The best book you ever read was...
Discussion
I stopped reading the "what book are you reading now" thread last year, as nearly all the posts simply added to the long list of book names which weren't exactly TOP recommendations, nor was a summary provided.
It would be great to have a quality thread which loosely summarises what everyone feels is one of their best reads, along with a brief summary for those who are interested.
I enjoyed Papillion. The true story of a convicted murderer who killed a pimp and instead of getting 10-15 years, was handed down a life sentence and shipped off to French Guyana to serve it. The book reads a little like a horror film, with the brutality inside, murders and violence, and includes some astoundingly captivating graphic (true) tales of smuggling, leppar colonies, escape plans, death by flesh eating ants, broken bones, years spent in solitary, madness, execution, compassion, more escape attempts (7 in total) and quicksand.
10/10, not as a critic, but because I've read little which has been as captivating.
And Clan Of The Cave Bear. Also another critically acclaimed international best seller, the plight of a young girl who finds herself living under the thumb and in the adoptive care of a clan of cavemen, whose mental capacity and primeval drives and primitive brains bear no resemblance to her own heritage.
One more best seller, by Ken Follett (iirc) Pillars Of The Earth. A medieval story has never been told so well, starts with a hanging and doesnt let go till the last page, depicting the hard lives and romances of friends, foes and villains through disease, death, rape and struggle, the blind fear of god, corruption within the clergy, politics, war, starvation and treachery. It's an incredibly interesting story, and masterfully told.
Don't really consider myself a bookworm, but thought I'd share the titles of a few modern day classics whose pages I couldn't stop turning. The above (in my opinion) are good enough to completely satisfy/entertain even those who don't like reading, and are well worth looking into.
If anyone can recommend a must read book or two, what would you recommend, and why (short summary would be good)!
It would be great to have a quality thread which loosely summarises what everyone feels is one of their best reads, along with a brief summary for those who are interested.
I enjoyed Papillion. The true story of a convicted murderer who killed a pimp and instead of getting 10-15 years, was handed down a life sentence and shipped off to French Guyana to serve it. The book reads a little like a horror film, with the brutality inside, murders and violence, and includes some astoundingly captivating graphic (true) tales of smuggling, leppar colonies, escape plans, death by flesh eating ants, broken bones, years spent in solitary, madness, execution, compassion, more escape attempts (7 in total) and quicksand.
10/10, not as a critic, but because I've read little which has been as captivating.
And Clan Of The Cave Bear. Also another critically acclaimed international best seller, the plight of a young girl who finds herself living under the thumb and in the adoptive care of a clan of cavemen, whose mental capacity and primeval drives and primitive brains bear no resemblance to her own heritage.
One more best seller, by Ken Follett (iirc) Pillars Of The Earth. A medieval story has never been told so well, starts with a hanging and doesnt let go till the last page, depicting the hard lives and romances of friends, foes and villains through disease, death, rape and struggle, the blind fear of god, corruption within the clergy, politics, war, starvation and treachery. It's an incredibly interesting story, and masterfully told.
Don't really consider myself a bookworm, but thought I'd share the titles of a few modern day classics whose pages I couldn't stop turning. The above (in my opinion) are good enough to completely satisfy/entertain even those who don't like reading, and are well worth looking into.
If anyone can recommend a must read book or two, what would you recommend, and why (short summary would be good)!
Edited by Mobsta on Monday 22 August 17:51
Munka01 said:
I have read too many good books to name one. Top three would be..
Mr Nice - Amazing autobiography by Howard Marks. Truely amazing life starting with being the first Welshman to be offered a scholarship to Oxford, and leading to be the biggest weed smuggler in the world.
Marching powder - Rusty Young - autobiography of an Australian man serving a sentence in a Bolivian jail, where you must buy your cell. He ends up being a tour guide for the jail where backpackers came and stayed in his cell for a night for a fee and get smashed on pure cocaine made in the jail. Simply unbelievable story.
Escape by David McMillan - A true story of the only westerner to have ever escaped from Bangkok's 'Hilton' jail.
Interesting selection. Mr Nice was a great film, and the latter two fascinating books about brutality and survival which really make you realise just how small the UK is on the map and how vastly different (and scary) other societies are.Mr Nice - Amazing autobiography by Howard Marks. Truely amazing life starting with being the first Welshman to be offered a scholarship to Oxford, and leading to be the biggest weed smuggler in the world.
Marching powder - Rusty Young - autobiography of an Australian man serving a sentence in a Bolivian jail, where you must buy your cell. He ends up being a tour guide for the jail where backpackers came and stayed in his cell for a night for a fee and get smashed on pure cocaine made in the jail. Simply unbelievable story.
Escape by David McMillan - A true story of the only westerner to have ever escaped from Bangkok's 'Hilton' jail.
Edited by Munka01 on Friday 26th October 09:00
You'd enjoy Corby's 'my story' and Reefer Men
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