Hell No.. Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Last search I got was 2007...you can decide guys! I've started reading again. I'm a pain in the ass when it comes to sitting down and getting into a book. I find it very hard to do so. But I did and I'm getting through it. I started Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. I've read the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons (before the films) and loved them, and even though this is totally different, plot wise and characters, I'm enjoying it very much. I hope I can finish this and then move on to Deception Point and get that done by the time his new book comes out in September time. So, a nice start to the topic, what has everyone else got their head stuck into? P.S, Whats this Moby Dick like? I know it's a childrens book, but I've seen 2 films now where a character reads it! Anyone? GTACollectorIII 1 I'm on Twitch! Are you? Come say Hi. https://www.twitch.tv/priceyryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blades Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Bill Bryson: A Short History of Nearly Everything. Mind-bending stuff there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oklp Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 i have only read about one book in my lifetime, dont plan on reading anymore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greebo-man Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I read 100 years of solitude a summer back, and loved it. There's just so much to take in, and once i allowed myself to read it slowly and savour it, it was a great summer companion. Give it a go if you're stuck this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John The Grudge Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 My favourite book to date is Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney. It's a fantastic 80's classic. Another great book which I read recently is Hells Angels by Hunter S. Thompson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTA3Freak-2001 Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I am about half-way through Clive Cussler's Dark Watch(Part of the Oregon File Series), finally decided to give one of Cussler's non Dirk Pitt/NUMA novels a go and so far I am enjoying it for something different. Also been flipping through James May On Motors which isn't really a novel but a collection of James May's newspaper columns over the years so pretty funny stuff much like Clarkson's and Hammond's books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abel. Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Last search I got was 2007...you can decide guys! I've started reading again. I'm a pain in the ass when it comes to sitting down and getting into a book. I find it very hard to do so. But I did and I'm getting through it. I started Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. I've read the Da Vinci Code. Ah yes, I have recently read The Davinci Code, very good read, great plot. I'm currently reading Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum, it's very good, although confusing at times (not a light read ). Eco's work is more of a realistic account of the Knight's Templar, their motives and lifestyles than Dan Brown's best-seller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
major underscore Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 As part of my epic project of getting through some of the world's real literary classics, I've been making my way through The Idiot by Dostoyevsky (right now I'm at page 246 of 585, and the story is starting to pick up pace once again). It's pretty heavy stuff though since the author tends to spend page upon page describing the inner workings of his confused protagonists as they ponder this and that. Parallel to that book I'm currently enjoying A Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. It's a post-apocalyptic novel set in the world a number of centuries after some great catastrophy and the modern world as we know it has drifted into myth, as an order of monks are religiously worshipping the artifacts that we see around us every day. I can recommend this book as it's quite humorous and has great dialogue. At times the author takes a step back from the plot and interjects lovely descriptive passages about that post-apoc. world. Previous to that book, I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy, another post-apoc. novel where the reader get to follow a Father and his Son as they travel slowly through a depressing twilight world. This one is currently being made into a movie starring Viggo Mortensen and I'm looking forward to seeing once it hits theatres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunk Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 When the film was coming out, I went and bought Watchmen. It was really good, interesting characters and plot. I had planned to go and see the film as well, but I ended up missing it and finishing the book instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussiebushmatt Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness. They're both part of the Chaos Walking series; the third and final part is set to come out in May '10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hell No.. Posted July 15, 2009 Author Share Posted July 15, 2009 I am about half-way through Clive Cussler's Dark Watch(Part of the Oregon File Series) Thats another thing I was meant to ask. What are his books like? I've been the reading the back cover of ones I see, and they sound like amazing adventures. There was some at a boot sale for 50pence each. Maybe I should of picked one up. Ones I've looked at and sounds good are: http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/9453601...ip/Product.html http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/3533276...ch/Product.html http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/838322/...ty/Product.html With Plauge ship sounding like the film "Ghost Ship" I'm on Twitch! Are you? Come say Hi. https://www.twitch.tv/priceyryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fnorg Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I've always though that the Da Vinci Code was majorly overrated (didn't bother finish reading it after watching half the movie, either). And that Angels and Demons was far superior. Am I the only one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blind Joe Death Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Great topic Hell No.. I finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy the other day. Beautiful book and will go down as one of my all-time favourites, and that's saying a lot. I bought one of his earlier books, Blood Meridian, the day after I finished reading it. I will read that another time though as right now I have started a book by a man named Mark Rowlands, titled The Philosopher and the Wolf: Lessons from the Wild on Love, Death and Happiness. I'm half-way through the book and thus far I have been totally enthralled throughout the whole reading. Highly recommended along with my former read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seachmall Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 (edited) Bill Bryson: A Short History of Nearly Everything. My dad read that a few months ago and has never been short of interesting facts since I really want to read it too. I've started Plato's The Republic, I'm only a couple of pages in to book one but was surprised at how easy it is to read, I expected it to be translated to some ancient form of unreadable English but it's not. The writing style also makes it very readable as it's done in a Dialogue format as oppose to long drawn out essays. If anyone is looking for recommendations check out any of Ben Mezrich's books, they're great reads. That god-awful film "21" is based on his "Bringing Down the House" but don't let that put you off. Edited July 15, 2009 by Seachmall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan. Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 As of today, I finished reading Michael Ondaatje's Running in the Family, which investigates the events of his estranged father, and is comprised of interviews with other family members in his native Sri Lanka. Although the book doesn't have a set plot line, some of the stories told in the novel are quite fascinating which makes reading the book worthwhile. Tomorrow I'm planning on starting Triumph of the Nomads by Geoffrey Blainey, which is a reassessment of the lives of Aboriginals prior to the arrival of the Europeans in Australia. My dad recommended it to me, and although I'm not interested that much in Aboriginal culture, I'll give it a try and see what's it like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manofpeace Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 As a part of required reading before school starts for my advanced class, I have to read A Separate Peace. So far it's kind of dull, so I read it at night to help me sleep. I've also found a copy of Marine Sniper, one of my grandpa's old books that my dad took from his bookshelf. I haven't gotten a chance to read it yet, but it looks really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hell No.. Posted July 15, 2009 Author Share Posted July 15, 2009 Ha, yeah, reading or school never made it more interesting! What about short stories? I enjoy quick reads sometimes. Anyone know of any? Say 150 - 300 pages I guess. I'm on Twitch! Are you? Come say Hi. https://www.twitch.tv/priceyryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodfatherITB Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I just finished Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, which I thought was pretty good, and Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh which was also good. Right now I'm reading another one by Welsh called Filth, but I'm only a few pages in so far. Anyone read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote? One of my favorites of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
major underscore Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 What about short stories? I enjoy quick reads sometimes. Anyone know of any? Say 150 - 300 pages I guess. Yeah, The Road by Cormac McCarthy is 287 pages (at least my pocket version is; according to Wikipedia it's only 256 pages). It's a good read and you'll get through it in no time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teqila Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I'm reading Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror. If you like thrillers, I would suggest Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan storyline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hell No.. Posted July 15, 2009 Author Share Posted July 15, 2009 Great, thanks mate. Getting some great reviews. I'll give it a bid on eBay. I'm on Twitch! Are you? Come say Hi. https://www.twitch.tv/priceyryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheJonesy Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 As a part of required reading before school starts for my advanced class, I have to read A Separate Peace. So far it's kind of dull, so I read it at night to help me sleep. I've also found a copy of Marine Sniper, one of my grandpa's old books that my dad took from his bookshelf. I haven't gotten a chance to read it yet, but it looks really good. No way. I have to do the same thing along with two other books. I have yet to even open it, though. Also, my best friend has read Marine Sniper and says it's really good - especially if you are into that. Besides required reading in school, I've only really read two books on my own. One being The Great Gatsby - which I had to eventually read a second time for a class - and Monster by Jonathan Kellerman who's my absolute favorite author; I love his style. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in detective-esque stories. This is also excluding the few comics/graphic novels I've read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gezim Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I'm not much of a reader. I've read a couple books but mostly skimmed through them. Although I've read "Fat Kid Rules the World". An absolutely great book. Don't judge it by it's title. Though that was 3 years ago. I haven't touched a book since and don't plan on doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rampage! Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 (edited) I've read a lot of books. I'm partial to crime/ thriller/ suspense novels, mysteries, some science fiction. Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag is great. John Sanford's Prey series is really good. Patricia Cornwell has some good books, if you're into forensics. Elmore Leonard, good stuff there. Ed Mcbain, try him out, excellent. Stephen King's older novels are good. I also like Dean Koontz, but a lot of people don't. Moby Dick was boring, never made it past page one. Classics, To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, Gone with the Wind, Animal Farm, I liked. The Catcher in the Rye is a love it or hate it book. I hated it, but you might not. Edited July 16, 2009 by rampage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omnia sunt Communia Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I'm currently reading 1984 by George Orwell, and when I say 'currently reading', I mean I got given the book for Christmas last year and haven't gotten around to finishing it yet. I'm about half-way through part two. I'm a fast reader with a short attention span, I much prefer to write stories as opposed to reading them. The only other books I've read include Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow and half of Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hern; Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (which I read with my class at school); parts of Tom Clancy's Op Center: Line of Control by Jeff Rovin, Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy, The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor and Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean. I cannot remember the last time I finished a book. It's sad, really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_bungle Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I'm not a big fan of reading personally, although everyone else in my household is. I only really read when I'm on the sh*tter, or we are reading outloud in class. Currently for English we are reading Angela's Ashes. Everyone saying its a good read, I only got into the second chapter, personally I find it sh*te. Hopefully it will get better the further I get into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rampage! Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I'm currently reading 1984 by George Orwell, and when I say 'currently reading', I mean I got given the book for Christmas last year and haven't gotten around to finishing it yet. I'm about half-way through part two. I'm a fast reader with a short attention span, I much prefer to write stories as opposed to reading them. The only other books I've read include Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow and half of Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hern; Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (which I read with my class at school); parts of Tom Clancy's Op Center: Line of Control by Jeff Rovin, Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy, The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor and Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean. I cannot remember the last time I finished a book. It's sad, really. Wow, I have the opposite problem. I can finish reading a book, no problem, but when I sit down to write my own stuff I get paralyzed. Then I come here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTA3Freak-2001 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I am about half-way through Clive Cussler's Dark Watch(Part of the Oregon File Series) Thats another thing I was meant to ask. What are his books like? I've been the reading the back cover of ones I see, and they sound like amazing adventures. There was some at a boot sale for 50pence each. Maybe I should of picked one up. Ones I've looked at and sounds good are: http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/9453601...ip/Product.html http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/3533276...ch/Product.html http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/838322/...ty/Product.html With Plauge ship sounding like the film "Ghost Ship" They are great, if you like your heroic adventure stories then its right up there with the best and I suggest you start with the Dirk Pitt Adventures as I've found them the most enjoyable so far. A few great ones off the top of my head would be Raise the Titanic, Trojan Odyssey, Atlantis Found, Inca Gold, and Sahara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omnia sunt Communia Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Wow, I have the opposite problem. I can finish reading a book, no problem, but when I sit down to write my own stuff I get paralyzed. Then I come here. Weird that. I often find that if I ready a book or somebody else's story, I'll find myself adopting their plots and characteristics into my own story. That's why I tend not to read so much when I'm writing my own stuff. I find it really effects my writing, and not in a good way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny_Tightlips Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 The Silmarillion. Holy f*ck Tolkien was a genius. Definite master of language. ...besides that I ain't sayin nuthin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
