Metropolis wrote: Yeah, Chris Brookmye is ace I'm currently about half way through The Amber Spyglass, the third book of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy.  The series starts of seeming pretty juvenile (my little sister recommended it to me), but it gets better and better the further you get through it

His Dark Materials are the cleverest, sharpest, most interesting 'teen' books I've ever read. Totally gripping, exceptionally well written and dealing with a host of concepts that most adults would struggle to get through. They are superb and the closest thing to real literature that fantasy fiction has come since Lord of the Rings. An awesome work.

Me, I'm in the middle of '2Stoned', the second volume of Andrew Loog Oldham's autobiography - it's a fascinating read and a comprehensive account of the working of not just the Stones' business in the 60s but all of all the music biz in the UK and the States during the period 64-67. It features contributions from all the main movers and shakers as well as Oldham and he writes in a lovely, Wolfe-ian style that is pure 60s and that's no insult - Loog Oldham actually has a very nice turn of phrase. And for once the phrase 'unputtdownable' is true. I ploughed through 300 odd pages on a long plane journey the other day and never once had the urge to skip passages. Highly recommended.

"Stairway to Heaven" is a great biography, of THE GREATEST prog rock band in the world, without question. 

I can't think of much outside of school that I've read lately, but the Homeric texts are awesome, and so is "The Aeneid". I tried reading some crappy ass Tom Clancy book, man that guy sucks.

Alucard wrote: Ian Simmons : Hyperion

Liked it a lot, although I enjoyed the sequel even more. The best thing about the first book is how it features very varied stories: The tale of the professor and his daughter almost brought tears to my eyes, while the future-noir tale of the private detective had me reading compulsively.

"The Snowgoose" by Paul Galico WOW!! This makes the Camel album of the same name even better!!!!  Now I get it.  Highly worth reading if you like the album.

I'm reading "The Snow Queen" by Joan Vinge. It's a good SI-Fi/Fantasy epic.  I'm gonna read "The Summer Queen" when I'm done 

Wizard/TRueStar wrote: "The Snowgoose" by Paul Galico WOW!! This makes the Camel album of the same name even better!!!!  Now I get it.  Highly worth reading if you like the album.

Snow good!

Wizard/TRueStar wrote: "The Snowgoose" by Paul Galico WOW!! This makes the Camel album of the same name even better!!!!  Now I get it.  Highly worth reading if you like the album.

And the curious part is that you can almost read it alongside the music (yes, it's more a short story than a novel)

Alucard wrote: Ian Simmons : Hyperion

Top-notch stuff

I've just finished reading Tony Harrison's long poem "V". Disturbing, to say the least.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553283685/ref=nosim/sealarksgoodbook">

Actually it's Dan Simmons. Anyway; I liked part one very much and was very much excited about reading part two, but I just couln't get through it, the storie meanders aimlessly from sentence to sentence. I will try to read it though, it might get better.

There is a sequel to this duologie (like a trilogie, but with two instead of three). I don't know if I should read that too. I probably will someday ( I liked most books from this writer)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553288202/ref=nosim/sealarksgoodbook">

tuxon wrote: Actually it's Dan Simmons. Anyway; I liked part one very much and was very much excited about reading part two, but I just couln't get through it, the storie meanders aimlessly from sentence to sentence. I will try to read it though, it might get better. There is a sequel to this duologie (like a trilogie, but with two instead of three). I don't know if I should read that too. I probably will someday ( I liked most books from this writer)

I thought you couldnt read Tux?

Given that Maani's recently had to read "The Riot Act" to you!

I can read very well, I learned it from a book

tuxon wrote: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553283685/ref=nosim/sealarksgoodbook">     Actually it's Dan Simmons. Anyway; I liked part one very much and was very much excited about reading part two, but I just couln't get through it, the storie meanders aimlessly from sentence to sentence. I will try to read it though, it might get better. There is a sequel to this duologie (like a trilogie, but with two instead of three). I don't know if I should read that too. I probably will someday ( I liked most books from this writer)     http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553288202/ref=nosim/sealarksgoodbook">

Yes, Dan Simmons, of course. The sequel to the 'duology' is another 'duology': 'Endymion' and 'The Rise of Endymion'. Haven't read it myself, but it enjoys good press.

D.M. Lloyd-Jones Exposition of Romans 14:1-17 -
"Romans: Liberty and Conscience"

Simon Singh: Fermat's Enigma

FloydWright wrote: Rob The Plant wrote: I can't think of much outside of school that I've read lately, but the Homeric texts are awesome, and so is "The Aeneid". I tried reading some crappy ass Tom Clancy book, man that guy sucks. Which book was it?

Last one I tried to read was Red Rabbitt.

Just finished Darwin's "The Origin of Species," and I'm moving on to his "Descent of Man."  However, I generally read three books at once, so I am also reading a book on language and, of course (as a minister), a faith-based book.

Peace.

tuxon wrote: I can read very well, I learned it from a book

was that a quote?

[Manuel is leaning down behind the desk, as the Major enters the reception lobby. The latter sees only the head of the moose.] Manuel: How are you, sir. I can speak English. Hello, Major. How are you today? Major: Er ... er ... er ... I'm fine, thank you. Manuel: Is a beautiful day today. Major: Er ... is it? Yes, yes, I suppose it is. Manuel: I speak English. I learn it from a book.

Just about to finish

Iain Banks :: The Business

and about to move on to

Susan Orlean :: The Orchid Thief

The latest Van Morrison biography---excellent reading ( can/t remember the author)

Richard Branson - Losing my Virginity

The Dalai Lama- The state of Happiness

Oooh I've got Hyperion. I haven't gotten around to reading it yet =/

I just got done re-reading "Watership Down" best book ever written in my opinion.

1. J-P Sartre -- La Nausee
2. Albert Camus -- The Plague
3. Kurt Cobain -- Journals (weird and distoted to the bone, mind you)

This week was poems-on-psychopaths week - 'The Staffordshire Murders' by James Fenton, 'Him' and 'The Ballad of the Yorkshire Ripper' by Blake Morrison.

Another truly horrifying poem I had the perverse pleasure of reading this week - 'The Casualty' by Ted Hughes.

Also 'The Letter' by Andrew Motion, very interesting.

Poetry aside - 'Your Money or Your Life - Economy and Religion in the Middle Ages' by Jacques Le Goff

And currently - 'Discipline and Punish:The Birth of the Prison' and 'Archeology of Knowledge', both by Michel Foucault

Each and every work highly recommended, although the very last one is quite specialistic.