The Munsterfans Book Thread

**thisyear?** · 14th-November-2006, 14:36

Not usually a fiction reader but just finished The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Great read thoroughly reccomend it.

Just started some book with a load of yahoo's crowded around some shiny silver trophy thing on the cover...
<!-
var SymRealOnLoad;
var SymReal;

Sym()
{
window.open = SymWinOpen;
if(SymReal != null)
SymReal();
}

SymOnLoad()
{
if(SymRealOnLoad != null)
SymRealOnLoad();
window.open = SymRealWinOpen;
SymReal = window.;
window. = Sym;
}

SymRealOnLoad = window.onload;
window.onload = SymOnLoad;

//->

**JoeyFantastic** · 15th-November-2006, 08:25

Currently reading Imperium by Ryszard Kapuscinski, an excellant book about the fall of the USSR as witnessed in the last days of the satiellite states, haveactually read a few things by Kapuscinski, and would recommend his book, The Shadow of the Sun as one fo the best books on Africa I've ever read. Also, can't recommend Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck highly enough, top book.

**Kerry-Exile** · 15th-November-2006, 08:29

Read "Life of Pi" recently by Yann Patel which was really good, cracking twist. But one book that was recommended to me that i thought was rubbish was "Curious incident of the dog in the Nighttime". Would not recommend

15th-November-2006, 08:35

Currently reading Robert Fisk "The great war for civilisation: The conquest of the middle east". Over 1300 pages long, but so far it is an enjoyable read.

Really liked his book "pity the nation: Lebanon at war".

**The Crimson King** · 15th-November-2006, 08:53

Ah, the return of the book thread!

Umberto Eco - Foucault's Pendulum. A classic which I recommend to anyone who thought the Da Vinci code was good (to show you how wrong you are) and to anyone who thought the Da Vinci code was rubbish (to reassure you that it is possible to craft a perfect intellectual/historical thriller).

I read about four books a week so I rrrrreally shouldn't get into the habit of posting up here about it all. I'd never get any work done.

**T.C.B.** · 15th-November-2006, 08:59

Things Snowball by Rich Hall. Absolutely brilliant book. Hilariously funny.

**Ruck** · 15th-November-2006, 09:00

Haven't had much reading time lately, but I've started "Civilization: A New History of the Western World" by Roger Osbourne. Very interesting so far.

**i_like_cake** · 15th-November-2006, 09:07

Originally Posted by Kerry-Exile

Read "Life of Pi" recently by Yann Patel which was
really good, cracking twist. But one book that was recommended to me
that i thought was rubbish was "Curious incident of the dog in the
Nighttime". Would not recommend

I read both, and i would recommend both......[img]smileys/shock.gif[/img]

I also recommend anything by Neil Gaiman especially his award winning graphic novels: The Sandman

absolute genius....

His books: American Gods

Anansi Boys

Good Omens

Fragile Things

Stardust

Neverwhere

**Hugged Rugger** · 15th-November-2006, 09:11

i want to read fisks book but just cant motivate myself to at the moment. maybe in the spring when its brighter in the evenings (i dont know why but i find it easier to read heavier books then)

recently read "an unsung hero" about Tom Crean. super book.

**fitzy73** · 15th-November-2006, 10:27

For sheer wit and a stunningprose writing style, Malachy McCourts "A Monk Swimming" would probably be my favourite book.

**Snamh** · 29th-December-2006, 11:34

Just finished "I am Charlotte Simmons". Quite disappointed with it, Wolfe's powers are obviously fading, but its probably still worth reading forits pace and dialogueeven if its nota particulary good piece of literature. Also finished "The Smartest Guys in the Room" about Enron, which was pretty hair-raising. One of the best business books I've read.

**The Crimson King** · 29th-December-2006, 12:49

Snamh, agree with you re: Wolfe. The Right Stuff is a fantastic book and I very much enjoyed Bonfire of the Vanities, but A Man In Full is just...silly. I didn't even bother reading I Am Charlotte Simmons after skimming through a few pages. [img]smileys/confused.gif[/img]

Just finished Arthur & George by Julian Barnes - an excellent read, about a real-life struggle to clear a man's name, it's the fictionalised account of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's (Sherlock Homes) attempt to assist with the case, etc.

**Snamh** · 29th-December-2006, 12:58

Quite liked A Man in Full but it is totally OTT, but then so are his other two novels.

**JoeyFantastic** · 29th-December-2006, 13:44

I dunno, a Man in Full has it's moments but as CK says, it's just a bit too
silly. Some pretty wry commentary but the various threads didn't come
together well enough for me.

**rathbaner** · 29th-December-2006, 15:37

Must recommend Primrose Hill by Helen Falconer. thriller of sorts set in
contemporary London. The minute you pick it up you cannot let it down
stayed up til 3am to finish it. A real cracker. On sale now at Amazon.

**~Cat~** · 29th-December-2006, 15:51

My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk. Not the easiest read (it can be slow in parts) but worth the effort, a beautifully written mystery with stunning descriptions of life in C16 Istanbul. If you liked The Name of the Rose then this is better.

**Ronnie** · 30th-December-2006, 08:59

Peter Hennessy 'Having It So Good'. He's a very good social histrorian.

**Snamh** · 12th-February-2007, 07:13

Portnoy's Complaint. Oy vey!

**Ronnie** · 12th-February-2007, 08:12

'Unpeople' by Mark Curtis. Brilliant.

http://www.word-power.co.uk/catalogue/0099469723

**JoeyFantastic** · 18th-July-2007, 08:30

bumped for Mickyd.

Also, currently reading How Mumbo Jumbo conquered the World by Frances Wheen, very good so far.

**mickyd** · 18th-July-2007, 08:33

Books I've enjoyed recently -

<LI>Altered Carbon - Richard Morgan. Sci fi/Raymond Chandleresque detective book.</LI>

<UL>
<LI>Song Of Fire and Ice - George R.R. Martin. Fantasy series focusing on political intrigue and machevellian manouverings.</LI>[/list]

<LI>The Big Bang - Simon Singh. Excellent introduction to theidea and history behind the scientific theory</LI>

<UL>
<LI>Birdsong - Sebastien Faulks. Drama set during world war one.</LI>[/list]

Currently reading 'The God Delusion' - richard dawkins

**DonL** · 18th-July-2007, 08:55

Originally Posted by mickyd

<UL>
<LI>Birdsong - Sebastien Faulks. Drama set during world war one.</LI>[/list]

Read that recently as well micky and found it excellent. Recently read books I would recommend:

A Long Long Way - Sebastian Barry. About the Irish lads who went to fight in WW1. Excellent read, beautifully written.

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell. Intriguing more than any thing. Talented young writer who was voted as best young writer recently as far as I know. Several stories set in different times, all linked somewhat.

Also, for an easy fiction read that has lots of macho violance suited to Die hard fans, I just finished Andy McNabe's Agressor book. Nothing beats some ultra violance!!

**mickyd** · 18th-July-2007, 08:58

Originally Posted by DonL

Originally Posted by mickyd

<UL>
<LI>Birdsong - Sebastien Faulks. Drama set during world war one.</LI>[/list]

Read that recently as well micky and found it excellent. Recently read books I would recommend:

A Long Long Way - Sebastian Barry. About the Irish lads who went to fight in WW1. Excellent read, beautifully written.

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell. Intriguing more than any thing. Talented young writer who was voted as best young writer recently as far as I know. Several stories set in different times, all linked somewhat.

Also, for an easy fiction read that has lots of macho violance suited to Die hard fans, I just finished Andy McNabe's Agressor book. Nothing beats some ultra violance!!

Nice one.

I'll check those out!

You should def check out Altered Carbon. Nice hard boiled detective novel set in the future.

Also read 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' - Louis DeBernieres a couple of weeks ago. Really enjoyed it.

**The Crimson King** · 18th-July-2007, 08:58

Originally Posted by DonL

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell. Intriguing more than any thing. Talented young writer who was voted as best young writer recently as far as I know. Several stories set in different times, all linked somewhat.

Absolutely Don - I also recommend his other books Ghostwritten and Number9dream. Black Swan Green is his latest, and while it's well written etc, it's much more prosaic than the others - a kind of fairly standard coming-of-age-in-the-seventies story, none of the fabulous pyrotechnics you get with his other stuff.

18th-July-2007, 09:05

Originally Posted by Kerry-Exile

Read "Life of Pi" recently by Yann Patel which was really good, cracking twist. But one book that was recommended to me that i thought was rubbish was "Curious incident of the dog in the Nighttime". Would not recommend

Ditto. I was given the book and I tried to read it. A load of sh1te!

**The Crimson King** · 18th-July-2007, 09:06

Oh, forgot to say I enjoyed "We Need to Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver immensely - beautifully written, and emotionally just felt spot on.

Give it to girlfriends/wives who are becoming broody, that'll earn you an extra few years of freedom, I can tell you. [img]smileys/lol.gif[/img]

**~Cat~** · 18th-July-2007, 09:10

Originally Posted by mickyd

<ul>[*]Birdsong - Sebastien Faulks. Drama set during world war one.[/list]

I recently finished his Human Traces - thoroughly enjoyed it, unusual story about mental illness and the beginnings of modern psychiatry.

**DonL** · 18th-July-2007, 09:16

Originally Posted by mickyd

Originally Posted by DonL

Originally Posted by mickyd

<UL>
<LI>Birdsong - Sebastien Faulks. Drama set during world war one.</LI>[/list]

Read that recently as well micky and found it excellent. Recently read books I would recommend:

A Long Long Way - Sebastian Barry. About the Irish lads who went to fight in WW1. Excellent read, beautifully written.

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell. Intriguing more than any thing. Talented young writer who was voted as best young writer recently as far as I know. Several stories set in different times, all linked somewhat.

Also, for an easy fiction read that has lots of macho violance suited to Die hard fans, I just finished Andy McNabe's Agressor book. Nothing beats some ultra violance!!

Nice one.

I'll check those out!

You should def check out Altered Carbon. Nice hard boiled detective novel set in the future.

Also read 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' - Louis DeBernieres a couple of weeks ago. Really enjoyed it.

Like the sound of that. Going through one of those 'hard boiled' phases at the moment. Easy reading, and very satisfying.

18th-July-2007, 09:20

I loved the Winnie the Pooh books as a kid. I loved having them read to me. Last year when I was at home I took the dusty books from the shelf and read them. They are even better as an adult. I challenge you all to have a read of A.A Milne's Pooh bear books and not smile!

**mickyd** · 18th-July-2007, 09:21

Originally Posted by ~Cat~

Originally Posted by mickyd

<UL>
<LI>Birdsong - Sebastien Faulks. Drama set during world war one.</LI>[/list]

I recently finished his Human Traces - thoroughly enjoyed it, unusual story about mental illness and the beginnings of modern psychiatry.

Yeah. He certainly can write. I have his new one 'Engleby' at home but I have yet to read it.

Thread: The Munsterfans Book Thread

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Posting Permissions