All,

I have a £20 amazon voucher from Crimbo, a Kindle and the need to get some wonderful, absorbing and brilliant books. The kind that you really miss once you’ve finished them.

I’m prepared to be surprised, so no “here’s what I like” guidance provided.

What would you recommend?

Thanks
TM

‘Marching Powder’ by Rusty Young

I was recommended this book by a similar thread on here (it was free at the time). I really enjoyed it.

This one is still free and was worth the price 🙂

And in addition, I really enjoyed all Neal Asher’s books, particularly the Polity series.

“Stoner”

John Williams.

I imagine its available digitally, I read the paper version which was excellent.

Super – all those bought. love the lucky dip responses 🙂

any more?

Thanks TM

“Moods of future joys” & “Thunder & Sunshine” by Alistair Humphreys.
Best cycling books I’ve read.

If you want something fictional try “Day of the jackal” by the master storyteller, Frederick Forsyth.
First book I read that I honestly couldn’t put down once I was half way through.

How about The Secret History by Donna Tartt? I read it when it came out but was reminded how good it was when I heard a Q and A with the author on Radio 4 last week. Won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but for some reason stuck with me for a long time.

The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Three men in a boat and Three men on the bummel. Anything by Arthur Conan Doyle.

I mainly read free stuff…doesn’t help you to spend £20.

Any of Bill Bryson’s travel books; endlessly entertaining, funny, and very informative.

The Sisters Brothers

The Henchmen’s Book Club

The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

+1

Absolutely brilliant book – best I’ve read in years.

The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Yes – read that last year and miss it. good suggestion. More like that please.

Still miss The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Keep em coming. all good 🙂

TM

Chickenhawk

Basically an English teacher “borrows” an 11 foot ply wood sailing dighy in Shropshire. He eventually ends up at the Black Sea. I loved this. Read the reviews to see if it sounds like you

The top ones pricey. This one is cheap!

I think its the best thriller I’ve read. Up their with the “The Girl With Dragon tattoo” I assume you’ve read that?

Chickenhawk is a cracking book. I still remember i from 1988.

Anything by Charles Stross is worth reading. Accelerando is a good place to start.

Sweet tooth by Ian McEwan
Any of the Rebus books by Ian Rankin
Extremely Loud and incredibly close
Any David Guterson – Snow falling on cedars
Little Green Man by Simon Armitage

Couldnt put this down

‘Pest Control’ by Bill Fitzhugh.

I’m very grateful for the recent-ish post re 99p e-books. Added to my collection was Lejog, Hitchens, the Beeching cuts and Nancy Mitford. Very happy. 😀

If you want something pseudo-random, a mate of mine’s got a book out.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dogged-Scribblings-Thomas-Thurman-ebook/dp/B00HOGVGF6

I’ve not read it myself yet, but he’s a dude and very funny so I expect it’s quite good; plus, you get change out of a quid.

If you liked Chickenhawk, then I can recommend..

and

Anything by Charles Stross is worth reading. Accelerando is a good place to start.

I love Stross’s books, Halting State and Rule 34 are really good, lots of dark, cynical Scottish humour.

lots of dark, cynical Scottish humour.

If that’s your bag might I recommend Christopher Brookmyre?

Flatland by Edwin A Abbott, odd but very enjoyable.

GW Dalqhist’s Glass Books Trilogy:

The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters
The Dark Volume
The Chemickal (sic) Marriage

Top yarns

Shrimpy – http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Acton

Think its out print hence happy to share a PDF (which I think you can email to your Kindle) unless you want to cough up £50 for a used copy on Amazon.

PM with email for a copy. Anyone have Shrimpy Sails Again?

metro 2033

I love one man and his bike by Mike Carter.. a fantastic book about a journo that rides around the coast of Britain.. read it four times now. Its funny and easy going

I have just finished reading Dante’s Divine Comedy.
It’s worth a read but very heavy and strange in parts, especially inferno

John Grishams sycamore row

Another vote for Chickenhawk.

Apparently Mein Kampf and 50 Shades of Grey are particularly popular Kindle reads, as no one else can see what you’re reading.

I’m currently enjoying “Fear and Loathing in La Liga: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid“, all about the history and rivalry between the two clubs.

The Secret History mentioned above is a cracking book, as are (in no particular order)

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Wool (and sequels)
Dark Matter

Hunger Games trilogy

Seriously

The secret race

American psycho

The curious incident of the dog in the night time

It’s not about the bike is also a good fictional read

Another thumbs up for Wool (and sequels).

Narrow Dog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington is very funny.

The Worst Journey In The World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. Very possibly one of the best adventure books of all time.

Cryptonomicon

Black Swan – The impact of the highly improbable by Nicholas Taleb

Will change the way you think about everything