Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Pixel Pusher said:
Certainly, 44, which probably explains why I didn't enjoy it TBH. All that angst.
I had expected so much more given the (urban?) myths etc.
It's all about context - that book is effectively literary "Ground Zero" for teenagers. When it was published in 1951, it was just around the time that the idea of the "teenager" was coming into existence, and this was the very first time that the classic teenage precis of "I hate everything and everyone, they're all st" had been put into a novel.I had expected so much more given the (urban?) myths etc.
Edited by Pixel Pusher on Tuesday 14th February 01:42
Just finished Julian Barnes' "Sense of an Ending". Short, nicely written, interesting plot, odd ending. 8/10
Now reading Sean Ryder's autobiographey "Twisting my melon" which is interesting on two elvels - he's a good story teller and also because I was living in the same locale in 89/90 and remember a bit of the scene - although the text is (I guess because it was dictated) more like a transcript of a conversation and not alwyas that easy to read.
Now reading Sean Ryder's autobiographey "Twisting my melon" which is interesting on two elvels - he's a good story teller and also because I was living in the same locale in 89/90 and remember a bit of the scene - although the text is (I guess because it was dictated) more like a transcript of a conversation and not alwyas that easy to read.
In a day I've got through half of a book called Hard Time by Shaun Attwood. He was in the local Waterstones a while ago talking about it, it was described as a lot like The Shawshank Redemption. He was bang on too but his is a true story about going through Arpaio's prison system. He was a lovely bloke to chat with too. I'm on the second copy of his book now because my dad pinched the first one and it's now being passed round a LNG plant in the Saudi desert.
If you liked Shawshank, give it a go, it's rather brilliant.
http://shaunattwood.com/index.php?option=com_conte...
If you liked Shawshank, give it a go, it's rather brilliant.
http://shaunattwood.com/index.php?option=com_conte...
Currently going through this:
It's very good: good plot (if a little hokey), good characters, and the story flows nicely in a way that the next chapter is a "must read before I put it down".
As an aside, Mrs k has just got a copy of the unabridged version of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". I sampled a couple of pages today whilst she was out. First impressions are good.
It's very good: good plot (if a little hokey), good characters, and the story flows nicely in a way that the next chapter is a "must read before I put it down".
As an aside, Mrs k has just got a copy of the unabridged version of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". I sampled a couple of pages today whilst she was out. First impressions are good.
I've just bought "Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves" by Matthew Reilly - I have all of his books and this is the only readon why I bought it as I've enjoyed his early books.
I've read the first 10 pages and already wondering what on earth possessed me to buy this book, even at £7 for the hardback version, as I know I'll read it and think "what a load of crap".
The worst part is that I know, full well, that I'll read it, complain about how bad it is, never re-read it and I'll buy his next book...
I've read the first 10 pages and already wondering what on earth possessed me to buy this book, even at £7 for the hardback version, as I know I'll read it and think "what a load of crap".
The worst part is that I know, full well, that I'll read it, complain about how bad it is, never re-read it and I'll buy his next book...
Vladikar said:
The last book I read was: "The boy in the striped pyjamas" and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you could recommend any book to someone who rarely reads - what would it be and why?
I thought about this recently, I've put my name down recently for the 2012 World Book Night and to give away books to encourage people to read. If you could recommend any book to someone who rarely reads - what would it be and why?
There's a fairly varied list of books you can give away, a lot I had read, but my first choice is Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Reason being that I feel it apples to a variety of
people and is something anyone can pick up without struggling to get into it quickly.
Vladikar said:
The last book I read was: "The boy in the striped pyjamas" and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you could recommend any book to someone who rarely reads - what would it be and why?
The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir RawiczIf you could recommend any book to someone who rarely reads - what would it be and why?
About an escape from a Siberian Gulag. Just an incredible story.
The one-eyed gunner by Gary Chisholm
ISBN: 9781927003022
He is Larry Sutherland, a farm boy from Nova Scotia. This is his story – a story about a man who lived through unimaginable horrors. A story about a man who epitomizes courage and valour, a man who risked his life so that we may live in freedom.
In aviation, it takes at least five kills to be considered an Ace. During the Second World War, in all Bomber command, there were only three Heavy Gunner Aces. This is the story of Larry Sutherland, Canada’s Top Gunner Ace.
ISBN: 9781927003022
He is Larry Sutherland, a farm boy from Nova Scotia. This is his story – a story about a man who lived through unimaginable horrors. A story about a man who epitomizes courage and valour, a man who risked his life so that we may live in freedom.
In aviation, it takes at least five kills to be considered an Ace. During the Second World War, in all Bomber command, there were only three Heavy Gunner Aces. This is the story of Larry Sutherland, Canada’s Top Gunner Ace.
Pixel Pusher said:
Well I have just completed Catcher In the Rye.
If you ever felt obligated to read this "classic" because you think you should, don't bother.
It's ste.
I think you will find I have regularly said that on multiple threads where the pile of literary crap has raised its ugly head.If you ever felt obligated to read this "classic" because you think you should, don't bother.
It's ste.
J.D.Salinger is dead. So I won. He wrote a st book, stole some of my life when I read it. But he's dead and I'm not. I win.
Meanwhile, reading "The Moon's a Balloon" the autobiography of David Niven.
Pixel Pusher said:
The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz
About an escape from a Siberian Gulag. Just an incredible story.
Totally agree. On a similar vien, another good read is 'Alive' by Pier Paul Morgan, about the the Andes plane crash surviours. The book gives a much deeper into what really happened than the film. About an escape from a Siberian Gulag. Just an incredible story.
cazzer said:
Pixel Pusher said:
Well I have just completed Catcher In the Rye.
If you ever felt obligated to read this "classic" because you think you should, don't bother.
It's ste.
I think you will find I have regularly said that on multiple threads where the pile of literary crap has raised its ugly head.If you ever felt obligated to read this "classic" because you think you should, don't bother.
It's ste.
J.D.Salinger is dead. So I won. He wrote a st book, stole some of my life when I read it. But he's dead and I'm not. I win.
Meanwhile, reading "The Moon's a Balloon" the autobiography of David Niven.
i quite liked it btw, but its not a patch on Hemmingway...
hairykrishna said:
g3org3y said:
g3org3y said:
Currently reading:
Enjoying it so far!
Finished this morning and what a surprisingly good book! The plot sounds dubious: protagonist wakes up in hospital blindfolded. On removing his bandages he realises he is the only person who can see, the rest of the population blinded by a meteor shower. In the meantime, the Triffids (carnivorous walking plants) have started to take over.Enjoying it so far!
Sounds odd, sounds cheesy sci fi but in actual fact a really brilliant little book. Certainly goes a lot deeper than the plot summary would suggest. An interesting alternative to Wells' WOTW.
Just finished “Cloud Atlas” by David Mitchell- It’s a Dystopia mixed in with some interesting historical references- 5 stories in one spread out over completely different periods and genres. Really compulsive reading. I would highly recommend it.
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