I've just bought a book
"Join me" by Danny Wallace, as recommended by someone on Chickenlady's thread a few weeks back. Reading the back of the book it strikes me as the type of book that will probably annoy me, but I'm giving it a go.

I've not long finished reading The Time Travellers Wife, which came recommended by everyone. I thought it was good, but not as good as I was led to believe.

Does anyone else want to share recent book reads?
( SeasonTicketless is too often the statue, and rarely the pigeon., Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:12, 37 replies, latest was 17 years ago)

I'm about two thirds of the way through
A Tale Etched In Blood And Hard Black Pencil by Christopher Brookmyre.

First book I've read by him, and I'm enjoying it.

TGB recommended it to me when we were in a shop the other day :)
( Cawl, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:18, Reply)

If you like that one
try 'Yes Man' by Danny Wallace. Ace.

Currently I'm reading the AZ Handy Road Atlas of Great Britain and Wikipedia for a massive research project. The AZ is actually quite interesting. Seriously!
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:23, Reply)

Slash's Autobiography
it's eye-opening

fiction wise, anything by Iain Banks, but particularly Espedair Street, Complicity, Dead Air or the Crow Road
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:25, Reply)

Essential Spider-Man Volume 1
Which I will be following with Essential Marvel Team-Up Vol 1, Essential Silver Surfer Vol 1, Essential Captain America Vol 1, Essential Marvel Two-In-One Vol 1, Essential Wolverine Vol 1 and Essential Classic X-Men Vol 2.

I've bought quite a few Marvel Essentials recently.

I've also just read Ultimate X-Men Vol 1-5.

I love comics
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:27, Reply)

Agrees with Kaol
Anything by Brookmyre is worth tracking down. Just finished Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks and it was his best since A Big Boy Did It And Ran Away, in my view.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:29, Reply)

hot bovril and gravel
is what I would like to throw at him. I despise the man. He was that wanker John Gorman's flatmate wasn't he? Imagine the awful fucking contrived nonsense the two of them got up to in that flat. I bet they wept solid salt fucking tears when they heard of 'Around Ireland with a Fridge'.


Imagine the cunts. Imagine them! Designer Denim, apple macs and wacky ideas which are oh so crazy they might just work. I would like to write a look-how-zany-and- lighthearted -I -am-yet-at-the-same-time-serious book about how I plan to ruin that cunt's life. The fucking cunt, I HATE him so MUCH. The worst kind of awful, shit cunts. I can imagine their music collection and I hate it, I can imagine their film collection, and I hate it, and I can imagine that they iron their jeans and shit T shirts with retro characters on or adverts for fictitious garages and I HATE THEM TOO. John Gorman did that book about sticking it to the little man, didn't he? He crossed america without drinking coca cola or eating anything a multinational produced (ooh you grown up student, you're mad') and then it was fucking published by those cunts Bertlesmen?

Here are some ideas for you John, if you're watching YOU CUNT

John and Danny see how much kiddie porn they can download and then subsequently have to say 'Yes' to everyone in Cell Block D
John and Danny see if they can spend a week underwater chained to the corpse of a donkey in shark infested water with only one set of faulty breathing apparatus
John and Danny go from Albania to Zimbabwe (on a fucking tandem, why not?_, trying to contract a disease from A-Z in each country they pass through.
John and Danny's wives leave them, their identity is stolen, the public realises what cunts they are and they end up sleeping under a bridge for twenty years, with only the throbbing heat of danny wallace's great fat belly burning from the meths through the -not-so-ironic-now TShirts, to warm them for twenty years, untlil it is revealed it is a joke and they can write their book. Alas, by this time, the publishing industry has collapsed as has the entire western world, so they have to publish their humours tone and have it approved by the Taliban who have come to power.

The CUNTS
John and Danny's
(sirolimus, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:35, Reply)

I'll certainly be looking for more stuff by Brookmyre.
And I want to get hold of some more Neil Gaiman.

EDIT: Charles, wasn't it "Dave" Gorman?
( Cawl, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:35, Reply)

Charles
great rant, only spoilt by the guy being called Dave, not John

edit: Neil Gaiman is a good one Kaol. Stardust is a great book and a thoroughly enjoyable film. Smoke and Mirrors are a bunch of good short stories, and of course, Good Omens written with Terry Pratchett is one of the best books ever.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:36, Reply)

@CC
Do you mean DAVE Gormon?

;)
( SeasonTicketless is too often the statue, and rarely the pigeon., Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:38, Reply)

I have several books on the go:
I'm currently reading "The End of Mr Y" by Scarlett Thomas (who also used to teach chickenlady during one of her numerous degree courses). Well worth a read, it takes some time to get going but it's beautifully imagined and very intelligent. Highly recommended.

I've just finished "The Last King of Scotland", another excellent read and based on real events. I haven't seen the film, but it's hard to imagine it being anywhere near as good as the book.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:38, Reply)

oh
yeah
Wasn't going to give the cunt the satisfaction of googling him. I am literally shaking with anger too much to type.

Google Wacking, you're MAD you are? Meeting everyone in the world named the same as you CRAZY!!!

CUNT.

That said. That said. He has a nice flickr account.
(sirolimus, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:39, Reply)

PJM
I thought the film was pretty damn good, well worth a watch :)
( Cawl, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:40, Reply)

I've just finished on the beach again
Nevil Shute has fallen out of favour recently - there aren't any of his books in my local library. But he wrote some cracking books.

Anyone read requiem for a wren? Majestic.
(sirolimus, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:40, Reply)

Thirded, Brookmyre is awesome!
A few I've recently read:

Born Fi' Dead by Laurie Gunst, a book about Jamaican politics and Yardie gangs. Good read but not as good as I was led to believe.

The Olivetti Diaries by John Peel, amazing, he's often underrated as a writer but was actually bloody good at it. Spooky how you can hear his voice in your head reading it though...

If This Is A Man / The Truce by Primo Levi, heartbreaking and pretty heavy going in places but ultimately very inspiring.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, one of my favourite books. Essential reading and scarily relevant today.

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx - yep, he did predict the death of capitalism a long time ago. Again one that I've re-read a lot.

Theory of War by Joan Brady, a brilliant historical novel - not usually my sorta thing so if I like it it must be good. Won the Whitbread I think.

Young Gifted and Black: The Trojan Records Story - title says it all! Very well written and complete, if you want to know the Trojan Records story.

I'll leave out the massive stack of shit thrillers and detective stories I've also read (they're my late night stoned reading) except to say that if you like private eye books, get some Robert Crais.

The Time Traveller's Wife was really good I thought, again not the sort of thing I usually go in for but extremely well written and manages not to be mawkish.

Edit: Charles, Nevil Shute is brilliant. I must have been about 9 or 10 the first time I read On The Beach and it pretty much made me cry.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:40, Reply)

in case any of you haven't read it I recommend Lord of the Rings
I'm rereading it at the moment. I've read it every couple of years since I was about 9.

Last time I remember not enjoying at so much, but this time around I'm finding it a real pleasure.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:41, Reply)

I rather enjoyed
Are you Dave Gorman? But then again I'm easily amused.

Kaol, I'd recommend anything by Brookmyre, but especially One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night. Blood and carnage on an oil rig; right up your street!
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:42, Reply)

Sounds great,
I'll check it out :D
( Cawl, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:47, Reply)

Brookmyre
Quite Ugly One Morning is also a good read.
I have to confess a liking for Inspector Rebus.

I'm currently reading Lord Jim (still - I started it over 3 weeks ago, but keep reading other books as well which is distracting).

I've got Smoke and Mirrors by Gaiman to read next. Anyhting by him is sure to be wonderful.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:49, Reply)

Kaol - It was the first book of his I read
And so has a special place in my heart :D
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:49, Reply)

Kill Your Friends by John Niven
will probably appeal to you as well Kaol

it's about an A&R man for a major record label

Here's part of the synopsis: It's not dog-eat-dog around here...it's dog-gang-rapes-dog-then-tortures-him-for-five-days-before-burying-him-alive-and-taking-out-every-motherfucker-the-dog-has-ever-known

Empress: Smoke and Mirrors has some really nice tales in it. There's one about a troll, I swear I dreamt it about 15 years ago...
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:51, Reply)

Elephants on Acid.
by Alex Boese. Lots of very brief overviews of the weird and wonderful from the world of science. Not going to win any awards, but very amusing all the same.

@Son of Sam-i-am: that Trojan Records book sounds good... will have to seek it out (and you've just given me an idea for an xmas present for my brother, too).

@D's G: I'm with you on Dave Gorman.
( Moey, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:51, Reply)

Neville Shute
I've always wanted to read "On The Beach".
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:53, Reply)

I fucking love Smoke And Mirrors :)
First one of his that I read too!

I don't know where it came from, but I thought the other day that if they ever made American Gods into a film/series, Mr. Wednesday should be played by Jack Nicholson.
( Cawl, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:54, Reply)

Oh
If you like Christopher Brookmyre, check out Slick by Daniel Price.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 11:55, Reply)

Hannibal - Thomas Harris
I only got round to reading the books recently. They're pretty good, and it's quite brilliant to see how well Anthony Hopkins captured Hannibal so well.
(Himjim died a little more inside on, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 12:27, Reply)

realistic portrayal
If you want the most realistic portrayal of a book character, I recommend you read all the Sherlock Holmes stories.
These

Then watch Jeremy Brett as Holmes in he Granada tv series from 1984 - 1994.

He captures every little nuance that you read about in the book.

But, read the books first or the comparison won't work.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 12:50, Reply)

but I'm currently reading
Never Hit a Jellyfish with a Spade by Guy Browning.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 12:51, Reply)

Maudlin
you couldn't be more correct. That series of Sherlock Holmes is repeated on ITV3 and I picked up a copy of the complete sherlock holmes for very little money a little while ago :-D
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 12:55, Reply)

I love to dip into Wodehouse
whenever I'm feeling blue.
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 13:01, Reply)

Im reading
the red wolf conspiracy by Robert VS Redick and it is fucking gash.

Gaiman is a wonderful author, and has over taken Clive Barker as king of the flights of fantasy
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 13:17, Reply)

@ Charles
Requiem for a Wren is FANTASTIC!

I read it when I was in my teens and I remember crying for ages. Brilliant book, brilliant author.

Now I'll go back and read the rest of the replies.

EDIT
I've read the replies now and I'll add what I'm reading at the moment - just the fiction though because I shouldn't think anyone wants to read The Poetry Handbook...
I'm still ploughing through Salman Rushdie's latest - The Enchantress of Florence which I'm thoroughly enjoying as it's just like the fairy tales I read as a child - particularly the Andrew Lang ones.
I'm also reading The Visible World by Mark Slouka which is beautiful - all about Czechoslovakia during WW2. It really reminds me of the Tarkovsky film 'Mirror' I think it is - the one about his childhood, maybe it's called 'Childhood'...hmm...Imdb calls...
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 13:42, Reply)

I'm reading
Ben Elton - Blind Faith, on the shitter.
David Simon - Homicide, Life on the Street, on the train
Henning Mankell -(all of them one by one) in bed.
Computer Forensic Investigations - in my office.
Cory Doctorow - Little Brother, on my phone. (really good!!)

Oh and my cousin is Dave Gorman. Not "the" Dave Gorman, but an actual, "official" Dave Gorman. The real one makes me laugh. I think Danny Wallace seems a bit of a tosser. But i dont think Mr Calthrops rant is really justified.
( I have run out of coke is a little sweaty, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 13:57, Reply)

Neil Gaiman
American Gods is one of my favourite books of all time.

I you haven't read it, do!!!
(misspiggy In danger of having to get a job, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 14:11, Reply)

@ Kaol -
Christopher Brookmyre is tip-top and brill. I'd seriously recommend reading his first book, 'Quite Ugly One Morning'. Probably my all time fave... Very black humour (very B3ta thinking about it!)

I've also just re-read 'The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time'. Fucking. Brill. Indeed.
(Colonel Santiago Introduced surprised kitty to the world., Thu 4 Dec 2008, 14:52, Reply)

The Curious Incident is well good
A friend of my mum has an autistic son and it's basically him in the book.

Have you read A Spot of Bother, the one after? Not as good or original but still well worth a read. I've met Mark Haddon as well after seeing him talk at the Hay Festival and he is a thoroughly nice chap.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 15:00, Reply)

Yeah,
I wasn't as impressed with a spot of bother but still, not an entirely worthless read...

Thinking about it, my other favourite book that I've not read in a long, long time is 'The Queen & I' (Sue Townshend?) - if only!
(Colonel Santiago Introduced surprised kitty to the world., Thu 4 Dec 2008, 15:04, Reply)

Hmm
One of the only films I've ever seen which was better than the book was In My Father's Den. Probably because it was so incredibly different from the book - if the book was filmed line for line it would have been a really shite movie.
(Holy Gabrielle is Holy, Fri 5 Dec 2008, 0:20, Reply)