Drew Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) With the holiday period coming up, I hope to get into a good book or two. Fiction, ideally, as I have plenty of nonfiction titles to work my way through. I prefer modern literature, but also occasionally enjoy historical fiction (not fantasy) with a good plot to get caught up in, but would be open to any suggestions. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance. Edited December 21, 2015 by Drew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zurich_allan Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Have you read any of Tom Sharpe's books? If you like political or class satire / farce then there is no better author worldwide in my opinion (or rather was, since he passed away fairly recently). Edited December 21, 2015 by zurich_allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Have you read any of Tom Sharpe's books? If you like political or class satire / farce then there is no better author wirldwide in my opinion (or rather was, since he passed away fairly recently). Years ago, but that's a good shout. I certainly haven't read all his output, so might just have another look. Ta much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pozbaird Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Working my way through a magnificent new book - Sports Illustrated's 'Superbowl Gold, 50 years of the big game'. Wonderful photography, and tells the tale of every Superbowl to date. Superb. Forum yawns. I get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Try this. There is now a TV series based on the first 2 books. The books are far better than the TV series, in my humble opinion. Another good shout. I have read all the CJ Sansom Shardlake books, and I'm guessing this might be along those lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Working my way through a magnificent new book - Sports Illustrated's 'Superbowl Gold, 50 years of the big game'. Wonderful photography, and tells the tale of every Superbowl to date. Superb. Forum yawns. I get it. The literary equivalent of a Rush LP. Right. There. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pozbaird Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 The literary equivalent of a Rush LP. Right. There. Pah. Yer' taste's in yer' arse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebrakid Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Death and the Penguin By Andrey Kurkov The Green Ray By Jules Verne The Mechanical Turk By Tom Standage all gems in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint since 58 Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 It'll be difficult to find but how about......'How to win friends and influence people' by Ian Murray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rea Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 With the holiday period coming up, I hope to get into a good book or two. Fiction, ideally, as I have plenty of nonfiction titles to work my way through. I prefer modern literature, but also occasionally enjoy historical fiction (not fantasy) with a good plot to get caught up in, but would be open to any suggestions. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance. Not fiction but if you have not read it you should, one of the best football bios i have ever read http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Fabulous-Baker-Boys-Greatest/dp/1780271743 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beyond our ken Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Have you read any of Tom Sharpe's books? If you like political or class satire / farce then there is no better author worldwide in my opinion (or rather was, since he passed away fairly recently). i read a few, back in the day Wilt, the Wilt alternative, the Throwback (my fave) and a few others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beyond our ken Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 I also like the Simon Scarrow Eagle series, about a couple of Roman soldiers. Not as good as Cornwell but worth a read. the place to read these is on a mediterranean holiday-by the time the legion has marched a few hundred miles and endured a few sun-blasted battles then you are ready for the first Cervesas of the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Thanks for all the recommendations, folks. I'll hopefully get round to checking them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTOF Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Either that or just look at some porn. That's the non-fiction he's "working his way through". If you're looking for humour, the look no further than Colin Bateman. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/colin-bateman/ If you haven't read any of his stuff, then start with the Mystery Man. Very, very funny. He's a bit like a Northern Irish Carl Hiaasen. Edited December 22, 2015 by FTOF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insaintee Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Amin Maalouf Samerkand This is a historical fiction about the Omar Kyamm, the Arab renaissance, the assassins and the subsequent carve up of Persia and Russia in the 1900's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beyond our ken Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 The first few were based in Britain and it was always raining. i recall a sun-blasted battle on the thames in one of those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintnextlifetime Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 All the books in the Bernie Gunther series by Philip Kerr are good . http://berniegunther.com/ Be warned thou' , Bernie has got some lip. . . .also Kerr's book Hitler's Peace is based on certain historical facts but is fiction based on supposition . It is an interesting tale. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluto Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) I happily have consumed all Gerald Seymour's modern, political, international thrillers. No matter where they're set his character's actions and ultimate fate grips you and propels you along. My wummin buys them and she's a slow reader of fiction. But even better was a purchase last year - I Am Pilgrim. Hunners and hunners of pages, very short chapters with cliffhangers and lines such as... "I did X. Less than hour later I knew that X was a mistake." A definite page turner, with humour and intelligence. Written by a successful screenwriter... But I'll need to google and come back to this... (It's been a year or so....) ETA : aye.... Terry Hayes. English. Wrote Mad Max and its sequels and Dead Calm. He's a maestro.... Edited December 21, 2015 by bluto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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