Recommended Reading

[shakermaker1982]

Recently read "The Constant Gardener", very enjoyable, but I didn't like the ending so that spoiled it for me a bit.

Reading "Catch 22" at the moment, interesting so far, unusual style that takes some getting used to.

I'd go through Le Carre's back catalogue if you haven't already. One of my favourite authors. If you like spy novels I'd check out a guy called Charles Cummings.

I've been reading 'Mystery Man' by Bateman. Laugh out loud funny at times and very very strange.

[Den Perry]

I'd go through Le Carre's back catalogue if you haven't already. One of my favourite authors. If you like spy novels I'd check out a guy called Charles Cummings.

I've been reading 'Mystery Man' by Bateman. Laugh out loud funny at times and very very strange.

My bird and my mate say Catch 22 is brilliant. I've always wanted to read it but just couldn't handle the style of writing and the furthest I got was about ten pages. However, I'm not gonna give up that easily and will try again soon

Am currently reading "Shantaram" by Gregory David Robertson...about an aussie armed robber who escapes prison and does a runner to Bombay. It came highly recommended and I am finding it enjoyable if a little too tedious with the detail..its nearly 1,000 pages long!! anybody else here read it?

For pure laughs and entertainment, (and not without a sense of tragedy)Glue and Filth by Irvine Welsh are brilliant

[cheifo]

Yeh DP recently read Shantaram and its a great read.The scene where he escaped from prison is brillantly re-created.
I agree he could have cut a 100 pages from it.

[Den Perry]

Yeh DP recently read Shantaram and its a great read.The scene where he escaped from prison is brillantly re-created.
I agree he could have cut a 100 pages from it.

There is some amount of dope smoking going on in the book isn't there...don't know how he remembered everything

[PaulB]

Re-read John Feinstein's A Good Walk Spoiled recently. Fantastic book, definitely the best I've read in the golf genre. Might get The Match by Mark Frost next, unless I can find Calcio which I managed to misplace

Just started 'The Match', very good read so far, back in the days when the pros used to scape a living, very well written. One i would definitely recommend is ' Four KIngs' about hagler, hearns, duran and leonard, definitely the best boxing book i have ever read.

[PaulB]

Would love to read some autobiographical accounts of the Vietman war but cant seem to find any, maybe someone could recommend some

A year late, but hey ho.

The 13th Valley
The tunnels of Chu Chi

2 excellent books on Vietnam

[Rovers fan]

One i would definitely recommend is ' Four KIngs' about hagler, hearns, duran and leonard, definitely the best boxing book i have ever read.

I was watching one of his fights against Mugabi on youtube the other day (chico corrales had listed it as his favourite ever fight) and it was an absolute cracker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_B12...eature=related

[bennocelt]

Glad this thread is back from the dead. My computer is acting up, and I have no TV in the house - so took out a library membership, and have a rake of books to read!

Just finished an interesting book - "A Blue Eyed Salary Man" by Niall Murtagh , about an Irish man working with Mitubshi (excuse the spelling!)in Japan, who rises to the top in the company and gives a very insightful view of life as a worker in one of Japan's major companys. It is really an exclusive club and very rare for a westerner to get a chance to work so near the top of the ladder in one of these companies. The life they have is virtually handed over to the company; who decides their living accomodation, what they should and shouldnt be doing after hours, and even offers tips on finding a partner, etc.
Its a good read for someone who is interested in japan (and I wonder has Ousaran read it?), but it is also a tad bit boring and dry (def not "Hilarious" as the Daily Mail put it!). Murtagh gives me the impression that he is not exactly a party animal so it was quite easy for him to adjust to the company lifestyles and habits, and he was there for 14 years so he must have had the character to fit in.
I'm saying this as I have lived in Asia for a few years myself (China, Korea, Mongolia) so I have a basic understanding of the Asian mentality - (the group mentality, the love of rules that can never be broken, etc), so I always had great fun breaking as many rules as I could!!!
And funningly enough as well, I worked for NEC when they were in Ballivor all those years ago. So It would have been a little better to get a better insight into more of the culture and a few more amusing anecdotes would have made the book better.
When I was in NEC the irish workers always freaked out the visiting japanese managers - jesus they thought we were a lazy bunch and mad with it (but we were!!). Remember one day a worker dropped a toolbox on one of the head honces from japan - jesus the look on his face!!!!!!!! And the day we accidently broke the machine that cost 100,000 - ha ha no wonder they pulled out of Ireland - amazing they stayed so long!!!!!! Great memories!

[Magicme]

I've been reading 'Mystery Man' by Bateman. Laugh out loud funny at times and very very strange.

Havent read Mystery Man but Bateman is my favourite. Finished reading "Love and Rockets (and a great big fish)" recently and it is just brill.

Hard to bate his sense of humour.

[endabob1]

Just back from Holiday & while away I started re-reading Bill Brysons book A Short History of Nearly Everything, by jove it's an interesting, funny & unputdownable little book.
I really like the section that discusses the number of factors that need to be exactly within certain parameters, at the right time, in the right place, just to allow life to exist and be sustained.
Then he goes on to list a whole list of other circumstances that need to aligned to allow advanced life (i.e. us) to exist. Brings it home very effectively just how fragile our situation is. I'm amazed it hasn't been included on school curriculums as an introduction to science.

[stann]

Some great stories in there too, a succession of genuine nutjobs all through the history of science.
Ah it's just a brilliant read. Bill Bryson's style is superb, I love the way he writes. Just found a lovely example in his own description of the fee he recieved for his first book: "a sum of money carefully gauged not to cause embarrassment or feelings of overworth"

What I've just finished reading for the second time (before I gave a lend of it to someone) is his book Shakespeare.
Very interesting read, about a chap which to be fair I wouldn't have been particularly interested in beforehand, and done with the same delightfully light touch. Hugely recommended!

[willymccann]

I'd recommend Man On Fire by A.J Quinnell - the book where they got the idea for the movie of the same name with Denzel Washington.

If you've seen the movie, the story line is similiar, but set in a different time and place, and as always, the book is always the better story.

[Mayo Red]

I'd highly recommend "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer about a Frenchmans experiences in the German Army, mainly on the Russian Front during WWII. There has been some debate about the accuracy of parts of the book but don't let that put you off, it is a fantastic memoir.

Also, I wouldn't be one for reading fiction generally but "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom is a great story.

[Newryrep]

I'd highly recommend "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer about a Frenchmans experiences in the German Army, mainly on the Russian Front during WWII. There has been some debate about the accuracy of parts of the book but don't let that put you off, it is a fantastic memoir.
Also, I wouldn't be one for reading fiction generally but "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom is a great story.

Great read, read it a couple of times, the general consesus of the debate was that he had certainly exprienced the eastern front

Fenain Fire - Christy Campbell - double /triple agents in late 1800s fenian movement, black ops by British intellienge alledged plot to kill Queen Victoria great read

[superfrank]

Currently reading Thug: The Story of India's Murderous Cult by Mike Dash. It's a smashing book. It's a really well-written and fascinating read.

[A N Mouse]

I'd recommend Man On Fire by A.J Quinnell - the book where they got the idea for the movie of the same name with Denzel Washington.

If you've seen the movie, the story line is similiar, but set in a different time and place, and as always, the book is always the better story.

There was a previous movie version (think eighties), much darker and presumably a bit closer to the book.

I enjoied the Denzel Wzshington one, never read the book myself, but know a few people who've the book and prefer the first film.

[SkStu]

last few books ive read come recommended...

Blood River - an account of a journalists attempt to trace the path of Livingstone through the Congo along the Congo River and the dangers and hazards he encounters along the way. Slow in parts but overall a pretty engaging read.

American Subcultures (Louis Theroux) - a written follow up to his tv show from the 90's where he attempts to catch up on all the characters he met while filming the documentary - the male porn star, the racist guys, the prostitute in Nevada, the UFO freaks. Really good fun and his writing style is as witty and humourous as his TV shows.

currently reading Black Hawk Down. Totally addicted, way more shocking, graphic and ultimately a lot better than the (excellent) film.

next up is The Shankill Butchers. Cant wait, have heard great things about it.

[osarusan]

Disgrace, by JM Coetzee. In all seriousness, the best book I've read that was written in the last 20 years.

[Den Perry]

last few books ive read come recommended...

Blood River - an account of a journalists attempt to trace the path of Livingstone through the Congo along the Congo River and the dangers and hazards he encounters along the way. Slow in parts but overall a pretty engaging read.

American Subcultures (Louis Theroux) - a written follow up to his tv show from the 90's where he attempts to catch up on all the characters he met while filming the documentary - the male porn star, the racist guys, the prostitute in Nevada, the UFO freaks. Really good fun and his writing style is as witty and humourous as his TV shows.

currently reading Black Hawk Down. Totally addicted, way more shocking, graphic and ultimately a lot better than the (excellent) film.

next up is The Shankill Butchers. Cant wait, have heard great things about it.

Read Shankill Butchers a number of years ago.Fairly horrifying stuff but well worth reading

[Magicme]

Havent read Mystery Man but Bateman is my favourite. Finished reading "Orpheus Rising - Love and Rockets (and a great big fish)" recently and it is just brill.

Hard to bate his sense of humour.

Sorry just realised had the title wrong!