Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Huff said:
All of Iain M Banks culture Universe sci-fi is great - but that one is special.
My other especial fave, the one I suggest to others as an intro - is 'The Player of Games'. It's much shorter than any of the others, stands apart ; makes clear how Special Circumstances operates n a punchy, amusing, relatable way - so to me: also one of the very best, as a result.
just finished the chair is definitely memorable but not for good reasons, look to windward just arrived so will try that nextMy other especial fave, the one I suggest to others as an intro - is 'The Player of Games'. It's much shorter than any of the others, stands apart ; makes clear how Special Circumstances operates n a punchy, amusing, relatable way - so to me: also one of the very best, as a result.
Edited by Huff on Tuesday 14th May 20:03
p1doc said:
Huff said:
All of Iain M Banks culture Universe sci-fi is great - but that one is special.
My other especial fave, the one I suggest to others as an intro - is 'The Player of Games'. It's much shorter than any of the others, stands apart ; makes clear how Special Circumstances operates n a punchy, amusing, relatable way - so to me: also one of the very best, as a result.
just finished the chair is definitely memorable but not for good reasons, look to windward just arrived so will try that nextMy other especial fave, the one I suggest to others as an intro - is 'The Player of Games'. It's much shorter than any of the others, stands apart ; makes clear how Special Circumstances operates n a punchy, amusing, relatable way - so to me: also one of the very best, as a result.
Edited by Huff on Tuesday 14th May 20:03
p1doc said:
just finished the chair is definitely memorable but not for good reasons, look to windward just arrived so will try that next
That's probably my favourite. Not as dark as some of his others (AADB and UOW in particular).CivicDuties said:
I've just started to try this series of books - am 25% through Consider Phlebas. Hmmm. Not wholly convinced so far but will keep on plugging. Does the series get more involving? Is there a best reading order other than "the order in which they were published"?
A lot of his books are slow-burn rather than fast-paced action-stuff...and they do come together at the end.I'm half-way through Snow Crash again, because it got mentioned on the sci-fi thread.
Despite not taking itself at all seriously, it manages to pack some weight into the storyline...was definitely worth picking up a second (third?) time...
I don't normally like autobiographies but I was given this as a Christmas present so thought I'd better read it.
It's actually not too bad, and the title is accurate, it's the ramblings of a funny and likeable old man. Just like spending an evening with your interesting uncle . I'm half way through (started at lunchtime) and not bored, even had the odd involuntary snort of laughter.
It's actually not too bad, and the title is accurate, it's the ramblings of a funny and likeable old man. Just like spending an evening with your interesting uncle . I'm half way through (started at lunchtime) and not bored, even had the odd involuntary snort of laughter.
Reading the Tom Ripley books and think this might be the first ones where I've preferred both the film and TV series to the book, both of which added loads in terms of little details or tweaks to the story that are missing from the books, normally it's the other way around. Still, an enjoyable read anyway.
I’ve just finished this. Overall I did enjoy it, particularly towards the end as it built to the conclusion and it felt there was some good momentum. Some of it came across as a bit clunky, particularly the dialogue in the sections focused on the London street gang.
I liked it enough to add his previous move, Mayflies, to the reading list.
CardinalBlue said:
Very late to the party, but I just finished my first Mitch Rapp book last night - American Assassin, which I understand is one of the later books to be written, but first chronologically.
For those who have read it and seen the film, is it worth a watch?
I remember seeing the film and I think I enjoyed it, but I don't remember whether that's one of the Rapp books that I've read. For those who have read it and seen the film, is it worth a watch?
Read the Trading Game by Gary Stevenson, the fella espousing taxing the rich on Youtube.
How dare he.
Bit of an odd read really. Lad is recruited into trading. Does well for a couple of years. Declines with some sort of mental health problem.
Not a great deal actually happens and he doesn't seem to offer any explanation for his malaise.
I guess people expect some Wolf of Wall Street debauchery but there isn't much of that apart from some nice lunches.
How dare he.
Bit of an odd read really. Lad is recruited into trading. Does well for a couple of years. Declines with some sort of mental health problem.
Not a great deal actually happens and he doesn't seem to offer any explanation for his malaise.
I guess people expect some Wolf of Wall Street debauchery but there isn't much of that apart from some nice lunches.
I've just read "The Solace Farm Killings" by Simon McCleave. A community living on a farm in North Wales comes under scrutiny when a teenager is killed while apparently running away from it, and then it seems like other teenagers have gone there and disappeared. A decent enough story, I've read some others of his with the same characters.
bloomen said:
Read the Trading Game by Gary Stevenson, the fella espousing taxing the rich on Youtube.
How dare he.
Bit of an odd read really. Lad is recruited into trading. Does well for a couple of years. Declines with some sort of mental health problem.
Not a great deal actually happens and he doesn't seem to offer any explanation for his malaise.
I guess people expect some Wolf of Wall Street debauchery but there isn't much of that apart from some nice lunches.
This is one of my holiday reads, I'm enjoying it but waiting for the "something" to happen ... How dare he.
Bit of an odd read really. Lad is recruited into trading. Does well for a couple of years. Declines with some sort of mental health problem.
Not a great deal actually happens and he doesn't seem to offer any explanation for his malaise.
I guess people expect some Wolf of Wall Street debauchery but there isn't much of that apart from some nice lunches.
p1doc said:
MC Bodge said:
Having read Pompeii last week, I am 2/3 of the way through Act of Oblivion. It is really very good so far.
MC Bodge said:
p1doc said:
MC Bodge said:
Having read Pompeii last week, I am 2/3 of the way through Act of Oblivion. It is really very good so far.
Mr Harris does write a good novel
droopsnoot said:
I've just read "The Solace Farm Killings" by Simon McCleave. A community living on a farm in North Wales comes under scrutiny when a teenager is killed while apparently running away from it, and then it seems like other teenagers have gone there and disappeared. A decent enough story, I've read some others of his with the same characters.
Sounds a bit like a Tim Weaver/David Raker book I read, will seek it out.n3il123 said:
bloomen said:
Read the Trading Game by Gary Stevenson, the fella espousing taxing the rich on Youtube.
How dare he.
Bit of an odd read really. Lad is recruited into trading. Does well for a couple of years. Declines with some sort of mental health problem.
Not a great deal actually happens and he doesn't seem to offer any explanation for his malaise.
I guess people expect some Wolf of Wall Street debauchery but there isn't much of that apart from some nice lunches.
This is one of my holiday reads, I'm enjoying it but waiting for the "something" to happen ... How dare he.
Bit of an odd read really. Lad is recruited into trading. Does well for a couple of years. Declines with some sort of mental health problem.
Not a great deal actually happens and he doesn't seem to offer any explanation for his malaise.
I guess people expect some Wolf of Wall Street debauchery but there isn't much of that apart from some nice lunches.
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