What Are You Currently Reading?

First topic message reminder :

As the title suggests; this is just a post to find out what people are currently reading (I don't want any sarcastic comments stating "This thread" )

I'm currently reading What The Night Knows by Dean Koontz. I'm only about 19 chapters in, but it's really good so far.

I finished Shattered Bones by Stuart MacBride at the weekend. That was okay, but the editing was poor so it detracted from my enjoyment a little.

Actually that is another question for this thread. Is it just me, or does sloppy editing bother you? I'm talking in terms of spelling mistakes, double words etc. I find it really off putting and I can't really explain why. I guess it could be because it interupts the flow of the story.

It really grinds my gears

Saving myself for the last Wheel of Time book- finally after literally decades that series is over and the hours I invested in my teenage years might come to fruition.

I've had so little time to read last year, it's pretty sad but I resolve to do better in the New Year.

I see someone here is masochistic enough to read Joyce, the man who doesn't believe in sentences or punctuation or, in fact, anything resembling any kind of structure

gazzyD wrote:Just finished the final Hunger Games book, pointless. After two very enjoyable books, the final installment was just a huge anti-climax, not impressed.

Borrowed a book called Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch which I'm just about to start reading, my mate wouldn't shut up about it so am hoping it lives up to his reviews

I actually enjoyed the first and third ones and wasnt a fan of the middle Hunger Games books.
Currently reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, very much enjoying it.

I've started reading Catch 22, my boss bought it for me 5 years ago and keeps asking me if I've read it yet

Doesn't appear to be my cup of tea though, I don't like books that think they're funny. Not even joke books are funny.

Diggers wrote:

gazzyD wrote:Just finished the final Hunger Games book, pointless. After two very enjoyable books, the final installment was just a huge anti-climax, not impressed.

Borrowed a book called Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch which I'm just about to start reading, my mate wouldn't shut up about it so am hoping it lives up to his reviews

I actually enjoyed the first and third ones and wasnt a fan of the middle Hunger Games books.
Currently reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, very much enjoying it.

Tbh for me they got worse as they went along. 1 was very good, 2 was alright and 3 wasn't that great.

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene.

It's more enjoyable than I thought it would be

I started to read 50 shades of gray

NickisBHAFC wrote:I started to read 50 shades of gray

What's wrong with you?

I'm reading fifty sheds of grey, some great lines in it.

im currently on robin hobb books, currently on the third of the farseer trilogy assassins quest, been a good trilogy so far

Ent wrote:

NickisBHAFC wrote:I started to read 50 shades of gray

What's wrong with you?

I'm reading fifty sheds of grey, some great lines in it.

Azzy Mahmood wrote:I've started reading Catch 22, my boss bought it for me 5 years ago and keeps asking me if I've read it yet

Doesn't appear to be my cup of tea though, I don't like books that think they're funny. Not even joke books are funny.

Despite the fact that it's considered a classic, I thought Catch 22 was an awful book with an even worse sense of humour.

Crimey wrote:

Azzy Mahmood wrote:I've started reading Catch 22, my boss bought it for me 5 years ago and keeps asking me if I've read it yet

Doesn't appear to be my cup of tea though, I don't like books that think they're funny. Not even joke books are funny.

Despite the fact that it's considered a classic, I thought Catch 22 was an awful book with an even worse sense of humour.

I'm 50 pages in and I want to cut my hands off, eat my eyeballs, and decapitate myself. It's dreadful. Will have to tell the boss how great it is though

Has anyone read Will Selfs Book Of Dave ? I started reading ait a month or so ago and gave up after about 30 pages, it was annoying me so much. Im normally pretty good at seeing a book through but just couldnt bring myself to carry on.

Diggers wrote:Has anyone read Will Selfs Book Of Dave ? I started reading ait a month or so ago and gave up after about 30 pages, it was annoying me so much. Im normally pretty good at seeing a book through but just couldnt bring myself to carry on.

Haven't read a novel of his but read the occasional article by him on BBC - he normally has valid points but has to raid the thesaurus to get them across which makes him seem revoltingly smug, can just imagine him haw-haw-hawing self-indulgently over cocktails with the literati

Galted wrote:

Diggers wrote:Has anyone read Will Selfs Book Of Dave ? I started reading ait a month or so ago and gave up after about 30 pages, it was annoying me so much. Im normally pretty good at seeing a book through but just couldnt bring myself to carry on.

Haven't read a novel of his but read the occasional article by him on BBC - he normally has valid points but has to raid the thesaurus to get them across which makes him seem revoltingly smug, can just imagine him haw-haw-hawing self-indulgently over cocktails with the literati

Ive seen him on Qustion Time a few times, obviously an incredibly bright guy and even though by and large I agree with his views he still manages to deliver them in such a smug, supercilious way Id happily puch him.

Christopher Hitchens - God is not great. Very interesting counter arguement to religion for the 'free thinker'.

'The Chocolate Wars' by Joel Glen Brenner - about the ruthless dealings of the multi-billion dollar American confectionary industry, particularly the secrecy and enmity between Mars and Hershey.

I'm going to follow that with 'Chocolate Wars' by Dorothy Cadbury - the same from a UK perspective.

Last Man Standing. The memoirs of a Seaforth Highlander during the Great War
The man in question is Lieut Norman Collins,the book is based on letters he sent to his parents and brother, all of the letters and photos are now in the Imperial War Museum. The book is about his personal experiences in the trenches. Wounded three times he survived the war.

Just finished 'we only kill each other' a book from the 70's documenting the life of Bugsy Ben Siegel. I'm a big fan of mob films and book and felt this was really good. Some of it is hard to believe which makes it all the more amazing that its true. If you are interested in the beginning of las vegas, the mob, police corruption, actors, or 1940's glitz, this is a great book.

The Hunting Submarine: The fighting life of HMS Tally-Ho.
A sucessful Second World War submarine which operated in the Far East in waters some said to shallow to allow the subs to operate effectively.
The boat was given its name by Winston Churchill.
During the course of a day up to 40 gallons of condensation would collect causing the crew to sleep under oil skins also striking matches was a problem due to the lack of oxygen. I have only just started it but interesting facts have "surfaced" already.

Another way to win, Pep Guardiolas biography

'A Streetcat Named Bob'

Crimey wrote:

Azzy Mahmood wrote:I've started reading Catch 22, my boss bought it for me 5 years ago and keeps asking me if I've read it yet

Doesn't appear to be my cup of tea though, I don't like books that think they're funny. Not even joke books are funny.

Despite the fact that it's considered a classic, I thought Catch 22 was an awful book with an even worse sense of humour.

Surprised.

I really enjoyed it . Must be an age thing...

The again I read it when I was 26

Must be just down to taste then.

tigerrobins wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:What are they about?

They're fantasy books, about a land that at night is plagued by demons who attack and kill humans at if they haven't set there magical wards properly or leave there safety. The 2 books are about the characters who the people believe will save them and there lead them into the final battle. THE PAINTED MAN, is about Arlen who is a white man and his life, THE DESERT SPEAR about Ahmann Jadir who seems to be based on a Muslim (though I could be wrong), and his life.

They tell off there childhoods,rise to power friends etc, they really are both very good entertaining books that build both characters up very well and are well worth a read if you like fantasy books.

I'm up to page 200 in the Painted Man, and to be honest I'm not enjoying it as much as I'd hoped. I've got the second one as well so I'm going to keep going and hope it improves.

BTW The next Terry Goodkind book, following on from the Omen Machine, is planned for 2nd September. Currently titled Goodkind Fantasy 2.

Jack Reacher ' The Hard Way'......brilliant

A Memory of Light by Brandon Sanderson (cause Robert Jordan died). It's ok but only just a satisfactory end to his series

Teassoc,
The painted man is hard to start with and fairly slow, it but it does get better towards the end, I preferred The Desert Spear, which has alot more action, and intertwines with the current day better toward's the end. In my opinion They are worth sticking with though.

Not sure about the new Goodkind book, re-read the omen machine, and agree with what you said about building up the new main bad guy. But still think the series was finnished. Will get it, but it will have to be something spectacular to keep me interested I think.

1000 Years of Annoying the French.
Very amusing book, basically everything that the French have taken credit for over the past 1000 years, well it puts the record straight.
The French put a clause into the Treaty of Versailles to try and protect the Champagne brand, millions of French men are left dead and mutilated after the first World War and one of things the French politicians are worried about is a name. In itself not very annoying but without the help of the British Who discovered a better way of manufacturing glass Champagne may never have come into being.

tigerrobins wrote:Teassoc,
The painted man is hard to start with and fairly slow, it but it does get better towards the end, I preferred The Desert Spear, which has alot more action, and intertwines with the current day better toward's the end. In my opinion They are worth sticking with though.

Agreed. It was certainly rather dull and predictable at the start. Getting much more interesting now as the main characters have got older.

The third one has now been published I believe.

Just finished Ulysses after months of torture, while Joyce is undoubtedly a genius think it's too showy-offy to be considered the greatest novel ever as it's often referred to.

This is a great read:

Spoiler:

I am just rereading the first compendium of the Walking Dead graphic novel.

Forgotten how good it is!

im currently reading the leon mckenzie autobiography, then after that I think I will be picking the book about 1pw called against all odds, which should be interesting to say the least

ok so the new 1PW book is here, its massive haha

I am currently reading Gary Nevilles autobiography which is quite easy to read. Im not a Man U fan but having grown up in the period he talks about it is quite interesting.

I am currently waiting for the final Peter Brett book to become available in the library, cant wait to find out the end of the story

I thought Catch 22 was classic - better than the film, which is good - and has some great 'catch 22's' in it. I read it when I was about 26 too, and loved it. But then I do love Douglas Adams (Hitchhickers Guide...), Malcolm Pryce (Aberystwyth Mon Amoir) and other comedy novels.

Reading book 4 (or book 3 part 2) of the Game of Thrones/A Song of Fire and Ice saga - excellent - I can't get enough of them.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:I thought Catch 22 was classic - better than the film, which is good - and has some great 'catch 22's' in it. I read it when I was about 26 too, and loved it. But then I do love Douglas Adams (Hitchhickers Guide...), Malcolm Pryce (Aberystwyth Mon Amoir) and other comedy novels.

Reading book 4 (or book 3 part 2) of the Game of Thrones/A Song of Fire and Ice saga - excellent - I can't get enough of them.

Smirnoff, have you read Last Tango in Aberystwyth and The Incredible Lightness of Being in Aberystwyth etc?

I lived in Aber for 5 years. I've just realised he's done 3 other Aber novels. Must check them out!

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - William L.Shirer. Not bad so far. I thought it would be a tough read, especially given the length but I've quite enjoyed it.

liverbnz wrote:The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - William L.Shirer. Not bad so far. I thought it would be a tough read, especially given the length but I've quite enjoyed it.

If you enjoy books on the subject Richard J Evans' trilogy The Coming of the Third Reich, The Third Reich in Power and the Third Reich at War are worth the effort, total around 2000 pages between them and will make your brain hurt by the end but are never anything less than fascinating.

Currently re-reading Tom Clancy's 'Red storm rising' that i first read in the late 80's when his books were fantastic, but he and they seemed to drop off a lot and get bogged down in detail. However, a truly great read and one that entertains and informs from start to finish.


Also completed Harry Sidebottoms ' Warrior of Rome ' 5 book series which is probably the best series of Books i have read in many a long year.

I am reading a book called Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis.

It is a semi-autobiographical account of his time as a bond trader at the old Salomon Brothers investment bank. It is a bit old hat now and there are some very good contemporary books on the banking crisis that are far more current, but if you're at all interested in that sector and era, it is a hugely entertaining book. It deals with that whole Wall Street 'big swinging dick' trader era in a very witty fashion and all the 80's yuppie excesses are there in the pages.

Some of the stuff these guys got up to is just incredible and if it wasn't so funny it would be dangerous. It's a bit like Easton Ellis' American Psycho but without the executions and decapitated heads in the fridge.

If you enjoy Lewis' books Tina you could do worse than read The Big Short, is another one about the financial crisis but from the perspective of the small band who saw it coming and made an absolute mint backing against the market.

Also his book Moneyball is an absolute classic about Baseball, I am a baseball fan but have loaned the book to people who cannot stand the game and they loved it nearly as much as I did, definitely one of the best sports books I have read.

Rowley wrote:If you enjoy Lewis' books Tina you could do worse than read The Big Short, is another one about the financial crisis but from the perspective of the small band who saw it coming and made an absolute mint backing against the market.

Also his book Moneyball is an absolute classic about Baseball, I am a baseball fan but have loaned the book to people who cannot stand the game and they loved it nearly as much as I did, definitely one of the best sports books I have read.

A few of the chaps at work have read The Big Short, Jeff. Most of them have good things to say about it. I didn't even know Lewis had penned Moneyball, but like yourself, I have only heard glowing reviews of it. I will pick up a copy one day.

I am also reading a book called The Religion by Tim Willocks which I am really enjoying. A good gripping yarn with lots of battles, blood and boobs. I am only a third of the way through but its an excellent book.

The third book I am reading is called The Battle of the Bulge (the Ardennes forest offensive in WWII, not around my waist) by Stephen J Zaloga. The less said about it the better. Having just read All Hell Let Loose by Max Hastings, this one is a poor imitation. The book even manages to get the date of the battle wrong by a whole year at one point. Poor show.

Have read all of Willock's books Tina, if you enjoy The Religion get a copy of Green River Rising, is about a prison riot, is definitely his best work and comfortably one of my favourite fiction books.

Noted Jeff. I read a review of The Religion before I started it and the reviewer said it was the best book he had read since.....

.....Green River Rising. Seems you're not alone.

I started All Hell Let Loose Tina, did not get through it, was no reflection on the book but came fairly soon on the back of my third Reich trilogy marathon and as those had taken about three months to get through suspect I needed a break from all the death, destruction and misery that is something of a theme in war books. Also Christmas then came and bought the usual glut of boxing books which sidetracked me. Will finish it at some point though, might take it on holiday.

Yep, take it on holiday and finish it mate. It's pretty heavy going, I agree, but Hastings is an excellent author and historian. Terrible journalist though which is a shame.

Superfly recommended a book on Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore which also looks like a daunting read. Mrs Windows got it for me for Christmas but I haven't started it yet. It weighs about as much as a small child but he rates it highly so I will attempt it at some point.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

Superfly recommended a book on Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore which also looks like a daunting read.

Have got his one on Dunkirk, good luck Tina, heavy old going if that is anything to go by. If you enjoy Second World War books you could do worse than Ian Kershaw's books on Hitler. He did a two part biography of him, Hubris and Nemesis, but then condensed them both into one biography, the individual ones are 1000 pages a piece as is the condensed version, of the two I would recommend the latter as it does not really lose any of the detail or insight is just a damned sight less daunting.

Just read Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Very heavy reading but an utter masterpiece if you can deal with the verbosity and tangents

Last Orders - Graham Swift

I tried reading this years ago but didn't really get into it. Enjoying it more now. I read Waterland by the same author at university.

Just finished A Dance With Dragons part 2

About to start "A River Runs Through it" by Norman Maclean

It's a short read so I'll probably read either a Tim Winton or Bill Bryson novel afterwards. Going to Brazil in July so will need something to read on Ipanema beach