Frasier Online
home About The Show Episode Guide Merchandise Forum Reviews Gallery Contact

The Last Book You Read

Discussion of non-'Frasier' related topics

The Last Book You Read

Postby Mayday Malone » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:13 pm

I hope no one minds, saw this on another forum. Try it here, see what happens. It's like "last song you listened to", "last movie you watched"...just with, er, books :oops: :arrow: :roll:

I'll kick off.

First to Land by Douglas Reeman. the second book in the five book Blackwood saga. The Blackwoods have served in the Royal Marines for generations. This book features David Blackwood who serves in China in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion.

A Cracking book.
Last edited by Mayday Malone on Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"I'm afraid I can't. I shall be at home listening to Schubert whilst ironically viewing Canadian pornography."
User avatar
Mayday Malone
 
Posts: 12673
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:22 am

Postby Wezzo » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:17 pm

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (for Lit)

Very good. Not naming the narrator was inspired. Some gripping plotlines and a nice, flowing prose style (not overwrought like the horrific A Passage To India by EM Forster, which we read earlier this year). 89/A
User avatar
Wezzo
 
Posts: 11585
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:00 am
Location: Wiltshire, England

Postby Cake for Brains » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:42 pm

Last read How To Be Good by Nick Hornby. A nice fun, light read.

Currently juggling two books -
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, which is a year in a thirteen year olds life written in 13 diary entries. Good stuff so far - very well written. Also reading The Girl in the Lion D'Or by Sebastian Faulks (author of the sublime Birdsong0, which I borrowed from the library in large print. Good stuff so far, but I've only read about 30 pages.
"I don't want to go." - The Tenth Doctor
User avatar
Cake for Brains
 
Posts: 16796
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:00 am
Location: UK

Postby Nervosa » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:17 pm

I bought Zodiac yesterday.

Last one I read was Donnie Brasco after seeing the great movie.
There are 10 types of people in the world; those who understand binary code, and those who don't.
User avatar
Nervosa
 
Posts: 3291
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2005 1:33 am

Postby ouroboros » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:30 pm

Ooh good thread. Read a couple recently:

Jackdaws by Ken Follett - A World War II thriller involving a team of all female British Secret Agents. Gripping stuff. A+

Four Blind Mice by James Patterson - Another Alex Cross book, not his best by a long shot but still a good read. B If you only read one Patterson book before you die make it 'When the Wind Blows' not an Alex Cross book but imho his best about 'bird children' grown in labs. Chilling and a little too researched and realistic for comfort... A++

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis - an interesting read

Overcoming your addictions by Windy Dryden - good stuff but where to start?
"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth". Oscar Wilde
User avatar
ouroboros
 
Posts: 2839
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:07 pm
Location: London

Postby Bee Gees Fan » Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:22 pm

It usually takes me ages to read books now.

The last one I completed was Being Bindy Mackenzie by Jaclyn Moriarty.
"How to possess truth, know beauty and discover harmony through love. How to...reconcile ones-self to time: which will kill us all in the end...how to get there in time for the happy ending." Justin Wand

http://www.berkanapath.com
User avatar
Bee Gees Fan
 
Posts: 11385
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2004 1:00 am

Postby Bad Ambassador » Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:49 pm

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. Absolutely stunning, beautiful and highly recommended.
"You're rather good. All that banter, yet not a word wasted."
User avatar
Bad Ambassador
 
Posts: 8855
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Skank Town, England

Postby CatNamedRudy » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:43 am

I'm in the middle of Forever Odd right now. I just need to get it finished for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out.
This is the STUPIDEST day I've ever had!
User avatar
CatNamedRudy
 
Posts: 24607
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:08 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA: King Scott Walker reigning!

Postby ouroboros » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:47 am

Lol I'm thinking of re reading the Half Blood Prince this month in preparation!
"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth". Oscar Wilde
User avatar
ouroboros
 
Posts: 2839
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:07 pm
Location: London

Postby Sideshow Meg » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:13 am

Last book I read was The Insider by Piers Morgan.

I expected to hate it, but it's actually really wel-written, doesn't spare on the girtty details, and chronicles, amongst other things, Tony Blair's rise to power, his courtship of the media and the opposition to Iraq from a journalistic point of view.

I started re-reading when Brown became PM last week, just for an amusing look back on the Blair years.
Meg - A 'posh bit of crumpet'
User avatar
Sideshow Meg
 
Posts: 3674
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:00 am
Location: Waterlooville

Postby Dorset Girl » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:26 am

Terry Brookes - The Sword of Shannara

I've not read that many 'fantasy' books before, but this one was good, although it took me ages as it's very long. A bit like Terry Pratchett, but more serious and more complex, if that makes sense. :)
I know they're only moments... but that's all life is - just a bunch of moments. Molly, in 'Life Stinks'
User avatar
Dorset Girl
 
Posts: 25084
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:37 pm
Location: Costa del Dorset

Postby Agides » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:29 pm

The Time Travellers Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

One of the most beautifully written books I have read in a very long time.
It took a few chapters to get into, but once I got the hang of it, I couldn't put it down.

I have heard that the film rights were bought by Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (*shudders at the very thought of a film version*) before the book was published. I'm very nervous at how this will translate on the big screen.
I've got a fake laugh with your name written all over it.
User avatar
Agides
 
Posts: 6808
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 3:22 pm
Location: Naughty Step

Postby Moon-Crane » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:46 pm

Last books i read were The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene and So Far, the Kelsey Autobio.

Currently still reading Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry and re-reading Things Snowball by Rich Hall.
''Fire in the hole, Bitch!'' Jesse Pinkman - Breaking Bad

My Top TV
User avatar
Moon-Crane
 
Posts: 20753
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:19 pm
Location: Bucks, UK

Postby CatNamedRudy » Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:13 pm

Agides wrote:The Time Travellers Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

One of the most beautifully written books I have read in a very long time.
It took a few chapters to get into, but once I got the hang of it, I couldn't put it down.

I have heard that the film rights were bought by Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (*shudders at the very thought of a film version*) before the book was published. I'm very nervous at how this will translate on the big screen.


I read that book. Really enjoyed it. I think it would be interesting to see if they could make it work on the big screen. But, I tend to think it would not be good! :(
This is the STUPIDEST day I've ever had!
User avatar
CatNamedRudy
 
Posts: 24607
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:08 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA: King Scott Walker reigning!

Postby Mayday Malone » Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:14 pm

Moon-Crane wrote:Last books i read were The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene and So Far, the Kelsey Autobio.

Currently still reading Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry and re-reading Things Snowball by Rich Hall.


Excellent, I've read End of the Affair by Greene. Good book and even a good film. Have read Fry's Making History, not too bad. Wish my stuff could get published!
"I'm afraid I can't. I shall be at home listening to Schubert whilst ironically viewing Canadian pornography."
User avatar
Mayday Malone
 
Posts: 12673
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:22 am

Postby Moon-Crane » Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:51 pm

Mayday Malone wrote:
Moon-Crane wrote:[..]Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene [..]


Excellent, I've read End of the Affair by Greene. Good book and even a good film.


I've not read that one. Apart from Our Man In Havana i've read The Quiet American, The Third Man (top film), and Brighton Rock - and liked them all, so i'll probably read more.
''Fire in the hole, Bitch!'' Jesse Pinkman - Breaking Bad

My Top TV
User avatar
Moon-Crane
 
Posts: 20753
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:19 pm
Location: Bucks, UK

Postby Agides » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:06 pm

CatNamedRudy wrote:
Agides wrote:The Time Travellers Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

One of the most beautifully written books I have read in a very long time.
It took a few chapters to get into, but once I got the hang of it, I couldn't put it down.

I have heard that the film rights were bought by Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (*shudders at the very thought of a film version*) before the book was published. I'm very nervous at how this will translate on the big screen.


I read that book. Really enjoyed it. I think it would be interesting to see if they could make it work on the big screen. But, I tend to think it would not be good! :(


I feel I should edit my original post (on the grounds of good taste) to: "Since reading the book , I have heard that the film rights were bought by Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston" - I want to make it quite clear that Hollywoods now defunct golden couple did not/do not influence my reading choices!!!!! :shock:

Knowing what a wonderful, wonderful book this is, it is actually no big surprise that it is being made into a film, however if it's done badly or lazily, it could be a complete disaster.
I always get very jumpy when I hear that a book I have adored reading is going to be made into a film, mainly because I have built up a clear idea in my mind of what each character looks like and if the casting is uninspired or an actor/actress is nothing like the image I have, I am bitterly disappointed. On occasion, this concern of mine has actually stopped me from going to see a film. :oops:
Done well, this will be brilliant and will probably become a favourite of mine in time.

I have done a bit more research on the film version of TTTW this afternoon and at present, only the two main roles have been cast - Eric Bana will play Henry and Rachel McAdams will be Claire. I have only ever seen Rachel McAdams in 'Wedding Crashers' and have never seen any of Eric Bana's work, so unfortunately I have no point of reference. I would be interested to know your thoughts on these choices, Cat (and anyone else who has read the book and knows the actors).

I finished reading this book about an hour into a long-haul flight and spent the remaining 8-9 hours crying/sobbing because a) I had no more pages to read; b) the entire story was a real rollercoaster of emotions and c) the last line was the most beautiful thing I had ever read. Just thinking about the last line again now has bought a tear to my eye. :cry:
I've got a fake laugh with your name written all over it.
User avatar
Agides
 
Posts: 6808
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 3:22 pm
Location: Naughty Step

Postby CatNamedRudy » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:19 pm

I always have a hard time seeing a movie of a book I really enjoyed. I stopped seeing Grisham movies because I really hate how they adapt them. 9/10 times they completely change the ending! I've heard they do the same to a lot of Stephen King's stuff. I don't read Stephen King and rarely see the movies though so I'm not sure if that's an accurate assumption. (I know they did change the ending of The Shining and I much preferred the book).

My biggest disappointment was with the movie version of Sleepers. The book was great and I read it completely on a flight to and from Washington, DC. The movie was radically different and they failed to focus on one of the most important aspects of the book.

I was pleasantly surprised with the movie version of The DaVinci Code and they tend to do a good job with the Harry Potter films. (although in the first one, I wish they would have built a bit more on Harry's relationship with the Dursleys)

Anyway, back to books...........I am not working today so I think I'll probably work on completing Forever Odd as I should be getting my Harry Potter book in the next few weeks.
This is the STUPIDEST day I've ever had!
User avatar
CatNamedRudy
 
Posts: 24607
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:08 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA: King Scott Walker reigning!

Postby Cake for Brains » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:33 pm

Moon-Crane wrote:Last books i read were The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene and So Far, the Kelsey Autobio.

Currently still reading Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry and re-reading Things Snowball by Rich Hall.


What do you think of Moab MC?
"I don't want to go." - The Tenth Doctor
User avatar
Cake for Brains
 
Posts: 16796
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:00 am
Location: UK

Postby Agides » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:59 pm

CatNamedRudy wrote:I was pleasantly surprised with the movie version of The DaVinci Code and they tend to do a good job with the Harry Potter films. (although in the first one, I wish they would have built a bit more on Harry's relationship with the Dursleys)


That's interesting - 'The DaVinci Code' was one of the most recent films I chose not to see because I had a total mental block with Tom Hanks playing Robert Langdon. I had always had an image of Langdon being a large, charismatic, well-dressed man with short, dark hair in my mind - someone like Chris Noth. Maybe I should put this to one side and watch DVC?

The one series of films I really enjoy and always look forward to seeing is Harry Potter. I think this is because the casting to date has been perfect and there must be a huge pressure on the casting director of each film not to ruin the good work already done by making a wrong/less than brilliant choice. Alan Rickman as Severus Snape still delights me and I like the thought of Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix LeStrange in '...Order of the Phoenix.'

I totally take your point regarding Harry's relationship with the Dursleys in "...Philosophers Stone' and having read all the HPs to date, I wouldn't like to hazard a guess at how long the films would have to be if they stayed entirely faithful to the books!! They chopped a lot from the first one, so much so that I forced Mr Agides to read it so that he could fill in the gaps. On reflection it was a bad idea to get him into the books, as I now have to fight him to be the first to read every new one!!! :evil:
I've got a fake laugh with your name written all over it.
User avatar
Agides
 
Posts: 6808
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 3:22 pm
Location: Naughty Step

Postby CatNamedRudy » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:04 pm

The DVC wasn't completely true to the book and I enjoyed the book more than I did the movie but the movie was very good.

I read the book only a few days before seeing the movie so I actually already had Hanks in my head as Langdon so that wasn't a put off for me.

I think I may have enjoyed it more with Chris Noth in the lead but that's just because Chris Noth is well..........Chris Noth!


Have you read Angels and Demons Agides?
This is the STUPIDEST day I've ever had!
User avatar
CatNamedRudy
 
Posts: 24607
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:08 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA: King Scott Walker reigning!

Postby Agides » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:31 pm

CatNamedRudy wrote:I think I may have enjoyed it more with Chris Noth in the lead but that's just because Chris Noth is well..........Chris Noth!


I couldn't have put that better myself!!!!!:D


CatNamedRudy wrote:Have you read Angels and Demons Agides?


Yes, I have - also 'Deception Point' and 'Digital Fortress.'

Stupidly, I read DVC before A&D because I wanted to know what all the fuss was about (Robert Langdon first appears in A&D).

I really enjoyed all four books, as they are quite thought-provoking, but I should imagine that experts in the subjects covered in each would have a field day picking apart inaccuracies!! I know that none of them are particularly well written and won't win any great literary prizes, but you can't help thinking 'what if?' at the end of every one!!

Have you read anything else by Dan Brown, Cat?
I've got a fake laugh with your name written all over it.
User avatar
Agides
 
Posts: 6808
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 3:22 pm
Location: Naughty Step

Postby CatNamedRudy » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:41 pm

Agides wrote:
CatNamedRudy wrote:I think I may have enjoyed it more with Chris Noth in the lead but that's just because Chris Noth is well..........Chris Noth!


I couldn't have put that better myself!!!!!:D


CatNamedRudy wrote:Have you read Angels and Demons Agides?


Yes, I have - also 'Deception Point' and 'Digital Fortress.'

Stupidly, I read DVC before A&D because I wanted to know what all the fuss was about (Robert Langdon first appears in A&D).

I really enjoyed all four books, as they are quite thought-provoking, but I should imagine that experts in the subjects covered in each would have a field day picking apart inaccuracies!! I know that none of them are particularly well written and won't win any great literary prizes, but you can't help thinking 'what if?' at the end of every one!!

Have you read anything else by Dan Brown, Cat?


I've read Angels and Demons and Deception Point. I liked both of them. Haven't read Digital Fortress yet.

Does Digital Fortress all take place in a 24 hour time span? I pointed out to a friend of mine about DVC taking place in a 24 hour period and she was surprised because there is so much action. Then I read Angels and Demons and Deception Point and I realized it was the same thing. Pretty cool that Brown can pack so much action into his books so that you don't realize the short time span.
This is the STUPIDEST day I've ever had!
User avatar
CatNamedRudy
 
Posts: 24607
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:08 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA: King Scott Walker reigning!

Postby Agides » Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:04 pm

It's been a while since I read 'Digital Fortress' but I seem to recall it was set over a couple of days (weekend?).

A&D is also being made into a film and Gisele Bundchen is rumoured to play Vittoria Vetra. :shock:
If I want to see this, and I think the story will make a great film, I'm going to have to get past Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon by next year.
I've got a fake laugh with your name written all over it.
User avatar
Agides
 
Posts: 6808
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 3:22 pm
Location: Naughty Step

Postby Mayday Malone » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:44 pm

I shan't mention what I think about Dale Brown but will say I'm working through a double volume of Douglas Reeman. Very good even if it's not his usual WWII fare.
"I'm afraid I can't. I shall be at home listening to Schubert whilst ironically viewing Canadian pornography."
User avatar
Mayday Malone
 
Posts: 12673
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:22 am

Next

Return to Off Topic Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 67 guests


© Site contents are copyright Stuart Lee 1999 - 2024. This is a Frasier fan site and is not affiliated in any way with the program, Grub St Productions, Paramount or NBC.