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PCM.Daily's Book Club
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 16-05-2017 17:36
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I saw someone mention Jules Verne, and you are indeed a connoisseur of fine literature my dear fellow. Excellent author, highly engaging and fantastical. I've read various of his, mostly the obvious Twenty Thousand Leagues, Journey to the Center of the Eart, From Earth to the Moon, Around the World in 80 Days but great books are great books.
On sort of similar lines, i do love a bit of H G Wells. Again pretty much just the obvious reads, The Time Machine, The Island of Dr Moreau, The Invisible Man, The First Men in the Moon. But War of The Worlds is one of my all time top books, it's an excellently crafted written adventure, a real stand out of the genre.
Recently read a bit of H P Lovecraft. I wanted to know more of the origin of what so much modern occult/supernatural/horror-sci fi is based on. Really evocative writting and works. Certainly worth dipping into a variety of his works if you get the chance.
Right, pretentious stuff out the way 
Stieg Larsson and the Millenium Series are my absolute all time favorite books. Read the original trilogy at least 10 times and the 4th books about 4 times as well. For me they are perfect books, and i will always enjoy going back and reading them.
Even the opening book which fundamentally is a mystery novel, i can re-read it over and over despite knowing the outcome. The characters and world are so well built i can lose myself in it and every read becomes like a first one.
In the last year or so i've started reading a lot less. I've become a heathen and become an Audiobook listener I use Audbile, and it's f*cking brilliant. It allows me to consume the book whilst doing other things. So i know read less, but i consume more books. And a good narrator can really bring something to life.
The Martian by Andy Weir was the first audiobook and it was terrific. Brilliant book, as you'd expect it's better than the film (and the film was really good).
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, read by Scarlett Johansson. She's a great narrator and really boosts the book.
Hitchhikers Series by Douglas Adams, just incredible books by themselves. Read by Stephen Fry and Martin Freeman, shuch pure joy.
The Spy Who Loved Me, the Bond novel read by Rosamun Pike. First Bond Novel i actually read, was really entertaining and wildly different to the movie franchise.
The Ables by Jeremy Scott and read by Jeremy Scott. Jeremey Scott more commonly known as the voice of Cinema Sins. An excellent book, i highly recommend it. A fantastic twist on the superhero genre which is becoming saturated, and this book really takes it in a new direction.
And few more on Audilbe i might go over in another post later on.
And then there's the shelves of cycling literature as well
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-05-2017 20:10
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Audiobooks are very new to me. In fact, I'm listening to my very first now. Solaris. I read the book but know Lew didn't like the translation. A new translation has finally been made but only on audiobook so I'm listening to it now. It's nice but I prefer reading because I can concentrate better (always drifting off listening) and go much faster while still re-read easier when I missed something or want to check again.
I'm also the kind of guy who takes notes and puts labels in my books so no E-reader for me 
Okay you've convinced me to dive into Jules Verne. Looking forward to it.
I've also a copy of 'Mountains of Madness' by Lovecraft but I'm afraid the language will be hard for me, as I've skimmed through it quickly and I miss a lot of English vocabulaire.
Alice in Wonderland was a huge disappointment to me. Through the Looking Glass I found even worse. Should give it a second chance one time but not any time soon.
Hitchikers Guide, on the other hand, I found immensely funny. Are the sequels worth it, too? |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 16-05-2017 20:23
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See, i like Audiobooks because i don't have to concentrate so hard Every time i'm at the gym i put one on, or doing the washing up etc. But when i have the time i will always pick up the physical book.
Lovecraft i imagine can be tricky for a non-native. Don't know how hard it would be to find a translation? Worth trying even if it doesn't work.
Alice in Wonderland... it's a very easy story. One i know very well and like, but i wouldn't call it a must read. But when Scarlett Johanson is narrating it's a very different experience
Hitchhikers is a pure classic of sci-fi and comedy. If you like the first one you'll like the sequels. Restaurant At The End of the Universe is a direct follow on and well worth it. Life the Universe and Everything gets a bit weird and is not quite as good. So Long And Thanks For All The Fish is just straight up weird and the weakest of the series, you could skip it easily. Mostly Harmless ties it all together and is pretty short so worth reading.
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 16-05-2017 21:12
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I don't read nearly as much as some of you but still like to get at least an hour in each day. 
Absolutely love comedy books, have to say my favourite two books ever are The Restuarant at the End of the Universe (recently finished rereading that series for the umpteenth time ) and Catch 22 (also Blazing Saddles by Matt Rendal, but that's not comedy), usually have trouble finding comedy books I love though, tried Terry Pratchett but never really found anything of his that funny, trying Bill Bryson now (I'm up for suggestions )
Two authors I'd recommended who I haven't seen be mentioned here yet are John Le Carré, kinda political thrillers that are excellently written and Patrick Rothuss, who wrote the fantasy novels The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear in the same series, absolutely amazing books as the main character is written so excellently well, you get such an in-depth feel for his aspirations and emotions it's quite amazing, as well as the story feeling like it has so many plots intwined in one and the entire story feels realistic (I mean it's fantasy but the way the plot works out, etc.) Although that glowing appraisal mIgor sound a little bit overenthusiastic.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 17-05-2017 09:06
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trekbmc wrote:
I don't read nearly as much as some of you but still like to get at least an hour in each day.
Absolutely love comedy books, have to say my favourite two books ever are The Restuarant at the End of the Universe (recently finished rereading that series for the umpteenth time ) and Catch 22 (also Blazing Saddles by Matt Rendal, but that's not comedy), usually have trouble finding comedy books I love though, tried Terry Pratchett but never really found anything of his that funny, trying Bill Bryson now (I'm up for suggestions )
Two authors I'd recommended who I haven't seen be mentioned here yet are John Le Carré, kinda political thrillers that are excellently written and Patrick Rothuss, who wrote the fantasy novels The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear in the same series, absolutely amazing books as the main character is written so excellently well, you get such an in-depth feel for his aspirations and emotions it's quite amazing, as well as the story feeling like it has so many plots intwined in one and the entire story feels realistic (I mean it's fantasy but the way the plot works out, etc.) Although that glowing appraisal mIgor sound a little bit overenthusiastic.
I have mentioned this one and it is really a pure brilliance, definately a top3 fantasy series i have ever read. Now we are all waiting for the third and most likely final book of the chronicles (since 2011!!), please give it to us Patrick!
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| Raziz |
Posted on 17-05-2017 09:37
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I DON'T READ |
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| Selwink |
Posted on 17-05-2017 09:53
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You should though
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Posted on 27-11-2024 04:28
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 17-05-2017 10:02
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Love books but think I haven't reached the reading/maturity of the books level of most here, think that Harry Potter and a bit of Tolkein and Pratchett is all I can really relate to here, but some others I know of and should pick up. Oh and also around the world in 80 days a few years ago, don't remember much though
Oh and agree with Selwink Raziz 
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 17-05-2017 10:18
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Reading is a key element for an ability to create and express your opinion, it strengthen your vocabulary and ability to understand different thoughts, not even speaking about imagination. I see it as major element in growth of the person, which cant really be replaced by any other mean. Some peole see reading as passive thing to do, but boy, how wrong they are.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 17-05-2017 19:35
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jandal7 wrote:
Love books but think I haven't reached the reading/maturity of the books level of most here, think that Harry Potter and a bit of Tolkein and Pratchett is all I can really relate to here, but some others I know of and should pick up. Oh and also around the world in 80 days a few years ago, don't remember much though
Don't downplay a maturity in any book. Especially against some show offs who want to talk about how they read all the classics and masters I'm waiting for someone to pop in with proper classical stuff like The Odyssey or The Phoenician Women
Harry Potter is a really well crafted series and a brilliant example of something that has wide ranging appeal.
Tolkein is a brilliant interpretation of real-world ideals and events placed into a fantasy context.
Pratchett is just damn f*cking funny in a clever and unique way.
As three sets of series they are very different from each other. So whilst not perhaps seen as complicated or advanced as a Lovecraftian work, they really can be if you want to read between the lines and think.
It's part of what makes books (and most other entertainment media) so interesting. You can take them at face value for pure enjoyment, or you can dive between the lines and immerse yourself in the deeper workings.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 19-05-2017 17:22
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Just finished 2001: A Space Odyssey
Obviously I had seen the film, multiple times. Hesitant to read novels based on movies or vice versa, this is different because novel and screenplay were written at the same time.
Quite a good book.
However, the film is something very special, which the book just isn't. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-06-2017 23:08
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I was wondering if anyone read Lolita? And what your thoughts are on it? |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-07-2017 09:37
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If anyone wants a nice suggestion: American Gods. Read it for the first time and found it simply incredible. |
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| rogvi97 |
Posted on 07-08-2017 23:38
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I'm currently reading the Silmarillion by Tolkien and it's a must if you are interested in Lord of the Rings, simply because you het to know about Tolkien's ideas, fantasy and imagination.
Other books that I would recommend are the books by Dan Brown, as his cases are extremely nailbiting!
I saw you talking about The Kite Runner, 1984 and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, which I've also read. They are also amazing and well written books, that can get any reader glued to his chair
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 08-08-2017 01:16
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Ian Butler wrote:
I was wondering if anyone read Lolita? And what your thoughts are on it?
Yes, I have read Lolita. I have a lot of thoughts on it, if you're still interested in talking about it. I know this is an old post, but I just saw it.
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| jseadog1 |
Posted on 08-08-2017 01:21
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baseballlover312 wrote:
Ian Butler wrote:
I was wondering if anyone read Lolita? And what your thoughts are on it?
Yes, I have read Lolita. I have a lot of thoughts on it, if you're still interested in talking about it. I know this is an old post, but I just saw it.
Nabokov did a great job at characterizing Humbert Humbert as a disgusting, self-serving, egotistical person.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 08-08-2017 01:25
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jseadog1 wrote:
baseballlover312 wrote:
Ian Butler wrote:
I was wondering if anyone read Lolita? And what your thoughts are on it?
Yes, I have read Lolita. I have a lot of thoughts on it, if you're still interested in talking about it. I know this is an old post, but I just saw it.
Nabokov did a great job at characterizing Humbert Humbert as a disgusting, self-serving, egotistical person.
Yeah, I get that the book was supposed to humanize him and make it seem like he was also a victim in the situation, but it definitely didn't work on me.
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| LordBeerus |
Posted on 08-08-2017 02:14
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I always find it funny people read shitton of books yet give 1 year and they remember shit all from the book beside main character and main plot vaguely. But will stay say it was great book anyway.
One book read 10 times is worth more than 10 books read once.
Also someone mentioned Harry Potter well crafted series?  Is there more plot hole filled series than that crap? |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 08-08-2017 07:42
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LordBeerus wrote:
I always find it funny people read shitton of books yet give 1 year and they remember shit all from the book beside main character and main plot vaguely. But will stay say it was great book anyway.
One book read 10 times is worth more than 10 books read once.
Also someone mentioned Harry Potter well crafted series? Is there more plot hole filled series than that crap?
Most likely your life story...
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| jseadog1 |
Posted on 08-08-2017 13:10
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If you are talking about Harry Potter, I have to agree. I am not a fan of Harry Potter at all and think it is extremely overrated.
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