Can anyone suggest a good book to read?

[chips and gravy]

I like non-fiction. The best books I have read recently are A Season With Verona by Tim Parks - an excellent account of his experience of following Hellas around Serie A. Also Outposts by Simon Winchester - a look at the remaining parts of the British Empire. Finally Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser - I'm not sure you would eat at McDonalds again! An excellent insight into the fast food industry

 

[Titanic]

Recent reads include...

Mark Haddon's ' The curious incident of the dog in the night time' - interesting, amusing. but rather uninspiring. ***

'Tomorrow to be Brave' Susan Travers - was fantastic account of the tales during the war in Africa - and the French foreign legion. Definitely worth a read. *****

'The Life of Pi' curious, atmospheric start - rather bizarre attempt to stretch your credulity - OK. ****

Just started 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks which promises to be challenging but has great write-ups!

 

[Barnet Seagull]

catch 22

 

[tedebear]

i read the life of pi and it was brilliant...

I'm now struggling through "The Little Friend" by Donna Tartt...

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

Are you Dave Gorman? - Dave Gorman & Danny Wallace ***
Dave Gorman's Gogglewhack Adventure - Dave Gorman ****
Join Me - Danny Wallace ****
Round Ireland with a Fridge - Tony Hawks *****
Playing the Moldovans at Tennis - Tony Hawks ****1/2
One Hit Wonderland - Tony Hawks ***1/2

You will piss yourself!

 

[Jason Speaks]

Watership Down Richard Adams

 

[the full harris]

Round Ireland with a Fridge - Tony Hawks *****
Playing the Moldovans at Tennis - Tony Hawks ****1/2
One Hit Wonderland - Tony Hawks ***1/2

You will piss yourself!

Tony Hawks' books are brilliant, all three of them though I would agree with repugnant toad's order of merit for them.
That man shoudl make more stupid bets and write books about. I love 'em.

Also read anything by Lawrence Donegan, also very funny.
He has written:
California Dreaming
Four Iron in the Soul
No News at Throat Lake

All of them are great.

 

[timseagull]

The Rebus series by Rankin are great

Or for satire try Christopher Brookmyre

Just started Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy which is bizare

 

[Superphil]

Anything by Brett Easton Ellis will get you going

 

[Brighton Breezy]

but favourite is Atonement - pretty straightforward story for the first half of the book, then lurches into real horror and heart-rending stuff in the Second World War second half. . . Very moving.

That is one of the books I am having to read. May well stick with it as I am only just 30 pages in and reading about a girl putting on a play.

I am studying a degree Roz, but not in English Lit, but I am doing one of my mdoules in English as a free elective.

Have read a lot of those mentioned, especially enjoyed 'Birdsong'..though not sure I could manage 'Watership Down' because the film makes me cry.

 

[Dover]

Travels With My Radio. Fi Glover.
I Lost My Heart to The Bells. Pete Davis.

 

[jonnyboylennon]

'King of the World' by David Remnick.

With your journalist tendancies you will love it. Its Mohammed Ali's story of self promotion and creation, how he changed peoples views on the black man. Amazing.

Remnick won the Pulitzer for it. Read it.

 

[mk_bha]

after reading nearly every 60's / 70's sci-fi book (Alfred Bester r00ls) - i am now reading Banks Culture novels.

Player of Games by Banks is awesome.

Best book ever:
Gateway - Frederick Pohl.

f00kin awesome.

 

[Gwylan]

It's a strange question, Richie, what sort of books do you like reading? Fiction or non-fiction?

If fiction, humorous, thrillers, sci-fi, horror or what?

Perhaps you should have given us some authors that you liking reading and asked us to suggest similar writers.

However, all aspiring journalists should read George Orwell's collected journalism and essays (Penguin do a useful 4-volume set). Politics and the English language is absolutely essential - I even photocopied it once and gave it to my entire team of journos.

I'm more interested in the 'feminist crap' that you had to read - who could that be?

Oh, and Stumpy Tim, I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but Nicci French isn't a she but a they. 'She' is husband-and-wife team, Nicci Gerrard and Sean French.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Orwell is my favourite serious author and am (re) reading 'coming up for air' until I go in to town and buy a new book.

 

[John Dorian]

Hornet Flight by Ken Follett. Wartime espionage book - well worth it ...

 

[Lord Bracknell]

catch 22

I agree with you, Barnet.

As a matter of interest - and to satisfy the curiosity of an old man - does ANYBODY read Catch 22 these days? Or did it just speak to my g'g'generation?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

not sure I could manage 'Watership Down' because the film makes me cry.

Wait until you try the pie.

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

You could Try "To Hell In A Handcart"by Richard Littlejohn,it somes up everything about todays' Britain

 

[fatboy]

Eats Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss.

Exactly what I was going to say!