Books - What are you reading?

[droopsnoot]

I'm not too fussy whether it's "well written" (whatever that means) or not - I just want something that I enjoy. I've enjoyed virtually all of the CC novels that I've read (and even the Isaac Bell series were good enough for me to get to the end) and maybe that's something to do with them - along with Wilbur Smith, Ian Fleming, Alistair Maclean and some others I can't remember - being the first grown-up books I read courtesy of my Dad's bookcase. I find some Gerald Seymour (presuming that's the Seymour mentioned) very good, but the most recent (that I read, not necessarily that he released) was terrible, much too dense and repetitive to be an enjoyable experience.

And yes, I enjoy most of the James Patterson stuff I read too, despite almost everyone in here looking down their nose at his stuff. It's like TV - I don't always want to be challenged, most of the time I just want to be entertained.

[hairykrishna]

havoc said:

ChemicalChaos said:

Can't be too bad if Tom Clancy states CC is the author HE reads.....

I'm not sure that's a recommendation

Clancy wrote Cold War / military / consipracy-theory porn for teenagers and the military/wannabe-military crowd (just like Coonts and Coyle, who are broadly in the same league). Almost as far from 'literature' as Dan Brown, and I say that as someone who liked a lot of that stuff in my teenage years.

His earlier novels are still reasonably entertaining*, but they're all pulp fiction, and not as well-written as e.g. Le Carre or Seymour. Bit like comparing a Michael Bay film to a James Bond film...



* Later stuff, esp. the co-written bks, just went downhill...

That's a bit down on Clancy. His stuff was very well researched, well written and good distance from Dan Browns crap. He's no Le Carre, but few people are. Red Storm Rising, Hunt for Red October and a few others are excellent books.

[jimmyjimjim]

havoc said:

ChemicalChaos said:

Can't be too bad if Tom Clancy states CC is the author HE reads.....

I'm not sure that's a recommendation

Clancy wrote Cold War / military / consipracy-theory porn for teenagers and the military/wannabe-military crowd (just like Coonts and Coyle, who are broadly in the same league).

I've PMSL at that quote before as well - not the best recommendation in the world.

That being said, Clancy is a step above Coonts and Coyle, at least for his earlier novels.

[RC1807]

RC1807 said:

Prolex-UK said:

Another kind of eden by james lee burke

Prequel to the Holland novels.

Much more like the JLB of old after the last effort

Half way through and wishing it was a longer book...

I love JLB's writing. I've read everything he's written.
I have this on my Kindle for my next book.

Started last night in bed. I'm halfway through!

[TheJimi]

hairykrishna said:

havoc said:

ChemicalChaos said:

Can't be too bad if Tom Clancy states CC is the author HE reads.....

I'm not sure that's a recommendation

Clancy wrote Cold War / military / consipracy-theory porn for teenagers and the military/wannabe-military crowd (just like Coonts and Coyle, who are broadly in the same league). Almost as far from 'literature' as Dan Brown, and I say that as someone who liked a lot of that stuff in my teenage years.

His earlier novels are still reasonably entertaining*, but they're all pulp fiction, and not as well-written as e.g. Le Carre or Seymour. Bit like comparing a Michael Bay film to a James Bond film...



* Later stuff, esp. the co-written bks, just went downhill...

That's a bit down on Clancy. His stuff was very well researched, well written and good distance from Dan Browns crap. He's no Le Carre, but few people are. Red Storm Rising, Hunt for Red October and a few others are excellent books.

Agreed, a bit harsh on Clancy here, imo.

[havoc]

I did say the earlier stuff was better, and maybe I am being harsh...haven't read any of his stuff since I read the first couple of co-written novels, which were pretty dire.

[TheJimi]

It's actually only his early stuff I've read, no idea about his later stuff and the co-written stuff.

[hairykrishna]

My impression from one of his forgettable 'co-written' ones was that he mostly just co-wrote his name on the front cover.

[coppice]

I smiled at the Alistair McLean reference - I read some of his stuff when I was about 12 and even at that age, I knew I was slumming it . Appalling style , chisel jawed heroes and utterly risible plots - so they obviously sold by the shedload.

The last I read was 'The way to Dusty Death' - about F1 and it was beyond parody - who knew a Grand Prix car had headlights and speedo? The old fraud even nicked the title from Macbeth...

[SpeckledJim]

Teddy Lop said:

g3org3y said:

Will check it out thanks.

If you're interested in the War on Terror (and the associated politics), the Conflicted podcast is fascinating (presented by a former jihadist turned British double agent inside Al Qaeda).

https://messageheard.com/podcasts/conflicted

That's fascinating and very informative thanks - reminds me a lot of the book by Majid Nawaz - Radical which I'd highly recommend

Thanks for the recommendation of Conflicted. I’ve binged them in a week. Really interesting.

[Legend83]

Just finished When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.

After my father's death from cancer I get a sort of therapy from reading memoirs from people who suffered the same, a sort of knowledge-thirst for something that has had a big impact in my life.

Left a lump in my throat I am struggling to swallow down.

[V1nce Fox]

Ulysses by James Joyce.

I’ll be honest, i’m struggling to find a way into it.

[havoc]

V1nce Fox said:

Ulysses by James Joyce.

I’ll be honest, i’m struggling to find a way into it.

Isn't that the one that only English Lit teachers and literary 'critics' have any praise for, and everyone else things is turgid and impenetrable?

[V1nce Fox]

havoc said:

Isn't that the one that only English Lit teachers and literary 'critics' have any praise for, and everyone else things is turgid and impenetrable?

I set it myself as a challenge

[Desiderata]

havoc said:

V1nce Fox said:

Ulysses by James Joyce.

I’ll be honest, i’m struggling to find a way into it.

Isn't that the one that only English Lit teachers and literary 'critics' have any praise for, and everyone else things is turgid and impenetrable?

I tried reading it years ago, and it wasn't a difficult read, just interminably boring. I kept finding that I'd "read" a few pages but hadn't taken anything in and had to go back and reread it with metaphorical matchsticks holding my eyes and brain open. I can't actually remember if I finished it or not, probably wouldn't have made much difference either way.

[droopsnoot]

I've just finished "Win" by Harlan Coben. A good book, focussing on Myron's old mate / backup Win Lockwood, who looks into a historical family mystery.

[g3org3y]

SpeckledJim said:

Teddy Lop said:

g3org3y said:

Will check it out thanks.

If you're interested in the War on Terror (and the associated politics), the Conflicted podcast is fascinating (presented by a former jihadist turned British double agent inside Al Qaeda).

https://messageheard.com/podcasts/conflicted

That's fascinating and very informative thanks - reminds me a lot of the book by Majid Nawaz - Radical which I'd highly recommend

Thanks for the recommendation of Conflicted. I’ve binged them in a week. Really interesting.

Welcome chaps

Thanks for the recommendation Teddy Lop, will check it out.

At the mo, about 3/4 of the way through Aimen Dean's book


If you enjoy those podcasts, get the book. The politics between the Taliban and Al Qaeda are fascinating. The whole situation is much more complex than just good vs bad.

Edited by g3org3y on Wednesday 22 September 11:57

[hairykrishna]

TheJimi said:

towser said:

"Billy Summers" by Stephen King : when he's on form Stephen King is a master story teller, and he's on form in this book. About an assassin's last job and so much more, in turns funny and very dark. Great character development and as usual he conjures up very Stephen King view of the USA and the people within it. 5/5

In my opinion, very few authors can do what a properly on-form King can do.

I'm about 3/4 of the was through it currently and it's really very good.

[SpeckledJim]

g3org3y said:

SpeckledJim said:

Teddy Lop said:

g3org3y said:

Will check it out thanks.

If you're interested in the War on Terror (and the associated politics), the Conflicted podcast is fascinating (presented by a former jihadist turned British double agent inside Al Qaeda).

https://messageheard.com/podcasts/conflicted

That's fascinating and very informative thanks - reminds me a lot of the book by Majid Nawaz - Radical which I'd highly recommend

Thanks for the recommendation of Conflicted. I’ve binged them in a week. Really interesting.

Welcome chaps

Thanks for the recommendation Teddy Lop, will check it out.

At the mo, about 3/4 of the way through Aimen Dean's book


If you enjoy those podcasts, get the book. The politics between the Taliban and Al Qaeda are fascinating. The whole situation is much more complex than just good vs bad.

Edited by g3org3y on Wednesday 22 September 11:57

In my audible account now!

[PomBstard]

Just finished "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles and really enjoyed it.

By that I mean not just the story and the observations, but the vocabulary used, and the structure of sentences. Not necessarily anything startling, although I can't remember the last book I read that had the word 'behooves' more than once, but that the wider vocabulary on offer had its own enjoyment.

Of the story itself, I felt the ending although neat, was a little rushed considering the length of discussion elsewhere. Overall receommended.

Have now got "The Thursday Murder Club" to look forward to, which from previous posts on this thread is probably not in quite the same league...