blonde poker forum

Following a very short conversation about the recent Jack Reacher/Lee Childs film, I glanced to see if blonde had a book thread..

It does now....fill free to share........

My son got the 1st Jack Reacher book, so that'll be my first book of the thread to feed back on!

1st recommendation would be for the series by Patricia Cornwell - no-one beats her for the subject.

Dr Kay Scarpetta books are a great page turner to coin a phrase.

1st book in the series "Postmortem" was around 1998, and is the start of Kay's introduction.

We did have an unofficial one, didn't do much. Would this be a fiction book thread? I only read non fiction, however probs makes sense to make this a fiction book thread.

Any reason why it can't be both?  Wasn't aware we had an unofficial thread - forgive my newbieness - what's the difference?

none really

just post as you wish! fiction, non-fiction, comic-books..the lot

Nah no difference, yours just looks better.

I'm currently reading the signal and noise by Nate Silver, seems ok.

Good thing about Lee Childs Reacher series of books is that it doesn't matter too much if you don't read them in order some series of books.

I used to like the Kathy Reich series of books (which bones is based on, though as usual books much better than the tv series)

cool, I just copied and pasted from the other "official" threads!

This could be a great thread, well done Waz.

Personally, I am with Mr Shoelace, non- fiction only, but there is room for both.

Mr Waz. If you like Patricia Cornwell then you should check out the Lynda La Plante books about Detective Anna Travis they are extremely good. I don't seem to like many female authors but those are all excellent.

Mr Hector, I had heard of this previously, a nice timely reminder. Thankyou.

Not happy my book thread has been pinched

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Enjoyed it far more than the original.

Fml this thread had Tal. Unofficial thread is doomed

Why not just merge them?

was just about to say this - apoligies to George, I never realised one existed (didn't search to be fair)

Waz this means war!!!!

Tikay I will never merge!

war it is, you can't call me someone without a spine, although its a bit of a bind to carry this on, but if you're not going to shelf it, then you best take cover Sir.

lol mutli entry on ftp not for you then George!

Very good punship,

Best regards,

Tony Kindle

Have you forgotten everything we shared, George?

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=55053.msg1607883#msg1607883

#originalunofficialforever

I never take the time to read anymore, my family are moving after xmas and instead of watching TV in my room before bed I'll read instead!

I used to read a lot of fiction and non fiction going back along before I got into poker, mostly true crime and autobiographies along with a few fiction authors.

John Grisham was one I used to read a lot of, James Patterson's Alex Cross books are very good too and of course my childhood favourite Roald Dahl :)

one of my new years resolutions is to read at least 12 books this year.  1 a month should be do-able. I wouldn't say I'm a quick reader or read a lot, so I think time scale sounds about right.

1st on the agenda of the 3 by my bed at the moment is Jared Tendler

next Rafa autobio surrounding the 2005 season

then a book from xmas, Rob Brydon autobio

Would be great if this thread could become as healthy as the movie and TV show ones.

I read a LOT.  Probably average a couple of books a week.  Few highlights from last year:

NW by Zadie Smith - I am a huge Zadie Smith fanboy but this is a bit of a departure in style and she is definitely a serious writer now that is trying things with her 'art' and this is reflected in the structure of this book and it is heavy going in the early part but it is worth the investment if you are interested in characters and places.  I thought it was incredible and, like all the best things, a part of me was sad when I finished it but it is probably a marmite book.  Can't imagine many feeling meh about it.

Skagboys by Irvine Welsh - I loved Trainspotting and it is one of my favourite books ever and I enjoyed Porno the sequel and couple of other Welsh books so I was anticipating this book a great deal and it was enjoyable ratherthan great but it 'completes' the story so to speak as the prequel to Trainspotting and I read it in a couple of days.

The Signal and the Noise (The art and science of prediction) by Nate Silver - Like many others I became a Nate Silver convert over the course of the US election and bought his book and it is one of the best books I have read on prediction and statistics since Nicholas Nassim Taleb's Fooled by Randomness.  There is a section on poker and sport betting in it which may be of interest in particular to Blondes but I would urge anyone to take the time to read it all.  Excellent.

Going to Sea in a Sieve by Danny Baker - Autobiography of Bakers early life which is by turns hilarious and inspiring.  Anyone that has ever listened to any of DB's superb radio shows knows just how funny he can be and what a lust for life he seems to have and it comes across wonderfully in the book.  I read it in a few hours it was so enjoyable.

Looking forward to the last Wheel of time book, A memory of Light, out Jan 8th. Finally after 20years I can find out how it all ends. Anyone think the bad guys will win?

Teachers across the country have released their top 100 Books -

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6327545

ashamed to say I've only read about 10!

1. Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

2. To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee

3. Harry Potter (series) J.K. Rowling

4. Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte

5. Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte

6. Nineteen Eighty-Four George Orwell

7. The Lord of the Rings (series) J.R.R. Tolkien

8. The Book Thief Markus Zusak

9. The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien

10. The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

11. The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini

12. The Hunger Games (series) Suzanne Collins

13. The Time Traveller’s Wife Audrey Niffenegger

14. The Chronicles of Narnia (series) C.S. Lewis

15. Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck

16. Birdsong Sebastian Faulks

17. His Dark Materials (series) Philip Pullman

18. The Gruffalo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

19. The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger

20. Life of Pi Yann Martel

21. Tess of the d’Urbervilles Thomas Hardy

22. Rebecca Daphne du Maurier

23. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Mark Haddon

24. Lord of the Flies William Golding

25. Matilda Roald Dahl

26. Catch-22 Joseph Heller

27. Millennium (series) Stieg Larsson

28. Animal Farm George Orwell

29. The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood

30. Persuasion Jane Austen

31. One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez

32. Kensuke’s Kingdom Michael Morpurgo

33. Goodnight Mister Tom Michelle Magorian

34. The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck

35. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl

36. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas John Boyne

37. Little Women Louisa May Alcott

38. One Day David Nicholls

39. We Need to Talk About Kevin Lionel Shriver

40. The Twits Roald Dahl

41. Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel

42. A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini

43. The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame

44. Frankenstein Mary Shelley

45. Great Expectations Charles Dickens

46. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin Louis de Bernieres

47. George’s Marvellous Medicine Roald Dahl

48. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams

49. Room Emma Donoghue

50. Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy

51. Atonement Ian McEwan

52. Emma Jane Austen

53. Middlemarch George Eliot

54. The Shadow of the Wind Carlos Ruiz Zafon

55. The Color Purple Alice Walker

56. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle

57. Brave New World Aldous Huxley

58. Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen

59. The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath

60. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll

61. Charlotte’s Web E.B. White

62. Dracula Bram Stoker

63. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

64. A Prayer for Owen Meany John Irving

65. The Secret History Donna Tartt

66. The Little Prince Antoine de Saint-Exupery

67. Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky

68. The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver

69. Jude the Obscure Thomas Hardy

70. Skellig David Almond

71. The Woman in White Wilkie Collins

72. Gone with the Wind Margaret Mitchell

73. Game of Thrones (series) George R.R. Martin

74. David Copperfield Charles Dickens

75. Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro

76. Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak

77. Twilight (series) Stephenie Meyer

78. Beloved Toni Morrison

79. The Help Kathryn Stockett

80. Sherlock Holmes (series) Arthur Conan Doyle

81. Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

82. Moneyball Michael Lewis

83. My Family and Other Animals Gerald Durrell

84. Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden

85. On the Road Jack Kerouac

86. Cloud Atlas David Mitchell

87. Wild Swans Jung Chang

88. Anne of Green Gables L.M. Montgomery

89. Les Miserables Victor Hugo

90. Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

91. Private Peaceful Michael Morpurgo

92. Noughts and Crosses Malorie Blackman

93. Cider with Rosie Laurie Lee

94. Danny the Champion of the World Roald Dahl

95. Down and Out in Paris and London George Orwell

96. The Magic Faraway Tree Enid Blyton

97. The Witches Roald Dahl

98. The God of Small Things Arundhati Roy

99. Holes Louis Sachar

100. The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde.

Annoyed the hell out of me on Friday when I saw that list. I had a proper old man rant at work.

Tess only being 21st, no Roald Dahl in the top 20 books. It's a globulous mess of overhyped Victorian bilge and books that will never be in the top 20 in ten years' time.

How can you capture kids' imaginations with Jane Austen? Wolf Hall is one of the most challenging reads around but if you want to be royally tested, Joyce is an infinitely more dexterous writer than Mantel.

Main thing is though, at least you're over it!

(Sorry!)

Never gonna happen, Waz :)

Not your fault. I'm actually grateful you gave me that platform!

I feel most sorry for the poor woman who, in response to my rant, said "Well at least they haven't put any Shakespeare in"

I asked Tikay for his Top 10 list...years ago. He's still working on it.    ::)

What would be in your Top 10 (or even 20) Tal?

Tikay reads a lot of non fiction, IIRC, so that would be a lot harder. My main interest is in plays, particularly the Jacobean period (Shakespeare, Jonson, Marlowe, Webster being the main four), which is partly why I love Thomas Hardy so much, because his style was so similar to that.

Fiction books that I've really enjoyed and would recommend (in a Sunday lunchtime while I'm doing some work order, which will change any time you ask without fail):

1. Tess of the D'Urbevilles
2. Lord of the Flies
3. Great Expectations
4. Pilgrim's Progress
5. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
6. George's Marvellous Medicine
7. A Study In Scarlet
8. The Code of the Woosters
9. The Picture of Dorian Gray
10. Fantastic Mister Fox

Two Ronald Dahl novels. I know...

To Kill a Mocking Bird, The Hobbit, Philip Pullman his Dark Materials trilogy among my fave fiction. James Patterson, Tony Parsons and Ben Elton I like too.

I like autobiographies too. Bob Geldof "Is that it" and John Peel's are a great read. Recently read The Railway man by Eric Lomax, a very humbling read indeed.

Hi Tal,   I've never read The fantastic Mr Fox, but loved the movie - have you seen it and how does it compare/live up to the original ?

I haven't seen the film, but unless it has the "Some Cider Inside Her Inside" song in it, it can't be a patch on the book.

http://book.zi5.me/books/read/2576/17

I read mostly non-fiction these days and am just finishing Alan Sugar's autobiography which is a good read.

Read a lot more fiction when I was younger and The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass and Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five would make my top ten.

Don't do fiction at all, but my top ten non fiction might include:

1) The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
2) Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Steven Dubner
3) Drive by Daniel Pink
4) Have a Nice Day by Mick Foley (Whatever your views on wrestling this is a really enjoyable bio by a very likeable legend of the game)
5) The Dirt by Neil Strauss (Motley Crue biography)
6) Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
7) The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
8 ) Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
9) Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
10) Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

I know this question was for Tal, But I have seen the movie, and I was mortified.
How they could turn such a wonderful story into that monotonous drivel I will never know.
And they always take the poems out, which are the best bit! They did it with the old Charlie and the chocolate factory movie, to my everlasting disgust.
I implore you, simonnatur, read the book, read all of them.
In fact I cant ever remember thinking a film was better than the book, if people are raving about a movie I avoid it till I've read it, then I can watch happy in the knowledge that I know the story as the author intended.
Unfortunately, 'film of's' are almost always a huge disappointment, usually due to the fact that they are made to cash in on somethings popularity rather than for any real love of the book.
I must say though, I was mightily impressed with the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Hobbit movies, It is exciting when they get it right and what you see on the screen is exactly what you saw in your mind.

I would be interested to hear if people think there any exceptions to this rule, for instance I have never seen the 'The colour purple' which I'm told is a great film, but the book left so little impression on me I never bothered.
God I ramble when something sets me off!

Statement of intent to read much more than I have done by posting here. Going to loosely use these lists people are putting up to eventually get around to reading them all.

Really ignored reading for entertainment and have been lazy to just be using TV or Film as my main source, but I know I am missing out on so much. So starts my journey into leaving maybe an hour before bed, maybe less, I don't know exactly, to get reading.

Where shall I start? I would like a great, gritty fiction piece that probably has a modern feel but is an epic of a read i guess. I must sound the complete muppet. But I really am under nurtured on the reading front and wouldn't mind an engaging, but a not so challenging read ie. something written in language a little too complex, to start. Imagine my breadth of vocabulary and sentence structure will improve much more as i read more obv, so I am not worrying.

Any suggestions for just the one book to be concentrating on, just to start?

Life of PI, book and film excellent.

The girl with the dragon tattoo is a good read, complex enough to hold interest but smoothly written,
don't know if I'd describe it as epic, but good enough for me to get the other two in the trilogy.
Of course, you may of already saw the film!

Serpico

EDIT: Sorry, it's non-fiction based on a true story

White Teeth or Trainspotting (although the Scottish dialect in Trainspotting isn't the easiest)

All great recoms and I will be looking into all of them and getting just the one to get a start with. Perhaps though I may not start with Trainspotting, Life of Pi, or The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo as I have seen the film versions and I wouldn't mind something fresh?

Or can you see the film and be unaffected reading into the book afterwards, as it is an art form so disassociated it will be much like reading into a different story such are the varied depictions you can draw for yourself?

I already am very excited by the prospect of reading more and nearly certain it will become infectious.

I think the main problem with 'film of's' isn't necessarily the commercialism, more the fact that by necessity to put a book onto screen you have to lose about 80% of the content.

I think the only film I've seen before the book was Trainspotting and that is one where the film does excel as much as the book; but in a different way to the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe film. Trainspotting didn't just take what was in the book and put it on the film - exactly like what was in your mind. Instead it was interpreted and presented in a form which was more appropriate to a film format rather than a book format.

The Hunger Games film went even further than that - they cut and altered some fairly significant parts of the book, but in a way which still kept the story intact. It made the finished product a good film - just as the book is a good book; but almost like they're two separate versions of the same story rather than one of them 'just' being a film of the other.

There are actually loads of films which are better than their original books - but that's only really because the original book was quite so mediocre; so probably not really worth bothering with.

Lack of homework done here. The series is called A Song of Ice and Fire. Bad teachers.

Also, I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but I'd expect some mention of Pratchett in that list?

Strange you should mention the Hunger games, as I read it last week, I really enjoyed it and now that you've put the 'different interpretation' idea into my head I'm actually looking forward to seeing it.
I suppose I was a little bit quick to dismiss before, your right in that the film can be a homage to the book, not just try to 'copy' it, and I like the fact that someone would put the love and effort into translating something into a different media, but I think that sometimes they should recognise when its never going to work properly, like The Time Travellers Wife for instance.
I just feel bad for the the authors, I can imagine them seeing a chapter they had agonised over for weeks trying to convey the emotions right, flick by in a unremarkable scene.

On the other hand entirely I realised that two of my favourite films were based on novellas from a Stephen King compilation, both nice little reads but lost amongst all the other stuff he's done if someone hadn't taken them and turned them into the stunning Shawshank Redemption and that stays with you, coming of age movie, Stand by Me.

Swings and Roundabouts.

Is this list supposed to be what teachers recommend kids to read? or just a list of there favourites?
Ive read 31 from this list, stand outs for me (apart from the kids ones) Wild Swans, The Help, Birdsong and To kill a mockingbird.
I've had The Shadow of the wind for ages but not read it, think ill get started on that tonight.
Anyone else seen any of their faves on the list?

They were asked to list their top 10 favourites.

There's a bit of discussion on the TES link about it's interpretation but I'd largely think it's a random collection you could get if you picked any single profession. They asked 500 primary school and 500 secondary school teachers for a start - so it's a ridiculously small sample. All of the primary school teachers are non-specialist and the majority of the secondary school teachers won't be English teachers - so basically it's a random sample of a 1000 people and that's pretty much what it comes across as.

My favourite 4 would be:
1. Ulysses, James Joyce
2. Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
3. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
4. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath

I have favourites after that, I just can't compare them in any meaningful way to be able to rank them. For example, Trainspotting is brilliant and The Lord of the Rings is brilliant - but there's no framework you could construct to compare any kind of difference in quality between the two. Those 4 just stand out as what I personally liked more than any others.

Of the rest of the list I'd highly recommend
8. The Book Thief Markus Zusak and
65. The Secret History Donna Tartt
in terms of books which people might not come across if it weren't for a recommendation.

Thanks for the suggestions, I shall add those to my reading list.

Just finished my holiday and the time where I spend most afternoons reading while getting burnt.  I had a wish to read 12 books this year, and from January to June I'd read half a book!

During the 2 weeks just past, however I've now completed 4 - I've vowed to keep this up, as I certainly enjoyed reading again.  Revitalised the passion so to speak.

The books in question will not appeal to most I'm sure, but these we the ones around at the time!

I was half way through an autobio before my arrival, and this was duly dispatched early on.

Book 1 - Rob Brydon - A small man in a book.  6.5/10.  I like reading auto-bio's, but this took along time to get going, was funny, as to be expected in parts, but not as funny as I'd thought it would be.  2nd half of the book is better and got going.  That said, overall I kept getting the same feeling over and over -he comes across as a bit selfish, and money-orinated?!

Book 2 - Lee Child - Killing Floor (Jack Reacher) 7/10  - I'd heard of the film to be honest before the book, and I think it was mentioned on hear as a must read as a series.  So I bought the first 3 for my son, and he read this before me (he's now on book 3)
I thought it was good, fast paced book.  I did find myself wanting to know more, which is always a good sign for a book to take hold of you like that.  Reading the character of Mr Reacher, (without seeing the film) makes it laughable that Mr Cruise was given the part?!!
My only critic was on 2 levels.  The way the story allowed a 'Loner, once arrested for murder, stranger' pretty much take over the murder cases without much question.  Also, a little pedantic maybe on my part, but I couldn't get it out of my head, that here is a clearly soulless, hard nut of a man, without a care in the world, not bothered by being alone, or killing folk if they annoy him, not interested in his own brother, but when alone in his latest conquests's house, he makes a coffee.....and washes the mug!

Bugged the hell of out of me to be honest!  Little things, eh!

Book 3 - Rafa Benitez-  Champion League Dreams. 10/10.  A absolute must if you're a Liverpool fan.  A likeable must if you're a football fan in general.  A great in-sight in to the 6 year reign of Benitez, during which, amongst others, reaching 2 European Cup finals, one of course being the unforgettable night of Istanbul.

I read this in 3 sittings.  It was superb, and a great refresher into that particular game, but also that whole season.  The book details, each of the 6 years, and on occasion breaks down the important games, with in-sights into the tactics used, the training and build-ups to the big games, and the methods to his sometimes, seemingly madness - "Rafa Rant" being for example one!

It was a great reminder of the times, and even though I'm a huge LFC fan, I'd forgotten already how amazing this period was.  The teams we beat in Europe, the trophies we'd won, the squad we'd had.  It was only 3 or 4 years ago that it all ended.  How quickly it all fell apart.

Book 4 - Miranda Hart - It is just me?.  6/10..  The wife had this book, and was crying with laughter (it doesn't take that much to be fair) but I was intrigued.  I do love the show, my daughter loves it even more, so I like it as much because of that than anything else.  It's always on as a result, so I can't help but watch it!

The book, was at times, laugh out loud.  The concept wasn't great.  She regularly tackles life's social awkwardness-es (a word?) and states most of which has happened to herself, with her own 18year old self.  The 18yr old Miranda also shares her views on the 38year old self, on why things have turned out like they have.  Somewhat peculiar method of an auto-bio, but unique, much like Miranda herself.

Weird I was gonna bump this thread yesterday......

I just finished reading "The marrying of Chani Kaufmann" which is about the the marriage of an ultra orthodox Jewish girl from North London and the people around her.  Not at all my normal kind of book but I couldn't put it down.  Like a lot of the best novels I learnt a lot by reading it and it made me think a lot.  It has been longlistednfor the Booker Prize and whilst I am not sure it will win for a debut novel it is very good.  Recommended.  9/10

I read, see what I've done there, your mind.

(The English language is so complicated!)  Read, ("red") or you could have read (red) it like Read ("reed")

I just read the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce and thought it was tremendous.  Would recommend it to pretty much anyone.  I'm sure Tikay and Red Dog would enjoy it (almost) as much as their non-fiction books too!

Whilst I am in Jamaica when I am at home I have a lot of free time and usually spend it on Blonde or just surfing, watching movies etc so I have decided this autumn to challenge myself in terms of my reading.  I want to try something that will be challenging but ultimately very rewarding.  One book I think fits the bill is Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace and so, possibly do Wolf Hall and Bringing up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel.  I also toyed with idea of just trying to read every book on the upcoming Booker shortlist.  Anyone recommend any of the above or have another suggestion.  The standard reply to this is to read Ulysses by Joyce but I'm not sure I am ready for that just yet.....

List has Twilight too tbf. Although if its top 100 in ten year's time I'll be worried.

George Orwell's Animal Farm next on my hit list of book to be read this year.  Ashamed to say never read it, and most of the "classics" that one should be reading in his/her lifetime.

Looking forward to it.

Some good, some bad.

Started bringing up the bodies yesterday. Quite daunting to open chapter 2 and see 'time left in chapter 1h 56m' :o

I've just been recommended City Boy by Geraint Anderson.

" In this no-holds-barred, warts-and-all account of life in London's financial heartland, Cityboy breaks the Square Mile's code of silence, revealing tricks of the trade and the corrupt, murky underbelly at the heart of life in the City. Drawing on his experience as a young analyst in a major investment bank, the six-figure bonuses, monstrous egos, and the everyday culture of verbal and substance abuse that fuels the world's money markets is brutally exposed as Cityboy describes his ascent up the hierarchy of this intensely competitive and morally dubious industry, and how it almost cost him his sanity. "

Anyone read this? Thoughts?

Yeah I have read it.  It is the kind of book that is very easy to read, fairly entertaining but not particularly memorable.  In fact I had pretty much forgotten I had read it until you just mentioned it but I must have enjoyed it because I read it in a few days.  The author does have a pretty high opinion of himself though.

Cheers. I will give it a spin next.

I finished Bring up the Bodies the other day. 

Wasn't a huge fan of the writing style - the lengthy paragraphs and chapters and the writing from the perspective on one person, but not in the first person, made it quite difficult to follow the dialogue at times.  Another thing I struggled with was keeping up with the sheer number of characters - who was who and where they fit in to the overall picture.  A disadvantage to reading on the kindle (and therefore being thrown straight in at the start of chapter 1) was that I didn't realise until after I'd finished that, at the front of the book, there was a list of the cast of characters and some family trees.  If I'd known that was there to refer to as and when it'd have made life a lot easier.  That said, it didn't distract too much from following the bigger picture.

On the other hand, the kindle and it's built in dictionary was very handy at times as there were a fair few archaic words that I had to look up. Reading in paper form I simply wouldn't have bothered, so I am a little more edumacated in my vocabulary now :)

I hadn't realised upon starting the book that it was the second in a planned trilogy and I therefore should have read Wolf Hall first.  Bring up the Bodies stands alone well enough, and having finished this book I don't feel inclined to go back and read the first - I''ll definitely look out the next book when it is published though.

I didn't think it was a masterpiece. It was a good book, and Hilary Mantel is undoubtedly a very talented writer. I found it interesting reading a well-known story from an unusual perspective, and got myself a bit of a history lesson along the way as I broke off to read up on some of the lesser-known characters.  I can't really think of anyone I'd particularly recommend it to though, and will probably pick something a bit more light-hearted for my next read.

I started Wolf Hall when I wrote my post above and whilst I was enjoying it it wasn't/isn't compelling me.  I was also reading on a kindle and it is a bit of a pain to go back to the list of characters etc.  I think I need a long plane journey or something to really get into it.  Feels worthy though but not sure I won't read some other stuff in between.

Claw- think you would really enjoy 'The Marrying of Chani Kauffman'

yep - pretty much my view on the other one too - I didn't ever see myself not finishing it, but it was far from 'unputdownable' and felt like a bit of perseverance was being utilised at times.


Cheers - can't sleep and was just debating starting something else. Was considering that one after reading your last review - I shall purchase it right now!

Excellent review for the book!

May have to get me one of these kindle's or start to borrow the wife's!

Proper books are still my mainstay but the kindle is an excellent substitute for if I'm reading anywhere not in the house.

enjoying this so far - missed my stop on the bus which is always a good sign!

About to start "Cityboy" by Geraint Anderson.  Sounds good, so we'll see if it is.

Latest finished one, is not to all taste - The Top Gear Years - J. Clarkson.  Aware he is very much like marmite, so I'll leave the review alone.  If you like him, you'll get on with it, if not, then you won't!

Aim was 12 for the year, 5 down so far.

Finished this - loved it :) thanks for the recommendation Stu :)up

Reading some trashy chick-lit now that's probably of no interest to anyone else around here :D

a book is a book at the end of the day! Each to their own and all.

Just started a crime novel (Nameless by Joe Conlan). Not far in enough to give a verdict yet. Next on the list after that is The Testament of Mary - has anyone read it?

can't say I have I'm afraid.  Crime novels if you like them, fictional that is..can't go far wrong with Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series

Not usually my bag really, but i'm working my way through an eclectic collection of free/cheap titles that had high review ratings that I downloaded when I first got the kindle :)

Then you're on your very own little adventure!!

About halfway through The Nameless now (on a slight tangent, it's reminded me of the Ramsey Campbell book of almost the same name I read about 20 years ago - must give that one a re-read sometimes).  Have to say, even though it wouldn't be my usual choice, I'm really enjoying it.  In a nutshell, it's the story of a serial killer and an FBI agent's hunt to find him.  Similar to Silence of the Lambs I guess.  At the moment, I'm really struggling to put it down and reading bits at any opportunity - recommend it to anyone who likes that kind of stuff.

I'm rereading a much-loved second-hand copy of The Return of Sherlock Holmes. It is a collection of stories that start after the Reichenbach Fall, so where the latest TV adaptation will start in series 3.

Such a warm writing style

This is a great thread. I mostly read non fiction, although these are some of my favourite fiction. I love these books and read them when I need a pick up or boost of feel good.


Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach . I must have read this about twenty times over the years.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho . The greatest book ever written and my choice if I ever find myself stranded on a desert island.

The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason . Great book and full of sound advice.

I am also a sucker for anything by Jim Rohn, Anthony Robbins and Napolean Hill. 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne is awesome as well if you manage to work your way through the advertising and sometimes religious language used.

Welcome to the thread, glad you enjoy!

I could happily ignore the fact, but feel compelled to admit, other than johnathon seagull, I can hand on heart say I've not heard of either book or author on the others you've mentioned!

Hope that won't put you off posting future joys!

The Alchemist is suppose to be released as a big budget movie in 2014. Although I have heard that rumour before when Laurence Fishburne planned to release it and that never happened. The author sold the rights for the movie years ago and bought them back after he saw the planned script. Its sold 30 million copies and been translated into 67 languages.

I've heard of The Alchemist by Ben Jonson and by Iron Maiden. This is a new one.

I know the Iron Maiden song as well, but don't know the Ben Jonson book.

Well, it's a play really. Jonson is the daddy of 17th century comedy. Def worth a read.

how many have you done......

Times Top 25 books you should read.....

title - author - "what to say"

The IIiad - 8th Century BC  - The original bromance, and still 2'800 years on, still the best
Beowolf - 10th Century - The original war on terror
La Commedia - Dante Alighieri 1321 - don't abandon hope, all ye who enter here
The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer - The blueprint for english humour
King James Bible - 1611 - English would never be the same again

Paradise Lost - John Milton - Sympathy for the devil? It started with Paradise Lost
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin - A women in possession of a good plot line must be in want of a TV adaptation
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë - Reader, I married him. But not before I taught him a thing or two about the evils of the patriarchy and of androcentric hegemony  (no me either!?)
Moby Dick - Herman Melville - Even the most ardent Greenpeacer will be captivated by this whale-hunt
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens - Desert-Island discs

Alice Adventrures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll - The frenchman said it: little girls get bigger every day
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy - The only love story you ever need to read
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain - Ernest Hemingway said it: "all modern american literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn"
A study in scarlet - Arthur Conan Doyle - From Poirot to Marlowe, they owe it all to Holmes
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad - civilisation goes up the creek, without a paddle

Ulysses - James Joyce - One small day for Bloom, one giant leap for literature
Remembering of Things Past - Marcel Proust - One man's experience encompasses practically all human experience
Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf - Character is everything. The rest is noise
The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald - a book to give bankers
The Trial - Frank Kafka  - Whether it's bureaucracy or brutality, we're still living in a Kafaesque world

All quite on the western front - Erich Maria Remarque - One of the greatest works of pacifist literature is born...in time for another world war
Nineteen Eighty-four - George Orwell - Big Brother is watching
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov - A peerless perv with peerless prose
One Hundred Years of solitude - Gabriel García Márquez - The reality rule-book is rewritten
The handmaids tale - Margaret Atwood - What do women want? Not rapey enslavement, mostly

I thought The Alchemist was pretty meh too be honest, I also thought the same of Life of Pi.

Captain Corellis Mandolin was a captivating read though I am a big fan of Louis de Bernières.

I bought The Times just because of that supplement.

Shoddy editorial control though - the headline strapline was, "... books you should read..."; but then later on they describe them as the 25 most important (haven't got it with me - but it was something like that).

Obviously 'important' is a million miles away from 'best'; it would probably be more accurate to describe them as the, "... Top 25 books you should study...", because they are all 'great' (although I'm personally not so sure about 'One Hundred Years of solitude' or 'The handmaids tale') but I wouldn't recommend necessarily bothering reading at least half of them if you're just looking for something for a 'leisure' read.

Yes you're right it did say that, I should have out that really!  It read, 25 books that changed the course of literature

Iceland of all places...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24399599

Just got the new Malcolm Gladwell book, started it last night.

That is all.

Still trudging through Cityboy...painful.

(The times is helping alot recently with this thread!) 

10 Thrillers you must read....having learnt from last time, I continued to read...Hey presto....Another "False, headline grabbing sub heading"

As it continues....Are these the best 10 thrillers of all time? Maybe not..but these are my (Linwood Barclay) top 10.

Shan't bother to write the whole thing up...But Top was Marathon Man (William Goldman), other classics, The Silence of the Lambs, Misery.

Marathon Man! I read that when I was about twelve.
 Excellent book, might even give it another go.

Finished this the other day.  Enjoyable and easy to read like all of his books.  Still not too sure he doesn't oversimplify things.  Saw an interesting interview with him the other day by Jon Ronson where he basically admitted that he thought that his previous books had led to some damaging consequences especially as a justification for zero tolerance policing.

from the age of 10 to 15 i was imersed in issac asimov's sci fi worlds, read every book i could, and thinking back, i want to start again as i love sci fi (self confessed nerd/geek)

at 15 i discovered the Dune series of books by frank herbert

at 17 i found the discworld series (plus other non discworld books) by terry pratchett, and have been enjoying them since, i have however noticed that they have turned from some comedic awesomness in the first few novels, to a more serious and darker comedy, but that may be due to the authors failing health and his out look on the world these days (but dont ask me about david jason and the sky programmes, not a fan tbh)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pratchett

also still like a sci fi book, not that many get written these days, it's all andy mcpap and the special forces rebel types that seem to get written to appease the mass markets desire to read about how a skull explodes when a 9mm round hits it (hot fuzz anyone???)

Officially more pages than the computer thread.

Society rules right there!
.
 ;nana;

Just finished Guilem Balague's book  on Pep Guardiola. 

Really enjoyed it.  An absolute must-read for any serious fan of football.

In-depth and captivating.  Pep seems like a top man and a real football man.

One for the list. Cheers

Oooh, that reminds me that I'd decided I need to read the Foundation books again.

good call


but i need to find them then read them!!

City boy done. Very contrived and not what I thought it was going to be.

A painful read really.

On to the next

My daughter asked me yesterday what my first book I read was;

Skipping the likes of Roger and Jennifer and their hats of course. So if i recall correctly the first "leisure" book I read was Worzel Gummidge by Barbara Euphan Todd

Yours?

Probably not the first book I ever read, but the first I can remember was called 'Hi fella' by Era Zistrel.
My Grandad came home with a copy for me, saying he'd saw it and thought I might like it, which made it all the more special as although he had endless time and patience for his many grandchildren he wasn't really a present buyer, he left that to Granny.
I wish I still had it.

I am about 1/4 into morrissey's book, massive fan all my life but the book is a right load of shite. I suspect it will get a lot better when it starts actually talking about music. I do not want 100 pages on how shit his school was.

I might be persuaded to read some science fiction.

Recommendations please. Has Asimov stood the test of time? Who are the good modern writers?

It seems to me that science fiction books would quickly become dated.

Sometimes technical details can date science fiction (visions of the future are rarely accurate, usually laughably wrong - we still don't have flying cars or personal jetpacks) but good sci-fi is all about the ideas behind the story anyway (I'm talking about hard sci-fi here, rather than Star Wars type stuff).

A good entry point for sci-fi is Asimov's short stories (such as in this book - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Stories-v-Isaac-Asimov/dp/0006476473) as it gives you a good taste of sci-fi without you initially having to commit to a 500 page novel.

Loads of Asimov titles on Kindle Andrew, but not that one.

Gonna try this though. 34 pence.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fourth-Science-Fiction-Megapack-ebook/dp/B0085TK53K

Tom not si fi but here's a book I think you will like "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote. There was a 2005 film biopic, including the writing of this book called simply "Capote"

Here's the wiki page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Cold_Blood

Tom don't want to start being your personal librarian but I have a DVD book box set of this gathering dust on my shelf. Let me know when youre next at dtD Ill bring it over.

I've been reading a bit of old school sci fi lately, in a bid to up my 'classics' intake.  Currently half way through War of the Worlds.  Not finding it particularly gripping, but it's pretty amazing to think it was written in 1898.

Would also be interested in other sci-fi recommendations - preferably distopian stuff.

Oh - have also added 'the Talisman' to my list after seeing post about it on the music thread - looks really good and surprised I've not read it before as I went through a big phase of Stephen King/Peter Straub et al during my late teens

Thank you Simon. I will take you up on that


I've finished the other thing, (Excellent it was too) but my daughter is halfway thorough it now. Will get it back to you asap.

BTW- I love having a personal librarian.

I have season 4 ready to watch too, and once I get thru Season 5 (a) you can lend that :)

Are you likely to be at Dusk on Saturday?

Just started my first classic in a while (not sci-fi)

Lord of flies. Never read it, feel I should.

"What are we? Humans or savages? What's grown ups going to think?"


Golding wrote LOTF as a retort to the stories that existed before like Swallows and Amazons. In short, he found the idea that, if left alone on an island, people would be able to function harmoniously absurd and offensive. There's a lot of challenging stuff in it, particularly with Simon. You'll love it.

Appreicate that, haven't met Simon yet though.  Already it's become one where I'm looking forward to picking it up, always a good sign

Bumpage.

Have today started reading one of my Christmas presents: The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets by Simon Singh.

Essentially, the Simpsons is written by a lot of maths lovers and there are tons of references in the show to all manner of mathsy things. This is an explanation of why they are there and what they are.

So, that's my favourite all time TV show, maths and an author whose work I really enjoy reading (he wrote a brilliant book on the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem). This is pretty much my nut book; Tal porn.

For some people, a pop up picture book on the history of Carmen Electra's bikini choices would do the job. For others, learning that Warren Buffet designed, engineered and built a secret, underground railway network and being told about it by Lord Sir Robbie Williams would butter their parsnips.

This does me just lovely. I'm not convinced books can ever be the same after this.

Probably be rubbish now.

Reading this atm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Unthinkable-survives-disaster-strikes/dp/0099525720

Its all about how humans really react to disasters, hostage crisis, life threatening situations etc.

I'm four chapters in and am already prematurely claiming it is one of the best books I've ever read. Some really jaw dropping stuff about what the human body & mind can do to help and hinder you in a crisis.

I have been reading a fair bit of Martina Cole lately – Revenge, The Life, Faces. All very good, albeit similar story lines, backdrops and characters. If you like your underworld crime type novels then these all gripped me from start to finish. I find the style of writing very easy to engage with so tend to whizz through in 4 or 5 sittings.

Am off on holiday in a few weeks so looking for some new reads. Thought I would tackle a few classics that I have never read before – 1984, To Kill A Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. I like the look of that disaster book mentioned above so will go for that as well.

Just finished the first Secret Footballer book, cracking read.

Very intrigued by this. Post an example?

There are hundreds (literally) of examples.

You can find some short talks by Singh on youtube (for numberphile, a channel you should sub if you're a fan of maths) on the subject.

Gone Girl

Enjoyed this a lot. Neat twists and turns all the way through and interesting, albeit unlikeable, main characters. It's told from two different perspectives - a structure that works quite well and manipulates the readers emotions throughout. I preferred the first half to the second when it became more of a conventional thriller. I found elements of the book unsatisfying but I read it in stints of 3-4 hours, unusual for me to be that invested. Looking forward to seeing what they do with the film.

The Fault in Our Stars

Wanted to like this but couldn't. I never bought into the main male character who was irritating when we first met him and never won me back round. I enjoyed parts of the book and it's an emotional read, as expected with a book whose protagonists have terminal cancer. Ultimately, just didn't grab me like it was supposed to.

Read it, excellent.

Since then read the second one and more of the same.

Has anyone read Roy Keane's new book? I don't normally read book by sports personalities but I'm very tempted by this one.

*books.

(I'm not sure how to edit previous posts)

Gone Girl was remarkable in it's construction and as you say, our sympathies were tugged each and every way throughout.

If you enjoyed it I think you will also enjoy Bloody Women by Helen Fitzgerald. That has a twist or two and some rather clever writing.

I am over half way through "Second Half" - and it is very good.  Well written (not by Roy), with some engaging tales.
Its not a hatchet job, well maybe to Fergie.  I am actually warming too him quite a lot.

It's not a classic sports autobiog but well worth a read.

Don't dispose of it when you are finished,would like to borrow please.

No problem mate - the new Danny Baker book also very good.
Having said that slowed down on the reading a bit as I found this game on the Internet called Poker . . . . . Spin and Go's are the nutz.

Got 'Fooled by Randomness' on in the car.

Reading 'Man's Search for Meaning'.

Given up on 'Grapes of Wrath', again.

Opinions on any of these welcome.

About to get started on this myself.

It's a short read.  I'm about half way, which is the end of the biographical account of his time in the camps.  It is not supposed to be another story of that life though (still a harrowing account none the less)  He is already starting to talk more about his mental state.

Second half is about his development of logtherapy.

I have some other book 'The Mental Game of Poker 2' I must get around to.  Even though I don't play/haven't played the last year.

"Fooled by Randomness" is superb.

Got your pm btw VBlue.  Am away at the moment but will respond in next few days.

That's very kind thank you.

Bought second installment of Danny Bakers autobiography the other day.  Much like the first it rarely left my hand until I had finished it 13 hours after buying it.  he is just a great storyteller.

Thanks for the recommend David, Bloody Women was certainly an interesting read. I would have preferred it to be twice as long so some of the peripheral characters were a bit more fleshed out but enjoyed it. Obvious comparisons to Gone Girl but felt a bit all over the place at times, makes the characters in Gone Girl look positively sane.

Next up for me is Russell Brands Revolution offset with a re-read of Watership Down which I haven't read for at least 10 years but absolutely love.

I'm going to take a punt, here, and recommend The Stars' Tennis Balls for you. Just putting together what I reckon from those books will tickle your fancy.

Thanks Tal, had been meaning to read Stephen Fry's novels. I finished his latest autobiography a couple of weeks ago where he writes a fair bit about the writing process, will start with that one.

Have been having my head ripped off understanding how I am 'Fooled by Randomness' and now on the cosmos, our place in it, why we are here, and whether we are alone, by that guy who played keys on one of my favourite house tunes 'You're the Best Thing'.

Anything in either category for my monthly audible purchase would suffice. Maybe not another Nassim Nicholas Tales book.  Default choice was to go for Bill Bryson Short History of Nearly Everything.   Recommendations please.

Just booked a week in the sun for the end of this month so got some books on order:-

The Girl in the Spiders Web
Fooled by Randomness
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
Notes From A Small Island
Go Set A Watchman
Paper Towns

Particularly looking forward to a new tale of Lisbeth and Mikael plus the new Harper Lee. Hopefully neither are a disappointment.

Tal, thanks for the recommendation of The Stars' Tennis Balls. Got it for Christmas last year and thought it was excellent.

Anybody else reading anything interesting? 

I'm currently rereading Black Swan.

Pretty sure tikay would love it!

Ahem
http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=55053.0

Anyone got a recommendation for a non fiction book that will leave the reader with a bit of hope and positivity towards the human race? Not looking for any fluffy hippy shit, just something with a good message.

I've just read 'A brief history of the future' and now I am just finishing 'Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class' - both are very good, but both are quite grim reading. Not sure I can stomach a third book in a row that will bum me out.

Why?

Go out and be a good person?

It's the story of big unpredictables changing the way the world works. Premised on the idea that until someone saw a black swan the idea they could be any other colour than white was preposterous.

It's a story of adaptability and randomness. I'm pretty sure those are Buffet-endorsed ideas ;)

Bumped for muckthenuts :)

Just finished this and it may be my book of the year, every page has something mind blowing on it.

(https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41JEcZ15wYL._SY346_.jpg)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00K7ED54M/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

On the recommendation of DaveShoelace (somewhere else?) I read a few Jon Ronson books.

So you have been publically shamed is very good, though I may well think that as it is my view on most of what is wrong with the likes of twitter.  Astonishing how Trump gets away with so much when so many have their lives ruined for so little?

Them is very good too. 

I didn't find The Psycopath Test so easy.  It is just harder to see the funny side I guess.

Great book, might give it a reread whilst I'm at home.

Bit of a different tone but I would really recommend the storm light archives if anyone is looking for a fantasy series to get stuck into. It might beat out game of thrones for me, really excited for the third coming out next year.