In need of a good read.

[dawnrazor]

If you want something challenging try either Iliad or Odyssey by Homer or Beowulf.

Jez I wouldn't want to get on your bad side if thats the way you treat your mates!

[The Pastor]

Right you boring feckers, this place is as dead as a Hezbollah peace protest so give me your recommendations for a good book to read.

I'm not interested in any cult genres like sci fi, dwarf fantasy shit, vampires etc. Just normal stories that you can actually get into without having to believe that bionic midgets with 8 testicles that drink human blood and fly around in space ships rule the galaxy.

And none of you Mills and Boon crap either Finn, I gotta read this shit in public (on the train).

So, suggestions?

Dover you sick son of a monkeys anus.

Reading is for the noobs, We now have tv and the intra net. Stop pretending to be "intelligent" If you were that way inclined you would know of some books that are worthwile to read.

Just Save your breath...You'll need it to blow up your date.

[Oakie]

If you're into techno-thrillers, read anything by Tom Clancy ... but not the ones he co-authored with other writers. The co-authored ones are OK but I rate them far behind the books with just His name on them.
If you like lawyer type stories, you can't go past John Grisham.
For easy to read adventure stories Clive Cussler is OK
For easy to read crime stories, try Dick Francis.

[andrea]

wangdoo you can too the complete book on proper care and maintenance of your didgeridoo. comes with an instruction book so you can teach your female friends how to play your didgeridoo, or your male friends
eg proper way = and wrong way = and experimental = ,
iver never read this book but ive heard some really good feedback from mark

[Squeak the Rat]

I've also read Choke by him which was also a great read, I really enjoy the way he writes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Palahniuck For a list of his books and a better explanation of his writing style which I think you would like.

Good call.

DOVER - I think you would seriously like this author. Choke is a good start.... Nihilistic & funny.

[The_Dover]

Good call.

DOVER - I think you would seriously like this author. Choke is a good start.... Nihilistic & funny.

I think you're right there squeak.

there are those who claim his novels also contain sexist or chauvinistic statements.

[McJim]

I think this is a very interesting thread - you can tell a lot about people from their choice of reading matter - in the main we would seem to be a bunch of quite literate, articulate and well educated individuals. Not the profile of 'Bikers' the wider media would have us believe. Especially those that assume we are all part of some gang or other because we eschew the use of four wheels.

I have my suspicions that this may have been Dover's plan all along coz this has to be the least hijacked thread I've found so far......

[terbang]

The best of New Zealand fiction (Vol 2) Edited by fiona Kidman.
Compilation of short stories by either NZ writers or NZ themes. Bloody good reading, I especially liked the "Rangatira" story.

[Finn]

I have my suspicions that this may have been Dover's plan all along coz this has to be the least hijacked thread I've found so far......

That's because the site hijacker started the thread.

[terbang]

If you fall off yer bike and spend 6 months in bed then "The Rise and fall of the Third Reich" William Shirer, will probably keep you busy.

Another really interesting read is Longitude by Dava Sobel.

[The_Dover]

Wot you talking bout willis?

[Dangerous Dane]

I'd have to reccomend the "Chopper" series by Mark "Chopper" Read.
Good for a lighthearted read from a guy who's not some stupid ponce into fairies and dragons. All stories about his time as a gunman in the Melbourne underworld in the mid 80's. He also wrote a few fiction books about that time too.

Good value.

[Beemer]

I agree with Oakie, the John Grisham books are a good read. Another author I discovered a few years ago is Mark Billingham - a London-based author who also does stand-up comedy. I've read all but his latest (waiting for the time to devote several days to it in one go!) and I loved the lot - look out for Sleepyhead; Scaredy Cat; Lazybones; The Burning Girl; Lifeless - and the latest, which is called Buried. They are very similar to Ian Rankin's books - which are also great - just finished Fleshmarket Close and will work my way through his older ones too.

Craig Thomas (Firefox, Jade Tiger, etc) is another good writer - secret service/war type stories. I used to love Sidney Sheldon too - the male version of bodice rippers!

Anthony Bourdain (the cook from the tv series) has written some good books too, all about his life as a chef. Very dark! Look out for A Cook's Tour; Kitchen Confidential and his latest, The Nasty Bits. Toast, by Nigel Slater, is also very good.

I enjoyed The Sixth Lamentation too, by William Broderick.

[Winston001]

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea - Gary Kinder. A cracker of a true story about a deep sea treasure hunt.

Also - A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson. Agree with other posters, this is an excellent book.

[mikey]

you (and finn) should mike kings hostory of nz, penguin. the dead historian, not the pork selling/gameshow jockey

unless you already have, if you have. read it again.