Recommend me some books to read please

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CaptainCarCrash
Posts: 2852
Joined: 23 Jun 2009 20:04
Location: Even further than before

Recommend me some books to read please

Post by CaptainCarCrash »

Could you recommend me some books to read please, maybe something factual that has had a profound affect on your life. The only thing I ask is that you do not include the Bible or anything that is too inaccesible. So god and Karl Marx are off the menu.

Thanks in advance

Mike
leenewham
Posts: 5886
Joined: 2 Sep 2007 11:58
Location: SYDENHAM
Contact:

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by leenewham »

Cradle to Cradle.

And watch http://www.ted.com if you don't already know of it. It's about brilliance.
kennyb2
Posts: 133
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 09:22
Location: wilts

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by kennyb2 »

Encyclopedia Britannica.

The older versions contain some interesting how-to-do-it of things now illegal, or just repressed and are wonderfully non PC in places.
My 1911 edition goes into great detail about the manufacture of Nitro-Glycerine and the Distillation of various drinkables.
Tim Lund
Posts: 6718
Joined: 13 Mar 2008 18:10
Location: Silverdale

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Tim Lund »

Since you're interested in Shakespeare, how about the book I mentioned by James Shapiro: 1599: A Year in the life of William Shakespeare. Lots about the politics of the time. Very happy to lend you my copy.
mummycat
Posts: 576
Joined: 8 May 2007 12:10
Location: not se26

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by mummycat »

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Last edited by mummycat on 17 Jul 2011 21:31, edited 1 time in total.
Robin Orton
Posts: 3380
Joined: 9 Sep 2008 07:30
Location: London SE26

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Robin Orton »

Thus Spake Zarathustra, by Friedrich Nietzsche. Changed my life. The perfect antidote to God. Accessible if you're prepared to make an effort; get an edition (eg Penguin Classics) with a good introduction.

The other book that changed my life is Apologia pro Vita Sua by John Henry Newman, but I'm afraid God comes into that quite a lot.
Maria
Posts: 374
Joined: 3 Nov 2010 14:34
Location: Sydenham

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Maria »

Pat Barker’s Regeneration trilogy: recently recommended by one of our book club members, I just cannot put them down. An extremely moving account of World War I events and their impact on the lives of all of those touched by them.

The more affective because some of the characters are real life ones (eg war poet Siegfried Sassoon)... these are, really, absolutely compelling & wonderful novels. How come had not read them before??
Savvy
Posts: 630
Joined: 16 Jan 2005 18:20
Location: SE26

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Savvy »

"Pure, White and Deadly" by Prof John Yudkin - probably out of print but you'll be able to get it second hand. A real eyeopener about the poison that is manufacutred sugar and the rise and rise of Tate and Lyle. It would be a banned substance if it were new today. I haven't eaten a doughnut since.
CaptainCarCrash
Posts: 2852
Joined: 23 Jun 2009 20:04
Location: Even further than before

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by CaptainCarCrash »

Tim Lund wrote:Since you're interested in Shakespeare, how about the book I mentioned by James Shapiro: 1599: A Year in the life of William Shakespeare. Lots about the politics of the time. Very happy to lend you my copy.
Thanks Tim, I'll pick it up on Saturday morning if you could bring it with you please.
Maria wrote:Pat Barker’s Regeneration trilogy: recently recommended by one of our book club members, I just cannot put them down. An extremely moving account of World War I events and their impact on the lives of all of those touched by them.

The more affective because some of the characters are real life ones (eg war poet Siegfried Sassoon)... these are, really, absolutely compelling & wonderful novels. How come had not read them before??
I've recently read a book called 19th Century poetry, the work of Wilfred Owen made the biggest impact, it took me a while because I found it to be a bit too heavy and it was quite depressing really. Not that I didn't think it was brilliant because it was.
marymck
Posts: 1579
Joined: 9 Feb 2008 16:30
Location: Upper Kirkdale

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by marymck »

The Wind in the Willows.
MiniFox
Posts: 191
Joined: 8 Oct 2007 20:32
Location: Lawrie Park Road

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by MiniFox »

My favourite book of recent years is The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen
I adore it
Robin Orton
Posts: 3380
Joined: 9 Sep 2008 07:30
Location: London SE26

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Robin Orton »

The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen
I enjoyed reading it too, though I can't say it has stuck very much in my memory. In fact, I can't remember a thing about it!
Kirkdale Boy
Posts: 59
Joined: 30 Jun 2011 12:56
Location: Kirkdale

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Kirkdale Boy »

My fav book is The Lion , The Witch & The Wardrobe. Yes maybe a childrens book, however I love it
Pantwetter
Posts: 44
Joined: 4 Jul 2011 11:57
Location: Crystal Palace

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Pantwetter »

Any Human Heart - William Boyd

Bit of a cliche this one, but Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks is a particular favourite of mine
Kirkdale Boy
Posts: 59
Joined: 30 Jun 2011 12:56
Location: Kirkdale

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Kirkdale Boy »

Im after Fly Fishing by J R Hartley. Any ideas where I can get a copy - LOL
Dorian
Posts: 371
Joined: 6 Sep 2007 14:55
Location: se26

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Dorian »

Best factual book ive read in years..........

http://www.amazon.co.uk/London-Autobiog ... 1845298756
safdirector
Posts: 150
Joined: 25 Aug 2010 11:09
Location: Sydenham

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by safdirector »

My best recommendation would be to pop into Sydenham's very own Kirkdale Bookshop (est. 1966) where Geraldine and her extremely well-informed staff would be more than happy to recommend you literally hundreds of books (most of them on the shelves, new, or second-hand in the basement).

Otherwise my personal recommendation would be Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr (which I reread every few years or so) or anything by cult-gone-mainstream Japanese author Haruki Murakami (though his work may well fall into the 'Marmite' category...)
Kirkdale Boy
Posts: 59
Joined: 30 Jun 2011 12:56
Location: Kirkdale

Re: Recommend me some books to read please

Post by Kirkdale Boy »

Michael, now I had you down as an intelligent man, however you are quite boring, keeping on the same topic about sockpoppets, for gods sake, turn the record over
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