rulefan
Tour Winner
The Secret Hours - Mick Heron
Enthralling so far.
Enthralling so far.
Books - what are you reading just now?
- Thread starter KhalJimbo
- Start date
ADB
Journeyman Pro
Just read The Satsuma Complex - it was an easy read, pretty enjoyable
Sid Rixon IV
Head Pro
1/3rd through "The Armour of Light" by Ken Follett. Didnt realise it is 1 of 5 in "The Kingsbridge Series". I read "Pillars of the Earth" years ago after watching the TV serialisation. I'm not religious but I am in awe of Cathedrals and, therefore PotE fascinated me. So this book is 600 years later with vague references to the past.
Its not a "page turner" and there are no bullets, bombs, drugs or stuff from other books I like but you get slowly drawn in to the everyday lives of the characters.
Ken Follett fascinates me. His ouput is prodigious and they border on being tomes, yet he can cover both modern and ancient subjects in immense detail.
I just wonder if he sleeps or even pays attention to anyone talking to him whilst he develops yet another 7/800 page plot
Its not a "page turner" and there are no bullets, bombs, drugs or stuff from other books I like but you get slowly drawn in to the everyday lives of the characters.
Ken Follett fascinates me. His ouput is prodigious and they border on being tomes, yet he can cover both modern and ancient subjects in immense detail.
I just wonder if he sleeps or even pays attention to anyone talking to him whilst he develops yet another 7/800 page plot
Sid Rixon IV
Head Pro
A quick heads up.
Just finished the above and today received my copy of "Never" by same author, another 800+ pager!
I got it in hardback for £3.95, free postage, from World of Books.
Preowned but pristine.
Just finished the above and today received my copy of "Never" by same author, another 800+ pager!
I got it in hardback for £3.95, free postage, from World of Books.
Preowned but pristine.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Listening (on BBC Sounds) to a reading of War of the Worlds…HG Wells. I’ve read it before - maybe couple of times - but this reading is really bringing it to life…especially given so much of it is set pretty close to where I live (Woking and immediate locality). Resonates in todays international climate.
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Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Looking for recommendations for audio books pls
I enjoy Mark Greaney’s Gray Man stuff and working through Tom Wood’s Victor series. What’s similar? But needs to be of decent length, I can’t be doing with sub 10hr books
(stopped part way through Jack Higgins, Sean Dillon series for this reason)
Thanks
Oh and no need to suggest Reacher. I’m not a fan
I enjoy Mark Greaney’s Gray Man stuff and working through Tom Wood’s Victor series. What’s similar? But needs to be of decent length, I can’t be doing with sub 10hr books
(stopped part way through Jack Higgins, Sean Dillon series for this reason)
Thanks
Oh and no need to suggest Reacher. I’m not a fan
larmen
Head Pro
Mitch Rapp, Scott Harwath, Dewey Andreas, Pike Logan
That’s the ones I remember.
The latest Gray Man, do you think it was a take on Elon?
Sid Rixon IV
Head Pro
After reading a Ken Follett tome, Armour of Light, I decided to follow with another, Never.
But in a chance conversation with two pals they both recommended and loaned me "Politics on the Edge" by Rory Stewart and I'm on my way throught it. Not a page turner but very interesting. Don't imagine David Cameron thinks so though
On the subject of reading my 9yr grandson is a voracious reader and has suddenly concluded that maybe he should now start reading "grown up" books.
His mum was slightly nonplussed when, out of the blue, he asked "Oliver Twist, is that any good?
He's getting it for Christmas from Gramps!
But I so miss reading Gruffalo and Stick Man with him
But in a chance conversation with two pals they both recommended and loaned me "Politics on the Edge" by Rory Stewart and I'm on my way throught it. Not a page turner but very interesting. Don't imagine David Cameron thinks so though
On the subject of reading my 9yr grandson is a voracious reader and has suddenly concluded that maybe he should now start reading "grown up" books.
His mum was slightly nonplussed when, out of the blue, he asked "Oliver Twist, is that any good?
He's getting it for Christmas from Gramps!
But I so miss reading Gruffalo and Stick Man with him
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Thanks I'll give them a look
Yeah not the first time I've read a fiction book and see a close resemblance to real world events (& sometimes the book came first!)
Might be ready for the Harry Potter series? Grown up writing but great for kids.On the subject of reading my 9yr grandson is a voracious reader and has suddenly concluded that maybe he should now start reading "grown up" books.
His mum was slightly nonplussed when, out of the blue, he asked "Oliver Twist, is that any good?
He's getting it for Christmas from Gramps!
But I so miss reading Gruffalo and Stick Man with him
Just finished this. You really needed to read The Satsuma Complex first, lots of Hotel Avocado wouldn't make sense reading them this way.
I thought Satsuma was a better book. I don't think he quite knew how to finish Avocado, it all seemed a bit rushed at the end. Still an easy going read though, very Bob.
rudebhoy
Q-School Graduate
It's obviously the wrong order to read them in (blame Spotify) but it didn't lessen my enjoyment or understanding of Avocado. It did however affect my enjoyment of Satsuma - there are so many references in the second book to the plot of the first book, that you knew what was coming next half of the time.
Very enjoyable books though, and even more so in the right order
rudebhoy
Q-School Graduate
Currently reading A Heart Full of Headstones, the 24th (out of 25) Rebus book.
It's ok, but it's pretty implausible a knackered old ex-cop still getting heavily involved in current police investigations. I think Rankin has done Rebus to death now, the law of diminishing returns is definitely in play now.
It's ok, but it's pretty implausible a knackered old ex-cop still getting heavily involved in current police investigations. I think Rankin has done Rebus to death now, the law of diminishing returns is definitely in play now.
Sid Rixon IV
Head Pro
Bought, but not yet started, both Schmeichel's and Keane's autobiographies for £1 each, both in spotless nick. Found, coincidentally in two different charity shelves in supermarkets.
srixon 1
Journeyman Pro
A few days ago I was in the loft looking for something that I never did find whilst up there. However, I did come across my old paper back copies of the James Herriot vet books. Don’t think they have seen the light of day for at least 40 years. I’m halfway through the first book, and find that when there is dialogue from the characters the voice in my head is the same as the characters from the original TV series. 
Robin Hood
Well-known member
Just finished The Salt Path by Raynor Winn.
A true reflection/memoir on the adversities of a couple who lose their home and decide to walk the South West Coast Path.
A cracking read - I’ve moved straight on to the follow up The Wild Silence.
The Salt Path has been turned into a film that will be released in 2025.
A true reflection/memoir on the adversities of a couple who lose their home and decide to walk the South West Coast Path.
A cracking read - I’ve moved straight on to the follow up The Wild Silence.
The Salt Path has been turned into a film that will be released in 2025.
Prayer for the Dead - James Oswald. Not quite prime Scottish detective series but definitely worth a go. This is the 5th in the series, I am warming to them
An Isolated Incident - JD Kirk. Now this is prime Scottish detective writing. Brilliant stuff.
An Isolated Incident - JD Kirk. Now this is prime Scottish detective writing. Brilliant stuff.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Stumbled across a 'novel reading' Youtube channel and the bloke was talking about reading Anna Karenina. He was talking about how to get the very best out of the great literary novels of writers such as Tolstoy - specifically that you shouldn't rush them - indeed I think he said that it took him 9months to read the 1000+ pages - reading other stuff along the way.
Now I fairly recently read AK and looking back that's my experience - it took my 11 months to read it - reading other smaller stuff along the way. I thought it was just me. I loved it - got really engrossed with the characters - and since the timelines of the novels months and years - taking a break was no big deal. Indeed as Tolstoy wrote and published it in installments he knew that that would be the experience of those reading it at the time.
Anyone else bothered taking the time to read the literary masterpieces of such as Tolstoy - and in a lighter vein those of Dickens.
Now I fairly recently read AK and looking back that's my experience - it took my 11 months to read it - reading other smaller stuff along the way. I thought it was just me. I loved it - got really engrossed with the characters - and since the timelines of the novels months and years - taking a break was no big deal. Indeed as Tolstoy wrote and published it in installments he knew that that would be the experience of those reading it at the time.
Anyone else bothered taking the time to read the literary masterpieces of such as Tolstoy - and in a lighter vein those of Dickens.
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Sid Rixon IV
Head Pro
I read (books) every day, be it kindle, books bought, or library.
Each has a purpose for me.
In Waterstones recently I came across their Classic collection of bound hardbacks and just loved the tactile pleasure of browsing through them.
So..... I bought the copy of ...... wait for it........ War and Peace
I've given it to my wife to wrap up for Christmas Day as her present to me and I will swear before the family, as a New Year Resolution, to read it.
But, as you say, it will be chunks at a time with definite pauses to read other books.
I suspect I will require a notebook for the numerous characters.
Ive read a few multi decade Ken Follet's so I've had a wee bit of training.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
I too have War and Peace sitting waiting for me…but I think I’ll maybe read Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment first - a dawdle at 462 pages.I read (books) every day, be it kindle, books bought, or library.
Each has a purpose for me.
In Waterstones recently I came across their Classic collection of bound hardbacks and just loved the tactile pleasure of browsing through them.
So..... I bought the copy of ...... wait for it........ War and Peace
I've given it to my wife to wrap up for Christmas Day as her present to me and I will swear before the family, as a New Year Resolution, to read it.
But, as you say, it will be chunks at a time with definite pauses to read other books.
I suspect I will require a notebook for the numerous characters.
Ive read a few multi decade Ken Follet's so I've had a wee bit of training.
I’d absolutely recommend Anna Karenina…what I did to keep track of who’s who was find an online resource that lists the main characters and their relationships. I’d keep referring to that just to remind myself…it’s quite hard keeping hold of the characters as they can have similar names and their names as used by family and friends - these being not their formal names.
I’ve read The Pillars of the Earth by KF and did enjoy it, but as engaging as it was I sense that I didn’t get under the skin characters and get greatly emotionally involved - so though I’ve got another of his tomes sitting on my bookshelf (can’t recall which one) I’m not feeling a great pull to read it. Probably will in time.
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