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Author: Subject: Looking for a tough book
David Jenkins

posted on 8/9/10 at 02:12 PM Reply With Quote
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

posted on 8/9/10 at 02:22 PM Reply With Quote
LOTR?
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StevieB

posted on 8/9/10 at 02:23 PM Reply With Quote
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

posted on 8/9/10 at 02:29 PM Reply With Quote
Tom Clancy Rainbow 6 is a nice chunky book. Writing is OK-ish if you like that sort of thing





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chrsgrain

posted on 8/9/10 at 02:32 PM Reply With Quote
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





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Jasper

posted on 8/9/10 at 02:45 PM Reply With Quote
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





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mookaloid

posted on 8/9/10 at 02:48 PM Reply With Quote
Ken Follett The Pillars of the Earth is a really good book and has about 1000 pages if I recall.





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irvined

posted on 8/9/10 at 02:55 PM Reply With Quote
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.





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coozer

posted on 8/9/10 at 03:04 PM Reply With Quote
D Day by Stephen Ambrose. Good, thick book, and a great write up.





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MikeR

posted on 8/9/10 at 03:12 PM Reply With Quote
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

posted on 8/9/10 at 03:28 PM Reply With Quote
I've heard that "A Journey" by Tony Blair is an excellent fantasy.
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scootz

posted on 8/9/10 at 03:31 PM Reply With Quote
There is only ONE book!





... and once you've read it - read it again!





It's Evolution Baby!

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David Jenkins

posted on 8/9/10 at 03:39 PM Reply With Quote
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

posted on 8/9/10 at 03:41 PM Reply With Quote
don quixote is a chunky book. cracks me up still.
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britishtrident

posted on 8/9/10 at 04:10 PM Reply With Quote
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]





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Strontium Dog

posted on 8/9/10 at 04:12 PM Reply With Quote
Illuminatus trilogy!
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TimC

posted on 8/9/10 at 04:14 PM Reply With Quote
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

posted on 8/9/10 at 04:39 PM Reply With Quote
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

posted on 8/9/10 at 04:47 PM Reply With Quote
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

posted on 8/9/10 at 05:19 PM Reply With Quote
challange you to read this linky






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Macbeast

posted on 8/9/10 at 05:33 PM Reply With Quote
For history, combined with sex, action, murder, betrayal, retribution and final reconciliation - the Bible of course





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carlknight1982

posted on 8/9/10 at 05:40 PM Reply With Quote
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.





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Imagination will take you everywhere.

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jonrotheray

posted on 8/9/10 at 06:47 PM Reply With Quote
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

posted on 8/9/10 at 07:25 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
challange you to read this linky


Been there done that.....





Kindest Regards,
Richard.

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JoelP

posted on 8/9/10 at 07:42 PM Reply With Quote
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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