Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Half way through Amrican Sniper. Not bad, but not a lot more than most soldier type books: today we did this, and then we did that. last week we went to this place, and we did that, shot him, blew that up....
I'm hoping it gets better, as there has been so much hype about the whole thing.
I'm hoping it gets better, as there has been so much hype about the whole thing.
King Herald said:
Half way through Amrican Sniper. Not bad, but not a lot more than most soldier type books: today we did this, and then we did that. last week we went to this place, and we did that, shot him, blew that up....
I'm hoping it gets better, as there has been so much hype about the whole thing.
It doesn't really change. I quite liked it for that. It was more a series of day-in-the-life anecdotes rather than trying to shoe-horn it into a cohesive story which apparently the film did.I'm hoping it gets better, as there has been so much hype about the whole thing.
Read Empty Mansions as recommended earlier in this thread, enjoyed the family history and events up until the 2000s. The wrangling over the estate was a little unseemly, but I guess that's part of the story.
Just finished Made in America by Bill Bryson, interesting but not his best book. Now onto The Heart of the Matter by Grahame Greene for a change of scene and tempo. After that, have The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds by John Higgs and No Highway by Neville Shute waiting to be read. I fly a lot, so it's easy to get through books
Just finished Made in America by Bill Bryson, interesting but not his best book. Now onto The Heart of the Matter by Grahame Greene for a change of scene and tempo. After that, have The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds by John Higgs and No Highway by Neville Shute waiting to be read. I fly a lot, so it's easy to get through books
Finished I am Pilgrim and really enjoyed it.
I hope the film or mini series does it justice it read like it would transfer to the screen comfortably.
what next....I was thinking about picking an author in a genre I would normally go for and reading a few back to back - anyone else done / do that?
I started Hunt for Red October last night....
I hope the film or mini series does it justice it read like it would transfer to the screen comfortably.
what next....I was thinking about picking an author in a genre I would normally go for and reading a few back to back - anyone else done / do that?
I started Hunt for Red October last night....
Nom de ploom said:
Finished I am Pilgrim and really enjoyed it.
I hope the film or mini series does it justice it read like it would transfer to the screen comfortably.
what next....I was thinking about picking an author in a genre I would normally go for and reading a few back to back - anyone else done / do that?
I started Hunt for Red October last night....
I know of some good book series if you like.I hope the film or mini series does it justice it read like it would transfer to the screen comfortably.
what next....I was thinking about picking an author in a genre I would normally go for and reading a few back to back - anyone else done / do that?
I started Hunt for Red October last night....
There's the "Wool" Trilogy by Hugh Howey. That's very good.
Also try Arisen (a 7 book set) about the zombie apocalypse - hugely entertaining and books that you can't put down.
On a similar topic is a series called Slow Burn, which is also very good.
After three heaps of poo on the trot I went back in time and reread "The Client" by John Grisham. How pleasant to have a well-written book in my hands again! I enjoyed it, but my only complaint is that Johnny Sulari didn't give Barry the Blade a cement overcoat. Now on to something that may be interesting; Ian Rankin's new anthology of the Rebus short stories..
Officer and Spy is excellent; thoroughly enjoyed it and it's good to have such a big read. Not a short book .
Reading Jonathan Meades An Encyclopedia of Myself; wonderful. A sort of autobiography laced with lovely insights into 50s provincial life in and around Salisbury and featuring splenetic outbursts in Meades' trademark style about modern life, politicans and just about everything else.
Reading Jonathan Meades An Encyclopedia of Myself; wonderful. A sort of autobiography laced with lovely insights into 50s provincial life in and around Salisbury and featuring splenetic outbursts in Meades' trademark style about modern life, politicans and just about everything else.
DuncanM said:
Recently finished reading Revolution by Russell Brand and enjoyed it very much.
Actually I used to like him too, so I can understand that, I just recently slipped into utterly hating him.I don't think there was ever any middle ground. My mindset went:
Quite like, quite like, quite like, quite like, hate with a passion.
I don't think that ever happened to me before
blindswelledrat said:
DuncanM said:
Recently finished reading Revolution by Russell Brand and enjoyed it very much.
Actually I used to like him too, so I can understand that, I just recently slipped into utterly hating him.I don't think there was ever any middle ground. My mindset went:
Quite like, quite like, quite like, quite like, hate with a passion.
I don't think that ever happened to me before
Really though, it's a personal story of RB's realisation that shallow materialism isn't what life is all about.
Even though I like him, and the message is a good one, I still think is a dick and totally get why people hate him.
King Herald said:
Half way through Amrican Sniper. Not bad, but not a lot more than most soldier type books: today we did this, and then we did that. last week we went to this place, and we did that, shot him, blew that up....
I'm hoping it gets better, as there has been so much hype about the whole thing.
I'm the same. While respecting his bravery and service there is very little depth. I was hoping for a little insight into the inner thoughts of these guys. Maybe its a British thing but its a little uncomfortable how much he appears to enjoy killing. Clearly he's saved hundreds of lives by removing the enemy but that doesn't come across as his motivation. I'll be interested to see how it develops or if the film puts a different light on itI'm hoping it gets better, as there has been so much hype about the whole thing.
lowdrag said:
After three heaps of poo on the trot I went back in time and reread "The Client" by John Grisham. How pleasant to have a well-written book in my hands again! I enjoyed it, but my only complaint is that Johnny Sulari didn't give Barry the Blade a cement overcoat. Now on to something that may be interesting; Ian Rankin's new anthology of the Rebus short stories..
About once every five years I pull out my dog eared copy of 'Lucifers Hammer' and give that a good read. It is nostalgic to go back to a book you've owned for 30+ years. I seem to remember first reading it as an apprentice in the 70's or early 80's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer%27s_Hammer
Also have 'Shibumi', by Trevanian, a rattling good read, about the same age too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibumi_%28novel%29
Dr Jekyll said:
Never quite got into Terry Pratchett. Jasper Fforde on the other hand is superficially the same kind of thing but I find his books tremendous.
Yup, read pretty much all of the Jasper Fforde books and have found them very enjoyable. Never read a single Pratchett book though....Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff