Read any good books recently?

[dawnrazor]

You all seem like a reasonably well educated lot (well most of you anyways), and I realise just 'cus we all have a fondness for two wheeled transport in common doesn't mean we should have any other common interests. But like it or not the chances are that we do.
Anyways, I thought I'd start a thread where we could all post good books we have read recently, don't have to be bike related.

So I'll start with two then to get things rolling.

1) THEM: adventures with extremists. by Jon Ronson

British humorist Jon Ronson relates his misadventures as he engages an assortment of theorists and activists residing on the fringes of the political, religious, and sociological spectrum. His subjects include Omar Bakri Mohammed, the point man for a holy war against Britain (Ronson paints him as a wily buffoon); a hypocritical but engaging Ku Klux Klan leader; participants in the Ruby Ridge and Waco, Texas, battles; and David Ickes, who believes that the semi-human descendants of evil extraterrestrial 12-foot-tall lizards walk among us. Despite these characters' disparities, they are bound by a belief in the Bilderberg Group, the "secret rulers of the world." In a final chapter, Ronson manages, with surprising ease, to penetrate these rulers' very lair. He writes with wry, faux-naive wit and eschews didacticism, instead letting his subjects' words and actions speak for themselves.

I laughed my ass off throughout this book and read it much to quickly

2)A long long way by sebastian Barry

This novel of Ireland and World War I wears a cloak of gloom and doom as thick as the opening storm. Willie's mother dies young. Willie enlists in the army and fights on the Western Front. Willie's sweetheart marries another, and so on. The wartime scenes are brutally realistic.Those not familiar with British-Irish history may find some of the personal conflicts and politics in the novel confusing, but nevertheless a compellingly sad, if difficult, read.

This is an extremely fine book, but is not in any sense an easy read.

Right who's next then

[Sniper]

Scarecrow by Matthew Reiley.
Temple by Matthew Reilly
Ice by Mathew Reilly
most books by Mr Reilly, Gerald Durrell, Andy McNab, Chris Ryan, Stephen Leather and Vincent Demarco

[Jamezo]

Gee, who would have guessed Sniper....

Right now I'm working my way through Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. As I have related to others, I thought they would be some unspeakably big nerdy gay-fest, but in reality, they are truly excellent, infused with a brilliant British dry wit and irony.

[limbimtimwim]

The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer - Neal Stephenson

A very original writer, he can be a little hit and miss. But usually hit. If you want something a bit sillier, I recommend 'Snow Crash' by the same author.

Right, it's a nice day, ride the bike.

[kro]

Nightfall by Nelson DeMille

An NYPD detective gets invloved in a "cold case" of an American passenger jet tragedy, that is now five years old, and "closed", and gets caught up in a big govenrmental style cover up scandal. Very good read.

My favourite books of all time are the Belgariad series by David Eddings. 5 books in the first series called the Belgariad, and 5 in the sequel series called The Mallorean.
These are the best books I have read ever, and are a "Lord of the Rings" style fantasy series following the return to the throne of an ages lost bloodline of a King destined to be the overlord of the Western empires. The first series of books follows Belgarion, a young boy of direct decent to the Rivan King, who has been looked after by his "Aunt Polgara" since birth. Polgara is 5000 years old, and her father, the world famous sorcerer "Belgarath" is 7000 years old, and they have been protecting the Rivan king bloodline for thousands of years, and take the young Belgarion to a meeting to battle the God of Darkness named "Torak".

The journey is travelled with a group of people among who are a Drasnian spy/thief called Silk, the Cherek warrior, Barak, the Mimbrate Knight, Mandorellan, the Sendarian blacksmith, Durnik, the Algarian horseman, Hettar, and the rock diviner, Relg.

These books have kind of spoiled all my reading for good, as I have yet to find anything to rival them. To have 10 books, end for end, using the same characters, and with 2 major adventures/goals, is great, because I get fed up with books that you just get interested in, then they are over just as it gets good.

[babyB]

lmao yep Haynes bible for the 100000 time :rofl: :o
Dancing with dragons by DJ Conway again

[far queue]

One Good Run - Tim Hanna
He'll be OK - Celia Lashlie
Kiwi Rider
Various Model Aircraft Magazines

[SPORK]

Why Not Me? - Al Franken (Completely hilarious, read it if you're interested in politics. Or just ridiculous humour)

Anything Grisham.

Man and Boy - Tony Parsons (Don't call me a fag)

[Stopper Dan]

Eon by Greg Bear, Centuries by A.A Attanasio both very good books (sci fi)

[ZorsT]

Sometimes Free - Fred Stuckey

[Winston001]

Excellent idea for a thread Dawnrazor. Looking at my bookshelf here are a few suggestions:

Non-fiction:

A Short History of Everything - Bill Bryson - brilliant readable science from the Big Bang to today.

E=MC2 - David Boldanis - excellent everyday explanation of this mysterious equation

Ship of Gold In the Deep Blue Sea - Gary Kinder - just a bloody good read about a modern treasure hunt.

Fiction:

Any book by Michael Connelly - detective fiction

Hyperion - Dan Simmons - Sci-fi

Nights Dawn Trilogy - Peter Hamilton - Sci-fi

Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown - a one hit wonder but a good read

Patricia Cornwall's first 8 "Scarpetta" books.



As a suggestion, I usually check the reader reviews and comments at Amazon when considering books and authors. And use the local library.

[Pillick]

Reading a really wierd (but good) one at the moment; The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. Apparently its really controversial, muslims hate it and its banned in India and other countries.

But its just fiction, faux-religious allegorical stuff mixed in with modern times. Its also written in a really interesting way, cryptic, lots of imagery, and it completely ignores grammar without being at all difficult to read.

It starts with two indian guys falling from the sky after thier plane tears itself apart in mid air, plummeting towards london, singing songs at each other. Hasnt got any less wierd yet...

edit: holy crap! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Rushdie#The_Satanic_Verses_controversy)

[Skyryder]

Mary Stewarts MERLIN TRILOGY. Here's the link

http://www.greenmanreview.com/stewart.html

WICKED DAY by the same author is a must read. It's not part of the series as it tells of the events from Mordreds point of view.

For those that like Arthurerian novels. SWORD AT SUNSET by Rosemary Sutcliff tells of the life of King Arthur.

Many authors have reinvented the legend of King Arthur, but the gritty realism and emotional power of Rosemary Sutcliff's writing places Sword at Sunset in a place of its own. Sutcliff was the first author to take the story of Arthur and strip it down to create a novel as rooted as possible in the history of the time. The resulting novel is gripping and vibrant, a powerful and fresh interpretation of the Arthurian story. From the characters to the small historical details, Sutcliff uses a talent for accurate portrayal to produce a novel that leaves you convinced that if the story of King Arthur is more history than fantasy, this must be the way events really occurred.

The link http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/book_sutcliff_swordatsunset.html

Book one of thre Darkwar Saga by Robert E Fiest. FLIGHT OF THE NIGHTHAWKS. Fantasy buffs.

Book one:Tales of the Otori. ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR.

Read the link. http://www.koryubooks.com/store/anf.html

Book two GRASS FOR HIS PILLOW


Skyryder

[Skyryder]

Mary Stewarts MERLIN TRILOGY. Here's the link

http://www.greenmanreview.com/stewart.html

WICKED DAY by the same author is a must read. It's not part of the series as it tells of the events from Mordreds point of view.

For those that like Arthurerian novels. SWORD AT SUNSET by Rosemary Sutcliff tells of the life of King Arthur.

Many authors have reinvented the legend of King Arthur, but the gritty realism and emotional power of Rosemary Sutcliff's writing places Sword at Sunset in a place of its own. Sutcliff was the first author to take the story of Arthur and strip it down to create a novel as rooted as possible in the history of the time. The resulting novel is gripping and vibrant, a powerful and fresh interpretation of the Arthurian story. From the characters to the small historical details, Sutcliff uses a talent for accurate portrayal to produce a novel that leaves you convinced that if the story of King Arthur is more history than fantasy, this must be the way events really occurred.

The link http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/book_sutcliff_swordatsunset.html

Book one of thre Darkwar Saga by Robert E Fiest. FLIGHT OF THE NIGHTHAWKS. Fantasy buffs.
http://www.harpercollins.com/global_scripts/product_catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0060792787

Book one:Tales of the Otori. ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR.
Read the link. http://www.koryubooks.com/store/anf.html

Book two GRASS FOR HIS PILLOW
http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/1573222518.asp

Book three BRILLIANCE OF THE MOON.
http://www.abc.net.au/widebay/stories/s1164275.htm.

Tales of the Otori fit into the fantasy genre but that does them an injustice. They stand alone........unique in their concept. The prose is pure poetry where one reviewer describes it as like the flight of a heron.

UNFINISHED TALES. Edited by C hristopher Tolkien. For Tolkien buffs only.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfinished_Tales



Skyryder

[froggyfrenchman]

anything Grisham or Cussler will keep my attention

[Winston001]

Mary Stewarts MERLIN TRILOGY. Here's the link

http://www.greenmanreview.com/stewart.html


Interesting. I enjoyed Bernard Cornwell's "Winter King" about Arthur. Cornwell is a respected historical writer if anyone wants to check out his work. Accurate and readable.

[Cookie]

Last book I read was "My Property World" by Bob Jones. Bloody funny and more than a bit inspiring. Just got to get a few coins together and I will be joining you Bob!!! :p

[Motu]

I have just read a book about the 500cc Champions,from 1949 to 2001,by Micheal Scott.It filled in a lot of gaps for me,it's not something you follow every single year,and it had been going 20 years before I even had an interest in bikes.Had me rethink my ideas on who was the best...poor choice for want of a better word.

[Skyryder]

Interesting. I enjoyed Bernard Cornwell's "Winter King" about Arthur. Cornwell is a respected historical writer if anyone wants to check out his work. Accurate and readable.

I'll make a note of it. I'm looking for some decent read at the moment. My daughter bought me the Lost Letters of Aquataine. A sort of medievial suspense. Only for dire historical buffs.

The Merlin series are a slow read but Stewart gets into the charecters and the environment in such a way that you become transported into the story. Merlin as such is seen in a very human element, not as a wizard in the sense that we assume him to be.


I think you will like the Sword at Sunset. Once again it is an Arthur that his more human than myth.

Skyryder

[limbimtimwim]

Oh yea, just remembered

Ken Macleod's first 4 books:

The Star Fraction
The Stone Canal
The Cassini Division
The Sky Road

Jumping all over space and time, Macleod manages to tie together many people and many plotlines. Each book is a great read by itself, together, when you read the final one in the set (I read them out of order!), the way the strings tie together is just mindbending.

All his work since has been 'ho-hum' though.

[SPman]

Thud - Terry Pratchett
The Algebraist - Iain M Banks

[MisterD]

Interesting. I enjoyed Bernard Cornwell's "Winter King" about Arthur. Cornwell is a respected historical writer if anyone wants to check out his work. Accurate and readable.

I've not long finished the first two in his new King Alfred / Viking era series, Last Kingdom and Pale Horseman. Both are well up to his usual standard...

[Krayy]

Scarecrow by Matthew Reiley.
Temple by Matthew Reilly
Ice by Mathew Reilly
most books by Mr Reilly, Gerald Durrell, Andy McNab, Chris Ryan, Stephen Leather and Vincent Demarco
Matt Reilly is a good escapist read, albeit a bit OTT at times. Did you get to read Hell Island, the novella he did?

My fave writer at the moment is a Scots bloke by the name of Christopher Brookmyre. I highly recommened any of his books (particularly One fine Day in the middle of the night) for a great thriller mixed with psychopathic bampot.

[Winston001]

Thud - Terry Pratchett
The Algebraist - Iain M Banks

Terry Pratchett is brilliant.

Another couple of thrillers worth reading:

The Cobra Event - Richard Preston - about viruses and bio-terrorism - thinking about it gives me the chills.

Becker's Ring - Steven Martin Cohen

[Sniper]

Matt Reilly is a good escapist read, albeit a bit OTT at times. Did you get to read Hell Island, the novella he did?


Yep I did, got mum to post it to me cause it was an Austalia only release wasn't it.

[hXc]

As Sniper said before: Anything by Matthew Reilly, Terry Pratchett and Steven King.

They would be my three favourite writers and in that order.

[Oakie]

Well as I glance to my left at the bookcase I see the complete set of Tom Clancy novels (if you like techno-thrillers), a few John Grisham (intelligent novels generally revolving around lawyers) and a few Clive Cussler (adventure type stories with a larger than life hero).

[dawnrazor]

I've just checked in on this this thread since I created it. Am chuffed at the response, bloody good work folks, keep it up.

In general I'm a big Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman and William Gibson fan - but none of these guys are particular prolific writers, so its always a pain in the ass waiting for new books to come out from any of them!

But for anyone who likes Stephen King , then get American Gods by Neil Gaiman. An absolute peach of a read. When I finished it the first time ,I just started it again immediately!

I also have a HUGE library of graphic novels, that I have gathered over the years

On the non fiction side of things, anything about motion pictures, debauched rock and roll, number theory and cookery, then I'm in!!!!!!

[Skyryder]

http://www.thehiddenrecords.com/gods.htm

could be worth a look if nothing better can be found

skyryder

[Skyryder]

For those that found the da Vinci Code interesting.

try this.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/features/the_messiah/messiah.html

Skyryder

[soundbeltfarm]

Nightfall by Nelson DeMille

.

he is one of my fav author also.
have you read his novel Up Country?
thats quite good.

i also like james patterson novels.
he is a similar genre to Nelson Demille.
Used to read a lot of Tom Clancy stuff but not so much now.

[Skyryder]

Non-fiction:

A Short History of Everything - Bill Bryson - brilliant readable science from the Big Bang to today.

You might be interested in Mother Tounge. It's the history of the English language. Fascanating.

Skyryder

[Winston001]

You might be interested in Mother Tounge. It's the history of the English language. Fascanating.

Skyryder

Been there done that. Great book.

Tom Clancy used to be my favourite author but The Bear and the Dragon was his last good book. Still, a bloody good writer.

A few more off the shelf:

My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Picoult - suprisingly good read

Blood Work - Michael Connelly - LA detective fiction - read any of his books but like Patricia Cornwall, better to start at the beginning.

The Whole Shebang - Timothy Ferris - science writing about the state of the Universe (he's worried it's failing some unit standards :D )

Blind Mans Buff - Sontag and Drew - true submarine adventures during the Cold War