Only gave a couple, I've heard good things about Nostromo though -I've only read Heart of Darkness, typically. Hmm Odyssey is obviously a momentous story but the Iliad is just... well, the Iliad. Should The Communist Manifesto be read first?
Recently read Alexei Sayle's 'Stalin ate my homework' which was a worthwhile read. Grew up a stones throw from Anfield with Atheist and Communist parents with regular holidays in eastern europe. Sayle's always been a laugh and this doesn't disappoint. Also in a very different genre,anything by John Pilger.
Agree with OP. Can watch fiction but cannot read it. Anthony Beavor - Crete please log in to view this image Fantastic book, Beavor has written some half decent ones like Stalingrad and Berlin, both discovery battlefield type books in their dept of detail and and accurate information, I find his later books pander to the easy reader. Battle for Spain is excellent also please log in to view this image I see Spain totally different now from what I had before I read this. Crete An excellent book on the battle on Crete and the romantically tinted farce of command of Allied forces. First time Paratroopers are used en masse and the first time a population fought an active defense with one recount of a British officer leading armed civilians in a charge. Probably the first use of enigma intelligence also in this battle.
Iliad - The siege of Troy, without the wooden horse (it isn't in!!). Worth a read just to show how inaccurate the Movie Troy was. Hector kills Patroclus, Achilles' cousin, and not his gay lover? Yeah, right. This was Greece. They practically invented homosexuality - it's their word! Odyssey - Much better story, IMO - things actually happen. Much larger time frame, though. Les Miserables - Very good story; best Victor Hugo novel - far better than The Hunchback of Notre Damme, etc. The Count of Monte Cristo - One of the best stories I've ever read - better than Dumas' other books: 3 Musketeers, Man in the Iron mask, etc. Without this book there would be no Stars' Tennis Balls by Stephen Fry, no The Stars my Destination by Alfred Bester, and probably no Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King. The Stars My Destination - Great re-imagining of the above. If you want The Count of Monte Cristo set in space, in the future and written like Philip K. Dick, then this is the novel for you. 12 Caesars - Suetonius. You want to know how truly deprived those Romans were? Read this. Caligula, Nero, Tiberius - all your favourite Italian nutters are in it, being the little mass murdering rapscallions they were. 1984 / Animal Farm - Orwell. Aside from a few essays, these are his Magnum Opera. Warnings against Totalitarianism and Communism, respectively. I recommend this book, Animal Farm -- and basic game theory -- to anyone who is over enamoured of Communism as anything other than a nice idea. Classics which are still as enjoyable to read, and as relevant, today as they were when they were written...maybe moreso. Anything by Terry Pratchett. Never have so many smart things been said so often with so few words. Wisdom and wit and lunacy in almost every sentence. I re-read them when I'm without new reading material and they never get tiresome. There is no greater accolade for a writer, IMHO. That'll do for a start!
I can't get more than 30 minutes into Troy before I have to turn it off. **** movie, Brad Pitt's worst film (very big fan usually). **** use of historical accuracy with little gain in terms of plot. Overall a steaming pile of ****e. Suetonius is decent - very readable and indulging in scandal (as was his way remember) and of course with his access to now lost sources as part of the Imperial staff. However, I would prefer the dry wit and cynicism of Tacitus or the accuracy of Cassius Dio. Suetonius is frequently guilty of leaving things out, glossing over important (hugely important in the case of Augustus in 27BC) issues and giving bit piece accounts of key events. Agree on 1984 and Terry Pratchett - a very witty man, with a clear love of words and a real insight at times. Desperately sad that he is in his current state, real cruel irony to it.
Totally agree. Sometimes I can ignore historical / scientific inaccuracies, but not with Troy. Utter garbage. Read and very much enjoyed Tacitus' Histories, but have yet to read any of Cassius' works. I have seen a lot of good quotes from him in essays by Montaigne, but haven't read any first hand yet. Very smart fellow. I'll be very sad, and possibly depressed, when he stops writing because of his Alzheimer's. He did a good short lecture on his disease with Tony Robinson reading out his speech. It was entitled "Shaking Hands With Death". Punning to the end - that's how I want to go out.
Some good sugestions here, carras auto is funny, especially the bit about smashing salif diao In Training. Outside football, I can highly recommend Shantaram, surely amazing story, slightly unbelievable but apparently true. I hear johnny depp wants to make a movie of it. Please look up and read, a life changer.
I read a lot as it happens. I'm always away on business so get loads of time. Best football book imo is Fowler's autobiography - any football fan should read it, it's a great insight into nineties Premier League and the England national team. Carragher's book is also very good. Not read Stevies. Non football sport - Lawrence Dallaglio's book is excellent. Apart from sport I read war - Douglas Bader - 'Reach for the Sky', or Chris Ryan 'The Watchman'. Currently reading All Quiet on the Western Front! Edit An Epic Swindle I found facinating and explained a few things and brought the events together. A must read.
For all you Sci-fi fans, I can thoroughly recommend Stephen R Donaldson's "Gap" series. SRD is best know for his mammoth "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" seris (which he's still writing), but the GAP series is the most intense collection of writing I've ever had the pleasure of reading. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gap_Cycle
Hey Bow, have you read The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz? Good read, he had an incredible life. Like yourself im into ww2 Another good book is Neil Cross's Burial, real page turner
I originally said I cannot read fiction but I did enjoy one series. Conn Iggulden - Emperor series. Fookin read it, brilliant!
Hey mate I havent read either - i'll put them on my list! Have you read 'First Light' by Geoffrey Wellum? He's still about and on tv a fair bit. 'Iron Coffins' by Herbert A Werner is fantastic. 'U'Boat Killer' Donal MacIntyre is brilliant. 'Horned Pidgeon' by George Millar is excellent. 'Colditz' by Paul Brickhall is excellent and Great Escape (the book is genione rather than Hollywood). I've forgotten a few which is really annoying me! One recent one for a rifle solder who fought everywhere, read a few personal accounts on D-Day, Hurtdgen Forest, one of a German officer, a British submariner (Mars was his surname). I've read quite a lot of accounts thinking about it. Agent Zigzag was good too! Edit Alastair Mars - Unbroken, the Story of a Submarine is a gem.
They're brilliant - and incredibly thought provoking, especially the WW1 edition. The part about the fighting with the Turks really got to me - the story of the man who saw his friend drown in his own dysentery. All Quiet On The Western Front is a brilliant book also. CCC - it's tragic. I'll look up that speech actually, haven't seen it before.
