Jimzk5 Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 ive got about 100pages left of david coulthards autobiography, not too much in the way of stories about races etc, a lot of stuff away from the track which is a bit disapointing, theres a few chapters where he talks about his relationship with hakkinen and schumacher, but its mostly about women his knobed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAK Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Extremely good read, absolutely love Dawkins books! Prefer Blind Watchmaker to this though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one_ian_taylor Posted June 23, 2008 VT Supporter Share Posted June 23, 2008 1984 is an incredible book. Orwells style at times makes it a bit of a slog but what he is describing is brilliant. An awful lot of what he came up with in the book has, in one way or another, started to appear in the modern world. I'd also recommend looking at Brave New World after 1984, the books generally get compared with each other for their different portayals of dystopia. Both cracking books, though I disagree about Orwell's style - I think he writes well. Have you read his collected essays? Cracking read, writes about all sorts from tea making to patriotism, living as a tramp, Dickens, written English. He's can be quite sparing with his words, which is sometimes less entertaining, but I always find him clear. Brave New World I would argue is more relevant to today than 1984 - a technologically advanced world obsessed with consumerism, detached from natural processes, over-reliant on chemicals... "The Doors of Perception" and "Heaven and Hell" by Huxley are also amazing - essays on his experiences with mescalin and his subsequent thoughts on hallucinogenics, human psychology and concepts of mental heaven and hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted June 23, 2008 VT Supporter Share Posted June 23, 2008 I actually think that Brave New World is probably the more relevant as well. There are a great number of 'Orwellian' echoes in politics today but BNW could probably have greater parallels to today and the future. It might perhaps be more accurate to say that aspects of both could come to fruition (worryingly). I also think that BNW is perhaps the better concept, but it's not quite as well written. None of the characters are particularly likeable, although I supose it's arguable thats the very point of the book... still, a very very interesting read. I had to compare both of them for my A Level English Lit course, specifically comparing Bernard and Winston as characters and vessels for the authors aim. Interesting stuff. Not read any of their other works, although a lot of it sounds fascinating. Huxley wrote another book on Brave New World, BNW Revisted or something like that, looking at the way science was heading or along those lines at least, which I wanted to have a look at but never got round to. I don;t really have the time these days between uni books, drinking, and job searching to read them, or anything else right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one_ian_taylor Posted June 24, 2008 VT Supporter Share Posted June 24, 2008 BNW revisited is OK, not a mind-blowing read but certainly readable. There's always time though if you're at uni - unless of course you have finals. Even then you need something to take your mind off work. Wish I'd read more then instead of having shit nights out and watching bollocks telly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy178 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Can somebody recommend me a few good books to read? (as a prospective English student) I'm off to the library in a few minutes, and need quick answers. If anybody could dig up an old thread I'd much appreciate it! Interested in Russian Literature and Romance particularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 1984, George Orwell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Interested in Russian Literature Something by Solzhenitsyn. :winkold: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted August 4, 2008 VT Supporter Share Posted August 4, 2008 Oh, well I suppose this thread is as good as the other four... Currently reading: J. G. Farrell - The Singapore Grip Bill Bryson - Shakespeare Peter Ackroyd - Albion: The Origins of the English Imagination (and no, it's NOT about the Baggies...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted August 4, 2008 VT Supporter Share Posted August 4, 2008 Can somebody recommend me a few good books to read? (as a prospective English student) I'm off to the library in a few minutes, and need quick answers. If anybody could dig up an old thread I'd much appreciate it! Interested in Russian Literature and Romance particularly.Mikhail Bulgakov - The Master and Margharita Lev Tolstoy - War and Peace Mikhail Sholokov - And Quiet Flows The Don Gogol - Collected Short Stories Vasiily Grossmann - Life And Fate Vladimir Nabokov - Pale Fire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 tried reading that: " A short history of ukrainina tractors" after I heard it got good reviews. A middle aged persons book if a book can ever be classified by age. It's ok and I can appreciate it but can't finish it. Starting reading: Flashman instead, which is far more amusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy178 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Just finished "The Devils" By Dostoyevsky, stunning read. Next I'm moving Death and the Penguin, looks like a novel concept! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 This title is ironic seeing as I am reading this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acwilliams Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Halfway through a book called "Pointless", which goes through what an average season with Scottish Third Division side East Stirlingshire - the worst team in Britain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Finished my 4th Lee Child "Jack Reacher" story last night, 'Persuader'.......very good it was too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted August 4, 2008 VT Supporter Share Posted August 4, 2008 Halfway through a book called "Pointless", which goes through what an average season with Scottish Third Division side East Stirlingshire - the worst team in Britain.Bloody hell, that sounds gripping... :| In a similar vein, Tim Parks' A Season With Verona is very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acwilliams Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Halfway through a book called "Pointless", which goes through what an average season with Scottish Third Division side East Stirlingshire - the worst team in Britain.Bloody hell, that sounds gripping... :| It is actually, because they're bloody awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connell Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 recently i have read paulo coelho: the alchemist shane magowan's autobiography i have america surrounded: timothy learys biog. currently reading the virgin suicides and the bobby sands biography by denis o'hearn, also a good read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daft Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I'm almost through John B. Lundstrom's The First Team and The Guadalcanal Campaign and just started Neil Gaiman's American Gods. Good reads both of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted August 4, 2008 VT Supporter Share Posted August 4, 2008 American Gods is brilliant daft. Not been reading all that much lately, not been able to pick up anything new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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