The best book you ever read was...
Discussion
A factual one - Barrow's Boys by Fergus Fleming.
Absolutely amazing book about the trials, tribulations, victories and defeats of the explorers in the early 19th century.
From sailors trapped in the ice for three or four years to men crawling out the desert with broken bones and missing body parts I never realised how courageous some of those guys really were.
Absolutely amazing book about the trials, tribulations, victories and defeats of the explorers in the early 19th century.
From sailors trapped in the ice for three or four years to men crawling out the desert with broken bones and missing body parts I never realised how courageous some of those guys really were.
JonnyFive said:
Shaw Tarse said:
Was mentioned in the other thread, but Sniper One by Dan Mills.
Yep, this is also my favourite book.Edited by JonnyFive on Monday 22 August 17:14
Acehood said:
It's either world war z or sniper one
Tuvra said:
Oilchange said:
+1 for Sniper One. Great book.
b
ds.I bought it at midnight last night on the Kindle and have since whipped through it in one sitting and I now need coffee.
Council Baby said:
Depends on the genre for me.
I'll start with my number one travel book, a must read for any man visiting Thailand on his own or as a part of a group of male friends. Or if you just want to get a realistic feel for a certain section of Thai culture:
Private Dancer - Stephen Leather
http://www.stephenleather.com/privatedancer.html
Some of my friends however would have done well to have read this prior to displaying their idiocy
I mentioned above I was a Stephen Leather fan, and this book actually started me out with him (I picked it up in Thailand where it was #1 in the charts). It's a good enough read if you're not familiar with Thailand, it's a brilliant read if you are :-)I'll start with my number one travel book, a must read for any man visiting Thailand on his own or as a part of a group of male friends. Or if you just want to get a realistic feel for a certain section of Thai culture:
Private Dancer - Stephen Leather
http://www.stephenleather.com/privatedancer.html
Some of my friends however would have done well to have read this prior to displaying their idiocy
Ilikebeaver said:
Mine has to be:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Well worth a read, it gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling, whilst laughing out loud at the same time.
Try Born on a Blue Day. Similar subject matter but written by an Asbergers sufferer. The insight into people who walk amongst us, yet inhabit a different world is fascinating. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Well worth a read, it gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling, whilst laughing out loud at the same time.
Major Fallout said:
1984
Even my memory of the book can disturb me.
The book I'm glad I read but also wish I hadn't.
Probably the best book I've read. I read it for the first time at the age of 44, and thought it was a fantastic book. Its totaly timeless and as relevant today as when it was written.Even my memory of the book can disturb me.
The book I'm glad I read but also wish I hadn't.
Bill Brysons a brief history of almost everything is a very close second.
The Old Man and the Sea by Earnest Hemmingway. I only read it recently and was honestly staggered by just how good it is.
I've just been reading a load of George RR Martin (GoTs) and it's fun, but I only read it to find out what's going to happen next, really. Took a break from it to read 'Stonemouth' by Iain Banks (no M as it's contemporary fiction) and the writing is a million times better than GoTs.
I've just been reading a load of George RR Martin (GoTs) and it's fun, but I only read it to find out what's going to happen next, really. Took a break from it to read 'Stonemouth' by Iain Banks (no M as it's contemporary fiction) and the writing is a million times better than GoTs.
shalmaneser said:
Micra Bore said:
Damn you're right, that's a great read. There are sequels I haven't read - any idea if they're any good?
For those saying Catch 22 - read The Slaughterhouse 5. I love them both.
For those saying The Slaughterhouse 5 - I thought The Sirens of Titan was better, and made more sense.
I like a bit of Ballard me. Doesn't matter which in particular, they're all the same really.
I've heard of the sequels but never read them - I don't want to destroy the magic of the original by reading some lacklustre sequels!For those saying Catch 22 - read The Slaughterhouse 5. I love them both.
For those saying The Slaughterhouse 5 - I thought The Sirens of Titan was better, and made more sense.
I like a bit of Ballard me. Doesn't matter which in particular, they're all the same really.
My word ..some 'courageous' nominations for best book ever read. And some which I'd agree with- or only mildly disagree anyway.I read early on that somebody had nominated Jackie Stewart's autobiography as best book. Hmm- if it deserves an award it would surely be for the most fawning celebrity obessed advertorial I have ever read. Great driver and safety campaigner, Sir Jackie, but spare us the deathless prose.
So- on my list - Hemingway was always the man and it would be the less obvious choice of Islands in the Stream (which had NOTHING to do with Dolly Parton)or probably A Moveable Feast which makes me wonder why I bother when I write - wonderful spare prose that moves me to - yup- tears every time I re read it. Hardy- Tess I always adored; and Postcards by Annie Proulx is extraordinary. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin is truly wonderful- if borderline bonkers.
Oh, and I adored Catcher in the Rye too.....
So- on my list - Hemingway was always the man and it would be the less obvious choice of Islands in the Stream (which had NOTHING to do with Dolly Parton)or probably A Moveable Feast which makes me wonder why I bother when I write - wonderful spare prose that moves me to - yup- tears every time I re read it. Hardy- Tess I always adored; and Postcards by Annie Proulx is extraordinary. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin is truly wonderful- if borderline bonkers.
Oh, and I adored Catcher in the Rye too.....
Edited by coppice on Friday 21st September 14:36
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