[Closed] Holiday reading

The Son by Philip Meyer
May We Be Forgiven by A M Holmes
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
Suttree by Cormac McCarthy

All good in their own way. Middle two are lighter and more humorous.

I've just read a Carl Hiaasen anthology (his forst three books; Tourist Season, Double Whammy and Skin Tight) having recently read and enjoyed Skinny Dip. Dark and humorous crime thriller type stuff set in Florida.

Plus, my standard recommendation of Lonesome Dove.

and I'll finish with Ben Aaranovitch's Rivers of London series

Recommend "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. Really enjoyed it and will definitely re-visit at some point.

"King Rat" by China Mieville is a particular favourite as is "Neverwhere" and "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

Just started on the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch. "Rivers of London" and "Moon Over Soho" read, currently reading "Whispers Under Ground". Very enjoyable series.

The Son by Philip Meyer

American Rust by him is v.good too.

I'm really enjoying The Man Who Loved Islands by David F. Ross at the moment. I've read the other two books in the 'series' last days of disco and the miraculous vespas.

Its an oldie but a goodie but read "the ragged trousered philanthopists" by Robert Tressell.

I have David Millars book lined up but as its the first holiday without the kids I will need a couple more!

If you haven't read it yet then it must be (IMO) Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

Edit: Although my most-read book is Weaveworld by Clive Barker.

Ready Player One is indeed excellent!

If you've not readt it already then [url= http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/kill-your-friends-by-john-niven-780982.html ]Kill Your Friends by john Niven [/url]is ace! very funny in a twisted psychotic way. The follow up The Second Coming is even funnier

[img] http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRuMP8Sx4bhZzP1VcmLRlD9bnO97Dtj3n9gRGWsYkk55yesVDk7 [/img]

For non-fiction, I just read this as well, which is absolutely fascinating. interviews with German troops about their experiences of D Day. Its a bit different from our traditional accounts, and truly harrowing

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If you haven't read it yet then it must be (IMO) Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

And/or (but really and) East of Eden

Thanks for that Binners - I shall order that today - the only 'German' account I have read was 'All Quiet on the Western Front' and it wasn't until I had finished it that I found out it was a dramatisation of events, not actuality.

2nd John Niven, kill your friends is excellent.

johndoh - its a reminder that history is written by the winners. Its accounts of being on the receiving end of the biggest and most powerful military force ever assembled, which we rarely think about. The attitude of the German troops about their role in 'defending Europe from aggression' is a testament to the propaganda they were being fed. The interviews were conducted in the early 50's, so a lot of what we know now still hadn't emerged

Its a truly fascinating read. I couldn't put it down. Finished in one lazy day by the pool

Outlaws of the Marsh:Tales of the Water Margin by Shi Nai'an
Violence, drinking, more violence, bit of chat, more drunken violence.

Absolutely Binners - which is why I did try finding something readable from the German perspective (I have read many Allied accounts from historians through to veterans) but will be great to read an account from the German perspective.

And bonus - the Kindle edition was free on Prime 🙂

Dreamland by Sam Quinones

Non fiction about the rise of black tar heroin in suburban America, it's roots in the prescription pain epidemic and the Mexican drug runners that serviced the demand. Might sound like a dry topic but it's fascinating stuff.

muppetWrangler - that sounds like a good read. In the same mould, I've just finished [url= http://shaunattwood.com/book/pablo-escobar-beyond-narcos/ ]Pablo Escobar: Beyond Narcos[/url]. It details the collusion of the CIA and the George Bush government with the cartels, and the drug running they carried out raising cash (off the books) then using it for the financing of gun-running to the contra rebels in Nicaragua. Another really interesting read

Game of Thrones, but I suspect your holiday won't be long enough to finish all seven books.

The Revelation Space trilogy by Alastair Reynolds is brilliant if you can handle a sci-fi space opera type thing.

The biggest departure from most drug running stories is the lack of violence, the Mexicans involved in this did all they could to avoid confrontation, no guns carried, picky about where they set up shop, in their minds they were farmers using a franchise model to sell direct to the public.

if you're interested but dont want to go the whole hog and read the book there's an audio interview with the author below. The first 20 minutes are a bit of a preamble so if you're not used to listening to the WTF podcasts you might want to skip over that bit:

The Human Game by Simon Read.

The true story of how they hunted down the Gestapo that murdered the escapees from the Great Escape.

Brilliant book!

Also, The Shepherds life by James Rebanks.

American Tabloid by James Ellroy, sublime historical fiction.

Conn Iggulden, pick a series. The war of the Roses one has been excellent but also enjoyed the Genghis Khan ones too.

For a bit of mild fantasy then Joe Abercrombie's books have been superb.

And I'll second Lonesome Dove.

I've got Ready Player One, Ken Follets Fall of Giants and A Mountain before breakfast for my holidays.

Non fiction I reckon every man should read Jupiter's Travels and The Right Stuff. Brilliant books.

Conn Iggulden,

And I'll second Lonesome Dove

At last, after years of recommending it on these threads, someone else who's read it! 🙂

Have you read the rest (Streets of Laredo, Comanche Moon, Dead Man's Walk)?

As an aside: Speilberg is in the process of filming Ready Player One at the moment, with a mega budget. Should be good! They borrowed the original machines from [url=

Club[/url], which we're lucky enough to be down the road from.

If you're into your retro gaming (and I'm thinking if you enjoyed Ready Player One, then you are) Arcade Club really is heaven on earth. A tenner in, and every game on earth on free play. Nothing swallows a day quite like it. And there's a bar! 😀

Denis Johnson died last month, sadly - one of the most gifted writers of recent times. Not as well known over here as some of his American contemporaries, so worth picking up if you've not read him.

I'd recommend anything from him, but he was a poet at heart and his longer books can be a bit baggy. Shorter form and he slays - stuff like [i]Angels[/i], [i]Jesus' son[/i], [i]Train dreams[/i] [The first of those is heavy shit, though, so only if you're in the mood].

Garry_Lager Good call. I read Train Dreams and enjoyed it a lot - might try some others. You might like William Gay (bit like Cormac McCarthy but less well known). Dark, atmospheric 'southern gothic' I think they call it. Beautifully written.

Have you read the rest (Streets of Laredo, Comanche Moon, Dead Man's Walk)?

I never managed to get a copy of Dead Man's Walk but I read the rest. I had no idea I'd like cowboy books but these were excellent.

read part of the Caesar series, would have been more historically accurate.

Well it is historical fiction and he does try to explain where he padded things out or outright made things up at the end of each book. I found them enjoyable and since the OP likes Jack Reacher books a bit of imagination stretching isn't a bad thing for the sake of entertainment.

Further reading:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/holiday-reading

Anything?

I bet you haven't got the legs for Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. I thought it was bloody good though.

Just started on the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch.

I've read those - the one with the fairy changeling is set in my home town and as they chase unicorns (seriously) through the woods they use some of the exact trails I used to ride..!

I never managed to get a copy of Dead Man's Walk

I might still have it, I'll check

Nivens best book is the amateurs, but I may be slightly biased due to the local content.

Inglorious, a shepherds life and Feral are 3 really good books if you're an outdoorsy/conservation type...

wl - Member

Garry_Lager Good call. I read Train Dreams and enjoyed it a lot - might try some others. You might like William Gay (bit like Cormac McCarthy but less well known). Dark, atmospheric 'southern gothic' I think they call it. Beautifully written.

Many thanks for all the recommendations, will be ordering a few of these.

Pretty much anything by Ben Macintyre, but especially Operation Mincemeat.

Also, this;
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A truly excellent read. Also, pretty much anything else by Winchester.