Books - Reviews/Recommendations Etc.

LG
Legend
5.5K
·
23K
·
over 16 years

I don't think we ever had a thread on books so here goes. Other than loving every Lee Child, Dale Brown, Dan Brown, Patrick Robinson and Craig Thomas book, there is always the odd gem that pops up worth reading.

Bought two books for $5 at Uncle Bills today. "Whatever happened to Billy Parks" - Gareth R Roberts which appears an interesting novel and "101 things not to do" - Paul Merton which at first glance appeals to my dry cynical humour.

Tegal
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Head Sleuth
3K
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19K
·
almost 17 years

Also love the Reacher books. 

Recently finished reading “The Black Book” by James Patterson. Couldn’t put it down. 

Best football book I’ve read lately is “Up Pohnpei” by Paul Watson. 

28
460
·
1.7K
·
about 16 years

Tegal wrote:

Also love the Reacher books. 

Recently finished reading “The Black Book” by James Patterson. Couldn’t put it down. 

Best football book I’ve read lately is “Up Pohnpei” by Paul Watson. 

Up Pohnpei is so good. I bought a shirt of that team a couple of years ago.

I enjoyed Red Sparrow (movie was fricken awful though)

The Alchemist is good too

Phoenix Academy
360
·
470
·
over 6 years

I'm reading some Carlos Castaneda right now, well re-reading it as originally read his stuff back in the 90's. Some good ideas and themes running through his books, even if they are quite far fetched (some say fake).

Finally got around to reading "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" recently too and thought the book was about as bad as the movie. Over hyped piece of literature imo I got bored 2/3 of way through and gave up. 

I guess maybe for its time it was a cool and edgy book but these days I'd rather read about the real thing and read about Lemmy of Motorhead or the life of  the guys  from Motley Crew . Now thats rock and roll!

Next book on my hit list is Rick Mayall's one "Bigger than Hitler, Better than Christ" 

I work with second hand books so I get to read all sorts :)

Phoenix Academy
120
·
250
·
almost 12 years

I suppose 'Fear and Loathing' has dated somewhat since its publication, but I can forgive it a lot, as Thompson's 'wave speech' section is one of the best summations of the 1960s counterculture...

Legend
3.6K
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15K
·
almost 17 years

I loved Fear and Loathing, the book and the film. 

Great book: Tribe by Sebastian Junger

Phoenix Academy
360
·
470
·
over 6 years

Desmond Morris : The Soccer tribe

Now there is a must have book for footy fans imo

Marquee
2.7K
·
7.2K
·
almost 17 years

Just to add something to the conversation - if you are an avid reader, join GoodReads!

It is a great website (and app) which allows you to browse millions of titles and read user reviews.

I use it to keep track of the books I want to read as well as the ones I've already read.

Every year you can do a Reading Challenge which is quite a nice way to keep you motivated during the long winter months when all you feel like doing is mindlessly staring at a tv screen.

Marquee
3.3K
·
5.1K
·
almost 13 years

Just to add something to the conversation - if you are an avid reader, join GoodReads!

It is a great website (and app) which allows you to browse millions of titles and read user reviews.

I use it to keep track of the books I want to read as well as the ones I've already read.

Every year you can do a Reading Challenge which is quite a nice way to keep you motivated during the long winter months when all you feel like doing is mindlessly staring at a tv screen.

Totally agree with this, I'm on Goodreads too and destroyed my reading challenge this year due to reading more on the train. 

But once you've read enough/reviewed enough books, it gives you recommendations for other books to read as well. 

Moose
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WeeNix
92
·
650
·
over 14 years

If you have a warped sense of humour anything fiction by "Chuck Palahniuk" - Lullaby is great... Haunted too.. and has the notorious story Guts, which he has read out during tours and has caused 60 people to faint. Oh yeah he also wrote Fight Club... great movie.... book was even better

I also like anything by "Jeffery Deaver" Crime/Thiller…. I especially like the Lincoln Rhyme Series he does  …. 

Marquee
6.9K
·
9.3K
·
over 13 years

Moose wrote:

If you have a warped sense of humour anything fiction by "Chuck Palahniuk" - Lullaby is great... Haunted too.. and has the notorious story Guts, which he has read out during tours and has caused 60 people to faint. Oh yeah he also wrote Fight Club... great movie.... book was even better

I also like anything by "Jeffery Deaver" Crime/Thiller…. I especially like the Lincoln Rhyme Series he does  …. 

I used to read a lot of Palahniuk when I was younger but I read invisible monsters remix and pigmy recently and realised two things, one is he's become a parody of himself, and two I don't really like his books anymore. Maybe I should give Survivor and fight club another read. He's definitely got a unique voice but I think he tries too hard in the style over substance / nihilistic view point / gross out stories and characters. I used to like invisible monsters but remix made me realise I actually don't any more.

LG
Legend
5.5K
·
23K
·
over 16 years

Anyone read the "Slaughter" books from James Beltz? Any good? His character is similar to Jack Reacher.

Marquee
3.1K
·
6.7K
·
over 16 years

Peter V Brett's Demon cycle series is amazing.

HZA
Marquee
630
·
5.9K
·
over 14 years

Yep and Perdido Street Station got me started on China Mieville

Marquee
740
·
5.2K
·
over 16 years

If you are into detective novels have you guys read Raymond Chandler?  They are works of art. 

Starting XI
1.4K
·
4.5K
·
over 16 years

For years I didn't really read much Ben Elton. Despite being a big fan of Blackadder, Young Ones etc... I sort of always thought, meh, he may have written a lot of that but he's a wee prat, and doubt his novels are that good. 

I was totally being a snob about it, but, really loving them all. He paints such great characters and great wit on him and page turning thrillers as well!

Only just seen this thread. I get a bit lost on what to read next at times, so will check out a couple of things on here soon.

Marquee
3.7K
·
5.4K
·
over 11 years

Steve Berry is very good if you like historical fiction - a little like Dan Brown, but more realistic.

Hard to find in NZ, so better to buy online and have sent here.

LG
Legend
5.5K
·
23K
·
over 16 years

James Beltz - JD Slaughter series = Jack Reacher mixed with John Rambo Lots of action but actually a damn good story line. He's done 4 books in the series and it follows a time line which is good.

Marquee
2.7K
·
7.2K
·
almost 17 years

My best friend keeps nagging me to read it but my to read least is current at 41 books so probabky won't happen too soon, though it sounds like a worthwhile book for sure.

Starting XI
230
·
4.8K
·
almost 17 years

This...

The mosquito : a human history of our deadliest predator by Timothy C. Winegard.

Bit of a random find. It's pretty good. 

The blurb says "The answer to all these questions, and many more, is the mosquito. The mosquito has razed economies, determined the fates of empires and decided the outcome of pivotal wars. She-only females bite-has dispatched an estimated 52 billion people from a total of 108 billion ever to have lived."    !!

LG
Legend
5.5K
·
23K
·
over 16 years

About to buy The latest Jack Reacher Book tomorrow. Lee Child is good. So too is Jame Beltz, he has done 4 books on JD Slaughter. He is currently writing the 5th instalment. 

James Beltz

Phoenix Academy
79
·
180
·
over 4 years

Lonegunmen wrote:

About to buy The latest Jack Reacher Book tomorrow. Lee Child is good. So too is Jame Beltz, he has done 4 books on JD Slaughter. He is currently writing the 5th instalment. 

James Beltz

You getting that new Lee Child book Blue Moon or talking about his other Non Fiction? I'm interested to maybe get both to see how he goes writing non fiction as well, do love the Reacher series.

Phoenix Academy
140
·
330
·
almost 11 years

The new Reacher auto-delivered to my Kindle this morning! Looking forward to getting into it. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides was an excellent read - was his debut novel I believe.

LG
Legend
5.5K
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23K
·
over 16 years

Blue Moon - Lee Child is in my bag for work should I get a chance.

Starting XI
230
·
4.8K
·
almost 17 years

@Lonegunmen ever read any of the older stuff by Frederick Forsyth? 

LG
Legend
5.5K
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23K
·
over 16 years

Yep. He was good. Dogs of War was excellent. And the Odessa File.

Marquee
2.7K
·
7.2K
·
almost 17 years

For some lovely, football related books, check out Dave Roberts'

The Bromley Boys

Home and Away

The long, long way to Wembley

Each book follows Dave (first as a kid, then in later years) and his passion for a little known non-league team...The first book has also been made into a lovely movie. I enjoyed all three books and highly recommend them

Starting XI
230
·
4.8K
·
almost 17 years

...and Day of the Jackal

Trialist
46
·
94
·
over 4 years

Peter Crouch's autobiography is class

Phoenix Academy
140
·
330
·
almost 11 years

talayvision wrote:

Peter Crouch's autobiography is class

Roy Keane's is also class and I laughed out loud many times whilst reading Harry Redknapp's. Would highly recommend it.

Books - Reviews/Recommendations Etc.

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