Winter's here already! First snow and looking for a good book for Christmas?

[Simon_100]

you need some Jack Reacher in your life mate (thumbs) :whistle: a very sophisticated read

Got loads of books on the War of the Roses that I have finished with and "the riddle of the sands"

Read a few about Agincourt also this year and about Viking and the Anglo Saxon wars

if anyone wants some books give me a shout

Got your brakes sorted yet Simon ?

cheers Spud

The Riddle in the Sands is a great book Spud, ideal for a naval gent like yourself to while away those long hours in the Brig ... :whistle:

There was a sequel written a few years ago by Sam Llewellyn, The Shadow of the Sands, I've got a pre-print review copy and it seems that0's pretty much where it stayed by the stock lists and prices on Amazon ...

Meanwhile I spent a happy afternoon watching the film version of The Riddle one afternoon last summer - worth it for Jenny Agutter alone - now I'm showing my age! (thumbs)



Meanwhile I'll check out that travel writing anthology by John Keay. I'm familiar with almost all of the writers but the editor's choice is always worth a new take, especially someone like John Keay.

In return, you might like 'The Wild Places' by Robert Macfarlane - all the author's own work and an inspiration for anyone wanting to take a 'new' look at the British isles and maybe inspire a tour next year.

It also reminds me to seek Macfarlane's first book, 'Mountains of the Mind' - oh so much to do ...

Regs

Simon

PS, I more or less needed therapy to wean me off the 'Master and Commander' books by Patrick O'Brian, ditto the Dave Robichoux crime thrillers by James Lee Burke, so thanks for all the recommendations about these genres but think the only lasting 'cure' will be to wrote my own ...

[Redmurty]

to answer a question re Jack Reacher finished the book "One shot" last night of which the first Reacher film is an adaptation from. The book is far better than the film not a classic mind stretcher but good entertainment.

The first book I mention in the list Simon I think would be right up your street, well not quite it's based further up in the Pyrenees from you (thumbs)

Will be looking at your recommendations now, and the "Riddle" interesting read (thumbs)

did Polly and you get my texts :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

cheers Spud

[nickoff]

Must admit that I've always been an avid book reader. Generally fiction but not always. Love my Kindle which goes with me just about everywhere when away from home for any amount of time. Of coarse I still like the physical feel of a "real" book as well. Recently I have read some disappointing stuff but one book that really stood out as being un put downable was " The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of The Window and Disappeared." It's a good story that had me howling most of the time. I never realised that the Swedes had such a good sense of humour. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea. Try it.
Nick.

[Redmurty]

Must admit that I've always been an avid book reader. Generally fiction but not always. Love my Kindle which goes with me just about everywhere when away from home for any amount of time. Of coarse I still like the physical feel of a "real" book as well. Recently I have read some disappointing stuff but one book that really stood out as being un put downable was " The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of The Window and Disappeared." It's a good story that had me howling most of the time. I never realised that the Swedes had such a good sense of humour. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea. Try it.
Nick.

come and meet my Swedish mate, she's absolutely bonkers :blink:

will check the book out thanks

cheers Spud

[Travelling Sam]

May I suggest 'When the road ends' by Dylan Wickrama. He's the guy who built the raft, powered by his GS, to sail from Panama to Colombia. I finished it about a week ago and its one of those which you are really sad about when that happens. The storyline is great and full of the unexpected, courage, and Dylan's descriptions of places and people are spot on.

[Travelling Sam]

Hmmm, forgot to tick the subscribe box Have now!

[Barcelona Pat]

And Dylan is, infact, swanning around your mountains as I type. Hope to meet up with him when I get home at the weekend.

Simon, I fully agree about that book, a must read for all.
Pat

[Simon_100]

Must admit that I've always been an avid book reader. Generally fiction but not always. Love my Kindle which goes with me just about everywhere when away from home for any amount of time. Of coarse I still like the physical feel of a "real" book as well. Recently I have read some disappointing stuff but one book that really stood out as being un put downable was " The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of The Window and Disappeared." It's a good story that had me howling most of the time. I never realised that the Swedes had such a good sense of humour. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea. Try it.
Nick.

Then you must try 'The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden' by the same author - Brilliant!

to answer a question re Jack Reacher finished the book "One shot" last night of which the first Reacher film is an adaptation from. The book is far better than the film not a classic mind stretcher but good entertainment.

The first book I mention in the list Simon I think would be right up your street, well not quite it's based further up in the Pyrenees from you (thumbs)

Will be looking at your recommendations now, and the "Riddle" interesting read (thumbs)

did Polly and you get my texts :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

cheers Spud

Thanks for the reminder Spud, I checked out the Montaillou book and it's right up my tree, so I've ordered that plus 'Mountains of the Mind' and Robert Macfarlanes' 'guru' Roger Deakin's 'Wildwood', which pretty much bagan the genre of travel books that combine seeking specific environments, e.g. woodlands, mountains, moors, etc. with an anthology of writing about the same.

Back to Montaillou, it's a surprise that Mrs S hadn't come across the author during her Georgraphy studies as he was a leading light in the (in)famous environmental determinism debate - if you can fit a PhD around this and think of something new to say then a university lectureship is pretty much a meal ticket for life - or you wrote books about it like Macfarlane and Deakin...

Anyway, that you keep us busy in those long winter evenings in the Pyrenees! (thumbs)

Regs

Simon

[Simon_100]

And Dylan is, infact, swanning around your mountains as I type. Hope to meet up with him when I get home at the weekend.

Simon, I fully agree about that book, a must read for all.
Pat

Tell me more Pat!

Simon

[The Sarge]

I agree with Brehnden, George MacDonald Frazer's Flashman series will keep you entertained for weeks, I also love the Kipling novels, the 19thC era when Britain was great and conquering the World, the stuff of dreams and fantasy now !

Sarge