BCUK's 'Big Read'!

[Jamie]

So, whats everyones favourite book, favourite series of books or favourite author of all time ? Mine has to be either Katherine Kerr's Deverry series or David Gemmell's Legend and Waylander series.

Another superb book (for kids really) is Gerald Durrell's The Talking Parcel which is the first book I ever read as a nipper and got me hooked on reading.

[Adi007]

My tastes vary a lot, but one book that has particularly struck a chord with me lately is "Human Instrinct" by Robert Winston. This book looks at how we are basically living in a modern world with modern ideas but trying to cope with all this with a primitive brain.

[tenbears10]

Favorite book of all time is a bit difficult.

Favorite style is travel and adventure. From Chris Stewart's Driving over lemons (makes me want to move to Spain tommorow) to ninety degrees north by Fergus Fleming (great arctic tales) to The Kon Tiki Expedition, Thor Heyerdahl (a raft! accross the Pacific! madness). Those are mainly recently read ones.

Sorry if none are classics.

Bill

[Jamie]

primitive brain sounds ideal for me Adi!

[MartiniDave]

Good Question!

For me its:-

Lord of the rings trilogy.
Tom Clancy novels, but not the op-centre and other ghost written stuff.
Wilbur Smith.
Stephen Coontz
Most cheap westerns.
Travel books - exploration, memoires etc.


Dave

[Stew]

Terry Pratchett's Discworld books!!

They keep me amused and there are so many hidden references to "our" world that you realise new things each time you read them.

Ook!

[jamesdevine]

My Favourite book series would the Sharpe Series. I have not read them all yet but I the ones I have read have been reread many times.

I have a few favourite books one of the is an Unsung Hero the story of Tom Crean Irish artic explorer (sorry I am not sure of the writer) and at present Roger Tooks Walking with raindeer. Both cool books :wink:

James

[gurushaun]

I'm a big Terry Pratchett fan, but I like lots of other authors, Neil Stephenson, that sort of stuff :-D

Cheers

Shaun

[Womble]

Bernard Cornwall also did a good series of Arthurian Books - Very readable. I'm also a great David Gemmel fan, especially his latest "Rigante" series. I was also very impressed with Terry Pratchets latest "Monstorous Regiment"

I also like the Harry Potter books... :wink:

for non-fiction I love folklore and myth/legend books; but my all time favourite non-fiction read is the Byzantium trilogy by John Julius (Lord) Norwich - fabulously readable history!

[larry the spark]

I'm a huge LOTR fan... must have read it 4 or 5 times since I was 14 so it gets my vote. Not very original but there you go. I love modern fiction and rock biogs, the best of which I have read is Dear Boy: The life of Kieth Moon (drummer for The Who). It's hard to believe that mans lunacy! Go on Moon The Loon!

Stephen lawhead is a great Brit writer who basis his books on aurthurian legend and celtic myth. All of his series are fantastic reads.

I recently bought Joe Simpson's harrowing account of his own near-death in the Peruvian Andes, 'Touching the Void' which is about to be released as a movie. Sounds like a great survival story, can't wait to get stuck in!

[Stew]

I recently bought Joe Simpson's harrowing account of his own near-death in the Peruvian Andes, 'Touching the Void' which is about to be released as a movie. Sounds like a great survival story, can't wait to get stuck in!

It's a hard book to read, I think. Joe doesn't have a style of writing that sits well with me. The story itself is amazing though!

The film came out a couple of months ago now, but only at selected cinemas. I wasn't able to get to one but my local one is having it on director's chair in the middle of March.

[ditchfield]

My favourite is Robinson Crusoe. I don't know why really, but I can read it over and over and never get board. Inspiring.

[Lithril]

I've got most of Kerrs and Gemmells, one of my all time favourites are is David & Leigh Eddings (until their latest book anyway). Reading Chris Bunch at the moment who isn't too bad.

[Kath]

All time favorite book: "Blackberry Wine" by Joanne Harris - love all her books, full of powerful scents and flavours.

Also love everything by Terry Pratchett, Carl Hiaasen, Nicholas Evans.

(My favourite outdoor survival story is Stephen King's "The Girl who loved Tom Gordon" about a child lost in the woods.)

[al]

cold mountain by charles frazier, exellent book, you can smell the landscape, dont know about the film,i wont watch it incase its had the hollywood treatment and been ruined ,cheers al

[boaty]

Anything by Primo Levi - beautifully written and sharply observed

"If this is a man", written about his wartime experiences including his time in the concentration camps, is profoundly moving yet extremely accessible. You owe it to yourself to read this book.

[boaty]

Oh and how about anything by Tschiffely - I just about wore out my mum's copy of "Tschiffely's ride" when I was a youngster!

[al]

terry brooks shannara series any one?

[Jamie]

ooooo al...thats a good 'un! Although I have to say that the first three were the best and it went a tad downhill from there for my money!

[Womble]

"Yeah, the Lord of the Rings films were OK... but I wish Peter Jackson had shown some originality rather than just copying Terry Brooks' Shannara books. I mean that Gandalf was just sooooo Allanon..."

[Lithril]

Brooks is great got all but the last one of his Shannara series (Book 3 of the Jerle of Shannara). Knight of the Word series wasn't too bad either, wasn't too sure about Magic Kingdom for sale though (still bough the series though :wink: ).

Anyone read much by Mercedes Lackey?

[alick]

"Yeah, the Lord of the Rings films were OK... but I wish Peter Jackson had shown some originality rather than just copying Terry Brooks' Shannara books. I mean that Gandalf was just sooooo Allanon..."

:rolmao:

[Womble]

I can't claim the credit for the line. I once read an enitre fake review of LoTR (books) based on the premise that John Tolkien was just a Terry Brooks Plagurist. Apperantly the Tolkien society took it seriously and were NOT impressed!

[paul thomas]

has anybody read LAST OF THE BREED by LOUIS Lamour,it is about an American pilot on the run in the depths of Siberia.Noticed that Chris Brunch has been mentioned ,he is good read so is Gemmel

[Wayne]

last of the breed is a great book. Even my wife enjoyed it.

Legend By Gemmel is still my all time fave book.

[Gary]

I like Gemmels - the ghost king best of all his work, which I have to say have has been a bit limp of late.
I also like tHE WAR OF THE WORLDS - A good classic. And poetry by Robert Service
But if I had to take one book to a desert island it would be -
Either,

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Or

Lord of the Rings.

[Adi007]

Yes, War of the Worlds ... brilliant!
Day of the Triffids was an influential book for me in my youth.
The Sherlock Holmes collection would keep me happy on a desert island ... now to find the island! :-D

[falling rain]

The long Walk - Slavomir Rawicz
First published in 1956, an account of a young Polish cavalry officer who was arrested by the Russians, tortured and sentenced to 25 years forced labour. Describes his 3 month journey from Moscow to the prison camp in Siberia, his escape with 6 companions and their journey across the Gobi desert to Tibet and freedom.

Literally couldn't put it down

[NickBristol]

have got too many favourite books to list here...sure I'll remember loads more as soon as a i press 'submit' but some are:

Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier, must've read it a dozen times and always find a new way of looking at it. Totally agree with Al about it.
Empire of the Sun - JG Ballard, small boy lost in a big world that he doesn't understand. Which is a lot like all of us in the end isnt it? Was a good film too.
Forgotten Voices of the Great War - Max Arthur, moving, inspiring, disturbing first-hand accounts of the madness of being on the frontline in the First World War. Ideal for dipping into to get some perspective when I think I'm having a bad day...
The Eyre Affair / The Well of Lost Plots / Lost in a Good Book - Jasper Fforde, fantastically funny, totally off the wall, and far more interesting than the original novels. Still cant drive past Leigh Delamere services on the M4 without p***ing myself with laughter... www.thursdaynext.com for more info :-D
Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow - Peter Hoeg, everything you wanted to know about snow and ice in a fantastic story about one woman's quest to find why a small boy died.
Bill Bryson books are always good too. As is anything by Ray Mears, (especially the Real Heroes of Telemark), Amy Tan or Peter Hoeg.

Had better stop now...could go on for hours ops:

[Justin Time]

Captain Corelli's Mandolin was a cracking read for me, as was Cold Mountain, which is about due a re-read.

Fave author has got to be Ian Banks (with or without the M), one of the few writers that get's me buying the hardbacks when they come out. Terry Pratchett, obviously :roll:

On the non-fiction side, Chris Townsend's books are great and Chris Ferris' books about "her" badgers are real eye openers.