Best book I’ve read in the last year - “The Songlines” by Bruce Chatwin. To be found under travel literature, it starts off talking about Aboriginal culture, but really becomes an exploration of nomadic lifestyle and travel in general. Best part is the second half, where Chatwin intersperses his own thoughts with quotes from all sorts of sources, from the Bible & Koran to Rimbaud & Kierkegaard. Chatwin’s first book “In Patagonia” is also excellent, seems much more straightforward travel literature, though I’ve heard it was revolutionary when it first came out.
Read The Road by Cormac McCarthy a few weeks ago. Fantastic book.
Also Peter Carey has a collection of short stories (just called Collected Stories I think) that’s sensational.
Re-read A Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage recently and that’s a fantastic read too.
Any recommendations for Christmas?
therock67 wrote:
Read The Road by Cormac McCarthy a few weeks ago. Fantastic book.
Also Peter Carey has a collection of short stories (just called Collected Stories I think) that’s sensational.
Re-read A Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage recently and that’s a fantastic read too.
Any recommendations for Christmas?
Don’t eat too much stuffing, it can give wicked heartburn.
Resurrecting this thread as I’ve been reading a bit recently.
Siddartha by Herman Hesse
Good book about a young Buddhist who goes off in search of the meaning life. Although being a bit gay it is a bit of a thinker. Very enjoyable.
1984 by George Orwell
Superb, particularly when you’re reading it in China. Clarkey’s pick of the bunch.
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Nice simple theme but a bit gay and American. Wouldn’t bother if I were you.
Blaze by Richard Bachmann (aka Stephen King)
Written when he was 25 but shelved cos he thought it was crap. He published it only last year. I thought it was class - what a storyteller. It’s also sort of a homage to Of Mice and Men which is one of my favourite books.
Misery by Stephen King
He’s just a savage story-teller.
The Korean War by Max Hastings
A heavy read which I haven’t got through yet. Excellent writing though and really interesting. Stupid yanks.
Have Atonement by Ian McEwan, Gerald’s Game by Stephen King and Cannery Row by John Steinbeck to look forward to.
[quote=“ClarkeyCat”]Resurrecting this thread as I’ve been reading a bit recently.
Have Atonement by Ian McEwan, Gerald’s Game by Stephen King and annery Row by John Steinbeck to look forward to.[/quote]
Atonement is the best book Iv read in years, just an absolutely superbly constructed story. Havent seen the film yet but it will have to be a disapointment afer the book.
Spurred me to read rest of McEwans stuff, Amsterdam is also excellent, Saturday is almost as good as Atonement though. The only common theme through those three books is the quality of the writing and the story they tell.
Youv got nothing comin by Jimmy Lerner is another great read, about a guy in prison, tells the story kind of back to front a bit like (the film) Memento. One of the only things Iv read where I was almost too afraid to keep reading.
Million little pieces by Jimmy Frey is a story of one mans descent into alcoholism and drug abuse and his time in rehab trying to get clean. Was written and marketed as a true story and Frey milked it big style on chat shows etc. Found out to be bullshit and pure fiction and Oprah confronted him liveon her show about it, hilariuos Im sure its on youtube somewhere. Shouldnt detract from enjoying the book though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Million_Little_Pieces#Controversy
Just read Slash’s autobiography which was pretty cool. Very rock ‘n’ roll and not all that likable a guy tbh.
Have picked up Saturday on Aaron Carter’s recommendation above and also have The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins which I think should be an excellent read.
Anybody read any of Chuck Palahniuk’s stuff? I posted up a short story of his on here ages and ages ago. Read his book Choke just there and can’t say I liked it at all at all. He’s got a horrible style. Apparently you either like it or you don’t. I don’t.
[quote=“dancarter”]Atonement is the best book Iv read in years, just an absolutely superbly constructed story. Havent seen the film yet but it will have to be a disapointment afer the book.
[/quote]
Film is truly awful. Don’t bother.
I’ve read some Chuck Palinawhatever’s stuff. Liked some of it, disliked others. Thought Survivor was a good read and one other one I read but some of it’s just not appealing to me.
Recently read:
The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien is top class. Possibly best book I’ve ever read.
The Wonderful live of Oscar Something by Junot Diaz is also excellent.
De Niro’s Game by someone or other is very good.
[quote=“therock67”]I’ve read some Chuck Palinawhatever’s stuff. Liked some of it, disliked others. Thought Survivor was a good read and one other one I read but some of it’s just not appealing to me.
Recently read:
The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien is top class. Possibly best book I’ve ever read.
The Wonderful live of Oscar Something by Junot Diaz is also excellent.
De Niro’s Game by someone or other is very good.[/quote]
Please provide more detail on The Third Policeman, Rocko.
Survivor is written in his usual, childlike style I assume? Think I’ll just avoid.
Anyone seen the movie of this book?
Can’t really remember much about Survivor to be honest Clarkey other than I liked it. It’s a decent yarn I think. Have you read Fight Club? Haven’t read it myself but I can’t imagine that being written in the same style as some of the other stuff.
The Third Policeman is a weird book - apparently Lost is based somewhat on it but I didn’t know that until I bought it and don’t watch Lost so can’t verify it. It’s basically a story about a murder but it’s truly bizarre. Hard to do it justice with a description but it’s really a series of crazy theories about life and science that are impossible to explain. It’s extremely funny though but I’d say it’s well possible to just hate it.
Also if you haven’t read Trainspotting you should read that.
Have a read of Chris Jerichos biography, A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex. I’m currenty working my way through it and it is a great read about a true legend.
One Chuck Palahniuk book worth reading is lullaby, I think. So that’s a book that might be called lullaby by a bloke who might be chuck whatever. Go for the Bill bryson one ‘A brief history of nearly everything’. Excellent read. Reading a book called ‘the party’s over’ (as mentioned in the history of oil by Rob Newman on tfk tube) Scary stuff.
Its a good read alright especially the Japan and Mexico stuff. A gay title though.
[quote=“ClarkeyCat”]Just read Slash’s autobiography which was pretty cool. Very rock ‘n’ roll and not all that likable a guy tbh.
Have picked up Saturday on Aaron Carter’s recommendation above and also have The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins which I think should be an excellent read.
Anybody read any of Chuck Palahniuk’s stuff? I posted up a short story of his on here ages and ages ago. Read his book Choke just there and can’t say I liked it at all at all. He’s got a horrible style. Apparently you either like it or you don’t. I don’t.[/quote]
Have you read Motley Crue’s The Dirt? Fantastic stuff altogether.
I’m reading The Great Gatsby at the moment. Nice and short and a classic, I recommend it, if only to appera intelligent and sophisticated. (Not that I assume everyone here is anything but).
[quote=“therock67”]Can’t really remember much about Survivor to be honest Clarkey other than I liked it. It’s a decent yarn I think. Have you read Fight Club? Haven’t read it myself but I can’t imagine that being written in the same style as some of the other stuff.
The Third Policeman is a weird book - apparently Lost is based somewhat on it but I didn’t know that until I bought it and don’t watch Lost so can’t verify it. It’s basically a story about a murder but it’s truly bizarre. Hard to do it justice with a description but it’s really a series of crazy theories about life and science that are impossible to explain. It’s extremely funny though but I’d say it’s well possible to just hate it.
Also if you haven’t read Trainspotting you should read that.[/quote]
Haven’t read Fight Club no, but no real desire to either. Can’t imagine Trainspotting being better as a book than a film either. Do plan on reading some other Irvine Welsh stuff though.
Rats, Lullaby was the other one recommended to me so I’m nearly obliged to give it a read now. Gagging to read A Short History alright - I own it at home but never got/made the time.
Saturday was a thoroughly enjoyable read which is funny cos it’s a very simple plot, not much happens. Think its his characterisation that makes it enjoyable. He’s also fierce adept at setting a scene.
The God Delusion is a must read. I’ve only read 100 pages or so but it grabs the attention right from the off.
[quote=“Thrawneen”]Have you read Motley Crue’s The Dirt? Fantastic stuff altogether.
I’m reading The Great Gatsby at the moment. Nice and short and a classic, I recommend it, if only to appera intelligent and sophisticated. (Not that I assume everyone here is anything but).[/quote]
Not a Motley Crue fan so would assume it wouldn’t be that great for me?
Is The Great Gatsby by Dickens? Abridged versions of A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations were favourites of mine as a nipper.
[quote=“ClarkeyCat”]Not a Motley Crue fan so would assume it wouldn’t be that great for me?
Is The Great Gatsby by Dickens? Abridged versions of A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations were favourites of mine as a nipper.[/quote]
No need to be a Motley Crue fan, I’ve heard about 1 song in my life, it’s the classic rock excess book. It’s truly magnificent how depraved and debauched those chaps were.
Great Gatsby is F.Scott Fitzgerald. 7 in Chapters, can’t go wrong.
trainspotting is far better book than film, which is high praise indeed. Takes a while to get used to the style as its written in scottish
Iv read Filth, Porno, Maribou stork and ecstasy off top of my head, some seriously fooooked up shit going on there. None a patch on Trainspotting but worht a read alright