|
Post by Ian on Sept 14, 2007 16:54:19 GMT
Had a book suggested to me, and it sat in on the bedside table ignored for a couple of months. Then I picked it up... That was March. I'm now on number 11 of the series, M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin stories. A middle-aged busy-body who retires to the Cotswolds, upsets everyone, tries to investigate murders and has me crying tears of laughter every time I pick her up... (so to speak ) If you want something deep to tax the mind, this isn't for you. Beaton is no Thomas Harris. But if you want a laugh, a bit of a mystery and some genuinely good writing, it's worth a look DaisyFan x
|
|
|
Post by Aidan on Oct 11, 2007 4:05:59 GMT
I bought George Orwell's Animal Farm at Barnes and Noble. I've only read the first chapter so far, but it's pretty interesting nonetheless.
|
|
|
Post by Granpuff on Oct 21, 2007 6:31:10 GMT
At the moment Robert Heinlein's classic The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. TANSTAAFL! (There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch)
Nineteen Eighty-Four is rightly a classic. Orwell's best.. grim but uncommonly strong. Doubleplus good! I read it at the height of the Cold War when it seemed quite prophetic, and doubleplus ungood depressing - in those days it seemed the USSR would last for ever...
Animal Farm is also a good read.. the fate of Boxer is heartbreaking, but I also liked his Spanish Civil War book, Homage to Catalonia and his WWII tract, The Lion and the Unicorn, that someone called 'the perfect counterpoint to Churchill's speeches' and which I reread on the Net the other day. Along with his brilliant tea-making manual - A Nice Cup of Tea.
|
|
|
Post by Gundam288 on Oct 31, 2007 17:46:30 GMT
A month ago, I finished Follow Me Down by Julie Hearn. At the moment, I'm on Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Identity, although I couldn't be bothered to continue it . Even though I've seen the film, I thought I'd pick up the original novel.
|
|
|
Post by shanedooiney on Oct 31, 2007 18:41:37 GMT
I just bought Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!), and so far it's been pretty great.
|
|
|
Post by bocodiseasel on Oct 31, 2007 22:27:05 GMT
I've just started on Halo: The Flood.
|
|
|
Post by Gundam288 on Nov 4, 2007 23:20:11 GMT
Today, I've finished reading a manga called Lilim Kiss by Mizuki Kawashita. It's a pretty good comedy romance story, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes that sort of genre. However, my only gripe is that it's two volumes long. I don't know if I should consider it as a book as the one I've read was actually downloaded off the internet!
|
|
|
Post by CabForward on Nov 5, 2007 11:33:14 GMT
I download manga all the time. It's still reading it...
And, is your gripe that it's only two volumes long, or that it's two entire volumes long?
|
|
JimBobDunnie
Branch Line Engine
[Advertise Your Business Here]
Posts: 1,002
|
Post by JimBobDunnie on Nov 9, 2007 23:17:39 GMT
More or less about to finish the first 'World According to Clarkson' book. Which I would highly recommend those who are looking for a book with good humour and have a stomach worthy of taking in Clarksons frequent bashing of the Labour Party. If you are, however, a Tory it should probably be in your house already
|
|
CM
Goods Engine
Posts: 362
|
Post by CM on Nov 27, 2007 12:39:21 GMT
Faruba.
|
|
|
Post by Mark Iron on Dec 28, 2007 5:03:00 GMT
Currently reading Stephen Colbert's I Am America (and so can you!) Quite good from what I've read so far.
|
|
|
Post by Christopher on Dec 28, 2007 11:47:29 GMT
Ever since watching Terry Prachett's "Hogfather" last Christmas, his imagination really struck me. So I decided to read one of his books, and at the moment I'm currently indulged in "Wintersmith". Haven't even reached halfway with the page lengths but so far it's a very good read. Full of well-constructed character and a storyline that urges me not to put the book down!
|
|
Churchy
Main Line Engine
Posts: 2,063
|
Post by Churchy on Dec 29, 2007 13:04:08 GMT
The Rules of Modern Policing by DCI Gene Hunt, 1973 edition.
Very good, but quite non-pc.
|
|
SRapi
Main Line Engine
Pronounced: Ess-Are-Ay-Pie.
Posts: 1,543
|
Post by SRapi on Jan 13, 2008 16:32:03 GMT
I am currently reading a book called The Yiddish Policemen's Union. It's a great book so far, parodying the film noir genre. It's basically the story of a murder investigation, but the difference is, it takes place in Sitka: a town in Alaska that has become the world's official Jewish state, instead of Israel. I haven't even reached the halfway point yet (slow reader ) and I highly recommend it.
|
|
|
Post by Kyle on Jan 13, 2008 21:37:27 GMT
I'm currently reading The Beijing Conspiracy by Adrian d'Hage. A very interesting novel about bioterrorism, government conspiracy and unwilling scientists. It's brilliant, but very scary in that you could see the things that happen in this book happening in real life...
|
|
|
Post by Devious Diesel on Feb 1, 2008 22:09:54 GMT
My current book is The Book of Bunny Suicides, which is funny if you're into that sort of thing.
|
|
|
Post by shanedooiney on Feb 1, 2008 23:25:05 GMT
Ah, the "Bunny Suicides" books. Fond memories, fond memories.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2008 9:37:33 GMT
At the moment, Doctor Who Missing Adventures 'State Of Change' featuring the 6th Doctor and Peri
|
|
|
Post by shanedooiney on Feb 2, 2008 14:30:02 GMT
Right now I'm reading a novella written by a friend of mine called Oh, Laura. So far it's pretty good. Also started to read another short novel called The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare. Also good.
|
|
|
Post by Ci on Feb 29, 2008 1:53:56 GMT
Just finished Clive Cussler's The Chase.
Not a horrible read, but I'll post the review I wrote for Amazon:
"I wanted to pick this book up last year when it first came out, but never got around to it, even after a dozen plane rides and train rides. Finally, come January I was able to pick this up and give it a good read. For a first-time reader of a Cussler novel, I was impressed. However, upon completion of the book, and after given the novel a few days to sink in, I found that, although I could suspend my disbelief upon reading it, there were just too many moments where I would remark "are you kidding?" upon reading.
In other reviews I've read, there have been a numerous number of complaints about inconsistencies, like character names, descriptions, dates, etc. However, I found it easy to condone those sort of flubs when certain plot points rely on deus ex machina, or rather, just a good ton of luck. The story revolves around a Van Dorn detective hell-bent on apprehending the mysterious Butcher Bandit, who robs banks and then seems to magically disappear, leaving behind no traces and no witnesses.
Our protagonist is Isaac Bell, a detective, and also, apparently, the best at everything he has ever done, ever. I'm not saying he isn't likable, but the way Cussler writes him out, it is as if the man has no flaws. Bell is the James Bond of this westernize world of the 1900's. He can woo any woman (and he knows it), he has an endless supply of money, he owns one of the fastest cars in the world, and he can even play poker and win (or feign to lose) without looking at the cards. He can do no wrong. Every character should have an Achilles Heel...otherwise he's just *too* perfect for me to relate to. Oh, and did I mention how many "Look, there's my dad's plane, I used to practice in it when I was a kid"-moments there are?
In fact, because everything seems laid out so well for the main character I actually found myself cheering on the villain in the end.
As I stated earlier, a lot of the plot seems to rely on sure luck. In many instances where the trail could have turned up cold, there is a single character who just happens to remember a small insignificant detail. I'd hate to spoil it for you fine people, but when Bell ultimately learns where the antagonist of the story is going, you'll probably feel really cheated.
Cussler has clearly done his homework regarding the time period, although in other reviews certain details are not true. But regardless, I can suspend my disbelief long enough to actually create this as a back-reality. I'm no historian, but I was intrigued by certain details...although from time to time the story seems to get pushed behind on the smallest details of oil lamps, locomotive bearings, and automobile upholstery. Other times the story seems to get stuck in moments that are not relevant to the story.
A perfect example, which has nothing to do with the plot, Bell, literally running down the streets of San Fran, actually stops to ask a stranger about someone who looks familiar. Not relevant by any means, nor significant that we need to know the name and profession of the stranger or the familiar-looking someone.
Act one of the book starts out well, act two sort of chugs along, like an engine short on steam, but act three, literally, the CHASE, that same locomotive picks up and begins to roar into life. The actual chasing of the villain is, once again, too perfectly convenient, as is the final climax of the piece, which I believe would look great if ever made into a motion picture. Although, I'm not so sure the rest of the film would hold up.
In the end, The Chase is a fun book that allows you to really turn your mind off and read for fun. You needn't remember everything, as most, if not all, exposition comes about through dialogue. At certain points you will probably feel cheated, that there wasn't enough conflict, and that things were too easy. All things considered an under $15 price tag is worth it.
So stoke the boiler and clear the track and get ready for an exciting-but-imperfect journey. Just don't leave the rest of your train behind."
|
|