The Book Thread (tm)

XRchic · 26-05-2005, 02:34 PM

Hello

Just wondering what books you are all into reading. Perhaps you could let us know what you are currently reading, what your fav books/fav authors/fav genres are, what books you have read and really disliked and the ones you would recommend.

Here is mine:

I love science fiction, general drama novels and of course, car mags. My fav authors are Frank Herbert and Wilbur Smith. I have read all the Dune series, including the new ones written by Frank Herbert's son. I have most of Wilbur Smith's stuff too. My fav books of his are River God, Seventh Scroll and Warlock. I also love the Courtney novels.

I am currently reading the lastest Dune prequel - Battle of Corrin, and Wilbur Smith's brand newie, Triumph of the Sun.

Also reading current Motor and Wheels, but that is normal. Sometimes I am not sure whether to put them into the Fiction or Non-Fiction category LOL.

Books I dislike are tax law textbooks (hehe), soppy romance novels. I do like mystery/thriller genre but only if they are done really well, ie Steven King, although I dont read much of him these days.

I also do quite like reading non-fiction, like stuff about history, biographies and the sciences - my big astrophysics textbook is probably my favourite book of all time.

Anyone else have any similar preferences or perhaps some very different tastes?

Jac

Paris Hilton · 26-05-2005, 02:39 PM

Well, I have to read Once Were Warriors for English....and it's pretty good...apart from that I don't read...

Perana · 26-05-2005, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRchic

Also reading current Motor and Wheels, but that is normal. Sometimes I am not sure whether to put them into the Fiction or Non-Fiction category LOL

Magazines are about as far as i get as far as reading lol.. although I do also read books about car tuning/rebuilding etc and also do a bit of IT related reading as well.

Havent read a fiction book since Yr10 English :P

**Polyal** · 26-05-2005, 02:41 PM

Well its going to seem very narrow minded, but I just dont read books.

I can honestly say I have never enjoyed sitting there and reading. The only books ive really read were the ones for high school and currently uni; and if there is a movie then look out, no more book.

I have nothing against them, just choose not to. I read countless magazines, newspapers (does FF count?..lol) and what not; books just dont do it for me.

Maybe it was becuase when I was younger, and it still happens, reading is the only thing mum ever did; I was scared I tells ya! Those Mills and Boons (sp?) are cursed!

Obviously mum did more than read books, like bringing up three kids; love ya mum ;)

XRchic · 26-05-2005, 02:45 PM

Mills and Boon...

:

**Polyal** · 26-05-2005, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRchic

Mills and Boon...

:

And now you understand why I pretty much hate books. I wouldn't even read Ambroses book.

Ah good and I thought I was all alone!

There should be a poll...lol

Perana · 26-05-2005, 02:51 PM

argh making me sick just the thought of Mills & Boon

:

XRchic · 26-05-2005, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

And now you understand why I pretty much hate books. I wouldn't even read Ambroses book.

Ah good and I thought I was all alone!

There should be a poll...lol

Yes I do understand and no you are WAY not alone! I think Mills and Boon turned a lot of people off books in a big way and its a shame because there is so much good stuff out there... I mean, dude, do porn mags count as "reading"? Hehe.

I must get hold of Ambrose's book... anyone on here read it?

A poll would be pointless... everyone hates Mills and Boon, well they would on here anyway... hehe.

lukey · 26-05-2005, 03:16 PM

My favorite author is Chuck Palahniuk, he wrote Fight Club and I'm currently reading a book by him call Choke. Another book I've heard is really good by him but I'm yet to read is Survivor. So if you're bored go borrow or buy one of his books!

Twisted · 26-05-2005, 03:20 PM

Fantasy, generally anything by Raymond E Feist, David Eddings, Robert Jordon. Alot of other similar stuff too. My book collection is second to my DVD collection, I have around 150 books, around 600 DVDs lol. Feist is definately my favorite though, as well as any of the authors he has done collaborations with if they are set in the same Midkemia world. Awesome books. The first of his books, Magician, is my all time favorite and i highly recommend it to anyone!

**Polyal** · 26-05-2005, 03:21 PM

lol...I meant the poll should be something like "Do you like/still read books".

Its seems to be a dying black art...jk

EA2BA · 26-05-2005, 03:29 PM

I own an EA so the Gregory's repair manual is top of my list ..... hahahaha

tickford2001 · 26-05-2005, 03:35 PM

Currently reading - 'Crimes Against Logic' by Jamie Whyte. It's very good.

InitialD · 26-05-2005, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellboy999

I own an EA so the Gregory's repair manual is top of my list ..... hahahaha

Yep same here but im also reading the factory ford manual ;)

TheSneakiness · 26-05-2005, 03:45 PM

The last book I read was the AU Falcon factory manual that you get with the car. Helped me realise I was doing something wrong.

FordFan86 · 26-05-2005, 06:14 PM

I've been slack, i haven't read for ages.
I loved english in high school, read a few good books there, mainly into war books, conspiracy, government books.
I have the entire "tommorow" series here, im yet to finish the 1st book, just so slack.
Some i have enjoyed are "one day in the life of ivan denosovich", "1984", "animal farm", "all quiet oin the western front" and a whole bunch of war novles written by an author names Sven Hassel, Ken Follet also has some good books i've read.

Racecraft · 26-05-2005, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisted

Fantasy, generally anything by Raymond E Feist, David Eddings, Robert Jordon. Alot of other similar stuff too.

Same, throw in some of Terry Brooks' novels and Clive Cussler <--damn I wish i was Dirk Pitt hehehe

smciner1 · 26-05-2005, 06:40 PM

Haven't read a book in a while but Dean Koontz and Clive Cussler always provided an entertaining read.

One series I only ever found two books for was Doom, yes based on the computer game. Great books, could never find any more than the first two though.

Casper · 26-05-2005, 06:45 PM

Read an interesting one a few months ago called "The Trigger" by Arthur C Clark and Michael Kube-McDowell.
Very interesting and enjoyable.

Sub-category: Future Earth History
The plot: Brilliant and driven scientist, Jeffrey Horton, accidentally stumbles across an experimental anomaly which will change the world we live in. He has found a way to disarm any form of explosive remotely. However, he wants this discovery to be used to benefit mankind by making it difficult for people to kill others with guns. However, he must convince the US government not to treat this new discovery as a new weapon with which to arm itself against any potential threats to the American supremacy in weapons and prepare himself for strenuous objections from the 'Right to bear arms' clause in America's Constitution. But this is only the beginnning in the fight to disarm humans.

Couple other series that I REALLY enjoyed was:

The Amtrak Wars
http://www.johnbreslin.com/blog/1998...e-amtrak-wars/

and

The Reality Dysfunction
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/es...fh/pfh-bk4.htm

smciner1 · 26-05-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perana XR8

argh making me sick just the thought of Mills & Boon

:

Don't need a Bucket (tm) do you?

:

Danny · 26-05-2005, 07:04 PM

Last Book I read said "WP Fiesta" On the front.
Before that was "Il Dottore" - The life of a mafia doctor

Before them were ones i was forced to read for school.

I dont read much anymore, Im not trying to sound cool either, becasue i do wanna start reading again, its just hard to find the time these days with uni and everything...

Feathers · 26-05-2005, 08:31 PM

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, The "Tomorrow" series by John Marsden (though if you read them all in close succession you can see they are very formulaic), "Paula" by Isabelle Allende (Yr 12 school text), and
"Portrait of a Young Forger" by Marian Pretzel
(Yr 10 text. True story of how the author used his skills in graphic arts to forge German documents and get out of Poland during the Holocaust. He now lives in Sydney)
LOVED the book. I was really upset with myself for being such a good girl and handing the book in at the end of the year. I eventually found a copy in perfect condition in the states and had it sent over.

ferris01 · 26-05-2005, 08:44 PM

Just finished reading the Davinci Code (loved it) also like books by James Patterson, Jeffery Deaver and my favourite Author would have to be Matthew Reilly. He is a great Aussie author and if you like action these are great books.

MrSparkle · 26-05-2005, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

Read an interesting one a few months ago called "The Trigger" by Arthur C Clark and Michael Kube-McDowell.
Very interesting and enjoyable.

Chalk me up as another Arthur Clark fan. Just finished "Empire Earth", was a good read but not as good as the 2001 or Rama series. Am a bit of a fan of Jack Higgins too, currently reading "Bad Company". After that is done, I have the rather appropriately named book for me, "The Salmon of Doubt" by Douglas Adams. All three authors are sensational and have very different styles and genres. I can read any of them at any time, most enjoyable. Don't mind some of Crichton's books, but not all. Read "Prey" recently, that was actually quite good.

Kapn_Kiwi · 26-05-2005, 09:11 PM

Plenty of Sci-Fi here, from serious stuff to Harry Harrison stuff. I've also started reading some PD James. I don't get what's up with the Da Vinci code, plenty of people love it, but most people who I know know books reckon it's just alright, like a mediocre Illuminatus! trilogy.

mcflux · 26-05-2005, 09:36 PM

Asterix and Obelix

or

Choose Your Own Adventure!

Fairlane · 26-05-2005, 09:55 PM

Have Read all of the Frank Herbert "Dune" Series
The whole JRR Tolkien "Lord of the Ring" series including The Hobbit (didnt really like it)
Some of Robert Ludlum's book (the guy who wrote the Bourne Identity)
The whole "Tommrow Series" by J. Marsden
"Robinson Crusoe" The version i read was about 3, 000 or so pages; took me about 3 weeks to read.

Generally I read non-fiction stuff- truth is stranger than fiction. I read stacks of non-fiction stuff.

I'm also guilty of ready the factory ford manual too much just incase i forget which way to turn the key to start the car, lol

Venomous · 26-05-2005, 10:39 PM

Hmm lets see, have read all of the tomorrow series, absolutly loved them, The Davinci Code, awesome book, and i kept forgettting it wasnt real lol, and just recently for school the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, and we have to do an assessment on it. Thats all i can think of at the moment.

26-05-2005, 10:58 PM

Recent books include Hiliary Clintons autobiography, The Dalai Lhama (about how he was chosen/taken as a baby), Michael.J. fox's autobiography, the Secret of Nardia.

Gardening books, car mags, do not read fiction books, but sometimes read the dictionary!!?

The MaDDeSTMaN · 27-05-2005, 12:13 AM

I'm a real book worm, as the pile of books and magazines next to the bed shows. I'll read almost anything (including the back of cereal packets if there is nothing else and I've got a minute to kill), with the (perhaps obvious) exception of the dreaded Mills and Boon or any other simular waste of otherwise good paper.

Magazines I regularly or semi-regularly read are Australian Personal Computer (APC), Classic Ford, PC User, PC Authority and Atomic (ok, ok, I'm a computer geek as well as a car nut, LOL)

When it comes to books, I often go for sci-fi, comedy or horror/thrillers, with some of the authors being Isacc Asimov, Arthur C Clark, Douglas Adams, Steven King and many others I couldn't possibly name at this hour.

And of course, being the proud owner of a 1976 Ford Escort, you'll often find me reading the Gregories and Ford Workshop manuals for the Mk II Ford Escort, lol!