What are you reading right now?

[Shiva]

About 5 different novels in various stages and several comic series. But currently

Fallen Angel by Peter David.
Very very good read, I'll happily lend it to anyone. T

[LittleTimmy]

Just finished Star of the Sea by Joseph O Connor. loved it to be honest, even though It was a tale of misery and misfortune, it still managed to be upbeat and reasonably positive.
About to read Cloud Atlas now. Seems interesting so far.

[007]

"mad about the boy" by Maggie Alderson...
http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0141009039,00.html

Its a kick off the shoes and read infront of the fire kinda book [:-D]

[joeohara]

I am reading at the moment "Maskerade" by Terry Pratchett. i fucking love this book and its a hillarious piss take of phantom of the opera.

I am crazy about the discworld series and am in the middle of collecting the entire series.

[Bootyzilla]

'Wicked' by Gregory Maguire, a bio of the wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz, very clever & very funny. Also, it's taking me ages to read it, which is nice; usually I tear through books but this one is not the kind for skimming.

'Blood Canticle' by Anne Rice, another Vampire chronicle. I know, I'm a whore, sue me. It's not bad though, and since the Blackwood Farm cast are in it, it's pretty interesting.

'Lasher' by Anne Rice, second volume in the Mayfair Witches trilogy. Like Dallas except with witches, fantastic stories told with heavy atmosphere and riveting characters.

'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Brontë, a classic to counteract the Anne Rices, and one of my favourite books.

[petitchouchou]

"mad about the boy" by Maggie Alderson...
http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0141009039,00.html

Its a kick off the shoes and read infront of the fire kinda book [:-D]

Oooooh.....can I borrow that off you 007 after you're done? It looks good!
I'm reading "Sophie's World" and "Houl's Moving Castle". I'm still a kid at heart.
[:-P] [:-D]

[Mr.Intentional]

I read Sophie's World.
[:-D]
Very good read!
It made me think a lot.
I'm reading The Taking by Dean Koontz.
It's scaring me..
The Apocalypse and all that.
LoL.

[amnesiac]

I'm reading Ireland in the Twentieth Century by Tim Pat Coogan and various paediatric texts. I tend to read more in summertime; during term I find it hard to read for pleasure given the amount of time I spend reading academic stuff.

[LittleTimmy]

I'm reading Ireland in the Twentieth Century by Tim Pat Coogan and various paediatric texts. I tend to read more in summertime; during term I find it hard to read for pleasure given the amount of time I spend reading academic stuff.

I read that about ten years ago, great history book though it gets frightful boring when he gets into economics. There is also a very prevalent anti-deve theme, which I found hard to deal with.
I'm not reading any paediatric texts though. [;-)]

[amnesiac]

I'm enjoying it Timmy. I agree that it's not the most balanced of historical texts but it is a very indepth and enjoyable account of history and politics over the past 100 years in Ireland. Actually, if you have any other recommendations regarding modern Irish history I'd appreciate them!

The last historical book i read by the way was Peacemakers by Maraget McMillan which dealth with the aftermath of the First World War and the Peace Conferecne at Versailles. Now that was an excellently reseacrhed, authoritative account of a fascinating period of twentieth century history.

(I won't be reading any paediatic texts after Friday either [:-P] )

[admin]

I'm one of those people who reads several books at a time:

Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham
(http://literati.net/Cunningham/CunninghamBooks.htm)
The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde, by Neil McKenna
(http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780099415459)
The Plot Against America: by Philip Roth
(http://www.reviewsofbooks.com/plot_against_america/)

[LittleTimmy]

I'm enjoying it Timmy. I agree that it's not the most balanced of historical texts but it is a very indepth and enjoyable account of history and politics over the past 100 years in Ireland. Actually, if you have any other recommendations regarding modern Irish history I'd appreciate them!

The last historical book i read by the way was Peacemakers by Maraget McMillan which dealth with the aftermath of the First World War and the Peace Conferecne at Versailles. Now that was an excellently reseacrhed, authoritative account of a fascinating period of twentieth century history.

(I won't be reading any paediatic texts after Friday either [:-P] )

Well, it is a good book, I wouldn't deny that, just like any other book it has its occasional failings. It is about the only general Irish history book worth reading being honest. Any other good one that I could recommend would be on a specific era or topic. Tim pat has a god biography on Dev (kind of) and his book on the troubles is seminal. New book coming out on the lemass era soon which promises to be interesting.

[LittleTimmy]

I'm one of those people who reads several books at a time:
Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham
(http://literati.net/Cunningham/CunninghamBooks.htm)
The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde, by Neil McKenna
(http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780099415459)
The Plot Against America: by Philip Roth
(http://www.reviewsofbooks.com/plot_against_america/)

Is Philip Roth the guy who wrote "Them"?

[Nula]

I'm reading a very good book at the moment - The Rules of the Road!![:-P] I thought you'd be able to read that online now at this stage but you can't. and the Department of the Environment hasn't issued a revised issue since the speed changes.

[hammy]

this forum...

but in mah bathroom Ive got the two 'detective' books by douglas adams and 'bravemouth'

[admin]

Is Philip Roth the guy who wrote "Them"?

dunno, did a google an nothing so far
http://orgs.tamu-commerce.edu/rothsoc/writings.htm

I'm reading a very good book at the moment - The Rules of the Road!![:-P] I thought you'd be able to read that online now at this stage but you can't. and the Department of the Environment hasn't issued a revised issue since the speed changes.

They haven't updated for the euro either, as its still £50 for an on the spot fine [:-?]

[aerach]

Im dippping in and out of three books at the moment:
Ingne Dhearga Dheaideo by Pádraic Breathnach,
The Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson (Fantasy),
An Bealach 'na Bhaile Homecoming -Selected Poems by Cathal Ó Searcaigh

[apollo]

Reading "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert Heinlein.

[opus]

Just finishing off the Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, it's not too bad but wouldn't rave over it.

Really liked the last book I read which was Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, would recommend it to anyone.

[Kitten]

just finished a good thriller 'Archangel' by Robert Harris and recently read another one of his 'Pompeii' which was even better. They were both very well researched and had good historical information even though they are fiction.

Anyone else like or recommend a good thriller ? [8-X]

[apollo]

The Plot Against America: by Philip Roth
(http://www.reviewsofbooks.com/plot_against_america/)[/LIST]
Read that! Not impressed at all with it.

[007]

Oooooh.....can I borrow that off you 007 after you're done? It looks good!
I'm reading "Sophie's World" and "Houl's Moving Castle". I'm still a kid at heart.
[:-P] [:-D]

Course you can my little buttercup

Oh http://www.popmatters.com/books/reviews/h/how-i-paid-for-college2.shtml is another brill one..... its just a must read my little chickens... a must read

[Shiva]

The Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson (Fantasy),


Absolutley amazing series, its so nice to finally see some original fantasy out there atm. I love Erikson, fantastic author.
Try 'A song of fire and ice' by George RR Martin as well :)

Currently reading 'Crisis on infinate earths' DC comics, its heavy going :P

[thoth]

Roma Eterna by Robert Silverberg. And i'm dipping in and out of the lord of the flies too, will probably finish it by next christmas.

[apollo]

Love "Lord of the Flies", one of my favourite books. Plan on reading some Ayn Rand or Neal Stephenson next.

[redbulljunkie]

If you're reading Neal Stephenson, I think Cryptonomicon is the better book, but Snow Crash is a quicker read and faster to get into if you're looking for an easy introduction.

Cryptonomicon is 900 pages but well worth the effort though! I think you'd love it. (Unlike his follow-up "Quicksilver", *snore*).

[joeohara]

just finished a good thriller 'Archangel' by Robert Harris and recently read another one of his 'Pompeii' which was even better. They were both very well researched and had good historical information even though they are fiction.

Anyone else like or recommend a good thriller ? [8-X]


well if you like the fantasy genre i can recommend several books for you to read.

[LittleTimmy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4445088.stm

I know some of ye will love this! The classics in 160 characters or less!

Pure awful!

[LittleTimmy]

http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/classics.shtml

Something similar - just a bit quirky. (Not sure if this deserves a thread of its own).

[joeohara]

Am now reading "the amazing maurice and his educated rodents" by terry pratchett.

i tend to stick to the same author untill they write a shit book then i move on to someone else.

[chatelaine]

I have justed started "Specimen Days" by Michael Cunningham. I love his work. I really recommend "The Hours" to anyone who has not yet read it or seen the movie.

[chatelaine]

I saw "Christ the Lord" by Anne Rice but was laden down with bags and didn't get it. Has anyone read it?

[ukoda]

Im reading the farside collection at the moment (does that count as a book?[:-?] )

Also just finished reading - Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

[Shiva]

Im reading the farside collection at the moment (does that count as a book?[:-?] )


I'm reading comics, so hell yea it counts.

Just finished 'Demon Lord of Karanda' by David Eddings, I don't care what people say its a good read, nice and simple, perfect for travelling.

Starting 'Wayfarer' by Sara Douglass

[joeohara]

Have just finished "the amazing maurice and his educated rodents" and i fucking loved it (am a speed reader btw) and have now started "the wee free men" also by terry pratchett.

[EverythingFadesAway]

I´m over halfway through "The Godfather" and I´m OBSESSED!

[Bootyzilla]

'Blood Canticle' by Anne Rice, another Vampire chronicle. I know, I'm a whore, sue me. It's not bad though, and since the Blackwood Farm cast are in it, it's pretty interesting.

Je retract!

What a bucketload of shit that was! And a waste of ten euros! Poor Anne Rice.

Also, Amazon says this about her new religious novel, 'Christ the Lord': "Worse still, clumsy and outright ungrammatical prose infects every page. For instance, we're told, "Joseph and Mary were cousins themselves of each other, that meant happiness for both of them." Presumably aiming for the resounding echoes of biblical syntax, Rice is merely redundant, so much so that the 300-plus pages of this book feel infinitely longer. Here's a sample of dialogue. Mary says, "Think of all the signs. . . . Think of the night when the men from the East came." Then Joseph says, "Do you think anybody there has forgotten that? Do you think they've forgotten anything. . . . They'll remember the star. . . . They'll remember the men from the East," to which Mary replies, "Don't say it, please. . . . Please don't say those words." ".

I see.

[joeohara]

Have finished the wee free men and have now moved onto the sequel "a hat full of sky" its hillarious to quote chatelaine "cest fabulous"

[Shiva]

Magician
Raymond E Fiest

[petitchouchou]

Existentialism and Humanism by Jean Paul Sartre. I love a nice bit of philosophy [:-D]

[opus]

Just started "Complicity" by Iain Banks.

[joeohara]

Just finished "A hat full of sky" and i fucking loved it i literally could not put it down. i would recommend it to anybody and i would also suggest reading "the wee free men" as a hat full of sky is its sequel.

I would'nt recommend it for younger readers as some of the subject matter is quite dark and not something i would expose young children to it.

I'd give both books 10/10

[Harry Bo]

I'm reading a book called 'Bringing down the house' at the moment. It was written by a guy called Ben Mezrich.

It tells the story of a group of young MIT students who use their mathmatical skills to create a method to beat the casino's at blackjack.

Its based on a true story.

This is what the review goes like:

This is a fast and explosive read. It's a true story that's so high-powered that the tension never ceases and I was thrust into a roller coaster ride that kept my eyes glued to the pages.
The story is told through the eyes of the author, who met one of the students at a party and was so intrigued by his outrageous tale that he was compelled to put it into a book. This is a story of a group of math whizzes, most of Asian descent, who used the art of card counting, worked as teams, and legally won as much as 4 million dollars during the few years they spent their weekends in the Vegas casinos, living the high life.

They strapped thousands of dollars to their bodies with Velcro to get the cash onto planes, used false names, and were always on the lookout for Las Vegas personnel who would sometimes personally escort them out of the casinos. They also learned about the seediness of the gambling world, greed, the way the Vegas corporations work. Of course they all went through changes. And eventually, it had to come to an end. Some of it is kind of scary too. But mostly, it's about beating the odds and living with a constant adrenaline high.

Well, reading this book is an adrenaline high of it's own. It put me right into the action and kept me there for the whole 257 pages. I loved it. And highly recommend it.

End.

Yep! So! Get this book!!! Its BRILLIANT! I read it in 2 sittings!!! Thats a huge acheivement for me as i cant spell most of the time!!!

I promise you that you will love it! :)

[Bootyzilla]

Artemis Fowl And The Opal Deception

As with the three previous Artemis Fowl books, it starts off cheesier than a Leprechaun vending clay pipes in a snug but it's actually pretty well put together. Sort of a cross between Philip Pullman's imaginative skills and Glenroe.

Beware, Cathartic Morals Ahoy! Ireland's great! Smoking's evil! Being a Normal Teenager is the thing!

Still fairly diverting, though, even if you do have to have read the other three to appreciate it.

[Bootyzilla]

Actually, here's a question.

Did anyone at all read 'Lionboy' by Zizou Corder? It came free with Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and, when I'd finished that book, I took one look at Lionboy and flung it against a wall. Now, months later, I've come back to it, only to find it horrifyingly shit.

Anyone give it a chance and read it through?

[joeohara]

Yes i read lionboy and after i had finished bleeding from the eyes and ears the book is now resigned to lining the dogs basket.

Am now re-reading "wyrd sisters" by terry pratchett its a hillarious piss take of macbeth and i would recommend it to anyone who thinks shakespeare is a stuffy old fruitcake.

[chatelaine]

I bought "My Lives" by Edmund White on Saturday and i've it almost read. Very good book. Loving his work, etc

[Swimmy]

The Time Travellers Wife and Dictators Homes.

[Shiva]

Forcing myslef through Crossroads of Twilight, book 10 of the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, mainly because of the rave reviews book 11 (Knife of Dreams) has been getting. That said I skipped the first half of the book and it seems to be ok so far. If you don't know book 8, 9 and 10 deal with the same week as seen from over 100 diff character, when you consider the fact that every other book was in months to years time wise...
Book 11 has actually revived the series and renewed peoples faith in Mr Jordan, that said I have yert to read it, and as we all know only my opinion counts.

On my to read list. Thanks to the x-mas vouchers.
Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan [:-?]
Thud - Terry Prattchet [:-D]
A Storm of Crows - George RR Martin [B-)]
The Book of Words Trilogy - JV Jones [B-)]
plus the 40 odd piled in the corner still to be read [:-((] [:-((] [:-((]

[Bootyzilla]

"Carter Beats The Devil" by Glen David Gold

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0786886323.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

This is a bloody brilliant novel! It's like a cross between the Hardy Boys and Dickens; great adventure, some very clever characterisation and a really absorbing plot. Apparently iut's been around since 2000 but I never heard of it 'till I was in Waterstones over Christmas. It's excellent!

[LittleTimmy]

The power of Now - Eckart Tolle

[Angel]

finished last week: "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire... excellent book, looking forward to seeing the musical at some stage soon...

in the middle of Memoirs of a Geisha at the moment... another excellent read

[spiller]

Just finished the Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud by Ben Sherwood
definatly recommend it its very touching.

Am reading NATO a Beginners guide at the moment

[Bootyzilla]

finished last week: "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire... excellent book, looking forward to seeing the musical at some stage soon...

Read that just before Christmas, I loved it! They're making a movie version of it, too!

[Angel]

Read that just before Christmas, I loved it! They're making a movie version of it, too!

the music from the sound track of the musical is absolutely brilliant [;-)]

[petitchouchou]

A friend recommended the book "Blink" to me which is about how the subconscious mind is often better at making decisions in seconds even if you gave the conscious mind weeks or months. The researchers watch a couple talk for 15 minutes talking about ordinary things and using facial recognition, body language, tone of voice and all that they believe they can tell if they'll be together in 15 years![:-O ] Very interesting stuff.
Also back to Memoirs of a Geisha before its released next friday

[kanashimi]

Reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird' again, with intermitant mixes of a new stores procedures manual....

[Rogue]

the music from the sound track of the musical is absolutely brilliant [;-)]


Isnt it fab?!!! Im sure you have heard me and popeye's renditions? We should be the ones on stage! [;-)]

just finished reading Velocity by Dean Koontz, Good book not his best but it was cheap in tesco's and an excuse not to study.

[NuMarvel]

Since the New Year, I've been re reading my older comics to see what to keep and what to throw out/sell/ditch. (I need the space.)

So far it's bye bye to most of Bendis's Powers and Daredevil as well as Superman/Batman and most of Dreamwave's Transformers run.

Next up on my repeat list is Fallen Angel and Promothea, but I get the feeling that they won't be going anywhere. After that I think I'll be laying into my trade paperbacks and graphic novels.

And comics count as reading too!

[Shiva]

Next up on my repeat list is Fallen Angel and Promothea, but I get the feeling that they won't be going anywhere.


Fallen Angel rocks

[Kitten]

I'm reading The Sea by John Banville (a Christmas present)

It is really beautifully written e.g.

"A steep-slanted flash of sunlight fell along the beach, turning the sand above the waterline bonewhite, and a white seabird, dazzling against the wall of cloud, flew up on sickle wings and turned with a soundless snap and plunged itself, a shutting chevron, into the seas's unruly back "

The problem is that the story is a bit pedestrian for me. Has anyone else read it ? [:-|]

[spiller]

Finsihed the NATO book, Am now reading Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth. Its really interesting

[c3van5]

reading patient and person. its research for my essay, due this week and its driving me insane

[bo_selecta]

Just finished reading Stephen Collins' book on the history of the PDs. I used it to help me sleep at night.

Half way through "Is It Just Me Or Is Everything Shit?" by Alan McArthur and Steve Lowe.

Just a couple of chapters into "Bringing Down the House: How Six Students Took Vegas for Millions" by Ben Mezrich.

*edit*

Just got "The Whole World Was Watching - Living In The Light Of Matthew Shepard" in the post today...so will start that over the next few days.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1555839010/sr=1-3/qid=1137435064/ref=sr_1_3/103-8747507-3911860?%5Fencoding=UTF8

[Shiva]

Finished 'Knife of Dreams' by Robert Jordan
Fantastic absolutley fantastic, Jordan is back on track. It's so good to see the series (The Wheel of Time) ressurected from the pit that it dug itself into. You can effectively ignore books 9 and 10 in the series, i'll give you a brief 2 minute synopsis of it if you are desperate [;-)]

The story advanced, new plot, people died, others are being brought back. I did find some of his discriptions of the signs for Tarmon Gai'Don (the last battle) a little creepy, but that is exactly what he as an autor should be doing, moving his audience. He is wrapping up plots nicely for the end. This book was just a precursor to the end of the series and by the Gods it does it very very well. I actually found myself wanting more at the end of the book, something I haven't experienced in his previous 2 or 3 books.

It was definatly worth the 2 1/2 year wait for this.
If your a fan of high fantasy then this is a must read. 8.5/10

[joeohara]

Am tearing through memoirs of a geisha i know its a cliche but i literally can't put it down. matsumomo is such a cunt

[LittleTimmy]

Now and Then by William Corlett.

Lovely little book.

[lacka]

Just finished "Roman Song" by Brian Kennedy - the follow up to "The Arrival of Fergal Flynn" - Not the greatest of writers, very simple writing and the print is huge for some reason, reminds me of primary school english books!
But a total breath of fresh air and a lovely,soppy,happy love story, had both me and the beau in tears by the end of it - well worth a read.

[thoth]

the ancestor's tale by richard dawkins. it's a bit dense but he has a gift for explanation and it's really interesting. after a month i'm finally nearly finished it.

[redbulljunkie]

"The Diceman" by Luke Rhinehart

[Bootyzilla]

'My Way Of Life' by Joan Crawford. Did you know that it's a good idea, when roasting chicken for a party, to leave it a little underdone, as things always naturally cook a little more during the freezing and thawing process? I did not.

[redbulljunkie]

I noticed that, but I never risk it anyways. Joan may not have liked her guests very much [:-)].

[Bootyzilla]

I'd love to know just how many guests Joan offed in a drunken stupor with salmonella-soaked poultry! I was waiting for a chapter entitled "Duck and A Hot Windowsill: Twenty minutes for rare perfection! ".

[odyssey_scot]

mostly doing academic reading right now (european legislation on urban wastewater regulation standards....how exciting)

but have been trying to get a few pages read of Pynchons 'Vineland' here and there..

leafing through the Sandman series (again) as a buddy bought the middle few books of them for christmas....i promptly lost them amongst my belongings whilst moving flat, but found them two days ago, and am using them as an escape from the drudgery of study..

[opus]

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [:'']

[joeohara]

'My Way Of Life' by Joan Crawford. Did you know that it's a good idea, when roasting chicken for a party, to leave it a little underdone, as things always naturally cook a little more during the freezing and thawing process? I did not.

Have you heard of the new biography about her "Joan Crawford hollywood martyr" ?

[joeohara]

Just finished Memoirs of a geisha. i enjoyed it but i can't help feeling cheated somehow especially after reading the authors note which they stick at the back of the book baaaaaaaaaaah

[redbulljunkie]

I wouldn't feel so cheated had he not made such a huge deal at the start of the book "Yes she's a real person, no really, yeah really, no seriously she's real, we just changed the names to protect identities", then at the very end "actually she's not real". Grrr..

[Bootyzilla]

Oh come on! He used a Translator's Note to make the whole thing seem more authentic; how can we complain if we fell for it hook, line and sinker? If anything, it makes the experience better, we realise we've been reading something by someone with a very great talent for fiction!

[petitchouchou]

I wouldn't feel so cheated had he not made such a huge deal at the start of the book "Yes she's a real person, no really, yeah really, no seriously she's real, we just changed the names to protect identities", then at the very end "actually she's not real". Grrr..

I have to agree. If he hadn't backed himself into such a corner proving he was telling the truth I wouldn't have been so insulted when he admitted at the end he'd been lying.

Just finished a book called "Pooh and the psychologists". The writter argues that Winnie the Pooh is the greatest therapist known to man and realised theories before their creators did. What makes it good is that he actually thinks he's onto something. Silly rabbit.....[:-P]

[Bootyzilla]

I have to agree. If he hadn't backed himself into such a corner proving he was telling the truth I wouldn't have been so insulted when he admitted at the end he'd been lying.

But he wasn't lying, he was writing fiction! Brain... frustrate... melt... gaaaaah!

[petitchouchou]

But he wasn't lying, he was writing fiction! Brain... frustrate... melt... gaaaaah!

Yes my dear as a work of fiction its amazing. Its why I keep reading it over and over again. Its why I took it personally for a moment when I realised it wasn't true. I certainly did not feel the same way after the Da Vinci Code was found out to be utter shite........in basis and narrative[:-)']

[Bootyzilla]

Yeah, but he didn't admit that he'd been lying, and I still don't see how it's a fair complaint to feel 'cheated' by convincingly written fiction!

[redbulljunkie]

Oh come on! He used a Translator's Note to make the whole thing seem more authentic; how can we complain if we fell for it hook, line and sinker? If anything, it makes the experience better, we realise we've been reading something by someone with a very great talent for fiction!

Well that's true. Until halfway through the book (when all the plot events seemed way too conveniently tied into each other), I totally believed I was hearing Sayuri's words herself.

"Lolita" has a similar note at the start of the book, where it claims to be based on actual testimony. I knew better to double check at that point though.

[joeohara]

Well that's true. Until halfway through the book (when all the plot events seemed way too conveniently tied into each other), I totally believed I was hearing Sayuri's words herself.



That is exactly how i felt. i still enjoyed the book regardless and no doubt i will read it again several times i just find the authors note at the end utterly pointless

[joeohara]

Am re-reading "Terry Pratchett - Reaper Man"

being the emotional wreck that i am i actually burst into tears reading a particular passage from the book. I really hope they turn this one into a film.

[Shiva]

Am re-reading "Terry Pratchett - Reaper Man"

being the emotional wreck that i am i actually burst into tears reading a particular passage from the book. I really hope they turn this one into a film.
Didn't they make that into an animated movie years ago? or was that soul music?

[joeohara]

Didn't they make that into an animated movie years ago? or was that soul music?

Nope they made soul music and wyrd sisters into animated movies. i have them both on dvd. Hogfather is being made into a movie and will be shown on sky over xmas. The BBC has adapted one of his johnny books into a mini series and "the wee free men" is being turned into a movie also

HURRAH

[Slayer]

Right now I'm reading my cunting English poetry book.

John Donne et al can suck my massive cock.

[apollo]

Right now I'm reading my cunting English poetry book.

John Donne et al can suck my massive cock.

Ah sure, you can't beat the Metaphysical Poets.

[petitchouchou]

Just started on the scripts of Ab Fab Seasons 1-4. Absolutely Brilliant[:-D]

[Bootyzilla]

http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/69/19/34a6b340dca000c3b98e7010.L.jpg

Hoorah hoorah.

[joeohara]

LOL even the dogs are terrified of her

[Bootyzilla]

No! It is a bra made of poodle heads.

[Shiva]

Batman: No mans land
finally got it back after a year [:-D]

[Slayer]

Just started Memoirs of a Geisha and I LOVE IT.

study for geography will just have to wait :P

[Shiva]

study for geography will just have to wait :P

As someones who's done college level Geography, trust me all you need is the ability to bullshit and you'll get A's [:-))]

[jemzzz]

The hours... i hope its as good as the film![:-?]

[petitchouchou]

The Tao of Pooh....... Yet another book about Winney the Pooh being the master of the universe intellectually [:-P]

[Slayer]

The hours... i hope its as good as the film![:-?]


the book is BRILLIANT.

[Aerial]

I just finished 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell (everyone should read that book!) and I'm going to start 'Middlesex' by Jeffrey Eugenides tonight [:-D] .

[Bootyzilla]

I'm going to start 'Middlesex' by Jeffrey Eugenides tonight [:-D] .

That is a WONDERFUL novel! It\s VERY slow but it's excellent.

[joeohara]

Tomb Raider - The essential strategy guide

[northsider]

I read Memoirs of a Geisha quite a while back and i absoloutly loved it. Thought it was a really clever piece of fiction. Was really looking forward to the movie but it was nowhere as good as the book. (i suppose movies rarely are)

Just finished reading The lovely Bones (not that great) and The Kite Runner.

I can strongly recomend The Kite Runner

[opus]

I can strongly recomend The Kite Runner

Would definitely agree, an excellent read!

[LittleTimmy]

I'm readiong The Night Listener by Armistead Maupin. I love it so far.

[spiller]

The Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice

[opus]

Just started into a nice big fat (1000 pages+) space opera by Peter Hamilton called Pandora's Star (http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue358/books2.html). It's been way too long since I read one of these things.

[Shiva]

Finihsed Diamond Throne by David Eddings, its a nice easy read. But then again so is all of his work [;-)]

Memories of Ice, by Steven Erikson is my next project. great fantasy Author, with actual original storylines [:-D]

[LittleTimmy]

Just started Nineteen Eighty Four. Only 4 pages in but I love it so far.

I finished reading The Rul of Four last week which is awful if I were to be honest. It purports to be the Da Vinc Code for clever people. In reality it is a complete no brainer where all character development and plot could have been equally well portrayed on the back of a box of matches.

Next up after this then is The Third Policeman, though I'm sure it will hurt my head to read it.

[Bootyzilla]

"Lasher" by Anne Rice

Nowhere near as good as "The Witching Hour" just yet, but that took aaaages and ages to actually get going, and when it did it was like reading chocolate, so I am sticking with this.

[petitchouchou]

Notes for my Greek and Roman Civilisations exam in the morning. Oh dear god I hate college[:-((]

[Shiva]

Memories of Ice, by Steven Erikson is my next project. great fantasy Author, with actual original storylines [:-D]

Dammit can't find the blasted book any where, my evil sister must have it.
Oh well I'll have to settle on Labyrinth by kate Moss, and no its not the crack snorting model Kate Moss [:-P]

[thoth]

Just started into a nice big fat (1000 pages+) space opera by Peter Hamilton called Pandora's Star (http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue358/books2.html). It's been way too long since I read one of these things.

it's very good but the sequel is disappointing, it;s almost lazy.

rereading redemption ark - alastair reynolds.

[Tom RED]

The Bitch Goddess Notebook by Martha O'Connor.

I'm loving it so far. It's dark chick-lit, which is being compared to the films 'Heathers' and 'The Craft'.

[Shiva]

Anansi boys - Neil Gaiman

[LittleTimmy]

I'm reading "The Third Policeman" by Flann O Brian. It was shown on lost for about two minutes, though that's not really my reason for reading it. Its a work of genius! Are there any Irish Authors now who are comparable to those of yore? We seem to be the biggest producers of chick-lit in the world on a per capita basis at the moment. Where oh where is the talent gone?

[Bootyzilla]

"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel" by Susanna Clarke, it's all about practical magic amongst the gentry in 18th century England and it's very, very good. She writes like Jane Austen and, while I've only just started it, it seems like a runner!

[LittleTimmy]

"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel" by Susanna Clarke, it's all about practical magic amongst the gentry in 18th century England and it's very, very good. She writes like Jane Austen and, while I've only just started it, it seems like a runner!

I've seen that book, I never realsied she is Irish. Will pick it up I think.
In contrast to my music taste, I find it much easier to read books read by men than by women generally. I dunno what's going on there.

[Bootyzilla]

That's odd, I never thought about it... I suppose I don't really have a preference, it never registered with me before.

[LittleTimmy]

Just finished reading "The boy with the striped pyjamas" which isn't a childrens book at all despite appearances. Great book thogh.

I'm reading "The way of the peaceful warrior" now. Interesting book, reads like a novel but is actually a change-your-life type book.

[Invincible]

Just finished reading "Neither Here Nor There" by Bill Bryson. Its a hilarious book bout his tour around different european countries. He's very funny. I bought that book after by chance picking up "Notes From a Big Country" by him. That's hilarious as well.

[LittleTimmy]

I read that too, I must say though that it is a bitof a no-brainer. It's basically his list of likes and dislikes and a bunch of national stereotypes thrown in.
His "Short history of Nearly Everything" is a more illuminating book though.

[Invincible]

I read that too, I must say though that it is a bitof a no-brainer. It's basically his list of likes and dislikes and a bunch of national stereotypes thrown in.
His "Short history of Nearly Everything" is a more illuminating book though.

My brother has told me to read that too...it seems a little daunting though! I'll leave for another time.

[opus]

Just finished reading "Neither Here Nor There" by Bill Bryson. Its a hilarious book bout his tour around different european countries. He's very funny. I bought that book after by chance picking up "Notes From a Big Country" by him. That's hilarious as well.

I used to have a hardback wth "Neither Here Nor There" & "The Lost Continent" (must figure out who borrowed it and never gave it back!) and still remember being on a plane to the US and bursting out laughing reading them, people started to stare at me <:)> . Maybe I'm easily amused but none of his more recent books have had that effect.

[louislestat]

'In search of Dracula' by Raymond T.McNally and Radu Florescu

[LittleTimmy]

I'm currently reading Ghostwritten by David Mitchell. It was his first major novel and he went on to read Cloud Atlas which is one of my favourite books. This book is just as good!


Slight Aside: Why does this thread continuously die while the Whatcha wathching/llistening to threads thrive? Do we not read as much as we watch TV?

[wally]

Slight Aside: Why does this thread continuously die while the Whatcha wathching/llistening to threads thrive? Do we not read as much as we watch TV?

Well it's very true of me, the last book I read was at Christmas and that was 'Further Under The Duvet' by Marian Keyes. I thought it was hilarious. Other than the papers I don't read much.

[amnesiac]

Instructions to British Servicemen in France 1944 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1851243356?v=glance)

Is It Just Me Or Is Everything Shit? (http://www.amazon.co.uk/It-Just-Everything-Shit-Encyclopedia/dp/0316729531/sr=8-1/qid=1157653759/ref=sr_1_1/202-1164849-7860645?ie=UTF8&s=gateway)

[Shiva]

The Black Magician Trilogy
by
Trudi Canarvan
Quite a nice little series that surprises at every turn. If you like Harry Potter then this is a must for you.

[louislestat]

The Black Magician Trilogy
by
Trudi Canarvan
Quite a nice little series that surprises at every turn. If you like Harry Potter then this is a must for you.

That sounds interesting I must check those out.

I just started reading 'Romeo and Juliet' again Oh the romance [@};-]

[Bootyzilla]

"The Constant Princess" by Philippa Gregory. After this summer's DVD-purchasing bonanza (I owe Visa more than two-and-a-half grand! Oh, what fun those numbers are!!), including "The Six Wives Of Henry VIII", it's nice to get another point of view on Katherine of Aragon (albeit a mostly fictionalised one). After the weak "The Queen's Fool" and the downright dull "The Virgin's Lover", "The Constant Princess" is an excellent adaptation of the early, middle and later years of the first ill-fated wife of Henry VIII.

Just got done with "Ring" and "Dark Water" by Koji Suzuki: I love the movies (the originals, you dumb twink!) and the books are very interesting. "Ring" isn't as effective for the most part as the movie, but is very, very different from either film version, and worth a read, whereas "Dark Water" is a collection of short stories linked by water-based themes, and is one of the most effective collections of horror (and two not-horror!) stories I've ever read. Highly recommended, even though it is obvious that something has been lost in the translation.

And prior to that I devoured "Conversations with Joan Crawford" by Roy Newquist (thank you Louis!) with relish: it's actually a very insightful and honest collection of interviews that God gave to the author.

[opus]

Just finished "Accordion Crimes" by Annie Proulx. Story is about the lives of immigrants to the US that are linked together by an accordion that gets passed between then. More a collection of short stories than a novel really. Not a bad read but I found it a bit on the depressing side.

[chatelaine]

I'm presently reading "My Undoing" by Aiden Shaw. Go here: http://www.aidenshaw.com/

[Bootyzilla]

"The Constant Princess" by Philippa Gregory.

Just finshed the second half of this in a mammoth session, I am mentally exhausted! It is one of the absolute best novels I have ever read, for me the attachments I formed with the central character put it right up there with "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Jane Eyre". I am quite blown away and shall henceforth venture to imitate in speech, manner and modes of dress and lifestyle that which the Tudor court found to be merry and wholly Christian.

It shall, I suppose, be a welcome and distinct change from the time I married my soi-distant employer, and loved a nigger.

Hoorah for Philippa Gregory!

[Slayer]

I'm reading the Satanic Verses by Salmon Rushdie.

Pretty brilliant, if quite confusing in parts.

[Bootyzilla]

Well, you don't speak Hellish, so what did you expect?!

[Shiva]

Well, you don't speak Hellish, so what did you expect?!
But she does speak lesbian, they have the same root tongue

[louislestat]

I've just finished 'Eragon' and started 'Eldest. I love them! Highly reccommeded for anyone who likes Harry Potter,Narnia or Lord of the rings.

I can't wait to see the movie.

[bi4fship]

Wicked by Jerry Maguire. It's fantastic & I've only about 50 pages to go now. IMHO I think the musical should be marketed as Inspired by.... rather than Based Upon.... as besides the character names there is very little link in musical to the novel. In a couple of days I'll be getting around to it's sequel 'Son Of A Witch' which is excellent so I'm told & is even very gay / bisexual in many places.... I'll say no more. [:-D]

[louislestat]

Wicked by Jerry Maguire. It's fantastic & I've only about 50 pages to go now. IMHO I think the musical should be marketed as Inspired by.... rather than Based Upon.... as besides the character names there is very little link in musical to the novel. In a couple of days I'll be getting around to it's sequel 'Son Of A Witch' which is excellent so I'm told & is even very gay / bisexual in many places.... I'll say no more. [:-D]

I loved that book but I prefered 'Mirror mirror' and 'Confessions of an ugly stepsister'. You'll love those too I think

[joeohara]

Just finished the new terry pratchett book 'wintersmith' LOVED IT

[bi4fship]

I loved that book but I prefered 'Mirror mirror' and 'Confessions of an ugly stepsister'. You'll love those too I think


Thanks Louis, I will get round to them at some point. I must confess to being very anti-reading usually. It's normally strictly Harry Potter for me (Booty will kill me for that I predict). I couldn't even get more than half way through the first Lord of the Rings book & I gave up. Way too descriptive to the point that I reckon it'd take 4 chapters just to describe just how a character would fart.

I was worried that Wicked would be a bit above me but it has been a very enjoyable read (even though it didn't have to be pried appart from my hands like HP books do).

[joeohara]

Thanks Louis, I will get round to them at some point. I must confess to being very anti-reading usually. It's normally strictly Harry Potter for me (Booty will kill me for that I predict). I couldn't even get more than half way through the first Lord of the Rings book & I gave up. Way too descriptive to the point that I reckon it'd take 4 chapters just to describe just how a character would fart.

I was worried that Wicked would be a bit above me but it has been a very enjoyable read (even though it didn't have to be pried appart from my hands like HP books do).

[:-))] that has to be the most accurate description of lord of the rings EVER

[louislestat]

[:-))] that has to be the most accurate description of lord of the rings EVER

I did enjoy the book 'Lord of the Rings' but after a while I just felt like......Get rid of the f**king ring!!

[Shiva]

I did enjoy the book 'Lord of the Rings' but after a while I just felt like......Get rid of the f**king ring!!

To save the world from the evil of ring, Gandalf grabs Bilbo Baggins and hitches a ride on the nearest great eagle they make a quick trip to Mordor (which is severly lacking in aerial defence at this stage) and drops the ring into the volcano.
The end.

[louislestat]

To save the world from the evil of ring, Gandalf grabs Bilbo Baggins and hitches a ride on the nearest great eagle they make a quick trip to Mordor (which is severly lacking in aerial defence at this stage) and drops the ring into the volcano.
The end.

Thanks for that...............if only I knew that 10 years ago[:-))] [:-))] [:-))]

[louislestat]

I have just finished Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. I adored it! Anyone else read it??

[thoth]

I did but I wasn't much impressed to be honest. I just thought it floated around in the middle of the book too much, without much plot direction or character development beyond depicting people as being older. I felt it just cashed in on the religious conspiracy/cathar stuff that's going round. Dan Brown has a lot to answer for!

I'm rereading His Dark Materials at the moment. Nothing too challenging for the holidays....

[Bootyzilla]

"Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks.

FABULOUS book! Not at all the post-Gone-With-The-Wind-stylee chickfic that I was expecting, a very grim and gritty tale based on the true story of Carrie McGavock - a real-life Southern Belle left frigid by the deaths of three of her five children, and brought back by working as a nurse in a civil war hospital.

Get it now!!

http://www.cape.k12.mo.us/CHS/library/uwr%2006/The%20Widow%20of%20the%20South.jpg

[louislestat]

I did but I wasn't much impressed to be honest. I just thought it floated around in the middle of the book too much, without much plot direction or character development beyond depicting people as being older. I felt it just cashed in on the religious conspiracy/cathar stuff that's going round. Dan Brown has a lot to answer for!

I'm rereading His Dark Materials at the moment. Nothing too challenging for the holidays....

Dan Brown totally ripped off 'The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail'. I thought this was a much better read than 'The DaVinci Code'. I hated that it got so much wrong and people still believed it! But yes he does have a lot to answer for.

[thoth]

Dan Brown totally ripped off 'The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail'. I thought this was a much better read than 'The DaVinci Code'. I hated that it got so much wrong and people still believed it! But yes he does have a lot to answer for.

Ha, I tried to read that, I really tried! But I got completely lost. Angels and Demons got up my nose - the pseudoscience in that is as bad as if not worse then the pseudohistory in the Da Vinci code. Thoroughly enjoyable chewing gum for the eyes though.

[louislestat]

I just think Dan Brown is a terrible writer and after seeing him being interviewed a few times......what a gob shite[:-D]

[opus]

Currently about half way through "The Men Who Stare At Goats" about bizarre antics in the US special forces. Quite topical as it talks about the way prisoners were mistreated in the Abu Ghraib prison and the involvement of the US 'PsyOps' division who were rumoured to behind the whole thing.

[joeohara]

People in Vogue a century of portraits

[bo_selecta]

Am just finished reading "Unbeaten" by Kim Woodburn (her of Kim & Aggie fame from How Clean Is Your House?).

She had a terrible childhood of both physical and mental abuse and only found happiness very late in life. I found it a gripping read. Worth checking out.

http://www.raisingkids.co.uk/images/news/news_150806_01_large.jpg

[chatelaine]

I am reading Australian Vogue which I bought in Harrods! It had Kylie on the cover and a huge spread inside, so I bought it as a souvenir of this weekend

[louislestat]

I've just finished the autobiography of silent movie star Gloria Swanson 'Swanson on Swanson'.

A quote from her at the time of writing 'I have put a lot more thought into my autobiography than to any of my marrages,you can't divorce a book'

[joeohara]

Bette & Joan - The divine feud


i am moist...that is all

[Bootyzilla]

Bette & Joan - The divine feud


i am moist...that is all

Ahh! The Bible!

Well, Joe, now that you've discovered your vocation to the Sacred Tome, let me recommend that you do what I did: get two copies, one for readin' and the other for savin', in case of loss/theft/smoke damage*, &etc.

Isn't it the best?! God bless Sean Considine!

*self-generated; emanating from book, when placed in close proximity to clearly inferior books (see: Andrew Morton's Madonna)

[louislestat]

Well, Joe, now that you've discovered your vocation to the Sacred Tome, let me recommend that you do what I did: get two copies, one for readin' and the other for savin', in case of loss/theft/smoke damage*, &etc.



Thats what I've done. I have one good copy and one copy with my favourite parts underlined![:-D]

[LittleTimmy]

Pompei - Robert Harris

[youdirtybird]

Pompei - Robert Harris

Read that at christmas.....its one of those books that goes into alot of detail and then you get to the last few pages and it was like....the author said feck...time to rap this up....eruption....the end[:-(] ...but that was just my opinion...I know others who have like it

[LittleTimmy]

Read that at christmas.....its one of those books that goes into alot of detail and then you get to the last few pages and it was like....the author said feck...time to rap this up....eruption....the end[:-(] ...but that was just my opinion...I know others who have like it

I'll try not to let that information ruin it for me![:-P]

[louislestat]

I'm reading 'Northern Lights' by Philip Pullman thanks to the recommendation of both Booty and Shiva[@};-]

Very enjoyable[:-D]

[joeohara]

Ahh! The Bible!

Well, Joe, now that you've discovered your vocation to the Sacred Tome, let me recommend that you do what I did: get two copies, one for readin' and the other for savin', in case of loss/theft/smoke damage*, &etc.

Isn't it the best?! God bless Sean Considine!

*self-generated; emanating from book, when placed in close proximity to clearly inferior books (see: Andrew Morton's Madonna)

I haven't done a stroke of work all day. been too busy reading that book at me desk. only made it to page 25 so far but already i am hooked.

I had no idea that the book even existed untill a potential new beau made me aware of it and how hard he was finding it to track down a copy so i nabbed 2 of them from play.com (€11.99) and plan on surprising him with it when i pop over to london soon.

I literally could not put the book down it really is that good.

[opus]

Just started reading Moondust (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moondust-Search-Men-Fell-Earth/dp/0747563691/ref=pd_ka_1/026-9545138-2620401?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173730841&sr=8-1) on the recommendation of a workmate, it's the author interviewing the 9 remaining people who made it to the moon before the program was stopped back in '72.

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/7070/074756369102aa240sclzzzcl6.jpg

[apollo]

Just started reading Moondust (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moondust-Search-Men-Fell-Earth/dp/0747563691/ref=pd_ka_1/026-9545138-2620401?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173730841&sr=8-1) on the recommendation of a workmate, it's the author interviewing the 9 remaining people who made it to the moon before the program was stopped back in '72.

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/7070/074756369102aa240sclzzzcl6.jpg

Is it any good? Wouldn't mind reading it myself. Have a biography of Wernher Von Braun in my flat I want to get through first.

[joeohara]

*shriek* the divine feud is FAAAAAAAAABULOUS

just got to the bit where bette shoves her hubby over

[opus]

Is it any good? Wouldn't mind reading it myself. Have a biography of Wernher Von Braun in my flat I want to get through first.

Only about 30 pages in so far, it's interesting but I'll reserve judgement 'til I'm finished. Will report back on it then.

Von Braun gets mentioned a few times as you might expect.

[Shiva]

Saga of the seven Suns
by
Kevin J. Anderson

Soap opera IN SPACE!!!

[joeohara]

Have just finished the divine feud.....WOW

i cried when joan died and was a fucking wreck with bettes comment about joan at the oscars.

however one of my fave bits is christopher taking his child to see joan and her highness declares "it doesn't look like you it must be a bastard"

i died laughing

[louislestat]

I've just finished reading 'Stardust' by Neil Gaiman. Swooooooooon. I adored it, it's so sweet and romantic. I am so excited over the movie version this Summer. It has a wonderful (and very hot) cast especially Charlie Cox STUNNING!

Charlie Cox....Tristran
Claire Danes ... Yvaine
Robert De Niro ... Captain Shakespeare
Sienna Miller ... Victoria
Michelle Pfeiffer ... Lamia
Jason Flemyng ... Primus
Henry Cavill ... Humphrey
Ian McKellen ... Narrator
Rupert Everett ... Secondus
Peter O'Toole ... King Of Stormhold
Mark Strong ... Septimus
Ricky Gervais ... Ferdy the Fence
Ben Barnes ... Young Dunstan Thorne
Nathaniel Parker ... Dunstan Thorne

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/mgos/StardustTristan.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/mgos/stardustpubb.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/mgos/16.jpg

ZNaYYcvQrvk

[LittleTimmy]

About 3 weeks ago I started reading "We need to talk about Kevin". A bit weird given the Virginia tech goings on last week (although not all that weird when you consider there's a school massacre rather frequently in the states.)

Anyway, yes, it is a fantastic book, very well written in that it drags your emotions a bit especially towards the mother. Sometimes you think she just loves the misery of her own situation and that she was often her own worst enemy. Then other times you just have to have sympathy for her given that it seems she gave birth to a little monster.

Kevin was a right little dip stick.

Great book!

[lacka]

Just finished "Q&A" by Vikas Swarup. Serious, shocking, funny and ultimately uplifting. A brilliant insight into life in India, I loved it.

[Shiva]

Last of the Wilds
by
Trudi Canarvan
Nice lite reading, very well written with a lovely twist in the end.

[Slayer]

About 3 weeks ago I started reading "We need to talk about Kevin". A bit weird given the Virginia tech goings on last week (although not all that weird when you consider there's a school massacre rather frequently in the states.)

Anyway, yes, it is a fantastic book, very well written in that it drags your emotions a bit especially towards the mother. Sometimes you think she just loves the misery of her own situation and that she was often her own worst enemy. Then other times you just have to have sympathy for her given that it seems she gave birth to a little monster.

Kevin was a right little dip stick.

Great book!


that book put me off having children for quite a while. I read it in September and I'm only coming around to the idea again now. lol

[LittleTimmy]

that book put me off having children for quite a while. I read it in September and I'm only coming around to the idea again now. lol


I cut off my penis just in case I'd ever have one like that. It was worth it. [:-))]

[louislestat]

This book has gone straight into my all time favourites. I am very impressed and to think I only picked it up because I thought it was about 'Snow White'......look at the cover.

Here is a quote:

''About 3 things I was absolutly positive,First Edward was a Vampire.
Second there was a part of him - and I didn't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for me blood
And third I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him''

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/mgos/twilight.jpg

[opus]

Is it any good? Wouldn't mind reading it myself. Have a biography of Wernher Von Braun in my flat I want to get through first.

Finally finish reading Moondust, it wasn't quite as good as I expected (as you might guess from how long it took me to finish!) as it didn't really draw me in. Some of the meetings with the astronauts were very short I thought so you didn't really get to know them very well. Having said that, someone I know from work thought it was fantastic which would seem agree with the reviews I saw on Amazon, very mixed.

[louislestat]

I have just started reading 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' by Susanna Clarke. It looks VERY promising. I have to stay off the bloody net and start reading more of it

[opus]

I have just started reading 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' by Susanna Clarke. It looks VERY promising. I have to stay off the bloody net and start reading more of it

Am reading that as well at the moment actually, I was dubious when I started but it drew me in. Also reading "Revelation Space" by Alastair Reynolds, god I love my fix of space operas every now & again <:)>

[petitchouchou]

The Art of War - Sun Tzu
The Prince - Machiavelli
The Republic - Plato
In Search of Lost Time - Marcel Proust
The Age of Reason - Jean-Paul Sartre

[MadonnaDion]

I've just finished The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by GW Dahlquist, It is Fantasicotanspastico........ It is a very very very good read, Think of Sherlock Holmes, lurid plots and so, now add the production value of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, commission a re-write by the Marquis de Sade, oh and loose Sherlock Holmes and replace him with Barbarella.........

[louislestat]

I've just finished The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by GW Dahlquist, It is Fantasicotanspastico........ It is a very very very good read, Think of Sherlock Holmes, lurid plots and so, now add the production value of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, commission a re-write by the Marquis de Sade, oh and loose Sherlock Holmes and replace him with Barbarella.........


Jeanie Mac that sounds fab!!!!

[Invincible]

I've started reading Fast Food Nation....fairly heavy going but fascinating all the same. But more amazing than that is my book mark which has loads of irish pub signs and one of them is from my home village!!!! I'm blown away[:-))].

[louislestat]

I've just finished Jackie Collins 25th yummy sexy novel!

'Drop dead Beautiful.....the continuing adventures of Lucky Santangelo'

Fab as always. Mucho thanks to the wonderful Shiva for the suprise advance copy. Hurrah for lovely jubely friends[:-X]

[thoth]

"1412 - The year China discovered the world".

A gentle indictment of the eurocentric view of the ages of exploration. Fascinating, and makes me wonder why I spent so long learning about Diaz and de Gama in Junior Cert history.

[louislestat]

"1412 - The year China discovered the world".

A gentle indictment of the eurocentric view of the ages of exploration. Fascinating, and makes me wonder why I spent so long learning about Diaz and de Gama in Junior Cert history.

Oh I wanted to read that its looks excellent!

[joeohara]

Andrew Mortons "Madonna"

why why WHY did i ignore bootys advice about this steaming pile of shite?

didn't even bother to finish it and was promptly fucked into the bin

[thoth]

Oh I wanted to read that its looks excellent!

You can tell the author is a former sub captain and not a historian or an academic, but it's still very good. Lots of various pieces of info you might have heard before, but never seen compiled into such a sensible, obvious retelling of what really happened.

[louislestat]

I just finished this book by Irish author John Connolly. I loved it. It is very creepy. Great stuff altogether!

The Book of Lost things

'Everything You Can Imagine is Real'

High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the loss of his mother. He is angry and he is alone, with only the books on his shelf for company.

But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness, and as he takes refuge in the myths and fairytales so beloved of his dead mother he finds that the real world and the fantasy world have begun to meld. The Crooked Man has come, with his mocking smile and his enigmatic words: 'Welcome, your majesty. All hail the new king.'

And as war rages across Europe, David is violently propelled into a land that is both a construct of his imagination yet frighteningly real, a strange reflection of his own world composed of myths and stories, populated by wolves and worse-than-wolves, and ruled over by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a legendary book..................The Book of Lost Things.

[louislestat]

If Louislestat wrote novels I think this would be it. I just love them! Flowing locks frilly shirts and melodrama.It's the Brontes meets Mills and Boon meet Dynasty...........FAB FAB FAB! I'm weeeeeeeeak

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[Cinaed]

haha, was about to remark on all the intelligent books everyone's reading about history, politics, etc til i scrolled down and saw the MJ Pearson books. I'm not so intimidated anymore [:-P]

right now reading a book on Crisis Management--"Damage Control: Why everything you know about crisis management is wrong". Not really sure why i picked it up in the first place, but it's something to read on the commute to work anyway.

i'm looking for a book about the history of easten europe (serbia/croatia/romania/bosnia in particular). Hoping to take a trip out there at some stage, and woefully ignorant about the history of that region [:'']

[Tom RED]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Iwc4s1LAL._AA240_.jpg

I have just finished "Michael Tolliver Lives" by Armistead Maupin and I'm half way through "The Night Listener" also by him.

[Invincible]

During my travels thru Australia i managed to get thru the first 3 Harry Potter books. About time too....i have missed so much! Bring on the next 4.

[tobias funke]

I'm trying to read Ulysses at the mo. Its my way of taking out insurance against pretentious people!!

[c3van5]

im reading somethign called Absurdistan.

[Cerealspiller]

Im reading:

Polgara the Sorceress by David & Leigh Eddings.Brilliant set of books and would defo recommend.

Innocent Mage by Karen Miller.

The Voice of the Gods Trilogy by Trudi Canavan

On the comic side of things im obsessed with The Dark Tower comics by Marvel along with said book series by Stephen King. Dont personally like Sai King but The Dark Tower collection is a real epic and well worth reading.

Has anyone read the The Dark Tower

[joeohara]

Bette Davis - The girl who walked home alone.

I can't find This n that ANYWHERE

[louislestat]

Its available on ebay a lot, I got a cheap copy a while back

[joeohara]

Its available on ebay a lot, I got a cheap copy a while back

Is it worth reading though? I am undecided as to wether i should buy Joan Crawford Hollywood Marytr. has anyone read it?

[louislestat]

Is it worth reading though? I am undecided as to wether i should buy Joan Crawford Hollywood Marytr. has anyone read it?

I bought it when it first came out and STILL havent read it. The best Crawford books are 'The Last Word' or 'The Essential Biography'.

'This n that' is interesting she even writes and 'open' letter to BD Hyman at the end of it LOL

[joeohara]

I bought it when it first came out and STILL havent read it. The best Crawford books are 'The Last Word' or 'The Essential Biography'.

'This n that' is interesting she even writes and 'open' letter to BD Hyman at the end of it LOL

I am quite enjoying the girl who walked home alone. After i finish that one i have Marilyn Monroe Goddess to start on.

[thoth]

I'm trying to read Ulysses at the mo. Its my way of taking out insurance against pretentious people!!

I did that years ago - or at least I tried. I only got two thirds of the way through it before I realised I was just reading words, and beyond understanding what each word meant on its own, not having a clue what the hell what was being said. The start of it has some great bits though.

Even two thirds of it is great insurance against pretentious people though! At least, it lets me pretend to be one of them, anyway.[:-D]

[chatelaine]

Just read "The Kite Runner" - excellent book!

[atkingscross]

I'm reading 'The Subtle Knife', the second part of His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman.

[louislestat]

Hagiography is another one of my hobbies (study of saints and thier lives)

I'm reading this at the moment, its good fun (and uplifting at the same time)

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[Shiva]

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/mgos/41QBW00NBEL__SS500_.jpg

Is the dirty robbing bitch St Helen and her swag bag in there?

[louislestat]

Is the dirty robbing bitch St Helen and her swag bag in there?

Leave poor St. Helen alone she wasnt a robber she was an archaeologist...[;-)]

[Shiva]

Leave poor St. Helen alone she wasnt a robber she was an archaeologist...[;-)]

Thats a very nice way of saying it. Did you go to the Chaotlic Chruch PR school?

[louislestat]

Thats a very nice way of saying it. Did you go to the Chaotlic Chruch PR school?

Yip I did[;-)]

[bi4fship]

Bridge to Terabithia. My heart is broken. [@};-]

[LittleTimmy]

Recently read "A History of Tractors in Ukraine" - A lovely book.
Read The Book Theif Also and that was lovely. Sweet little book really.
Currently I'm reading A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon (the guy who wrote The Curious Incident of the Dog and the Nighttime) and that's ok.


What should I read next?

[Popeye]

Reading the last of the Dark Materials Trilogy "The Amber Spyglass", much better than the second one. Great descriptions of fantasy worlds that really give u an excellent image in your head, plus a lot more action.

[Bootyzilla]

Reading the last of the Dark Materials Trilogy "The Amber Spyglass", much better than the second one

Couldn't agree more, I did think the Subtle Knife was a bit flat... ..and I LOVED the third one!!

[louislestat]

These books are really keeping me sane at the moment. The first 'No Lifeguard on duty' is especially heartbreaking but yet very funny. She is so honest and outspoken I love that. The second one 'Everything about me is fake and I'm perfect' is just hilarious. I'm just starting her third most recent one 'Check please'

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[opus]

Currently I'm reading A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon (the guy who wrote The Curious Incident of the Dog and the Nighttime) and that's ok.


Just finished reading that myself, really enjoyed it, it had me laughing out loud in places. In fact I gave it to somebody else as a Christmas present only this evening, a bit cheeky perhaps [;-)]

[Cerealspiller]

Readin Feist's Magician at the mo. very very good

Damn fantasy books...

[Shiva]

Readin Feist's Magician at the mo. very very good

Damn fantasy books...

I love the magician, such a good book, especially since he re editted it there a few years ago :)

Try Steven Eriksons "Malazan" series next.

[Popeye]

I love the magician, such a good book, especially since he re editted it there a few years ago :)

Try Steven Eriksons "Malazan" series next.

And also try Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy. Probably my favourite author

[Shiva]

And also try Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy. Probably my favourite author

Have you tried Age of the five yet?

[crazymonkey]

im reading harry potter et les reliques de la mort at the moment....it helps my french along

[chatelaine]

I read "On Chesil Beach" over Christmas. It was excellent. I am about to begin "The Gathering" - anyone read it?

[joeohara]

I just finished Goddess the secret lives of marilyn monroe & have now started on dark victory the bette davis biography

[Bootyzilla]

"Wives and Daughters" by Elizabeth Gaskell
"Crawford's Men" by Jane Ellen Wayne
"Looking for Gatsby - An Autobiography" by Faye Dunaway

Hoorah for reading!

[LittleTimmy]

Just finished The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. It was delightful but manged to give me nightmares.
At the moment I'm reading The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein (interspersed with bits of Roby Wax's Autobiography on the suggestion of a friend whose opinion I trust). I'm not sure I could read either without a little bit of a break.

I bought a book recently compiled by the Cork poet Theo Dorgan called The Book of Uncommon Prayer. Dorgan is an agnostic but loves the poetry of prayer. The book is a collection of prayers from a range of religions and I must say there is something nice about it.

[opus]

Just finished the "Undercover Economist" by Tim Hartford. Not a bad read, he makes economics sound much more interesting than normal, talks about everything from why coffee is so expensive around train stations to world poverty to how China got rich.

About to start reading the last book in the Dune series "Sandworms of Dune". I've been a fan of Dune for as long as I can remember so hopefully this one won't disappoint.

[Bootyzilla]

Just finished The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly.

Wasn't it brilliant?! Louislestat put me onto it, and I gave it to my Mother, who gave it to her sister, who gave it to her daughter, who recommended it back to me...

[louislestat]

Just finished The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly.

It got me nightmares too! Right from the first chapter. Fab book

[joeohara]

Have just finished "Dark Victory - the life of Bette Davis"

highly recommend it to anyone I was bawling by the end of it.

[Hay-ch]

Wilde's - The Soul of Man under Socialism

I have only read some of the plays and the portrait of dorian gray, but since i am in Dublin for the night i decided to start on something new rather than watch a TV3 Movie or even worse visit relatives, yuck. I have the most racist grand parents imaginable to man, well maybe not, they are just from a different generation. Anyway back on topic The Soul of Man under socialism. As I was flicking through my Book Shelf i stumbled across the Everyman edition on Wilde, flicked through it and decided to start the peice for the laugh. To be honest it sounded like a Comedy. Its anything but. Very odd, written in Essay form he is justifying his views very well with a logic that can simply be called artistic but i suppose in essence thats what the piece is about. As usual with some really interesting intelligent lines. In parts he even wanders into the the realms of theology. Thought provoking, to say the least. I like to see depth in Wilde it makes his staying for the case seem less rash and more like a Socratic Stance.

[joeohara]

The intimate adventures of a london call girl by belle de jour.

absolute trash & i am loving every single fucking page of it so far.

[opus]

Lies (and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them) by Al Franken. American satirist tears into the many untruths spread by the republican machine in the US.

[Invincible]

Ninteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult...a very entertaining read about a school shoot-out in America.

It's a bit american in places but makes you ponder.

[opus]

Reading two at the moment, the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, a scarily long book about a teenager's hunt for an ancient tyrant & Fermat's Last Theorem by Simon Singh about one of the maths world's most famous lost proofs.

[louislestat]

Reading two at the moment, the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, a scarily long book about a teenager's hunt for an ancient tyrant & Fermat's Last Theorem by Simon Singh about one of the maths world's most famous lost proofs.


I read 'The Historian' too! I loved it

[joeohara]

buffy the vampire season 8 - i don't have the time to read proper books any more so comics suit me just fine plus they have nice pictures.

fucking loving it so far just a shame they couldn't turn it into a proper show instead of a comic.

[louislestat]

I just finished ''Sepulchre'' by Kate Mosse. I don't know what to make of it. It was O.K. but could have being so much better. It was a great idea but just badly written and a bit boring at times.The reviews on amazon are totally split down the middle, I love reading reviews when I finish a book.
I did enjoy it and I will buy her future books but I much prefer 'Labyrinth'

[louislestat]

Beyond Paradise- The life of Ramon Novarro by Andres Soares

Mexican heartthrob Ramon Novarro (1899-1968) was one of early Hollywood's leading romancers in silent movies. He got his big break in 1923's Scaramouche, went on to play the title role in 1925's Ben-Hur and later appeared with Greta Garbo in 1932's Mata Hari. One of the most popular leading men of the 1920s, Novarro had a dark secret: he was gay. He tried to walk the fine line between concealing his homosexuality and refusing to play the Hollywood game for the sake of appearances. A sensitive actor, he soon rose above the "Latin lover" stereotype and was one of the few stars who entered talking pictures with his stardom intact. Although his accent was not intrusive, his fame declined after a few years of poor roles. In the early 1950s, Novarro returned to Hollywood for a few character roles and then was largely relegated to a life of wealthy retirement. However, despite these sizeable roles, today Novarro is chiefly remembered for how he died: he was beaten to death in 1968 by two male hustlers.

A devoted family man, deeply religious (he seriously wanted to enter a religious order at several points in his life). Such a sad story, poor Ramon

[Magenta]

Just finished "Shades Children" by Garth Nix. Great read, only started this morning and have not put it down.

Near future Earth has been taken over by an alien race called the Overlords. No human is allowed live beyond 14 as they are harvested for parts to make monsters. Shade is the AI construct that looks after renegade children and seeks to restore humanity.

Bawling at the end but thats just me, sucker for sappy endings [:-((]

[crazymonkey]

Rereading Eldest (in french so it counts as study)

[jellybaby]

Currently reading an Irish Nuns memoirs 'The Voice of Silence'-Oonagh Shanley-toffollo.

When I was little my Nan always said i'd grow up to be a Nun and I used to tell her it would be the first one of her predictions to not come true. And in recent years i've always joked about joining a convent just to see the reaction I'd get. But having read (most) of this book- i'm starting to seriously consider it!

[louislestat]

Currently reading an Irish Nuns memoirs 'The Voice of Silence'-Oonagh Shanley-toffollo.

When I was little my Nan always said i'd grow up to be a Nun and I used to tell her it would be the first one of her predictions to not come true. And in recent years i've always joked about joining a convent just to see the reaction I'd get. But having read (most) of this book- i'm starting to seriously consider it!

I must check that out, it sounds like something I'd like. A full review when finished JB?[@};-]

[GiftedAndGay]

in recent years i've always joked about joining a convent just to see the reaction I'd get. But having read (most) of this book- i'm starting to seriously consider it!

They wouldn't let you in...

Not even for a visit [:-))]

Deception Code: Dan Brown

[-Vonnie-]

Just finished The Shakespeare Secret by J.L. Carrell there at lunch, what a load of tripe! It was desperately trying to be the literary version of The DaVinci Code but failed miserably. #-o

[jellybaby]

I must check that out, it sounds like something I'd like. A full review when finished JB?[@};-]

Well, without giving too much away....

It's called 'The voice of Silence' and is by Oonagh Shanley toffollo. It's an autobiography (of sorts) of an ex Irish Nun who is currently an acupuncturist. It's themes include love, grief and soul-searching. It offers many inspiring titbits of wisdom and traces the development of her education in these lessons through her life experiences.

The problem though, is that she seems uncertain of what exactly it is that she wants to write. It begins with a focus on healing inner wounds and imparts much sound advice and comfort, the middle chapters lul into a memoir that is not detailed enough to be cathartic or demanding of empathy, two and a half of the closing chapters are idle gossip and celeb worship and the summation is again concerned with healing. It's a book that doesn't quite know what it is, so it tries to be bits of everything, and in the end smacks of nothingness.

Toffollo glazes over the more interesting aspects of her life such as her decision to leave the Nunnery. This means we never really get the chance to understand her or the pain she claims to have learned from. If you are writing a memoir it has to be warts-and-all, people can't relate to half stories. They're like half-truths- we don't know what to believe of them.

One point she is adamant to make clear is that we are all, rich and poor, equal in suffering and death. However, she never devotes more than a few lines to any of the hundreds of poverty-stricken unfortunates who die in her care and then allots two and half chapters to discussing the two celebrity patients she nursed. Structural hypocrisy if ever I saw it.

This book had the potential to be something amazing but she holds back on too much of herself thus leaving the reader feeling cheated. It was, however, an entertaining read and an interesting, if slightly preachy, angle on life.

[opus]

Well, without giving too much away....

It's called 'The voice of Silence' and is by Oonagh Shanley toffollo. It's an autobiography (of sorts) of an ex Irish Nun who is currently an acupuncturist. It's themes include love, grief and soul-searching. It offers many inspiring titbits of wisdom and traces the development of her education in these lessons through her life experiences.


Sounds interesting enough. I actually know an ex-nun who now has three kids next time I'm talking to her I'll suggest an autobiography [;-)]

[joeohara]

have just finished joan crawford hollywood martyr and clark gable tormented star. fucking loved them both.

am now starting hollywood babylon by kenneth anger ooooooooooh its fabulous
http://www.sheilaomalley.com/HollywoodBabylon.jpg

[clonakiltyboy]

This Charming Man by Marian Keyes funniest read in a long time!! Most enjoyable (despite being chick lit)