A jolly good read?

[North West Wanderer]

Brendan Du Bois - love his work. Always set slightly in the future or slightly in the past, with emphasis on "what if" scenarios.

 

[Langers]

Michael Calvin's 'The Nowhere Men' is a cracking read if anybody's interested in the scouting side of the game. Very easy to read, much like his Millwall book.

It's on my list as I absolutely loved Family. Did you see him on the Footballers Football Show a few weeks back?

 

[Johnny75]

I didn't, I've seen him a few times on TV and listened to him on the radio. I like him because of his lack of judgement, how did he fair on the show?

I'll lend you the book when we catch up next.

 

[Langers]

I didn't, I've seen him a few times on TV and listened to him on the radio. I like him because of his lack of judgement, how did he fair on the show?

I'll lend you the book when we catch up next.

That'd be ace, thanks mate. He came across well - it was about scouting and he was there with Brian McDermott and the chief scout of (I think) Crystal Palace.

I do enjoy that show.

 

[Johnny75]

Tim Coe is chief scout at Palace I think. Nice lad and still not 30 yet.

Edit: a quick google tells me it's Ewen Chester of Norwich.

 

[Langers]

Tim Coe is chief scout at Palace I think. Nice lad and still not 30 yet.

Edit: a quick google tells me it's Ewen Chester of Norwich.

Yes, that's the one - apologies.

 

[Langers]

Almost finished The Hunger Games and I've really enjoyed it. Extremely easy to read yet still good fun.

I saw the film before I started the book and I'm surprised just how close the film is to the novel. I intend to read the rest of them before I watch Catching Fire.

 

[The Bear]

Catching Fire is supposedly very faithful to the book as well.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Just started 'Why Does E=MC2". Time to bring out my inner science geek.

 

[Johnny75]

Just started 'Why Does E=MC2". Time to bring out my inner science geek.

Brilliant book, bloody hard bending your mind around some of the stuff though!!

 

[FrankMunro-371]

The last dark by Stephen Donaldson, the final book in the Thomas Covenant chronicles. Wonderful read.

 

[PPB]

Morrisseys new Autobiography which I was supposedly keeping for the plane journey. What a jolly good read it was

 

[Jolemai]

The word "jolly" seems somewhat out of place here...

 

[Langers]

The word "jolly" seems somewhat out of place here...

As does the word "good"

(I kid, PPB)

 

[PPB]

Ok, so perhaps ' jolly ' wasn't the correct word to use .

But ' good ' was . :neer_neer:

 

[lemonjelly]

I've been having a tidy up, which included putting all the books I've read onto the bookcase. here's a brief overview:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Many-Faces-Jack-Ripper/dp/1840240164/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390221155&sr=1-2&keywords=the+many+faces+of+jack+the+ripper

MJ Trow - The many faces of jack the ripper - Trow's first foray into ripper writing (he's done 2 books since). A decent read, but quite dated.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Would-Bill-Hicks-Say/dp/1933368012/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390224637&sr=1-1&keywords=what+would+bill+hicks+say
What Would Bill Hicks Say? - All this did, was to remind me what a genius Bill Hicks is/was, & how so many other people may try, but they don't come close...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Civil-War-Three-Kingdoms-1638-1660/dp/0349115648/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390224704&sr=1-1&keywords=civil+war+royle
Civil War - tale of 3 kingdoms - T Royle - I know too little about this period of history. A big book. A lot of detail. Comprehensive look at this period covering the whole of the UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecstasy-Three-Tales-Chemical-Romance/dp/0099590913/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390224800&sr=1-1&keywords=ecstasy+-+welsh
Ecstasy - I Welsh - holiday reading. Hilarious in stages, surreal in others. 3 short stories, very well done. Interesting, yet bizarre.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fools-Gold-Unrestrained-Corrupted-Catastrophe/dp/0349121893/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390224928&sr=1-3&keywords=fools+gold
Fools Gold - Gillian Tett - recommended by Viva. In depth look focussing on the development of CDS & CDO trades, with a focus on JP Morgan. Riveting.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autobiography-Jack-Ripper-James-Carnac/dp/0552165395/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225005&sr=1-1&keywords=carnac+autobiography+of+jack+the+ripper
The autobiography of Jack The Ripper - except it's not...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whit-Iain-Banks/dp/0349139172/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225051&sr=1-1&keywords=whit
Whit - Iain Banks - I'm not sure if I went on a Banks kick before he announced he was ill, but recently I've read a fair bit. Whit was his debut, & I suspect I read too many reviews before I read it - don't get me wrong, it is a good book, a pleasure to read, and of interest to any cult-ists.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Find-Fulfilling-Work-School/dp/1447202287/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225165&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+find+fulfilling+work

How to find fulfilling work - I love the school of life ooks. This one (obviously) focuses on career choices and personal fulfillment. A very rewarding & pleasureable as well as thought provoking read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ringmasters-Daughter-Jostein-Gaarder/dp/0753817004/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225256&sr=1-1&keywords=ringmasters+daughter
Ringmasters Daughter - J Gaarder - I loved reading Sophies World. To be honest, Gaarder has never hit the same high, however this novel is the closest he's got (for me). The idea of the novelist selling stories is an intruiging plotline...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-Triffids-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141185414/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225353&sr=1-1&keywords=day+of+the+triffids
Day of the Triffids - Wyndham - a classic! Re-read whilst on holiday. What's not to love about Wyndham?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Look-Windward-Iain-M-Banks/dp/1841490598/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225411&sr=1-1&keywords=look+to+windward
Look to Windward Iain M Banks - I'm very undecided on the Culture novels. I gave them another bash with windward. Nice idea, but didn't quite work for me. Not guff at all, & it held me throughout - the story is definitely there.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/True-Face-Jack-Ripper/dp/1854797263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225518&sr=1-1&keywords=true+face+of+jack+the+ripper
The true face of jack the ripper - melvin harris - Melvin Harris suggests Robert D'onston Stephenson as the ripper. He wasn't. However, worth reading for Harris' demolition of other myths that have grown around the search for the ripper.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stonemouth-Iain-Banks/dp/0349000204/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225600&sr=1-1&keywords=stonemouth
Stonemouth - Iain Banks - this reminds me why I love his novels, as opposed to sci-fi. Simple tale of a guy run out of town, returning for a funeral, not sure whether he's on dodgy or secure ground. held me properly. Good read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cuckoos-Calling-Cormoran-Strike/dp/1408703998/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225685&sr=1-1&keywords=cuckoos+calling
Cuckoo's Calling - R Galbraith/JK Rowling - I did enjoy the casual vacancy. I really enjoyed this as a detective novel. The characters are pretty interesting, & some nice twists along the way. Recommended.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-Bombs-Exploding-Conventional-Wisdom/dp/0715637665/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225778&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=mindbombs+garrick+alder
Mind Bombs - G Alder - a writer on the QI show (a good sign) & recommended by dear Zagubov (another good sign). A great book full of immensely inetersting stuff that made me read more & want to mention the interesting things I kept reading.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Thrive-Digital-Age-School/dp/1447202317/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225908&sr=1-17&keywords=school+of+life

How to thrive in the digital age - another school of life book. Essential partially for its discussion on the concept of offline time, as well as online time. Great read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/11-22-63-Stephen-King/dp/1444727338/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225971&sr=1-1&keywords=11+22+63
Stephen King 11 22 63 - a reminder of what a great writer King can be. apparently a very old idea he's had knocking about finally saw light of day. Cracking novel. Bit predictable in parts, but on the whole, really good.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Ripper-Definitive-Richard-Whittington-Egan/dp/1445617684/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390226048&sr=1-2&keywords=jack+the+ripper+casebook
The definitive casebook - Richard Whittington Egen - in 1975, RWE wrote a casebook on JtR. Phenomenal demand sees copies of that book go for £300 minimum. The likes of me were never going to get a copy.
Thankfully, RWE has re-written the whole thing, fully updated. & this is an interesting book that is very colourful in language (I learned many new words...) but deals with so many different aspects of the case that it is essential. His methodological discussion of the main suspects is superb.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Stay-Sane-School-Life/dp/1447202309/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390226191&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+stay+sane
How to stay sane - another school of life book. These little treasures are only 100/130 pages long, but are so useful as little mini-reads & reflectors.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Essential-Jack-Ripper/dp/0718178246/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390226281&sr=1-1&keywords=the+complete+and+essential+jack+the+ripper
The complete & essential Jack the Ripper - an over ambitious title (especially for a 300 page book). however 2 heavyweights in the field cover many excellent basics of the case.
Not a game changer, but a decent read. If I were to be critical, both writers could've gone into a lot more detail than the books gives. However, had they done so, they'd likely have been accused of repeating previous work.
An excellent introduction though, & a penguin too!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ragged-Trousered-Philanthropists-Wordsworth-Classics/dp/184022682X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390226414&sr=1-1&keywords=ragged+trousered+philanthropists+robert+tressell
Ragged trousered Philanthropists - robert tressell - I recall reading Grapes of Wrath, & a friend suggested I'd feel the righteous anger rise in me as I read. Whilst that never happened with Grapes... it did with this. Superb book that anyone who thinks they have a view on socialism really should read. Whilst you may disagree, it is a very worthwhile novel. I enjoyed it immensely. This was recommended by Croxden Abbey in a post on another subject. His passion for the book was obvious, & encouraged me to seek it out - & very worthwhile it was too!

 

[Quirkafleeg]

...

 

[So Long Architect]

Currently reading Neil Young's autobiography Waging Heavy Peace. It's great - just like sitting in the pub with him as he rambles on and tells stories about the good old days and talks about his cars and model trains. (I imagine - I've never sat in a pub with Neil Young.)

 

[nimrod]

I've been having a tidy up, which included putting all the books I've read onto the bookcase. here's a brief overview:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whit-Iain-Banks/dp/0349139172/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225051&sr=1-1&keywords=whit
Whit - Iain Banks - I'm not sure if I went on a Banks kick before he announced he was ill, but recently I've read a fair bit. Whit was his debut, & I suspect I read too many reviews before I read it - don't get me wrong, it is a good book, a pleasure to read, and of interest to any cult-ists.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Find-Fulfilling-Work-School/dp/1447202287/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390225165&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+find+fulfilling+work

Look to Windward Iain M Banks - I'm very undecided on the Culture novels. I gave them another bash with windward. Nice idea, but didn't quite work for me. Not guff at all, & it held me throughout - the story is definitely there.

I don't think these are his best works by a long way. I didn't like Whit that much and can hardly remember Look to Windward. I think it's the Wasp Factory that was his debut rather than Whit.

If you're not Banksed out, for sci fi you could check out Use of weapons, Feersum Endjinn, Excession. Non sci fi, The bridge, Walking on glass, Complicity. Can't recall if you've read any of those.

 

[lemonjelly]

Think you're correct that Wasp factory was his debut.

His Sci-Fi stuff hasn't properly grabbed me, though I did quite like Player of Games. I have Use of weapons & Excession on my "to read" bookshelf. Non sci fi I have waiting Walking on glass. Complicity & The bridge are on my "to get" list after you previously recommended them. I do prefer his non Sci-Fi.