Between the Covers

OldGoat

Not sure how well this will work if at all but can we try a book club thing?
What if we selected a book a month and gave our views on it.
What I'm hoping for here is a move away from the Maeve Binchies and Jodi Picoults and the Adel Parks and other rom/com, rom/rom rom/murder/rom waffle that in now seems to dominating the book lists.
I would like a book club that is not afraid to read a football biography, or an amateurs guide to golf in Ireland written by a Boards member, or just a good oul scifi shoot 'em up.

Dr Galen

excellent idea OldGoat.

I shall have a trawl through the library room and see what I come up with

Otis Driftwood

Cool idea.Unfortunatly I aint got the moniez at the moment to spend on new reading material so Im just re reading alot of what I have.Stupid recession.:mad:

Will

libraries are a great resource ned

I'd be game depending on the book. Wouldn't be mad into soccer and what have you but shall do my best. don't read enough

OldGoat

I don't think that it has to be about new books at all. Some of the most memorable (Note: Didnt say Good) books are old and already on your shelf. We could also try to arrange a book lending system if the need arises. As a book club we can also get some great consessions from libraries where they will gather all the copies of a given title from around the city* and allocate them to a bookclub.

*Dublin City Council Libraries - but I'm sure that other councils do similar.

EDIT: Not mad into the football myself but I'm willing to make some consessions to get this going. We could put a tattoo book on the list ya know. ;-)

Will

tattoo books are generally softcore porn mags masquerading as books

There are some good ones out there though (modern primitives etc.) . I'm open to suggestion though and will give it a shot either way

OldGoat

Will wrote: »

tattoo books are generally softcore porn mags masquerading as books

And your point is? :rolleyes: Win win really. I don't rule out 'art' books here. Mapplethorps photographs, H.R Gigers Alien pictures, Ditas Burlesque and art of tease, New Scientist Review of the Year, Janes Defence Weekly, The Watchmen graphic novel, manga . I refuse to limit books to novels only.

El Guapo!

Well I recently read a book called Digital Fortress by Dan Brown that I'd highly reccommend. Im not really a book reader tbh but I couldn't put it down.
Im new to the GC by the way.....great forum.

tbh

I think that is the best idea I've heard. How about this as a rough framework:

Somebody picks a book. We all have a week to read it and then we'll open a thread to discuss it. This isn't literature, so we'll close the threads after two weeks, say, and then move onto a next one. What do you think? I'm open to suggestions, but, one way or another, this is definitely going to happen

OG, you should have first pick, but I've one or two in mind if you'd like to try something new

trout

I'm not a fan of Dan Brown ... seems like I'm not the only one

I've just read John Irving's memoir The Imaginary Girlfriend ... crackin' read for anyone who has read any of his novels.

If you haven't read anything by John Irving ... get a copy of The Cider House Rules, or The World According to Garp.

Maybe we can get suggestions for say 10 books (you've seen mine) ... starting with whatever gem OldGoat picks for us ... and get cracking ?

Great idea

OldGoat

Oh yeah, right, make me go first, make me the scapego...

I'd said John Irvine to, great reads.

OK, something easy to read, unemcumbered by subility but a cracking yarn I suggest "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.

tbh

maybe request for a GCBC subforum?

Keano

I will add my name. Generally, I like to read non-fiction but willing to move to the other side!

Dr Galen

maybe push the time limit out to 3 weeks as some peoples might have to buy or source the book first

banshee_bones

May I suggest "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts...?

Fajitas!

My most enjoyable recent read was The Ongoing Moment by Geoff Dyer - it is *quite* related to photography, but quite an interested read all the same, looking at societies throughout the ages, why people take on board the images they do, and so on.

Also, if you're interested in the 'visual' side of reading, Ways Of Seeing is a great book to read. I know they're not everybodies 'thing', but they're really interesting to read.

trout

OK ... suggestions so far, based on order of posting.

1. American Gods - Neil Gaiman
2. Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
3. The World According to Garp - John Irving
4. Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
5. The Ongoing Moment - Geoff Dyer

How many do we need before we get started ? Would 10 be enough ?

How do we pick them ? (I really don't want to read Dan Brown again:mad:)

tbh

I think the whole point of a book cub is to read a book you haven't read/heard of before. So, we have five suggestions, I'd be happy enough for someone to pick one of those and we'll give it go - do them one at a time. What do you reckon?

But I'd also like to add "A long, long way" by Sebastian Barry to the list too

OldGoat

1. American Gods - Neil Gaiman
2. Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
3. The World According to Garp - John Irving
4. Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
5. The Ongoing Moment - Geoff Dyer
6. A long, long way - by Sebastian Barry

Makes sense to me to start at the top and work down the list. Simply add new recomendations to the end of the list.

One caviat here though. As this is such a public forum there exists the possiality that we could be inundated with book suggestions that are just being added for the sake of giggles. I would suggest that someone(s) be tasked with the right to vito any suggested title...OR... that any title must be approved of by a vote of... oh I donno, say 5 contributors with a post count of over 50 each.

banshee_bones

Should we add a poll for the first five or just go with it? sorry im a bit confused (im only up out of bed!) OG! Are you saying only if a book is recommended 5 times by posters with a reutable post count will be considered?

OldGoat

I'm just trying to find a mecninism to stop some smartarse coming in and suggesting we read Maeve Binchy or Tuesdays copy of the Sun. Perhaps I over-complicated the selection proscess.:o

banshee_bones

thats ok i hear ya! well im sure if we google any recommendations we will see them for their literary merits! so maybe if everyone could submit the blurb of the book in a couple of sentences with their recommendation it could weed out the messers?

Example :

Shantaram : By Gregory David Roberts

Shantaram is a novel influenced by real events in the life of the author, Australian Gregory David Roberts, filled with mostly fictional adventures. In 1978, Roberts was sentenced to nineteen years' imprisonment in Australia after being convicted of a series of armed robberies of building society branches, credit unions, and shops, which he had committed to feed a heroin addiction after his marriage ended and he lost his daughter. In July 1980, he escaped from Victoria’s Pentridge Prison in broad daylight, thereby becoming one of Australia's most wanted men for the next ten years.
In the fictional story, Roberts' main character arrives in Bombay carrying a fake passport in the name of Lindsay Ford. Bombay was only a stopover on a journey that was to take Lin from New Zealand to Germany, but he decides to stay in the city. Lin soon meets a local man named Prabaker, who he hires as a guide but soon becomes his best friend and renames him Linbaba. Both men visit Prabaker's native village, Sunder, where Prabaker's mother christens Lin with the name Shantaram, meaning Man of God's Peace. On their way back to Bombay and after a night out, Lin and Prabaker are robbed. With all his possessions gone, Lin is forced to live in the slums, giving him shelter from the authorities and free rent in Bombay. After a massive fire on the day of his arrival in the slum, he sets up a free health clinic as a way to contribute to the community.

Otis Driftwood

Looks like Im going to have to get my lie-berry membership renewed.

Can I add to the list -

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk (its been about 4 years since I read it but its my favourite Palahniuk novel)

or

Mr Blue by Eddie Bunker - (Its Bunker's autobiography.He played Mr Blue in Reservoir Dogs.Started life as a criminal,spent a number of years in jail before getting into acting.A cracking read)

tbh

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055659458

Ned, we'll add books to the list as we go through, yours will be on the next list, but I think we should have a choice of a maximum of five to keep things manageable.

OldGoat

You all realise that I only started this so I could use the great thread title.

CDfm

Andy McNabs books provide an accurate portrayal of the dilemmas facing modern man. His sensitive portrayal of his new man is the noughties is heartbreaking and his portrayal of women realistic and sensible.

The storytelling and social concience of Charles Dickens coupled with the sensitivity of Thomas Hardy and the nutty self absorbed psychotic women of the Brontes adds to this gritty realism.

A modern prophet his books should be read by all men as relationship manuals.

Fajitas!

OldGoat wrote: »

You all realise that I only started this so I could use the great thread title.

I keep on forgetting the title and assume this is a thread about riding that I've drunkenly posted in.

I read a lot of McNab's books when I was younger, my parents passed them on to me - I think I was about 12, they were good then, but I don't think I'd enjoy them anymore - Is he still on the SAS frontlines?

Snowie

Try rick wakemans book I spurted coffee all over a ryan air flight I blamed him

LostinBlanch

+1 to Shantaram, an excellent book based on a true story. Can't wait to see the fillum. A certain J Dep Esquire is taking the lead part. Or so I believe.

Still how about doing something local like any of the Ross O'Carroll Kelly books?

CDfm

Fajitas! wrote: »

I read a lot of McNab's books when I was younger, my parents passed them on to me - I think I was about 12, they were good then, but I don't think I'd enjoy them anymore - Is he still on the SAS frontlines?

Precocious tu:D

Gillo

Suggest "You got nothing coming", it was a great if not slightly scary read.

Stinky Linky

CDfm

Gillo wrote: »

Suggest "You got nothing coming", it was a great if not slightly scary read.

Stinky Linky

A parable I loved it.

Fajitas!

CDfm wrote: »

Precocious tu:D

Absolutely. Nothing could stop me reading when I was younger. My parents had to hide those sh*tty mags you get with Sunday newspapers when I was 5/6 because I'd read'em. Gritty details and all :pac:

CDfm

Fajitas! wrote: »

Absolutely. Nothing could stop me reading when I was younger. My parents had to hide those sh*tty mags you get with Sunday newspapers when I was 5/6 because I'd read'em. Gritty details and all :pac:

Lol:D

For a few years all I read was by the great and good. My tastes now are simpler.These days if a book has a message I am unlikely to finish it.

I think this is a nice idea, though I don't think I'd be into it personally myself.


Outside of school, I've never actually read a book that was based on any story of anything. I've read about 10-15 wrestler autobiographies, because I'd have a big interest in them, but out from that, I don't really see the appeal of reading, unless its to gain information or learn something (same thing).


In saying that though, I'd be willing to join in here (at least for the first book, and see how I get on) if that's ok with you guys. I don't want to commit myself to it though, as I will likely end up leaving after the first book :pac:


If I can recommend something though, I'd recommend Mick Foley's Autobiography, 'Have A Nice Day: A Tale Of Blood And Sweatsocks'. It's very, very funny, and there's no ghost writer, so it's a genuinely good read. The reason I recommend it is because I can only imagine all the macho, intelligent men browsing this forum laughing at the idea of a wrestler having a book, when in fact, it's exactly that kind of person that I would love to have read the book. It would teach the average joe so much about the wrestling world and how tough it actually is, and may, actually make some people change their mind and give the 'lolzers rasslins faik' mentality a rest for a while (in saying that, I'm sure there are a lot of people here who respect and appreciate their work, I imagine they're in the minority though).


Here it is on Amazon, where it has received many positive reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/Have-Nice-Day-Blood-Sweatsocks/dp/0061031011

OldGoat

I'm delighted that some gentlemen who profess to not reading much are willing to join up with this book club. I really hope that ye endure past the first one or two books that we select and read. Remember that if the book you read does not appeal to you then that is still a valid point of discussion. Also remember that a book that does appeal to you will come along soon.
Oh yeah, talking books are a valid way of getting the book. A spoken book in the car CD is a wonderful way of absorbing a book.

Dord

OldGoat wrote: »

I'm delighted that some gentlemen who profess to not reading much are willing to join up with this book club. I really hope that ye endure past the first one or two books that we select and read. Remember that if the book you read does not appeal to you then that is still a valid point of discussion. Also remember that a book that does appeal to you will come along soon.
Oh yeah, talking books are a valid way of getting the book. A spoken book in the car CD is a wonderful way of absorbing a book.

I haven't sat down and read a book in years. I have a pretty short attention span, but I do like reading when I can.

nkay1985

I don't think I'd read a book until I was about 12, when I read a book by George Best and a Kevin Keegan autobiography on holidays. Since then, I've read a lot.

But recently I've not had anything to read. And I don't like the idea of just going to the bookshop and picking a random book. So I think this is a great idea. My girlfriend has started one of these recently and it's worked quite well. Where it struggles is when there's a lot of people who can't read the book within the set timeline. But an online version should be able to plough through this because there should be enough participants.

I'll personally try my hardest to read any book that's agreed upon and suggest any that I think will be enjoyed by most people.

Swampy

I would also like in on this. Haven't read Shantaram but have heard great things about it.

r3nu4l

OldGoat wrote: »

OK, something easy to read, unemcumbered by subility but a cracking yarn I suggest "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.

I loved this book and would happily read it again for discussion! Also, as I don't have much time at the moment it would be fine if ye were all finished reading it and I wasn't because I know how it ends anyway

CraggyIslander

I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread and try to join in. All those stuffy techy books I've had to 'read' lately have been putting me off reading.

Picked up 'the big sleep' again last weekend and devoured it in 2 sittings...... Philip Marlow rules and reading is great, just have to make the time for it

OldGoat

Know what ya mean about reading a book in one or two sittings. If I manage to find the time then it's a real luxury to get through a book in one go. I'm more often snatching a page here and there and spending 3 or 4 weeks to get through a book.
I tend to read 3 or 4 books at a time, each one in it's own location. There is the train book, the bed book, the toilet book and the 'beside me now for when there is a hiatus in posts on Boards' book.

CraggyIslander

The one beside my bed at the moment is a HP lovecraft omnibus, its been there a while tho... Love HP and his world, but the last story i read from that omnibus wasnt one of his best and just dragged n dragged on n on... so I've been putting off the next story for errr 6 months Been reading other stuff instead

OldGoat

Lovecraft is such a headf__k. If you're in a dark, strange and bizzar mood then there are few authors who can satisfy like he does.

CDfm

Lets tap into our inner girl. PS I love you anyone:D

deadhead13

CDfm wrote: »

Lets tap into our inner girl. PS I love you anyone:D

http://www.arcadeshop.com/pics/3ball-b.jpg

jack_reacher

I think this is a great idea, i'm going to source that book tomorrow. I've been reading a good bit in the last 2 months after basically stopping since Christmas. Good books and all that but it feels like I'm reading the same authors the whole time or else picking a random book that may as well be from one those authors. This will be good for a bit of variety - the spice of life after all!

starbelgrade

Due to a theiving brother, I have a spare copy of Ferguson's biography if anyone wants it - It's actaully a good read as it spans his whole life and covers very little of the Utd part.

Will swap for any good read.

nkay1985

Just picked up 'A long, long way' from Amazon for €9 delivered. I think that's pretty good. I'm mad to get into it now. I've not had a book to read for three or four weeks now so I hope it arrives quickly. I'm on nights next week so I'll hopefully get a few minutes spare to read it then.

Duke Fame

The Road

best book ever

Fajitas!

Just wondering... With the thread on "chick flicks", and OldGoats' last comment there, could we do this for good films too? Might be an idea?