What book are you reading/reccomendation thread

[Hyde]

Added to the list, cheers!

and yeah thats the same cover as mine.

[Phill]

Iain Banks is a fantastic writer probably a toss up between The Crow Road and Complicity for my favourites, I really enjoyed his book on Malt Whiskey too, perhaps more than I should have! I've tried twice to read Consider Phlebas his first sci-fi novel and I just couldn't get my head into it, and I usually like a good sci-fi novel, must try harder! ;D

[RichK]

I've got a signed copy of "The Crow Road" somewhere, I think. I've always thought Complicity was my favourite, re-read it last year though and it didn't knock my socks off the same as first time round. The Bridge is interesting, definitely needs a re-read.. I wonder if it would film? Anyone see the "Complicity" film? Sank without trace I think... some books just don't film though. I got in trouble on Amazon when I reviewed the Trainspotting book saying I actually preferred the film in that particular case. Several indignant reviews followed that one! I just found the TS book to be a series of gross-out vignettes.. Anyway, Banks' "The Business" is the business too, and that would definitely make a brilliant film.

[Phill]

Yea Rich I have Complicity somewhere on dvd, it just didn't work IMO. I always thought it would make a great film as well, it was directed by the same bloke who directed The Crow Road for t.v which worked better. Maybe Complicity should have been a mini series? His last novel Dead Air is worth a read not brilliant but a page turner non the less, he has a new book out this year I think?

[RichK]

Yeah, Dead Air I liked, but I couldn't get Radio 2 stalwart Ken Bruce out of my head while I read it!

[Hyde]

Speaking of Trainspotting I ordered that and Porn today (no the book Porn, by Irvine Welsh)

any money I get I seem to spend it on books! It'll pass.

[flashpointharry]

I preferred the book of Trainspotting to the film. Though I have to say, to make a film out of that book, particularly a film as eclectic as the one Boyle and co made, is a fantastic achievement. I think the book will always remain one of the best I've ever read; I love the invigorating sense of prickly honesty running through the whole thing - a bloke just putting his and his mates' experiences down on paper. The chapter Bad Blood could've been made into a film on its own (in fact I think someone did make a short based on it, not sure where you could find it though...)

Porno is a decent enough follow-up, but whereas in Trainspotting you got the sense that Irvine Welsh was a bloke with no money trying to recount a few of his stories, Porno - at times - feels like a bloke with shit loads of money trying to cobble enough ideas together for a sequel. The last part of the book definitely feels like it's been wrote with a film adaption in mind (though I suppose that was the case when the book got comissioned... in places it feels like a follow-up to Trainspotting the film rather than the book...) That said, there's still some wicked writing in it, and the way Welsh writes Sick Boy is fantastic. One of the most amoral, sleazy, cold-hearted characters ever created! (except maybe DS Bruce Robertson in the sadly underrated Filth)

Hope you enjoy 'em, Freck! ;D You should also check out Marabou Stork Nightmares, Welsh's best after Trainspotting. Read it when I was fifteen and it really got me.

[Hyde]

Alright cool I'll read that after trainspotting and porn then, cheers!

[duncan]

Anyone like Douglas Coupland? Hey Nostradamus is my favourite. It is about a high school massacre, and the effect it has on those effected. In four sections, each told from a different characters point of view, spread over twenty odd years. Powerful, moving stuff.

Miss Wyoming is also a quality read. Kinda surprised no ones adapted any of Couplands books into film.

[flashpointharry]

For anyone who's put their name down for a free copy of Dermaphoria: there's a bloke on the official Craig Clevenger forum whose ex-girlfriend's house in Uttoxeter was once the home of none other than Shane Meadows! How weird is that?

That's the film adaption sorted then ;D

[large michael]

COUPLAND!!! that man is a god! miss Wyoming is my fave book ever! Good taste sir..

[Mandy]

bobmil said:

I'm about 2/3rds through The Wasp Factory and its superb, would defo recomend it

Bloody marvellous!

[Hyde]

I'm having trouble reading lately, just way to tired. The book I'm reading "The Naked and the Dead" doesnt help either, its really depressing and just drains the life out of you.

I decided to give it a break and start something new, so I started Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep... really dissapointed so far, 1) its depressing 2) it makes no sence "nexus 6 and van kompft" and all this garbage I found myself re-reading paragraphs still thinking what the fuck? hopefully it gets better though. I think it will, A Scanner Darkly had me gripped from the start and I expected the same with this, aw well. I'll just keep at it.

So now I'm reading two books at the same time, something I never thought I'd do.

I also bought American Psycho by Brandon East Ellis (I think thats his name...?) after hearing really good things.

[flashpointharry]

Bret Easton Ellis. Yeah, it's a good book. Bit too long in my opinion and very inert in places, though be warned it's very fucked up throughout. You won't forget the rat chapter in a hurry, and the chapter called 'Tuesday' was the first time I ever had to put a book down cos it made me feel sick. Try and get through the essay on Phil Collins without either laughing or yawning!

[jtrodreigez]

American psycho is a great book, you can gloss over the phil collins review and a couple of other bits but dont bother there in there for a reason.