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Post by trentvale68 on Nov 13, 2015 3:33:53 GMT
Since my old mum passed away this year, Ive done a lot of reading on paranormal kind of stuff - not to everyone's taste but sometimes life makes you ask big questions
Probably the very best book on it Ive read was Is There An Afterlife by David Fontana - its looked at from a scientific view, not religious. I found it very interesting.
Read a cracking book on british musical subcultures and gangs etc. That was Hoolies. Great book
Fiction wise, Ive read quite a few of Paul Finch's - Stalkers, Sacrifice, The Killing Club and Dead Man Walking. Theyre what I would describe as urban thrillers
Ill also give a shout to Peter May; his trilogy The Black House, The Lewis Man and the Chess Men are 3 cracking crime novels, drenched in atmosphere.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Nov 13, 2015 6:13:36 GMT
I believe that sub transported one of the A bombs and they were on the way back when they were hit. There was a film made about it, maybe mid-nineties. I haven't seen it and it isn't shown much, which suggests it perhaps isn't very good. Have not seen the film. The book is very good, and by all accounts very accurate. I'll put it on my list. It's a shocker of a tale for sure.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Nov 13, 2015 15:45:05 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions folks! Some good ideas there.
Seems my slight falling out of the reading habit can't be explained by the lack of choice at least.
Hmmm... Must be the internet porn then...
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Post by localloser on Nov 13, 2015 22:20:08 GMT
I've started reading that one, and am enjoying it. They make some interesting arguments in there, I'd recommend it on what I've read so far. Just finished reading Murakami's 'Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage'. It was OK, but not my favourite of the authors books. Another one I'm into is Operation Mincemeat, which is about the plan by the British in WWII to plant a body with fake documents to fool the German's. Its pretty easy to read, which is makes a nice change from some of the cumbersome books out there on WWII. Is it by the pair who did Freakonomics? Levitt & Dubner. That started well for me but It all got a bit smart alecky and irritating by the end and I gave up. No mate. "Soccernomics" is by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. It's absolutely fascinating. I am currently reading "The Son" by Philipp Meyer. It's about a young white lad in Texas in the 1850's who is captured by Comanches and lives with them for some years. When the tribe die, he goes back to his white culture and starts a dynasty of farmers and oil drillers. It's a massive book and a great read. I would also recommend anything by Christopher Brookmyre (but not the stuff he wrote as Chris Brookmyre). Black Scottish comedy - very dark but very funny. Also anything by "Bateman - Northern Irish dark comedy.
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Post by pearo on Nov 13, 2015 22:23:00 GMT
Shantaram, The God of Small Things, pretty much anything by Steinbeck are all worth reading. For a bit of easy page turning the Roy Grace novels by Peter James are quite good crime stories.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2015 22:49:47 GMT
Anyone reading anything decent? Another question: Is anyone finding themselves reading a lot less these last few years? I definitely used to read a lot more than I do now. Currently: Alan Moorehead "The Desert War", Simon Scarrow "The Eagle and the Wolves", Sir Stans autobiography, and a tedious biography of Mussolini I've put somewhere safe and can't find at the mo. The Eagle and the Wolves is an excellent read , but it's the third or fourth instalment of the Macro and Cato series , you really must start from the beginning with " Under the Eagle " .....I think the latest offering called Brittania is due out next month ....its number fourteen in the series , I recommend them all , marvellous reading .... If you have enjoyed the Alan Moorhead book about the Desert War you should read his book about Gallipoli ....possibly the best book written about it ( Lawrie Leslie should read it as I know he has an interest in the Gallilpoli campaign ) .
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2015 22:52:52 GMT
Recently read fields of death by Simon scarrow . Wellington and napoleons campaigns culminating in the battle of Waterloo . Very good read from a great author I agree Harry , but to get the best out of it you need to read all four of the novels in the series ....excellent reading
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Post by localloser on Nov 13, 2015 22:53:03 GMT
Anyone reading anything decent? Another question: Is anyone finding themselves reading a lot less these last few years? I definitely used to read a lot more than I do now. Currently: Alan Moorehead "The Desert War", Simon Scarrow "The Eagle and the Wolves", Sir Stans autobiography, and a tedious biography of Mussolini I've put somewhere safe and can't find at the mo. The Eagle and the Wolves is an excellent read , but it's the third or fourth instalment of the Macro and Cato series , you really must start from the beginning with " Under the Eagle " .....I think the latest offering called Brittania is due out next month ....its number fourteen in the series , I recommend them all , marvellous reading .... If you have enjoyed the Alan Moorhead book about the Desert War you should read his book about Gallipoli ....possibly the best book written about it ( Lawrie Leslie should read it as I know he has an interest in the Gallilpoli campaign ) . If you are interested in Gallipoli, I just finished "Birds Without Wings" by Louis de Bernieres. He is an incredible writer and this is another excellent read by him.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2015 22:56:47 GMT
The Eagle and the Wolves is an excellent read , but it's the third or fourth instalment of the Macro and Cato series , you really must start from the beginning with " Under the Eagle " .....I think the latest offering called Brittania is due out next month ....its number fourteen in the series , I recommend them all , marvellous reading .... If you have enjoyed the Alan Moorhead book about the Desert War you should read his book about Gallipoli ....possibly the best book written about it ( Lawrie Leslie should read it as I know he has an interest in the Gallilpoli campaign ) . If you are interested in Gallipoli, I just finished "Birds Without Wings" by Louis de Bernieres. He is an incredible writer and this is another excellent read by him. I am , and I will look this one out mate ....thanks for the recommendation
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Post by Skankmonkey on Nov 13, 2015 23:12:45 GMT
Anyone reading anything decent? Another question: Is anyone finding themselves reading a lot less these last few years? I definitely used to read a lot more than I do now. Currently: Alan Moorehead "The Desert War", Simon Scarrow "The Eagle and the Wolves", Sir Stans autobiography, and a tedious biography of Mussolini I've put somewhere safe and can't find at the mo. The Eagle and the Wolves is an excellent read , but it's the third or fourth instalment of the Macro and Cato series , you really must start from the beginning with " Under the Eagle " .....I think the latest offering called Brittania is due out next month ....its number fourteen in the series , I recommend them all , marvellous reading .... If you have enjoyed the Alan Moorhead book about the Desert War you should read his book about Gallipoli ....possibly the best book written about it ( Lawrie Leslie should read it as I know he has an interest in the Gallilpoli campaign ) . I did read the first one. I picked this up for 10p in the library sale! I'll get around to the other 2 I'm sure. I'll look out the Gallipoli, though I have the feeling I've read it. Welcome back mate.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2015 23:21:46 GMT
The Eagle and the Wolves is an excellent read , but it's the third or fourth instalment of the Macro and Cato series , you really must start from the beginning with " Under the Eagle " .....I think the latest offering called Brittania is due out next month ....its number fourteen in the series , I recommend them all , marvellous reading .... If you have enjoyed the Alan Moorhead book about the Desert War you should read his book about Gallipoli ....possibly the best book written about it ( Lawrie Leslie should read it as I know he has an interest in the Gallilpoli campaign ) . I did read the first one. I picked this up for 10p in the library sale! I'll get around to the other 2 I'm sure. I'll look out the Gallipoli, though I have the feeling I've read it. Welcome back mate. Thank you.....Gallipoli is well worth reading
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Post by petemac on Nov 13, 2015 23:37:26 GMT
Into thin Air
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Post by harryburrows on Nov 14, 2015 0:26:30 GMT
Recently read fields of death by Simon scarrow . Wellington and napoleons campaigns culminating in the battle of Waterloo . Very good read from a great author I agree Harry , but to get the best out of it you need to read all four of the novels in the series ....excellent reading Welcome back bish , how was your sabbatical ? We missed you its all gone to shit around here
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2015 10:06:01 GMT
I agree Harry , but to get the best out of it you need to read all four of the novels in the series ....excellent reading Welcome back bish , how was your sabbatical ? We missed you its all gone to shit around here Very refreshing Harry .......so what's new on here ?
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Post by dutchpeter72 on Nov 14, 2015 10:23:21 GMT
Waiting to be read on my bookshelf: Brutalism: post war British Architecture Ian Nairn biography words in place BSA 650 twins factory manual 1967 I'm quite a dull bloke really
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Post by harryburrows on Nov 14, 2015 10:28:48 GMT
Welcome back bish , how was your sabbatical ? We missed you its all gone to shit around here Very refreshing Harry .......so what's new on here ? Nothing at all bish
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Post by harryburrows on Nov 14, 2015 10:30:22 GMT
Waiting to be read on my bookshelf: Brutalism: post war British Architecture Ian Nairn biography words in place BSA 650 twins factory manual 1967 I'm quite a dull bloke really Looking for a spitfire scrambler , it you know of a nice one
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Post by dutchpeter72 on Nov 14, 2015 10:33:33 GMT
Waiting to be read on my bookshelf: Brutalism: post war British Architecture Ian Nairn biography words in place BSA 650 twins factory manual 1967 I'm quite a dull bloke really Looking for a spitfire scrambler , it you know of a nice one I fancy a Thunderbolt 650 1968 to 1972. But it's a dream for my post Navy life. One day...: )
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2015 11:27:31 GMT
Very refreshing Harry .......so what's new on here ? Nothing at all bish That good eh ?
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Post by localloser on Nov 14, 2015 15:59:38 GMT
If you are interested in Gallipoli, I just finished "Birds Without Wings" by Louis de Bernieres. He is an incredible writer and this is another excellent read by him. I am , and I will look this one out mate ....thanks for the recommendation Just to be clear: "Birds Without Wings" is a novel, not a history, although it does seem a bit like a history lesson at times. It is set in the time and place of the Gallipoli campaign, however, and it brings out the disastrous decisions made by politifians and soldiers on all sides, together with the dreadful consequences for the individuals who were affected by these decisions. De Bernieres must have undertaken a massive amount of research to come up with such a good book
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2015 18:20:30 GMT
I am , and I will look this one out mate ....thanks for the recommendation Just to be clear: "Birds Without Wings" is a novel, not a history, although it does seem a bit like a history lesson at times. It is set in the time and place of the Gallipoli campaign, however, and it brings out the disastrous decisions made by politifians and soldiers on all sides, together with the dreadful consequences for the individuals who were affected by these decisions. De Bernieres must have undertaken a massive amount of research to come up with such a good book I often find that novels that have their basis on historical fact are generally the best type , some authors are better than others in this type of thing , Harry Sidebottom being a lecturer in Roman history is a prime example although he can get a little top heavy with detail at times .
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Post by harryburrows on Nov 14, 2015 18:44:21 GMT
Just to be clear: "Birds Without Wings" is a novel, not a history, although it does seem a bit like a history lesson at times. It is set in the time and place of the Gallipoli campaign, however, and it brings out the disastrous decisions made by politifians and soldiers on all sides, together with the dreadful consequences for the individuals who were affected by these decisions. De Bernieres must have undertaken a massive amount of research to come up with such a good book I often find that novels that have their basis on historical fact are generally the best type , some authors are better than others in this type of thing , Harry Sidebottom being a lecturer in Roman history is a prime example although he can get a little top heavy with detail at times . I totally agree Bish . Anyone whose ever tried to read undiluted facts about historical events regardless how interesting , soon become bogged down with minutiae . The historical novels have made these events palatable for the masses . Me included .
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2015 18:50:33 GMT
I often find that novels that have their basis on historical fact are generally the best type , some authors are better than others in this type of thing , Harry Sidebottom being a lecturer in Roman history is a prime example although he can get a little top heavy with detail at times . I totally agree Bish . Anyone whose ever tried to read undiluted facts about historical events regardless how interesting , soon become bogged down with minutiae . The historical novels have made these events palatable for the masses . Me included . True mate it's quite easy to pick up a reasonable knowledge of history by reading historical novels ....there are plenty of good authors out there these days who write about the ancient world Sidebottom , Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane , Anthony Riches , Christian Cameron to name but a few .
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Post by countofmontecristo on Nov 14, 2015 18:59:32 GMT
I totally agree Bish . Anyone whose ever tried to read undiluted facts about historical events regardless how interesting , soon become bogged down with minutiae . The historical novels have made these events palatable for the masses . Me included . True mate it's quite easy to pick up a reasonable knowledge of history by reading historical novels ....there are plenty of good authors out there these days who write about the ancient world Sidebottom , Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane , Anthony Riches , Christian Cameron to name but a few . Welcome back Bisp. Ease yourself in gently and whatever happens don't go near the 'Islamist's attack Paris' thread!
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Post by harryburrows on Nov 14, 2015 19:01:31 GMT
True mate it's quite easy to pick up a reasonable knowledge of history by reading historical novels ....there are plenty of good authors out there these days who write about the ancient world Sidebottom , Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane , Anthony Riches , Christian Cameron to name but a few . Welcome back Bisp. Ease yourself in gently and whatever happens don't go near the 'Islamist's attack Paris' thread! It will eat itself eventually
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Post by Squeekster on Nov 14, 2015 20:53:19 GMT
I need to get back into reading sadly authors like Dan Brown and Suzanne Collins are up my street i used to read a lot of biography's usually sportsmen.
Loved all of Dan Brown's books except Deception point loved the Hunger games books and read one borrowed to me about modern day treasure hunters trying to find Attila the Hun's lost treasure which was enjoyable.
Anyone recommend any on these lines? I know I should broaden my horizon but you like what you like.
Also read all of Colin Dexters Morse and the three books by JK Rowling alter Ego Robert Galbraith as well as reading the Harry Potter books with the boy as well as the Hobbit and Lord of the rings.Also read The Secret Executioners.
Edit it may be 2 books not 3 the Casual Vacancy may have been JK.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2015 22:27:38 GMT
True mate it's quite easy to pick up a reasonable knowledge of history by reading historical novels ....there are plenty of good authors out there these days who write about the ancient world Sidebottom , Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane , Anthony Riches , Christian Cameron to name but a few . Welcome back Bisp. Ease yourself in gently and whatever happens don't go near the 'Islamist's attack Paris' thread! Thanks mate , I've learned before now to avoid those type of threads like the plague
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Post by pearo on Nov 15, 2015 0:03:18 GMT
Just to be clear: "Birds Without Wings" is a novel, not a history, although it does seem a bit like a history lesson at times. It is set in the time and place of the Gallipoli campaign, however, and it brings out the disastrous decisions made by politifians and soldiers on all sides, together with the dreadful consequences for the individuals who were affected by these decisions. De Bernieres must have undertaken a massive amount of research to come up with such a good book I often find that novels that have their basis on historical fact are generally the best type , some authors are better than others in this type of thing , Harry Sidebottom being a lecturer in Roman history is a prime example although he can get a little top heavy with detail at times . In that genre, Conn Iggulden series of books, Conqueror based around Gengis Khan and Emperor based around Julius Caesar are enjoyable reads
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Post by Skankmonkey on Nov 15, 2015 13:10:39 GMT
I believe that cruiser transported one of the A bombs and they were on the way back when they were hit. There was a film made about it, maybe mid-nineties. I haven't seen it and it isn't shown much, which suggests it perhaps isn't very good. Have not seen the film. The book is very good, and by all accounts very accurate. The '90s film was "Mission of the Shark". There is a new one due out next year called "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage". I've edited the stupid error in my post as well!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2015 14:25:28 GMT
I often find that novels that have their basis on historical fact are generally the best type , some authors are better than others in this type of thing , Harry Sidebottom being a lecturer in Roman history is a prime example although he can get a little top heavy with detail at times . In that genre, Conn Iggulden series of books, Conqueror based around Gengis Khan and Emperor based around Julius Caesar are enjoyable reads Yes they are , he is a very good author , I've just finished his latest offering " Bloodline " which is the third of his War of the Roses trilogy and I have to say that I'm a little disappointed in this latest series of his , it's ok but not up to the standard of the two previous ones that you mentioned , but he has set a high standard for himself to keep up to.
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