I think I have fairly eclectic tastes when it comes to reading
Historical Fiction - You can't go wrong with a bit of Bernard Cornwell in my view, but the author I've really enjoyed of late is Conn Iggulden ,particularly his Conqueror series, which charts the rise of Ghengis Khan from being kicked out of his tribe and nearly dying to becoming one of the most important military leaders the world has ever seen. These books really need to be made into a film in my view. Wake up Hollywood!

Non Fiction - I'd recommend Jon Ronson's 'Them' and the 'Men who stare at Goats' and Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. I've just finished reading "The Monster of Florence" By Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi - anyone who has a passing interest in the whole Amanda Knox debacle should read this book. It will probably give you a somewhat different perspective on things.

Any Wire fans out there? Currently reading Homocide: Life on the Killing Streets by David Simon, apparently the basis for The Wire, still working my way through it., it's a big book and it takes me ages to read anything, but I am enjoying it so far.

Crime/Thrillers - I've read most of what Tess Gerritsen has written, unlike a lot of thriller writers, rather than sticking to one tried and tested formula, she tries to do something different with every book. Worth checking out if you like that sort of thing.

Fantasy and SciFi - Don't read a great deal of sci-fi or fantasy any more, although one book I did enjoy and would strongly recommend, is "The Left Hand of God" by Paul Hoffman. Imagine being at a school a bit like Hogwarts, except your teachers are a bunch of psychopathic monks who will kill you if you step out of line. Excellent stuff and very readable.

Other books that have left a lasting impression - Captain Corelli, Gormenghast, Dracula and The Life of Pi.

Books I've not enjoyed -
Anything by Joseph Conrad - Jesus, how can one man write so much and be so tedious.
Shadowmancer, a book that was such thinly disguised Christian propaganda it left me spitting nails by the end - or maybe it is cos I is an Atheist!
(Nitrous Nitrous, Tue 10 Jan 2012, 0:20, 4 replies)

Valerio Massimo Manfredi
If you like your historical fiction the Alexander trilogy by Valerio Massimo Manfredi is hard to beat.

I was and still am a hard crime/thriller addict and it got me into the historical genre and authors like Colin Iggulden.
( sutit only the crumbliest, flakiest posts, Tue 10 Jan 2012, 0:59, closed)

I will check him out (not in a gay way)
cheers
(Nitrous Nitrous, Wed 11 Jan 2012, 20:08, closed)

Love the historical fiction. Conn iggulden is brilliant
(Mong goose, Tue 10 Jan 2012, 2:32, closed)

Bernard Cornwell
is pretty good, but not seen any new books of his out
(retrac fumble in the jungle, Tue 10 Jan 2012, 16:33, closed)