DFW Rabid Readers: reading and discussion group

Firewalker

This thread is shaping really nicely - I love the exchange of information about books and what people are reading at the moment. Sea, I love Hichhiker's Guide...The opening is really great and an illustration of how pointless it is to concern our selves even with serious matters. Because there is always something more serious we don't know about so be default we worry about the wrong thing most of the time.

I'll have to look at Steven Fry's authobiographyand other titles mentioned here.

Cool readings
Firewalker

Ellidee

Stephen Fry's autobiography £5 delivered !http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=39287088&postcount=1

Sea78

Finished number 2 - now on with 3

How's everyone going with tkamb?
xxx

Firewalker

Started but not got too far - just finished a book called 'Millionaire Mind'. Sorry guys, but have been putting a lot of my time learning about money management, financial control (family and organisations), etc. Also have loads to read for work (mainly philosophy). I think that I'll finish TKAMB when finally off at the end of this coming week.

Firewalker

Ames

Firewalker, I've been thinking about joining a philosophy discussion group, but I'm not sure I have enough time to fit it in (my mum's got cancer and I'm spending a lot of time at hers 65 miles away). I'd like to read more philosophy, I've read a few authors for various OU courses but never got to go in depth on any, or had anyone to talk to about them.

pepe2008

Ames wrote: »

Pepe, I read Pig Island first and really liked it, but it is different to the other stuff. Have you read Tokyo? I loved that, but it was a bit gruesome. I got Gone half price in Waterstones, I think I'm going to take it to Scarborough with me and get stuck into it there.

Tokyo was one of those books that is best read at night, in the quiet. Mo creates such an atmosphere with her writing in this book it would be a shame to waste it with background noise.

Best quote from my current main read 'The Tent, The Bucket and Me'

.....'I was sitting there with one of Mums sanitary towels taped to my head ( after bumping it ) which was definitely not the chic look she was hoping for'

savingwannabe

blooming heck it is still next to my bed. will read over weekend. sorry.

williamD1964

Hi,

Here are a few (!) of mine.

Raymond E Feist - The Magician. Totally had me from page 1 and basically spent 3 months devouring all of his books from the "Riftwar" series.

Terry Pratchett - Pyramids. The man is a genious. And its all quantum too!

Thomas Keneally - Shindlers Ark. Read this for A level english. Spellbinding, and absorbing. Had the good fortune to be able to visit his factory in Kracow a few years ago, after visiting Auchwitz.

Robert Westall - The Machinegunners. Again, read this when I was a teenager (all those eons ago!) About a schoolboy during WWII.

I am reading to my children every night I can, and when I can't my wife does the honours. I know "Room on the Broom" off by heart!

More to follow!

greenbee

gallygirl wrote: »

PS Can't get into Moby !!!!!!. Literally. Was away with work & took it with me. Zip has stuck on my case :rotfl:

I couldn't get into Moby !!!!!!... my supervisor at uni described Melville as 'the literary equivalent of grunting' and I think I agree... I found Britten's opera (Billy Budd) easier going, and that's saying something

Great thread... I may dip in and out, but mostly to find ideas on new things to read rather than re-reading stuff I already know (unless the discussion tells me I need to look at it again!). The first time I was made redundant I made myself read 'proper' books to balance out the trash (love trashy reading ) and discovered John Steinbeck. I can highly recommend Sweet Thursday (sequel to Cannery Row), but then I loved ALL his books, even the diaries... East of Eden was another favourite.

I agree with Firewalker that Jilly Cooper is also well worth a read - well-written trash

Other suggestions:

All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next - Ken Kesey
A Time of Gifts/ Between the Woods & the Water - Patrick Leigh Fermor
Diana/A Horseman Riding By/To Serve Them All My Days - R F Delderfield
The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper
Anne of Green Gables Series (there are 7 or 8 of them) L M Montgomery
Wild Lone by BB
The City of Light - Jacob D'Ancona (tough going but fascinating. One to read in small bits between other things)
Ulysses - James Joyce (this makes me laugh out loud in so many places!)
The Cazalet Chronicles - Elizabeth Jane Howard

also anything by Jennifer Crusie (back on the trashy list I'm afraid) as although her books are a bit mills & boon (well, that's how she started) they are also a fantastic insight into life in small town america - try Welcome to Temptation, Fast Women, Tell Me Lies, Crazy for You.

I always have too many books, and suspect that I may regret some of the ones I've had to part with... although they make great insulation, I need a bigger house unless I operate a one in one out policy!

Firewalker

williamD1964 wrote: »

I am reading to my children every night I can, and when I can't my wife does the honours. I know "Room on the Broom" off by heart!

More to follow!

Het William, good to see you again. How about 'The Smartest Giant in Town'? Little Boy and I lover it.

Firewalker