LeoliansBro wrote:Why do anything? Why not just lie in bed all year in your own filth? |
The 'Read 52 Books in 2015 Challenge' Thread • Page 3
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Wow you're depressing. You've grown out of video games, everyone should only read good literature - you probably think my thomas the tank engine books shouldn't count now either. -
Leaving aside any rancour, I am thoroughly enjoying reading regularly again. That's what some proper time off work allows you.
I won't set myself a numerical target. However I do hope to continue to bounce from great book to great book. -
@dutchspeededup
Sounds good! Enjoying regular reading is what it's all about. -
This Christmas I have read 'A Time of Gifts' by Patrick Leigh Fermor, a travel book about a Europe that is largely gone; a short collection of poems by Pablo Neruda (beautiful and sad), and 'The City and The City' and 'Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.
The last two are works of a fecund imagination, and a stark reminder that fantasy need not be limited to Tolkieny medieval themes.
Next up is some Lermontov.
Yay. -
I'd like to compile a list of 12 to read. So far I have
Cat Sense - John Bradshaw. As recommended in the book thread a couple of years ago. Reading now.
Heart of Europe - Norman Davies. Discussed with andytheadequate(?) a year or so back. Struggled with the grammar and put it down.
Grapes of Wrath - John Steinback.
Something by Herman Hesse (never read anything by him before).
Something by Lional Davidson (read Kolymski Heights and thought it was great)
The 'last' of those Thomas Covenant books, even though it's probably crap.
The Catcher in the Rye.
Some good Sci-Fi. Dunno what.
Wolf Hall+Bringing up the Bodies.
Almost 12 already. Suggestions welcome.
Edited by Bremenacht at 03:06:31 04-01-2015 -
JoelStinty 9,207 posts
Seen 6 hours ago
Registered 7 years agoDon't think I be able to read 52, but if I could achieve 30 I be happy. -
It does feel as though this takes some of the joy out of it. But I guess the achievements binder must be fed! -
FauxyLea 259 posts
Seen 9 months ago
Registered 6 years agoIf you have the time and inclination, I would highly recommend the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series.
Basic gist of it, is a woman and her husband go on a second honeymoon following the end of world war II, and she gets sucked back 200 years (ish) into the past. That is as sci-fi as it gets, and whilst the plot sounds like a horrendous chick flick stretched out into multiple books the way she writes is fascinating, and you could quite easily be forgiven for believing time travel was possible.
They are incredibly well written and complex. Historically accurate, and politically fascinating. Given that I can't stand history OR politics, I think it says a lot that I couldn't put them down. I'm not quite sure how to describe the books to do them justice, but they get my vote every time.
EDIT: Having just had a google to find out how to actually spell her surname, (pronounced GAB-uhl-dohn) I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THE SERIES HAS BEEN MADE INTO A TV SHOW. Going to be gutted if it turns out to be crap.
http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/outlander-series/outlander/
Edited by FauxyLea at 22:54:38 03-01-2015 -
faux-C 11,204 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 16 years agoPES_Fanboy wrote:
I made a resolution to keep a reading journal this year anyway, this is just a spinoff for me.
It does feel as though this takes some of the joy out of it. But I guess the achievements binder must be fed! -
andytheadequate 9,494 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 10 years ago@Bremenacht - Sad to hear you didn't get on with Norman Davies, I've always found him one of the better historians. I've not read that particular book though so maybe it isn't his best. I'm currently reading Europe by him, as well as a Tom Holt book for when I want to read something a bit lighter. -
andytheadequate 9,494 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 10 years agovijay_UK wrote:
Have you read Ian M Banks? If not then I'd start with him. Or Douglas Adams if you prefer light hearted stuff. Personally I found Dune to be pretty dreadful.
Can anyone recommend an easy sci-fi read to get me going? The last sci-fi I read was the Starcraft 2 manual, and that was like 8 pages long. Wouldn't mind doing some quiet reading for a bit.
Edited by andytheadequate at 00:45:14 04-01-2015 -
faux-C 11,204 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 16 years agoYeah Dune isn't exactly a great place to start for easy Sci Fi.
I'd suggest Pohl's Gateway. -
@andytheadequate I barely started it tbf. Just didn't want to read it at the time - particularly the preface about Polish grammar, which I'd almost certainly forget about as soon as the book was finished. Still, it's on my list for this year! -
FauxyLea wrote:
Oh God no - not a series, no thank you. Historical romance isn't something I enjoy anyway.
If you have the time and inclination, I would highly recommend the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series. -
OH! The Wolf Hall books. Two more for the list. -
brigadier 1,036 posts
Seen 19 hours ago
Registered 15 years agoFinished Howl's Moving Castle last night. Third time I've read that book, such a great light, funny story. Don't care if it's for teenagers.
Not sure what to read next though. -
Fourwisemen 1,041 posts
Seen 7 hours ago
Registered 11 years agoSome fascinating book and author suggestions here, although some sound like weighty reads.
I'm in a light reading phase so currently in a Harlan Coben series, the Myron Bolitar books. I'm not going to suggest they're his best pieces of work or will change anyone's world but they do allow some opportunity to turn off the mind and escape for a bit. -
FauxyLea 259 posts
Seen 9 months ago
Registered 6 years agoHistory and Politics aren't mine either. If you ever do find the time and wherewithall though, her plotting and writing make it well worth the read. -
wrinkly 3,721 posts
Seen 1 year ago
Registered 6 years ago -
Salaman 23,953 posts
Seen 5 hours ago
Registered 17 years agoI read a few of these Cornwell books. I have a stack of 6-7 books that I bought so I have a few in reserve, one of them is from him as well.
Just finished a light hearted crime story called Bad Monkey that I picked up in the airport in Warsaw because I forgot the book I was reading at the time and wanted something to read.
About to tuck into The Cuckoo's calling, Rowling under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith. -
vijay_UK 3,961 posts
Seen 5 years ago
Registered 11 years agoandytheadequate wrote:
vijay_UK wrote:
Can anyone recommend an easy sci-fi read to get me going? The last sci-fi I read was the Starcraft 2 manual, and that was like 8 pages long. Wouldn't mind doing some quiet reading for a bit.Have you read Ian M Banks? If not then I'd start with him. Or Douglas Adams if you prefer light hearted stuff. Personally I found Dune to be pretty dreadful.
I haven't read Iain M Banks at all, I might try something - thanks for the tip. I read Hitchhikers a long time ago, might give it another go. -
Generally read on the way to my girlfriends. Reading a mob killer at the moment, got 4 books for Christmas about various Mafia types.
Is more than 75 pages so definitely counts -
Nismo400R84 57 posts
Seen 2 years ago
Registered 9 years ago@vijay_UK try Arthur C Clarke 2001 space oddessey four books in all very good. -
Fab4 8,924 posts
Seen 5 months ago
Registered 15 years agoIf you are looking for a time catchup book, try The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills. You could knock that one out in an afternoon. Although you may end up re-reading it, trying to figure out what it was about
Also, if you like a bit of period detective work, with a Sherlock Holmes vibe to it, try The Alienist by Caleb Carr. It's a bit more chunky, but a real page-turner. -
Rens11 1,858 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 12 years agoSince getting a kindle a couple of years ago I've read about 3 books. So hopefully I can at least manage 1 a month! -
4 books, of wildly varying length, read so far this year. I find that if I'm really enjoying a book then reading it becomes almost entirely effortless and the pages fly past. If there's one thing I want to get out of this experiment, it's the ability to be better at finding books that deeply engross me. So far, so good.
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