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

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...

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..."