*** 'THE OFFICIAL BOOK THREAD' ***

[Kev B]

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

[redsimon]

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.

[Claw75]

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

[RED-DOG]

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.

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.

[redsimon]

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?

[Waz1892]

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

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

[Tal]

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.

[Waz1892]

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

[Tal]

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.

[DaveShoelace]

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.

[Mark_Porter]

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.

[DaveShoelace]

Just finished the first Secret Footballer book, cracking read.

[HutchGF]

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.

Very intrigued by this. Post an example?

[mulhuzz]

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.

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.

[Mark_Porter]

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.