Mr Plod Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Hey guys. This thread stems from a conversation me and the wonderful Synergy had earlier and we're both stuck on what books to read... I like to read but haven't read for a while now partly due to not knowing of any good books nowadays... and so thought I'd ask for some of your suggestions. The last book I read was called Underfire and was pretty much the memoirs of a London Firefighter and his time in the brigade. I like my war based books such as Band of Brothers and many others but would like to try to read some decent novels as well.Anyone got any suggestions? If you've read a good book then recommend it in here and maybe give a short synopsis on the book as well without ruining it. Maybe give the book a rating out of 10 as well and what genre it fits in.Will be interesting to see some of your suggestions.Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroMatt Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) Can't fault any of Isaac Asimov's books really, all 400 odd. If you like sci fi thats the stuff you wanna read.Just got through the Troy series by David Gemmel who is up there with Asimov in fiction, shame he's dead.Not fussed by a lot of these "popular" books like da vinci jobby and all that stuff Edited February 17, 2008 by ZeroMatt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haz Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 World War Z - Max Brooks (ISBN 978-0-7156-3703-6)A collection of stories from survivors of a fictional class 5 Zombie outbreak. Film to be released later this year.~350 pages of easy reading.8/10The Zombie Survival Guide (Complete Protection From The Living Dead) - Max Brooks (ISBN 978-0-7156-3318-2)Exactly what it says on the cover, pretty interesting, fun read if you've read the first book.This is kind of a Ray Mears 'How To Kill Zombies'.~250 informative pages.8/10This shit goes down next to George Orwell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneakers O'Toole Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 I have read a few decent war books but i can't recall the titles for some reason... I think one of them was Pegasus Bridge which was good read if a little short.Other good books i have laying next to my bed at the moment are the Troy series by David Gemell. There are 3 books which tell the story of Helikaon, Odyssesus and Hektor. They probably aren't historically accurate (i know nothing about ancient greece) but the story is brilliant and the battles are very engrossing. I'd give the series a 8/10On a similar note are the Emperor books by Conn Iggulden. They deal with the life of Julius Ceasar and Brutus. These are probably my favourite books. The story is brilliant, they aren't some boring history books. Plenty of battles and sex, only missing a bit of rock and roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 This doesn't really fit in anywhere else, but yeah, got given the box-set of all the original, as-they-were Penguin edition James Bond stories. It's amazing - properly old school, not edited at all, so it's got stuff like James Bond calling Mr. Big "a bloody great nigger" and stuff like that. One of the chapters was called "Nigger heaven", haha. But yeah, they're fun to read, have a sort of 'raw' feel to them compared to the modern versions.Anyway, in terms of books to read, Fight Club (the book version) is a really interesting read. Just done in an interesting style, and is a real page turner, so to speak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroMatt Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Other good books i have laying next to my bed at the moment are the Troy series by David Gemell. There are 3 books which tell the story of Helikaon, Odyssesus and Hektor. They probably aren't historically accurate (i know nothing about ancient greece) but the story is brilliant and the battles are very engrossing. I'd give the series a 8/10If you haven't allready you should have a read of the Rigante series by Gemmel, in my opinion they are bit better than the Troy series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Token Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 'The Power of the Dog' by Don Winslow it's actually such a good book I don't want to share it with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 No Country for Old Men - Cormac McArthry American Pshyco - Brett Easton EllisFeynmann Lectures - Richard FeynmannBrief History of Time - Stephen HawkingNo Logo - Noemi KleinMiss Smilias feeling for snow - Peter Hoeg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endohopper Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Another reccomendation for David Gemmell , especially his first book called L E G E N D which is an awesome read . I'm also fond of Christopher Hitchens , Pratchett , Andy McNabb and of course - among the world's finest books : Red Dragon by Thomas Harris . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1a2bcio8 Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) Catch-22 and the Illuminatus Trilogy for fictional satire.Prometheus Rising and Quantum Psychology (both by Robert Anton Wilson) for introductory books on mind expansion - the beginnings of becoming who you are.I am a nerd/geek and proud. Edited February 17, 2008 by rowly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Papasnap Maher Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 The only book i can safely say ive read, beginning to end and enjoyed it, was the da vinci code.Amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Anything by Danny King. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Swales Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 "the catcher In the rye" by J.D. Salinger"fear and loathing in las vegas" by hunter s thompson"educating peter" by Tom Cox"señor vivo and the coca lord" by Luis De Bernieres"one flew over the cuckoo's nest" by Ken Kesey"brighton rock", "monsignor quixote" and "gun for sale" by Graham Green"to kill a mocking bird" by Harper Lee"Fight Club" by CHuck Palahniuk"of mice and men" by John Steinbeckif you haven't already read these already, they´re all excellent reads, and i consider some of them to be books that everybody should have read more than once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spode@thinkbikes Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Hit-Jellyfis...s/dp/184354265XNever Hit a JellyFish With a Spade - Guy Browning.Hilarious - I had some strange looks lolling on the train at this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 "the catcher In the rye" by J.D. Salinger"fear and loathing in las vegas" by hunter s thompson"educating peter" by Tom Cox"señor vivo and the coca lord" by Luis De Bernieres"one flew over the cuckoo's nest" by Ken Kesey"brighton rock", "monsignor quixote" and "gun for sale" by Graham Green"to kill a mocking bird" by Harper Lee"Fight Club" by CHuck Palahniuk"of mice and men" by John Steinbeckif you haven't already read these already, they´re all excellent reads, and i consider some of them to be books that everybody should have read more than once.Forgot about that one! His book "fear and loathing on the campaign trail" is really, really good too, considering it's about a subject I have no idea about (US presidential campaigns). Both of them are well worth a read though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_trials Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 I am legend- Richard Matheson, the original book is a great read, although quite short, nothing like the film, much much better imo.Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance- Robert M. Pirsig. Good read, although you can get bogged down in the philosophical (sp?) elements.The Alphabet Of Manliness- Maddox, Really laugh out loud funny the whole way through.This is a good thread and i'll definitely read some of the books mentioned.-Charlie- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishy Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 'Bravo Two Zero' by Andy Mcnab'The One That Got Away' Chris Ryan.Both true stories about the SAS patrol that was intercepted in the first Gulf War, proper interesting read if you like those sort of books. And I rate Andy Mcnab over Chris Ryan with his other books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCircus Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 I've recently read Haunted by Palahniuk, it was awesome and I would recommend it to anyone, it's a book where it's easy to pick up and read a chapter before you go to sleep.Also one of the best books I have ever read is called First Light by Geoffrey Wellum; essentially it is the diary of a battle of Britain fighter pilot, but the way it is written is fantastic and flows very well and the fact that it is all real is an insane prospect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamptin Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) Well, Douglas Adams "The Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy" series is an obvious one. As is anything be Terry Pratchett (mind you, they are far from war, all mad sci-fi/fantasy stuff). I did quite enjoy Ben Mezerich's few books, "Breaking Vegas" "Ugly Americans" and "Bringing down the house", all non-fiction about MIT lads who made millions either counting cards or gambling on the stock exchange. However, if I were to tell you one book alone, a must read battle of wills, it's got to be "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance"[edit] by Robert M. Prisig [/edit]. It's not factual about Zen, barely factual about motorbike maintenance, but the philosophies and the struggles of a guy with multiple personalities is a savage read.That said, if you like Isacc Asimov, you might like Peter F. Hamilton - "Pandora's Star". It's set in the first few years of when humanity begins to conquer the galaxy. Asimov set most of his books off in the future by millennia so the galaxy is already ours.... Hamilton, imo, wrote a savage How we get there book. Edited February 17, 2008 by Swamptin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krisboats Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Its not really on the same sort of theme as the rest of these but if anyone likes space sci-fi novels then the knights dawn trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton is absolutely amazing, although quite long. It consists of three books, The Reality Dysfunction, The Naked God and finally the Neutroneum Alchemist. Each single book is larger than the entire lord of the rings trilogy so its definately not one for the faint hearted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Quigley Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 I read a lot of Patricia Cornwell. The Kay Scarpetta series are pretty cool. Although the earlier ones are the best.Crime Fiction I guess they're classed under.My next book to read is ''Kisscut'' by Karin Slaughter, heard mixed reviews so we'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbra Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 The talisman, by Stephen King.The wheel of time series (so far I'm on the 6th out of 12) by Robert Jordan. Are really good if your into your fantasy type books. But i went from not reading at all to loving reading, i never started reading (other than magazines) until i was 15 and picked up a book called 'The Amulet of Samarkand' by Johnathon Stroud.If anyone could give me some book recommendations to anything thats fantasy based or historical. When i say historical I'm talking Ancient Greece era, i'd be more than appreciative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*PHIL* Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 read the two books by alastair humphreys, the guy that rode round the world on a bike in 4 years. maybe not the best written thing even but very inspiring.and 'the beach' by some random guy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan. Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 had to read enduring love for english as levelpretty good book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Swales Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 if you're into non-fiction/travel/comedy try "around ireland with a fridge" by Tony Hawk, it's pretty good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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