Book thread

[Dexter]

I know there is already a Movie thread and Box Set thread but I haven't seen a Book version, so apologies if there is one already. I read on the train commute to work, so end up reading a LOT of books, and am always looking for recommendations. To start off, here are some random books that stick in my memory:

Crime - all the Harry Bosch books by Michael Connelly (although I haven't read all, yet!), 1st one is The Black Echo (I think)
Historical fiction - the Arthur trilogy by Bernard Cornwell, 1st one is The Winter King
Fiction - Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Fiction/Sci-Fi - K Pax, Gene Brewer

[ronk]

The Gulag Archipelago: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Real all three volumes recently. Difficult going at times, it's powerful. Highly recommend it, especially the last book. Rolled straight from that into Rudolf Hoess's autobiography. From the finest, most insightful literature I've read to the most insipid.

Started The Brothers Karamasov, this week and tried to find a copy that's around somewhere in the house of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, by Robert Fisk. Been meaning to read that.

Also recommend Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. It's about baseball but hugely interesting insight about sport.

[the spoofer]

[quote="ronk"]The Gulag Archipelago: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Real all three volumes recently. Difficult going at times, it's powerful. Highly recommend it, especially the last book. Rolled straight from that into Rudolf Hoess's autobiography. From the finest, most insightful literature I've read to the most insipid.

Started The Brothers Karamasov, this week and tried to find a copy that's around somewhere in the house of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, by Robert Fisk. Been meaning to read that.

Also recommend Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. It's about baseball but hugely interesting insight about sport.[/quote

Robert Fisk eh, only any good if you run out of toilet paper.

[johng]

The Gulag Archipelago: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Real all three volumes recently. Difficult going at times, it's powerful. Highly recommend it, especially the last book. Rolled straight from that into Rudolf Hoess's autobiography. From the finest, most insightful literature I've read to the most insipid.

Started The Brothers Karamasov, this week and tried to find a copy that's around somewhere in the house of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, by Robert Fisk. Been meaning to read that.

Also recommend Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. It's about baseball but hugely interesting insight about sport.

No Ronk. He meant books you actually read, not ones you want us to think you've read

Tell that guy to lay off Robert Fisk btw, What is he a Neo con?

[Skinfull]

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Brother-Co ... =8-1-spell
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. Brilliant read. Read it in 2 sittings. Loved it.

[Dexter]

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Brother-Co ... =8-1-spell
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. Brilliant read. Read it in 2 sittings. Loved it.

now that DOES look good.. thanks!

[Broken Wing]

I'm not usually a Sci Fi reader but I picked The Reality Dysfunction up in Chapters recently for about €3.99 and flew through it. If it wasn't for the pile of books sitting at home in my "to read" pile I'd have picked up the sequel by now.

Also worth a look are Imperium and Lustrum by Robert Harris. They're the 1st two books in a Cicero trilogy.

[the spoofer]

The Gulag Archipelago: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Real all three volumes recently. Difficult going at times, it's powerful. Highly recommend it, especially the last book. Rolled straight from that into Rudolf Hoess's autobiography. From the finest, most insightful literature I've read to the most insipid.

Started The Brothers Karamasov, this week and tried to find a copy that's around somewhere in the house of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, by Robert Fisk. Been meaning to read that.

Also recommend Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. It's about baseball but hugely interesting insight about sport.

No Ronk. He meant books you actually read, not ones you want us to think you've read

Tell that guy to lay off Robert Fisk btw, What is he a Neo con?

No, I'm one of that rare breed in Ireland who doesnt think the following equation is entirely true:

Israel/US = Bad + Palestinians = Good.

[johng]

The Gulag Archipelago: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Real all three volumes recently. Difficult going at times, it's powerful. Highly recommend it, especially the last book. Rolled straight from that into Rudolf Hoess's autobiography. From the finest, most insightful literature I've read to the most insipid.

Started The Brothers Karamasov, this week and tried to find a copy that's around somewhere in the house of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, by Robert Fisk. Been meaning to read that.

Also recommend Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. It's about baseball but hugely interesting insight about sport.

No Ronk. He meant books you actually read, not ones you want us to think you've read

Tell that guy to lay off Robert Fisk btw, What is he a Neo con?

No, I'm one of that rare breed in Ireland who doesnt think the following equation is entirely true:

Israel/US = Bad + Palestinians = Good.

And he does?

[Broken Wing]

Books to "views on the middle east conflict" in less than 10 posts?

[bluedabadi]

Books to "views on the middle east conflict" in less than 10 posts?

and on topic.. any books by Robin Hobb

[johng]

I'm not usually a Sci Fi reader but I picked The Reality Dysfunction up in Chapters recently for about €3.99 and flew through it. If it wasn't for the pile of books sitting at home in my "to read" pile I'd have picked up the sequel by now.

I am a sci fi reader and I just ordered the trilogy on your recommendation.
If it's cr@p, I'm coming back here to add 50 posts on the middle east!

[Logorrhea]

Nahh I can second that recommendation for Peter Hamilton. The Nights Dawn trilogy is massive (about 3500 pages for the three books I think) but its some of the best Sci-fi Ive ever read. Also recommend his Commonwealth Saga as a follow up.

Two more Sci-fi books worth a mention are The Mote in gods eye (Niven and Pournelle) and Enders game (Orson Scott Card). Both are must reads for any Sci-fi fan. Edit: Should really have thrown Old Mans War, Starship Troopers and the Forever War to that list.

[johng]

Nahh I can second that recommendation for Peter Hamilton. The Nights Dawn trilogy is massive (about 3500 pages for the three books I think) but its some of the best Sci-fi Ive ever read. Also recommend his Commonwealth Saga as a follow up.

Two more Sci-fi books worth a mention are The mote in gods eye (Niven and Pournelle) and Enders game (Orson Scott Card). Both are must reads for any Sci-fi fan.

Nice one Loggo. It's been years since I read any Sci Fi. Will report back in a few weeks.

Edit: Btw, I love the way you start a positive comment with a big negative Nahh!

[LENSTA]

If you want some historical fiction you could try James Ellroy's Underworld USA Trilogy: American Tabloid, The Cold Six Thousand & Blood's a Rover. They are an entertaining look at the major events of 60's from the from the viewpoint of the American Underbelly. I'm half way through the last one Blood's a Rover and overall I'd say the first one American Tabloid is the best, but they are all good.

[Peg Leg]

The Gulag Archipelago: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Real all three volumes recently. Difficult going at times, it's powerful. Highly recommend it, especially the last book. Rolled straight from that into Rudolf Hoess's autobiography. From the finest, most insightful literature I've read to the most insipid.

Started The Brothers Karamasov, this week and tried to find a copy that's around somewhere in the house of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, by Robert Fisk. Been meaning to read that.

Also recommend Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. It's about baseball but hugely interesting insight about sport.

Fisks book is fanatastic on the history of the middle east since 1838, although just over a third would be from 1980 onwards.

Spoofer,
regardless of any opinions held- it does make for compelling reading (if even just to read about any one conflict in the middle east- Particularly Algeria/France or Armenia/Turkey) and anyone capable of making a decision for themselves will get something different from the next!

Fiction: It simply has to be Nelson De Mille- See "The Gold Coast" or "The Lions Game" for the ultimate in character driven drama/thriller.

Presently Reading:
Getting married soon so my priest gave me the Catechism of the catholic church to read, Its not very good

[johng]

Presently Reading:
Getting married soon so my priest gave me the Catechism of the catholic church to read, Its not very good

Bring up the middle east AND the catholic church in the one post, ON THE BOOK THREAD.

[ronk]

The Gulag Archipelago: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Real all three volumes recently. Difficult going at times, it's powerful. Highly recommend it, especially the last book. Rolled straight from that into Rudolf Hoess's autobiography. From the finest, most insightful literature I've read to the most insipid.

Started The Brothers Karamasov, this week and tried to find a copy that's around somewhere in the house of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, by Robert Fisk. Been meaning to read that.

Also recommend Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. It's about baseball but hugely interesting insight about sport.

Robert Fisk eh, only any good if you run out of toilet paper.

I've a friend who won't shut up about it until I read it. I'll make my own mind up on the merits, that I could read Hoess's attempts to deny his crimes should give that away.

I also recommend Higher Performance Sailing by Frank Bethwaite to anyone who already knows what I'm talking about.

[olaf the fat]

All I ever get to read these days is "Barry the fish with fingers" or in the night garden collection.

[RoboProp]

Currently reading:

With the Old Breed - Eugene Sledge

The Lion Man - Ian McGeechan

Recommend:

Bravo Two Zero: Andy McNab

Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda - Sean Naylor

It's Not About The Bike - Lance Armstrong

Blood, Sweat and Beers- Lawrence D'allaglio