about books im reading; perfect soldiers McDermott has written what is so far the definitive narrative of the 9/11 hijackers. He divides his book into three parts: First, he profiles the backgrounds and personality profiles of the hijackers, many who started as regular citizens and slowly drifted into their extremism, often by chance. Second, he explains the political forces in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan that helped to revive Jihad and give power to Osama Bin Laden. Third, he focuses on the actual plot to hijack the planes on 9/11. The reportage is remarkable and provides clues to the hijackers' personalities that have so far not been publicized. What's scary is the effective way the author shows the hijackers often came from privileged backgrounds and then drifted into the fringes of society where, needing direction and identity, they were susceptible to the extremist rhetoric of fundamentalism and violent jihad. cracking read
It is sad that a lot of people don't read anymore. My workmates all think I am weird because I like to read for fun.
Yep, enjoyed the follow-up, though I haven't read the 1st one. Currently reading... The Qur'an (translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem). I'll be surprised if I get all the way through it - so much repetition, but hey, just trying to understand. Just finished The Elegant Universe (Greene), but my favourite is Paddy Clarke Ha ha ha (Doyle) - Paddy Clarke was ME! Hiya Wishi! (You're being missed back you-know-where )
I’m currently reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. My most recommended book would probably be the His Dark Materials Trilogy, it should be on the national curriculum imo. At the moment I'm loving Michael Connellys Harry Bosch books and anything by Joe Abercrombie. I have a Kindle and since I got it I have read a lot of stuff I probably wouldn’t have before, probably got something to do with the fact I can get just about any book I want free.
Brilliant book, I loved it. Did you watch the series on Channel 4 last year? I'm currently reading its sequel, World Without End, set 200 years after Pillars and featuring the descendants of the original eg Tom Builder, Jack etc. Not quite as gripping as Pillars, but good nonetheless. Follett's book based during WW1, Fall of Giants, is excellent too
I'm a bit of a Dean Koontzer... just finished reading Relentless... good book My missus has my house flooding with all this vampire ****... If she keeps it up I'm gonna bite her neck
Excellent books although my favourite Connelly novel is 'The Poet' which isn't a Harry Bosch one. I'm currently reading 'Demon of the Air' by Simon Levack, a mystery novel set in the Aztec empire.
As one of the more intellectual chaps on here, I can recommend some very good reads. Although I dont get round to reading as much as I would like now because of other commitments such as snuggling with my beautiful girlfriend Good books include: Vico: The New Science Dauben: Georg Cantor Kant: The Second and Third Critiques Che Guevara: 3 Manifestos Subcommandante Marcos: Our Word is Our Sword and The Speed of Dreams
False memory is a good book by Dean Koontz, however it is a bit disturbing. Makes you think he must be a bit messed up inside to come up with such stuff.
Yeah, they are pretty clever how everything fits together. Do you reckon he's better than Stephen King?
False Memory is a cracking book, but he didn't come up with the idea himself, so maybe he's not that messed up. It's based on the Manchurian Candidate
Different Genre's Stephen King is def the master of dark thrillers/horror Koontz is def the master of suspense/pursuit Although I enjoy reading both! "The Watcher" is probably a good example of how much influence King has had on Koontz's writing style
Favourite ever book - The Joke by Milan Kundera Current book I'm reading - A biography of Jack hobbs. Oh - am i the only one who thinks that someone who admits to reading John Grisham really shouldn't be criticising the reading tastes of others? I'm a bit of a ltereary snob but at the end of the day if kids are encouraged to read and don't take it too much to heart as they get older then it's all good.