry VIII's reign. Latest book set in Hampshire and West Sussex. Very atmospheric description of P****muff - "...an overwhelming smell of ordure..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 13 February, 2011 Share Posted 13 February, 2011 Nation by Terry Pratchett, having just finished Unseen Academicals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 24 February, 2011 Share Posted 24 February, 2011 Life by Keith Richards. If you are of a certain age and grew up with the Rolling Stones, this is a very readable account of the life of KR. It's a big book (about 600 pages) and, while he freely admits to his substance abuse, he comes across as a serious blues guitarist, who's played and learnt from some of the greats. Interesting account of their early tours of the Southern US "red neck" states where they got a load of abuse from the local males who couldn't understand why their women were running after these long-haired "faggots". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Block 5 Posted 24 February, 2011 Share Posted 24 February, 2011 Criminal by writer Ed Brubaker with artist Sean Phillips. A comic book series all about criminals and underworld characters that has elements that are reminiscent of classic cinematic noir. This is widely regarded as one of the best graphic novel / comic book series ever. I've been meaning to get it for a while. It is absolutely brilliant; I can't recommend it enough. The artwork is dark and brooding and compliments the plots and character studies. Buy it! (Get the deluxe edition.....it's gorgeous). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 24 February, 2011 Share Posted 24 February, 2011 Black Swan Green by David Mitchell. Lovely book, the sort you don't put down again until you've finished it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 24 February, 2011 Share Posted 24 February, 2011 This :- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Between-Silk-Cyanide-Codemakers-1941-45/dp/0750948353 Completely engrossing and at times very humorous account of Leo Marks wartime experiences with the SOE. Highly recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintbletch Posted 14 March, 2011 Share Posted 14 March, 2011 Heartstone by C J Sansom. Fifth book in the Shardlake series - each book better than the last. Series is about a hunchback lawyer in the turbulent later years of Henry VIII's reign. Latest book set in Hampshire and West Sussex. Very atmospheric description of P****muff - "...an overwhelming smell of ordure..." On your recommendation I've just finished Dissolution. I've read (and enjoyed btw) too many unedifying detective/crime procedural books recently so your description of such a book set in the past seemed interesting. I really enjoyed it. A very unusual hero but somehow you warm to him. Excellent historical context and the language seems quite authentic to the 16th century. I found myself looking up lots of ancient words and phrases. Just started the second book. A good call Pugwash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastian firefly Posted 14 March, 2011 Share Posted 14 March, 2011 massimo carlotto the goodbye kiss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 19 March, 2011 Share Posted 19 March, 2011 Just been on a bit of a book binge and ordered: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey A Clockworth Orange - Anthony Burgess Lord of the Flies - William Golding The Communist Manifesto - Karl Marx Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell The Perfect Fool - Stewart Lee Ordered them off Amazon, all of them together (inc. delivery) came to £28.49. Bargain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastian firefly Posted 19 March, 2011 Share Posted 19 March, 2011 (edited) Just been on a bit of a book binge and ordered: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey A Clockworth Orange - Anthony Burgess Lord of the Flies - William Golding The Communist Manifesto - Karl Marx Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell The Perfect Fool - Stewart Lee Ordered them off Amazon, all of them together (inc. delivery) came to £28.49. Bargain! 1984 is a must read more relevant as each day passes a masterpiece im biased but possibly the best all time british novel shall re read this again this weekend Edited 19 March, 2011 by sebastian firefly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted 24 March, 2011 Share Posted 24 March, 2011 On your recommendation I've just finished Dissolution. I've read (and enjoyed btw) too many unedifying detective/crime procedural books recently so your description of such a book set in the past seemed interesting. I really enjoyed it. A very unusual hero but somehow you warm to him. Excellent historical context and the language seems quite authentic to the 16th century. I found myself looking up lots of ancient words and phrases. Just started the second book. A good call Pugwash. Glad you liked it. Read them in order - they get better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 24 March, 2011 Share Posted 24 March, 2011 Lights Out Jason Starr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 24 March, 2011 Share Posted 24 March, 2011 Well, in the past 2 days i've read The Communist Manifesto and Lord of the Flies, do I read The Perfect Fool (by Stewart Lee) or A Clockwork Orange (by William Burroughs) next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamilton Saint Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 Well, in the past 2 days i've read The Communist Manifesto and Lord of the Flies, do I read The Perfect Fool (by Stewart Lee) or A Clockwork Orange (by William Burroughs) next? A Clockwork Orange is by Anthony Burgess, not William Burroughs. But still worth reading! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 Yeah, I just realised that a few hours ago. I was reading the blurb before I wrote that post, and there's a quote from Burroughs on the back. I was brainwashed I tells ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolution saint Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 Just been on a bit of a book binge and ordered: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey A Clockworth Orange - Anthony Burgess Lord of the Flies - William Golding The Communist Manifesto - Karl Marx Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell The Perfect Fool - Stewart Lee Ordered them off Amazon, all of them together (inc. delivery) came to £28.49. Bargain! Some excellent books in there. One flew over the cuckoo's nest is superb (and better than the film) as is 1984. Communist Manifesto is a bit of a dry read but doesn't take long to read. If you're into revolutionary pamphlets then try Thomas Paine. Got myself a kindle a couple of weeks ago and the ease of buying books is frightening. Besides getting a load of free classics I've also bought: Manufacturing Consent - Edward Herman & Noam Chomsky A people's history of the United States - Howard Zinn Sleepers - Lorenzo Carcaterra World War Z - Max Brooks I'm going to have to exercise some discipline in buying books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamilton Saint Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 Last week in Cuba I read Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Fantastic book - probably his best novel. Good adventure/war story all about an American professor who volunteers for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. The book recounts 3-4 days of the protagonist, Robert Jordan, getting ready to dynamite a key bridge with the help of a small band of Republican partisans, who live in mountain caves behind the Nationalist lines. Gripping book. It goes into the detail of the politics. And there's a love affair, too, between Jordan and a young woman names Maria. The two most interesting characters are Pilar (the matriarch of the group) and Pablo (an unreliable fighter who keeps raising problems for Jordan). They made a pretty good film of the book in the forties, starring Gary Cooper and the radiant Ingrid Bergman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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