Time for a book recommendations thread

[Pavilionaire]

I've just finished Jake Arnott's 4th novel "Johnny Come Home". It was an excellent read, set in London in the early 70s amongst the seedy underbelly of glam rock, prostitution, drugs and political activity.

He really knows how to evoke a sense of what it was like in a previous era. The Long Firm trilogy before that was set in 60s gangland London and was also a brilliant read.

I'm now reading Damned Utd by David Peace, all about Brian Clough's 44 day reign as manager of Leeds Utd. 50 pages in I'm hooked.

 

[Rusthall Seagull]

Monte Cassino - The hardest fought battle of WWII....is a super read - pretty harrowing, but very very well written

 

[Buzzer]

pale fire by Vladimir Nabokov

time's arrow by martin amis

you won't be disappointed

 

[Lokki 7]

The Long Firm trilogy before that was set in 60s gangland London and was also a brilliant read.

I enjoyed the first one but got bored half way through the second one to be honest. I found his writing lacked humour, and he got bogged down structuring the plot and setting the scenes. Maybe I should get back into it because I can imagine the last book being very good.

 

[Gwylan]

pale fire by Vladimir Nabokov

time's arrow by martin amis

you won't be disappointed

Marvellous stuff...but anything by Nabokov is good.

Laughter in the Dark is also excellent as is the one about the chess champion (The Defence?).

Can't agree about Time's Arrow though, the only Amis worth reading is Money - the best British book of the 80s.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Just read that; top book ... I'm sure there's a sequel, but I haven't found it yet.

Currently reading Call of the Wild by Guy Grieve ... decent book, although it's getting a bit dull in the middle.

There are two I think.

'A Parrot In The Pepper Tree' and 'The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society'. Yet to read either, but if they are half as good as the first one, I will enojy them.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Just finished "The Damned United" - a fictional account of Brian Cloughs time at Leeds. A great read - you will not want to finish.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I'm now reading Damned Utd by David Peace, all about Brian Clough's 44 day reign as manager of Leeds Utd. 50 pages in I'm hooked.

Sorry - missed this. What he said.

 

[Rusthall Seagull]

of course you could just get a load of TinTin picture books and let yourself be taken back to your childhood when things seemed simpler

Dave, if you like Tintin.....you will love this



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tintin-Complete-Companion-Michael-Farr/dp/0719555221[/URL]

 

[Starry]

Have you read Beautiful Child by Torey Hayden? That's a brilliant book

No, I haven't read that one, I've read a few others of hers though.

 

[Paul Reids Sock]

'48 by James Herbert,

its the only book i have read from start to finish in about 2 years and have read it about 3 times now. going to start reading a bit more in my spare time instead of jsut playing championship manager! when i told my mum i was reading james herbert she wasnt happy saying he is shit. daft woman

 

[Woodchip]

'48 by James Herbert,

its the only book i have read from start to finish in about 2 years and have read it about 3 times now. going to start reading a bit more in my spare time instead of jsut playing championship manager! when i told my mum i was reading james herbert she wasnt happy saying he is shit. daft woman

Once and Others are both really good James Herbert books.

 

[Nibble]

I am reading Endurance. The account of Shackletons doomed voyage. Very good indeed.

 

[Eggmundo]

Just finished "Brave New World" Aldous Huxley. Excellent book.

Currently reading "The Trial" Franz Kafka. Not Sure yet, seems well written but bit thin on plot!

 

[Buzzer]

Just finished "Brave New World" Aldous Huxley. Excellent book.

Currently reading "The Trial" Franz Kafka. Not Sure yet, seems well written but bit thin on plot!

Thin on plot?

It's genius. He wrote each chapter independently and then pieced them together later for his stories. It's a brilliant tale of a man's impotent struggle against unseen forces and the blind acceptance by others. It's not so much a detailed story asa parable. Remember those dreams where you were running and getting nowhere or hitting someone and it felt like you were punching through treacle? That's Kafka. As relevant now as it ever was. He rewrote this story in another book called the Castle. Essentially the same premise.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

Oh yeah, and i'm currently reading Lord of the Rings and am really really enjoying it!!

 

[seagully]

Auschwitz by Laurence Rees is a fantastically written book, as is Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor if you're into historical non-fiction

 

[Eggmundo]

Thin on plot?

It's genius. He wrote each chapter independently and then pieced them together later for his stories. It's a brilliant tale of a man's impotent struggle against unseen forces and the blind acceptance by others. It's not so much a detailed story asa parable. Remember those dreams where you were running and getting nowhere or hitting someone and it felt like you were punching through treacle? That's Kafka. As relevant now as it ever was. He rewrote this story in another book called the Castle. Essentially the same premise.

Yeah......That's what I meant

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Thoroughly enjoyed Shantaram. And am now reading Wild Swans. Big books both of them, but v v good

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Just finished "Brave New World" Aldous Huxley. Excellent book.

Currently reading "The Trial" Franz Kafka. Not Sure yet, seems well written but bit thin on plot!

Excellent, both of them.