Author Topic: What was the last book you read? (Read 151049 times)

Spidzz · « **Reply #4840 on:** May 23, 2012, 09:50:20 AM »

Just finished "The man who walked into Auschwitz" Excellent true story about a British POW who swaps clothes with a Jewish lad and risks his life going into Auschwitz III on two separate occasions. Really good read yet horrible in equal measures.

The book previous to that was "Football Fables" by Iain Macintosh. A collection of stories told by football personalities. My personal favourite was Viv Anderson & Tony Woodcock talking about life under Clough. Football in the good old days. Another tale that raised a smile was Espen Baardsen saying that when he was at Spurs, Gazza shit in Thorsdvedts gloves.

Andy @ Allerton · « **Reply #4841 on:** May 23, 2012, 10:51:40 AM »

Finished "The Illearth War" and reading "The Power that Preserves" (Book three of the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson)

Rigden · « **Reply #4842 on:** May 27, 2012, 08:52:31 PM »

Have a 13 hour flight to look forward on Thursday, any recommendations for a gripping book?

gomez · « **Reply #4843 on:** May 28, 2012, 12:49:37 AM »

Just read A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the first of the Sherlock Holmes books. Ashamed to say that its the first of his books that I've read, certainly won't be the last though. Fantastic stuff which has withstood the test off time so well.

RideTheWalrus · « **Reply #4844 on:** May 28, 2012, 12:52:06 AM »

The Catcher in the Rye

UntouchableLuis · « **Reply #4845 on:** May 28, 2012, 06:34:47 PM »

Going to start my summer reading on the plane this week, probably start with a bit of Fitzgerald, then Hemingway, Turgenev, Gogol, King and maybe Faulkner...

Tepid water · « **Reply #4846 on:** May 28, 2012, 07:48:16 PM »

Quote from: gomez on May 28, 2012, 12:49:37 AM

Just read A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the first of the Sherlock Holmes books. Ashamed to say that its the first of his books that I've read, certainly won't be the last though. Fantastic stuff which has withstood the test off time so well.

A bit odd the way it's split in two though...( Edit: or is that the sign of four? Bugger, my memory's completely shot to hell.)

I prefer the hound of the Baskervilles as its a more cohesive story, some of the short stories are just fantastic too...

Shady77 · « **Reply #4847 on:** May 28, 2012, 09:04:52 PM »

Doomsday Key- James Rollins, not the very best I've read but well worth a read. Wilbur Smith + Matthew Reilly probably my best authors

corkboy · « **Reply #4848 on:** May 28, 2012, 10:00:03 PM »

Quote from: UntouchableLuis on May 28, 2012, 06:34:47 PM

Going to start my summer reading on the plane this week, probably start with a bit of Fitzgerald, then Hemingway, Turgenev, Gogol, King and maybe Faulkner...

Mr King would be very pleased with such company.

saoirse08 · « **Reply #4849 on:** May 30, 2012, 12:32:16 PM »

Quote from: gomez on May 28, 2012, 12:49:37 AM

Just read A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the first of the Sherlock Holmes books. Ashamed to say that its the first of his books that I've read, certainly won't be the last though. Fantastic stuff which has withstood the test off time so well.

Mitt Romney not a fan though, I'll bet.

arthur sarnoff · « **Reply #4850 on:** May 30, 2012, 01:48:36 PM »

I'm currently about halfway through 'El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency' by Ioan Grillo. Good, if somewhat worrying reading.

Jebediah · « **Reply #4851 on:** May 31, 2012, 01:47:39 PM »

David Attenborough's autobiography

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Air-David-Attenborough/dp/1849900019/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338468412&sr=1-3

Amazing - he is my hero

dave 5516 · « **Reply #4852 on:** May 31, 2012, 03:52:51 PM »

Quote from: arthur sarnoff on May 30, 2012, 01:48:36 PM

I'm currently about halfway through 'El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency' by Ioan Grillo. Good, if somewhat worrying reading.

If you haven't already,I can really recommend this.A good and troubling read.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amexica-Along-Borderline-Ed-Vulliamy/dp/1847921280

Rusty Oysterburger · « **Reply #4853 on:** May 31, 2012, 03:57:11 PM »

Horns by Joe Hill. Very good horror story from Stephen King's lad. Funny, nicely paced and he has a great turn of phrase.

Crimson_Tank · « **Reply #4854 on:** May 31, 2012, 04:18:41 PM »

The Year of Eating Dangerously - Tom Parker Bowles

BIGdavalad · « **Reply #4855 on:** May 31, 2012, 05:36:22 PM »

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Star-Airacobra-Memoirs-ebook/dp/B005AU15QI/ref=sr_1_29?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338481944&sr=1-29

Red Stay Airacobra: Memoirs of a Soviet Fighter Ace.

As it says, it's the memoirs of a Soviet fighter pilot who fought on the Eastern Front during World War 2 flying American P-39 Airacobra fighters. It's a good read, interesting to see a Soviet perspective when German memoires are more common.

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #4856 on:** May 31, 2012, 05:38:38 PM »

The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.

Quite annoying getting a hardon on the train!

Before that I read 'An Apple a Day' by Emma Woolf. Very well written story of her battle with anorexia.

She's my ex, and at one point I featured in a whole chapter - was cut down to a page

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #4857 on:** May 31, 2012, 05:39:29 PM »

Quote from: Rigden on May 27, 2012, 08:52:31 PM

Have a 13 hour flight to look forward on Thursday, any recommendations for a gripping book?

Rage by Wilbur Smith. You'll get lost in it.

Shady77 · « **Reply #4858 on:** May 31, 2012, 05:46:52 PM »

Quote from: The 5th Benitle on May 31, 2012, 05:39:29 PM

Rage by Wilbur Smith. You'll get lost in it.

I bought that last week, haven't finished the book I'm on yet but as soon as iam rage is next, + your right you do tend to get lost in his books

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #4859 on:** May 31, 2012, 05:50:53 PM »

Quote from: Shady77 on May 31, 2012, 05:46:52 PM

I bought that last week, haven't finished the book I'm on yet but as soon as iam rage is next, + your right you do tend to get lost in his books

Love them. Have read them all and used to quite regularly read the whole book in one sitting. Not brilliant literature by any means but wow, what a storyteller. I love Africa too, have family out there.

Rage is my favourite by a distance though, you're in for a treat mate.

BIGdavalad · « **Reply #4860 on:** May 31, 2012, 06:33:23 PM »

Quote from: Rigden on May 27, 2012, 08:52:31 PM

Have a 13 hour flight to look forward on Thursday, any recommendations for a gripping book?

Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy. The Cold War turns hot and the Soviets cross the IGB. One of Clancy's very best.

arthur sarnoff · « **Reply #4861 on:** May 31, 2012, 06:53:42 PM »

Quote from: dave 5516 on May 31, 2012, 03:52:51 PM

If you haven't already,I can really recommend this.A good and troubling read.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amexica-Along-Borderline-Ed-Vulliamy/dp/1847921280

Cheers, I'll check it out. Unbelievable the shit that's happening down there.

Tepid water · « **Reply #4862 on:** May 31, 2012, 07:44:39 PM »

Quote from: BIGdavalad on May 31, 2012, 06:33:23 PM

Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy. The Cold War turns hot and the Soviets cross the IGB. One of Clancy's very best.

That is to say, one of the worst books every written.

(subjective I know, but I abhor Clancy.)

RideTheWalrus · « **Reply #4863 on:** May 31, 2012, 07:45:09 PM »

Catcher in the Rye.

Only a short book.

Elli · « **Reply #4864 on:** May 31, 2012, 07:58:59 PM »

Quote from: RideTheWalrus on May 31, 2012, 07:45:09 PM

Catcher in the Rye.

Only a short book.

that's a ringing endorsement. It's also the only good thing I have to say about that book!

Deadly 60 · « **Reply #4865 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:06:18 PM »

I'm reading through HHhH (Himmlers Hirn heisst Heydrich) by Lauren Binet. So far so good, reads like a notebook to me, about a third of the way through and so far very little on the heroes but def an enjoyable read.

dave 5516 · « **Reply #4866 on:** May 31, 2012, 11:07:56 PM »

Quote from: Andy @ Allerton on May 23, 2012, 10:51:40 AM

Finished "The Illearth War" and reading "The Power that Preserves" (Book three of the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson)

Any good? I've just seen a review that compare's the first book to Tolkien.

I've only started to read fantasy and sci-fi in the last year so I'm always on the look out for a good book,any recommendation's?

gerrardsarmy · « **Reply #4867 on:** June 1, 2012, 06:42:29 AM »

Quote from: The 5th Benitle on May 31, 2012, 05:50:53 PM

Love them. Have read them all and used to quite regularly read the whole book in one sitting. Not brilliant literature by any means but wow, what a storyteller. I love Africa too, have family out there.

Rage is my favourite by a distance though, you're in for a treat mate.

Monsoon is one my favourite novels ever. And you're right, what a storyteller!

Got heaps of his books on my shelf that I haven't read, might read one soon.

gerrardsarmy · « **Reply #4868 on:** June 1, 2012, 06:44:41 AM »

Quote from: RideTheWalrus on May 31, 2012, 07:45:09 PM

Catcher in the Rye.

Only a short book.

Did you like it?

UntouchableLuis · « **Reply #4869 on:** June 1, 2012, 11:16:16 AM »

Quote from: Elli on May 31, 2012, 07:58:59 PM

that's a ringing endorsement. It's also the only good thing I have to say about that book!

Personally, it's one of my favourite books but I can see me perhaps hating it more as I grow older (only 20). Read it first when I was 16 or so and thought it was freakin' awesome.

DizzyMunchkin · « **Reply #4870 on:** June 2, 2012, 07:48:30 PM »

Grave Secrets - Kathy Reichs,Excellent, haven't read a bad book from her.
Birdsong - Sebastain FaulksIt's ok once you get part the 1st section with I found tedious, very overated in my humble opinon.
The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson For the first 40 pages I thought NOT another Birdsong!! but when it did get going I wasn't disappointed.
The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson Very good 2nd book.
Dead Men - Stephen Leather Not Bad
Kill For Me - Karen Rose Excellent
Eats Shoots & Leaves - Lynn Truss An interesting & quite funny book on puncutation.

The_Dark_Passenger · « **Reply #4871 on:** June 5, 2012, 12:51:33 AM »

The Trial, Franz Kafka. At times turgid, but also thought-provoking.

Conscious Robots, Paul Kwatz. An epiphany.

gerrardsarmy · « **Reply #4872 on:** June 5, 2012, 07:23:28 AM »

Quote from: UntouchableLuis on June 1, 2012, 11:16:16 AM

Personally, it's one of my favourite books but I can see me perhaps hating it more as I grow older (only 20). Read it first when I was 16 or so and thought it was freakin' awesome.

I'm 20 as well and I read it when I was 16/17. I knew a little bit about it and thought I would be able to relate to it with all the teenage alienation and stuff like that but I just didn't feel it at all whilst I was reading and eventually, I just wanted him dead.

JerseyKopite · « **Reply #4873 on:** June 5, 2012, 10:29:13 AM »

Recently finished Skagboys (the prequel to...), now reading Trainspotting. Both excellent.

Rusty Oysterburger · « **Reply #4874 on:** June 5, 2012, 03:52:51 PM »

Trying to read Stephen Baxter's Manifold series but his typically dry/technical prose is such a chore to read. And it's much worse than in his other books.

There are many chapters where he has the characters actually deliver lectures on astrophysics/nuclear physics/biology etc. He doesn't even bother to try and incorporate it into the story in any way.

Bit of a shame because the story is fascinating.

Rusty Oysterburger · « **Reply #4875 on:** June 12, 2012, 11:58:50 PM »

Just got a download of the whole Jack Reacher series for my Kindle, are they any good?

I fancy some lightweight reading for my holidays.

SP · « **Reply #4876 on:** June 13, 2012, 01:12:02 AM »

Pursuit by Lester Del Rey from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31587 on my Kindle.

Rather more PK Dick territory than the usual Del Rey romp. Nice line in paranoia. End a cop out though.

The 5th Benitle · « **Reply #4877 on:** June 13, 2012, 01:20:15 AM »

Quote from: Rusty Oysterburger on June 12, 2012, 11:58:50 PM

Just got a download of the whole Jack Reacher series for my Kindle, are they any good?

Fuck yeah. Jack Reacher > Chuck Norris

RideTheWalrus · « **Reply #4878 on:** June 13, 2012, 01:27:50 AM »

Quote from: gerrardsarmy on June 1, 2012, 06:44:41 AM

Did you like it?

Still not finished it

My glasses are broke currently, so I'm laying off reading and whatnot because it gives me headaches. I am still enjoying it though, it gets a lot of hate for a famous book, but it's quite relatable for teenage years which is nice. Suppose at my age (16), it's kind of the prime age to read it.

BIGdavalad · « **Reply #4879 on:** June 13, 2012, 06:47:47 AM »

Gunther Rall: Luftwaffe Ace and NATO General

Biography of Gunther Rall, the third highest scorer in the history of air warfare who shot down 275 enemy aircraft (most of them fighters) over France, Crete, the Eastern Front and finally facing the Allied bombing raids over Germany despite being shot down himself eight times and wounded three times. After the war he eventually joined the reborn Luftwaffe and ended up as a General heavily involved in the German F-104 Starfighter programme.

Empire of the Clouds: When Britain's Aircraft Ruled the Skies

A depressing read of how Britain's aviation industry managed to go from the world leader in 1945 to nothing thanks to bad management, bad Government and bad organisation.

Operation Eichmann

The story of how Israel hunted down, kidnapped, put on trial and executed Adolf Eichmann after he escaped to Argentina after the war.