your latest book!

[geffski]

bored so thought id kick off a little thread about books!
a place to come, sit back in a chair , sip a glass of wine and act all posh!
(to much yobby talk on the site so thought id add a little culture)
discuss your latest book, books you read that you might like to share with us? books that changed your life? or just a good action packed read!
or maybe a book that isnt worth the paper its written on?

ill kick off with the book i just read by Frederick Forsyth
THE AFGHAN!
good well researched cloak and dagger thriller with loads of action
premise being about an ex soldier they get to infiltrate Al qaeda,
lots of info about islam and the new fundamentalists!
lots of history regarding afganistan and the mujahadin
also how bin laden got his hooks into a very simple and proud warrior race
of peaple! it reads non biast and even tho it is action most of the way
it left me with a better understanding of what drives young men to
suicide in the name of jihad!

nothing heavy just a good bed time read! (sips glass of claret)

[geejayy]

most recently;- 'the visitor' by lee childs

crime/action/thriller genre, following the exploits of his antihero 'Jack Reacher' , an ex u,s m,p investigator who now has little to do other than explore his country of origin searching out the places he missed while growing up abroard as a soldiers son.
though he now craves a simple life on the road, trouble usually finds him.
but his previous military experience gives him the resources to stay one step ahead of the bad guys/authoritys in order to meet out justice in his own fashon.

its a bit like 'deathwish' for the year 2000, just as violent and with well thought out plots.

i was a good 3/4 through b4 i worked out how the murders were being committed, but couldn't pickout the perp' till the end, though in retrospect the clues were all there from the begining.

i ave always read quite a bit but my tastes have changed over the years from

sci-fi ,- frank herbert,robert heinlin, 'doc' smith, and too many authors to mention.

horror- james herbert, steven king.

fantasy- david eddings, dungeon n dragons team, jk rowling and a few others.

as a kid i used to read to learn but now its just a form of escapeism.

hmmm...........a book that changed my life..........................................

tough call......................robert heinlin's 'time enough for love' ...........
there are some interesting ideas in there which made me think about my own then concepts of right and wrong.

[gullyworm]

Good thread this Gefaz

I seem to have just gone through a history phase were i read "The rise and fall of the third reich" (it took me months)
"The first world war " Which took me ages as it was so heavy and depressing,but well worth the read.
Ive just finished "Barbarossa" by Max Hastings which is about Hitlers ill fated invasion of Russia in 1941 and goes all the way to Berlin.
Brilliant book ,the war in the east was on a totally different scale to the war in the west ,not only carnage but in its sheer size and the numbers used.
It makes you realize that the Americans didnt win the war ,the Russians did and if the very Niave Amercans had there way the eastern block would have been a whole lot bigger.Only Churchill saw the threat.

On a lighter note i m now reading Bill Brysons "Tales from a big country"
After moving to Britain and living here for 20 years he moved back to the states.Its very light hearted and funny and i hope we never end up like the USA.(Although we will)

Spike Milligans war Dairys must get a mention ,even now when i read them for the one hundreth time i split my sides,pure genious,RIP

[the boss]

whats a book again?

still reading jaws 2 at the moment. i love the films(well the first 2 anyway) and it interesting to read all the bits they couldent fit in the film!!

not doing that much for culture am i?

[geffski]

thats a very good point about russia winning the war! never actualy thought of it
that way,
good posts lads

[geffski]

Originally Posted by the boss

whats a book again?

still reading jaws 2 at the moment. i love the films(well the first 2 anyway) and it interesting to read all the bits they couldent fit in the film!!

not doing that much for culture am i?

ssssshhhhhh grown ups talking! lol

[the boss]

sorry...............i'll get me coat!

[diamond dragon]

Geejayy
A lot of people probably have'nt read the lensman series by doc smith but they are awful hard to get hold of,especially chronologically,at the moment. if you know any where that does it give us a bell please(pm)
done it again,did'nt look at the login.Tat asking.

[geffski]

Gully! if your into history have a look at Conn Iggulden,s roman series
called EMPERER, They basicly chart the lives of Julius ceaser and Brutus
from little boys to the worlds most powerful leader to finaly his assasination at the hands of his best friend.
very well researched and lots of little tit bits on roman life and a hell of a story with it!
always thought of julius ceaser as a bit of a laurel wearing pussy but actualy he appears to be a bit of a scrapper!

[Rob M]

Great thread Geffski! I love reading, but don't always get the time. A couple of my favourite authors are Iain Banks and Irvine Welsh for entirely different reasons. The Wasp Factory by Banks is a mini classic, with the twist left right until the very end! The Acid House by Welsh is breath-taking.

I like factual books too. One of my all time faves is 'The Informer' by Sean O'Callaghan, which describes his time in the IRA and why he chose to work with the RUC as a 'Supergrass'. I love the 'Coast' series of books and Michael Moore's 'Stupid White Men' and 'Dude...Where's My Country'.

On top of that, there are books that really push your own moral standpoint. 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold is compelling and is the account of a 14 year old child speaking from heaven...after she was murdered. It turns a terrible event into something quite different. Well recommended.

Overall favourite though? It would be a contest between 'A Clockwork Orange' By Anthony Burgess or 'The Dice Man' by Luke Rhinehart. Both superb.