What books did you get for Christmas ?

yellum

I didn't get any books off people this Christmas but I bought a few for myself.

So what did you get ?

Dont be at yourself

I got a complete set of Mr. Men books. They spell out My Mr. Men Library across the spines, which is possibly the most beautiful sight in the world.

I'll probably buy some real books with whatever vouchers I've accumulated.

DapperGent

I've a few Mr. Men as well, I keep adding to them when I get a chance.

Bookwise for Christmas I got Iain Banks' book on whiskey, a complete Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (which I've read before but I don't own so it was lovely to get), The Best of the Slate (hilarious, get one if you can).

I bought myself Sandman: Fables and Reflections and the Kindly Ones, Easy Riders Raging Bulls (Just finished it. Fantastic book), Lyra's Oxford and American Gods.

Gonna get all The Shah's Men Next. That looks fascinating.

ThenComesDudley

John Vonnegut - Slaughter house 5

and

George Orwell - The road to Wigan Pier

simu

I got an essay by AS Byatt on portraits in literature - enjoyed it as I'd read many of the books discussed in it before.

Also got Sandman Vols XI and X. My collection is now completed. Yay!

DapperGent

Originally posted by simu
Also got Sandman Vols XI and X. My collection is now completed. Yay!

I still have to get X, then I'm all finished. They're lovely to have.

CuLT

Ross O'Carroll-Kelly - The Teenage Dirtbag Years

(Courtesy of my sister)

dod

'tis curious when you recieve books as presents, because sometimes you end up reading books that you would never have purchased. Last year I read 'The IRA - A Secret History' by Sean Moloney, which is a book I never would have bought, but it ended up being an extremely interesting read. Again, this year, I received two books, neither of which would have taken my eye in Waterstones, but nonetheless, I will read now that I have them:

Bill Bryson - A short history of almost everything (Amazon)
Marcus Aurelius - Meditations (Full Text)

Books are great Christmas presents, except in the rare circumstance where they are exceptionally ill judged for their audience.

Walls

I didn't receive one, which was actually a first for me. There wasn't even a voucher towards one. One of the books I gave was 'Tuesdays with Monty' which hopefully will entertain he who received it...

Chowmein

I usually get a good few books every X-mas, not this year though

Foundation - Isaac Asimov
The Witches of Chiswick - Robert Rankin
The vampire Lestat - Anne Rice

Manach

Book received
Manchester United : A Pictorial History.

I shall have my vengence, mark this well.

skipn_easy

The Chronicles of Narnia
Absolute Friends - John le Carre
Captain Correlli's Mandolin - illustrated film companion
Seabiscuit

all of them were unexpected and not what i would have bought myself but i will enjoy reading them anyway.

Books are great christmas presents - can't go wrong with books or book vouchers.

KlodaX

From my Mum - Paint & Draw by Hazel Harrison

From my Friend - Lady Cottington's Fairy Album ... I think there may be real fairys in it... gonna have a wee read now actually.

krattapopov

john grisham - king of torts

Woden

bout five new star trek books i wanted and the first two artemis fowl books which was a surprise i was well impressed, i'm going to pick up myself some discworld books soon also

Cheez

I got Richie Yorke's definitive biography on Led Zeppelin

I got Iain Banks' book on whiskey

Interesting? Whats the name of it?

Rolo Tomasi

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

sinister book.

DapperGent

Originally posted by Cheez
Interesting? Whats the name of it?

It's called Raw Spirit, I haven't actually started it yet so I can't tell you anymore.

tman

only one this year:(

carl hiaasen - basket case.
it's good so far, not up to the standard that i'd grown to expect from 'sick puppy' and 'stormy weather'... still pretty damned good though.

CuLT

Originally posted by Chowmein
I usually get a good few books every X-mas, not this year though

Foundation - Isaac Asimov
The Witches of Chiswick - Robert Rankin
The vampire Lestat - Anne Rice

I can vouch for Foundation, groundbreaking scifi at the time, I believe, written in 1951 (So VERY long ago).
Computers weren't in any sort of widespread use at the time, in fact I belive UNIVAC 1 was invented around the time, shortly after Transistors .
So the book makes an interesting read with almost no reference to computers (the book is based 12,000 years into the future and "postal mail" is still being delivered between planets across the galaxy.)
Also, somehow, despotism is how the galaxy is governed, and stereotypical old english men are in power.

The story is great though, and totally ingenious, kept me guessing at conclusions, literally right to the last line of the third book.
I'm unsure whether I should read the ones after that, one or two of my favourite authours were disappointed Asimov went back to the series after 20 years.

Heh, sorry for the waffle .

Tusky

Originally posted by ThenComesDudley
John Vonnegut - Slaughter house 5

and

George Orwell - The road to Wigan Pier

isnt it Kurt Vonnegut ?
I got a good few this year

Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Porno - Irvine Welch
Excession - Iain M Banks
Galapagos - Kurt Vonnigut
Radio Times Guide to Films

Started porno , really good so far

Ancient1

Gonna get all The Shah's Men Next. That looks fascinating.

oh do you mean the new book, recently reviewed in the Irish Times?

Stephen Kinzer - is that him?

zAbbo

Got

Dude Wheres My Country - Michael Moore, nice follow up to Stupid White Men

Also got a John Lennon book, brief picture based view on the legend

Woden

tusky let me now what you think of excession

i just picked myself up some books yesterday another 5 star trek books and the first 3 discworld books ah well we have to treat ourselves

CuLT

Originally posted by bazH

Dude Wheres My Country - Michael Moore, nice follow up to Stupid White Men

To bad Michael Moore is a complete liar. The books would have been better if they were true. Much like that waffle-filled dvd he released.

bugler

Complete as in every word is untrue? You should stop throwing around such idiotic generalisations, particularly on a thread that was on a different topic entirely. It does not reflect very well on you, whatever the reasons for you getting your knickers in a twist over Moore's work.

If it really upsets you then you could start a different topic outlining what it is you believe is dishonest in Moore's work. I'm not too familiar with his stuff, I did read Stupid White Men, which was a bit rough and brutal for my liking. Much prefer Chomsky.

I got my usual quote of war related books from my mother, god bless her. Currently reading 'Citizen Soldiers' by Stephen Ambrose (Yep the Band of Brothers fellow), good stuff. Speaking of lying through the written word, I also raced through 'The Real Bravo Two Zero' by Michael Asher, his exposé of Andy McNab and Chris Ryan. Like most I was reasonably familiar with the core story, but was not aware of the dubious nature of much of what McNab and Ryan wrote in their books.

DapperGent

Originally posted by Ancient1
oh do you mean the new book, recently reviewed in the Irish Times?

Stephen Kinzer - is that him?

Yup it's Stephen Kinzer. I saw it given a very good review in the Sunday Times and I find Middle Eastern history fascinating so I can't wait to get my hands on it.

aine

I got the book that Antwone Fisher was based on, I saw the film a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed Denzel Washington's directorial debut!

Also got the His Dark Materials trilogy, I've only read the first one so far and it was great so I'm looking foward to the next two!!

Not sure if this counts but I also got a Batman graphic novel...that was really great!

CuLT

Originally posted by bugler
Complete as in every word is untrue? You should stop throwing around such idiotic generalisations, particularly on a thread that was on a different topic entirely. It does not reflect very well on you, whatever the reasons for you getting your knickers in a twist over Moore's work.

Sorry, "out and out" liar is more accurate. I don't see a problem in offering my opinion, other people have given theirs (including my own previous endorsement of Foundation) if your opinion is different, I don't mind. Below is all the information I need to back myself up.
Michael Moore is a liar .
If you wish to dispute this further commence a new thread yourself. I'm finished.

RasTa

To sides to every story mate and Micheal moores response to that bullsh!t article you posted is what i would tend to trust
comprehensive rebuttal

fizzy

ain't exactly booker prize material but i got myself eric meyer on css with my xmas book tokens i can't put it down!

eclectichoney

i got the tortilla curtain by TC Boyle & the little friend by donna tartt. started the latter and its great so far...

Q_Elexra

I was lucky enough to recieve Terry Pratchetts 'The Truth'. The only problem was that it ended. I need something to fill the void it left. I tried 'Life, The Universe And Everything' but it's just not the same.

As for buying something for myself I picked up a copy of 'Legends' while in Chapters on Friday. Haven't got round to reading it yet though.

tman

oh yeah, i also got Philip Pullman (or something to that effect) - His dark trilogy

looks rather... erm... weighty

Beëlzebooze

Pointed to the books I wanted, in the bookshop, and Herself bought them for me for christmas :-)
She is really sweet


Batavia's Graveyard - Mike Dash (absolutely brilliant)
Family Feud - Anthony Galvin (bit of a muddle, but give you an insight as where not to go in Limerick
Blow Fly - Patricia Cornwell (this is the last Scarpetta book I am going to read, she is starting to bore)
Chickenhawk - Robert Mason (I read this a while ago, but it was not my copy, and I felt I needed to have my own copy on the bookshelf)
Anne Frank: the diary of a young girl. - Anne Frank I saw a program about research into who betrayed the Frank family, that made me aware that I have never read this courageous girl's diary.

Beruthiel

I got The Silmarillion by JR Tolkin in a box set
very happy with it, I be