Good Books

[hourn]

Seen as though i'm doing the HSC, i decided i should take up some reading, which is doing my english all sorts of good

what type of books to people like reading in here???

I'm really into John Grisham books. I've read the firm and the Chamber and i'm about a quarter of the way through the client. Im hoping to finish most of his books by the time the HSC comes around (even though his books are of no direct relevance to the HSC, there is no harm in reading).

 

[Eddie Buckley]

Originally posted by hourn
Seen as though i'm doing the HSC, i decided i should take up some reading, which is doing my english all sorts of good

what type of books to people like reading in here???

I'm really into John Grisham books. I've read the firm and the Chamber and i'm about a quarter of the way through the client. Im hoping to finish most of his books by the time the HSC comes around (even though his books are of no direct relevance to the HSC, there is no harm in reading).

why read when you can do drugs?

 

[The Doctor]

from the recent books I've read I would recommend

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JR Tolkien (read it 2x)

Any Bill Bryson travel book.

 

[hourn]

Re: Re: Good Books

Originally posted by Eddie Buckley




why read when you can do drugs?

cause i want to have some knowledge about things, so that i can learn, become creative, instead of just slagging of other people.

 

[Eddie Buckley]

Originally posted by hourn


cause i want to have some knowledge about things, so that i can learn, become creative, instead of just slagging of other people.

Well smoking pot will sure help you retain some knowledge

 

[hourn]

Re: Re: Good Books

Originally posted by Eddie Buckley



Well smoking pot will sure help you retain some knowledge

yea mate and one cone, maybe two every, now and then will do so much damage to my brain mate. Maybe you should go out there and get some knowledge about life, instead of being so negative. You might actually enjoy it.

 

[Eddie Buckley]

Re: Re: Re: Good Books

Originally posted by hourn


yea mate and one cone, maybe two every, now and then will do so much damage to my brain mate. Maybe you should go out there and get some knowledge about life, instead of being so negative. You might actually enjoy it.

OMG, you're high right now aren't you?

 

[jod23]

Re: Re: Re: Good Books

Originally posted by hourn


yea mate and one cone, maybe two every, now and then will do so much damage to my brain mate. Maybe you should go out there and get some knowledge about life, instead of being so negative. You might actually enjoy it.

Ahhhh Hourn....take it from an elder statemen around the boards here. I was hoping your dad had informed you about these type of people.

What you do with idiots like Eddie Buckley is completely ignore them and dont answer back to there drivel. It eats away at them when they abuse you, and you say nothing, they hate it and they soon get bored.

Just trying to lend a hand...and oh check out some Clive Cussler...excellent action adventure novels. Try Cyclops, Valhalla Rising, Sahara...all great books.

 

[Asgardian]

The best book I have read is "Catch 22", by Joseph Heller, it is not a book for everyone, because it is the blackest of black humour.

For those who like the LOTR books, have a read of Stephen Donaldson's "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" series, 6 books in total, all full of a storyline that transports you dimensions away, but read carefully, there are messages, and double meanings throughout.

Frank Herbert's "Dune" series belong in any 'best of' list of novels

Some Harold Pinter plays in novel form are interesting reading

I love "Shogun" by James Clavell, plus "King Rat"

"Chesapeake Bay" and "Space" by James Michener are excellent, as is "Caravans" and "Centennial"

The "Foundation" triolgy by Isaac Asimov

"Exodus" by Leon Uris

and for plain old childish fun you can't beat EE "Doc" Smith's Lensman series

 

[Portia]

A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
Drew Carey's autobiography, the title of which escapes me.

 

[roobear]

Originally posted by Porthos
Drew Carey's autobiography, the title of which escapes me.

I think it's "Dirty Jokes and Beer" or something like that. Definitely a good read.

Also, If you like Grisham, there is every chance you will enjoy Richard North Patterson. I'd suggest giving his stuff a try

 

[Blues2001]

Originally posted by The Doctor

Any Bill Bryson travel book.

These are all I have been reading lately so I gladly recommend them as well.

 

[Cyclops]

So Jod, what did Clive Cussler have to say about me?

Lot of good stuff mentioned here, but I can't go past JRR Tolkein. Try the Hobbit and then the Lord of the Rings. The guy is a great writer, utterly magic.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez writes really excellent stuff. He won a Nobel prize, but he's not some unreadable artsy waffler. He writes about life in Columbia, just ordinary everyday stuff, but its spellbinding. "Love in the time of Cholera" is a great book to start with. I'm not a "Mills and Boon" reader or a Jane Austen fan, in fact I prefer a good murder story or war heroics but this guy is one of my favourites.

If you like ancient Rome, "I Claudius" (Robert Graves) is a good historical novel full of murder, treachery and power. Stuff like "The Three Musketeers" (Alexandre Dumas) is well written too. I tend to go for historical novels as it 'cause you get a bit of the history side too.

Sci-Fi: Gotta go for Frank Herbet's "Dune", and "Tiger Tiger" by Alfred Bester.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

I'm gonna be real boring and put in votes for Lord of the Rings and Dune as well-true classics of their genre.

Lately I've really enjoyed reading Australian True Crime-the Underbelly series is fantastic. I'm reading Neddy Smith's autobiography at the moment which is compelling and frightening reading. That a police force could be so corrupt is amazing. Also realised how good Blue Murder was, re-reading Neddy's book.

Another great autobiography is Tommy Billington's Pure Dynamite. For older wrestling fans, Tommy was the Dynamite Kid in the WWF in the mid 80s. He really goes into sordid detail regarding the drug abuse nearly all wrestlers engaged in. Fascinating stories of wrestling in Japan, Britain and of course the USA. I even think non-wrestling fans would enjoy the book.

 

[Roylion]

Books and authors I recommend...

Clive Cussler Sahara, Cyclops, Valhalla Rising, as well as others are all great reading

HISTORICAL FICTION
Colleen McCollough
"Masters of Rome" series...including "The First Man in Rome', 'The Grass Crown', 'Fortune's Favorites', 'Caesar's Women' and 'Caesar' are all very well researched and well written books.

Sharon Penman:
The Sunne in Splendour', - about Richard III and the Wars of the Roses
'Here Be Dragons', - set in Wales about the time of King John
'When Christ and His Saints Slept' - story of the English Civil War between 1135 and 1154.

FANTASY
JRR Tolkein LOTR and the Hobbit (of course)
George R. R. Martin: "A Song of Ice and Fire" series including 'A Game of Thrones', 'A Clash of Kings'. The next in the series, 'A Feast for Crows' will be released in April-May this year.

 

[Nic]

Can only think of a couple at the moment, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and Angela's Ashes. Mind's gone blank, darnit.

 

[coxon]

Originally posted by hourn
what type of books to people like reading in here???

I'm really into John Grisham books. I've read the firm and the Chamber and i'm about a quarter of the way through the client. Im hoping to finish most of his books by the time the HSC comes around (even though his books are of no direct relevance to the HSC, there is no harm in reading).

hahaha... i was reading 'the chamber' during my HSC exams many years ago... i was too hooked.. instead of tucking into notes & textbooks, i was reading that damn book..hehehe... but, its good tho..

just finished reading one of the Fletch novels...
now reading, 'Prozac Nation' by elizabeth wurtzel... was hoping to read this book before the movie comes out.. starring my fave honey... christina ricci... ~~~

 

[SydneyBomber]

Originally posted by Roylion
Books and authors I recommend...

Clive Cussler Sahara, Cyclops, Valhalla Rising, as well as others are all great reading

HISTORICAL FICTION
Colleen McCollough
"Masters of Rome" series...including "The First Man in Rome', 'The Grass Crown', 'Fortune's Favorites', 'Caesar's Women' and 'Caesar' are all very well researched and well written books.

Yup - probably my favourites. Awesome awesome books! Good to see someone else shares a taste for this stuff.

I just hope she finishes the series before she carks it!
(ie. PLEASE don't write anymore boring stories about Colonial Australia!)

Cheers to Asgardian RE: Catch 22 - Another classic. I first read that for Year 12 many moons ago, and have dusted it off every 18 months without fail.
Signed: Irving Washington"


Signed "Washington Irving"

 

[Cheeky68]

I would have to say Golden Books the ones we read as kids.I still have half of my collection and now my son reads them.

 

[Uncle Steve]

This thread, or similar ones, seem to come around frequently. Isn't it nearly time for Santos to start another "wot you all bin readin" thread?

Since you're asking for good books, as opposed to current ones:

Luke Rhinehart - The Dice Man... and The Adventures Of Wim, too... see my signature

Richard Adams - Watership Down: best book ever. Works on many levels, appeals to kids and adults alike.

Pride Of The Bay - this is amazingly engrossing, partly 'coz I go for Glenelg but also 'coz I love reading footy history. Since reading this, I have actually been motivated to track down some histories of the other SANFL clubs. I don't for a second believe that Glenelg is the only SANFL team with a great history.

Anthony Burgess - A Clockwork Orange. You won't understand page 1, but by the end of the book you'll be govoreeting nadsat real horrorshow, my droogie...

 

[SydneyBomber]

Originally posted by Uncle Steve

Anthony Burgess - A Clockwork Orange. You won't understand page 1, but by the end of the book you'll be govoreeting nadsat real horrorshow, my droogie...

Good call - a truly thought-provoking read.

Another author to check out is James Elroy 'American Tabloid' (which I think is his best anyway, but they're all good).
American crime fiction circa 50's and 60's. He also wrote 'LA Confidential'.

 

[Grendel]

Originally posted by SydneyBomber


Good call - a truly thought-provoking read.

Another author to check out is James Elroy 'American Tabloid' (which I think is his best anyway, but they're all good).
American crime fiction circa 50's and 60's. He also wrote 'LA Confidential'.

If you like those, try Walter Mosley's 'Easy Rawlins' series. In some ways similar to Elroy but with an African/American anti-hero centre-piece. Devil in a Blue Dress, Black Betty are a couple of them.

Just read an old Sax Rohmer 'the Mask of Fu-Manchu'. Hokey but fun.

Im a Donaldson fan like Asgardian. For a shot at his science fiction stylings the 'GAP' series is a very heavy (except for the first book) five part series of great depth and imagination.

All time fave's though are authors nobody knows, they are all comic writers. Frank Millers 'DareDevils', Denny O'Neils 'Batmans', Matt Wagners 'GRENDEL'.

You know, real lit rate stuff likke us commics pepoles read... okay so we only look at the pictures.

 

[Asgardian]

Now you're talking Grendel, real "Grapes of Wrath" stuff there mate, and ya gotta know I know them there's writters, lol..
along with guys like Roy Thomas, Chris Claremont and the immortal Stan Lee

 

[newbie]

harry potter.

better than tolkiens crap.