Classic British Flight Sim

speedbird591 wrote: Well, I don't need to look at the customer reviews, Paul - because I have it on the shelf here next to Sassoon and Graves My paperback edition is 1994 and I assumed it was out of print as it was so old - which is why I didn't mention it. I have to agree that although the other two are renowned literary writers and poets, Captain Dunn's writing is equally graphic and reading any of those three volumes must be the best way of understanding the experience of the trenches. No contemporary writer can match them simply because they weren't there.

Ian

Couldn't agree more Ian. My copy is the Abacus one, bought in Borders about three months ago. Still in print, so easily available if you wish to replace your copy. Its a must-have book for anyone with even a passing interest in the western front.

DelP wrote:

Paul K wrote:Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror

....subtitled 'The calamitous 14th century', that has been on my bookshelf for as long as I can remember and I like to re-read it at least once a year

If anyone's interested in history and what went on in medieval minds then I highly recommend it.

ISBN 0-333-64470-0

ATB,

Derek ;-)

Aye, Del, the century where human progress actually went into reverse. It seemed that just when things couldn't possibly get any worse, they did, and in large spoonfuls too. No wonder the poor buggers thought God had deserted them. It really is an astonishing tale, and beautifully written too.


Great stuff, gents, really enjoying finding out about these shared interests and new suggestions. CHEERS

Hi Folks

Recently read The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
Not quite contemporary, but a captivating & emotive novel.

HTH
ATB
Paul

Hi Folks

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Stieg Larsson's first novel from his Millenium trilogy.
An excellent page-turner.

ATB
Paul

Jon.M wrote: If you're not immediately put off by a science fiction tab I recomend Iain M. Banks as a very thought provoking writer. He also writes contemporary fiction without the M. i.e. Iain Banks. 'The Player of Games' is excellent.

Totally agree, Mr Banks (with or without the M) is a superb author; "Use of Weapons" is another excellent "M" title, "The Wasp Factory" or "The Crow Road" (non "M" titles) are some of the most thought provoking books I have read in quite some time.

If anybody is interested in other good sci fi writers, then Peter F Hamilton (what is it with these middle initials?) is a sure bet - his earlier novels, the Greg Mandel books, are set in a near future, post-global warming Peterborough (!! ) and are a good read. His later stuff are increasingly weightly tomes, but very challenging. My favourite of the moment are the books by Neal Asher, seriously strange!!

Hi Folks

Andy -
The Wasp Factory - one of my all-time favourites.

Funnily enough,
I'd just revisited to edit my o/p,
intending to describe The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
as Banks with depth.

If you like his work, you'll definitely enjoy it.

ATB
Paul

If you like SF (which I do ) Alastair Reynolds is a good read.

Another vote here for Ian (M) Banks too.

My girlfriend is a big fan of Mr Larsson, and is insisting that I read them, just as soon as she can remember who she has loaned them to last!!

One thing I can guarantee; there will NEVER be a Dan Brown or an Archer on my bookshelves!!

I can recommend R J Ellory as an author - A Quiet Belief in Angels and A Small Act of Violance are a couple I've read; both are very good but "Angels" is probably the better. I normally have a book in my bag daily and often prefer reading to listing to the old iPod killer. My wife is an absolutively avid reader and usually has about 4 books on the go at any one time.

Regards,
Chris

I have read 'Birds Without Wings' by Louis De Berniers (of Capt. Correlli fame) three times, it is the story of an idyllic village in Turkey during the chaotic period of 1900-1920 and how politics, war and religion can ruin anything!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Birds-without-W ... 326&sr=8-1

Very emotive book.

speedbird591 wrote:The present Mrs Speedbird is, as I type, visiting a bookshop in Bath

Ian

paRdon ?
you keep the bookshop in the bath? the pages will get wet.



Tony is not cheeky
he's just a little ........