Read any good books lately?

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  • Just read back.  I've read all Martin Amis' books Cake.  Particularly like The Information and Dead Babies but Money is great too.

    Started to read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo when staying with family recently but found it boring.  Didn't manage to finish it while I was there but wasn't bothered ...

  • Jean M Auel - Earths Children - The Clan of the Cave Bear; The Valley of the Horses; the Mamoth Hunters - working my way through. Really excellent writing and stories.

    Am reading the Ware Teraology by Rudy Rucker - very Sc-Fi styled writing, totally of the genre. Short chapters, very much like reading Asimov. Not the same basic language though. But the the ideas aren't quite so clever. Its very 80's cyberpunk.

  • Bikermouse, I've read and re-read the Earth's Children series loads of times. Shelters of Stone is the most recent, but I've heard a rumour that the final book will be published in March next year.
  • KK - yes, I looked at wikipedia and saw that.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_M._Auel

  • I seriously need some good recommendations - I'M BORED!!

    ps...I got a kindle for my birthday - am I still allowed on here? image

  • Take your newfangled witchcraft thing and begone! image

    What are they like? I've seen a few on the tube but I still prefer books. Such a Luddite!

    Haven't read a really good book for a while now image

  • Its brilliant!  Best feature is you can download free samples of any book you want to buy - you normally get around 3 or 4 chapters - it's so easy to use, lightweight and transportable....it means I won't be over on my luggage for holidays any more!! image
  • cumberlandrunner wrote (see)
    I agree Beebs and I'm only 1/3 through it I DO enjoy a asylum/ill treated woman yarn I do......... (The Secret Scripture; Sebastian Barry has similar themes) apparently Maggie O'Farrell's latest is mean't to be truely superb as well

    cumberlandrunner - you might also enjoy "Wish Her Safe At Home" by Stephen Benatar and "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The latter is a short story/ novella really, but an absolute classic. For something more modern, but with similar themes, try the disturbing (but excellent) "The Double Bind" by Chris Bohjalian.

    I just finished "Let The Great World Spin" by Colum McCann which was perfect.

  • Parklife - I think the Millenium trilogy is by far the best thing I've read all year! The first book grabbed my attention, number 2 I found even better, and the last one I read from cover to cover in one sitting.

    Kathy Reich's "Bones" books are terrific, they are what the TV series was based on.

    Think I've now read almost all of James Patterson's books, he's hard to keep up with as he seems to produce several books a year. I have to say, "Step on a Crack" was for me one of the best crime novel mysteries ever, the only one for years where I really had no idea about the ending.

  • I know it's sad, but I'm reading this at the moment... I'm finding it quite interesting as it's a story that I don't really know (9/12 of the TV episodes are missing)

    http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070828234513/tardis/images/thumb/5/5e/Mission_To_The_Unknown_novel.jpg/361px-Mission_To_The_Unknown_novel.jpg

  • Hi All - have you read "Born to run?"

    its amazing. it is a page turner. The build up to a fifty-mile foot race over some of the world's least hospitable terrain drives the narrative forward. Along the way McDougall introduces a cast of characters worthy of Dickens, including an almost superhuman ultramarathoner, Jenn and the Bonehead--a couple who down bottles of booze to warm up for a race, Barefoot Ted, Mexican drug dealers, a ghostly ex-boxer, a heartbroken father, and of course the Tarahumara, arguably the greatest runners in the world.

    Born to Run is such a rip-roaring yarn, that it is easy to miss the book's deeper achievements. At a second level, McDougall introduces and explores a powerful thesis--that human beings are literally born to run. Recreational running did not begin with the 1966 publication of "Jogging" by the co-founder of Nike. Instead, McDougall argues, running is at the heart of what it means to be human. In the course of elaborating his thesis, McDougall answers some big questions: Why did our ancestors outlive the stronger, smarter Neanderthals? Why do expensive running shoes increase the odds of injury? The author's modesty keeps him from trumpeting the novelty and importance of this thesis, but it merits attention.

    i loved it so much i bought a pair of Vibram 4 fingers to se what they felt like image

    Ps. Vote Jane in 3.15 category Asics Super Six Comp image

  • Blimey, sub 3:15 with only eight toes image

  • I loved the book's story with one exception - I got a bit bored with the author's obvious problems with Nike and other shoe manufacturers. I don't think after all my years of running in special trainers that I could switch back to "natural" running without risk of serious injury. The native Indian population have run like they do since they were born.

    Of course recreational running didn't start in 1966. It started in 1960, when I took my first running steps with my Dad!    image

  • Boing said zebedee.....

    Need some recommendations! Going on hols soon and need new material. What's around?

  • I've got the new Bill Bryson ('At Home') on the go at the moment, & so far it's just as fascinating as his 'A Short History Of Nearly Everything' wasimage

     http://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Short-History-Private/dp/0767919386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314911780&sr=8-1

    http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X/ref=pd_sim_b_1

    (a bit scary in parts like the Yellowstone Caldera, & how it's due to go 'BANG!!')

    Then I've got Stuart Maconies 'Hope & Glory' to attack

    http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Glory-Stuart-Maconie/dp/0091926483/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314911882&sr=1-3

    (just hope it's as good as 'Pies & Prejudice', & 'Adventures On The High Teas')

  • Hope & Glory is a fab read, not read High Teas yet, but if you like P&P, you'll probably like it. Like Bryson though, probably not one to read on the daily commute unless you're immune to being stared at for guffawing...

    I've just finished "The Captive Queen" by Alison Weir, about Eleanor of Aquitaine. I like historical fiction that's half way decently researched, and I'll probably carry on and do more background reading to fill in the blanks in the narrative.

    Also got "The Intentional Spinner" lined up for bedtime reading, but it's...a bit...specialist.

  • The Help by Kathryn Stockett  I read that a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it (It's been out for a year or more though, so don't know if it's been covered)

    Novel about the American Civil Rights Movement in 1960s Mississippi - Light reading, but an okay book.  Currently being made into a film

  • (Tsk - goes back one page and see it has been covered already)
  • I finished "At Home" last night, I had to put it aside a few times as I found the sheer volume of facts and minor detail a little wearing after a while but overall fascinating, kept nudging Mrs puffy and reading bits out to her.

    She is reading One Day at the moment, says it's very good.

  • Didn't realise Stuart Maconie had written anything else. P&P was brilliant.  I must download the others.

    Bryson At Home is excellent and wll come in a handy in 1001 quizzes for being stuffed full of interesting facts.  Some of his others have been excellent, others I felt were a bit forced.

    The Help = excellent but I felt tailed a bit towards the end.  Knew where it was going but stumbled a bit to get here.

    I'll check out the Eleanor one Kwilter.  I've read stuff about her before and she's a fascinating subject.

    I'm off to bed with The Woman in Black.  Recommended to me as a great ghost story (and about to be a film starring Daniel Radcliffe) and it certainly is so far.  Not a ghost story fan but this might mean leaving the light on through the night .... just in case image

  • TP - I saw the stage play of The Woman in Black at the theatre - it is terrifying!
  • The book is quite scary too. I remember why I don't read ghost stories at bedtime as a rule.
  • Had to finish it. Had a nightmare.

    Highly recommend the book but not as a bedtime story :-/
  • Ooh! Just remebered, "Started early, took my dog." Kate Atkinson,brilliant.

  • Just read the Hanging Shed by Gordon Ferris which I struggled to put down.

    Also, How I Won the Yellow Jumper by Ned Boulting is a good light hearted read on the T de France
  • Not been reading as much as normal as I'm cycling into work most days so can't read on the tube any more image

    Currently reading Surface Detail by Iain M Banks which I'm loving. It's one of his Culture novels so it's full of aliens and AIs. There are some really disturbing bits though to do with Hell, quite stomach churning image

    Also reading Pat Barker's Another World but this is a bit more heavy going. It's well written and the characters are believable but nearly everyone in it is just so horrible!

    Looking forward to the new Kate Atkinson as my next read image

  • Read Plugged by Eoin Colfer recently. 

    V good.  Grown up book (Colfer more know for his children books) in the style of the crime/thrillr type with laconic hero that Elmore Leonard does well.

    His kid's market books - Artemis Fowl - are very readable as well - good summer reading. (I read them all this summer).  Only wish there were more ...

  • Mikey Welsh: Gypsy Boy


    True story, couldnt put the book down.

  • Little Nemo - No more marathons! wrote (see)

    Not been reading as much as normal as I'm cycling into work most days so can't read on the tube any more image

    Currently reading Surface Detail by Iain M Banks which I'm loving. It's one of his Culture novels so it's full of aliens and AIs. There are some really disturbing bits though to do with Hell, quite stomach churning image

    Also reading Pat Barker's Another World but this is a bit more heavy going. It's well written and the characters are believable but nearly everyone in it is just so horrible!

    Looking forward to the new Kate Atkinson as my next read image

    I read Surface Detail on holiday it really was disturbing even for Iain Banks! I do love the ships though.
  • He does describe horrible things in a brilliant way, Mr Puffy.

    Although the Hell bits haven't been the main part of the story (so far) I've found them the most fascinating. It reminded me of those Hieronymous Bosch (sp?) paintings which I always found really disturbing.

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