Book recommendations

[bennyboy]

The Papillon book was/is a fabulous read. In fact I found the film unbearable when I saw it years later. The book is just so vivid.

A third of the way through Clive Myrie’s book, and enjoying it so far. I hardly ever read or enjoy biographies, so the acid test will be if I manage to finish it. (One mention of City so far btw!).

Has anyone read The Seventh Son by Faulks? Published last year I think. Came across mention of it in an article few days ago, but digging a bit deeper, the reviews seem really mixed.

The second Papillon book Banco was a great read as well.

 

[chesterbells]

The second Papillon book Banco was a great read as well.

Never knew there was a second tbf, cheers.
Is that also “based on truth”? Without giving too much away, does it follow the same story straight from the end of the previous book?

 

[bennyboy]

Never knew there was a second tbf, cheers.
Is that also “based on truth”? Without giving too much away, does it follow the same story straight from the end of the previous book?

Takes it after he escapes from prisons.

 

[PinkFinal]

Street Level Superstar , A Year With Lawrence - Will Hodgkinson

Indie musician Lawrence (Felt, Denim, Go Kart Mozart) who has never used the internet and apparently spends most of his time walking around London for no particular reason although its mentioned that he walked around Beckenham because Bowie once lived there and another area because the punk band Eater formed there.
Only about thirty pages in but it's an engrossing and darkly amusing read if you grew up on 80s indie particularly.
I've followed his career for over thirty years and I can't work out if he's serious or just having one big joke at our expense. If you know his post Felt work you'll know what I mean.
In some senses I feel uneasy that he is being exploited (there has already been a film about him Lawrence of Belgravia) as I assume that he has some kind of mental illness is autistic or has a substance problem. What comes across is someone who cannot deal with the 21st century but has a burning belief in the power of music.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

The Wager by David Grann.

The best book I've read in years. It's title is the name of an 18th century warship. The book is a non fiction account that tells the story of its final mission and wreck of the coast of Chile. And how its crew of several hundred was whittled down to 3 small groups who made it back.

It's an incredible story and a well written book.

 

[Blue and true]

Guns, Germs and Steel.

Just finished it. It's an exploration of how human societies developed, and the vagaries which allowed some to thrive and some to stagnate. One of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.

 

[RobMCFC]

The Wager by David Grann.

The best book I've read in years. It's title is the name of an 18th century warship. The book is a non fiction account that tells the story of its final mission and wreck of the coast of Chile. And how its crew of several hundred was whittled down to 3 small groups who made it back.

It's an incredible story and a well written book.

I read a review of this a few weeks ago and it’s on my “to read” list. Glad to hear that somebody on here rates it highly too.

 

[Maintainin]

 

[Idesofmarch69]

I'm loathe to recommend Ken Follet but I have to admit that 'Pillars of the Earth' was a brilliant read. Very long but he does have a knack of writing a page-turner.