Books The BOOK thread

I'm currently reading On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Has anyone here read it? It's boring the hell out of me right now, but I paid $13 for it so I've got to finish it...
 
Just wrapping up "The Peculiar Institution". A superb comprehensive study of slavery in the antebellum era in the states. Great treatment of a vital topic.
 
Sir Matt said:
I'm currently reading On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Has anyone here read it? It's boring the hell out of me right now, but I paid $13 for it so I've got to finish it...
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It's on my list of things to read, does it get any better?

I'm about 80% of the way through The Passage (Justin Cronin), it's a monster of a book and I've been reading it for ages now. But it is pretty good.

I sort of spoliered myself when looking at the wiki page for it, although I think if I had read the blurb about it I would I have known:

that it's set over a 90 year period and is also part of a trilogy

I don't really think that's a spoiler, but it sort of took me by surprise. I'll hopefully get it wrapped up in the next couple of weeks.
 
It's pretty good writing, but I just hate the characters. I'm 30% through it and they're just irritating. Some of them are interesting, but most of them just bother me.
 
Name Changed said:
I've started into the Jack Reacher books. Pretty good.
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Have read them all myself a few times over, good escapist fun.

Have been working through quite a few book series this year;

Bernard Cornwell; Saxon Stories, Warlord Chronicles and The Grail Quest
Wilbur Smith; Egyptian Series
C.J.Box; Joe Pickett series.
Currently on Patricia Cornwell; Kay Scarpetta series.

Have set myself a challenge of 160 books this year on the Goodreads Challenge, so far I have read 58 and I'm just about on target.

http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/554738?page=1
 
onesaf said:
Just started reading the new Dan Brown book which is released today 'Inferno'
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Was just about to see if anyone had pre-ordered this. It looks to have received a bit of a panning from initial reviews.

That said, I've only looked at the headline of the review for fear of unearthing some terrible spoiler.

I really did enjoy Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, and whilst I liked The Lost Symbol, I very much found it to follow the "paint by numbers" approach of the previous two. I kind of anticipated where it was going which put me off it a little.
 
Heardy said:
Was just about to see if anyone had pre-ordered this. It looks to have received a bit of a panning from initial reviews.

That said, I've only looked at the headline of the review for fear of unearthing some terrible spoiler.

I really did enjoy Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, and whilst I liked The Lost Symbol, I very much found it to follow the "paint by numbers" approach of the previous two. I kind of anticipated where it was going which put me off it a little.
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It will be panned as usual by the critics, but like yourself I have enjoyed his previous books with my favourite being Digital Fortress, lets face it he is never going to win any Pulitzers and it's not very cool to admit to reading his books, but feck it I like them and no crititc is going to tell me what to read or not to read, I'll make my own mind up.
 
onesaf said:
It will be panned as usual by the critics, but like yourself I have enjoyed his previous books with my favourite being Digital Fortress, lets face it he is never going to win any Pulitzers and it's not very cool to admit to reading his books, but feck it I like them and no crititc is going to tell me what to read or not to read, I'll make my own mind up.
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Agreed. I don't tend to buy in to the reviews, I guess my only point is that I thought by the third instalment of the Langdon-series, it felt a bit formulaic, and I felt that I had read the same thing before...

Still, I will likely stick a copy in my hand luggage when I head off on holiday in 5weeks.
 
onesaf said:
It will be panned as usual by the critics, but like yourself I have enjoyed his previous books with my favourite being Digital Fortress, lets face it he is never going to win any Pulitzers and it's not very cool to admit to reading his books, but feck it I like them and no crititc is going to tell me what to read or not to read, I'll make my own mind up.
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Digital Fortress was second to Deception Point for me. Both of them were far better than the more popular ones of his.

Aside from those two, which I thought were legitimately good, the rest have been more or less guilty pleasure / beach books. Easy as piss to get through and relatively fun to read. It may not have a lot of literary merit, but there are plenty of movies I've watched and bands I've seen who aren't re-writing the history of film and music and that's completely okay.
 
Have finished Dan Brown's Inferno and it was everything I expected, Brown has just followed his tried and trusted formula so if you are expecting anything different with Inferno forget it, you have the protagonist Robert Langdon rushing from clue to clue solving puzzles, it is repetitive and probably about a 100 pages too long but if you liked the previous Langdon books you will enjoy this. It won't win any awards but you can expect it to sell in the millions so Brown won't be complaining as he watches his bank balance grow. I would say you will see a lot of people reading Dante's 'The Divine Comedy' as a result of reading this book so that has to be a good thing.
 
For those who may remember me from the newbs. I am considering reading my first ever folding word brick soon.

Either The Hobbit, then the LOTR trilogy, or The Hunger games trilogy.

Prepare the insults for when I fail, or my victory parade when I get to the end.
 
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. I think it'd be tough to find a book that's so profound yet written in such simple language. A very easy read but extremely thought provoking.
 
Not sure about a parade for Hunger Games... LOTR on the other hand...


I am reading Football - Bloody Hell! . It's ok though it's also the kind of books you got to already know what happens and I find weird that the author refers to things that will happen way later instead of talking about them in a more chronological order. And some sentences are built in a way, it's hard to understand without coming back and mentally removing some added block of words.
 
One Night Only said:
For those who may remember me from the newbs. I am considering reading my first ever folding word brick soon.

Either The Hobbit, then the LOTR trilogy, or The Hunger games trilogy.

Prepare the insults for when I fail, or my victory parade when I get to the end.
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If you're a simpleton, as it seems, read the Hobbit first. It was intended for children.
 
redspoony said:
I'm on the fourth book of the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly.

Fairly standard but enjoyable.
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Yep, it's a good, solid series with plenty of interesting stories whose sub-plots occasionally become easily predictable.

onesaf said:
Have read all the Harry Bosch books, I think he is a brilliant character.
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I agree, he's quite a memorable character who in some instances uses unorthodox approaches to solve intriguing cases.
 
One Night Only said:
For those who may remember me from the newbs. I am considering reading my first ever folding word brick soon.

Either The Hobbit, then the LOTR trilogy, or The Hunger games trilogy.

Prepare the insults for when I fail, or my victory parade when I get to the end.
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Read the Hobbit, The Hunger Games Trilogy and then LOTR.

The Hobbit is a very easy read, as are the Hunger Games. I read the second one in a day on holiday.

I found LOTR difficult to get into, there is an incredible amount of depth, that it just didn't reel me in.

I'm 1/4 of the way through the first Game of Thrones, and they will keep me busy for some time now.
 
Heardy said:
Read the Hobbit, The Hunger Games Trilogy and then LOTR.

The Hobbit is a very easy read, as are the Hunger Games. I read the second one in a day on holiday.

I found LOTR difficult to get into, there is an incredible amount of depth, that it just didn't reel me in.

I'm 1/4 of the way through the first Game of Thrones, and they will keep me busy for some time now.
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You lucky bastard ! Kiss your next few weekends goodbye !
 
CassiusClaymore said:
Picked up All the Pretty Horses and Cities of The Plain for £2 in HMV at the weekend.

Love me some McCarthy.
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just finished All the Pretty Horses, very good read, will seek out the other two books in the trilogy. Enjoy !

(must check out the 2000 movie adaptation)
 
Finished Football - Bloody Hell! . Interesting enough, the later part was more a reminder... though I was annoyed when the author said maybe the reader doesn't remember that C. Ronaldo was said to be a one-trick-poney. I am pretty sure that any United fan didn't forget this. And Rock of Gibraltar... The only things that really surprised me was the assumption that the club would have been more successful without this horse and that Beckham wanted to stay since I thought it was more like Beckham and Fergie decided he couldn't stay at Old Trafford (a kind of mutual agreement).
 
Heardy said:
I'm 1/4 of the way through the first Game of Thrones, and they will keep me busy for some time now.
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That's exactly what I came into this tread to ask about. I've just finished exams and am looking forward to being able to pick up a book for enjoyment again. I fancy trying something a bit different. I read the Jack Reacher books and other crime novels as well as DeMille & Wilbur Smith.

Favourite book from last year was The Sisters Brothers.

What about George RR Martin? Or Bernard Cornwell? Are they Wilbur Smith type adventures or more like LOTD or Harry Potter, neither or which I have read or any interest in reading?

I haven't seen the TV series Game of Thrones so thought I might give the book a whirl. Recommend it so far?
 
Completed The Bachman Books. Wonderful read. It is a couple of novels written by Stephen King when he is under the alias Richard Bachman. Some of his more fun and authentic works I'd say. Highly recommended for any King lovers.
 
Stookie said:
Just finished Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell..... what a book.
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I've had the sample of that on my Kindle for ages. I absolutely loved the first chapter or two (or however long the sample was) but started a new book the next day and never came back to it. I may have to go back for it now.
 
Read Inferno yesterday (by yesterday I mean started and finished it within 24 hours, something I have done with all Brown's book) and while I think it was slightly better than 'The Lost Symbol' still it wasn't as good as Dan Brown's first four books, and far worse than his first two Langdon's books. Or probably I am not liking anymore the same things happening all over again. But still a good read.
 
Just read 'The Grand Design' by Stephen Hawking. A very good read that explains that universe could exist even without a creator. The book has been written for general readers but still there were some part of it hard to understand. It start explaining a lot of theories of physics but without going into details or using equations (general relativity, special relativity, quantum physics, String theory and M-theory). Finally it ends with the 'Game of Life' a thing I was impressed and if I have known for it before, I would have chosen some part of it as my topic for diploma (Computer Science).
 
Anybody got a Goodreads account? If so, add me - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/14238483-alex-lock

My favourite books have to be the Kingkiller Chronicles! Huge fan, cannot wait for Doors of Stone
Though, I cannot see how it will be the final book. The third day of storytelling clearly doesn't end the story, since Bast is trying to 'awake his power' and he confirms in Name of the Wind that he hasn't yet killed the Chandrian.

The problem is, it was for me that book that I just fell in love with. I keep trying to start other fantasy series since, or even just books in general - and I just wish I was reading Name of the Wind again.
It really sucks..

I think maybe I need a break from Fantasy.. I recently read 'Hunting the American Terrorist' which was an interesting read. Perhaps I shall try these Reacher books, a few people have told me that they're 'good fun'.
 
Alock1 said:
Anybody got a Goodreads account? If so, add me - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/14238483-alex-lock

My favourite books have to be the Kingkiller Chronicles! Huge fan, cannot wait for Doors of Stone
Though, I cannot see how it will be the final book. The third day of storytelling clearly doesn't end the story, since Bast is trying to 'awake his power' and he confirms in Name of the Wind that he hasn't yet killed the Chandrian.

The problem is, it was for me that book that I just fell in love with. I keep trying to start other fantasy series since, or even just books in general - and I just wish I was reading Name of the Wind again.
It really sucks..

I think maybe I need a break from Fantasy.. I recently read 'Hunting the American Terrorist' which was an interesting read. Perhaps I shall try these Reacher books, a few people have told me that they're 'good fun'.
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Have added you
 
onesaf said:
Have added you
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Nice one. Always interested in checking other peoples reviews/ratings on books.

I haven't been writing reviews on goodreads yet but do plan to - nothing spectacular just a little bit.

I see you've highly rated the Jack Reacher series.. Is it an easy read? A quick starter?
I need something light and easy which I could finish in a few days without it being a chore.
 
M'n'M said:
That's exactly what I came into this tread to ask about. I've just finished exams and am looking forward to being able to pick up a book for enjoyment again. I fancy trying something a bit different. I read the Jack Reacher books and other crime novels as well as DeMille & Wilbur Smith.

Favourite book from last year was The Sisters Brothers.

What about George RR Martin? Or Bernard Cornwell? Are they Wilbur Smith type adventures or more like LOTD or Harry Potter, neither or which I have read or any interest in reading?

I haven't seen the TV series Game of Thrones so thought I might give the book a whirl. Recommend it so far?
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I definitely recommend the Game of Thrones books. I'm probably 400 pages into the first one (having also watched the TV series).

The books give a lot of added depth that the show just cannot touch. It's not a light read, but neither is it laborious, you just end up submerged in the land of Westeros!

Take the plunge, you won't regret it.
 
Alock1 said:
Nice one. Always interested in checking other peoples reviews/ratings on books.

I haven't been writing reviews on goodreads yet but do plan to - nothing spectacular just a little bit.

I see you've highly rated the Jack Reacher series.. Is it an easy read? A quick starter?
I need something light and easy which I could finish in a few days without it being a chore.
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Reacher is very easy to get in to, one man army and you don't particularly have to read the books in any order, if you like crime books I have started reading Peter James 'DS Roy Grace' series recently and loving them, fantastic plots, can also highly recommend Michael Connelly's 'Harry Bosch' series.
 
Alock1 said:
I need something light and easy which I could finish in a few days without it being a chore.
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That's Reacher in a nutshell. I love them for that very reason. Read them in order if you can, not that it really matters though.

Heardy said:
I definitely recommend the Game of Thrones books. I'm probably 400 pages into the first one (having also watched the TV series).

The books give a lot of added depth that the show just cannot touch. It's not a light read, but neither is it laborious, you just end up submerged in the land of Westeros!

Take the plunge, you won't regret it.
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Cheers. I'm going to exactly that after I finish this Reacher (The Visitor)
 
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