I'm reading Lord Of The Rings: Return of the King and I shamefully admit I've never this series before and now as I come upon the final pages I'll quite honestly state nothing I've read previously (and I'm fairly well read Literature A-levels and avid reader anyway) comes close in terms of detail, scope and sheer enjoyment. Indeed if I ever read a greater book I'll be very happy.
Books The BOOK thread
- Thread starter Livvie
- Start date
Absolutely. What the book lacks in technical perfection it makes up for in the descriptions and the detail.
Agree.
I'm somewhat ashamed to admit I've read the series over 8 times. What can I say, my memory is a shambles?
Anyway, I've just finsihed World without end by Ken Follett, the sequel to Pillars of the earth. Let me just say POE was a lot better, but I still enjoyed WWE somewhat.
I've also just finished the books about Caesar by Iggulden, what a joy it was to read those! Engaging and mostly historically correct, if my teachers ever told stories like these I'd be all ears.
I'm currently reading his take on Genghis Khan, which is also very entertaining. There's something entruiging about men who conquer the world and still think of goats as the center of their world.
Just read The Kite Runner finally.
I enjoyed it, and have developed a fascination with Afghanistan now.
I enjoyed it, and have developed a fascination with Afghanistan now.
Then read Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns" as well. Similar to Kite runner, but a very good read nonetheless.
Read Chopper Read's book recently. Crazy man, but quite admirable
I have...I read that before TKR.
Khaled Hosseini wrote one from the perspective of a woman, and the other from the perspective of a man, and did both equally well.
Just finished Max Manus two books "Det vil helst gå godt" and "Det blir alvor". Two biographies about the sabotage and resistance in Oslo during WW2. Interesting stuff, not very well written, but a good read and an important part of Norwegian and allied history.
Recently bought Henri Charriere - Papillon which I`m finding hard to put down.
Also bought Mortenson - Three Cups of Tea which I`m really looking forward to, as I used to live in Pakistan.
After that I`ll read Roberts - Shantaram and I hear that supposed to be great.
Recently bought Henri Charriere - Papillon which I`m finding hard to put down.
Also bought Mortenson - Three Cups of Tea which I`m really looking forward to, as I used to live in Pakistan.
After that I`ll read Roberts - Shantaram and I hear that supposed to be great.
I've recently re-read the following over the past 3 weeks or so:
Dave Gorman - Are You Dave Gorman?
Danny Wallace - Yes Man
Clarkson - Volume 3 of his ranting
Richard Hammond - As You Do
Peter Kay - The Sound of Laughter
The Morrello Letters
Nick Hornby - Fever Pitch
Monty Pythons Flying Circus - The Autobiography
All well worth a read if you haven't done already. Especially Yes Man. It's nothing like the awful film with Jim Carrey.
Dave Gorman - Are You Dave Gorman?
Danny Wallace - Yes Man
Clarkson - Volume 3 of his ranting
Richard Hammond - As You Do
Peter Kay - The Sound of Laughter
The Morrello Letters
Nick Hornby - Fever Pitch
Monty Pythons Flying Circus - The Autobiography
All well worth a read if you haven't done already. Especially Yes Man. It's nothing like the awful film with Jim Carrey.
Been reading a fair bit recently what with having a flu and currently finding "room full of mirriors: a biograhpy of jimi hendrix" fascinating and a very good insight into the 60's musical scene and cultural revolution.
At the same time began reading Richard Morgan's "The Steel Remains" and found it quite shit to be honest so in my looking around for something a bit different I've stumbled across "The White Spider" a true account of several attempts at scaling the North-Face of the Eiger, has anyone read this? If so could you tell me you're thoughts/feelings?
Thanks!
At the same time began reading Richard Morgan's "The Steel Remains" and found it quite shit to be honest so in my looking around for something a bit different I've stumbled across "The White Spider" a true account of several attempts at scaling the North-Face of the Eiger, has anyone read this? If so could you tell me you're thoughts/feelings?
Thanks!
Bought 1984 today, so far its brilliant.
Picked up Journey To The Centre Of The Earth earlier today, wasn't able to put it down, finished it loved it. Great enjoyable read, I recommend it to anyone looking for something nice and easy to get through in a day but still having a great story.
And the Hippopotamus' were boiled in their tanks W.Burroughs/J.Kerouac - Released in November after the death of Lucien Carr. It details the early events of the 'beat generation' of writers/poets. Short, but an enjoyable read.
On the Road J.Kerouac - Is difficult at times - streams of consciousness that often stray into complete rambling. There are moments of pure inspiration; a book better read and reflected upon; context is everything.
Hells Angels H.S.Thompson - Superb stuff from the good doctor.
Wuthering Heights E.Bronte - Epochal Romantic/Victorian piece. Loved it.
Some various Wilde essays et cetera. Obviously i'm 'Beat'-centric at the moment; i have Junky (W.Burroughs) and Subterraneans (J.Kerouac) waiting in the wings. On top of this, i full intend to devote time to E.Hemingway. I like the terse prose and vigourous style of the 20th century American writers.
On the Road J.Kerouac - Is difficult at times - streams of consciousness that often stray into complete rambling. There are moments of pure inspiration; a book better read and reflected upon; context is everything.
Hells Angels H.S.Thompson - Superb stuff from the good doctor.
Wuthering Heights E.Bronte - Epochal Romantic/Victorian piece. Loved it.
Some various Wilde essays et cetera. Obviously i'm 'Beat'-centric at the moment; i have Junky (W.Burroughs) and Subterraneans (J.Kerouac) waiting in the wings. On top of this, i full intend to devote time to E.Hemingway. I like the terse prose and vigourous style of the 20th century American writers.
Just read 'The Catcher In The Rye.' Should have read it early brilliant book. I could kind identify with Holden, which may not be a good thing.
There's something wrong with me. I keep wasting my money buying new books before i'm anywhere near getting through the books i've bought before. I now have 13 books to get through!
I've got the same problem man
Make that a 100+ for me.
Massive collection that needs getting into. I guess we all have issues.I'm reading 3 at the same time at the moment. One in the bathroom (Paul Auster), one for on the train (George Orwell) and one everywhere else (Joe Abercrombie). It's getting a bit confusing I have to admit. But I also have a book addiction
Last book I read was Dreams From My Father - Obama's first book - which is very good. Well written and very interesting. Now I am 3/4 of the way through George Soros' latest book - The New Paradigm for Financial Markets - which is far less about finance and far more philosophical than I was expecting and is a very interesting read.
Currently reading the following;
Gullivers Travells
Crime and Punishment
And The Dragonbone Chair, really enjoying them all and expect to finish them by next week, so, I'm looking at Pratchett now and just wondering, I've read Thud! and the Colour of Magic, and will probably buy the light fantastic and one other. Reckon I should follow the series or buy the 2nd one and then one of the more 'funnier' ones with 5* ratings etc?
Gullivers Travells
Crime and Punishment
And The Dragonbone Chair, really enjoying them all and expect to finish them by next week, so, I'm looking at Pratchett now and just wondering, I've read Thud! and the Colour of Magic, and will probably buy the light fantastic and one other. Reckon I should follow the series or buy the 2nd one and then one of the more 'funnier' ones with 5* ratings etc?
Just finished Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.
About a man who flits through time and space, finally ending up at the bombing of Dresdon. Includes themes of fate and quitism, responsibility and acceptance. It's a funny and inventive book, accessible and easy to read. Very poignant.
So it goes.
About a man who flits through time and space, finally ending up at the bombing of Dresdon. Includes themes of fate and quitism, responsibility and acceptance. It's a funny and inventive book, accessible and easy to read. Very poignant.
So it goes.
I am about to read this.
Currently about 2/3rds through Sylvia Plaths 'The Bell Jar.'
while I have delved about 50 pages into to Crime and Punishment and Anna Karenina.
The last two are going to be heavy stuff going to read them at a snails pace over the next few months, while always having a 3rd book to read through at pace.
The Bell Jar is very good, I'd recommend it.
Was very good I didn't like any of his others much.
Can someone buy me this for my birthday?
The Outsiders by S E Hinton
It was on my Junior Cert itinerary a few years ago. It was on my brothers five years before that too. Read it first at 10 years old. I took the ending really badly.
It was on my Junior Cert itinerary a few years ago. It was on my brothers five years before that too. Read it first at 10 years old. I took the ending really badly.
Can someone buy me this for my birthday?
Lets put a wee wager on the United, Arsenal game. If United win i'll buy you this. If Arsenal win i'll find something of equal price for you to buy me,
this. http://footballtheworldgame.com.au/...ufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1.
It will be the hardcover as well if i can find it.
Just got done reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Brilliant book.
Brilliant book.
Just finished Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind. Should i move onto Chainfire by Goodkind or take a break from him and read the Watchmen book?
WATCHMEN !! Definitely, Watchmen !!
Neither. Read some Scott Oden
Scott Oden is not an author of any of the 13 books i have to read. The authors are as follows:
Terry Goodkind
Raymond E. Feist
Conn Iggulden
Brent Weeks
Brian Ruckley
Fiona McIntosh
Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons
Jennifer Fallon
Jacqueline Carey
Terry Goodkind
Raymond E. Feist
Conn Iggulden
Brent Weeks
Brian Ruckley
Fiona McIntosh
Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons
Jennifer Fallon
Jacqueline Carey
Reading it atm. myself. Can't believe I've read it before
Another Brent Weeks fan? Have you read any of the Night Angel books yet? Is the Brian Ruckley book Winterbirth or Blood Heir? I haven't read Blood Heir yet but Winterbirth is definitely worth a read. Which Conn Iggulden, Jennifer Fallon and Fiona McIntosh books? These are all important questions uae.
Out of the list I would probably choose Jacqueline Carey, but that's mainly because she is the only author I haven't read so I have no idea if her books are good or not.
I've not read any of Brent Weeks, Brian Ruckley, Conn Iggulden, Jennifer Fallon or Jacqueline Carey.
Brent Weeks - The Night Angel Trilogy book 1 The Way of Shadows
Brian Ruckley - The Godless World book 1 Winterbirth
Conn Igulden - Emperor series The Gates of Rome and The Death of Kings
Jennifer Fallon - Wolfblade book 1 Wolfblade
Fiona McIntosh - The Valisar Trilogy book 1 Royal Exile
Jacqueline Carey - Kushiel's Scion
Brent Weeks - The Night Angel Trilogy book 1 The Way of Shadows
Brian Ruckley - The Godless World book 1 Winterbirth
Conn Igulden - Emperor series The Gates of Rome and The Death of Kings
Jennifer Fallon - Wolfblade book 1 Wolfblade
Fiona McIntosh - The Valisar Trilogy book 1 Royal Exile
Jacqueline Carey - Kushiel's Scion
Brent Weeks is alright but, to be fair, I hate some of the first scenes in book 1. I just don't want to read or imagine that type of stuff, and IMHO it has no place in fantasy. Tolkien would be turning in his grave should he read that. Same goes for Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains which swears every other word and has far too many homo's.
I didn't realize Tolkein set the rules for other fantasy writers to follow. What scenes are you talking about? Though judging by your comments on Morgan I take it you like your fantasy written in black and white and squeaky clean? In other words pretty devoid of reality and drifting over the more vulgar aspects of human character? Rape, mutilation, torture etc...The greatest storyteller ever, is Tolkien.
Well to answer the first point, no Tolkien didn't set any fantasy rules nor did I intend suggest he did, I'm just pretty certain he wouldn't like how some of its turned out.
I'm talking about the rape-scenes involving Kylars friends while also being underage. Which raises the question should books have a parental consent and warning? Would you like, for arguments sake, a young relative of yours to read such scenes? But I digress.
Concerning Morgan, I dislike constant swearing in any novel really let alone fantasy where for example - would they really call each other 'fecking cnuts' in a 'fantasy' world? From a personal perspective I also feel swearing almost constantly is desperately trying to make up for something.
You wonder I liked my fantasy devoid of reality, which also I didn't mean, fantasy is fantasy and sometimes the further from reality for me personally is better, but torture, mutilation, rape etc cannot be escaped and nor was that my real gripe with Morgan, I just don't want to read about two gays laying in bed fecking each other. Personally.
Aussie legend.
Didn't realise he'd reached such levels of infamy across the seas though.
A long forgotten book that I found under a pile of dvds/videos, and which is fantastic, is Armadillo, by William Boyd.
Fantastically well observed, and really funny to boot.
Fantastically well observed, and really funny to boot.