Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
wombleh said:
Just read the Greenwald book "No Place to Hide" about the Snowden NSA releases. I found it fascinating, but then I work in that area so YMMV ! The story of making contact with Snowden and battling with the governments for the Guardian to release the story has given me a whole load of respect for that paper, I may even attempt to read it at some point.
I am looking forward to reading this.I've recently read these
Blindsided, Jay Giles http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004GXB2DG/ref=...
As the Crow Flies, Damien Boyd http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CACSMYW/ref=...
Shame, Alan Russell http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shame-Alan-Russell-ebook/d...
All reasonable thrillers, amazon ratings are 4 stars.
For a change I've actually bought my next book rather than download another free one, Guy Martins autobiography.
Blindsided, Jay Giles http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004GXB2DG/ref=...
As the Crow Flies, Damien Boyd http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CACSMYW/ref=...
Shame, Alan Russell http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shame-Alan-Russell-ebook/d...
All reasonable thrillers, amazon ratings are 4 stars.
For a change I've actually bought my next book rather than download another free one, Guy Martins autobiography.
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
Very odd so far. Space is in regions and only some technology only works in upper zones where as the lower zones are more medieval. Very few humans so far but an interesting idea in the main aliens a sort of pack of dog creatures making up an individual via a psychic link. Enjoying it so far.
Very odd so far. Space is in regions and only some technology only works in upper zones where as the lower zones are more medieval. Very few humans so far but an interesting idea in the main aliens a sort of pack of dog creatures making up an individual via a psychic link. Enjoying it so far.
Gaz. said:
blindswelledrat said:
at the rest of your post but:Why on earth would you try a book, think that it is rubbish so try and read it again?
There are more good books out there than you could read in 10 lifetimes, no matter what your tastes, and yet you persevere with Dan Brwon for a second time?
WHat is your thought process?
Have you read No Way Down, about K2 in August 2008? I've just started it and it seems well researched, but we know what my book reviews are like
I still enjoyed the K2 book by the way so it wasn't a bad recommendation, I think I had just read two of his in a short space of time and he is pretty unlikeable so the negative aspects of him started to irritate throughout a double-dose of him.
Mountaineers are an odd bunch and very few of them come across as nice people. The most normal of the lot is Joe Simpson (who I think is also the best writer) but even he comes across as a bit of a savant.
I house shared as a student with two climbers.
without doubt the untidiest, disorganised, air-headed, self obsessed people I've pretty much ever known.
Its cognitive dissonance for me as one would have thought that as a climber, the very opposite of the above traits would be more akin to survival and team work....
hey-ho.
PS I thought Touching the Void was pretty good actually and the docu-drama was a very good effort.
without doubt the untidiest, disorganised, air-headed, self obsessed people I've pretty much ever known.
Its cognitive dissonance for me as one would have thought that as a climber, the very opposite of the above traits would be more akin to survival and team work....
hey-ho.
PS I thought Touching the Void was pretty good actually and the docu-drama was a very good effort.
I caught a bit of the Alan Yentob / Phillip Roth interview last night.
As I near the end of APfOM (see above) I'm looking for my next read.
lined up I have
Girl Gone
The world according to Garp - another john irving
a song of fire and ice - parts 1 and 2...
should I give philip roth a go? any suggestions?
Is he THAT good or is it esoteric Will Self-ish that I'll be banging my head against a brick wall trying to understand it?
As I near the end of APfOM (see above) I'm looking for my next read.
lined up I have
Girl Gone
The world according to Garp - another john irving
a song of fire and ice - parts 1 and 2...
should I give philip roth a go? any suggestions?
Is he THAT good or is it esoteric Will Self-ish that I'll be banging my head against a brick wall trying to understand it?
Nom de ploom said:
I'm nearly most of the way through A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.
I absolutely love th eimagination and creativity that Irving brings to all his novels.
the pages turn with lyrical anecdotes and pitch perfect charafterisations, however, this one I'm finding a bit harder to consume. Not sure why, it might be that its a bit more political and obviously religious than his other works the latter of which would be a bit of a turn off for me normally anyway.
it is still beautifully written but it has started to fell like it is meandering a bit too much.
I'm at chapter 8 so I will finish it - any other thoughts from the PH massive?
I had similar thoughts about this book, but the ending was incredible. The World According to Garp is possibly my favourite book of all time. It was the first John Irving book that I read so that may have something to do with or the age at which I read it. I absolutely love th eimagination and creativity that Irving brings to all his novels.
the pages turn with lyrical anecdotes and pitch perfect charafterisations, however, this one I'm finding a bit harder to consume. Not sure why, it might be that its a bit more political and obviously religious than his other works the latter of which would be a bit of a turn off for me normally anyway.
it is still beautifully written but it has started to fell like it is meandering a bit too much.
I'm at chapter 8 so I will finish it - any other thoughts from the PH massive?
These books opened my eyes to the difference between something exceptionally well written and the vast majority of other books.
Nom de ploom said:
I caught a bit of the Alan Yentob / Phillip Roth interview last night.
As I near the end of APfOM (see above) I'm looking for my next read.
lined up I have
Girl Gone
The world according to Garp - another john irving
a song of fire and ice - parts 1 and 2...
should I give philip roth a go? any suggestions?
Is he THAT good or is it esoteric Will Self-ish that I'll be banging my head against a brick wall trying to understand it?
I watched the Philip Roth interview last night and was quite interested in 'Portnoy's complaint'. Has anyone read this? Is it a good read?As I near the end of APfOM (see above) I'm looking for my next read.
lined up I have
Girl Gone
The world according to Garp - another john irving
a song of fire and ice - parts 1 and 2...
should I give philip roth a go? any suggestions?
Is he THAT good or is it esoteric Will Self-ish that I'll be banging my head against a brick wall trying to understand it?
Gone girl is pretty decent aswell.
Just started reading "Operation Mayhem" by Steve Heaney MC and Damien Lewis. Not normally my sort of thing but decided to give it a go as I know Steve and enjoy listening to his stories over a couple of pints. Only on chapter 4 but so far am impressed by the detail that they go into. You can read a preview at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Mayhem-Steve-Hea...
I finished A Prayer for Owen Meany last night and I'm so glad I stuck with it.
the circular finish to the novel, bringing back elements of the story to a conclusion especially using the basket ball manouvre - which was central in bringing the two protagonists so close as friend should be used in the way it was, was simply perfect.
Irving writes so well and paints his charachters with such colour that you cannot help but be drawn into his world of rich imagination beyond pretty much anything else - its hard to describe how good his writing is.
its almost a perfect novel. 9.5/10.
I wonder if it could ever be reasonably made into a film and done justice? Ron Howard? Peter Weir?
It would be almost impossible to put the richness of language and depth of characterisations and thier journeys in A Prayer... onto film.
Garp is a good film but still fairly bland in comparison...
the circular finish to the novel, bringing back elements of the story to a conclusion especially using the basket ball manouvre - which was central in bringing the two protagonists so close as friend should be used in the way it was, was simply perfect.
Irving writes so well and paints his charachters with such colour that you cannot help but be drawn into his world of rich imagination beyond pretty much anything else - its hard to describe how good his writing is.
its almost a perfect novel. 9.5/10.
I wonder if it could ever be reasonably made into a film and done justice? Ron Howard? Peter Weir?
It would be almost impossible to put the richness of language and depth of characterisations and thier journeys in A Prayer... onto film.
Garp is a good film but still fairly bland in comparison...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Changing-Way-You-...
Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments aren't great but I am enjoying it.
Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments aren't great but I am enjoying it.
jbudgie said:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Changing-Way-You-...
Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments aren't great but I am enjoying it.
Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments aren't great but I am enjoying it.
jbudgie said:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Changing-Way-You-...
Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments aren't great but I am enjoying it.
I heard a talk given by baroness /prof susan greenfield last week about this exact topic. There is a huge stack of evidence that yes, it is. Very interesting as despite the talk being in an IT context, I have a degree in psychology so it's really interesting to me. Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments aren't great but I am enjoying it.
Blown2CV said:
jbudgie said:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Changing-Way-You-...
Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments in the Amazon review aren't great but I am enjoying it.
I heard a talk given by baroness /prof susan greenfield last week about this exact topic. There is a huge stack of evidence that yes, it is. Very interesting as despite the talk being in an IT context, I have a degree in psychology so it's really interesting to me. Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments in the Amazon review aren't great but I am enjoying it.
what did you think?
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