Author Topic: Your 10 favourite books (Read 28794 times)

rusty-la · « **Reply #200 on:** October 19, 2010, 12:54:01 am »

Can't be arsed with ten

Bonfire of the Vanities Tom Shone
Stalingrad. Antony Beevor
Three Muskateers Alex Dumas

Mein Kampf AHitler. Tried to red this, fkin impeneratable if any one has managed it, how was it? Seriously?

Ginamos · « **Reply #201 on:** October 19, 2010, 09:15:32 am »

Quote from: rusty-la on October 19, 2010, 12:54:01 am

Bonfire of the Vanities Tom Shone

¿qué?

Arcadian · « **Reply #202 on:** October 19, 2010, 03:55:06 pm »

Quote from: Ginamos on October 19, 2010, 09:15:32 am

¿qué?

Tom Wolfe no?

Ginamos · « **Reply #203 on:** October 19, 2010, 06:31:47 pm »

Quote from: Arcadian on October 19, 2010, 03:55:06 pm

Tom Wolfe no?

Just surprised how the name Tom Shone came up, it's not even close to being a typo.

Jai · « **Reply #204 on:** October 22, 2010, 12:35:50 am »

Henry Miller - Tropic of Cancer
Henry Miller - Tropic of Capricorn

I could go on and on about Henry Miller

Tolstoy - War and Peace (except for the extended rant on Napoleon at the end)
Gabriel Garcia Marquez - 100 Years of Solitude
The Histories of Herodotus
Bob Dylan - Chronicles 1
Julius Caesar - Commentaries
Nabokov - Lolita

The Kopster · « **Reply #205 on:** October 22, 2010, 01:09:28 am »

How to arrest and Taser someone the RIGHT way and not accidentally fry yourself to a frazzle!!

Arcadian · « **Reply #206 on:** October 22, 2010, 05:43:39 pm »

Quote from: The Kopster on October 22, 2010, 01:09:28 am

How to arrest and Taser someone the RIGHT way and not accidentally fry yourself to a frazzle!!

Errrr, am I missing something there?

The Kopster · « **Reply #207 on:** October 22, 2010, 06:57:30 pm »

Err.....No Honest!!!

Jai · « **Reply #208 on:** November 2, 2010, 06:37:14 am »

Thanks to all who recommended "The Master and Margarita". Read it after seeing it listed a few time on this post.

What a fucking fantastic book, one of a kind. Will be reading "Heart of a Dog" next.

Veinticinco de Mayo · « **Reply #209 on:** November 2, 2010, 12:11:51 pm »

Quote from: Jai on November 2, 2010, 06:37:14 am

Thanks to all who recommended "The Master and Margarita". Read it after seeing it listed a few time on this post.

What a fucking fantastic book, one of a kind. Will be reading "Heart of a Dog" next.

Yeay! Welcome to the official Behemoth Fan Club.

Alonso_The_Assassin · « **Reply #210 on:** November 12, 2010, 12:42:13 am »

Quote from: L6 Red on October 13, 2010, 07:45:35 pm

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Great book this!

I didn't think Ellroy could beat White Jazz but I backtracked to The Black Dahlia and bugger me, he's just about done. What a spellbinding read!

Alonso_The_Assassin · « **Reply #211 on:** November 24, 2010, 04:56:05 am »

Quote from: Jai on November 2, 2010, 06:37:14 am

Thanks to all who recommended "The Master and Margarita". Read it after seeing it listed a few time on this post.

Reading it now. I've had it sat on my shelf nearly all year!

Finished Ryu Murakami's 'In The Miso Soup'. Darkness personified. I like Ryu's sly little digs at "normal" America, too.

Also finished Jane Eyre. A pretty good analogy on the progression on human life. Not the flare of Dickens though, but still very worthy in its own right.

America's Sweetheart · « **Reply #212 on:** November 24, 2010, 04:09:37 pm »

All the usual weasel words apply ...

Of Human Bondage - W Somerset Maugham
The Ultimate Rush - Joe Quirk
On The Beach - Nevil Shute
Milk, Sulphate and Alby Starvation - Martin Millar
A History of the World in 10½ Chapters - Julian Barnes
When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead
Psmith In The City - PG Wodehouse
The Second World War - Winston Churchill (All six volumes)
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling

The Jackal · « **Reply #213 on:** November 24, 2010, 04:28:09 pm »

Your taking the piss with that last one right Low?

America's Sweetheart · « **Reply #214 on:** November 24, 2010, 04:31:54 pm »

Quote from: The Jackal on November 24, 2010, 04:28:09 pm

Your taking the piss with that last one right Low?

Not at all. I love it. It's not great literature, obviously, but it's definitely a favourite book. I actually MISS Hermione, Ginny, and Luna.

The Jackal · « **Reply #215 on:** November 24, 2010, 04:41:06 pm »

Fair enough. To be perfectly honest there's probably a few trashy books that would make my guilty pleasures list, though I would lack the courage to put them on a favourites list.

Veinticinco de Mayo · « **Reply #216 on:** November 24, 2010, 10:52:55 pm »

A timely reminder of how good Julian Barnes' "A history of the world..." is. Didn't even think about it for my list, but it is a fantastic book.

Cassiel · « **Reply #217 on:** November 24, 2010, 11:05:08 pm »

Can I have a go? We're talking fiction yes? Because a pure top ten would have some non in it.

Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

Crime and Punishment - Fred Dostoyevsky (why do people who read Dostoyevsky look like...Dostoyevsky)

Keep the Aspadistra Flying - George Orwell.

Preston Falls - David Gates (track it down...honest)

The Goodbye Look - Ross Macdonald

Every Man for Himself - Beryl Bainbridge (could have picked a few of hers - vastly underrated.)

The Long Goodbye - Raymond Chandler

Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Carson McCullers

The Talented Mr Ripley - Patricia Highsmith

jerseyhoya · « **Reply #218 on:** November 25, 2010, 06:49:58 am »

Quote from: America's Sweetheart on November 24, 2010, 04:09:37 pm

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Despite the fact that it was written for 16 year old girls, this was a fantastic read.

Alonso_The_Assassin · « **Reply #219 on:** December 9, 2010, 04:03:29 am »

Quote from: Veinticinco de Mayo on November 2, 2010, 12:11:51 pm

Yeay! Welcome to the official Behemoth Fan Club.

I said to my girlfriend that our cat WILL be names Behemoth.

Just finished it. One of a kind for sure. I think it's something I'll need to read again to feel the full effect, however the themes throughout the text were absolutely spellbinding. The first chapter of the book is so fucking good!

Jai · « **Reply #220 on:** January 10, 2011, 05:47:30 am »

Jai · « **Reply #221 on:** January 10, 2011, 05:54:49 am »

I would recommend "Heart of a Dog" as well. Nothing close to Master and Margarita but still a great book.

As if one needed another reason to hate Stalin, add stifling the literary output of Blugakov to genocide, mass imprisonment, etc etc

Jensen · « **Reply #222 on:** January 10, 2011, 04:19:49 pm »

Thus Spoke Zarathustra - Friedrich Nietzsche
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
The Idiot - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Sexual Personae (Art and Decadence) - Camille Paglia
We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
Rosebud (Orson Welles biography) - David Thomson
Oscar Wilde - Richard Ellman
The Occult - Colin Wilson
The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail - Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln
Wicked Lady: Salvador Dali's Muse - Tim McGirk

Clayton Bigsby · « **Reply #223 on:** January 10, 2011, 05:15:49 pm »

Cut and Run - Jeff Abbott

Ugly - Constance Briscoe
Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
Half A Yellow Sun - Chiamanda Adichie
I do not come to you by chance - Adaobi Nwuabani
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less - Jeffrey Archer
The Hanged Man - T.J McGregor
The Survivors Club - Lisa Gardner
Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons - Lorna Landvik
Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum

TropicalRed · « **Reply #224 on:** January 11, 2011, 01:09:07 am »

I don't really have favourite books...more favourite authors, I will read and pretty much enjoy anything by the following authors....

Bill Bryson

Jeremy Clarkson

Shaun Hutson

Richard Laymon

Barry Crump

Anthony Bourdain

Spike Milligan

Mick Foley

Gerald Durrell

David Taylor

Jai · « **Reply #225 on:** January 11, 2011, 04:07:00 am »

Quote from: rusty-la on October 19, 2010, 12:54:01 am

Mein Kampf AHitler. Tried to red this, fkin impeneratable if any one has managed it, how was it? Seriously?

I tried and couldn't read it, tried again and then decided that life is too short.

the good half · « **Reply #226 on:** January 12, 2011, 12:43:22 pm »

...aka, The Liars Thread.

Corkboy · « **Reply #227 on:** January 12, 2011, 12:46:00 pm »

Quote from: the good half on January 12, 2011, 12:43:22 pm

...aka, The Liars Thread.

Do you think people are putting up the ten books they would most like people to think they like?

the good half · « **Reply #228 on:** January 12, 2011, 12:52:19 pm »

Quote from: corkboy on January 12, 2011, 12:46:00 pm

Do you think people are putting up the ten books they would most like people to think they like?

Yep.
Thats exactly what I think.

Yorkykopite · « **Reply #229 on:** January 12, 2011, 01:08:50 pm »

Quote from: the good half on January 12, 2011, 12:52:19 pm

Yep.
Thats exactly what I think.

I always wonder about people like this. They would never read a serious piece of literature themselves therefore they can't imagine anyone else could. If someone says "I loved reading 'Crime and Punishment'" it can only mean one thing. They are lying. They never read it. In fact nobody has ever read it.

It must be odd going through life believing no one is more intelligent or intellectually curious than yourself. Especially so when you're a bit on the dim side.

What's it like mate?

the good half · « **Reply #230 on:** January 12, 2011, 01:10:46 pm »

Quote from: yorkykopite on January 12, 2011, 01:08:50 pm

I always wonder about people like this. They would never read a serious piece of literature themselves therefore they can't imagine anyone else could. If someone says I loved reading 'Crime and Punishment' it can only mean one thing. They are lying. They never read it. In fact nobody has ever read it.

It must be odd going through life believing no one is more intelligent or intellectually curious than yourself. Especially so when you're a bit on the dim side.

What's it like mate?

Just a cynical bastard to be honest.
Its ok, I guess.

Anyone said Ulysses in gaelic yet?

Corkboy · « **Reply #231 on:** January 12, 2011, 01:55:54 pm »

Quote from: the good half on January 12, 2011, 01:10:46 pm

Anyone said Ulysses in gaelic yet?

I never knew there was an Irish language version. In fact, I'd be very surprised if there was.

the good half · « **Reply #232 on:** January 12, 2011, 01:59:59 pm »

Quote from: corkboy on January 12, 2011, 01:55:54 pm

I never knew there was an Irish language version. In fact, I'd be very surprised if there was.

There isnt.
I was just being sarcy, after a brutal attack on my misanthropic state of mind above. I was born with it. And grown accustomed.
But if there was Im sure president elect David Norris would have had it read and critiqued.

Arcadian · « **Reply #233 on:** January 13, 2011, 04:46:19 am »

http://library.buffalo.edu/pl/exhibits/joycebloomsday/caseXII/index.html

Number 92

hassinator · « **Reply #234 on:** January 13, 2011, 03:39:37 pm »

Quote from: Jai on October 22, 2010, 12:35:50 am

Nabokov - Lolita

i just read this over the holidays. mega-book.

Quote from: Jai on November 2, 2010, 06:37:14 am

Thanks to all who recommended "The Master and Margarita". Read it after seeing it listed a few time on this post.

What a fucking fantastic book, one of a kind. Will be reading "Heart of a Dog" next.

its on the kindle and good to go after i finish hearing about all the blow jobs pamela des barres and her mates give to the rolling stones.

Quote from: Alonso_The_Assassin on November 12, 2010, 12:42:13 am

Great book this!

I didn't think Ellroy could beat White Jazz but I backtracked to The Black Dahlia and bugger me, he's just about done. What a spellbinding read!

have you read 'american tabloid'? its effectively the conclusion of the LA quartet but themes and characters spiral on through 'the cold 6000' and, perhaps his very best, 'blood is a rover'

Quote from: Veinticinco de Mayo on November 24, 2010, 10:52:55 pm

A timely reminder of how good Julian Barnes' "A history of the world..." is. Didn't even think about it for my list, but it is a fantastic book.

i've read 'flauberts parrot' - very clever - and also his 'pedant in the kitchen' where he introduced me to the sublime cotes de rhones that goes under the name of cornas. shall i get 'a history or the world...' then?

hassinator · « **Reply #235 on:** January 13, 2011, 03:42:52 pm »

Quote from: TropicalRed on January 11, 2011, 01:09:07 am

I don't really have favourite books...more favourite authors, I will read and pretty much enjoy anything by the following authors....

Bill Bryson

Jeremy Clarkson

Shaun Hutson

Richard Laymon

Barry Crump

Anthony Bourdain

Spike Milligan

Mick Foley

Gerald Durrell

David Taylor

sorry i have to take issue with clarkson. he's a c*nt.

Yorkykopite · « **Reply #236 on:** January 13, 2011, 03:43:54 pm »

Quote from: hassinator on January 13, 2011, 03:39:37 pm

i've read 'flauberts parrot' - very clever - and also his 'pedant in the kitchen' where he introduced me to the sublime cotes de rhones that goes under the name of cornas. shall i get 'a history or the world...' then?

No it's shit (apart from the 1st chapter) - soz Kev! And I do like Flaubert's Parrot and Pedant in the Kitchen.

hassinator · « **Reply #237 on:** January 13, 2011, 03:48:57 pm »

Quote from: yorkykopite on January 12, 2011, 01:08:50 pm

I always wonder about people like this. They would never read a serious piece of literature themselves therefore they can't imagine anyone else could. If someone says "I loved reading 'Crime and Punishment'" it can only mean one thing. They are lying. They never read it. In fact nobody has ever read it.

It must be odd going through life believing no one is more intelligent or intellectually curious than yourself. Especially so when you're a bit on the dim side.

What's it like mate?

have to say i found it heavy going. i tend to like things at the more luxe end of the spectrum.

'a picture of dorina gray' on the other hand...

Yorkykopite · « **Reply #238 on:** January 13, 2011, 03:55:16 pm »

Quote from: hassinator on January 13, 2011, 03:48:57 pm

have to say i found it heavy going. i tend to like things at the more luxe end of the spectrum.

'a picture of dorina gray' on the other hand...

Is that Dorian's sister Hass?

eAyeAddio · « **Reply #239 on:** January 13, 2011, 04:55:23 pm »

Quote from: hassinator on January 13, 2011, 03:48:57 pm

....have to say i found it heavy going.....

I took a speed-reading course and read 'War & Peace' in 12 minutes.
It's about Russia.... :-}