Off Topic Books (off topic)

Yeah that made me want it too!

 

No worries. Glad you are enjoying it!

That discussion made me want to read it again as well. I was given a Kindle for Xmas. First thing I did was buy Silmarillion for it and started a re-read.

 

Gravity's rainbow by Thomas Pynchyon is a fab read. A bit of a head **** though..

 

I've just read Sniper One by SGT Dan Mills and thought it was amazing. It was about his time in Iraq fighting the war and must say it truly is a great read if you like that sort of thing.

Also another great read (similarly based) is Task Force Helmand by Doug Beattie, it was about his time in Afghan and an there is one scene which probably shows why we still haven't handed it fully back to the ANA.

 

added them to the list

 

I miss reading for pleasure at the minute, sadly i'm forced into reading for work. Did work my way through 'God is not Great' by Christopher Hitchens however and found it to be a thoughtful read. Far better constructed arguments than those seen in 'The God Delusion'. Considering some of the debates we've had on here over religion i'd suggest a read.

 

Yeah I agree. On religion, Hitchens was always going to put out a better arguement than Dawkins. Have you read any of Dawkins science books though? The Ancestors Tale and The Greatest Show On Earth are fantastic.

 

Just finished Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson.

It was really good and I'd recommend it.

Started Ready Player One by Ernest Cline this morning.

 

Good thread.

Just started Catcher in the Rye.

Other stuff I've read...

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Gulag Archipelago and A day in the life of Ivan
Nicholas and Alexandra
Most Sven Hassle
Most Stephen King
Most James Herbert
Pillars of the Earth and Life without end
Khmer Rouge
Sunne in splendour
Day of the Jackal
Vulcan 607
Through gates of fire. Martin bell
The quorum. (crap)
Fahrenheit 451
Soylent Green
Seve
Come in number 7
..and many many more, i've actually forgot a lot of them, dementia setting in

After catcher i'll probably start on war and peace

 

Sunne in Splendour. Do you mean the one by Sharon Penman? Good read if so. Would recommend her other books too. I like the way she champions some of the figures from English History that are usually given a bad press, like King John and Richard III. Her Simon de Montfort books are very interesting too.

 

'The stars tennis balls' by Steven Fry was in my opinion an excellent book which really surprised me.

 

Got a first edition (19th Century) of some William Hazlitt writings from my girlfriend for christmas, which is just amazing. I'm no book collector but it's brilliant to have an original printing of one of my favourite essayists. One of the best things about old books is their smell; you can shove your Kindles and iPads up your arses, I'll sit here with my face pressed against the pages thanks.

 

That's the one. I read the life and times of Richard the 2nd a few years later, arse about tit i'm afraid

 

Yep.

 

Need to read "We need to speak about Kevin".

Anyone read it?

 

Talk about poor eyesite!

A friend read it and said it was good, a few gory descriptions though. (It may possibly have been a different book)

 

Could I put in an advert for Bill Bryson? He's the best writer around today I reckon. And vice-chancellor of Durham Uni, I think.

 

.

 

Bryson is a great lad, his 'A Short History Of Nearly Everything' is the most lucid, and in fact, the most interesting popular science book I've ever read. I learned more in that one book than I ever did in all my years of school. If science always seemed like it should be interesting to you, but school made it seem like one of the most annoying, boring and miles above your head subjects of learning, then read this book and you'll enjoy the hell out of it.

He's a jolly old lad, his writing style is witty, friendly and intriguing - good recommendation!

 

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut is an amazing book. I've not read the whole thread so maybe someone's mentioned it already