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2 years ago ::
10 Sep 11 12:59 PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Jul 13, 2007
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WELCOME TO OUR BOOK CLUB! Reading has been a passion of mine as far as I can remember and is a past time I indulge in any chance I get, when I am not playing poker that is. I have no particular genre of preference and have resorted to anything from the back of a cereal packet to instructions on a DIY flat pack manual if nothing else to hand. Thankfully, after stiff resistance for many years, I treated myself to a Kindle several months ago and no longer have to resort to the above, as it travels with me everywhere, is my prized possesion and constant companion. I highly recommend it to anyone who is sitting on the fence, believe me, you won’t regret it. ;) I am very much looking forward to learning about your favourite books, what you are reading now and any recommendations you may have to offer. Please feel free to discuss and give your opinions on books you love, hate or are indifferent to, your thoughts make great reading too! Here are some questions to break the ice....
What are you reading right now?
What is your all time favourite book?
Who is your favourite author/authors?
What book have you read that disappointed you most?
What book was so bad you couldn't finish it?
What genre draws you most?
Who is your favourite character/hero/villain in a book?
What book made you laugh out loud?
What book made you cry?
Which book didn't you want to end?
What book brings back a special memory to you and why?
You can answer none, some, or all, they are just a few ideas to get you going. ;)
Book reviews are welcome at any time, just jump on in!
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2 years ago ::
11 Sep 11 06:49 PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Dec 30, 2007
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I have just written an essay length response to this post and then managed to lose it by performing a search to jog my memory about something, but forgetting to do it on another tab :( gutted! and don't have time to start again right now, but great thread and I will come back to it soon.
From Pandæmonium, capital of Hell in Paradise Lost, an epic poem by John Milton : Greek pan-, pan- + Late Latin daemonium, demon (from Greek daimonion, from daimn, lesser god, demon; see demon)
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2 years ago ::
12 Sep 11 12:49 AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Dec 30, 2007
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Hi wkd
Getting a bit late now so am gonna do this in installments lol.
I too, am an avid reader but afraid a bit of a luddite and gonna stick to the real thing until they stop making em cos everyone has them new fangled kindle things ;-)
I have just finished reading 'Tehanu' the final book in the Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin, four books telling the life story of a goatherd who grows up to be 'a wizard of earthsea' (the title of the first book) named Ged (but commonly known as Sparrowhawk). The series is widely considered a classic of fantasy and I would recommend them to anyone even if not particularly keen on the genre, as it is a lot more gritty and down to earth than say Tolkien for example.
Le Guin has written several great SF and fantasy books (notably 'The Disposessed' - an SF novel exploring the idea of an anarchist utopia) as well as a great deal of poetry and childrens books.
I had wanted to read the Earthsea books for twenty years or more but never got round to seeking them out, and then stumbled on them in the local library a couple of months ago.
As is say, well worth checking out :)
Ok enough for now but will start answering your icebreakers soon
From Pandæmonium, capital of Hell in Paradise Lost, an epic poem by John Milton : Greek pan-, pan- + Late Latin daemonium, demon (from Greek daimonion, from daimn, lesser god, demon; see demon)
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2 years ago ::
12 Sep 11 01:00 AM
#4
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Nice post, far to clever for me though :(
Last book i read was "Mr Nice" bit of a "haze" for some reason =]
"Being second is to be the first of the one's who lose"
Ayrton Senna da Silva RIP
"When a man has you by the throat he is not there to congratulate you"
Ayrton Senna talking about Nigel Mansell at Spa 1987
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2 years ago ::
12 Sep 11 10:17 AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 13, 2007
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Thank you Pande, for the being the first person to jump in and get your feet wet, it is much appreciated. I am only sorry that you lost your 'essay' as it sounds like you put alot of time and effort into it. It is great that you intend to perservere though and I am very much looking forward to your next installments. I read the first three Earthsea books myself, back in the 80's I think, but there was a break of a good few years between the 3rd and 4th and for some reason didn't find my way back. I will have to rectify that sometime in the future. I do remember Sparrowhawk as being a great character. It was one of my first forays into the fantasy genre and have enjoyed many more titles since then. Some of my favourite authors in this area have been..... George RR Martin - I waited 6 years for the next installment in this epic, which I finished a couple of weeks ago, and have to admit was disappointed. The TV adaption of his first book Game of Thrones was excellent though. The casting agent did a fantastic job as the majority of the characters are spot on. Peter Dinklage who plays Tyrion, my favourite character, deserves an Oscar or the TV equivalant, quite brilliant. Raymone E Feist - good Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth series, I loved the first few but I think he totally lost the plot in the final 3 or so but I did finish the series. David Eddings - good Robin Hobb - who has gone off the boil in my opinion and didn't finish her last triology. Couldn't be arsed as I hated her main character. Terry Books - The Shanara series was good. Terry Pratchett - his latest book is always in my Christmas stocking. Such a shame he was diagnosed with a form of alzheimers a couple of years ago Joe Abercrombie -relatively new to this genre but I can't recommend him highly enough. Great books and he writes an entertaining blog where he is more than happy to answer comments and questions. http://www.joeabercrombie.com/Fiona McIntosh - I love the way she will ruthlessly kill off a main character, at any point in her books, leaving you open-mouthed in shock. Hehe. Ann McCaffrey - good, one of her books still makes me cry just thinking of it. And of course the GrandDaddy of them all J. R. R. Tolkien which I read when I was about 12 if I remember rightly. I won't list anymore as it is quiet long. When the going gets tough in my world, I like to lose myself in others....... If any of you have read these books/authors I would be interested to hear your opinions. ;)
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2 years ago ::
12 Sep 11 10:30 AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Jul 13, 2007
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Nice post, far to clever for me though :(
Last book i read was "Mr Nice" bit of a "haze" for some reason =]
LOL Papa, knowing a little bit about your past I am guessing this would be the one by Howard Marks opposed to one of the Mr Men books by Roger Hargreaves. Hehe. :P
I have to admit I wasn't aware of this book before, but after reading the reviews on Amazon I have added it to my forever expanding Wish List. Thanks for the HU.
:)
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2 years ago ::
12 Sep 11 10:51 AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jun 24, 2010
Status:
My game is only tight when my hands are clasped in prayer.
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I am sure after answering your questions, I will want to go back and make changes to some of my answers as I'll think of a book or an authour that I didn't think now, but let's see...Here we go:
- A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole; El Zahir; The Alchemist; Six Degrees of Separation; Lord of the Flies; Native Son
- Paulo Coelho; Stan Lee; Richard Wright
- Can’t remember at the moment
- Same as above
- None in particular
- Ignatius Jacques Reilly –Confederacy of Dunces
- Confederacy of Dunces
- None really, but El Zahir probably came the closest -oh and Lord of the Flies too
- The Iliad -Homer
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2 years ago ::
12 Sep 11 11:33 AM
#8
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What is your all time favourite book?
The Last Battle (final part of the Chronicles of Narnia) - C.S. Lewis
Who is your favourite author/authors?
Lee Child - his writing requires no great thought :-)
What book have you read that disappointed you most?
Every Jeff Abbott book after Panic
What book was so bad you couldn't finish it?
Loads - I have a low boredom threshold
What genre draws you most?
Probably non-fiction - I really enjoy reading accounts of triumph over adversity (read Left For Dead - it's a fantastic story)
Who is your favourite character/hero/villain in a book?
Jack Reacher (see above)
What book made you laugh out loud?
Several Bill Bryson books, Things Can Only Get Better, The Psychopath Test
What book made you cry?
Silver Sword, I am David
Which book didn't you want to end?
Panic - Jeff Abbott
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2 years ago ::
12 Sep 11 11:52 AM
#9
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Nice thread this. I love reading and you will not get a word out of me when I have my nose in a good book.
I love adventure stories and read all the Wilbur Smith books, and Clive Custler.
cant wait for a new on to come out
I also like to read autobiographies, I read Sharon Osbourne, the story of Robert Maxwells wife and her life with him, Also the story of George Best' wife and her life with him, and the story of Gloria Hunniford and her journey when her daughter died of cancer ( I cried bucket loads).
I dont read much fantasy stories. I read one a long time ago, but cant remember the author, was about fairies etc. all Irish folklore made into a story. Enjoyed that a lot but have not found something like that since. If anyone knows what I am talking about maybe they can enlighten me.
I read the whole series of Harry Potter books in one go. Could not put it down.
For funny stories , I also like Bill Bryson, have read others but cant remember the authors.
looking forward to hearing some of the others
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2 years ago ::
12 Sep 11 12:16 PM
#10
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hi wkd
awsome thread , i dont get much time to read as much as i used too!
my favorite book of ALL time would be:
COMFORT'S OF MADNESS by paul sayer
a narrative by a catatonic patient that never speaks
the world thinks he's an inert body and is subjected to a variety of experiments and abuses
alas his own consciouness is vital and reflective
2 of pauls other offerrings equally as good
this is my genre
the absolution game and men in rage
at times when i need a lift or want a blast o yhe past
i pick up 1 of 20 or so i have by
robert .g . barrett
as les norton epitomizes the ozi spirit FOR ME
you wouldnt be dead for quids , the real thing , white shoes,white lines & blackie.
so what do you reckon ,and high noon in nimbin
wow pick one of these beautys up and you wont put it down
les norton god bless his little cotton socks
i will ponder your q's wkd and respond sumtime soon as its a hard lot to nail down 1
see u thought goblins only reead race forn guides hehehehehe
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