regan
In the tea-bar queue
Posts: 43
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Post by regan on Jan 29, 2010 0:59:56 GMT
I don't know whether this has been done elsewhere on here, or if it's deemed too boring?
Anyone got any recommendations for something to read?
I've just finished: "Spirit High and Passion Pure (A Journey Through European Football)" by Charlie Connelly
and am rapidly ploughing through: "Unseen Academicals" by Terry Pratchett
Any particular favourites you think other people should read? What are you currently reading (if anything!)?
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Post by robotsmfc on Jan 29, 2010 1:24:03 GMT
The second last book I read was "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov, the latest was Cormac McCarthy's "The Road", which I insisted on reading in case I saw the film. The style annoyed me at first, but I grew to like it, presuming the reasons behind it were as I suspected. It is actually a fantastic book and a really enthralling read, despite my initial misgivings over style and it being made into a Hollywood film. I'm not sure whether in 50 years it will be considered in the same way that "Lolita" is today, mind, but a good book all the same. I finished it in two days flat; couldn't put it down.
I'm currently two chapters in to "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath. Not sure so far whether it will hold my interest for the rest of the book. I'm not sure her one novel is quite up to the standard of her short stories and poetry.
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Post by ambersalamander on Jan 29, 2010 12:39:43 GMT
I loved Unseen Academicals, and I always like a good book if anyone wants to recommend one. I've just re-read The Girl in a Swing by Richard Adams, as I recommended it for my book club at work. It is a truly amazing book but sadly appears to be out of print - we're all reading second-hand copies.
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votp
Steaming Bovril
Posts: 328
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Post by votp on Jan 29, 2010 12:44:21 GMT
I'm currently reading Tim Parks' "A season with Verona". A salutory lesson of how fortunes can change. Its an account of the 2000-2001 season from an Englishman who lives in Verona. A mere few years ago they were in Serie A and now languish in Serie C I think while neighbours Chievo have overtaken them (some hope for Carshalton fans there then).
Would recommend Jon Macgregor's "If no one speaks of remarkable things", thought it was beautifully written.
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regan
In the tea-bar queue
Posts: 43
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Post by regan on Jan 29, 2010 13:38:00 GMT
'A season with Verona' is on the list of books to read in the future.
So how about a list of good football books?
I'll put forward 'Fever Pitch' by Nick Hornby (everyone's read that one haven't they?) and 'Stamping Grounds' by Charlie Connelly.
For those who don't know, Stamping Grounds is the story of the Liechtenstein national team as they go through a fruitless qualifying campaign.
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Post by ifreakinrule on Jan 29, 2010 15:50:11 GMT
the book thief was very good. halfway thru winter in madrid which is also very good. read the road and thought it was rather boring.
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Post by robotsmfc on Jan 29, 2010 17:06:06 GMT
I thought the opposite and was literally addicted to it for two days.
I can see why you might find it boring, though. It's more about the character development than the action which isn't everybody's idea of a good read.
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Post by ambersalamander on Jan 29, 2010 20:42:17 GMT
the book thief was very good. halfway thru winter in madrid which is also very good. read the road and thought it was rather boring. oi, happy birthday
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Post by medibot on Jan 29, 2010 21:19:48 GMT
The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro is an excellent football book.
Pretty much anything by Simon Kuper and Jonathan Wilson is worth reading as well if you want to combine informative and interesting writing with football.
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Post by amberaleman on Jan 29, 2010 21:53:37 GMT
The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro is an excellent football book. I was going to mention that! It tells the story of a tiny club from the Italian mountains that made it into Serie B in the 1990s. (Imagine Leek Town being promoted to League One, and playing Leeds, Southampton and Norwich as equals, and you'll get the idea.) The author Joe MGinniss is an American journalist who became chummy with players and officials. The book takes you through their first season up match by match, but the account of what went on between games is equally fascinating. Terrific stuff!
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Post by ambersalamander on Jan 30, 2010 11:02:23 GMT
Agreed - it's the best football book I've read.
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Post by ifreakinrule on Jan 30, 2010 21:35:48 GMT
the book thief was very good. halfway thru winter in madrid which is also very good. read the road and thought it was rather boring. oi, happy birthday must have me confused with someone else sal. it tay mar birthday for a couple of months.
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Post by ifreakinrule on Jan 30, 2010 21:49:27 GMT
I thought the opposite and was literally addicted to it for two days. I can see why you might find it boring, though. It's more about the character development than the action which isn't everybody's idea of a good read. sorry, boring is the wrong word. it kind've annoyed me how no explanation was given to what catastrophic event had happened and why they were in the situation they were in. also, i couldnt get past the fact that although they were starving there wasnt any animals to catch and they were able to sleep outside in the snow without dying. the author portrayed the sense of fear and self preservation very well but i thought the baby scene was gratuitous and really put me off enjoying the book.
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Post by ambersalamander on Jan 30, 2010 23:43:41 GMT
oi, happy birthday must have me confused with someone else sal. it tay mar birthday for a couple of months. that's funny...you must have your birthday entered wrong on your profile! sorry
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Post by robotsmfc on Jan 31, 2010 13:36:04 GMT
I thought the opposite and was literally addicted to it for two days. I can see why you might find it boring, though. It's more about the character development than the action which isn't everybody's idea of a good read. sorry, boring is the wrong word. it kind've annoyed me how no explanation was given to what catastrophic event had happened and why they were in the situation they were in. also, i couldnt get past the fact that although they were starving there wasnt any animals to catch and they were able to sleep outside in the snow without dying. the author portrayed the sense of fear and self preservation very well but i thought the baby scene was gratuitous and really put me off enjoying the book. I think those are fair points.
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