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In reply to Post #56
Also enjoyed A Bit Of Stretch and would recommend it.
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The Silk Roads: A New History of the World
The New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World
Both by Peter Frankopan
Heavy reading but both extremely informative 👍
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In reply to Post #56
Great shout Fishers of Men Aidey.
I'll take a look at the others 
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In reply to Post #1
I've read quite a few this year...
Soldier Spy and I Spy - ex MI5 documenting his time seeking Russian spooks and Islamic Terror interests.
Fishers of Men - another ex spook who worked in Northern Ireland during the troubles.
A Bit of A Stretch - Film producer who engaged in an investment that turned out to be a tax fraud. Documents his time in Wandsworth Prison
The End is Always Near - Dan Carlin documents times when civilisation has collapsed due to war, famine, disease etc. A great bitesized history on the Roman Empire, Genghis Khan etc. It was written pre-covid, so it gives a great insight into his views on what would happen in the next pandemic.
Carp fishing wise, Carp County is superb. I am a bit biased towards Kent anglers as I can relate in part and visualise the lakes and the swims. Not overly fussed about reading rehashed versions of Savay, Yateley etc.
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Anyone read ‘I am Pilgrim’? If you haven’t then get it for a few quid off eBay. Thank me later
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Any Tolkien fans on here?
I was clearing some books out the other day and amongst lots of Tolkien books I never finished was one I must not have started, the children of hurin. I really enjoyed that, are there any others that are actually a story?
The others I have are like reading the appendix at the end of lotr
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A Fishy Tale: Missing gone fishing- by Robert Kirk.
One for the nostalgic, especially London anglers who may remember some of the tackle shops Robert ran, rods he made and rivers he fished.
Mr Kirk was my mates dad's best friend and his rally driving partner, both were rod builders and worked in the angling trade for several decades. Over here and in Ireland.
Apart from being a pioneer in the trade Robert was in the RAF as a tail gunner on Lancaster bombers in WW2. His grandson was tragically killed riding in the Isle of Man TT. Excellent read and the front cover is how you dress for angling!! Available from Amazon
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Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
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Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
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Azincourt is a great read, will finish that tonight so am looking for the next book. Is cornwells templar series an easier read than the last kingdom series?
I may actually start the wolf of the plains again as I never fished the series
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In reply to Post #1
Lockdown was a nice time to finish my reading list. The last one was A Mirror above the Abyss https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094NMRWPJ about 9/11 events.
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In reply to Post #1
If you can find a copy, Kings of Cocaine is a superb read. Its about the rise of the Columbian cocaine cartels, Pablo Escobar etc, including Barry Seal who the Tom Cruise film made in America was about. Another good un is called Killing Pablo.
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Read the second in the athenian series (conn iggulden) this week
Great read about a key moment in history
Shame it'll be a year for part three
The witcher books were meh
Will start azincourt this week
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| | | Jon | | Posts: 4271 |  | |
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In reply to Post #45
I think astrology is complete ********.
But I would, wouldn't I, typical sagittarius behaviour.
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In reply to Post #44
Recently, I got pretty excited about astrology and it helped me to start reading again, I had some kind of issues with that. It all started with this site https://clearastrology.com/planetary-influence/ Very well written and interesting.
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In reply to Post #43
Hope it was worth the outlay Bob.
Sometime in the early 80's I was given a book called Follow The Sun - Malcolm Douglas. Adventure along the Kimberly coast Australia with simple living locals in 1972. Sparked my interest in foreign fishing and broadening horizons etc. I've recently found a two parter of the same name on YouTube, along with other surviving off the land stuff from Malcolm. Worth a watch if you like traditional methods and ways of life. Very graphic but that's the way it was.
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In reply to Post #25
Just started reading it, enjoying so far . Neighbour wants to borrow after I’ve finished.
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In reply to Post #41
Seen the Parangs mate, survival knife of their choice, think they come from a South Asian tribe I read?
Nice keep sake the tin mate
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In reply to Post #40
Yes I've had all the unedited stories they are a different breed most are fearless some are intelligent and some are just plain fruitcakes.
#39 I have one of Lofty's Tins for years never opened it, sometime ago now he had a series of Parangs made he gave me the first ever prototype one he had made said it would be useful for fishing 
Loftys idea of a good fishing Knife 
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In reply to Post #38
You lucky bugger, I can only imagine the 'un edited' stories! Had his survival guide since Christ only knows when. Funnily enough I bought a copy for the father in law for xmas, he's 72, he's already read it, he doesn't like books 😀
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In reply to Post #38
I already have one of his, the survival handbook 
I have always fancied doing one of those survival courses that they run, done a bit of wild stuff over the years lol. As kids we always used to be in the local woods, making Bivvys, spears, bows and arrows swings and lighting fires lol
Bit of a legend, I could spend a few hours bending his ear 
I have read a lot of their books mate, really fascinate me, their mindsets and what they have experienced and gone through is unbelievable, proper tuff nuts, mental!
I have read and watched a bit on the old stuff too, Stirling and the gang, crazy! We don’t know **** all about life experiences and living on the edge!
I will look out for that mate
Edit - I forgot to mention, even had a tobacco tin survival kit 
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In reply to Post #28
My father-in laws best mate of over 50 years is John Lofty Wiseman Author of mainly SAS survival handbooks but a few years ago he wrote Who Dares Grins mainly funny anecdotes/stories of his time in the regiment, I have known Lofty for over 30 years and listened to many a story he has told me from his time served quite a few which are in the book its a bit different to the theater of war books but a good read you might be interested if you've an interest in SAS books, he is a character, not seen him now in nearly 12 months as he's 80 and shielding. 
A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON LOFTY
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In reply to Post #36
He's a book writer Mal not number 53 on the menu.
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| | | mal | | Posts: 8986 |  | |
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In reply to Post #35
no that's a new one on me...
I'll have a look
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In reply to Post #30
Mal. As you like Gaiman have you tried China Meiville?
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In reply to Post #31
Tell you, the force is strong with that one 
Mind you, there all a bit weird from up Bulton way 
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In reply to Post #32
Nah if I want ninja's I'll go for the Teenage Mutant's
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| | | mal | | Posts: 8986 | | |
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In reply to Post #31
sod off you. would it help if i said it's got ninjas and samurai? swords? big writing? pictures?
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In reply to Post #30
Tales of the Otori - Lian Hearn fictional series set in feudal Japan. very good for reading to chill out.
Weirdo
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| | | mal | | Posts: 8986 | | |
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I'm a fan of reading. it's very good for winding down and relaxing. Prefer real books to audiobooks as for me the quiet is part of the bonus.
some that I've really enjoyed - a range of genres
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - very well written from the POV of an autistic lad who's mum left.
Tales of the Otori - Lian Hearn fictional series set in feudal Japan. very good for reading to chill out.
I, Lucifer - Glenn Duncan. Lucifer tries out being human for a while...
pretty much anything by Neil Gaiman. American Gods, Good Omens, Anansi Boys, the whole Sandman series of graphic novels. Just got his reworking of the Norse Myths which is ace.
The World according to Karl Pilkington is bloody hilarious (if you like his humour of course) easy to pick up and put down chapter wise too.
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In reply to Post #1
Bit like you, if it doesn't grab me instantly I won't read it, but in general I only read factual, not into fictional.. 3 books that I had to keep reading, Bravo 2 Zero, did that in about 2 days, the original Terry Hearn book and John WIlsons fishing autobiography. I have a fair few fishing books, most unread, some still in the delivery box, problem for me is I have to be relaxed to do that sort of thing and enjoy it, don't feel relaxed enough most of the time.
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In reply to Post #25
They are the kind of books I like to read
Read quite a few of the SAS books, three very good ones, the story of the border fox, Colombian drug wars and drugs, meth in the U.K. plus the old Bravo two zero, went to a book signing event and Andy Mcnab was there, signed my books, had a chat, and did a talk about his time in Ireland, B20 and a lot more
Stars in the film too
Once read a few on Russian special forces, Spetsnaz, in Afghanistan, brutal and unbelievable 
Also read a bit on real crime and violence, gangs, hitmen and renowned fighters and boxers too
And read a **** load related to my work 
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In reply to Post #26
I enjoy reading but I find it hard to make time to actually sit down and read a book.I like books I just don't have the time to read them now as I am working on the project together with the guys from https://thewordpoint.com/services/translation-service/personal-contenth . I enjoy novels and the occasional play as rare as that is xD. I hate reading books online - There's something about books the smell or feel of a fresh book.. I just love it.. A lot. So I buy em all.
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Looks like I'll be reading the witcher series for a while
Tempted to wait till I've watched season 2 on netflix tho
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In reply to Post #24
Hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I have
The best and toughest the French had, Foreign Legion with many ex German army from WW2 and Paras. Brilliant read in an ultimately desperate situation.
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In reply to Post #23
The Last Valley just read some of reviews , looks like an excellent book,just ordered a copy.
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In reply to Post #1
Can't remember a day I've not read a book I've got on the go. Only read books on true events and buy several on the subject that's peaked my interest. Currently it's post WW2 French colonialism, Algeria, Vietnam etc. Nearly finished the excellent The Last Valley-Dien Bien Phu by Martin Windrow, catastrophic French defeat and the ultimate drawing of the USA into Vietnam.
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In reply to Post #10
anyone that has a kindle reader or similar. i have a load of books in .mobi
re the master and Commander series. i have every one. pm me emails and i can send some
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In reply to Post #20
You'll often find the first books in each series in the supermarkets for a couple of quid
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In reply to Post #17
Conn Iggulden was an author i hadn't heard of. Just Googled him. Looks like i've added another lot of books to my list - Cheers 
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In reply to Post #18
Yeah I read all of the Conqueror series. My Dad and my brother rave about the Emperor books but since we've had the boy I've just not had time to read anything other than carp stuff!
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In reply to Post #17
Did you read the whole series?
I loved the first two but I think I jumped to the fourth and got a bit lost with it. I'll have to give it another go if they're still in the loft
The roses series and emporer series are well worth a read too, I think I binge read them in about 6 weeks 
The fantasy trilogy was OK, but just didn't have the depth of Tolkien, Martin etc
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In reply to Post #11
Conn Iggulden
Wolf of the Plains is literally one of the best books I've ever read mate
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In reply to Post #13
It's good when you find a local connection as you did.
I was reading a WWII Naval book about getting the supply lines open to Malta, and the battles with the Italian Navy. One of the ships my dad was on got a mention. Just need to dig out his service record to see if he would have been involved at that time. I know from his medals that he was in the North Atlantic, Med and Pacific, so he could have been.
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In reply to Post #14
If you like the Sharpe series, you will probably like the Jack Lark series (Paul Fraser Collard). It starts with the Scarlet Thief, which is set in the Crimean War.
Maybe a few too many similarities with Sharpe, but still a good read.
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In reply to Post #12
Last Kingdom series read all of them brilliant, only halfway through the Sharpe series but getting there.
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In reply to Post #12
I really enjoyed the TV show, but when I tried the books I struggled a bit, it just seemed off the way its written, like an autobiography, I did this, I thought that...
I tried another one of his that wasn't from that series and it was much the same.
I will order azincourt tho, the battle is mentioned a lot in the war of the Roses series.
What I like about the genre, I'll often come across a bit of local history. For example when I read igguldens dunstan, it mentioned a coronation stone in Kingston, where athelstan was crowned, the first king of all England among others. Id walked past it tons of times without knowing
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In reply to Post #11
I struggled with the Saxon/Last Kingdom books of his. I started on the Sharp series, of which I think there’s about 25. Enjoyed them all.
I don’t know anyone who has started and not finished Azincourt. One of the best books I have ever read, and is probably on level par with Papillon.
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In reply to Post #7
I keep trying to read Cornwell books, but I just can't get into them. I might grab that book tho
Conn iggulden is my favourite author for historical fiction, the three big series he did were great, he's started a new series on the greek/Persian war, I'm hoping for the second installment soon.
By the time George Martin releases the next got book I'll have to read that lot again!
I've started a lot of fishing books but only finished a couple
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In reply to Post #9
I have. I think i started reading his books once i had finished the Hornblower series.
Just checked the titles, and i think there are a few i've not read. I know the last one I read was Desolation Island - must get onto the rest - thanks for the reminder.
I would normally read all books by an author before moving on, but i think after i finished Desolation Island, a new Jack Lark book (Paul Fraser Collard) was released, so probably got onto that.
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In reply to Post #7
Have you tried the Patrick Obrien Jack Aubrey books mate?
For historical fiction
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In reply to Post #7
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In reply to Post #1
I struggle to read fishing books apart from a select few - Carp County, Redmire Pool, In the Still of the Night, all of which i have read more than once.
I'm a fairly prolific reader of historical novels - one that i have read a few time over the years is Azincourt - Bernard Cornwell. A good yarn and you learn a bit about history as well.
Another recommend is First Light by Geoffrey Wellum "Two months before the outbreak of WWII, seventeen-year-old Geoffrey Wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the RAF" - Couldn't put it down. Gives a really good insight into what these pilots went through.
Ross, a good starting point is to find a subject/genre that interests you. Personally i can't get into detective type novels. Struggle to get past the first couple of chapters.
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if its not a fishing book I'm reading its real crime or Jeremy Clarkson..halfway through Eddie blundels book at mo and Kenny noyes...
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In reply to Post #4
Yer a guy I worked with used the audio books and he said he rather use them than a normal book. Something wort looking at
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In reply to Post #1
Maybe try a free trial of Audible?
Probably not much in the way if fishing books but
Can be a nice way to enjoy a book.
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In reply to Post #1
Ive got tyson furys auto biography which im saving for a holiday, if we ever get to go again
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In reply to Post #1
Always got a book in hand love reading, never use to. Don’t read books about Carp Fishing bore me to tears.
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Now we are in lock down. I was thinking of attempting to read a few of my carp fishing books. I don't read mutch. As if I can't get into a book in the 1st chapter or so I end up getting bord with it and end up not reading it. I've got Dave lanes fine lines book that I've had since it come out which is signed. I've only flicked threw it. Also got Terry hearn still searching that I've only had a flick threw and also Ian chillcott and Tim Paisley book. I seem to buy them then takes me for ever to get round to reading them. I can't get on with reading while sat fishing. Do you guys do much reading in you spair time
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NON Carp stuff