The best book you ever read was...

The best book you ever read was...

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Discussion

JonnyFive

29,387 posts

188 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Shaw Tarse said:
Was mentioned in the other thread, but Sniper One by Dan Mills.
Yep, this is also my favourite book.

Edited by JonnyFive on Monday 22 August 17:14

RDMcG

19,096 posts

206 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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The Great Gatsby

Enduring Love, ( Ian McEwan)

Highrisedrifter

754 posts

153 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Mazdarese said:
American Psycho.
This is either at the top or in second place, depending on how my mood takes me.

The other book in that equation is 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley.

indi pearl

319 posts

196 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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The Godwhale by T.J. Bass

"A thundering surf drowned the forlorn screams of land locked Rorqual Maru.Brine-tossed grains of olivine and calcite buried her left eye, blocking her view of the sky...As the eyelid of sand darkened her world, Rorqual wept over her irretrievable, wasted years. She was a Harvester without a crop-a plankton rake abondoned by Earth society when the seas died."
Well over 600' long, Rorqual was a cyborg, part whale, part ship, and a marvellously complex combination of biology and mechanics. She had been built to serve Man, and yearned for his return and the feel of bare feet on her decks.
Then, after centuries, the miracle happened. The sea grew life again-and Rorquel began her long ,slow search. But mankind had forgtten all about Rorquel and her kind.......

mattviatura

2,996 posts

199 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Anything by Damon Runyon has me in stitches. Can't really specify a favourite book though, too many genres.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Doors of perception: Aldous Huxley.

Changed my life.

Tuscan Rat

3,276 posts

222 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Apache by Ed Macy.

Read the first chapter here

http://www.edmacy.com/#/the-book/


Mazdarese

21,007 posts

186 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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GetCarter said:
Doors of perception: Aldous Huxley.

Changed my life.
Just added to my Kindle. Hope it's good. smile

jeff m

4,059 posts

257 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Not sure if this was the best, but I doubt it's going to on this list if I don't put itsmile

"A Day in the Life of A Soviet Worker" Andrew Smith (non fiction)

American Socialist/Marxist/Union guy is convinced the Russian way of life is better than that of the American worker.
So he ups sticks and heads east.

Edit I did a search...appears it is called "I was a Soviet Worker"..., possible I confused it with the Soltzy one of a similar title.

Edited by jeff m on Monday 22 August 17:36

Getragdogleg

8,737 posts

182 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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I recently re-read Defying Hitler by Sebastian Haffner which is a book telling of the social reasons and reception to the rise of Hitler in post 1st war Germany, the national pride/shame mix and the way it helped Hitler to get power. Incredible book, very hard to get hold of a copy unless you go via a second hand seller, unless it has been re printed.

For pure escapism I read the Millenium Trilogy (Girl with the dragon tattoo, The Girl who played with fire and the Girl who kicked the Hornets Nest) Excellent set of books, well written even though they are translations, clever pacy interlaced story over the 3 books, I can see who lots of folk took them on holiday with them and who they are being made into Films.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Mazdarese said:
GetCarter said:
Doors of perception: Aldous Huxley.

Changed my life.
Just added to my Kindle. Hope it's good. smile
You probably need to be on drugs. (Just a heads up)

jt racing

561 posts

173 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Lived bravo two zero. Read it loads of times and its still great. I liked immediate action too.
As a teenager I loved a book called 'the Wheatstoe pond'. Can't remember for the life of me who by, I think Roger or Robert someone but I got it for a car journey across the uk and never once pit it down.

krusty

2,472 posts

248 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Ken Follet's - Pillars of the Earth & A world without End
If you saw the mini series of Pillars, ignore it. Not a patch on the book.

I'm also a big fan of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series.

Dirty Frank

598 posts

153 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith.

Just gone back to it after the third and final part of the trilogy has been released, and its still gripping.

Dirty Frank

598 posts

153 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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krusty said:
I'm also a big fan of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series.
Ive been put off those because the first two dont have an english translation, do you miss anything by not reading them?

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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If you liked Chickenhaw you'd like "If I die in a Combat Zone".

If you liked Bravo 2 Zero then I think you'd also like Immediate Action.

If Tomorrow Comes is a good book, read it quite a few times.

Insomnia by King is good (well, the ending is not so much but the idea is good). 48 by Herbert. Imagica by Barker. So, so many books.


swiftpete

1,894 posts

192 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Papillon is an excellent book. My friend and I read it about 10 years ago and still quote lines from it to each other. Have you read the sequel Banco? It's more of the same, but also very entertaining.
I thought about this for a while and I think the books that really stand out are the foundation trilogy from isaac asimov. They're the books that made me realise I liked sci fi and are awesome. I haven't read them for years but I will re read them. You ought to give them a go if you haven't read them.

weezb

2,498 posts

163 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Fup by Jim Dodge. Hard to do a summary, it's a nonsensical and hilarious story. When you finish it you may well say "is that it"? And I can't tell you what you'll take from it, but it may well alter how you view things. I've certainly read other books with much grander, and seemingly more noble, intentions (Animal Farm etc) but there's something about Fup that, to me, is much, much deeper.

krusty

2,472 posts

248 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Dirty Frank said:
Ive been put off those because the first two dont have an english translation, do you miss anything by not reading them?
I didn't find it an issue. The Redbreast is the first translated book and that and the next three books have a sub plot running through them so you need to do them in order. The Snowman is the most violent one though.
I like them, Hole character has a very 'human' quality about him. I won't say any more. make your own mind up. Personally I think they's a great read

Dirty Frank

598 posts

153 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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krusty said:
I didn't find it an issue. The Redbreast is the first translated book and that and the next three books have a sub plot running through them so you need to do them in order. The Snowman is the most violent one though.
I like them, Hole character has a very 'human' quality about him. I won't say any more. make your own mind up. Personally I think they's a great read
Cheers ill put them on my Kindle.