So what books are you all reading at the moment?

I've just started reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Only two chapters into it so I can't really comment yet, but I've heard all good things of it so I have high expectations :P :)

DMT - The Spirit Molecule by Dr. Richard Strassman.

High Fidelity - Nick Hornby

:thumbsup:

Just started re-reading How The Dead Live by Will Self.
Really quite thought provoking and funny and freaky as well.

Not reading books but subscribed to New Scientist recently - some very cool articles in there - especially the canal in Russia and the road to the south pole

I'm re-reading the Goblet of Fire. I can't cope with any of this intellectual literature.

The Stone Monkey by Jeffrey Deaver, then Ive got Catch Me If You Can to read after that

I'm halfway through Conversations with god, and I have bought about 8 books on Russian history from the Tsars to Rasputin, Lenin,Stalin, the revolutions up to modern day Russia, so I have plenty to keep me busy.

I have recently finished The Stone Monkey and Catch Me If You Can (I live with SLH73 and we share books!) and will be starting High Fidelity later on this evening. I've also got Twenty Four Party People by Tony Wilson to read after that!

At the moment I'm working my way through a series of books written by John D MacDonald. They are classic pulp fiction about a man called Travis MacGee who lives on a houseboat in Florida in the late 60's. He's a bit like a private eye but not really. Haven't read a better series of books in donkeys years. There's about 26 in the series and the first one is called The Deep Blue Goodbye and I read it in a day.

for some strange reason i am reading "its ok im wearing really big knickers" by louise rennison and intend on reading the rest of them again aswel.. bout as un-interlectual as you can get but cheers you up when you're on a downer

have just read noughts and crosses again.. now that is quite a good book.

I'm re-reading the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Phillip Pullman, a true modern classic,

Wilf

I'm about 80 pages into Great Expectations. I'm in a Dickens phase at the minute, having just finished Hard Times, and I've got Bleak House lined up for next.

I love Dickens. It 's the hidden humour. So much ahead of his time he was.

I am not reading anything at the moment, but two good books I read lately - I just love Ben Elton - were This Other Eden and Dead Famous, which is p*** take of Big Brother. One of the contestants gets murdered, and in spite of all the cameras, they don't know who did it!

It's mint!

Really beast!

Originally posted by Yodameister
Just started re-reading How The Dead Live by Will Self.
Really quite thought provoking and funny and freaky as well.

He's a great author, and writer of short stories.

Have you read Great Apes? Stunning.

As for Dickens, three words:

Dombie And Son

Possibly the dullest tome in the english language, almost guaranteed to induce narcoleptic fits even in speed-freaks.

Last book I read was Loving the Alien, a biography of David Bowie.
I've run out of books, I really need to get some more.

I started reading H.G.Wells's War of the Worlds recently.... I love the Jeff Wayne musical so I decided to look up the book, good story.

I am reading my first trash novel ever! It is called The Ghost, by Danielle Steel and may I say.........it is GREAT!

I'm reading a few books at the mo ... including 'The way of the Wizard' by Dr Deepak Chopra ... which is cool.

I'm reading:

* Antony and Cleopatra ~ Shakespeare
* Enduring Love ~ Ian McEwan
*Some poems by Christina Rossetti

(All of which are for my AS English literature, but we nit pick about them so much I don't have time to read any others!!! hehe)

just finished rereading Dostoyevskys The Idiot. Its THE BEST

Currently reading Tess Gerritsen's 'The Surgeon' but have resolved after seeing 'The Return of the King' to revisit The Lord of the Rings as haven't read it since I was about 14.

Have just read the first Kathy Reichs book Deja dead, very like the Patricia Cornwell ones.
Am now reading Evening Class by Maeve Binchy which is interesting to see how peoples lives entwine.
And have the next Kathy Reichs ready to start.

Originally posted by rain
just finished rereading Dostoyevskys The Idiot. Its THE BEST

Quality!

How do so many of you manage to have several books on the go at a time :o

I find it hard enough to keep up with one, if it's been a few days since I last read some I have to read back to refresh my memory :rolleyes:

Don't you get confused :P

If i read a few different books, they are all usually totally different types,

Like I might have an autobiography, travel book and comedy book all going at once lol

My fave genre is Travel Comedy (Dave Gorman, Bill Bryson etc.)

Reading the biography of Douglas Bader. Finished Life of Pi recently - very good stuff!

Originally posted by sarah_81
So what books are you all reading at the moment?

I've just started reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Only two chapters into it so I can't really comment yet, but I've heard all good things of it so I have high expectations :P :)


What's everybody reading?

Well I'm reading this post if thats any help? :wink:

I knew it was only a matter of time until some smart ars* :P

Originally posted by sarah_81
I knew it was only a matter of time until some smart ars* :P

*tut* women!
its Newbie Smart Ass actually lol :wink:

H.K.P.

I often like to see what books other people are reading or recomend so i have some ideas on what to buy next. So what are you reading now? What do you recomend?

I think i'm feeling a subconscious urge to leave this city because i'm going through my Mums pile of Bill Bryson books. Currently on "Neither Here Nor There", his travels in Europe. :)

Chris.

Just read
Of Mice and men - Steinbeck, last time I read it was at school.

Great book and an easy read.

At the moment I'm reading War of the Worlds by H.G Wells, and Star Wars - Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry.

Shadows of the Empire is great, the story of it is set between the end of Empire Strikes Back and the beginning of Return of the Jedi and introduces a couple of new characters such as Prince Xizor and Dash Rendar.

I'm currently reading Hawksmoor which is a VERY odd book - I would also recomend The Illuminatus Trillogy and Quantum Psychology both by Robert Anton Wilson. If you want a nice relaxed undemanding book though you can't beat Wind In The Willows!

Just finished Toast, by Nigel Slater. Very funny book. Must have been good, I finished it inside 2 days.

Originally posted by Chris_Sleeps
I often like to see what books other people are reading or recomend so i have some ideas on what to buy next. So what are you reading now? What do you recomend?

I think i'm feeling a subconscious urge to leave this city because i'm going through my Mums pile of Bill Bryson books. Currently on "Neither Here Nor There", his travels in Europe. :)

Chris.

Yes, I have read most of BB's stuff. Lovely reading. At the moment I am reading a book called 'How to write Humour' by Ken Pearson for about the fifth time.

Originally posted by mikey
Just read
Of Mice and men - Steinbeck, last time I read it was at school.

Great book and an easy read.

may be an easy read, but i definatly aint looking forward to the exam that I have on it tomorrow!!! pretty sure that i am going to fail miserably!! :cry:

I can reccommend The Dice Man by Luke Rheinheart

Excellent book that I must get round to finishing!!

I'm have also started The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks ..... wierd but good.

close to finishing A Hatfull of Sky by Terry Pratchett and next book up is Fast Food Nation by Eric Schossler.

Originally posted by mikey
Just read
Of Mice and men - Steinbeck, last time I read it was at school.

Great book and an easy read.

That is one great book. Truly tragic.

I'm reading Star of the Sea by Jospeh O'Connor which is a well written sort of whodunnit - more of a whosegonnadoit if you see what I mean.

Best book I've read in the last couple of years was Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - all the charm of Dickens, accessible, and gripping.

Just finished Jennifer Government by Max Barry. It's about a scenario where the USA controls the world's completely free markets (except for the Britain-less EU, China and most of Africa) and people take their company name as their surname. It follows the story of Jennifer Government as she tries to track down John Nike, the organiser of a murderous publicity stunt designed to advertise Nike trainers. Other main characters include Buy Mitsui, Violet ExxonMobil, Billy NRA and Hayley McDonalds.

It's a good idea, and makes for very amusing reading for the first hundred pages or so (a third of the novel). From then on, the comedy lessons and it becomes your fairly typical detective thriller. (Albeit one that requires one hell of a legal disclaimer!)

if you like fantasy try Steven Erikson, he's quite new, but extremely good.

All i'd liek to say is that i have read all the books posted on here so far (Bar the Pearson stuff) and i think they are all great reads too.

If you want something a bit serious I really advise you to pick up 'Understanding Media' by Marshall McLuhen (it isn't a novel, but a description of the world we live in today written by a true visionary on the 1960s)

As for light reading, absolutely anything by Hunter S. Thompson, Douglass Adams, Robert Rankin and also the poetry and novels of Spike Milligan.

Don't you just love the written word?

Wilf

Originally posted by Chris_Sleeps
I think i'm feeling a subconscious urge to leave this city because i'm going through my Mums pile of Bill Bryson books. Currently on "Neither Here Nor There", his travels in Europe. :)

Chris.

I don't know which of his others you have read, but the absolute funniest book I have ever read is 'Notes from a Big Country' (about America). Also try Walk in the Woods.

My favourite book ever, (everyone HAS to read this!!!!) is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I'm currently reading some of her short stories.

Also try the Gormenghast trilogy and Gulliver's Travels for some nice gothic/fantasy imagery or whatever.

Does anyone like Wuthering heights? We're studying it for AS this year and I can't believe how overrated it is! Ugh. Exam next week.

Oh and you should read The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde.

Bye bye

Currently on the go:
Very Short Introduction to Kant - Roger Scruton - OUP

Sacred Geometry - Robert Lawlor - Thames & Hudson

Love All the People - Bill Hicks - Constable

The Biggest Secret - David Icke - Bridge of Love

Just finished -

TSOG: The thing that ate the constitution - Robert Anton Wilson - New Falcon

the heart is deceitful above all things - J T Leroy

girl..interrupted - Susanna Kayson

these stand out as all time favourites. x

Hawksmoor is indeed a VERY odd book! Quite intriguing, though.

Many moons ago my wife introduced me to 'The Master and Margarita' by Mikhail Bulgakov. Black comedy, fantasy and satire as the Devil and his entourage visit Stalinist Moscow to see a novelist who wrote a book about Pontius Pilate.

Other ones to consider :-

The Bridge at San Luis Rey, Thornton Wilder.
Le Grande Meaulnes, Alain-Fournier
The Shockwave Rider - John Brunner
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
The House on the Borderland - William Hope Hodgson
The Human Factor - Graham Greene
The Screwtape Letters - CS Lewis

That's a few.....:-)

Hmmm let me think... It's been a while since I've had a good read... Being a literature stoodent I'm bogged down with exam texts so I've had to stick to those for the past god-knows-how-long!

Some of my favourites are:

* The catcher in the rye ~ J D Salinger (Just good, I can't explain why, I just loved it... Couldn't put the damn book down!!)

* Animal farm ~ George Orwell (Good for when you have your political thinking cap on, which is rare for me, but it helped me develop some interest in where I stand concerning the political thingymebobbems)

* To kill a mockingbird ~ Harper Lee (Excellent. Read it tons of times. Even my boyfriend loved it and he's not a big reader at all... Read this if you're just getting into books, it'll take you right back to your childhood I promise you...)

Avoid at all costs!!!

Enduring love by Ian Mc Ewan.... This is my exam text and I hate it I hate it I hate it!!! Its probably a good book if you take it at face value, then have a good think about it and decipher a meaning to it all... As a literature stoodent, I've had to nit pick from day one and it totally ruined the novel for me. Mc Ewan as a writer is quite disturbing, he writes about some really messed up stuff in some of his books, but enduring love is more toned down, simply being a tale of homosexual obsession, addressing issues such as fate and morality and it makes you think how you'd react if you were faced with a similar situation... If you want a simple story, don't go for this, but if you like the thrill of a fast paced novel and aren't afraid to look for all the hints and clues along the way, well then what are you waiting for?!

Originally posted by caprice
... Mc Ewan as a writer is quite disturbing, he writes about some really messed up stuff in some of his books...

Have you read Child In Time? I found the first 30 pages heart-rending and some of the hardest I've ever come across. Very well written but not one for the beach.

If you like a good crime thriller I find anything by James Patterson or Michael Connely pretty good reading.Both pacy and decent storytelling.

Have you read Child In Time? I found the first 30 pages heart-rending and some of the hardest I've ever come across. Very well written but not one for the beach.

I haven't actually, however I do know the basic outline of most of Mc Ewan's novels as I need to show awareness of his individual writing style in the exam.... I wouldn't read anything else of his, unless forced... He's a clever writer but just not for me!

The Jasper Fforde books are quite amusing.Angela Carter books are fantastic.Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie is amazing but needs plenty of time.Edgar Allen Poe for when you want to wallow in your own misery.Terry Pratchett to pick you up on the beach.So many books,too many hours at work!

Benedict Allen!! My all time favourite author and he's a cute explorer!! ;)

My too faves are 'Edge Of Blue Heaven' - Benedict Allen

'Through Jaguar Eyes' - Benedict Allen

Man I wanna travel the world!!

I'm reading a book called Traces Of Guilt by Neil Barrett. Very good book if your into security.

Currently Reading
American Gods - Neil Gaiman
Very odd but very good :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I have just finished reading:

Stupid White Men - Michael Moore;

Animal Farm - George Orwell.

Seems to be a political theme to my reading material of late :D

Yeah, Michael Moore is an interesting read.

Mr Nice by Howard Marks if you like autobiographies. Fantastic book.

the kamasutra it will keep u up all night and u wont put it down till youve finished

the kamasutra it will keep u up all night and u wont put it down till youve finished

Haha good one! :P ;)

Just remembered, adding to my list,

The Colour Purple by Alice Walker. Pretty heartbreaking in places, but a great book.

I have just finished reading "The curious incident of the dog in the night time" by Mark Haddon and it was an amazing book.

I'm funny about what I read. I don't like Sci Fi, horror or shoot 'em up kinda stuff. Can't stand romantic fiction crap either!

Have you read a good book lately? What would you reccommend?

Incidently, the above book is written from the perspective of a 15 year old boy with Aspergers syndrome (Autistic spectrum) who discovers his neighbours dog has been murdered and sets out to find the killer. An amazing read that I would reccomend to anyone.


READ A REVIEW HERE (http://mostlyfiction.com/contemp/haddon.htm)

I don't read very much. I am very picky and inpatient. The books I have read past the first page.
Dune - By Frank Herbert in fact any of that series
Firebrand - Marion Zimmer Bradley
Moon Maiden - by VS Peddle - obvious interest there but it is about minoan Crete
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown 1st Book
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown 2nd Book. One my mum demanded I read and I couldn't put it down again.

The rest of my books are just reference books. Many of my friends recommend Terry Pratchetts Discworld books...but I haven't been able to read them, so comment

Moon Maiden

Yup read that the other week too.
Very good read indeed.

Lot of people I know (including myself) have recently read and enjoyed 'The DaVinci Code' by Dan Brown. I would recommend that if you haven't read it.

Nomme

I'm just getting into Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre.. it's his debut book and it's got me hooked pretty much straight away.

My old man, an avid reader, recommended Life Of Pi to me but I couldn't get into it.. very odd ball and beyond me I think. I'll give it another try though when I'm in the mood.

My mate just read 'The Curious Incident..." and said pretty much what you did so I might give it a try too.

The Davinci Code is an excellent book. Reading Angels and Demons now.

I also enjoyed long ago Good Omens by Niel Gaiman and Terry Pratchett i think?

Never been able to get into Terry Pratchett. Guess I just don't like that kind of fantasy stuff really.

Neither have i but that was good.

Have also read recently all the Kathy Reichs books. She writes about a forensic antropolgist, there are 5/6 so far, but they are a good read, and it is suggested that she is better than Patricia Cornwell, though i think they are about the same.

Ian Rankin's detective stories are pretty good and if you know Edinburgh at all it makes them all the more enjoyable

Read "The Curious Incident ..." in a day, couldn't put it down. Wasn't too impressed by The Da Vinci Code, it just seemed to be a document about the Templars with a thin plot to fictionalise it. Perhaps it's because I'd read much of what he included in other books in a factual context. Incidentally, the next book I read, The Falls by Ian Rankin, included reference to the Roslin Chapel and the Templars too. How spooky is that?

Good read? Catch 22, Single and Single by Le Carre and any of the Jeeves and Wooster books.

Do a search on here for earlier posts on the same topic.

Originally posted by Wavey


My old man, an avid reader, recommended Life Of Pi to me but I couldn't get into it.. very odd ball and beyond me I think. I'll give it another try though when I'm in the mood.



I read Life of Pi last year, really enjoyed it. The first third of the book is a bit slow, but after that I couldn't put it down.

I'm not a huge fan of Pratchet (I think he tries too hard) but he did one a while ago with Neil Gaiman called Good Omens which is very good (they seem to ballance each other out) and I'm just finishing Hawksmoor which is good if a little odd! However for all round good reads go into a remaindered bookshop and grab a handfull of the penguin/picador classics they always seem to be selling dirt cheap - at least if you don't like em its no great loss!!!

One book I think should be compulsory reading for everyone before they post on this forum is Eats Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss :)

It's been the number one hardback for weeks.

Originally posted by mojoworking
One book I think should be compulsory reading for everyone before they post on this forum is Eats Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss :)

It's been the number one hardback for weeks.

Yeah, my mother has been on at me about reading that. However, she described it as a book about punctuation, which didn't make it sound too much fun. Could someone possibly give me a better description?

"The Lovely Bones " - by Alice Sebold

An unusual book, where the main character tells the story of her murder whilst watching the after effects from heaven. A completely new way of telling a story which leaves you hooked from the very first page.

Extrememly moving and guaranted to affect you in one way or another.

Agree with lovely bones. Great book - she has also written her own life story as she had something similar happen only (obviously!) she survived. Its called Lucky and equally interested though perhaps not quite as flowing a read.

I struggled with the Curious Incident, mainly because I have worked with children with Aspergers for a long time and it's a bit like Rainman in that I felt it would make everyone thing that every child/person with Aspergers/Autism had some special talent/gift whereas in reality this is rarely the case. Having said that, the Curious Incident does provide a great incite into a good deal of how someone with Aspergers deals (or struggles to deal)with everyday social situations and for that end I think it's done a good job.
A similar book if anyone is interested in looking further at Aspergers/Autism is by Donna Williams called Nobody Nowhere - she has Autism herself and it is about her early life - very interesting, only remember again that Donna Williams is at the very top end of a huge spectrum know as Autism.

Originally posted by Andy78
Yeah, my mother has been on at me about reading that. However, she described it as a book about punctuation, which didn't make it sound too much fun. Could someone possibly give me a better description?

That's exactly what it is, a zero tolerance approach to punctuation. If it sounds boring, it's not. It's actually very funny, but you need a feel for the subject matter to start with.

Originally posted by mojoworking
That's exactly what it is, a zero approach to punctuation. If it sounds boring, it's not. It's actually very funny, but you need a feel for the subject matter to start with.

As you mentioned, it's been a best seller for quite some time, so I'm sure that it is an entertaining read. I'll have to give it a bash.

I am reading a book called 'In Praise of Slow.' It makes you feel good about doing less work and telling your boss to shove it. :loopy: I would recomend it highly

I'll tell you another good book I read recently, it's called "Where Did It All Go Right?" by Andrew Collins (of Collins & Merconi fame). If you're in your late 30s early 40s it's a scream. He just writes about growing up in the 70s on an unremarkable housing estate and how nothing worth writing about ever happened to him. Bar one or two details it could have been written about me (and loads others I've no doubt).

Highly recommended.

I have recently read both the Alice Sebold books, which i absolutely loved, especially Lucky, the Lovely bones was brilliant too, I recommend them to women especially, opens up your mind.

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood-i didnt enjoy it but both my sis and mum absolutely loved it and couldnt put it down.

Holes by Louis Sachar is an absolutely wicked book, read it in one sitting, you must read this !! Can borrow it if you like, just pm me.

My Summer of Love by Helen Cross, I absolutely love this book, just recently read it again, one of my faves, set in 1984 in Yorkshire, and is about a 15 yr old drinker, thief and fruit machine addict, "A hand-grenade of a novel...Cross depicts a workd every bit as shocking, and as violent, as the one Anthony Burgess created in A Clockwork Orange", you can also borrow this if you like!

I'm reading High Fidelity by Nick Hornby at the moment which is funny as hell and also Atonement by Ian McEwan which is interesting but hard to get into.

Lindsay
x

I'd go with EDN on his choice of Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd - a genuinely strange and eerie book that follows a crime investigation which is curiously mirrored in a London narrative from the time of Wren and Hawksmoor.

He has also written "The house of Doctor Dee" again another dual contemporary/ancient storyline.

For sheer genius, Vineland by Thomas Pynchon is hard to beat. Gravity's Rainbow, his major work, defeated me entirely, but I will try it again, because what I did get was very interesting indeed.

To shock your world out of comfortable slumber I'd recommend "prometheus rising" by Robert Anton Wilson (dont be put off by the cover).

Anything by Kurt Vonnegut, anything at all. He is a rare writer who breaks most, if not all, novel writing conventions. His masterwork is Slaughterhouse 5 - a stunning read and possibly one of my favourite books of all time.

The Dice Man, and The Adventures of Wim, both by Luke Rhinehart are excellent, funny investigations into human nature, fate, and abrogation of responsibility.

Visual Explanations and Envisioning Information by Edward Tufte. This is great material for understanding how we interpret data, and common mistakes made in representing information in flat land. Learn about chart junk, and learn to recognise skewed and innaccurate graphs of the type often shown on TV

Also anything by David Icke. These books are amazing, a chaotic cascade of cobbled together alien mythology, quasi religious proclamations, conspiracy theory, templar mythology and freemasonry. Makes me feel really sane and reasoned - most reassuring...

As people have said before, both the Alice Sebold books are compulsive and moving reading. I'd also recommend The Kid by Kevin Lewis and Sickened by Julie Gregory. Both of these books will help you to put your life into perspective and realise just how bloody lucky you are.

I'll suggest my usual favourites....:-)

The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov.
The Devil and his entourage visit Stalinist Moscow where they encounter the Master, a writer who's in trouble for writing a novel about Jesus Christ and Pontius Pilate, and Margarita, the woman who loves him. The good guys get rewarded, the bad guys get thumped, and I always cry at the end.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey - Thornton Wilder.
The lives of a group of strangers intertwine as they die when crossing a bridge. A monk tries to see whether there is any meaning in their lives and deaths. Thought provoking.

Darkness at Noon - Arthur Koestler
An account of an 'old time' Communist Party member as he is arrested and interrogated in Stalinist Russia. Very psychological!

Le Grande Meaulnes - Alain-Fournier
A French classic. A lost schoolboy encounters a strange wedding party one winter afternoon which results in his life being intertwined with those of a brother and sister. Captivating.

This is the way the world ends - David Morrow
A weird and wonderful science fiction story about an 'Everyman' who survives a nuclear war only to be put on trial by the 'Unadmitted' - those who would have lived had the war not been fought.

The Human Factor - Graham Greene
Excellent espionage story.

The Go Between - L P Hartley
A story of adolescence narrated from the point of view of old age. A boy visits a school friend and becomes involved in the romance between the daughter of the house and a local farmer.

Any of the Jeeves and Wooster stuff!!
Just think Hugh Laurie and Steven Fry! Excellent stuff!

Joe

Robert Rankin is very funny. Try reading The Book of Ultimate Truths first - it really does have some :thumbsup:

Bernard Cornwell's "Grail Quest" trilogy might not appeal to everyone. The first book, Harlequin, is pretty much 500 pages of bloodshed, murder and chaos. And it's great!

He has done another one too (Bernard Cornwell), about the biulding of Stonehenge. That was good but cant remember what it was called 2000 something, and i have lent it out so can't check.

Fuzzy, if you liked Stonehenge then I'd recommend you read his "Warlord" trilogy. It's set during the time of King Arthur, it's just as gory as Harlequin, but (in my opinion) it has a much better story to it. Trust me, it's worth a look. I think the first book's called "The Winter King".

Phanerothyme,

Have to agree on Hawksmoor!! I read it after hearing ACkroyd on Radio 4 - fascinating book!

I'm also currently reading 'Gulag' by Anne Applebaum. All about the Soviet labour camps. Scary stuff, but well worth a read.

Joe

Believe me ANY book by Martina Cole

Why not try a book by a local author. There are some good ones around. Although a lot are local history there are others too, eg comedy, crime, thrillers.

why dont you give us some examples then..............

J P Bean wrote a fascinating book on the Sheffield Gang Wars.. is he local?

Has anyone read the Dumas Club by Arturo Perez-Reverte. I have bought it but reading another one of Dan Browns' Novels at the moment (Digital Fortress)
I know the book is the base for the film called 'The Ninth Gate'...just wondered if anyone had read it.

Phan I think I heard of prometheus rising, but I am unsure if I have just read a previous post of yours recommend it.

Moon Maiden

As a rule of thumb I dont read anything that has won any literary prizes since I read a complete load of rubbish (not the title, but it could have been) by Martin Amis cant remember what it was called thankfully. Talk about someone getting on through familly connections or what!

Good book at the moment is Attention all shipping.

I only really read books about exploration and world travel.

Generally anything by Benedict Allen is good. My fave is "Through Jaguar Eyes" by him. Its about the amazon basin and is really neat.

A quite scary book is "Haunted America." Dunno who its by though. Still it had me sleeping with the light on. :)

Originally posted by Rusted Root
I only really read books about exploration and world travel.

Generally anything by Benedict Allen is good. My fave is "Through Jaguar Eyes" by him. Its about the amazon basin and is really neat.

A quite scary book is "Haunted America." Dunno who its by though. Still it had me sleeping with the light on. :)

Have you read anything by Nick Danziger?

And WIlliam Dalrymple is quite good. His 'White Moghuls' was really interesting.

Joe

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
To shock your world out of comfortable slumber I'd recommend "prometheus rising" by Robert Anton Wilson (dont be put off by the cover).

Wilson is a fab writer - I would also recomend Quantum Psychology and of course the Illuminatus Trillogy as both good reads and exercises in creative and inspired wierdness!!!

In a similar sort of vein you may also like to try the Jerry Cornelius novels by Michael Moorcock?

How about reading some Raymond Chandler or Dashiel Hammet for some good hardboiled gumshoe action, Laurel K Hamilton (though only the first 3 or so of her vampire hunter series as they go downhill rapidly after that!) for a different take on fantasy and if you can lower yourself to comics/graphic novels The Invisibles and The Watchmen are both excellent :)

what's it about (briefly), and is it any good?

Stephen King's IT..
really good,,,
Evil clown ,,scary and good...

Geek Love - odd but good!

these books are for my college A2 literature course

The Colour Purple
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

"The Writer's Journey" by Christopher Vogler.

It's a 'how to' book for scriptwriters and novellists about applying 'the hero's journey' to creative writing. Explains how it can be used to help improve scripts.

Also 'the Dilbert Future' by Scott Adams. Just funny.

Joe

Bryson's "Notes From A Small Island" - his journey around the UK.

Alex

I've just read the autoboigraphy of Roy "Prettyboy" Shaw and thought it was amazing. He reminds me of myself in alot of ways, except I'm nowhere near as extreme.

10/10 for me, but that's because it's my kind of book :thumbsup:

Once by James Herbert.
It's got a really sexy Fairy in it!!
:D

Do computer books count ? thats sometimes all I do read.. Apart from the Beano of course.. :help:

The Tempest
The timewaster Letters by Robin Cooper
The Blind Assassin Margaret Atwood

Mad Cows! Kathy Lette.

Very funny book. Would reccommend it.

The last book i remember reading was 'The Guv'ner'. It's about a man called Lenny Mclean who was undefeated in over 2000 bare knuckle fights, only to be struck down by cancer.
He starred in a few films including Lock Stock...... He was also on tv in a drama series.
Funny how a 6'4" man mountain can have you in tears by reading his life story!.

My partner has just finished the book 'A child called it' and she has told me to read it. I'll be starting it tonight, sounds harrowing though.

Originally posted by vidster
The last book i remember reading was 'The Guv'ner'. It's about a man called Lenny Mclean who was undefeated in over 2000 bare knuckle fights, only to be struck down by cancer.
He starred in a few films including Lock Stock...... He was also on tv in a drama series.
Funny how a 6'4" man mountain can have you in tears by reading his life story!.

I'm currently read this (very slowly) at the mo, it is a really good book.
Also reading The 99 Critical Shots in Pool.

PHP developer's cookbook.

just the thing for pot head pixies everywhere! (gong joke)

HG Wells - War of the Worlds.

Top old school British sci-fi, formed the basis for one of the greatest rock operas ever made, the Jeff Wayne version of War of the Worlds.

Just a damn shame Hollywood made a total pig's ear of it back in 1953, the movie had almost no connection to the book apart from that it had Martians in it who died from exposure to pur atmosphere.

My mothers old cookery book, that goes back over 50 years of her collecting recipes.
I can drool over some of the long forgotten things she used to make when we were kids.

Originally posted by amhudson119
Bryson's "Notes From A Small Island" - his journey around the UK.
I bought it today, only read the prelogue so far.

Also reading 'Raymond Carver - Where I'm Calling From', a collection of his short stories. Brilliantly written but i was expecting more, its not amazing stuff.

Chris.

2 threads merged.

The first three years of the child by Karl Konig.

Doing a study group on it too if anyone interested.

"The Kid" by a man called Kevin Lewis. True story about a boy who's abused by his parents. A bit like "A Child Called It"

Originally posted by Chloe
"The Kid" by a man called Kevin Lewis. True story about a boy who's abused by his parents. A bit like "A Child Called It"

I've just read "The Kid" and am now working on re-reading the Dave Pelzer books - all four are absolutely heartbreaking and will make you realise just how damn lucky you are. "Sickened" by Julie Gregory is along the same lines, but her abuse took place in the form of her mother's Munchausen By Proxy syndrome.

Originally posted by Chris_Sleeps
I bought it today, only read the prelogue so far.

Also reading 'Raymond Carver - Where I'm Calling From', a collection of his short stories. Brilliantly written but i was expecting more, its not amazing stuff.

Chris.

Did Raymond Carver write the story about the bloke on the train who gets taken off at gunpoint by his secretary? I think it was called The Five-Fifteen or something similar.

Good story.

Joe

The last book i read was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon. Its aimed at teenagers i think but i really enjoyed it, very funny and moving.

I am reading some more Philip K Dick short stories now, hes always inspiring.

Dickens' Barnby Rudge; beautifully written, and one of the most under-rated of his novels.

Originally posted by vidster
The last book i remember reading was 'The Guv'ner'. It's about a man called Lenny Mclean who was undefeated in over 2000 bare knuckle fights, only to be struck down by cancer.
He starred in a few films including Lock Stock...... He was also on tv in a drama series.
Funny how a 6'4" man mountain can have you in tears by reading his life story!.

My partner has just finished the book 'A child called it' and she has told me to read it. I'll be starting it tonight, sounds harrowing though.

Incorrect. "The Guv'ner" of London was Roy Shaw, who beat Lenny McLean easily. In a rematch when Roy Shaw was unfit, Lenny McLean won. Roy Shaw offered him a rematch many times but Lenny McLean always ran off with his tail between his legs, and then eventually took the title of "The Guv'ner" to the grave.

In the eyes of many people, Roy "Prettyboy" Shaw is the true "Guv'ner"

Originally posted by GazB
Incorrect. "The Guv'ner" of London was Roy Shaw, who beat Lenny McLean easily. In a rematch when Roy Shaw was unfit, Lenny McLean won. Roy Shaw offered him a rematch many times but Lenny McLean always ran off with his tail between his legs, and then eventually took the title of "The Guv'ner" to the grave.

In the eyes of many people, Roy "Prettyboy" Shaw is the true "Guv'ner"

If i remember rightly, Lenny Mclean and Roy Shaw fought twice. The first time was scored a draw and the second time Lenny Mclean won.
You obviously do not know what you are talking about. If you did, then you would'nt state that Roy Shaw 'easily' beat someone who stood at 6'4" and weighed in at 16-18 stones and had some 2000 bare knuckle fights without loss!
I have seen a program about Roy Shaw and at no point in that program did he mention winning the Greatest bare knuckle fighter in the world, seems strange to me?.
If i am wrong then i will come back on here and apologise for it. I wonder if you would do the same?



(EDIT) It seems i owe GazB an apology!. OK, i'm sorry for jumping down your throat without first checking my facts.
It seems Roy Shaw did in fact beat Lenny Mclean the first time round. I did not know about this loss because as far as i knew, they had only fought twice, when in fact they fought three times. The second and third time Lenny Mclean won by knockout.

http://www.fightauthority.com/martial-arts-profiles.php4?typeID=8&fighterID=11

This is just one of many sites that have pointed out mine, and your error.:thumbsup:

I'm on Sunshine by Robin McKinley, a truly divine magical book threading a thrilling tale about vampires and human nature. Bliss. Sexy. Gripping.

Still reading How To Win Friends And Influence People a chapter a night and its teaching me to communicate better than ever before. Unfortunately this book has a stereotype attached to it which should be dismissed because it is excellent.

Hoping to enliven this thread cos I like book recomendations and I was really interested in what everyone else was reading.
My house looks like a library, I really ought to do a lending card LOL.
I'm awaiting a large delivery from Amazon but reading Blood Sinister in the meantime. Mm yummy, vampires!

This week I've been reading 'A Joseph Campbell Companion', edited by Diane Osbon and some technical stuff about the Document Object Model. The sublime to the impenetrable, I guess....:)

Ravenbrand

Just found this thread
I read all the Travis McGee books yrs ago
They all have a colour in the title.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did
Hazel

Nothing at present.
The last book I read was 'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield. A bit too mystical for the large proportion of 'rational' types who inhabit the forum, methinks:P

I called at Meadowhell earlier to go book shopping as i finished my last book on Thursday, i'm now reading an anthology of sci-fi which is just called "Science Fiction". The first story was pretty good, although a bit of a downer, by James Tiptree Jr. Starting the next one in a few minutes when I finish checking for posts.

With regards to technical books, i find that i have great expectations, but no willpower. I have "Core J2EE Patterns" downstairs, i'm on about page 12 (the preface) and have had it now for over 6 months...

Nothing at present. The last book I read was 'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield. A bit too mystical for the large proportion of 'rational' types who inhabit the forum, methinks

Have you read " The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho? It has the same basic messages but is beautifully written. His other books are worth a look too.

I'm reading "If The Spirit Moves You - life & love after death" by Justine Picardie at the moment. Her sister Ruth was the journalist who wrote a column in the Observer about her life with terminal cancer.

Thanks Sian, will have a look at 'Alchemist' next time I'm in waterstones.
The second you mention, possible interest years ago, but not now!
Thanks:thumbsup: :)

Originally posted by draggletail
Nothing at present.
The last book I read was 'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield. A bit too mystical for the large proportion of 'rational' types who inhabit the forum, methinks:P

Is that non-fiction?

Yes, strix. But the author believes his 'vision' to be viable in terms of human/universal evolution. I like it, but....
I think there has been another two or three follow up books by him.
:)

Sorry, Strix. It is non fiction. Hic.:D

What did those posts say before you edited them, Draggletail? :suspect:

Problem with social theory is people. They just don't conform to anybody's social structure and rules. Not as a single entity anyway. Society is made up of many individual parts with many individual needs.

Reading Roger's Profanisaurus.. Sadly can't post of any of the words listed in this book on here :heyhey:

"kama sutra" still trying to finish tho.

Originally posted by brooksy
"kama sutra" still trying to finish tho.

Thats ones better if you do the Physical Exercises to fully understand it :roll:

thats very difficult when you been on page 2 since 1997 !

Originally posted by Strix
What did those posts say before you edited them, Draggletail? :suspect:


They contained references to kites, and The Classic Rock Bar , Strix

Originally posted by draggletail
The last book I read was 'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield.

Its quite funny coz the other night i was gonna post that i was reading this book but was too tired. Today i come on the forum and read your post about this book...Coincidence or what...

That is what the book is about!!! Its really good. Just makes me even more aware of it now. :bigsmile:

Ha! According to the book, this 'coincidence' means that we both have knowledge to give and receive between each other:P
What do you make of the book, Funkyugal?

Just finished Life of pi, definitely worth a read.
Aparently its being made into film, so hoping a good director picks it up, not some idiot doing it for the money.

I've just started reading the Face by Dean Koontz again. Fantastic book for anyone that likes Dean Koontz

I'm currently reading 'Firewall by Andy McNab' pretty good so far but a little slow compared to some of his other books.

Best book I've read this year is 'Traces Of Guilt by Neil Barrett.'

OK....

The Joseph Campbell one's finished, the Document Object Model one continues, and I've just got started on a book called 'The Grail Tradition', which is about the myths and legends behind the Holy Grail.

And my bedtime book is Scott Adams' Dilbert collection, 'The Way of the Weasel'.

Joe

I'm reading something stupidly light - Jemima J by Jane Green. Just enough to keep my eyes involved without much need for the brain. Got a heavy week this week.
I've got The Face by Koontz, that's next weeks reading fodder.

learn to meditate by D. fontana.
Its chillin me right out and giving me a sharper focus on life...

Its good so far :) let you know when i finish it...:)

have you tried that experiment with your index fingers....?


Originally posted by draggletail
Ha! According to the book, this 'coincidence' means that we both have knowledge to give and receive between each other:P
What do you make of the book, Funkyugal?

'The secret life of Laszlo - Count Dracula'
Halfway through at the moment, exceptional, so far,

Originally posted by funkyukgal
Its good so far :) let you know when i finish it...:)

have you tried that experiment with your index fingers....?
Can't remember that bit. Did try some exersizes in the first steps of seeing auras, though.

This weekend I intend to be reading the instructions to GTA3 San Andreas.

After a heavy week I'm now indulging in Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley, another of her rewritten fairy tales - looking good so far.
Bit of a girly book lol.

Taking a flyer on Kathy Lette's The Llama Parlour. Going to start reading in tonight. Not read anything of hers but it sounds like a funny easy girlie novel. Lets hope so anyway.

:) :)

Originally posted by draggletail
Can't remember that bit. Did try some exersizes in the first steps of seeing auras, though.
Have you seen any yet? This book sounds ded interesting!

Shame I'm too busy trying to organise a wedding that's getting too close to be able to read anything unrelated to that at the moment. And I'm sick of photo's of meringue dresses, but they're unavoidable really.

Yes, I have on the most simple level:)
Read about it here:
http://www.worldtrans.org/spir/aura.html
Nice to see you back, Strix:thumbsup:

ive just bought his new one - going postal. anyone read it? i love t p? big fan

The latest issue of Right Now.

Currently Reading "The Shape of Things To Come" by HG Wells. Bought it for 10p - was a pretty good investment!

I've just read "A brief History Of Time", TBH I didn't understand a lot of it, so I'm going to read it again.

Nick,
If you can understand everything in it, you are a cleverer guy than me. Like most people, I only unstood a bit of what he's saying. I think you have to be in the field to grasp the finer points of quantum theory, string theory etc. Frankly, it is beyond me- there is a point beyond which my small brain can go...

Sorry, I meant beyond which my small brain CAN'T go...!

I'm sure there was a TV program based on the book, that might be easier, a bit of computer animation always helps.

Originally posted by nick2
I've just read "A brief History Of Time", TBH I didn't understand a lot of it, so I'm going to read it again.

Like a lot of books on this sort of thing, I start off fine, but by page 100 I am leafing back to see if I have missed something.

For a stunning short read on an equally unfathomable subject, try Richard Feynman's "QED (quantum electrodynamics) - the strange theory of light and matter". It less than 200 pages long (IIRC) and starts off ever so comprehensible. [ISBN 0691024170]

I also have found 'relativity for the layman' by James Coleman to be another superb reader for non-physicist.

Anyone know of anything similar covering more esoteric things like m-theory for the layman...?

I do wonder if Dr Hawkings could have made it easier to understand but didn't want everyone to think they were as smart as him ?

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
[B
Anyone know of anything similar covering more esoteric things like m-theory for the layman...? [/B]

Nope.

But I have some idea what on earth M-thoey is after reading this:

http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/qg_ss.html

Nomme

The weekly update!

Finished the book about the Holy Grail, and the boring techie crap about DOMs and XML I was looking at. Now I just need to keep referring ack to it in the office.

This morning was wallowing in the bath reading 'On Writing' by Stephen King'. And for next week, for my sins, I have yet ANOTHER techie book to go through about something called SOAP. Oh joy.

And bedside book is still a Dilbert.

Joe

Originally posted by Yodameister
Currently Reading "The Shape of Things To Come" by HG Wells. Bought it for 10p - was a pretty good investment!

If you like stories from back then, try 'The House on the Borderland' by W H Hodgson (I think).

Scared the crap out of me the first time I read it!

Joe

I have never read A Brief History Of Time and never considered I'd enjoy it, however, a friend of mine introduced me to M/string theory a couple of years ago and our conversations occasionally touch upon it and expand. It fascinates me.
So, I suppose I better go and buy it.
In the meantime, I've developed quite an interest in rewritten ( or rather written as they were before Grimm bros got their hands on them and then Disney) fairy stories a la Angela Carter/Robin McKinley etc, the darker versions appeal to me enormously so I'm reading White As Snow by Tanith Lee, one of my favourites authors.
In the preface there's a great introduction about a great deal more of these style books soI could be waffling about them for a while.
White As Snow has so far covered war, rape and insanity and now the child is seven years old and refers to the Queen as a witch - definitely pre bros Grimm!

Originally posted by nomme
Nope.

But I have some idea what on earth M-thoey is after reading this:

http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/qg_ss.html

Nomme

aha

The adS/CFT correspondence is a type of duality, which states that two apparently distinct physical theories are actually equivalent. On one side of this duality is the physics of gravity in a spacetime known as anti-de Sitter space (adS). Five-dimensional anti-de Sitter space has a boundary which is four-dimensional, and in a certain limit looks like flat spacetime with one time and three space directions. The adS/CFT correspondence states that the physics of gravity in five-dimensional anti-de Sitter space, is equivalent to a certain supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory which is defined on the boundary of adS. This Yang-Mills theory is thus a `hologram' of the physics which is happening in five dimensions. The Yang-Mills theory has gauge group SU(N), where N is very large, and it is said to be `supersymmetric' because it has a symmetry which allows you to exchange bosons and fermions. The hope is that this theory will eventually teach us something about QCD (quantum chromodynamics), which is a gauge theory with gauge group SU(3). QCD describes interactions between quarks. However, QCD has much less symmetry than the theory defined on the boundary of adS; for example, QCD has no supersymmetry. Furthermore, we still don't know how to incorporate a crucial property of QCD, known as asymptotic freedom.

of course!

Tanith Lee- wasn't (s)he a writer for Blakes 7 - and that fabulous book, Drinking Sapphire Wine?

I am at the moment reading Prayers for Rain by Dennis Lehane,
I've recently discovered him, together with James Lee Burke and Lee Child.
Happy reading
Hazel

Zebra,

Tanith Lee did indeed write for Blakes 7.

Most fairy tales and stories like that were often based around the darker side of growing up.

There's a book called 'The uses of enchantment' by Bruno Bettelheim which looks in to the imagery of many fairy tales. You'll never look at 'Little Red Riding Hood' in the same way again and will blush when reading it to children....:)

Have you looked at 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' by Joseph Campbell, and some of the stuff on Jungian archetypes in story?

Joe

HI Joe,
It was Phan with the Blakes 7 enquiry not moi.
However, she is a divine writer.
I shall look into the stuff you.ve mentioned, just as soon as i can get into my already overcrowded amazon account.
Thanks!

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
For a stunning short read on an equally unfathomable subject, try Richard Feynman's "QED (quantum electrodynamics) - the strange theory of light and matter". It less than 200 pages long (IIRC) and starts off ever so comprehensible. [ISBN 0691024170]


Ever read Feynman's 3 volume 'Lectures on Physics' series?

One day I'm going to buy myself this set of books. I read it years ago and although I didn't understand some parts it was just amazingly well written.

I'm a big Feynman fan - his collections of anecdotes are great fun!

Joe

Originally posted by Zebra
HI Joe,
It was Phan with the Blakes 7 enquiry not moi.
However, she is a divine writer.
I shall look into the stuff you.ve mentioned, just as soon as i can get into my already overcrowded amazon account.
Thanks!

Oops!

I'm losing the ability to read posts clearly!

I have to say that I've not read much of her stuff - possibly some short stories of hers from the 1970s, but nothing more contemporary than that.

Joe

Originally posted by JoePritchard
I'm a big Feynman fan - his collections of anecdotes are great fun!

Joe

I have only read one, "what do you care what other people think, Mr Feynman" which is great. It was written after Challenger and so contains quite a lot of material on the public understanding of science and the misinterpretation of statistics by scientists and engineers.

I have QED on the bookshelf for the moment. :confused:

Originally posted by nomme
Nope.

But I have some idea what on earth M-thoey is after reading this:

http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/qg_ss.html

Nomme
Godamm, nomme, every time I read a post of yours I walk about for about a day and a half with the Brian Eno song in my head from your signature. Can you change it to something cr*p, please :D :D :D

Tommy Knockers by Stephen King read it years ago but because it was so good decided to read it again.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
I have only read one, "what do you care what other people think, Mr Feynman" which is great. It was written after Challenger and so contains quite a lot of material on the public understanding of science and the misinterpretation of statistics by scientists and engineers.

I have QED on the bookshelf for the moment. :confused:

His performance at the Challenger enquiry was the most amazing piece of scientific 'show and tell' I'd seen for some time. I was very sad when he died - I'd have loved to have had the opportunity to meet him.

His earlier anecdotes about his time at Los Alamos are equally fascinating.

Joe

heartlands by michael buckley. it's a very good book about his travels in tibet and surrounding areas such as ladakh and bhutan.

ruth rendalls not bac - her insp wexford stuff great too

Not too sure why I'm reading this as its none too pleasant and a bit depressing but..its well written (and was part of 3for2 at waterstones though) -

a million little pieces by James Frey.

It's about someones descent into addiction and cos its an autobiography I'm hoping there's a 'happy ending'!

i am reading olivia joules and the overractive imaginattion by helen fielding
and me my son and his dad aer reading james and the giant peach

has anyone read irvine welsh's GLUE?

I have just finished a book about Windows XP (i know i'm sad!).
It is called 'Hacking XP' by an american bloke called Steve Sinchack. This book is a must for any intermediate xp users that want to fine tune their system.

Just about finished the Stephen King 'On Writing'. Very interesting book. The techie stuff trots on in the background.

I've noticed that since I started walking to work each day a few weeks ago, my reading has really decreased! I used to get through quite a bit, courtesy of waiting for busses and sitting on busses.

OK...to take this thread a little further....what have people started but never managed to finish? I encountered this problem with The Lord of the Rings....

Joe

The one book that I felt defeated me was "Gravity's Rainbow" by Thomas Pynchon.

I'm told it is a great book. I hope to finish it someday.

Now just finished 'The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time'. A book written in the style of someone with autism/asbergers, a high functioning person all the same.
As I sometimes work with people like this it was interesting to spend an extended time thinking/reading like this but I was glad to get away despite enjoying the book.
Next on my list/wobbly stacked pile, I have:
Counselling Skills in Context, Deerskin, Next Steps in Counselling, Nail, The Beach, Person Centred Counselling in Action, A Knot In The Grain, The Notebook, Spellbound and Nailed By The Heart. An interesting selection of course text, fantasy fiction, genereal fiction and horror.
Where to begin.....

Just been given the Mr nice guy (Howard Marks) book. Anybody read this? Will start it tomorrow, had a bit too much drink to read a book right now.

Originally posted by JoePritchard
OK...to take this thread a little further....what have people started but never managed to finish? I encountered this problem with The Lord of the Rings....


The only ones I've ever given up on were the Lord of the Rings books and Requiem For A Dream by Hubert Selby... the lack of punctuation drove me potty.

Originally posted by angel_b
The only ones I've ever given up on were the Lord of the Rings books and Requiem For A Dream by Hubert Selby... the lack of punctuation drove me potty.

What a bummer, eh? The odd one out all for the sake of a missing comma. If only Tolkien had thought of going to a decent Technical College instead of wasting his time at Trinity College, Oxford.

Still, never mind, Gollum dies at the end - no need to read it now.

Apologies for my atrocious, spelling, punctuation and grammar, Miss.

Killian,

I think you may find that angel_b was referring to the lack of punctuation in the Hubert Selby book. He writes in what's best described as 'stream of conciousness'.

As far as I can see (and I've also failed to finish LOTR), Tolkien's book was excellently written; it's just that the story didn't really interest me that much.

Joe

Originally posted by JoePritchard
Killian,

I think you may find that angel_b was referring to the lack of punctuation in the Hubert Selby book. He writes in what's best described as 'stream of conciousness'.

As far as I can see (and I've also failed to finish LOTR), Tolkien's book was excellently written; it's just that the story didn't really interest me that much.

Joe

Sorry, I thought Angel might be JK Rowling in disguise, trying to get a dig at the opposition.

Not really sure why the ultimate story of good against evil wouldn't really interest anyone, but what the heck. Gandalf was gay, you know.

Originally posted by Killian

Apologies for my atrocious, spelling, punctuation and grammar, Miss.

Well, if we're going to nitpick about commas, I think you'll find that the first one in the sentence I quote above is completely unnecessary ;-)

And yes, it was Requiem For A Dream that drove me potty. I just found Lord of the Rings to be boring as hell so I left it. I was disappointed, because I loved The Hobbit but could not get along with LOTR at all.

Originally posted by angel_b
Well, if we're going to nitpick about commas, I think you'll find that the first one in the sentence I quote above is completely unnecessary ;-)



What do you expect? I'm only a poor, thick Devon dumpling. Last book I read was The Famous Five Get Detention.

Am currently reading BlowFly by Particia Cornwell from her Scarpetta series, fantastic books I highly recommend them if you like forensic science and murder :clap:

Originally posted by Killian
Sorry, I thought Angel might be JK Rowling in disguise, trying to get a dig at the opposition.

Not really sure why the ultimate story of good against evil wouldn't really interest anyone, but what the heck. Gandalf was gay, you know.

I've no idea about the sexuality of Gandalf, and whether LOTR is the ultimate story of good against evil is debatable.

It was just so long.....

And whilst I'm capable of reading long books, I need them to grip me from early on. LOTR I found VERY slow at the beginning and I've never really pursued it because of that. Several people have advised me to skip the first few chapters and then get in to it when the quest has taken off, but I feel that the book was written to be read as a whole. And anyway, millions of LOTR things can't be wrong in managing it from the start!

I guess I'm just not geared to a world with Hobbits and Elves, although the twists involving the importance of Gollum and the final actions of Frodo (I think it was him who was the ring bearer?) sound very interesting.

And JK Rowling's fortune won't be bothered by LOTR.

I always feel sorry for Toliekn, though, as he sold the rights to reputedly pay a tax bill, and didn't get a vast amount for them.

Oh well....you win some, you lose some.

Joe

Originally posted by JoePritchard
I've no idea about the sexuality of Gandalf, and whether LOTR is the ultimate story of good against evil is debatable.

It was just so long.....

And whilst I'm capable of reading long books, I need them to grip me from early on. LOTR I found VERY slow at the beginning and I've never really pursued it because of that. Several people have advised me to skip the first few chapters and then get in to it when the quest has taken off, but I feel that the book was written to be read as a whole.



Oddly enough the main complaint that Tolkien received from his many worshippers was that the story was not long enough.

You do have a point about the begining of the story. The book was clearly intended as a continuation of the Hobbit and, as such, starts off very much as a children's story with Bilbo's birthday party. The odd character Tom Bombadil is straight from a children's fable. By the time the Hobbit's reach the inn at Bree, Tolkien has changed track completely. The dark undertones of the story have taken over and it is now very much an adult story.

Many Tolkien fans absolutely love Bombadil, but I would have preferred it if the mad hippy had never materialised. Best to read the basics about the finding of the ring and then move on to Bree. It is a brilliant story from then on, though very dark and frighteningly sinsiter at times.

The Gandalf thing was a reference to Ian Mckellen. It was Bombadil who told the hobbits to strip naked and go running about on the grass!!

Originally posted by JoePritchard
And whilst I'm capable of reading long books, I need them to grip me from early on. LOTR I found VERY slow at the beginning and I've never really pursued it because of that.

Oh good, it's not just me that has started it and never finished.
It does drag on and on and on with not much happening.

See the films first, that will give you a head start on what to expect. Ive read all Tolkiens work, Love the 6 books about the ring. I read the hobbit afterwards and still enjoyed it immensly.

If you manage to hold your concentration and persevere I highly recommend The Silmarillion an absolute work of art, tremendous, 10/10, perfect, awe-inspiring.

p.s am a bit of a LOTR freak :clap:

Originally posted by nick2
Oh good, it's not just me that has started it and never finished.
It does drag on and on and on with not much happening.

I think your opinion on Lord Of The Rings depends on the age you were when you read it. I find that anyone who read it before they were 14 thinks it is fantastic.

Anyone who attempts to read it when they are a little more discerning (like I did) finds it very ponderous and a little over simplified in terms of plot development.

knowing the score by gary armstrong,he managed to gain the trust of sheffield united followers (B.B.C.) and hung around with them during the 80's,he writes all about the things that went off.......very good read.

Originally posted by Yodameister
I think your opinion on Lord Of The Rings depends on the age you were when you read it. I find that anyone who read it before they were 14 thinks it is fantastic.

Anyone who attempts to read it when they are a little more discerning (like I did) finds it very ponderous and a little over simplified in terms of plot development.

Excellent point! I was 13 when I first read it, and absolutely loved it. Out of regard for the huge effect it had on me, I still consider it as one of my favourite three books. The beauty of the language and the meticulous creation of another world are awe-inspiring.

BUT - if I was reading it for the first time as an adult, I don't think I'd be as gripped. eg the lack of development of the female characters and their rather cardboard-cutout quality would probably annoy me (although Eowyn's derring-do was very inspiring as a teenager!)

But it's a marvellous book and I'm sure it will continue to entrance generations of readers.

StarSparkle

Do you think LOTR was intended as a childrens book ?

Originally posted by nick2
Do you think LOTR was intended as a childrens book ?

I don't think it was intended as aimed at any particular age group. I should imagine Tolkein was a pretty funny cup of tea though, imagining this make believe world of elves and orcs and hobbits and wizards. Imagining things like that is often seen as being quite childish.

Originally posted by nick2
Do you think LOTR was intended as a childrens book ?

I don't think so. The Hobbit was very definitely a child's book, and is written in a very different style to LOTR. I read the Hobbit after I'd finished LOTR, but didn't really enjoy it as it was clearly written for a child, not teenager.

I'd say LOTR is most suitable for a teenage audience, but I don't know whether Tolkien was aiming it at any specific audience. I've got the impression, whether rightly or wrongly, that LOTR was at least partly written as a vehicle for Tolkien to explore his own love of language.

As a reader who loves both LOTR and the CS Lewis "Chronicles of Narnia", I'd say that if you enjoyed reading about Narnia as a child, LOTR would suit you perfectly as a teenager.

Just imagine being a fly on the wall of those Inklings meetings in Oxford when Tolkien and Lewis, etc were reading parts of their works-in-progress to each other - how fabulous would that have been to be there!!

StarSparkle

I'm reading The Notebook at the moment, a very good book and I believe a much better story than the recent film, which just seemed to take the basics from the book.

I've been reading (re-reading) some Clive Barker books the last couple of weeks, he can tell a good story.

I'm re reading the "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman.

Its aimed at children in theory, but its one of those rare books that is good on lots of levels.

Re-reading my notes on Fascism in Italy. I have a retake in January :P

Re-reading james herbert - magic cottage

just started the passion

Lord of the rings was wrote for children aged 8+, Tolkien got his son Christopher to review it for him. I wouldnt let an 8yr old read it these days cos the teaching standard has changed, children don't know what they did 60+ years ago.

The books can be enjoyed at any age, all depends on imagination for me and whether or not you can allow yourself to be immersed in the fantasy world.

Recently 'discovered' Agatha Christie (her writing that is, as opposed to the execrable Poirot on TV). I've read six books in about a week and need to get some more...

Just read 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night' (in practically one sitting as I could'nt put it down)

Brilliant!

Originally posted by vidster
If i remember rightly, Lenny Mclean and Roy Shaw fought twice. The first time was scored a draw and the second time Lenny Mclean won.
You obviously do not know what you are talking about. If you did, then you would'nt state that Roy Shaw 'easily' beat someone who stood at 6'4" and weighed in at 16-18 stones and had some 2000 bare knuckle fights without loss!
I have seen a program about Roy Shaw and at no point in that program did he mention winning the Greatest bare knuckle fighter in the world, seems strange to me?.
If i am wrong then i will come back on here and apologise for it. I wonder if you would do the same?



(EDIT) It seems i owe GazB an apology!. OK, i'm sorry for jumping down your throat without first checking my facts.
It seems Roy Shaw did in fact beat Lenny Mclean the first time round. I did not know about this loss because as far as i knew, they had only fought twice, when in fact they fought three times. The second and third time Lenny Mclean won by knockout.

http://www.fightauthority.com/martial-arts-profiles.php4?typeID=8&fighterID=11

This is just one of many sites that have pointed out mine, and your error.:thumbsup:

Apology accepted.. I thought they'd only fought twice but knew Prettyboy beat the guv'nor the first time.. Apparently, the guv'nor wouldn't give Roy Shaw a rematch and took the title of guv'nor to the grave with him, aged 42.

Can I recommend to anyone The 3rd Policeman By Flann O'Brian I usually read it at least every other year. It is the dark work of the mind of a twisted evil genius.

Despite this he didn't think it was good enough to publish and it was only published after his death.

Also
The Magus by John Fowls
And just finished Last Exit To Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr.

im reading

1. Enduring Love - English lit a levell- addictive but boring at the same time! :loopy:
2. The tempest - English Lit A level :suspect: :gag:
3. The glass Menagerie -English Lit A level :nono:
3. Robbie williams book :D
4. various revision guides/ subject text books :loopy:


Originally posted by SatanInHeels
for some strange reason i am reading "its ok im wearing really big knickers" by louise rennison.

i love those book they make me giggle like a child
:P

Originally posted by SatanInHeels
have just read noughts and crosses again.. now that is quite a good book.

this series is ace. I have read them all and they r all v. good

I'm reading "Lullaby" by Chuck Palahniuk.. very strange but cool like all his books!

I started reading Guards! Guards! by Mr Pratchet, but for some reason I just don't find it funny, I used to read them on my way to work and laugh out loud on the bus.

I think once you have read half a dozen of his books you don't come across anything new anymore ?

Originally posted by franc1987
3. The glass Menagerie -English Lit A level :nono:


The Glass Menagerie is alright. I did it last year for my AS literature.

Just started re-reading 'Rebel Code' by Glyn Moody, about the development of Linux.

I read it when I'm having the Microsoft Blues...:)

The Poet by michael connolly

Originally posted by stooker
Re-reading james herbert - magic cottage
I`m going to have to dig that out for a re-read now that you reminded me about it lol.
am reading robin cook`s "toxin" at the moment

I'm reading Cimarran Rose by James Lee Burke.
One of my favourite authors, a can't put down book by an American writter.
Hazel

The Dark Tower - Stephen King

A Girls Guide To Vampires, watch out Lestat LOL.

Now just finished The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, weird and wonderful adult versions of fairy tales (again) written in Carters inimicable style.

Originally posted by Zebra
A Girls Guide To Vampires, watch out Lestat LOL.

Hope you qualify soon Zebra! . . Can anyone recommend some good Vampire/Dracula based literature?

in the middle of Dan Browns books at the mo.

very good read

As my favourite area of fantasy fiction I can possibly recommend some vamp books for you.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley - as previously mentioned, divine and somewhat sensual. Fresh story line, well written. I just wish there was more. Partly written from the vamps view and partly from the other party. best one I've read of the genre for quite a while.

Dark Dance, Personal Darkness and Vivia by Tanith Lee, I've read the first but not yet the second two from these, I have them waiting in my 'to read' pile. Tanith Lee excels in writing dark fantasy, her newer work IMO better than old. Written with detail and imagination with a strong sense of style.

The Lost by Jonathan Aycliffe, a writer I stumbled across by accident when I was given another book of his as a promotional freebie. Excellent. Mostly written in the first person if I remember correctly.

Lethal Kisses is an anthology collection of short stories, ideal just before turning the light out on a night when you are shattered. Lots of different authors.

Vampyrrhic and Vampyrrhic Rites by Simon Clark. I really enjoyed these. Another different style and another different slant. Not the strongest story line at times but better than a lot of junk I've read.

Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan. now this is slightly odd. There's a whole series of 12 books which just get better. Initially written for the youth market but which developed into a reasonable complex and adult style tale of two different races of vamp. Despite being easy reading I thoroughly recommend these. Lots of offers on e-Bay and Amazon for the multi book sets now they've all been released. The last one was in October this year.

The Travelling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon, this guy is a lot like James Herbert but less talented. He basically writes pulp fiction but it appeals to the mass horror market. This book is easy reading again but aimed at adults. Not bad for mental chewing gum when nothing else is pressing.

Any more recommendations? I could do with something new myself.

Oh, you might like Tales Of The Slayer vols 1, 2 & 3. which are short stories about previous slayers to Buffy. Lots of authors, some of these are great as stand alone books instead of Buffy related.

Kevin Keegans Autobiography. Quite good actually!

Chris Wooding - the Weavers of Saramyr.

Unusually intelligent oriental/fantasy novel. British too!

I'm reading 3 books at the moment, as always!

An introduction to Metaphysics by Martin Heidegger - a translation, it does lose something when not using the 'language of thought' (german)

Intimacy by Jean Paul Sartre - Once again another translation that means the book loses a lot of it's essense when not read in French

Finally, my light reading for sunday afternoons is Virtual Light by William Gibson, father of all cyberpunk writing. It isn't as good as Neuromancer or Count Zero but it portrays a far more accurate vision of a nearer future as opposed to the decadent mid future of both the novels involving Case.

Highly impressed with all of them though.

Wilf

Tibet, Tibet: A Personal History by Patrick French. A combination of Tibetan & Chinese history and the authors own travels and experiences.

I'm reading

No Enemy by Lee Childs, a Jack Reacher book.

Hazel

To be honest, now I've discovered the delights of downloading music, films, sexy Kylie videos (apparantly) from winmx, I have asked Santa for a new personal CD player.

There are gallons upon gallons of audio books to download. I've never tried this before ( always been a proper reader) but I fancy giving it a go.

My first one maybe Bill Bryson's latest book.

What's everybody reading?

Well, I've just finished reading Sam Mig's post on the 'What's everybody reading?' thread!!:rolleyes:

buddha by karen armstrong - it's a biography (of sorts), and is quite good, though some of the history and terminology means it isn't exactly 'light reading'

I am reading this site at the moment - very entertaining

Broken Dreams - Tom Bower

Mastering Jiu-Jitsu by Renzo Gracie. probably the best martial arts book i've read, it includes a comprehensive history of bjj including it's evolution from jjj and judo, as well as some techniques, tactics and case histories.

Currently the story of ebaY - 'The Perfect Store'.

I also found myself reading the purple prose of HP Lovecraft's 'At the Mountains of Madness' over the weekend. Probably to prpepare me for work...:)

Joe

barnsley crime and drugs audit 2004

Originally posted by JoePritchard
Currently the story of ebaY - 'The Perfect Store'.

I also found myself reading the purple prose of HP Lovecraft's 'At the Mountains of Madness' over the weekend. Probably to prpepare me for work...:)

Joe

What is HP Lovecraft like to read ?

I saw a film last week based on one of his books so I thought I might give it a try, I'm thinking it's kind of gothic horror ?

Remedial drama and Drama and Theatre Studies in prep for my new job in Jan.
Counselling in Context for my counselling course and The Child Protection Act for my last unit of childcare.
Draaaaaag :(

Originally posted by nick2
What is HP Lovecraft like to read ?

I saw a film last week based on one of his books so I thought I might give it a try, I'm thinking it's kind of gothic horror ?

Very different to most of the film adaptations...:)

Actually, some of his prose is so purple it's unreadable unless you take time to get in to the mood of it. Usually by sacrificing a few dozen people to C'thulu....;) But when you're in teh right mood it's great!

But yes, Gothic Horror with a capital G. He wrote novellas and short fiction, and also gave rise to the 'Cthulu Mythos' which has inspired lots of writers to write stories based around the mythology that underpins many of his stories. Quite a few of the mythos stories are better than the originals, if you get my drift.

In my opinion, his best ones are :

The colour out of space. (Non Mythos)
The shadow out of time. (Partially Mythos)
The Call of Cthulu (Mythos)
The Mountains of Madness (Mythos)

There are a few collections of his fiction around.

Some of his very early stuff, and soem of his poetry, is very influenced by the 'decadents' of the early 20th Century, and most of his stuff could have benefited from a bit of editing.

But, I couldn't do better....:) And like all writers in horror and science fiction, I've got my own Cthulu Mythos stories!

Joe

Thanks Joe.

I'll have a look around and see if I can find any of his stuff

Originally posted by JoePritchard
*lots of good stuff on HP Lovecraft*

Would like to add my recommendation too!! His most famous works are available in 3 compilations. Personally love the 'elder god' series (including the C'thulhu story Joe mentioned) and a particularly nasty short entitled "the rats in the walls"... Just superb.

Right now I am reading my Stephen King collection! I am reading a book called "Bag of Bones!" It is very good!