Book suggestions

[denislawsbackheel]

The entire canon of Graham Greene
Ditto Evelyn Waugh
Peter Robinson’s detective series
Mark Billingham likewise
And Ian Rankin’s Rebus

 

[RadcliffeRick]

The Jack Reacher books are readable if you like gung-ho type of characters

 

[roman totale]

Jeff Noon
Haven’t read any of his more recent works, but the first 3 or 4 he wrote back in the 90s, set in a near-future Manchester were excellent. Vurt, Pollen, Automated Alice and Nymphomation.

 

[flyer]

A little bit dated, perhaps, but for a laugh have a look at Tom Sharpe

Riotous Assembly and Indecent Exposure, Wilt and the follow ups, absolutely brilliant

 

[flyer]

 

[Brightwell’s left peg]

Sapiens is a fantastic and informative read. Very thought provoking towards the end.

Stalingrad and Berlin are both written by Antony Beevor and are brilliant. Read them in that order.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Sapiens is a fantastic and informative read. Very thought provoking towards the end.

Stalingrad and Berlin are both written by Antony Beevor and are brilliant. Read them in that order.

Is his book on Berlin genuinely as good as Stalingrad? Stalingrad reads like a thriller, but the thriller of an entire city. And the best thing about it is that it's true. It's seriously documented. Utterly gripping.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I was astounded by the Patrick Melrose whatever-it-is (a trilogy is a set of three books, but no idea what you say for a set of five). I more or less came across them by chance. Very, very black. He obviously had a childhood from hell. Very funny. Edward St. Aubyn makes black into funny. Don't know how he does it. A magician.
At the moment I'm reading a book which is virulently anti-Europe and explains why it's a good thing to get out of Europe, because I believe in reading against the grain (i.e. I'm not interested in reading books that tell me what I already think). I must say I'm having to grit my teeth to read it, and it's blocking me to move on to other books that I'd rather be reading. I keep picking it up, reading three pages, putting it down in exasperation. But I'm going to go through to the last page, because I'm puritanical like that.

 

[Fred_Quimby]

Camilla Lackburg, Swedish detective stories, very readable.

Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee, Dee Brown, the story of how the native Americans were/are mistreated.

The Vietnam War, Ken Burns and Geoffrey C Ward; you will never believe anything a politician says ever again.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Is his book on Berlin genuinely as good as Stalingrad? Stalingrad reads like a thriller, but the thriller of an entire city. And the best thing about it is that it's true. It's seriously documented. Utterly gripping.

I didn't think Berlin was a patch on Stalingrad.

 

[willipp]

some ideas if you’ve not already read...

I Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
All the Light We Cannot See by Antony Doerr
Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule

Highly recommend I am Pilgrim, loved it.

 

[sir baconface]

Read a book about a caterpillar that was really hungry once, it wasn’t bad just can’t remember the title.

The Starving Larva?

I remember it well.

 

[andyhinch]

Highly recommend I am Pilgrim, loved it.

Agreed

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

In need of some inspiration for new reading material. Any recommendations?

Get some Don Winslow in your life mate.

 

[Ric]

Thanks for the many suggestions so far, much appreciated!

 

[Ric]

Highly recommend I am Pilgrim, loved it.

Yeah, it's a brilliant novel. Not quite sure what's happening with the follow up, The Year of the Locust? Publication date seems to keep getting pushed back.

 

[Ric]

Get some Don Winslow in your life mate.

Loved the Cartel trilogy and The Force was great too. Think he's got a new collection of short stories out soon too?

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Loved the Cartel trilogy and The Force was great too. Think he's got a new collection of short stories out soon too?

Not sure, they were the ones I was referring to really. The Winter of Frankie Machine is a shorter book and is really good too

 

[Ric]

Jeff Noon
Haven’t read any of his more recent works, but the first 3 or 4 he wrote back in the 90s, set in a near-future Manchester were excellent. Vurt, Pollen, Automated Alice and Nymphomation.

He was a City fan too, as I recall? Seem to remember him referencing Manchester City Vurtball Club in Pollen I think.

 

[crystal_mais]

You've already read the Don Wilmslow Cartel trilogy - if you are into thriller spy stuff - Try the James Swallow books - Marc Dane series. they are very good. Also Stephen Leather - Spider Shephard books

I've recently read ex Lancs Cricketer - Luke Suttons book was 98p for Kindle