Favourite books...

[Frances]

I thought that since many of our tastes are so similar with respect to internet pages, favourite foods, cooking appliances, double entenders and so on...

...maybe you could suggest some good books

After a run of some awful drivel, I've just read three really good books... or rather three books that were very enjoyable. Probably not good. Not high literature or anything.

They were "Mistress of the Art of Death" by Ariana Franklin and its sequel (historical whodunnits set in 1177 England). And the latest of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.

...and that's left me at a bit of a loose end for the time being, because it'll be another two years probably before either author publishes another one.

So are there any other avid readers out there? What's the best book you read recently? (besides all the brilliant WFO / Pizza / Bread baking books that is...)

[jengineer]

Re: Favourite books...

A long time ago I read "Pillars of The Earth" into 20 90 minutes cassette tapes for a friend who turned blind. Her son, the idiot, threw about 5 novels woth of tapes out when she passed. Up until that point most of the Ken Follett books that I had read were standard trade WWII spy novels and of that genre. In PTE you almost feel as though you could design and build a cathedral after you read the book and if nothing else gave you a more discerning eye when you enter in a building that has been around for a couple/few 100 years. In the past year he has come out with a follow up to that novel. I have it but right now it is collecting dust.

Norma an Al Hanson wrote a book called "More Than Nine Lives" a memoir of a scuba diver back in the day. From hard hat diving to scuba diving. Working the abalone beds of Southern California when there were abalone in an area called Abalone Cove (now there is nothing). To a dog and pony show for the kiddies doing the glass bottom boat tour in Catalina - hey I saw that show in 1972. Great book about how we raped and pillaged and cause the failure of the fish live stock in California. Did you know we used to have sail fish and hammer heads along the coast. By-gone era. This book tracks that and makes no apology for what our parents and grandparents did. I think Jacques Cousteau once said something along the lines of the ocean has a limitless supply of food. He was wrong - wooo sorry got off onto a rant.

A shorter book is about a hard hat divers experience refloating the ships of Pearl Harbour. What is not really taught in American History is that although a major portion of our fleet was sunk close to half were refloated repaired and sent out to combat. Descent Into Darkness by Commander Edward C. Raymer USN (retired - duh)

Finally my daughters favourite book (see the avatar) is Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd

[SpringJim]

Re: Favourite books...

Pompeii was an interesting read last year (certainly for a waterologist)

The Chimney Sweepers Son (Barbara Vine) was good

A great one was the Kite Runner (the writers first book too!)

And for serious stuff... the Tunnel and the Light....brought some tears and caused some changes!

[Drunkwombat955]

Re: Favourite books...

Try "Dirt Music" by Tim Winton

[nissanneill]

Re: Favourite books...

Reading?
who gets time to do that these day's.
I do a little, mainly magazines, woodworking, carving etc but they put me to sleep too easily.

Neill

[gjbingham]

Re: Favourite books...

Frances,
What type of books do you like?

[Frances]

Re: Favourite books...

Thank you for the suggestions guys! I'll check them out next time I'm on amazon.

Good question George, let me think...

Fiction mainly... scince fiction, fantasy, historic fiction, romance, crime, and any mixture thereof. I like books with peopled with believable characters, and appreciate it if about half of them are female. I don't mind silly or unlikely or unusual, but it should have logical plot that makes sense and allows you to suspend disbelief, a satisfying and unexpected ending... and the most important, a sense of humour . I really like books that make me laugh. (Surprise, surprise, eh?)

Having said that, I'll read virtually anything.

So, any ideas?