Post by: Scarlet Passion on March 21, 2007, 01:11:44 am
I read books a lot (or should that be a lot of books?) and at the moment I'm reading Hawksong by Amelia Atwater Rhodes.
It's really good.
I'm always looking for good books to read so have any of you any ideas of ones I could try?
Thanks.
Post by: wjp666 on March 21, 2007, 03:31:14 am
Post by: oldspice on March 21, 2007, 06:45:33 am
Post by: goldencup on March 21, 2007, 08:01:41 am
Post by: Cherry_Ripe on March 21, 2007, 08:44:54 am
I am currently reading the autobiography of Kim Woodburn. Like Oldspice, I prefer non-fiction.
Post by: lorri on March 21, 2007, 01:56:49 pm
Post by: smurfboy on March 21, 2007, 07:10:19 pm
Post by: bethypoos on March 21, 2007, 09:11:44 pm
As for books, i'm reading terry wogan's autobiography!!! Don't laugh!
Post by: loulou on March 21, 2007, 09:49:37 pm
I'm currently reading Hello magazine.Post by: oldspice on March 22, 2007, 07:01:22 am
Post by: goldencup on March 22, 2007, 07:39:40 am
Quote from: oldspice
Has anyone read The Time Traveller's Wife?
Yes I did it with my book group last year - I think it's one of the few books that we ALL enjoyed.
Post by: Cherry_Ripe on March 22, 2007, 09:48:25 am
Quote from: bethypoos
As for books, i'm reading terry wogan's autobiography!!!
I'd be interested in reading that one, I imagine his life has been quite eventful.
Post by: goldencup on March 22, 2007, 04:44:00 pm
Quote from: Cherry_Ripe
Quote from: bethypoosAs for books, i'm reading terry wogan's autobiography!!!
I'd be interested in reading that one, I imagine his life has been quite eventful.
Is that the one called 'Mustn't Grumble'? If so, I enjoyed it.
Post by: StrollingMinstrel on March 22, 2007, 08:28:38 pm
Quote from: oldspice
Has anyone read The Time Traveller's Wife?
I read that last year! It too some getting into though. I put it down a few times before I could really get into it. I had to kind of just let my mind go with it and try not to think about it too much. Once I managaed to get into it I found it really enjoyable.
Another difficult book I read recently was We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. That took me ages to read as I wasn't keen on the style of the writer. I found it hard to be sympathetic to the main character as she was so self absorbed.
Not long finished Conversations with the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer. It was a funny and touching read with a bit of an empowering ending.
Now reading On Beauty by Zadie Smith. Early days yet with it but seems quite good so far.
Also reading Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. I'm trying to break free from the things that make me hold myself back... so far quite enlightening.
Post by: bethypoos on March 22, 2007, 08:38:55 pm
I do love Sir Terry. I draw the line at reading autobiographies from people who are about 21 (aka Coleen!!!) Surely there's not much to write yet. Grrr....I'm not lining her pocket so she can go and spend it on stupidly priced clothes and bags. 
I read 'feel the fear and do it anyway.' I'm always looking for self help stuff. I couldn't get into it though. Very American and twee. Maybe i'm cynical but it was all too sugary and too good to be true.
My dad told me about a great website. www.readitswapit.co.uk You can register your books then trawl through the library and the site sends request to do permanent swaps, so if you're not bothered about keeping books you can keep swapping and it just costs postage. If you request someone's book they are sent a link to your list and if you have one they want to read they accept the swap. It's great.
What do i really want to read...shopaholic and baby! I'll wait until it's out in paperback i think 
Post by: goldencup on March 22, 2007, 10:45:04 pm
Post by: loulou on March 22, 2007, 11:13:58 pm
Post by: Cherry_Ripe on March 23, 2007, 11:08:49 am
Quote from: bethypoos
I draw the line at reading autobiographies from people who are about 21 (aka Coleen!!!) Surely there's not much to write yet.
Normally I agree although Ellen MacArthur's book was good and she must have been in her 20s when it came out.
Post by: smurfboy on March 23, 2007, 04:44:32 pm
Through my contacts in the publishing world, I have managed to secure a sneak peel of Colleen McLoughlin autobiography:
Chapter 1: Started going out with potato-faced footballer.
Chapter 2: Potato-faced footballer slept with old whore. Forgave him because he's stinking rich.
Chapter 3: Went shopping.
Chapter 4: Er... that's it.
Post by: oldspice on March 23, 2007, 04:51:45 pm
What about Jordan? She's managed to write TWO autobiographies! They read something like this:Born plain and boring
Had my tits enlarged, had various bits of my body sucked out or pumped up, dyed my hair and took my clothes off
Sh*gged a footballer, got pregnant, lost my footballer
Wrote my autobiography
Took some more clothes off
Sh*agged a has-been meat-head
Married meat-head
Took my clothes off again
Wrote another autobiography
Post by: Scarlet Passion on March 23, 2007, 05:32:59 pm
Quote from: smurfboy
But she's an exception to the rule - she's actually done something. By the same token you could be 80 and have had a very dull life.
Through my contacts in the publishing world, I have managed to secure a sneak peel of Colleen McLoughlin autobiography:
Chapter 1: Started going out with potato-faced footballer.
Chapter 2: Potato-faced footballer slept with old whore. Forgave him because he's stinking rich.
Chapter 3: Went shopping.
Chapter 4: Er... that's it.
That sounds really interesting. I wondered why there were all those queues all the way down the street from the tills at the book stores this afternoon. They must have been placing advanced orders for her book.
That reminds me have you all got your advanced copies of the last Harry Potter on order at Amazon??? I hope so!
P.S. I think Jordan is silly.
Post by: oldspice on March 23, 2007, 06:23:36 pm
Post by: Scarlet Passion on March 23, 2007, 07:04:00 pm
I've never read any of his. We were supposed to do "Keep The Aspidistra Flying" at school but I was sick that week.
Post by: smurfboy on March 24, 2007, 01:00:34 am
Quote from: Scarlet Passion
[That reminds me have you all got your advanced copies of the last Harry Potter on order at Amazon??? I hope so!
No chance.
Post by: Scarlet Passion on March 24, 2007, 02:20:24 pm
Quote from: smurfboy
No chance.
And I thought everyone in the whole world was a Harry Potter fan. 
Post by: smurfboy on March 24, 2007, 08:12:31 pm
I just don't get why people are so excited about it. I've never read Lord of the Rings either.
Post by: Scarlet Passion on March 25, 2007, 12:50:43 am
Post by: wjp666 on March 25, 2007, 12:58:28 am
Post by: Scarlet Passion on March 25, 2007, 03:14:45 am
Will check out the library after the weekend. I should think they'll have a copy.
Just picked up a copy of Dracula by Bram Stoker on Wednesday. It's interesting, I don't know what else to say about it.
One of my friends said "Oh you must read it , it's a classic."
But I really couldn't say it's fun. I think I'm only reading it so I don't offend her.
Post by: wjp666 on March 25, 2007, 06:22:51 am
The Hobbit is a great book, and reading LOTR after it is easier.
other than that - i totally recommened anything by Terrt Pratchett.
Post by: oldspice on March 25, 2007, 10:59:27 am
Post by: smurfboy on March 25, 2007, 02:14:05 pm
Post by: loulou on March 25, 2007, 02:44:33 pm
Post by: Freddie on March 25, 2007, 03:28:39 pm
Quote from: wjp666
if you haven't done so already, read The Hobbit. not 'really' a kids book - it's like LOTR 'lite'. THE best fantasy book ever.
Quote from: wjp666
The Hobbit is a great book, and reading LOTR after it is easier.
wjp666 is so right..reading The Hobbit is a must before you even consider reading LOTR as it explains how Bilbo came to possess the ring etc..
i have started reading Eragon..i want to read it before i see the movie..but i've been going to school all this month and having to read books for that makes it hard to read anything else really..
i have always wanted to read Michael Caines autobiography..
Post by: Cherry_Ripe on March 26, 2007, 10:17:45 am
Post by: on June 16, 2007, 08:04:39 pm
Very funny book.
Post by: goldencup on June 17, 2007, 02:48:40 pm
Sounds good - I'll order it.
Post by: oldspice on June 17, 2007, 02:59:51 pm
Post by: on June 17, 2007, 05:05:20 pm
Quote from: goldencup
Sounds good - I'll order it.
I was surprised to find it in my local library.
Post by: goldencup on June 17, 2007, 07:10:53 pm
Post by: Scarlet Passion on June 17, 2007, 10:01:40 pm
Post by: goldencup on June 21, 2007, 06:06:01 pm
Quote from: paulham
The book of "Nice cup of tea and a sit down"
Very funny book.
Got it today and it kept me chuckling all through lunchtime. Excellent book - thanks for the recommendation Paulham!
Post by: loulou on June 23, 2007, 01:04:37 am
Post by: goldencup on June 23, 2007, 01:06:26 am
Post by: loulou on June 23, 2007, 01:16:55 am
Post by: smurfboy on January 05, 2011, 02:21:00 pm
I've just read 'The House at Riverton' by Kate Morton and loved it. I got it as a freebie at work and had never heard of it. I later found out it was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, and am ashamed to say I probably wouldn't have bothered with it had I known. Lesson not to be a book snob learned! It seems to be a love it or hate it book - there were hundreds of 5 star reviews when I looked, but also a surprising amount of 1 star - but if you liked Downton Abbey I'd definitely recommend it.
I also enjoyed 'The Lighted Rooms' by Richard Mason recently. Both books are similar in that they're told largely from the point of view of an elderly woman, but I found it particularly interesting in 'The Lighted Rooms' that a 30-something man could capture the narrative voice of an 80-plus woman so well. It has an element of the supernatural in it too if you like that sort of thing.
Post by: goldencup on January 05, 2011, 11:02:21 pm
Good ones I've read recently are 'Started Early Took My Dog' by Kate Atkinson (crime),Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse.
Post by: wjp666 on January 06, 2011, 12:20:14 pm
Post by: drterror666 on January 06, 2011, 06:42:58 pm
Post by: goldencup on January 06, 2011, 07:18:53 pm
Post by: wjp666 on January 07, 2011, 06:41:52 am
just read 'where the wild things are' as well. now what the hell was that all about?!
Post by: goldencup on January 07, 2011, 08:25:02 am
Just read 'Remarkable Creatures' by Tracy Chevalier all about the first fossil hunters. Fascinating - I never realised Mary Anning (who found the first complete dinosaur skeletons) was only a child. Also how these finds rocked religious views of the day.
Post by: wjp666 on January 07, 2011, 10:34:57 am
and as for dinosaur bones and religion... don't mention all that pesky evolution logic either.
Post by: drterror666 on January 07, 2011, 07:33:42 pm
Post by: oldspice on January 08, 2011, 08:23:56 am
Post by: drterror666 on January 09, 2011, 03:13:34 pm
Post by: wjp666 on January 23, 2011, 08:06:37 pm
Post by: oldspice on January 24, 2011, 06:30:45 am
Post by: goldencup on January 24, 2011, 11:14:23 am
Post by: wjp666 on January 24, 2011, 03:48:01 pm
I didn't like the film at all. It was horrific - but I understand the novel is quite different?
the plot is pretty much identical (give or take), but the book has the weird language cranked up big time. it's something of a chore to read, but extremely rewarding once you get the hang of the lingo.
Post by: drterror666 on January 24, 2011, 06:30:26 pm
Post by: oldspice on January 24, 2011, 06:31:31 pm
Just read 'A Tiny Bit Marvellous' by Dawn French - excellent! Oldspice, you should read it!
Thanks for the tip - I'll look out for it.
Post by: wjp666 on January 25, 2011, 04:13:01 pm
Real horrorshow! I thought the book had a different ending to the film?
kind of, yes. the american version of the book omitted the last chapter (for reasons i wont bore you with here), and it's this version of the book the movie is based on. so the original british version of the book does indeed have a very contradictory last chapter which sort of ruins the tone of the story. kind of.
Post by: MugGy bONehEad on January 28, 2011, 07:22:18 pm
I'm more of a car & music magazine person but I do enjoy a good autobiography. Just done John Peels and Richard Hammonds; Stephen Fry's is lined up next
Post by: drterror666 on January 30, 2011, 03:04:31 pm
Any takers on that?
Post by: wjp666 on January 30, 2011, 04:21:05 pm
Post by: oldspice on January 31, 2011, 06:50:58 am