What is on the bedside table: Favourite books

[mike]

I finished The Lost Symbol this morning. I've got one word for it: meh. It built anticipation really well, but the ending was a real fizzer.

+1

My 14 year old son read it before me and said he didn't even read the last 40 or so pages.

I now know why.

[henno]

Once e-books work out issues with poor resolution and ditch backlit screens, then I'll be interested. Reading small type off a backlit LCD screen is about as enjoyable as syphilis.

[mike]

Reading small type off a backlit LCD screen is about as enjoyable as syphilis.

Speaking from experience?

[IanO]

If you could get those dumb glossy mags on an e-reader I would buy one for my wife in a second. It would cut out about half our paper recycling every month

[LarryLong]

Back to the geeky fantasy novels - I just completed the fourth and final book in Greg Keyes' Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series. It's incredibly good. Possibly the best fantasy series I've read, and I've covered a fair few in my time. Fast-paced, action packed, and a great plot that keeps you guessing right to the end. Really good characters that are more than just good/evil cardboard cutouts.

I'll stop gushing. Go and get yourself a copy of The Briar King.

[AndyP]

Thanks Laz. I've added it to the reading list, and will look for it next up. It's good to see a fantasy author that can finish a series.

[Yossarian]

A book about contract law. Exciting stuff.

[AndyP]

I'm reading Arnie & Jack, which I won at the Champs. I think the author is clutching at straws in places to try to show the rivalry.

[ParMaster]

I must say that One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was a very good book, and I recommend it to anybody on here (with an IQ over 110).

[Grunt]

A book about contract law. Exciting stuff.

I hear you Yoss, current readings for me are just as bad.
Managing Performance Improvement.
Human Resource Management
Time & Stress Management for Rookies.

All good night time reading for insomnia.

[terrys]

USGA Course Rating Guide for Men and USGA Course Rating Guide for Women. Interesting reading.

[chappy1970]

No country for Old Men

[ParMaster]

The Life and Work of Dr Alister McKenzie.

I got given this book today as a present, only to be dumbfounded to see they want 520 bucks for a new one on Amazon!

[leighthebee]

The Trout Opera, Matthew Condon. I'm not a huge fan of Oz novels but this is a MUST read.

[leighthebee]

Man I love people who are too smart for Dan Brown........

[leighthebee]

I'm not much of a reader, but my wife is. Her birthday is coming up soon and I was thinking of getting her an ebook reader (kindle). Anyone here had any hands on experience with these? Are they just a gimmick?

2 words. Friggin brilliant......

[markTHEblake]

Man I love people who are too smart for Dan Brown........

too deep for me.

[leighthebee]

too deep for me.

sure it wasn't a great work of literature, but The Davinci Code was a great story i thought.

sort of like reading a movie......and i think definitely written with that in mind.

[markTHEblake]

but The Davinci Code was a great story i thought

from what i hear it was a great mystery/thriller.

I still didnt get your comment though.

[leighthebee]

i was being argumentative

[Choppa]

Finally onto book 12 of the Wheel of Time. I can't imagine starting on the first book 20 years ago waiting for this saga to finish.....and to have the author pass away before the final books....epic in every sense of the word.

[AndyP]

I keep forgetting what I'm up to, Chops. Either 11 or 12. Is the new author releasing the first of his three (which is sure to change to seven) books yet?

I've been reading a Julian May standalone novel. It has been quite good. He seems to have a lot of books out. Has anyone read his stuff?

[Choppa]

Yes book 12 is the first to be co-authored by the new guy (Brandon Sanderson). You can sense a change in the style, but nevertheless it's a remarkable effort for him to pick up the story even with all the material Robert Jordan created before he died.

[LarryLong]

So is this the 12th and final book?

Or are we all going to be held hostage by Mr. Sanderson for a few more years?

[Choppa]

Held hostage for a few more years. The 12th and final book was so large (don't know how they worked that out) that they had to split it into 3 books. So book 12 volume 2 and volume 3 (book 13 and 14) will be out eventually.