Read a good book lately?

[Swoop]

Currently reading Bullet Proof, by Matt Croucher.

Royal Marines 40 Commando, involved with the Iraqi invasion and battles around Basra.
Afganistan after that.
Awarded a George Cross for throwing himself on a grenade and saving his mates, then refusing to be medevaced so he could be involved in the ambush to see if any tali-tubbies would appear to investigate what set off the boobytrap.

Interestingly he should be a member here. Purchased a new gsxr750 and then crashed on a corner... and spent 9 months in hospital/recovery.

A bit of a blowhard overall. 6/10.

The moment Italian police snipers used a 50cal Barrett in a city, I lost belief in the story. No sniper would use such a ferocious weapon among civilians.

... Oh, you'd be surprised...

[marty]

Influencer. A psychology book. read it yesterday while I had a few free hours. REALLY good.

[Winston001]

... Oh, you'd be surprised...

Oh c'mon man, third world places with people don't count as cities. Its a free fire zone.

[Swoop]

Oh c'mon man, third world places with people don't count as cities. Its a free fire zone.

Well, then you'd need a Browning .50...


It is interesting to note the amount of Barrett rifles in the hands of municipal police departments in the US.

[Winston001]

Well, then you'd need a Browning .50...


It is interesting to note the amount of Barrett rifles in the hands of municipal police departments in the US.

Yeah?? Get outta here. Damn, thats just wrong.

Although its primary purpose is immobilisation of vehicles so I can see why police would like it. Notice the US Coastguard use the Barrett which makes sense.

Anyway, check this out:

[HenryDorsetCase]

Thanks for the recommendation of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. I am reading it at present and thoroughly enjoying it.

I tried and failed to read The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer as one of the required texts in ENGL205 (I think it was)... couldnt handle the way twere written. This is much easier going, and according to wikipedia, the structure is the same.

[Swoop]

Too Few Too Far.



Posted for a 12 month tour of the Falkland Islands, George Thomsen gets to see Argentine mainland occasionally and recognises "something is strange" and a prelude to war is lingering.

Very interesting details of Falkland Islander's lives. Extreme desolation and remote terrain that is hostile to human existance.

Despatched from the Falklands to reinforce the small group of marines on South Georgia who are obseving a group of scrap merchants who have landed illegally and are causing an international incident.

With the invasion of the Falklands heard live on the radio, the 22 Royal Marines are left to defend the capital of South Georgia, Grytviken.

They faced overwhelming odds yet fought well above their weight. Shooting down a helicopter and putting anti-tank, LAW and small arms fire into a warship which manages to disable her!
The Argentine commander suspects a trap when only 22 Marines are eventually lined up. He cannot believe that this was the force he was up against.

Well put together. A book which covers a battle most will never have heard of.
Fought in the most atrocious place for weather conditions possible. A force 11 gale and freezing conditions occur frequently and without warning.

8.5/10.

[Ocean1]

The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter.

By Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

The first of either author I've indulged in, I believe.

A collaboration fuelled by a Douglas-esque (HHGTTG) love of language as a weapon of humour. Set in the end times. Sort of.

Lovely. Read it, is very good.

[Winston001]

Welcome to the Terry Pratchett fan club, you'll never leave. Gaiman is clever too.

[PrincessBandit]

This catchy title caught my eye in the library the other day. The full title is:
"I hate myself and want to die; the 52 most depressing songs you've ever heard"
written by Tom Reynolds.

For such a dire sounding title the book is actually hilarious to read. The author analyses his top 52 most depressing songs and groups them into the following subheadings: I was a teenage car crash (includes "Tell laura I love her"),
I hate myself and want to die (includes "Goodbye to Love" by the Carpenters, "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian and "One" by Metallica),
I'm trying to be profound and touching but really suck at it (includes "MacArthur Park", "In the year 2525" and "The Rose)
If I sing about drugs people will take me seriously (includes "let her cry" by Hootie... and "Captain jack" Billy joel)
She hates me, I hate her (includes "Love will tear us apart" Joy Division, "You don't bring me flowers" Diamond and Streisand, and "Brick" Ben Fold Five)
Horrifying remakes of already depressing songs (includes, "All by myself" by Celine Dion, "I will always love you" by Whitney Houston and "Send in the Clowns" by everybody)
I'm telling a story nobody wants to hear (includes "Comfortably Numb" Pink Floyd, "People who died" the Jim Carroll Band, "Sylvias Mother" Dr. Hook and "the End" The Doors)
I had no idea this song was so morbid (includes "Alone again, naturally" Gilbert O'Sullivan and "Artificial Flowers" Bobby Darin)
I mope, therefore I am (includes "Prayers for rain" The Cure, "Sister Morphine" Marianne Faithfull and "Hurt" Nine Inch nails)
and last but not least Perfect Storms which include "Seasons in the sun" Terry jacks, "Honey" Bobby Goldsboro and "The Shortest Story" by Harry Chapin.

His explanation of the subtitles include, and I quote, "For Horrifying Remakes of Already Depressing Songs, a singer takes a mildly gloomy tune and transforms it into a thing of utter horror. Think of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with a rhythm section... Perfect Storms: Only a handful of tunes qualify as 'perfect storms', where numerous factors unite to create a depressing song of Live Wolverine Shoved Down My Pants proportions."

He uses hilarious expressions such as "brain concussion modulation": He explains "this is when vocalists, anxious to show that they can hit a high J, wait breathlessly while the orchestra slams the music into a higher key. BCMs are found near the end of practically every 1990s power love ballad sung by the Big Three: Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston."

Each of the 52 songs in their various sub sections starts with a short history of the song writer, then what the song is about, and finishes with a description of why it is so depressing. The guy writes in a sidesplittingly funny (if you know the songs and have some musical knowledge especially) even though at times he sounds like a queen bitch...To top the whole book off, the cover has a picture of a cutesy wutesy albino toy wabbit looking very glum.

[Laava]

Eat, Drink and be Married. Eve Makis.
Funny in a very similar way to My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
8/10

[pete376403]

Game of Thrones - George RR Martin. Bought it to read after watching the TV series, thinking I'd need to fill in all the missing bits. major surprise - the TV series is absolutely true to the book, apart from some of the girls being made a bit older. Things would be a bit close to pedo otherwise.

Both book and TV series are excellent if you like knights/swords/political intrigue with a touch of incest, rape, adultery, etc.
TV series not quite the spatterfest that Spartacus was.

Currently listening to the audio-books of the subsequent novels, 4 at about 30 -35 hours each.

[gale_wolf]

Game of Thrones - George RR Martin. Bought it to read after watching the TV series, thinking I'd need to fill in all the missing bits. major surprise - the TV series is absolutely true to the book, apart from some of the girls being made a bit older. Things would be a bit close to pedo otherwise.

Both book and TV series are excellent if you like knights/swords/political intrigue with a touch of incest, rape, adultery, etc.
TV series not quite the spatterfest that Spartacus was.

Currently listening to the audio-books of the subsequent novels, 4 at about 30 -35 hours each.

+1. My wife and I are both reading the 4th book in the series now (the 4-book set was so cheap online I ordered us 2 sets). Her only complaint about the series was that "it could use a bit more romance", but now she's made me pre-order the 5th book too. I've barely read any books to completion in the last few years but have raced through this series at a record pace (well, fast for me anyway).

[Swoop]

What was I thinking. Paul Henry.



A memoir of boyhood activities, moving to and from NZ several times, but learning all the time. Determination and drive, and how to get on in the world, even though dyslexia is a constant battle.

Radio is the true passion and where he feels most at home.

If you want information on the last phase of his career at tvnz, then the last chapter is about all there is.

A very handy cut-out-and-keep form letter was included for all those whining morons who like to complain to the broadcasting standards authority.


A pleasant read. 5.5/10.

[Usarka]

Iron Coffins - Commander Herbert A. Werner 1969



A dramatic autobiographical account of a German U-boat captain during WWII. Easy to read, it gives a real taste for life of a U boat sailor. If you like military history and submarines (and Das Boot!) then this book is a must read.