AWM Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Finished 'When we Were Orphans'. Really good but then Ishiguro doesn't do bad. Complete change of style required, so just about to read Stephen King's 'Revival'. Used to love King but went off him a bit with some of his later stuff. Quite enjoyed Revival. King's always been a good story-teller. The ending's a bit 'meh'. But at least not as bad as the worst ending ever that he managed for The Dark Rower series. Now reading The Illuminaries. Big book, won the Booker in 2013. It gets pretty average reviews on Amazon but I'm enjoying it alright so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 (edited) A tale of a young boy and his new minister and the bond they form and their experiments with electricity. This 372 page book is actually not bad. Half way through I did get concerned that it was going to be shit but the author pulled it back. Tbh it wouldn't have done any harm had the book been 100 pages longer. 7.5/10 Edited October 10, 2015 by Marvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Just started... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tynietot Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Half way through "A Tale Of Two Seasons" Excellent book, although the authors insistence on referring to Callum Patterson as C-Patz is starting to annoy me! Well written and informative though. Essential reading for every Jambo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Buck Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Just started... Came on to post this. Arrived yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 A tale of a young boy and his new minister and the bond they form and their experiments with electricity. This 372 page book is actually not bad. Half way through I did get concerned that it was going to be shit but the author pulled it back. Tbh it wouldn't have done any harm had the book been 100 pages longer. 7.5/10 If he'd written it 15 years ago it would have been double the length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) Quite enjoyed Revival. King's always been a good story-teller. The ending's a bit 'meh'. But at least not as bad as the worst ending ever that he managed for The Dark Rower series. Now reading The Illuminaries. Big book, won the Booker in 2013. It gets pretty average reviews on Amazon but I'm enjoying it alright so far. Disagree; worst ending is Needful Things which spoiled a really good story. As with Revival.... do not open if you intend to read the book... I though the ending was a little thought provoking which made me think was Jamie Morton in the secure unit the whole time??? Edited October 11, 2015 by Marvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Disagree; worst ending is Needful Things which spoiled a really good story. As with Revival.... do not open if you intend to read the book... I though the ending was a little thought provoking which made me think was Jamie Morton in the secure unit the whole time??? The ending to Needful Things only spoiled one book; the ending to The Dark Tower (not to be confused with The Dark Rower) spoiled a whole series. Your theory wasn't one that occurred to me (that doesn't mean you're wrong!). I found that final chapter rather poignant, given who it is that he is there looking after. My original comment was more to do with the Frankenstein-meets-Lovecraft scene. King's always been brilliant - the best - at building things up; he hasn't always delivered. You mention Needful Things; you could add It to that, and I'd include The Tommyknockers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
269miles Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 (edited) Two books I read on holiday recently which I thought were superb reads - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Killer-Little-Shepherds-Forensic-Science-ebook/dp/B004K1E4XE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445026581&sr=1-1&keywords=little+shepherds Amazing story of the hunt & conviction of the French "Jack the Ripper" and the birth of modern forensics. http://www.amazon.co.uk/1776-America-Britain-at-War/dp/0141021713/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445026660&sr=1-1&keywords=1776 How Britain lost America despite having more troops , better troops and kicking the Yankees all over the states. But George Washington got lucky and won , against all the odds. Fascinating story . Edited October 16, 2015 by 269miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Gin Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Just finished The Cobra Event by Richard Preston http://www.amazon.com/The-Cobra-Event-Richard-Preston/dp/0345409973 Decent read. A tad overly descriptive stuff about the science lab stuff at the expense of character development though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jambos_1874 Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Mr Smiley by Howard Marks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 The man in the high castle by Philip k. Dick. Not his usual subject matter. The axis have won world war 2 and the USA has been split into 3. Quite good but I've been stuck on the same page for the last 2 months cos I always fall asleep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jambos_1874 Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) The man in the high castle by Philip k. Dick. Not his usual subject matter. The axis have won world war 2 and the USA has been split into 3. Quite good but I've been stuck on the same page for the last 2 months cos I always fall asleep! I bought that a while ago but still haven't read it! That'll be next after Mr Smiley. Edited October 18, 2015 by Jambos_1874 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychedelicropcircle Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Reading a book Aftershock just started but it goes into the history of PTSD and young soldiers through the ages. Will post when finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Burgundy Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Time and time again by Ben Elton. First book of his I've read and really enjoying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I interrupted my reading of 'The Luminaries' to read 'A Tale of Two Seasons'. There's been a couple of threads in The Terrace about this match by match account of the two seasons preceding the current one. It's a great read that I'd recommend to all Jambos. Some genuinely funny moments in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Gin Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Currently reading The Forgotten Highlander, the true life story of a Scottish soldier stationed in Singapore during WWII. Really enjoying it so far. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Highlander-Incredible-Survival-Pacific/dp/1616084073/ref=sr_1_42?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445873772&sr=1-42&keywords=wwII Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leginten Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Peter Carey's Illywhacker, the picaresque story of the life and loves of an entertainer, aviator, car salesman and con-man rolled into one in early 20th century Australia. What a brilliant writer Carey is. I've had Oscar and Lucinda on the shelves for about 20 years now, so it's going to be next up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorgiewave Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Half way through "A Tale Of Two Seasons" Excellent book, although the authors insistence on referring to Callum Patterson as C-Patz is starting to annoy me! Well written and informative though. Essential reading for every Jambo. FFS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 (edited) Finished The Luminaries and thought it was excellent, though I think there was probably lots if clever astrological stuff in it that went right over my head. About half way through The Well which is one of the current batch Richard and Judy books. Near future story about an oasis in an otherwise drought hit Britain. It's okay. It's the sort of thing I'd expect my Mrs to watch in a five-part hour long evening slot, with Suranne Jones playing the main character, Edited November 15, 2015 by Haken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamhammer Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 Proper sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Finished The Well and it was only okay. Now reading Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Never read any of his stuff before and really enjoying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Fredrickson Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Currently working my way through books by Doug Johnston. A couple are linked but most of them are stand alone. Crime/thriller books but not from the police view. A couple involve journalists, or folk near or involved in the crimes. Most of them are Edinburgh based and though not up there with the Rankins of this world, still enjoyable with lots of well known places used in them. I like Scottish or UK crime books but I think I will be starting to struggle to unearth new authors soon as I have read loads. Always check out this thread for authors I hadnt heard of (recently read all the Gordon Ferris books) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Gin Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 (edited) Half-way through "The Amateurs" by John Niven. Excellent so far. Not often a book genuinely makes me "LOL". http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Amateurs-John-Niven/dp/0099516667 Edited November 23, 2015 by Ray Gin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboJay Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Just finished, in a week of nearly missing my stops off the bus because I was too engrossed in my kindle edition of "Swim Until You Can't See Land" by Catriona Child (Eilidh's Big/Wee sister). Story told in alternating chapters of a girl, maybe 20, who has to come to terms with a career ending injury as an international standard swimmer (Catriona used to swim competitively at University standard but never had the drive/will of her sister to take it to the next stage) and a somewhat mysterious old lady who collapses in the shop where the girl now works who turns out to be a member of the SOE (a spy in other words) in France during the war and gets captured and tortured, those bits are written as factually as possible and are quite harrowing as they are supposed to. She used this girls story for inspiration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eileen_Nearne My only criticism is that the ending was a bit abrupt having invested a lot in how the main character was doing a little more exposition as to her future would have been nice. Catriona also previously wrote "Trackman" another very good read especially for a first time author. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Gordons Gloves Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Just finished "Even Dogs in the Wild" - the latest Rebus book by Ian Rankin. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was most pissed off when it ended. I'm also now going through the entire Christopher Brookmyre catalog. I've read them all but saw something on twitter where someone had talked about never having read them and they were starting at the beginning. I forgot how good "One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night" is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Finished Neverwhere and thouroughly enjoyed it. Stephen King crossed with Clive Barker = Neil Gaiman. Now onto Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. No, not a book about Hibs fans; it's another of these 'Young Adult' dystopian efforts where everyone is given cosmetic surgery at the age of 16 to make them 'pretty'. Hinger Games-ish. I'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjack Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Just finished the last of the zomblog series. Only read the first one as I had nothing to read and my kindle was dead. Expected it to be a kids or teens book. It was actually very addictive. The main story isn't really the zombies, but about people trying to survive and form a community after the apocalypse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Just finished the last of the zomblog series. Only read the first one as I had nothing to read and my kindle was dead. Expected it to be a kids or teens book. It was actually very addictive. The main story isn't really the zombies, but about people trying to survive and form a community after the apocalypse. I like a lot of the 'young adult fiction stuff' now and again. Stuff like The Hunger Games, Michael Grant's 'Gone' series and Patrick Ness's 'Chaos Walking' (fantastic trilogy exploring the concept of terrorism). These writers know that their competing with stuff like app-loaded phones and ipads and know that their stories have to hit hard and hit fast to retain 'young adults'' interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauriesrank Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 (edited) A tale of a young boy and his new minister and the bond they form and their experiments with electricity. This 372 page book is actually not bad. Half way through I did get concerned that it was going to be shit but the author pulled it back. Tbh it wouldn't have done any harm had the book been 100 pages longer. 7.5/10 NEver knew this thread existed! Anyway, I read this four months ago, absolutely the worst Stephen King I have ever read, then I followed it up with Pratchetts last book, which was also awful.... Reread; catcher in the rye and of mice and men... equally bad, got bored of dante aligheiri, so reading all of Pratchetts 'watch' books from guards guards onwards Edited December 17, 2015 by lauriesrank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjack Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Now moved onto Robin Hobbs the fools assassin. Apart from the live ship traders trilogy, I don't think I've read a book of hers I've not loved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Now moved onto Robin Hobbs the fools assassin. Apart from the live ship traders trilogy, I don't think I've read a book of hers I've not loved. One of the other posters above was also on the Robin Hobb stuff. She is really good. I liked the Live Ship books, but agree that the Fool books are better. I've finished Uglies and have moved straight onto the next one in the series, Pretties. Really easy reads and very entertaining. Quite a clever attack on the obsession with beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3fingersreid Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 Just started reading "the man in the high castle" taking a bit to get into it tho, anyone read it ? If so does it pick up the pace ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GforGallo Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 Just started... Not a very original title is it though? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Follow-We-Will-Fall-Rangers/dp/1908373687 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Now reading the latest Rebus, Even Dogs in the Wild. Standarad fare from Rankine and therefore very enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 The man in the high castle by Philip k. Dick. Not his usual subject matter. The axis have won world war 2 and the USA has been split into 3. Quite good but I've been stuck on the same page for the last 2 months cos I always fall asleep! 3 months later , still trying! [emoji1] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Just started reading "the man in the high castle" taking a bit to get into it tho, anyone read it ? If so does it pick up the pace ? ha ha, see above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pans Jambo Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Got Alex Ferguson "Leading" as a Christmas gift. Al gie it a bash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Finished the latest Rebus book and it turned out to be one of the best in a fairly long time. Very current. Now onto Specials, the third in Westerfeld's series about young people and image. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommiwastheboss Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) In order to live by Yeonmi Park about a young girl growing up in North Korea and her subsequent escape before her and her mother fall into the hands of Chinese traffickers Edited January 13, 2016 by Tommiwastheboss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzroy Pointon Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Half way through and it has been a good read so far. Just got to the bit where he got arrested and offered immunity so interested to see what happens next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenbank2 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 just finished this; very entertaining - a bit of a mash up of "The Second Coming" (discussed on here before) and "Dogma". Not for the feint hearted or those who are offended by blasphemy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Just started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo1980 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Just started I read that book a few years ago and absolutely loved it. JJ Abrams' production company has made it into a miniseries, which will be out soon. They actually filmed some of it in our village last summer. Our main street was transformed into early 60s US for a little while, with vintage cars and old shopfronts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argyjambo Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 (edited) Just finished Ian Rankin's Even dogs in the wild, Latest Rebus book is a very good read. Edited January 24, 2016 by argyjambo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo1980 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Finished the latest Rebus book and it turned out to be one of the best in a fairly long time. Very current. Now onto Specials, the third in Westerfeld's series about young people and image. I just finished the new Rebus book last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a shame, though, that we're nearing the end of Rebus. The age of the character and the fact that Rankin writes the stories in 'real time' in terms of character aging means that there will surely only be one or two to go. There could be more short stories, but I assume that the full books will move onto Fox being the main character, along with Clarke. Hopefully when the time comes, Rebus will sign off with a great story - he's been a great character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Finished Specials and, all in all, a very enjoyable, easy-to-read, trilogy. I then went on to some dross called The Templar's Code, which is Dan Brown-lite, if you can imagine such a thing. The fact that the apostrophe is in the wrong place should have been a warning. The main character is a Templar 'expert' and ex-MI5 agent. He must have taken a sore bump to the head, because he's quite obviously forgotten every bit of MI5 tradecraft he ever learned, leaving a trail behind him that a blind goat with a bad cold could follow. I got about half way through before deciding that there are too many other books to be read without wasting any more time on this. Back to the bookshelf when I get home tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haken Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 I just finished the new Rebus book last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a shame, though, that we're nearing the end of Rebus. The age of the character and the fact that Rankin writes the stories in 'real time' in terms of character aging means that there will surely only be one or two to go. There could be more short stories, but I assume that the full books will move onto Fox being the main character, along with Clarke. Hopefully when the time comes, Rebus will sign off with a great story - he's been a great character. I think Rankin has been quite astute in realising that Fox wasn't quite working as a Rebus replacement. Embedding Fox in the 'Rebus world' has, I think, allowed Rebus fans to grow more sympathetic to Fox. I think you're right in that new books will start to see Rebus taking more and more of a back seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Fredrickson Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Rebus books have been a pleasure and a joy for many years. I remember reading the early ones, trying to guess where places were based on. The annual anticipation of the new book release was agonising. The reads, more often than not were great but the disappointment of knowing it would be a year until the next one. Hopefully Rankin can squeeze out another couple of Rebus books - possibly my all time favourite character in a series of books. Back on topic, just finished reading The Crazy Gang by Dave Basset and Wally Downes. About the rise of Wimbledon and interviews with loads of players. A great read with a lot of it still fresh in my memory and Andy Thorn has some nice things to say about Hearts. Now onto Springsteen On Springsteen by Jeff Burger. A collection of interviews with Bruce over the last 40 years. I got two very similar books for Christmas about Bruce and this is the first i have read. A decent read that explains a lot about his writing, recording and touring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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