Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Just finished 'World War Z' by Max Brooks.
An absolutely gripping book that looks heavily into global politics and the nature of Man. All written in the style of a journalist interviewing key players in a global war.
All sounds very 'sensible' doesn't it? Well the war is against the 'undead'.
It sounds strange and when I started reading it, wasn't sure what to expect but it reads very seriously. According to the blurb, if you remove the 'zombie' part from the book, everything is completely factual.
An absolutely gripping book that looks heavily into global politics and the nature of Man. All written in the style of a journalist interviewing key players in a global war.
All sounds very 'sensible' doesn't it? Well the war is against the 'undead'.
It sounds strange and when I started reading it, wasn't sure what to expect but it reads very seriously. According to the blurb, if you remove the 'zombie' part from the book, everything is completely factual.
Wikipedia said:
Brooks designed World War Z to follow the "laws" set up in The Zombie Survival Guide, and explained that the guide may exist in the world of the novel as a precursor to the Zombie War. The zombies of the The Zombie Survival Guide are undead humans reanimated by an incurable virus, Solanum. They are devoid of intelligence and are motivated only by the desire to consume living flesh. The only way to destroy them is to destroy the brain, by any means. Although zombies are as strong as the humans they infected, they are slow moving but do not tire. Zombies usually announce their presence by moaning.
Brooks did a large amount of research while writing World War Z to make the novel as realistic as possible: "Everything in World War Z (as in The Zombie Survival Guide) is based in reality... well, except the zombies. But seriously, everything else in the book is either taken from reality or 100% real. The technology, politics, economics, culture, military tactics... it was a LOT of homework."
Brooks used a variety of reference books and consulted with friends who were experts in several fields when writing the novel. He also cites the U.S. Army as a reference on firearm statistics, though he does not state how those statistics were obtained.
Absolute genius and a highly recommended read.Brooks did a large amount of research while writing World War Z to make the novel as realistic as possible: "Everything in World War Z (as in The Zombie Survival Guide) is based in reality... well, except the zombies. But seriously, everything else in the book is either taken from reality or 100% real. The technology, politics, economics, culture, military tactics... it was a LOT of homework."
Brooks used a variety of reference books and consulted with friends who were experts in several fields when writing the novel. He also cites the U.S. Army as a reference on firearm statistics, though he does not state how those statistics were obtained.
Just a little run around the world, by Rosie swale Pope.
It's her diary of a run she did in memory of her late husband, initially to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer, but then developing to raise funds for various charities along the way.
http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/
It's her diary of a run she did in memory of her late husband, initially to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer, but then developing to raise funds for various charities along the way.
http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/
tonyvid said:
I have just finished Tuesday's War by David Fiddimore - Brilliant. I enjoyed that so much I was sorry when it ended. It's all about a Lancaster crew during the war and a real insight into how they all lived(and died). For anyone living in Beds and Cambs it is fascinating as it is all based in the villages and airfields within 10 miles of St Neots and the detail is spot on - I even went to visit Everton Churchyard recently because of this book and its references.
Totally recommend it.
Author (David Fiddimore) is a neighbour of a friend - and has got a copy of most of his books signed and free Totally recommend it.
I've read the first couple... first was good, second didn't have the focus, might try the third one.
ETA also just finished reading Alan Clark's diaries - very entertaining. A bit of a nut, but large collection of vintage classics. The end is quite sad/moving - his degeneration with brain cancer...
Edited by Size Nine Elm on Thursday 28th January 13:09
bint said:
bp1 said:
Recently started and just about finished Neal Ashers Cormac series.
Gridlinked
Line of Polity
Mr Brass
Polity Agent
Line War
Good old fashioned Space Opera. About the only benefit of working away from home is being able to read as much as I like mid week without getting nagged
Finished Chasm City by Alistair Reynolds at the weekend - really good Space Opera writer - am now finishing the 5th book in the Serrano Legacy series by Elizabeth Moon - recommend you try those too.Gridlinked
Line of Polity
Mr Brass
Polity Agent
Line War
Good old fashioned Space Opera. About the only benefit of working away from home is being able to read as much as I like mid week without getting nagged
For those who prefer non Sci-Fi, or those that just love a really engaging story, I highly recommend Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I never covered the Tudors at school, this has really filled in a few holes of my understanding and was one of those you can't put down.
Davey S2 said:
The Millenium Series by Steig Larsson.
Just finished the second book, The Girl Who Played with Fire and just off to Waterstones to buy the last book.
I am doing this the other way around. Having, on a whim, picked up 'The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest' and found it to be an excellent read, was straight on to Amazon and ordered the first two books in the trilogy. Just finished the second book, The Girl Who Played with Fire and just off to Waterstones to buy the last book.
Just finished reading "A Quiet Belief in Angels" by R.J Ellory.
Apparently its won some awards, and people seem to think its amazing.
Personally I thought it was a load of b
ks, that went on and on, the story could have been squeezed into a bok half the size if he didn't insist on spending 3 pages describing the weather, and how the wind felt in his pissing hair.
Very poor.
Apparently its won some awards, and people seem to think its amazing.
Personally I thought it was a load of b
ks, that went on and on, the story could have been squeezed into a bok half the size if he didn't insist on spending 3 pages describing the weather, and how the wind felt in his pissing hair. Very poor.
I am on the fifth book in "The Dark is Rising" series - "Silver on the Tree" - I have the omnibus edition.
Cracking stuff for youngsters and good for a nostalgic adult.
It also helps that I grew up in North Wales (where much of the story is set) and moved to not so very far from Bucks, where other parts are set, the remainder being in Cornwall...which I have visited, of course. Nice to associate the places with the story.
It was also fun that as I was reading the second book "The Dark is Rising" - in which half the story is set in a Christmas blizzard - it was during the January snow...
Cracking stuff for youngsters and good for a nostalgic adult.
It also helps that I grew up in North Wales (where much of the story is set) and moved to not so very far from Bucks, where other parts are set, the remainder being in Cornwall...which I have visited, of course. Nice to associate the places with the story.
It was also fun that as I was reading the second book "The Dark is Rising" - in which half the story is set in a Christmas blizzard - it was during the January snow...
Edited by Don on Thursday 28th January 16:30
M3CHA-MONK3Y said:
Just finished 'World War Z' by Max Brooks.
An absolutely gripping book that looks heavily into global politics and the nature of Man. All written in the style of a journalist interviewing key players in a global war.
All sounds very 'sensible' doesn't it? Well the war is against the 'undead'.
It sounds strange and when I started reading it, wasn't sure what to expect but it reads very seriously. According to the blurb, if you remove the 'zombie' part from the book, everything is completely factual.
Will give it a plus 1 ,I am just rereading it and enjoying even more second time around.An absolutely gripping book that looks heavily into global politics and the nature of Man. All written in the style of a journalist interviewing key players in a global war.
All sounds very 'sensible' doesn't it? Well the war is against the 'undead'.
It sounds strange and when I started reading it, wasn't sure what to expect but it reads very seriously. According to the blurb, if you remove the 'zombie' part from the book, everything is completely factual.
Wikipedia said:
Brooks designed World War Z to follow the "laws" set up in The Zombie Survival Guide, and explained that the guide may exist in the world of the novel as a precursor to the Zombie War. The zombies of the The Zombie Survival Guide are undead humans reanimated by an incurable virus, Solanum. They are devoid of intelligence and are motivated only by the desire to consume living flesh. The only way to destroy them is to destroy the brain, by any means. Although zombies are as strong as the humans they infected, they are slow moving but do not tire. Zombies usually announce their presence by moaning.
Brooks did a large amount of research while writing World War Z to make the novel as realistic as possible: "Everything in World War Z (as in The Zombie Survival Guide) is based in reality... well, except the zombies. But seriously, everything else in the book is either taken from reality or 100% real. The technology, politics, economics, culture, military tactics... it was a LOT of homework."
Brooks used a variety of reference books and consulted with friends who were experts in several fields when writing the novel. He also cites the U.S. Army as a reference on firearm statistics, though he does not state how those statistics were obtained.
Absolute genius and a highly recommended read.Brooks did a large amount of research while writing World War Z to make the novel as realistic as possible: "Everything in World War Z (as in The Zombie Survival Guide) is based in reality... well, except the zombies. But seriously, everything else in the book is either taken from reality or 100% real. The technology, politics, economics, culture, military tactics... it was a LOT of homework."
Brooks used a variety of reference books and consulted with friends who were experts in several fields when writing the novel. He also cites the U.S. Army as a reference on firearm statistics, though he does not state how those statistics were obtained.
2nd one is the best of the 3 imo. 3rd one close behind.
I'm getting into Rankin's Rebus novels at the moment, although I did have a brief diversion to another Edinburgh based copper story - Skinner's Festival by Quintin Jardine. Both authors are enjoyable page-turners. Not exactly Shakespeare, but a good enough read.
I've got the Necronomicon waiting for me - HP Lovecraft's collected short stories.
I'm getting into Rankin's Rebus novels at the moment, although I did have a brief diversion to another Edinburgh based copper story - Skinner's Festival by Quintin Jardine. Both authors are enjoyable page-turners. Not exactly Shakespeare, but a good enough read.
I've got the Necronomicon waiting for me - HP Lovecraft's collected short stories.
MrV said:
M3CHA-MONK3Y said:
Just finished 'World War Z' by Max Brooks.
An absolutely gripping book that looks heavily into global politics and the nature of Man. All written in the style of a journalist interviewing key players in a global war.
All sounds very 'sensible' doesn't it? Well the war is against the 'undead'.
It sounds strange and when I started reading it, wasn't sure what to expect but it reads very seriously. According to the blurb, if you remove the 'zombie' part from the book, everything is completely factual.
Will give it a plus 1 ,I am just rereading it and enjoying even more second time around.An absolutely gripping book that looks heavily into global politics and the nature of Man. All written in the style of a journalist interviewing key players in a global war.
All sounds very 'sensible' doesn't it? Well the war is against the 'undead'.
It sounds strange and when I started reading it, wasn't sure what to expect but it reads very seriously. According to the blurb, if you remove the 'zombie' part from the book, everything is completely factual.
Wikipedia said:
Brooks designed World War Z to follow the "laws" set up in The Zombie Survival Guide, and explained that the guide may exist in the world of the novel as a precursor to the Zombie War. The zombies of the The Zombie Survival Guide are undead humans reanimated by an incurable virus, Solanum. They are devoid of intelligence and are motivated only by the desire to consume living flesh. The only way to destroy them is to destroy the brain, by any means. Although zombies are as strong as the humans they infected, they are slow moving but do not tire. Zombies usually announce their presence by moaning.
Brooks did a large amount of research while writing World War Z to make the novel as realistic as possible: "Everything in World War Z (as in The Zombie Survival Guide) is based in reality... well, except the zombies. But seriously, everything else in the book is either taken from reality or 100% real. The technology, politics, economics, culture, military tactics... it was a LOT of homework."
Brooks used a variety of reference books and consulted with friends who were experts in several fields when writing the novel. He also cites the U.S. Army as a reference on firearm statistics, though he does not state how those statistics were obtained.
Absolute genius and a highly recommended read.Brooks did a large amount of research while writing World War Z to make the novel as realistic as possible: "Everything in World War Z (as in The Zombie Survival Guide) is based in reality... well, except the zombies. But seriously, everything else in the book is either taken from reality or 100% real. The technology, politics, economics, culture, military tactics... it was a LOT of homework."
Brooks used a variety of reference books and consulted with friends who were experts in several fields when writing the novel. He also cites the U.S. Army as a reference on firearm statistics, though he does not state how those statistics were obtained.
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