I've just finished Pop goes the weasel by James Patterson and it was one of those books that you want to keep reading but don't want it to finish. It won't be to everyone's taste but I couldn't put it down.
Is this a thread to write what we've been reading? If so, haven't read Pop goes the Weasel, but
just finished Unbroken about a POW in Japan by the author who wrote Seabiscuit. Both true stories, liked both.
Thanks GrannieAnnie, I had been looking for Unbroken, but didnt know the title. Read an extract in a Sunday paper a few months ago and it looks really good!
Best book I've read recently is Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, couldnt put it down.
Soul Identity, Dennis Batcheldor
So many books !
So little time!
and I read in the bath and only shower in the summer :o
;D ;D ;D
Quote from: lewic on May 11, 2011, 07:23:33
Thanks GrannieAnnie, I had been looking for Unbroken, but didnt know the title. Read an extract in a Sunday paper a few months ago and it looks really good!
Best book I've read recently is Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, couldnt put it down.
I've heard about Running... and that the boy is based on the author's life...wonder how much was fact/fiction
Agree that running with scissors is an excellent read, superbly written, believable, poignant, funny. Like you GA I know its based on a true story, but not sure how much.
What's Pop goes the weasel about Squash? A true life or fiction? I have to admit I'm not a great fan of true liefs/ biogs, but every now and then one tempts me :)
Just finished reading Lucy Wadham Secret Life of France for my reading group, not sure I'd recommend it tho! Recently got round to reading Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5 - a superb read, and again based on a true story.
Am about to read for my book group: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
a true story about the woman whose cells have been used for a lot of cancer research around the world- certainly a different topic!
Quote from: 1066 on May 11, 2011, 15:19:24
What's Pop goes the weasel about Squash? A true life or fiction? I have to admit I'm not a great fan of true liefs/ biogs, but every now and then one tempts me :)
It's a crime thriller in the Alex Cross series, Ten.
QuoteI've heard about Running... and that the boy is based on the author's life...wonder how much was fact/fiction
Apparantly the family sued Burroughs.. and lost!
ah! didn't recognise the name
Thanks GrannieAnnie over the last 2 nights I have read Unbroken from start to finish it is the best book that i have ever read, I hope a film is made about this true story
Anyone interested in Science-fiction? (Not fantasy)
I'm reading (in spare snatched moments) Cities in Flight by James Blish. A good book so far. Several short stories related to each other.
Enjoy science fiction here. The proper stuff not the dragon and wizard stuff. Can't abide unpronounceable names.
Too many stories to list, got a few thousand books here, but I do like some of the short story collections. Prefer stories with a science based theme, although not "over the top" science. Some of the best don't go into a lot of detailed stuff, but have underlying ideas.
I find science fiction written earlier the most fascinating, where the authors sometimes get the future "right" and sometimes don't. Huge computers the size of office blocks are a good example of when they don't. A very old short story called book called The Land Ironclads, HG Wells, 1903 foretells the horror of warfare waged by nerds in machines rather than muscular "proper" men. A novel called Timescape, by Gregory Benford, 1980 gives a view of what might (and still may) happen if we don't control pollution.
Could rave for hours, but do recommend first time science fiction readers start with stories that have won awards, they tend to be pretty readable.
Quote from: jennym on September 18, 2011, 05:59:15
Enjoy science fiction here. .........
.........Could rave for hours, but do recommend first time science fiction readers start with stories that have won awards, they tend to be pretty readable.
A very wise bit of advice.. Start with Sci-fi that has received awards then you know it's a good read. ;)
I too had a huge collection at one time - gave much of it away to an elderly uncle as he became a fan. Now my daughter
swipes borrows anything I haven't hidden well. ::)
Right now I have a book in front of me but would prefer to be nipping to the plot to pick beans if only the very grey sky would clear a bit. :(
Ive.almost finished ,The Lost Symbol,by Dan Brown,quite a good read,I like Gorge RR Martin fantasy books.
Quote from: claybasket on September 18, 2011, 19:09:45
I like Gorge RR Martin fantasy books.
Is he the man who wrote the Game of Thrones series of books? If so, how are they to read - are they heavy going because I somehow imagine that they are. I wish I'd tried to tackle them before the series because to do so now would mean seeing the actors faces throughout the book!
Currently reading Five Chimneys: A Woman Survivor's True Story of Auschwitz by Olga Lengyel. Not the most graphic book I've read about Auschwitz and yet seems to be hardest to get through.
I found this rather odd title a brilliant read despite not being the sort of thing I'd normally pick up:
Link: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2728527-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society) written by Mary Ann Shaffer - first published 2008.
(Scroll down the page for reviews)
It's written as a series of letters and based upon events in Second World War Guernsey.
If you want something different and easily readable in short snatches this might interest you. ;)
Anyone tried Conn Igguldens'historical fiction.They come in a series but each a story in its own.My favourites at the moment .
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 19, 2011, 01:38:55
I found this rather odd title a brilliant read despite not being the sort of thing I'd normally pick up:
Link: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2728527-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society) written by Mary Ann Shaffer - first published 2008.
(Scroll down the page for reviews)
It's written as a series of letters and based upon events in Second World War Guernsey.
If you want something different and easily readable in short snatches this might interest you. ;)
I have been watching the John Nettles program on the Channel Islands at War so will look out for this book. Sounds fascinating.
Quote from: tomatoada on September 19, 2011, 09:48:51
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 19, 2011, 01:38:55
I found this rather odd title a brilliant read despite not being the sort of thing I'd normally pick up:
Link: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2728527-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society) written by Mary Ann Shaffer - first published 2008.
(Scroll down the page for reviews)
It's written as a series of letters and based upon events in Second World War Guernsey.
If you want something different and easily readable in short snatches this might interest you. ;)
I have been watching the John Nettles program on the Channel Islands at War so will look out for this book. Sounds fascinating.
A quick search should show it available on Amazon. ;)
Yes Sammy,he did write that series Game of Thrones,brill read one of the best Ive read I never saw the series on TV wish I had,the books get better each timeyou read the latest one you can't wait for the next to come out. Also I read the books that Buddgiebredder was on about ,they are a great read,with lots of historical facts I love them.
Thanks Aden.
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 19, 2011, 01:38:55
I found this rather odd title a brilliant read despite not being the sort of thing I'd normally pick up:
Link: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2728527-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society) written by Mary Ann Shaffer - first published 2008.
(Scroll down the page for reviews)
It's written as a series of letters and based upon events in Second World War Guernsey.
If you want something different and easily readable in short snatches this might interest you. ;)
Thanks for that, AR. I think I'll order it to read after I've finished this one. Had a quick read up on Amazon (it's got 440 reviews and 4/5 stars!) and it seems my kind of thing!
I hope you enjoy it or I'll have to hide away somewhere very quiet. (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-ashamed001.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
Quote from: SamLouise on September 22, 2011, 12:12:04
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 19, 2011, 01:38:55
I found this rather odd title a brilliant read despite not being the sort of thing I'd normally pick up:
Link: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2728527-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society) written by Mary Ann Shaffer - first published 2008.
(Scroll down the page for reviews)
It's written as a series of letters and based upon events in Second World War Guernsey.
If you want something different and easily readable in short snatches this might interest you. ;)
Thanks for that, AR. I think I'll order it to read after I've finished this one. Had a quick read up on Amazon (it's got 440 reviews and 4/5 stars!) and it seems my kind of thing!
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 22, 2011, 17:05:55
I hope you enjoy it or I'll have to hide away somewhere very quiet. (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-ashamed001.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
AR, I have finally gotten around to reading this book! My OH got it for me for Christmas and I started reading it on Monday. I'm about a quarter of a way through and I'm really enjoying it so far!
Would you believe the Water Babies. It was free for the Kindle and I could not remember what it was all about from having it read to us at school. I am amazed at some references to the irish, americans and ethnic minorities as it was written by a clergyman, but the message about child labour comes through strong. He did not rate Darwin much from reading between the lines.
I have just finished "Ordinary Storms" by William Boyd who is pretty much on my list of top 5 authors. It was brilliant. And Currently reading Juliet Naked by Nick Hornby which so far is very enjoyable.
Henrietta Lacks is indeed unknown but quite famous, there is a wikipedia entry on her. Fascinating, you have reminded that I would like to read that book too!!! But first I must read the second Stieg Larsson (The Girl who Played with Fire) and then try and get hold of the new book by Andrew Miller, about the Cemetery of Les Innocents in Paris - love his style of writing!
We will have to continue this thread! Some great suggestions!
Quote from: SamLouise on January 26, 2012, 23:16:00
Quote from: SamLouise on September 22, 2011, 12:12:04
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 19, 2011, 01:38:55
I found this rather odd title a brilliant read despite not being the sort of thing I'd normally pick up:
Link: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2728527-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society) written by Mary Ann Shaffer - first published 2008.
(Scroll down the page for reviews)
It's written as a series of letters and based upon events in Second World War Guernsey.
If you want something different and easily readable in short snatches this might interest you. ;)
Thanks for that, AR. I think I'll order it to read after I've finished this one. Had a quick read up on Amazon (it's got 440 reviews and 4/5 stars!) and it seems my kind of thing!
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 22, 2011, 17:05:55
I hope you enjoy it or I'll have to hide away somewhere very quiet. (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-ashamed001.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
AR, I have finally gotten around to reading this book! My OH got it for me for Christmas and I started reading it on Monday. I'm about a quarter of a way through and I'm really enjoying it so far!
Brillliant - I hope it's going well?As things improve for me I might even have enough spare time to unearth my book - it's been value for money - I've been reading it for about 4 months!!! ::)
Quote from: Aden Roller on February 02, 2012, 00:55:34
Quote from: SamLouise on January 26, 2012, 23:16:00
Quote from: SamLouise on September 22, 2011, 12:12:04
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 19, 2011, 01:38:55
I found this rather odd title a brilliant read despite not being the sort of thing I'd normally pick up:
Link: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2728527-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society) written by Mary Ann Shaffer - first published 2008.
(Scroll down the page for reviews)
It's written as a series of letters and based upon events in Second World War Guernsey.
If you want something different and easily readable in short snatches this might interest you. ;)
Thanks for that, AR. I think I'll order it to read after I've finished this one. Had a quick read up on Amazon (it's got 440 reviews and 4/5 stars!) and it seems my kind of thing!
Quote from: Aden Roller on September 22, 2011, 17:05:55
I hope you enjoy it or I'll have to hide away somewhere very quiet. (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-ashamed001.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
AR, I have finally gotten around to reading this book! My OH got it for me for Christmas and I started reading it on Monday. I'm about a quarter of a way through and I'm really enjoying it so far!
Brillliant - I hope it's going well?
Well ... yes and no. I lost it for a while (buried beneath the rubble that was once a kitchen) and found it again a few days ago. I'm about half way through it now and just as engaged as before but rather stupidly had never realised how all the characters are fictional! I just never thought about it previously and had assumed it was all based on true events. Won't stop me enjoying the rest of the book but I definitely feel a bit differently when reading on...
Edit: Ooo, it seems there is to be a film made of this book to be released in 2013. Directed by Kenneth Branagh (but ugh, to feature Kate Winslet as Juliet Ashton, boooo!)
The Water Babies is something I plan to read to my grandsons soon. I was shocked when I read Westward Ho! as an adult by the crude prejudices against Roman Catholics, "natives" and other targets considered acceptable in those days, but I forget picking this up in reading The Water Babies as a child.
Thanks SamLouise for tellling me about the film to come - It'll be interesting to see how it compares to the book.
I rather think it might be a wee while before I get to see the film though - not been to the cinema much in the last few years.. but I'm patient. ;)
Hopefully the film will manage to grab the characters straight from the pages. It can be very disappointing when a fictional book character is so totally different in a film.
I read "Goodnight Mr Tom" (children's fiction) many times to various classes of 10 & 11 year olds over the years. When the film came out I hated it - many of the characters were strangers and not as I had imagined them at all. :(
I will look that book out to .I love Guersey I have been to one of the Museums there it was very interesting.
I am reading All the days of our lives, by Annie MurrayIts about the lives of three girls in Birmingham, after the war its fiction.
June.