Glad this is back. Some eclectic musings below.

Erebus said somewhere above he has never read a book twice. I don't do that very often either, although a few years ago I found an uneditied version of Stephen King's "The Stand", all 1400 plus pages of it. It's easily in my top ten novels and I enjoyed re-reading it. I quite like the whole post-apocolyptic thing. John Birmingham's sequel to "Without Warning", "After America", which arguably falls into this post-apocolyptic genre is also a very good read. It also has a feel of Tom Clancy to it.

Heineken mentioned De Mille books (in additon to his ravings about Mathew Reily!), and I have read most of them and like that style too. One of my favorite from the spy/action genre is le Carre's classic, "Smiley's People", which is one of just a few I have read twice and recently revisited. Maybe the best spy thriller ever - big call I know. Another favorite from this genre is "The Company" by Robert Littel, and it covers some fictional CIA agents from their early days of WWII to about the mid1980s from memory. Sort of a Forrest Gump like exploration of major 20th century political events from a fictional CIA character's perspective.

Chelseafanatic123 asked some time ago whether anyone has read "Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life" by Alex Bellos. Did you read it? I got most of the way through it, and it was OK, but if you want an excellent mix of social, political and historical commentary blended with football I'd recommend "How Soccer explains the world: an unlikely theory of globalization" by Frankiln Foer. It deals with subjects like the relationship between football and Russsian oligarchs, gangsters, hooligans and Islam.

I have just started a vampire novel. Go figure. It's called "Uprising" by Scott G Mariani. Don't mind it so far, but we'll see.

Finally, a plug to Jonathan Wilson's "Inverting the Pyramid: The History of football tactics". The best book on football I have ever read. Even better than Fever Pitch.
It is surprisingly easy to read and surveys many of football's famous managers and tacticians and explains how the game has changed over 100 years.

Edited by Riv of Canberra: 22/10/2011 05:53:48 PM

King's Football Factory is amazing, absolutely loved it. Had seen the film first but the fact the book and film are completely different is good imo as it makes it easier to appreciate them as two separate texts.

I've only ever read one graphic novel, Watchmen and I highly recomend it, very dark but brilliant.

I'm excited for the new Reilly book, I'll get it once I finish up uni, I just can't help but enjoy a good Reilly story, it doesn't matter that he writes with the sophistication of a high school english student. He embraces that and never pretends his work to be a great piece of literature, just an enjoyable read accesible to anyone

About 200 pages into the new Matthew Reiley book.

Same sort of stuff, but its still good.

Scored myself Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After for a total of $18 the other weekend! I absolutely love them so far, hilarious and still smart. I'd recommend it to fans of zombie-related media, but it's not your normal zombie story.

I did read a while back, I thought it was was alright, nothing really to be excited about. With the other football book you recommended, I will see if I can find it at my local bookstore.

If you can't find it there, it seems like you can get it for about $15, free postage, from the Book Depository at http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/

Cheers!

I finally read The Hunger Games, after everyone recommending it to me. It most definitely lives up to the hype. Very very good book.

When I first heard of the Hunger Games, I thought it was going to be a parody-documentary of day to day life in Ethiopia.

I've stayed totally ignorant of this entire fad. No idea where it's set, what it means, what it's about. I want 0 to do with it :lol:

I don't know what kind of books you like, but I would recommend for anyone to give it a go.

I was thinking about reading the Hunger Games. Only thing is, it unfortunately looks like it may become another Twilight. Will probably end up reading it sometime. Have heard from a few fans the movie is shit though.

Also, I have the final book in the Eragon series and Dave Grohl's biography to read.

The movie is good, just a couple of key things they left out which was annoying, but not a shit movie.

It's nothing like Twilight. It actually has a story to it.

I'm going to pick up a copy of the Hunger Games eventually, purely because one of my favourite authors, John Green, recommends it heavily (who also recommended not to read Twilight).

Currently finishing off John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars"

This. It's a million miles better than Twilight. The fact that people are even comparing the 2 in any way is an insult.

Yeah, a lot of friends have said the book is a lot better than Twilight. In my Intro to Writing class at uni the other day, our teacher was just having a massive go at Twilight, saying how shit it is. It's more that the fanfare between the two is similar. Both have a lot of screaming girls, some in tears. That's the reason The Hunger Games reminds me of Twilight.

The only similarities people could draw between the two is that two guys like the main girl, but even that is in an extremely different way.

The other similarity, like Benjo said, is the publicity and all that around the two movies and books. Apart from that there aren't really any similairites. And unlike Twilight, whose target audience is teenage girls, the Hunger Games is aimed at a much much wider ranger imo, much like what Harry Potter's target audience was.

Just finished 'The Snowman' by Jo Nesbo. Excellent author, excellent book.

My mini library at this momment is as follows:

How to Make Gravy- Paul Kelly 40 pages in
The Duel -Tariq Ali
Book one the wheel of Time Jordan somebody

The Stand- Stephen King
Wind through the keyhole- Stephen King
The dark Tower- Stephen King


The Winter of our disconnect Susan Maushart- Finished, a good overview and we researched outlook on how media has become an addiction and what can happen if you're not stuck in front on a Computer, Smart phone, Media player or television 18 hours a day.

The Lonesome Traveller Jack Kerouac Just sokme of the most insightful stories into the man that is Kerouac. if you have never read his work, do so, This is an Auto biographical collection of stories that never quite made it in to his semi fiction works.

England Away John King
Suprisingly good, It's a slow start but by the time you are getting to Germany it really gets good. I'll say the final sequence did get a little unrealistic for me but as a work of fiction it was a great read. Could hardly put it down in the end.

The War of The Worlds and Blood and Guts and Zombies HG Wells and other
Pretty average, War of the Worlds by HG Wells is definently a better novel. The Zombie add on and increase in Alien interaction lessened the story and also changed a lot of the ending. It had it's momments but over all pretty average in deed.

The New Manhood Steve Biddup- such a great read, really helpful in pointing out where your personal issues ly and great ways on how to deal with them so you can move on with your life.

The Casuals- Phil Thurton I can tell you it's worth the read if you love the fashion of football that goes along with the violence of the 80's and 90's. I can't wait to get the Euro version Football, fashion and facism.

Awaydays- that bloke: Just brilliant. all full of Sex Violence and Liverpidlian slag, but well written and semi Autobiographical.

Anarchy and Evolution- Greg Geffin
Awesome, but a bit repeatitive in the end. definently one to read if you're a Bad religion fan.

The Spartacus war Can't Remember
Very insightful and interesting to note that Startacus died on the battlefield and not on the cross as Martin Sheen had us believe.

World War Z- Brooks
Pretty freakin' Awesome and brought about a whole new thought process of what is important. the only down side to this novel was the wrap up at the end. i preferred it without all that closure wank. After all it's an Oral history after all. definently need to read!

the Dark Tower Wizard and Glass- Stephen King
Slow to start but a cracker story by the end. My favourite so far other than the Gunslinger of cousre.

God is Not Great Christopher Hintchen
An Athiest talking about why religion is silly, you'll like it if you are a non believer and hate it if you are, but food for thought no matter what. I'm fairly sure Believers would have a crisis of Faith after reading it.

1Q84 Haruki Murakami- Fantastic read, truely different from western authors

After Dark- Haruki Murakami- a story told in the hours of midnight till dawn, nothing really happens except for the things that do. no explanation, no discussion of the seperate events, just the story contained in them.

Jailbird- Kurt Vonnegut- Brilliantly pathetic and funny. Vonnegut is a true genius.

Cat's Cradle- Kurt Vonnegut- Ever wondered what would happen if you could teach molocules to stack themselves togethr differently?

Sit Down Shut Up- Brad Warner- a great introduction to Zen and how it can be balanced within a modern life. worth a read if you need a little clarity. Also features some info on the Cleveland Hardcore scene from the 80's

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo- Larson
Freaking awesome, edge of the seat stuff. Seeing the film first actually made reading it a bit hard as I knew what was coming but with volume 2 I'll be going in blind so it'll be all good.

The Girl Who Played With Fire- larsson
Excellent follow up, the only criticism I have is the ending leaves you wanting more, there's no closure. Luckily I have the 3rd book to jump straight in to .

The Girl who kicked the Hornets Nest- Larsson
A great finality to the trilogy, the suspense had me on the edge of my train seat and I may have taken a slightly longer lunch break to finish off a chapter so that I didn't miss a thing. It does some everything up in the end but I would have preferred if it wasn't so neat, [spoiler]I find it hard that a character would be so epathetic when it is constantly pointed out that she lacks this trait, or at least has a very hard time expressing it.[/spoiler]

The Perks of being a Wallflower-Stephen Chbosky
Fantastic! I destroyed this book in 3 days, I bought it as something to kill time whilst away to a wedding and just couldn't put it down.
I am not sure if the movie can really grab the strength of this book as it is written in letter form to a mysterious person who is never Identified but is know to the main character. I'll reread this book again and again!

The Magician-Raymond E. Fiest
Love this book, such a great tale of knights, Magicians, Elves and Dwarves mixed in with invading intergalactic nations! I think Feist is better than Tolkien but no one ever agrees.

Silverthorn-Raymond E. Fiest
Great tale, fits in perfectly as a bridging story to set up the final book of the Rift war Saga, touching and action packed and moves at a terrific pace!

Picnic at Hanging Rock- Joan Lindsay
I fucking love this book! I'll read this again and again

A Darkness at Sethanon- Raymond E. Fiest
Awesome finale of a trilogy. Although the ending does seem rushed, over all it's killer.

Krondor: Betrayal- Raymond E. Feist
good read, but reads like a computer game (which it is based on) in parts

Krondor: Assassins
Whilst better than Betrayal still lacks the brilliance that is seen in the Rift war and serpant war sagas

Krondor: The Tear of the Gods
Back to the Computer game style level based story. More about building depth to future characters than on actual story

Jimmy and the Crawler (Novella)
Just the bare bones of 2 stories that were cancelled by a change in publishers who rather'd a new series over finishing off an old one. The story is sound but would have been better if it had been the two stories, instead we have a story that builds a great yarn and then explodes into a fantastic finish without any body to make you enjoy the story fully.

Prince of the Blood (revised edition)
Great read best of the 90's books, builds a great story of court politics and intrigue mixed with a story of struggle and escape. It also introduces characters for later stories.

The kings Buccaneer
On par with Prince of the blood, great expansion and voyaging across a nation, bringing many people together for the later Rift war saga. some sad moments but over all great read.

Shadow of a Dark Queen
A story written as a part one to a greater story. really not a great stand alone read but fantastic in the full 4 volumes.

Rise of a Merchant Prince
good solid story building for the next 2 books in the series. Creates characters that you root for as well as loath, sometimes both.

Rage of a Demon King
Turns the whole story on its head, Strong and majestic battle sequences as well as good humour and a few moments that make you want to go back 3 pages and pretend everything is okay.

Shards of a broken Crown
Finishes out the series, showing that the people who are the villains are not always inherently evil and those who crave power are the least who should have it.

Edited by Rocknerd: 7/6/2013 03:31:17 PM

Talon of the silver hawk- Feist
Feist turns his eye to the eastern realms of the Kingdom. creating a wonderful story that boarders on a reimagining of the count of Monte Cristo. I can't help but feel it would have been better as a screen play as I could imagine each scene as a part of a film or television series.

King of foxes-Feist
Excellent follow up to talon. again the writing is so vivid you can picture it as if watching a movie.

Exiles return-Feist
Changes focus on who the main character is in the series and rounds off a good story but is clearly designed to create the bridge to the next series in the story arc.

Edited by Rocknerd: 25/6/2013 03:28:56 PM

Flight of the night hawks-Feist
Solid story telling, yet this trilogy feels a little rushed. nice introduction of different realms and cool unbeatable adversaries!

into a dark realm-Feist
wonderful story telling and introduction to beings from the second realm. though the ending is just a set up for the final book, though I much prefer it this way rather than a solid ending and build in the next book to round out the saga.

Edited by Rocknerd: 2/7/2013 09:45:05 AM

wrath of a mad god-Feist
Finally a book that moves the narrative forward, rather than the same story different location. Delving into the second realm and bringing us edge of the page story telling. [spoiler]he blows up an entire planet![/spoiler]

Edited by Rocknerd: 16/7/2013 03:13:26 PM

Rides a Dread Legion- Fiest
This is a bridging story that like the second part of the saga builds to explain what is going on in the final chapters of the epic 30 novel rift war sagas. Though it is a gripping story that leaves you a little sadder by the end.

At the Gates of Darkness- Feist
deals with the consequences of Legion and ends far to quickly, killing off characters that could have built to a grander story but solid over all.

Edited by Rocknerd: 27/8/2013 03:24:51 PM
The Killing Floor- Lee Childs

Wolves of the Calla- Stephen King

A Kingdom Besieged
A Crown Imperilled
Magicians end

The entire- A song of Ice and fire collection to date all 7 books.

Juliet Naked

Fever Pitch

Every Where we go

Edited by Rocknerd: 27/6/2014 03:04:20 PM

Song of Susannah- Stephen King

Edited by Rocknerd: 18/7/2014 11:58:32 AM

Finished The Hunger Games series. Meh. The first book was so much awesome, that I thought it was just natural for the second book (Catching Fire) to not be as good. Mockingjay was very very disappointing though. I know not every book can have a happy ending, but it didn't need to be so hopeless. And what used to be a hero was reduced to just a pawn in the games of others after all, so it was hard to feel much for her in the end. Meh.

Go watch Battle Royale

Please read Brave new world, Animal Farm and 1984. These are the original distopic universes and they don't have happy endings as this is the point of the distpia they live in and as a comment on society.

All the characters are pawns in a greater scheme being played out or used to exploit they protagonist for the facist reigime to continue to control the popukation.

Read 1984 by George Orwell the other dayfor what must be the fifteenth time, only takes me a few hours to read. It's one of my favourite books.

Also read A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, third time I've read it. That takes me three, four hours at the most. Brilliant book, takes a while to get your head around the language, but it's worth it.

My uncle gave me a load of books that he didn't want anymore, one of them was the Bachmann Collection from Stephen King, including Rage which is no longer in print. That's a fantastic novella, my favourite work from King. Also got a few James Herbert books from my uncle.

Plan on reading The Hunger Games soon, also want to read the Eragon series.


This.

The best commentaries on society are always 'fiction', and they rarely have a happy ending, as that would take away from the points they're trying to make.

Edited by MaxiiGCU: 8/4/2012 04:44:08 PM

Anyone attending the Sydney Writters festival??

Anyone heard of any great guests coming to town.

Anyone ever been to the Festival? I went back in 1998/99 and met Douglas Adams and heard him speak at town hall. I wasn't much into him at the time but since then HHGTTG has become my favourite book and he's the Author I turn to for great quotes and how best to live and enjoy life.


A truely magical momment that did nothing to change my life but a memmory I cherish.

Has anyone read Mathew Reilly's book the Contest? If not go read it.

I made the mistake of watching that when I was quite young.....first thing I thought of when I heard of hunger games. like a mish mash of that and twilight.

That being said I just finished hunger games cos all my patients wouldn't shut up about it, so now I'm in the know. I enjoyed it.

Got a copy of Running Man, sounds good from blurb, who doesn't like a race to the death? :d

+1

Eventually all his others they get boring and repetitive. Same shit different unbelievable character . Contest is his best (but also the first one I read of his).