Book recommendations

[DawnHRD]

There's not many better ways, IMO, to spend a rainy Hua Hin afternoon than reading a good book.

So, is anyone reading anything good at the moment? Or do you have a perennial favourite that you would recommend to HHAD members?

At the moment, I'm reading "The Things they Carried" by Tim O'Brien. It's not new (published 1990), but it's a new one to me. It's a series of short stories about members of the same platoon in the Vietnam War, which blends into a novel. I think it's probably one of the best war books I've ever read & strangely applicable to the present.
One story "On the Rainy River" tells of the author/narrator's dilemna when he receives his call-up papers & his subsequent flight to the Canadian border, where he spends 6 days in the company of a taciturn old man. He wrestles with his morals, courage & society's expectations, before making his decision on whether to fight in the war or not. "I survived, but it's not a happy ending. I was a coward. I went to the war." Certainly not what I would have called cowardice, but from reading the story, you understand his mindset. Excellent book - so far!

Perennial favourites of mine - "The Power of One" Bryce Courtenay, "East of Eden" Steinbeck & "One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" Ken Kesey.

Anyone else have any to recommend to us?

[elem]

Just finished: Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter
by Adeline Yen Mah (Author) "At the age of three my grand aunt proclaimed her independence by categorically refusing to have her feet bound, resolutely tearing off the bandages as..."

...gives you a feel for Asia in general, and China in particular.

and -I must be REALLY fed up with the 26, or so, books on Management which I have to read (started last year...), and I am now working on "The confident Hope of a Miracle" (Niel Hanson)-The true story of the Spanish Armada...will post review (582 pages+76 pages notes)- later (I hope)

[elem]

Oh yes, I almost forgot...one of my favourites...since I heard David speak at a conference some 10 years ago and bought the book (something I would usually never do -honestly, if I had not heard the guy speak, I would never have bought the book)
David Whyte: "The Heart Aroused" ..Poetry and the preservation of the soul...

If you have a soul, buy this book. If you are not sure....get this book. The book is an excellent exploration into the meaning of life. David Whyte is a fantastic philosopher. "The Heart Aroused" speaks to a person whatever threshold of life they might find themselves on. Including
"Mid-life and the crisis of work that has become unbearable....(hmm, wonder why this comes into mind while sitting in HH in the rain)

Whyte is underscoring the symbolic importance of his literary references to Beowulf, Coleridge and Eliot, among others (as well as "the Salmon of Knowledge), and writes for people who might not otherwise be poetically inclined. "The Heart Aroused" argues simply that each of us owe it to ourselves to bring courage and passion into our lives.

..skip the later chapter about prisons..it's kind of irrelevant in the context...

[Vital Spark]

'The Places In Between' by Rory Stewart. A fascinating travel narrative written about his journey through Afghanistan in 2002.

V.S.

P.S. Dawn: You'll love his adopted dog...

[redzonerocker]

fingerprints of the gods by graham hancock. the most interesting & thought provoking book i have ever read.

[DawnHRD]

Thanks, rzr, I was beginning to think that my observations over the years were correct & that men never read anything more challenging than 'Viz' or 'FHM'!!

I don't think I've read any of the books mentioned by other members, so far, so there's a few to add to my reading list - don't think I'll be bothering with the management books, though, elem

[Randy Cornhole]

Reading a real cracker at the moment. 'Life and times of the thunderbolt kid' By Bill Bryson. It has me laughing out loud its so chuffin funny.....

[webmaster]

Randy you are right, Bill Bryson has a "real" way of telling his story.

In his Down Under book, where he describes his fear of dogs and the incident after that, got me falling of the bed, almost broken my arm, but still couldn't stop laughing with all that pain.

He's a real story teller.

[lambella]

I read about a dozen a month and I've just finished Jodi Picoult's Vanishing Acts.
A young mother is thrown into turmoil when her father, with whom she lives, is arrested for kidnapping her when she was a child. He admits his guilt but the story revolves around whether this act is justified.
There are several characters who speak to the reader, including the father who is imprisoned. I thought the majority of scenes about prison life were too graphic for me and that they could be omitted. I flipped through most of them.
If any one else reads or has read the novel I would be interested in their opinion of Delia/Bethany, the young mother and kidnap victim. I didn't think her reactions were credible.
I've also recently read Cecilia Aherne's PS I Love You (don't knock it, if you haven't read it), Nicholas Sparks A Walk to Remember and Kathy Reichs' Break No Bones. I'm looking forward to getting my copy of the last Harry Potter which has been on order forever.

[Jaime]

Not reading anything at the moment but some recommendations:

The Railway Man - Eric Lomax. His account of his experiences as a POW on the Burma Siam Railway.

All of Spike Milligan's seven volume series of war memoirs, starting with Adolf Hitler - My Part in his Downfall to Peace Work. Best read in order but each can stand alone, the first few books are more humourous, whilst those at the tail end of the series are bitter sweet, describing Spike's lost loves, ascent into showbiz and descent into mental illness. Best anti-war statement ever.

For accessible and interesting tales about Thailand and SE Asia I find it hard to beat Howard Stephens' writing. He used to have a column in the Bangkok Post that was compulsive reading for me. You can pick his books up in most places in Thailand and can order them in the UK. For anyone who doesn't know anything about him, here's a link:

http://www.scottmurray.com/Harold.htm

He also has his own website at:

http://www.haroldstephens.net/

[gooze]

Private Dancer by Stephen Leather you will not put it down for one moment.

[Mack111]

Shantaram

great book, its about a Ozzy gangster who escapes to India and gets caught up with the Bombay mafi

think its going to be a movie this year

real good book

Mr Nice

is about Howard Marks exploits in Asia as a hash smuggler, great read also

[redzonerocker]

i prefer factual rather than fiction & i quite like autobiographies.
'no one gets out of here alive' the autobiography of jim morrison is a good read.
one that is definately not recommended, 'my story so far' the autobiography of wayne rooney . its one of those books that when you put it down, you can't pick it up again!

[DawnHRD]

Wayne Rooney has 'written' an autobiography? Seriously? Celeb magazine culture has a lot to answer for.... I mean what is he? 12?

[johnnyk]

Wayne Rooney has 'written' an autobiography? Seriously? Celeb magazine culture has a lot to answer for.... I mean what is he? 12?

Didn't know he could write or read...

Back on topic - I've just started "My Life As A Fake" by Peter Carey, one of only two authors to win the Booker Prize 2X.
Within a few pages I was drawn right in as it passed my test: do I care what happens to these characters?