[sonofjenova]

Porno doesn't work because the characters are too old. The angry edge that Trainspotting had just isn't there.

Just finished American Psycho. Very clever book, 8/10.

[Patrick Bateman]

I finally got around to reading '1984' by George Orwell, a book I've been meaning to read for a long time.

I wasn't disappointed. I loved it.

It's portrayal of a society based on hatred and fear feels almost as if Orwell was sending a message of warning to future generations.

Words and phrases such as Big Brother, the thought police, Room 101 etc have all entered our vocabulary, which I find very telling.

I would recommend this dark, and at times frightening, story to everyone.

[T_S_A_R]

sonofjenova, on 23 January 2012 - 09:17, said:

Porno doesn't work because the characters are too old. The angry edge that Trainspotting had just isn't there.

Just finished American Psycho. Very clever book, 8/10.

i'd attribute that to the author being older and further away from the world he is writing about.

[jojo]

A brave new world by aldous huxley.

great book, and worth a read. The scary thing is that it is very believable.It's like 1984, but more realistic

This post has been edited by jojo: 25 January 2012 - 18:39

[JamboMikey]

With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa - E.B. Sledge


Amazing account of a marine that fought in some of the worst fighting of World War 2. Puts things into perspective.

This post has been edited by JamboMikey: 26 January 2012 - 22:55

[Savage Henry]

Just got sent The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Apparently, I am very similar to one of the support characters. I'm only eleven pages in, and have absolutely no idea whether this is a good or bad thing. Very well written eleven pages, I must say.

[BigMartyn86]

A question of blood by Ian Rankin. Almost finished the rebus series and it's been quite good reading it from the start in knots and crosses up to fleshmarket close (almost finished that as well). will be a bit gutted when I finish the series though as you become quite attached to some of the characters. Here's hoping DI Fox is as entertaining as rebus has been.

[chuckles]

JamboMikey, on 26 January 2012 - 22:55, said:

With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa - E.B. Sledge


Amazing account of a marine that fought in some of the worst fighting of World War 2. Puts things into perspective.

The recent Hanks / Spielberg TV series " The Pacific ", was mainly based on this book .

[Granny Danger]

Patrick Bateman, on 25 January 2012 - 17:48, said:

I finally got around to reading '1984' by George Orwell, a book I've been meaning to read for a long time.

I wasn't disappointed. I loved it.

It's portrayal of a society based on hatred and fear feels almost as if Orwell was sending a message of warning to future generations.

Words and phrases such as Big Brother, the thought police, Room 101 etc have all entered our vocabulary, which I find very telling.

I would recommend this dark, and at times frightening, story to everyone.

Excellent book, though there is nothing of Orwell's that has ever disappointed me.

Started reading the Stuart Macbride novels. Pretty good though he uses author's licence (sp?) to its full effect.

[mighty meadow]

Latest book by Andrea Levy and another cracker. This time set in 19th century Jamaica rather than the usual English setting this novel is based in the latter days of slavery and also it's abolition. Like the previous books I've read by this author you are captivated right from the beginning and quickly get to love or hate the characters. As is the norm with Levy's books the dark, disturbing subjects investigated by the author are laced with some very funny moments which are at times solely down to her unique writing style. Highly recommended 8/10

[KnightswoodBear]

JamboMikey, on 26 January 2012 - 22:55, said:

With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa - E.B. Sledge


Amazing account of a marine that fought in some of the worst fighting of World War 2. Puts things into perspective.

Get yourself Helmet for my Pillow by Robert Leckie as a companion piece. This also made up a large part of The Pacific

[diamonds2002]

I have just finished "The City and the City" by China Mieville.

Science Fictiony Thiller - two cities occupy the same time and space and there has been a murder with an investigations that is slightly tangled.

Interesting concept and I enjoyed the book overall but there are a few holes in the plot (although I often find that with Thrillers). I know others have found this a difficult read but by chapter 3 I was in the swing of things. Probably enjoyed the premise more than the investigation though

[The Shire Voice Of Reason]

Currently re-reading "England's Dreaming" by Jon Savage. A social and music history of punk in the 1970's. Inspirational stuff.

[Mel Hutchwright]

T_S_A_R, on 20 October 2011 - 12:44, said:

suttree by cormac mccarthy: an apparently semi autobiographical novel about a young man's time spent living amongst the poorest people in 1950s knoxville tennesse. it's quite realistic in that that there isn't much of a plot, it just details live amongst the destitute which is unsuprisingly sad but never depressing. as ever with mccarthy the writing, particularly the dialouge, is fantastic with a bit more of a friendly conversational tone to it compared to the grave doom in some of his other works. a great read, hopefully he will publish something new shortly.

I'm the best part of the way through this at the moment, and it really is a great novel. There's a real warmth and humour to it, which isn't something that particularly characterises his later books, wonderful though they are. Gene Harrogate is just a brilliant character. I must admit that I've have had to reach for the dictionary a fair few times though...

Regarding new work from McCarthy, he's seemingly working on a novel called The Passenger, which is to be set in 1980's New Orleans, and about a young man dealing with the suicide of his sister. This, along with Richard Ford's Canada, which seems to have been 'forthcoming' for about three years now, are the two yet to be released novels I'm champing at the bit to get my clammy paws on.

[mighty meadow]

Read this ...



Crime novel set on Lewis. 7/10


and this ...



Comedy/thriller set in Northern Ireland. 4/10

[Patrick Bateman]

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens. I really liked it, Hitchens certainly has a way with words. I found it a bit rambling at times though, and the arguments and discussions could have been a bit more structured. I much preferred The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, as it had a much better flow and arrangement of arguments. Would still highly recommend it to people who want to read about the truly destructive nature of religion.


I Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan. Haven't laughed out loud reading a book so much in my life. Essential reading for all Alan Partridge fans.

[young buck]

smokeheads-doug johnstone- easy wee read.

the power of the dog- don winslow. expansive epic story of mexican drug cartels and how women are mans most dangerous liason. fantastic read

[highlandcowden]

Patrick Bateman, on 25 January 2012 - 17:48, said:

I finally got around to reading '1984' by George Orwell, a book I've been meaning to read for a long time.

I wasn't disappointed. I loved it.

It's portrayal of a society based on hatred and fear feels almost as if Orwell was sending a message of warning to future generations.

Words and phrases such as Big Brother, the thought police, Room 101 etc have all entered our vocabulary, which I find very telling.

I would recommend this dark, and at times frightening, story to everyone.

i try to read one classic a year,i finally got round to 1984 this year.supurb though chilling,highly recommended

[eddiemcgarrigle]

Hell's Gate - Douglas Nash


Chronicles the Battle Of The Cherkassy Pocket where 400,000 Russians had surrounded 60,000 Germans. Although outnumbered in men, tanks, artillery and aircraft, the Jerries still managed to break out.

[mighty meadow]

Japanese man hears a muzak version of Norwegian Wood on an aeroplane and is taken back to his college days and his love of two completely different (in every sense) girls. Pretty much a 'love triangle' story but very dark in places and brilliantly written or perhaps translated.

8/10

[Ross.]

Patrick Bateman, on 25 January 2012 - 17:48, said:

I finally got around to reading '1984' by George Orwell, a book I've been meaning to read for a long time.

I wasn't disappointed. I loved it.

It's portrayal of a society based on hatred and fear feels almost as if Orwell was sending a message of warning to future generations.

Words and phrases such as Big Brother, the thought police, Room 101 etc have all entered our vocabulary, which I find very telling.

I would recommend this dark, and at times frightening, story to everyone.

Probably the book I'd pick out as my favourite if anyone asked. Read it at school when I was 15 or 16 and it didn't do much for me, but read it again a couple of years ago and found it terrifying, have read it a few times since, tend to pick it up when I've run out of books to read and it's still to hit pay day. Every time as enjoyable as the last.

Just started reading "Fight Club". Have seen the film, which I enjoyed, but read a few other books from Palahniuk recently and thought I'd give this a go.

Also bought "Vernon God Little", off the back of reading "Lights Out in Wonderland", which I enjoyed despite finding it difficult to follow at times, and finding the end a little abrupt...

[Ranaldo Bairn]

The Slayer Diaries by Jon 'Metalion' Kristiansen

A brilliant 700 page nostalgia fest for metalheads of a certain generation, weaned on tape trading, fanzines and ropy demos from Sweden and beyond. Takes us from the early 80's right through Norway's notorious 90's to near enough the present day. 8/10




Also 'I Am Legend' by Richard Matheson. Read it in one evening; it's fantastic and DON'T EVEN MENTION WILL SMITH!! 10/10

This post has been edited by Ranaldo Bairn: 20 February 2012 - 13:36

[yoda]

yoda, on 16 January 2012 - 12:41, said:

I've just started The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis. It looks like it could be a cracking read.

Finally finished this. It took me a while to get into it, and because my knowledge of the financial markets is limited I did spend a lot of time researching things I wasn't sure on. However when I got into it, it became difficult to put down. It's shocking, funny, interesting and almost unbelievable. My only criticism is that it's quite dry at times, and sometimes I was having to re-read entire chapters

I think I'll start Moneyball now. I liked his style in The Big Short and Moneyball appears to be interesting

[Mak]

The Vikings by Else Roesdahl and The Cold War: Teach Yourself by Carole Bryan Jones.

The first was out of interest and a pretty good brief overview of several aspects of Viking culture; the second was because I had to for work, and it was good for what it was. It goes over the key aspects at a very low level, which was all that I needed.

Now reading Voltaire's Candide ou l'Optimisme, which I'm enjoying so far.

[mighty meadow]

I bought 'the Third Anti-Christ' as part of Asda's 2 for £7 book deal without realising it was the final part of a trilogy so borrowed this from the local library. I would probably never have given this a 2nd look otherwise but it ended up quite an engrossing and very enjoyable read. Basically it's a race to find some lost Nostradamus prophecies set among France's Gypsy population.
8/10

Finished the above yesterday morning and started reading this from the author of 'the Godfather'.




American Intelligence Officer sets out to avenge his torture and near death at the hands of seven Gestapo officers. I was really looking forward to this after reading the inside cover but it really is very disappointing. The book isn't long enough to give any real depth to the characters and the manner in which the American manages to extract his revenge is all too simple and unbelievable. I bought 'The Godfather' earlier in the week and I'm hoping it's far better than this.
4/10