David Jenkins
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 02:12 PM |
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Looking for a tough book
Here's one for the forum's literati...
I'm off for a very long plane journey shortly, so I'm looking for a book to keep me from getting bored.
Trouble is - I'm a very fast reader and have to force myself to slow down and enjoy the story! So, it's got to be a big book, and fairly
challenging.
My likes are fairly broad, but especially:
Sci-fi - as long as it's not too pretentious.
Fantasy - same as above.
Classics - as long as it's not War and Peace (far too boring).
If any of these can be combined with some good writing, wit and humour then I'll be a happy passenger.
Oh - it helps if it's still on the book-sellers' shelves (or Amazon, anyway).
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loggyboy
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 02:22 PM |
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LOTR?
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StevieB
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 02:23 PM |
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What about The Hobbit?
Or maybe the Bourne trilogy (there is a fourth, but not by Ludlum and it's $hite)
[Edited on 8/9/10 by StevieB]
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balidey
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 02:29 PM |
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Tom Clancy Rainbow 6 is a nice chunky book. Writing is OK-ish if you like that sort of thing
Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws
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chrsgrain
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 02:32 PM |
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Peter F Hamilton's Void trilogy, at about 800 pages per book, even I can't finish one very quickly.... science fiction with a bit of a
fantasy element, very good!
Chris
Spoing! - the sound of an irony meter breaking...
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Jasper
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 02:45 PM |
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Love this book, strange, interesting and very well writing, and thick!!:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jonathan-Strange-Norrell-Susanna-Clarke/dp/0747579881/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283957080&sr=8-1
If you're not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room.
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mookaloid
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 02:48 PM |
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Ken Follett
The Pillars of
the Earth is a really good book and has about 1000 pages if I recall.
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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irvined
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 02:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
Ken Follett
The Pillars of
the Earth is a really good book and has about 1000 pages if I recall.
The sequel - world without end, is also equally long, and also worth a read.
Currently enjoying the count of Monte Cristo at the moment, its fairly long too 
Iain M Bainks has some good sci fi, and his non-sci fi books make for some great reading. The crow road is quite long from memory.
http://irvined.blogspot.com
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coozer
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 03:04 PM |
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D Day by Stephen Ambrose. Good, thick book, and a great write up.
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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MikeR
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 03:12 PM |
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Id take a few books that way you've got something new to look forward to every few hours (just in case your not enjoying the current book.
I'd suggest a few recentish terry pratchets.
I really enjoyed "to kill a mocking bird", still haven't finished "Catch 22" - i'm just sick of it jumping around
the timeline.
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AdamR
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 03:28 PM |
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I've heard that "A Journey" by Tony Blair is an excellent fantasy. 
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scootz
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 03:31 PM |
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There is only ONE book!
... and once you've read it - read it again!
It's Evolution Baby!
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 03:39 PM |
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Scootz - I've got that, and bought the sequels!
I should add that I've read
The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings.
The Count of Monte Cristo - one of my favourite classics. How many other famous books include revenge killings, gruesome murders, and recreational
drug taking!
I've got, and read, all the Pratchetts (except the latest - and that's on order from Amazon).
Some good suggestions there - I shall investigate!
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femster87
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 03:41 PM |
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don quixote is a chunky book. cracks me up still.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 04:10 PM |
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Robert Harris "Pompeii" a Roman adventure story or the more serious "Imperium" and "Lustrum" dirty
politics in ancient Rome. All historically accurate.
Len Deighton "Winter" --- rise of Hitler told from the perspective of a Berlin family from 1899 to 1946
For something different "The Worms of Euston Square" by William Sutton. (cyber punk SiFi )
David Ashton "Fall from Grace", "The Serpent" and "A Trick of the Light" a Victorian detective in Edinburgh
a bit of a cross between Gene Hunt and Sherlock Holmes but with a streak of Calvinism and wry humour.
Or the "Falco" detective novels of Lyndsey Davis set in Imperial Rome.
I nearly forgot "Bomber" also by Len Deighton.
[Edited on 8/9/10 by britishtrident]
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Strontium Dog
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 04:12 PM |
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Illuminatus trilogy!
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TimC
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 04:14 PM |
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Troillus & Cressida would slow you down! But it's awful so don't.
'Pillars of the Earth' is a tremendous shout!
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stevebubs
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 04:39 PM |
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Try Piers Anthony's adept series..also his Bio of a Space Tyrant
Or Amtrak Wars by Patrick Tilley - another series
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Simon
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 04:47 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by chrsgrain
Peter F Hamilton's Void trilogy, at about 800 pages per book, even I can't finish one very quickly.... science fiction with a bit of a
fantasy element, very good!
Chris
I'm about 350 pages into Pandora's Star from his Commonwealth series and am quite enjoying it. Nearly 1200 pages and 1 of 2 books. First
book of his I've read.
Good thread, btw.
ATB
Simon
[Edited on 8/9/10 by Simon]
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mangogrooveworkshop
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 05:19 PM |
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challange you to read this linky
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Macbeast
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 05:33 PM |
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For history, combined with sex, action, murder, betrayal, retribution and final reconciliation - the Bible of course 
I'm addicted to brake fluid, but I can stop anytime.
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carlknight1982
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 05:40 PM |
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Try the asassin trilogy by Robin Hobb or A song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, both cracking authors I first read the assasin trilogy back in 97
and im just rereading it as she has brough out a new series of books that very loosly link to it.
Logic will get you from a A to B
Imagination will take you everywhere.
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jonrotheray
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 06:47 PM |
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Neal Stephenson
A cerebral sci-fi/fantasy writer.
If you want a lengthy one try Cryptonomicon or Anathem.
Diamond Age, Snowcrash and Zodiac are also excellent, but shorter.
Jon
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MakeEverything
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 07:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
challange you to read this linky
Been there done that..... 
Kindest Regards,
Richard.
...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...
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JoelP
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| posted on 8/9/10 at 07:42 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by carlknight1982
Try the asassin trilogy by Robin Hobb or A song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, both cracking authors I first read the assasin trilogy back in 97
and im just rereading it as she has brough out a new series of books that very loosly link to it.
have you read the liveship traders trilogy by robin hobb? Excellent. If (when) i make a boat, its going to be called Paragon (since it will probably
kill me )
David, do you ever re-read books? I find this is a safe bet as you know what you are in for - if youve left it 10 years, it seems new too. I must have
read LOTR 3 times now.
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