Now I am commuting every day I decided to start reading so as to avoid staring at Facebook constantly so started with something that would be easy to pick up and not take too much concentration (I normally read factual historical books which take more concentration than a 25 minute commute can offer) so started with Red Notice (picked up for 10p at a Christmas Fair). But by christ - it's like reading something barely one step up from a children's book! What utter drivel.
So - what else can I read that is going to be a bit more stimulating but not too heavy going for 30 minute bursts?
Pratchett.
All the Pratchett
I quite like Damien Lewis, just reading his book, 'Judy'. A great read. Plus 'operation certain death' was a good read of his. Does not require much thinking, but quite a fun one.
I also like Ben McIntyre's spy books.
I used to read loads but somehow lost the desire with encroaching years/everyday internet addiction/shortening concentration span
However, recently tried to rekindle and raided pur bookshelf plus local library for some light yet compelling fiction. A dozen books I never finished, but there were a couple that I relished:
'A Short Gentleman' - John Canter
'Us' - David Nicholls
Both hilarious and ace. Easy dipping, packed with flavour. For those of us of a certain age they are especially good 😎
Andy McNab is quite honestly Shakespeare when compared to the literary excrement produced by Ant Middleton. Good with a gun no doubt, but bloody awful with a pen!
Try the Nick Stone series from McNab - way better than the Tom Buckingham ones.
The Tom Thorne detective crime books by Mark Billingham are pretty good.
Try a Tim Moore. Travel books with a bit of history.
Ben Macintyre.
Tales of spying and deception. All true.
I've just read his book about Gordievsky. Hard to put down. If it wasn't true you would say it was a crap plot line. But a rivetting read.
Try agent Zigzag. Also true. Will open your eyes.
Try Dark Matter by Blake Crouch: I haven't finished a book that fast in years.
I'll trot out my usual recommendations:
South - Ernest Shackleton
Lonesome Dove (and the rest in the series) - Larry McMurtry
Plus
The Expanse series - James S A Corey
Ned Boulting's books
Cycling to the Ashes - Oli Broom
I'm currently reading a book about the Cuban Missile Crisis - its certainly eye opening in terms of how close we came to nuclear war.
I'd recommend the Jackson Lamb series by Mick Herron. Contemporary spy thrillers, easy to follow and roll along at a good pace so ideal for a commute. Funny to boot. I picked one up at a campsite 'lending library' thinking it would be a bit naff, but would do for something to read for a night and was pleasantly surprised.
Slow Horses is the first one linky
Lighthearted easy reading? Bill Bryson.
I’m currently reading a book about the Cuban Missile Crisis – its certainly eye opening in terms of how close we came to nuclear war.
Which book is that?
I heard a story that a Russian sub captain wanted to launch a nuclear torpedo against a US destroyer but his second in command wouldn't give his consent. Imagine where we would be if he had!
I'd like to read a bit more about all that.
I was under the impression that Red Notice is part of a series of books aimed at older kids and not really for adults. As mentioned above you should be looking at the Nick Stone thriller books that McNab wrote. I find in that particular genre that Cris Ryans books were better as he didnt fill out the book with unnecessary details every other page. Lee child books are ok too for reading without using the brain.
I was under the impression that Red Notice is part of a series of books aimed at older kids
I doubt that as there are a couple of bits that are definitely adult (ie, a woman being murdered by the baddie in front of her two young children).
Kevin Wignall, Stuart McBride and John stone house are fairly good easy read.
Ben Macintyre is ok but the last Gordievsky book was quite poor, read like a hagiography for the spooks after showing them up in his philby tome
Imagine where we would be if he had!
That was Vasili Arkhipov. Although second in command of the sub he was the flotilla commander. A normal second in command wouldnt have got a vote.
For worrying stories about near nuclear disaster "command and control" is rather good/scary.
A normal second in command wouldnt have got a vote.
Thought he had a second key without which the torpedo wouldn't fire? Captain couldn't overrule that could he?
I used to commute to work by train and ended up devouring all the Douglas Coupland and Nick Hornby books. Not too taxing but they suited me. Tried some heavier stuff, but knocked it on the head when I blurted out "Jesus Christ" during We Need to Talk About Kevin and almost burst into tears when reading Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood.
When the books that got heavier in tone started affecting me like that, I knew it might be time to look for another job
Ben Macintyre
Great books but maybe not for the train in short bursts. I quite liked Ian Rankin's Rebus series when travelling, good page turners though the first isn't great, he definitely gets better as he goes along. Also as already mentioned Bill Bryson would be a good choice.
Jon Ronson.
A thread on here the other day reminded me of Eastern Approaches by Fitzroy Maclean. It's a very breezy spy and military sabotage story...that happens to be true!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DN5V69I/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o00_?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This one, that story is correct. Sub commanders at one point had authority to fire nuclear torpedoes without referring back to Moscow. The captain and two other senior officers had to agree and one chap refused. He basically saved the world, very much like in Crimson Tide 🙂 but the other way around.
I really enjoyed Outlaws.inc.
In the world's most dangerous trouble spots, a small band of men risk their lives to fly in desperately needed aid. But they are not heroes. Their giant ex-Soviet cargo planes are also riddled with secret compartments, which they fill with drugs, guns, money or people. They deliver anywhere, and they rtake their cut. But they pay a heavy price, many losing their lives to gun-toting pirates, terrorists, hostile state forces, jealous competitors and alcohol.
In Outlaws Inc. Matt Potter follows their incredible story around the world. He discovers a secret society of mercenaries, dictators, agents, gangsters, businessmen and real-life Bond villains. Updated for the paperback edition, this story is the stuff of spy thrillers and action movies, but all the more terrifying for being true.
has Andy McNab finally killed off Nick Stone then?
As for his work, I gave up about a decade ago, they felt like he shoehorned the same story into different circumstances to trot them out just before Xmas each year.
His *cough* non-fiction works are better.
Bravo Two Zero the fictional story of his famous mission is pretty good. It reads a little bit like Hot Shots Part Deux in places, but it's fun.
Immediate Action is the sort or prequel which I actually preferred. It's supposedly more closely aligned to the truth.
Seven Troop is the sort of sad partner to the above when he tells the story of how everyone involved in the above completely failed to readjust to 'civvy street' started off as mavericks and generally ended up sad and lonely, but mostly dead in increasingly sad circumstances. I'd probably give it a miss TBH.
As for other authors, Layer Cake by JJ Connelly is excellent, it's from 2000 and in the same vein as Lock Stock and all that, probably hasn't aged well, but it's a fun, sometimes funny book of a bunch of Gangsters doing a bunch of Gangster shit.
Any of the above should be about 3p in all good charity shops.
No, I don't do highbrow.
For modern(ish) but fictitious war type stuff then Harold Coyle gets my vote (start with Team Yankee).
Andy McNab isn't one of my favourite authors, I've read some of his but they never gelled.
Try:
Scott Miriani
Steve Berry
Will Adams
Matthew Reilly
These authors are Adventure/Archaeological bias with some decent enough twists, and a few interesting tales.
Then this guy, if you like the above, then this guy produced some very engaging tales. Sadly he's no longer with us.. but he's left a legacy and acclaimed legacy at that..
Check out any of the Jack Reacher books by Lee Child. Guaranteed to be a few in any charity shop.
I've just started Absolute Proof by Peter James, it'd be ideal for short bursts.
I'd second the Tim Moore suggestion made above.
Band of Brothers. An excellent read.
I really liked the earlier Andy McNab books. Not read the recent ones but I'm pretty sure I could pick up and enjoy the Nick Stone series again.
Anything by either Michael Connelly or Stephen Leather. Both are former journalists; Connelly writes crime thrillers, Leather has a former SAS-character
Pratchett is my go too for 'popcorn' books, quick easy and satisfying. A bit of fantasy is always good to counteract a grim bus commute.
Any of the classic mountaineering books? Into Thin Air, Beckoning Silence, White Spider, Touching the Void etc.
Cockleshell Heroes
So gripping you may not realise that your train / bus has stopped and started going back the other way.
When you're done with that, would second the Jack Reacher books (Lee Child).
Like bad booze, I'm sure it rots your brain, but is certainly addictive and enjoyable at the time.
You'll hate yourself, but will keep going back for more.
Stephen leather, zoe sharp, iain rankin and lee child are the mainstays of my kindle library. Only as i own every pratchett book in the flesh(including the brilliant unadulterated cat)
All easy to pick up and put down.
If you like factual war type stuff then 'Sniper One' by Dan Mills is excellent.
He's just rescued two young children after embarking the train via the toilet. Quite appropriate given how shit the book is. Never again will I read such dross.
I am pilgrim is worth a go for an easy read spy thriller.
Game of Thrones!
Tim Moore
Lighthearted easy reading? Bill Bryson.
This for me too
Harlan Coben are worth a try
As above, the early McNab books are quite good. Having read the Amazon blurb for the one the OP is currently reading, it sounds like he's just churning out Hollywood screenplay fodder now. The early ones (Nick Stone series) are a lot darker and go into a lot of technical detail about stuff. I read most of them ages ago and am thinking of re-reading them once I've finished re-reading the Discworld series (current up to Eric, so still some way to go... Guards! Guards! had me laughing out loud in places. Can't wait to get to Men at Arms as I recall it being a cracker) and very much recommend those too.
'Most Secret War' RV Jones
I enjoyed the first half dozen Nick Stone books but after that the quality dipped imo. I have read the book the OP commented one and struggled to finish it
George McDonald Fraser's Flashman series are my normal recommendation for people wanting a series of books to read.
The first couple or three Nick Stone books were great - gritty, enthralling with really interesting detail, but I totally agree with an earlier poster who said that different stories were shoehorned into the same story, first few books will do you. I really enjoyed his autobio stuff but YMMV.
Hemingway.
Disarmingly easy to read. Some of the best literature ever created.
Sounds like you need to discover Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels. Don’t bother with the latter ones, written by anyone willing to have a go, stick to the early ones: “Sahara”, “Inca Gold”, “Raise the Titanic” etc. Ok, they are a bit predictable, & a but James Bond, but they are well written & the plots are good fun. Perfect for half an hours daydreaming until your train gets in.
If you want the best then there is only one Frederick Forsyth. Start with “Day of the Jacksl”. But bare with it though. Forsyth spends a lot of time & effort setting the scene & the characters. The attention to detail is excellent though, &, bar one or two, I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read of his.
Clive Cussler? Seriously? Terrible - me dad loved em, didn't work for me. Dogfight between a Catalina flying boat and a WWI Albatross, where the Catalina loops the loop? Don't mind a bit of suspension of disbelief, but don't take the p!ss!
+ one on michael connelly
The Lincoln lawyer or detective Harry Bosch books, fast reads and entertaining, crime around Los Angeles,
Also recently got into Tom wood Viktor assassin series
If you haven’t already read mario Puzo (godfather) and Robert Ludlum the bourne trilogy are brilliant (and as an added bonus) you won’t have to read the later drivel that some big sellers are currently churning out
John Grisham first book a time to kill and other early works are quality reads too
Most Secret War - good call - cracking book.
Hemingway.
Disarmingly easy to read. Some of the best literature ever created.
Indeed. Or Steinbeck.
P G Woodhouse
Sherlock Homes and Flemings James Bond novels are also easy reads
Or, if you are really struggling..
For a hilarious but fairly large book, try A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY by John Irving (of the Cider House Rules fame).
I really need to read it again!
Like Boba Fett, I can't be done with reading any more Haruki Murakami (I did enjoy the Wind Up Bird Chronicle but Norwegian Wood left me in a bad place) and same for Thomas Hardy. Thought We Need to Talk About Kevin was ok though.
Otherwise I'll try anything I've heard of that's on sale for 99p on the Kindle Store. Stephen King, Bernard Cornwell (Sharpe), James Bond....
It might have been thanks to a link on here that I signed up for BookBub, which is a daily/weekly email list of cheap e-books.