*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[DotCommunist]

Ian m Banks tenth Culture novel 'Hydrogen Sonata'

 

[Orang Utan]

i'm gonna have a bash at that again from the beginning - think i only read the first three

 

[BoatieBird]

The Busconductor Hines by James Kelman

 

[Zac Stardust]

Franz Kafka's The Castle (again)

 

[izz]

The Matchmaker by Stella Gibbons, the only thing of hers I've read other than Cold Comfort Farm. Quite interesting.

 

[mentalchik]

Veteran - Gavin G Smith

 

[Frances Lengel]

Nope, not read it, i've added it to my list thx

Yeah the Corner's alright. The chapter dealing with welfare dependancy's quite enlightened especially considering the book was written by Americans. A lot of the time even otherwise quite sensible Americans seem to have a bit of a blind spot regarding the necessity of adequate social security provision. Definitely worth a look anyway.

 

[rubbershoes]

Matterhorn by Karl Malantes. Easily the best book about the Vietnam war I've ever read. Actually, it's the only Vietnam book i've read but I don't feel the need to read any more

It's moving and sounds very authentic. we all know war is hell, but this tells us exactly why

8/10

 

[colbhoy]

Matterhorn by Karl Malantes. Easily the best book about the Vietnam war I've ever read. Actually, it's the only Vietnam book i've read but I don't feel the need to read any more

It's moving and sounds very authentic. we all know war is hell, but this tells us exactly why

8/10

Read this fairly recently and agree it was very good. If you haven't read it then I think you would also enjoy With the Old Breed by E B Sledge, one of the two books on which the TV series The Pacific was based.

 

[DotCommunist]

Bloody Red Baron. Second in Kim Newmans re-issued alt. history vampire tales

 

[rubbershoes]

Read this fairly recently and agree it was very good. If you haven't read it then I think you would also enjoy With the Old Breed by E B Sledge, one of the two books on which the TV series The Pacific was based.

thanks

got that one in the pile

 

[Perroquet]

I have just started Martin Amis' Lionel Asbo, though I don't think I'll make til the end. It seems to be an examination of the 'underclasses' by an upper middle class snob who has done his research from his mansion by watching Jeremy Kyle and observing tracksuited people in supermarkets or from street cafes. There's even a pic of him on the dust cover sat at a street cafe with a pen, watching the scum parade by him. The book should be called These People.

It has a sneering vibe to it, no doubt. Poorly researched (council flat bedrooms the size of squash courts?!), and did he really have to spend the entire book phonetically explaining how hilarious Lionel's craaaazy london accent is?
Having said that, I persevered and I'm not entirely sorry. I'd probably still hesitate to recommend it though.

Just gave up on the new Will Self book (for a while anyway) and am currently calming my melted head with some Jeeves and Wooster.

 

[jeff_leigh]

Pandaemonium - Christopher Brookmyre

 

[Captain Hurrah]

North Korean Cinema: A History - Johannes Schonherr

 

[marty21]

Matterhorn by Karl Malantes. Easily the best book about the Vietnam war I've ever read. Actually, it's the only Vietnam book i've read but I don't feel the need to read any more

It's moving and sounds very authentic. we all know war is hell, but this tells us exactly why

8/10

it is excellent, and I've read loads of stuff about 'nam - there are other great novels and books of that era -

such as

The 13th Valley - John Del Vecchio - he was also a vet but wrote his a bit quicker than Malantes did

and

A Bright Shining Lie - Neil Sheehan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bright_Shining_Lie

 

[Dandred]

Reading crime and punishment at the moment, really enjoying although the names are quite confusing.
Might move on to war and peace next.

I've just finished reading nearly all of Terry Prattchet's disk world books and they have been really enjoyable. He isn't given enough credit.

 

[Orang Utan]

Eh? He's given loads (too much) credit. He's loved by millions for some strange reason

 

[TruXta]

Eh? He's given loads (too much) credit. He's loved by millions for some strange reason

Dandred might've meant credit given by the literary establishment. Overall I get the sense they think he's a lightweight. YMMV

 

[Orang Utan]

I see.
They are right though

 

[Dandred]

Eh? He's given loads (too much) credit. He's loved by millions for some strange reason

I'd actually never read a book of his until about a year ago. Just thought he was a crack pot fantasy writer.
I'm surprised at how intelligent his books are at taking old stories and incorporating them into his own world. He is close to genius in this respect in my view.

 

[Orang Utan]

It's not the worlds he creates that annoy me about him, it's his nerd humour. I just don't find it funny to the point of annoyance. It's like Red Dwarf. I just will never get it.

 

[Dandred]

To be honest I've never really laughed at his humour, I just admire the world he has created.

Can you give an example to one of his jokes and a red dwarf joke or humour? I'm not trying to pick at you, I just can't see the connection.

 

[imposs1904]

It has a sneering vibe to it, no doubt. Poorly researched (council flat bedrooms the size of squash courts?!), and did he really have to spend the entire book phonetically explaining how hilarious Lionel's craaaazy london accent is?
Having said that, I persevered and I'm not entirely sorry. I'd probably still hesitate to recommend it though.

Just gave up on the new Will Self book (for a while anyway) and am currently calming my melted head with some Jeeves and Wooster.

Martin Amis being a sneering wanker? Never!

 

[Orang Utan]

To be honest I've never really laughed at his humour, I just admire the world he has created.

Can you give an example to one of his jokes and a red dwarf joke or humour? I'm not trying to pick at you, I just can't see the connection.

It's what I see as adolescent nerd humour with stupid unfunny oaths and daft names. Not my sort of thing at all.

 

[Orang Utan]

dp
Dandred - if you're impressed with Pratchett's world building, you may enjoy George RR Martin. There really is a lot better out there!

 

[Greebo]

A scanner darkly

 

[Dandred]

dp
Dandred - if you're impressed with Pratchett's world building, you may enjoy George RR Martin. There really is a lot better out there!

Read all of them already. That last one was a bit boring.

 

[Orang Utan]

Agreed there!

 

[TruXta]

Read all of them already. That last one was a bit boring.

You could have a go at the Malazan books. I've picked up the bug from Dotty, if you're into massive worlds and full on gods, demons and magic, and moreso lots of battles and grime, then these could well be your ticket. OU hated them, so there's that.

 

[Orang Utan]

I didn't hate them. I just didn't enjoy reading it. And it was too much of a time investment to commit to