Books - What are you reading?

[Don]

Just finished Peter Watts' Rifter Trilogy.

Very, very good, but the ending is a real WTF!????

[lowdrag]

Just finished "Blood Salt Water" by Denise Mina. Desppite the puffs from Ian Rankin and Val McDermid Scottish of course) I found it rather so-so. Now moving on to Hieronymus Bosch in his latest adventure, "The Burning Room". As usual, so easy to read and interesting with it from Michael Connolly.

Edited by lowdrag on Friday 17th July 19:37

[PRTVR]

Don't know if these are in the right forum but anyway have just finished two books
The first was Phoenix Squadron, an interesting book of a part of our history I did not know about, interesting point is that there was an American on the raid, especially when they are discussion on RAF working with the Americans in Syria.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookrevie...

The second was cold war command, the story of the role of Nuclear submarines mainly British during the cold war, an interesting insight into submarine operations.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cold-War-Command-Dramatic-...

[King Herald]

Dan_1981 said:

Just ordered this.

Not a big Sci-fi fan, but do enjoy end of world type stuff.

Particularly enjoyed The Road, The Stand, and can really recommend The Passage (have the sequel too but i've not got round to it yet)

Hopefully I'll like this too.

You'd enjoy 'Lucifers Hammer'.

"The gigantic comet had slammed into Earth, forging earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale, tidal waves thousands of feet high. Cities were turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam. It was the beginning of a new Ice Age and the end of civilization. But for the terrified men and women chance had saved, it was also the dawn of a new struggle for survival--a struggle more dangerous and challenging than any they had ever known...."

http://www.amazon.com/Lucifers-Hammer-Larry-Niven/...

[944fan]

Continuing my quest to read all the "classics" I am ploughing through The Iliad. Quite good so far, although the translation is fking annoying. The intro to the book basically describes the whole story. Then at the start of each section you get another simple Simon explanation of what is going to happen, plus you get notes in the margin as well. Yeah I get it, I'm not thick I can understand what is happening.

Without sounding like a philistine it is quite similar to the film Troy (although that film left out all of the Gods).

[LordGrover]

^^ Free versions with and without notes available: gutenberg.

[944fan]

LordGrover said:

^^ Free versions with and without notes available: gutenberg.

Thanks. Despite having worked in IT for 14 years and being a techie I really don't like Ebooks

Like to feel the heft of a good book

[slyelessar]

I have recently started Dan Simmons 'The Terror'. It involves the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror searching for the north west passage, while being hunted by an unnamed presence terrorizing the crews. It is very well written, and I don't usually go for novels that cross real life with fiction, but it works so well.

I originally read the 'Hyperion' cantos by Simmons a few months back, and I really enjoyed them. I was unsure about touching some of his other books, but I'm glad I did!

[AClownsPocket]

Ploughing through the Charles Cummings books at the moment and just been recommended Don Winslow stories also. Not read any of his before. The CC books are light reading, but very good when you want to switch off. A Foreign Country is excellent.

[Slyjoe]

Patch1875 said:

Currently reading the Arisen series, fantastic zombie apocalyptic series.

Also I Am Pilgrim seems great so far.

Eagerly awaiting book 9
The prequels Nemesis and Genesis are worth reading too, whilst you wait, as is 'D-Boys' by the same author.

[EdJ]

I just finished another excellent Robert Goddard book; Fault Line. Like many of his books, a description of the story doesn't really do it justice, but the pace is spot on. There's something of the thriller about it, but in a very English and civilised manner. Despite it being a fairly long book, I finished it in a couple of days.

[Legend83]

Just finished the first Jack Caffrey book by Mo Hayder:



It's probably one of the sickest books I have ever read....but it was very entertaining. Mostly cliched characters but Caffrey himself at least has depth.

Now completely immersed and enthralled by this:



Brilliant stuff.

[Digga]

Just finished "The Miniaturist" by Jessie Burton.

I can see why Waterstone's readers give it 5 out of 5 - a thoroughly intriguing and enjoyable read IMHO; historically interesting, good characters and a compelling plot.

[blindswelledrat]

Gaz. said:

I know there's a few fans of the adventure and non fiction books here, are there any decent climbing/exploration books - hidden gem stuff please as I've read Touching the Void, White Spider & Into Thin Air and all the suggestions/you may like stuff.

Thank you

Its just you and me I think Gaz.
Our taste in these books is very similar. I enjoyed all of Joe Simpsons books equally so I definitely recommend picking up any random ones of his.
If you do what I did and jump from recommendation to recommendation there is only one that I urge you to avoid like the plague and that is Mountains of my Life (Walter Bonatti). In theory he is a bit of a legend and it should be a classic but it is virtually unreadable. The language and the writing is disjointed and.....well just st.

[King Herald]

Legend83 said:

Now something completely different as mentioned on here before:



So far, so .

Yes, after living in Asia for much of the last 25 years, I have to admit that book is scarily familiar. it is fairly obvious the author has spent a lot of time in and around Bangkok, Thai girls, bars etc, and not just done a bunch of research. I read it several years ago and might re-visit it soon. Might re-visit Bangkok again too.

[Patch1875]

Slyjoe said:

Patch1875 said:

Currently reading the Arisen series, fantastic zombie apocalyptic series.

Also I Am Pilgrim seems great so far.

Eagerly awaiting book 9
The prequels Nemesis and Genesis are worth reading too, whilst you wait, as is 'D-Boys' by the same author.

Got the prequels sitting on the kindle they are next after I finish the first Jack Reacher book.

Will have a look at D Boys

[12thCylinder]

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ De Marco

[Lefty]

slyelessar said:

I have recently started Dan Simmons 'The Terror'. It involves the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror searching for the north west passage, while being hunted by an unnamed presence terrorizing the crews. It is very well written, and I don't usually go for novels that cross real life with fiction, but it works so well.

I originally read the 'Hyperion' cantos by Simmons a few months back, and I really enjoyed them. I was unsure about touching some of his other books, but I'm glad I did!

How you getting on with it? I stormed through the first half but it took me ages to finish it. I only discovered recently it's "sort of" based on fact. Ish.

[NordicCrankShaft]

Finger Prints of the Gods, Graham Hancock.

Bought it a couple of weeks ago after being recommended by a friend after a pub chat about the Piri Reis Maps.

Basically talks about a theory of an ancient civilization that was centered on Antarctica before a major shift in Poles.

Only 1/4 of the way through it but a very interesting read so far!

[Bullett]

The Man in the high Castle - Philip K. Dick - Bit of a classic but not one I'd heard of before seeing the Amazon TV adaptation.

Short novel about a world in which the Japs and Germans won WW2 but contains a book written about a world in which the allies won. It's really about the world and the people and has several interconnected characters but the stories don't really overlap much. I enjoyed it but it didn't really seem to go anywhere.