The Books Thread (Fiction)

shashi63 · 6th August 2014, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiestarry

Wodehouse is a favourite of mine too. The image he conjures up where Bertie Wooster rises at a late hour close to lunch, and heads to the Drones Club for some Gin n tonic to reflect upon the state of the world is a tempting one.

Another example of his wit whilst describing a pompous but poor golfer, he says that the man was " disturbed by the clamour of the butterflies in the adjoining course"

Absolutely! No one and to my knowledge has used grammar in such a manner to make one laugh! Irrespective of the number of times I have read a book I still end up enjoying the book every time I read it. I think Right Ho Jeeves is a Classic with that bit where Gussie gives away the prices and then there are several Blandings stories which can keep one away from the stress of daily like.

virgopal · 7th August 2014, 11:44

I am a great fan of P.G.Wodehouse.Have read almost all his books.
Other favurites whose books I liked: Alistair Maclean,Arthur Hailey,Len Deighton and Cornelius Ryan.

fiestarry · 25th August 2014, 22:38

I strongly recommend Bill Bryson's 'A short history of nearly everything'.
Bryson is a genius at explaining complex topics with simplicity and American humor !
I am sure his other books are great too. I plan to take that ride soon nuff.

Lee Child's character Jack Reacher is yet another troubleshooter in the Western style.
He strongly resembles Oliver Strange's 'Sudden' in his footloose lifestyle with a latent grudge against the system. And uses his great height and strength combined with Army honed street smartness to bring down the crooked un. Too bad the midget Cruise plays him in the screen version.
Good reading.

Louis L'Amour is an all time fave author. Jeffery Archer tends to over simplify plots in the Sheldon way. The protagonist has too quick a rise or fall.
Alistair McLean was a good writer but dragged on forever in the ' Night without end'.

Chase was a brilliant writer but his books always had a morbid ending with no one getting a good deal.

Ms Blyton was a charming story teller too... happy childhood memories.

Eddy · 11th September 2014, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiestarry

Ms Blyton was a charming story teller too... happy childhood memories.

Oh yes, without a doubt. The "Barney Mystery" series is my favourite.

-------------

Guys, which book do you think is the best thriller written by an Indian author ?

skdking · 12th September 2014, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiestarry

I strongly recommend Bill Bryson's 'A short history of nearly everything'.
Bryson is a genius at explaining complex topics with simplicity and American humor !
I am sure his other books are great too. I plan to take that ride soon nuff........
.......

Chase was a brilliant writer but his books always had a morbid ending with no one getting a good deal.

Ms Blyton was a charming story teller too... happy childhood memories.

Hello,

I agree about Bill Bryson.

A very gifted writer.

Very lucid and readable too.

Bye.

cogweelz · 14th September 2014, 04:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy

Guys, which book do you think is the best thriller written by an Indian author ?

Please read the Simoquin Prophesies by Samit Basu. Thats been my long time fav. It's cocktail of a thriller.

Eddy · 14th September 2014, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by cogweelz

Please read the Simoquin Prophesies by Samit Basu. Thats been my long time fav. It's cocktail of a thriller.

Thanks, its been lying on my bookshelf for quite a while but never got around to reading it.

Let me do that once I finish Lee Child's Jack Reacher novel - Killing Floor.

vrprabhu · 5th October 2014, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by procrj

Not what I would call vintage Forsyth. Where is the character build up?where are the idiosyncrasies associated with people? The book reads like a movie script which needs to wrap things up in 120 min

Half way through, and struggling to finish - quite unlike Forsyth.....

Many parts read like a report, and fiction appears to have taken the back seat.

TKMCE · 5th October 2014, 18:17

Chasing the Monsoon by Alexander Frater

Wonderful travel writing about the Monsoons. Worth reading. Book is dated (Mid 1980s) but still worth the time.

princey · 6th October 2014, 17:15

Hi People
Any Andy Mcnab readers/fans out here ?

TKMCE · 10th November 2014, 11:39

I have just started using "Open Library" which is a good resource for borrowing e books.

https://openlibrary.org/

Many of the e-books can be borrowed for 14 days (5 books at a time) using Adobe Digital Editions which is downladable for free.

Interesting concept and I am currently reading some of the novels of AJ Cronin which I was not able to get hold of till now. Just finished "A Song of Six Pence" and now started on its sequel "A Pocketful of Rye".

A good resource for some of those books which is not easy to get hold of in the paper format.

Also dont know how many of you read "Paddington Bear" books in your childhood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddington_Bear

Stumbled accross a few of them in the library as well and now I have to get my son started on this. Wonderfully written and great fun for kids.

filcord · 10th November 2014, 12:09

I like Italian food and culture. Just on a whim, picked up a copy of "Extra Virgin" by Annie Hawes. It's an account of Annie and her sister, two young British women who went to do a summer job on the coast of Liguria, northern Italy, eventually bought a "rustico", basically a summer farm house, with some land. Her style of writing is innovative, and side-splittingly funny. The characters come to life, and are not viewed in a condescending manner as one would expect from a British tourist looking at rural Italian farmers. I liked it so much that I went on to buy the rest of her accounts, in four further books. Highly recommended.

Eddy · 11th November 2014, 13:54

Read "Gone Girl".

The book has its moments and is quite an interesting read in the middle. But the beginning and the ending did not do justice to all the hype around it. Maybe I expected more. Now to watch the movie

In the pipeline now:

- Playing it my way - Sachin Tendulkar
- The English Girl
- Three Men in a boat
- Jaya (Mahabharat)

venuvedam · 11th November 2014, 14:05

Just finished "Off to be a wizard" a surprisingly good read about time travel. Next in line are:

1. Jesus was a Time Traveler
2. Gray Mountain
3. The Mahabharata Secret

naveenroy · 11th November 2014, 16:25

Currently reading "Arsene Wenger: The Biography" by Xavier Rivoire. Decent enough book. I am a big fan of Arsene and find it interesting.

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7th August 2014, 11:44	#902
virgopal BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore,Mysor Posts: 244 Thanked: 120 Times	re: The Book Thread (Fiction) I am a great fan of P.G.Wodehouse.Have read almost all his books. Other favurites whose books I liked: Alistair Maclean,Arthur Hailey,Len Deighton and Cornelius Ryan.
	() Thanks

25th August 2014, 22:38	#903
fiestarry BANNED Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Mumbai Posts: 341 Thanked: 608 Times	re: The Book Thread (Fiction) I strongly recommend Bill Bryson's 'A short history of nearly everything'. Bryson is a genius at explaining complex topics with simplicity and American humor ! I am sure his other books are great too. I plan to take that ride soon nuff. Lee Child's character Jack Reacher is yet another troubleshooter in the Western style. He strongly resembles Oliver Strange's 'Sudden' in his footloose lifestyle with a latent grudge against the system. And uses his great height and strength combined with Army honed street smartness to bring down the crooked un. Too bad the midget Cruise plays him in the screen version. Good reading. Louis L'Amour is an all time fave author. Jeffery Archer tends to over simplify plots in the Sheldon way. The protagonist has too quick a rise or fall. Alistair McLean was a good writer but dragged on forever in the ' Night without end'. Chase was a brilliant writer but his books always had a morbid ending with no one getting a good deal. Ms Blyton was a charming story teller too... happy childhood memories. Last edited by fiestarry : 25th August 2014 at 22:39. Reason: spelling
	(1) Thanks

5th October 2014, 18:17	#909
TKMCE BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 542 Thanked: 1,204 Times	re: The Book Thread (Fiction) Chasing the Monsoon by Alexander Frater Wonderful travel writing about the Monsoons. Worth reading. Book is dated (Mid 1980s) but still worth the time.
	() Thanks

6th October 2014, 17:15	#910
princey BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 146 Thanked: 60 Times	Hi People Any Andy Mcnab readers/fans out here ?
	() Thanks

10th November 2014, 11:39	#911
TKMCE BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 542 Thanked: 1,204 Times	re: The Book Thread (Fiction) I have just started using "Open Library" which is a good resource for borrowing e books. https://openlibrary.org/ Many of the e-books can be borrowed for 14 days (5 books at a time) using Adobe Digital Editions which is downladable for free. Interesting concept and I am currently reading some of the novels of AJ Cronin which I was not able to get hold of till now. Just finished "A Song of Six Pence" and now started on its sequel "A Pocketful of Rye". A good resource for some of those books which is not easy to get hold of in the paper format. Also dont know how many of you read "Paddington Bear" books in your childhood. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddington_Bear Stumbled accross a few of them in the library as well and now I have to get my son started on this. Wonderfully written and great fun for kids.
	() Thanks

10th November 2014, 12:09	#912
filcord BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: goa Posts: 996 Thanked: 67 Times	re: The Book Thread (Fiction) I like Italian food and culture. Just on a whim, picked up a copy of "Extra Virgin" by Annie Hawes. It's an account of Annie and her sister, two young British women who went to do a summer job on the coast of Liguria, northern Italy, eventually bought a "rustico", basically a summer farm house, with some land. Her style of writing is innovative, and side-splittingly funny. The characters come to life, and are not viewed in a condescending manner as one would expect from a British tourist looking at rural Italian farmers. I liked it so much that I went on to buy the rest of her accounts, in four further books. Highly recommended.
	() Thanks

11th November 2014, 13:54	#913
Eddy Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 9,391 Thanked: 13,330 Times	re: The Book Thread (Fiction) Read "Gone Girl". The book has its moments and is quite an interesting read in the middle. But the beginning and the ending did not do justice to all the hype around it. Maybe I expected more. Now to watch the movie In the pipeline now: - Playing it my way - Sachin Tendulkar - The English Girl - Three Men in a boat - Jaya (Mahabharat)
	() Thanks

11th November 2014, 14:05	#914
venuvedam BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Reading UK Posts: 141 Thanked: 215 Times View My Garage	re: The Book Thread (Fiction) Just finished "Off to be a wizard" a surprisingly good read about time travel. Next in line are: 1. Jesus was a Time Traveler 2. Gray Mountain 3. The Mahabharata Secret
	() Thanks

11th November 2014, 16:25	#915
naveenroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,511 Thanked: 1,253 Times	re: The Book Thread (Fiction) Currently reading "Arsene Wenger: The Biography" by Xavier Rivoire. Decent enough book. I am a big fan of Arsene and find it interesting.
	() Thanks