NFR - Books

[DukeTyrion]

I am reading 'I Shall Wear Midnight' by Terry Pratchet.

Technically it's a teenagers book, but I enjoy Pratchet's writing so much, I am reading it anyway.

I have also finally got hold of a copy of Simon Morgan's promotion book, which I shall read next!

[The Doctor]

I keep meaning to catch up on that newer Discworld series, DukeTyrion.  I've read "The Amazing Maurice..." but none of the others.  I live in hope that Pratchett will write more of the original Discworld series, preferably another book following the Witches.

Such a shame about his Alzheimers

[DukeTyrion]

I keep meaning to catch up on that newer Discworld series, DukeTyrion.  I've read "The Amazing Maurice..." but none of the others.  I live in hope that Pratchett will write more of the original Discworld series, preferably another book following the Witches.

Such a shame about his Alzheimers

The book I am reading is the fourth in a series about a young witch and includes Granny Weatherwax in parts.

The full series is;

Wee Free Men
A Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith
I Shall Wear Midnight

And sadly yes, his condition can only really go one way, so I am not sure how many more books he will write.

[BalDrick]

'Part 13 of a 14 part fantasy epic.'

Man are you going to be gutted when you finish the last one - bad enough when you finish one really good long book but to finish a series of 14 will be hell. Still, I'm sure Fulham will help you get through the bad times. Or not...

[The Equalizer]

Can someone let me know where I can get a copy of this?

[White Noise]

Just a general question, has anyone ever read The Ragged Trousered Philantrophist? I read it some years ago and found it fascinating.

Yeah - a few months ago actually. Oh probably more like 6 months now. Loved it, amazing book.

Weird coincidence.

I've not read Ragged Trousered Philanthopist but have just started folk singer Shirley Collins book "America Over The Water" about her song collecting trips with Alan Lomax.

First chapter I read last night was her talking about her family background and it seems her uncle was a writer who published a biography of the author of RTP.

Got to get me that one. Loving this thread chaps.

[Chopper]

Andrew Collins as in 6Music presenter and former editor of NME? I like him, plus I like Billy Bragg (met him at Glastonbury many years ago, really nice guy), going to check that one out.

My daughter (10) has read loads of Morpurgo, she finished Shadow the other day - she actually came downstairs to see us because she was crying because of the book, which is an important point in anyone's reading life I feel. But she loved the book, and everything else by him.

The Road's great, but dark. All the Pretty Horses by him is superb, best thing I've read by him by a mile (Blood Meridian and No Country being the others thus far).

Yes indeed. I've also read the first of his autobiographical books "Where Did It All Go Right? Growing Up Normal in the 70s" which is funny but at times a bit too anal even for me!


Definitely going to be checking out more or Mr McCarthy - cheers.

[The Bronsons]

Just a general question, has anyone ever read The Ragged Trousered Philantrophist? I read it some years ago and found it fascinating.

Yeah - a few months ago actually. Oh probably more like 6 months now. Loved it, amazing book.

I remember writing an essay on RTP years ago on an English course. One of my favourite ever books, and amazing to know that Robert Tressell wrote it in the late evenings despite being ill, a single parent, and working six days a week in the back-breaking, soul-destroying conditions described in the book. It reads as smoothly as as thriller and will stay in your mind forever.

Currently reading a history of the American Indian (can't remember the author, and it's not that good anyway) and 'Ticket to Ride', a novel by Dennis Potter, of 'The Singing Detective' fame.

[stevehawkinslidingtackle]

Just finished reading "Flashman and the Dragon" by George Macdonald Fraser.  Now I'm toying with rereading "Filth" or "Porno" by Irvine Welsh.  I think "Porno" is the follow up "Trainspotting", atleast it seemed to be.  I've also got some Solzhenitsyn to reread too (1914 and The Gulag Archipelago).  A friend gave me a couple books by alternative history writer Harry Turtledove who I read before, so I may start there.

If you're into Irvine Welsh , Ive just read the first two books by John Niven. 'Kill your friends' and 'The amateurs'. just as sick as Welsh but twice as funny.

[WhiteJC]

I've just finished Ken Follett - Night over water, a steam punk novel by George Mann - the Affinity Bridge and one that I think our Welsh contingent might enjoy, Malcolm Price - the unbearable lightness of being in Aberystwyth

[richie17]

Have just been picking up a load of football books for a project I'm working on.   One has attendances for every club for every season!   You have to be quite sad to like this sort of thing, but I found it fascinating.   It must have been amazing to see football in the 1950s with such enormous crowds at every game.

Sarah Bakewell's "Montaigne:  How to Live" looks brilliant.   It's a biography of Montaigne, framed through his writing.   One of his suggestions was:  "read a lot, forget most of what you read, and be slow-witted", which seems like a good approach to life.   Just started it, can't wait to get further in.

[The Equalizer]

Here's a couple of recommended reads. Some of the best books I've ever read:

Carter Beats The Devil - Glenn David Gold
The Shadow of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
The Pillars of The Earth - Ken Follett
World Without End - Ken Follett

Oh, and a couple fhat I always revisit:

Lord of The Rings - JRR Tolkien
Dune - Frank Herbert

[richie17]

Here's a couple of recommended reads. Some of the best books I've ever read:

Carter Beats The Devil - Glenn David Gold
The Shadow of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
The Pillars of The Earth - Ken Follett
World Without End - Ken Follett

Oh, and a couple fhat I always revisit:

Lord of The Rings - JRR Tolkien
Dune - Frank Herbert

The Angel's Game is good if you liked Shadow of the Wind.   

A Ken Follett book once fell on my head in Borders.   That's as near as I've got to reading him though.   

[The Equalizer]

Here's a couple of recommended reads. Some of the best books I've ever read:

Carter Beats The Devil - Glenn David Gold
The Shadow of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
The Pillars of The Earth - Ken Follett
World Without End - Ken Follett

Oh, and a couple fhat I always revisit:

Lord of The Rings - JRR Tolkien
Dune - Frank Herbert

The Angel's Game is good if you liked Shadow of the Wind.   

A Ken Follett book once fell on my head in Borders.   That's as near as I've got to reading him though.   

If it was Pillars of The Earth you wouldn't be here now!

[OldBrownShoe]

Books by Ian MacEwan are highly recommended and well worth a read.

[ImperialWhite]

Books by Ian MacEwan are highly recommended and well worth a read.

+1 Saturday and Atonement are great.

I'd recommend The Quiet American, by Graham Greene.

[jarv]

What a great thread....I just read Liar's Poker (the truth about wall street and the city) by Michael Lewis. can't wait to get his new one "the big short" about the current banking crisis which was predicted by 3 wall street guys but nobody in power would listen.

No mention of Bill Bryson here, all of his books are excellent. If you only ever read one book in your life, should be his "A short history of nearly everything".

Notes from a small island is laugh out loud funny (his trip around Uk by public transport). Mr. hatterdon, (and other Americans)you will like "tales from a big country" his comments on his return to live in America for a while.

Thanks to all for the recommendations.

[richie17]

What a great thread....I just read Liar's Poker (the truth about wall street and the city) by Michael Lewis. can't wait to get his new one "the big short" about the current banking crisis which was predicted by 3 wall street guys but nobody in power would listen.

No mention of Bill Bryson here, all of his books are excellent. If you only ever read one book in your life, should be his "A short history of nearly everything".

Notes from a small island is laugh out loud funny (his trip around Uk by public transport). Mr. hatterdon, (and other Americans)you will like "tales from a big country" his comments on his return to live in America for a while.

Thanks to all for the recommendations.

Michael Lewis is doing a free talk at UCL in Holborn in the not too distant future.   Might duck in.  (Moneyball is really good, whether you like baseball or not).

[jarv]

I listened to Michael Lewis in an interview on public radio (in USA). He sounds like about the most intelligent man you are ever likely to meet. Has a great speaking tone and manner. I would definitely listen to him any day. I have moneyball, just waiting to get started on it soon.

[HatterDon]

My God, Mr. EQ. Dune AND the Tolkein Trilogy? A person should only have to read them as a condition for receiving a suspended sentence.

185 or so pages into The Girl Who Played With Fire. Lot's of sex and rumblings of impending doom afoot! Loving it.