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Books
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Books
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bookslinger
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19/03/2009 13:45:06 »
Outside of science books, what do people on here read? What are your favourite authors and books?
My favourite book is definitely Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, my favourite author is a toughie because I love quite a few, but I might say Anthony Burgess of Clockwork Orange fame.
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graham.d
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19/03/2009 14:38:59 »
It's hard to pick a favorites because it is like saying do you prefer apples, oranges or bananas or, alternatively, which colour do you like best. However, I will have a go at a few books I can remember that I found inspiring or simply enjoyed reading. If I thought for longer the list would expand greatly so this is not very exhaustive. Also, I don't necessarily think they will appeal to everyone.
Fiction:
Ulysses by James Joyce
Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian (plus others in the series)
Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien (Read aloud to each of my two children)
If Not Now, When? by Primo Levi
Science Fiction:
Dune by Frank Herbert (plus others in the series)
The Sparrow by Maria Doria Russell (there is a sequel, but not read it yet)
Non-Fiction:
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R Hofstadter
War Diaries 1939-1945 - Field Marshall Lord Alanbrooke
I don't think I have a favorite author as such.
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Don_1
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Books
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Reply #2 on:
19/03/2009 17:17:15 »
I've never been much of a bookworm, but J R R Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' & 'The Lord of the Rings' was the best I've ever read.
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blakestyger
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Books
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Reply #3 on:
19/03/2009 17:43:21 »
Fiction:
Cormac McCarthy, Jeff Lindsay, Ian McEwan, Annie Proux, Lisa St Aubin de Teran, Primo Levi, Umberto Eco...
Non Fiction:
Julian Baggini, A C Grayling, John Gray, John Pilger, Steve Jones...
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JimBob
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Reply #4 on:
19/03/2009 19:43:37 »
With about 1,000 books in my shelves, ranging from poetry to hard science, it is difficult to pick out many. But a few absolutely outstanding authors spring to mind. T. S. Eliot & William Carlos Williams for poetry and creative prose, Churchill for his total command of the English language, Neal Stephenson for science fiction, Stephen Jay Gould for his ability to convey scientific concepts so simply. This is just a sampling. If given time, I know others would come to mind.
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DoctorBeaver
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Books
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Reply #5 on:
20/03/2009 12:11:28 »
I think my favourite author is probably Terry Pratchett. His books always give me a good laugh. I am also an avid Asimov fan for both his fiction and non-fiction works.
I don't have a favourite science writer because I tend to get books by subject rather than author.
Jim mentioned Churchill for his command of language. I would also point to the works of Stephen Fry and Giles Brandreth for the same reason. They are a joy to read; maybe not so much for the subject matter but for the wondeful way they use English.
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sunflower
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Reply #6 on:
16/04/2009 13:59:12 »
Can I suggest a really good, unusual popular science book. Called
When Science Goes Wrong: Twelve Tales from the Dark Side of Discovery
it's written by a neuroscientist called Simon LeVay. It's all about the huge scientific cock-ups that you don't usually hear about.
There are 12 stories from different branches of science. My favourite is about a former Olympic athlete who had experimental brain surgery for Parkinson's disease. After his death parts of a foetus were found growing in his brain. I know it sounds gory but it wasn't really, just very interesting.
The others include a man wrongly jailed for 25 years for rape on 'infalliable' DNA evidence, baboons given ecstasy tablets, a mission to investigate an active volcano which led to deaths of several volcano experts, an incredible nuclear reactor accident which led to the bodies of victims being so radio-active that they had to be buried in lead coffins, an experiment on children which gave them speech impediments and a NASA space ship which hurtled into oblivion because of tiny data errors.
It's really interesting stuff and I highly recommend it.
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Karen W.
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Books
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Reply #7 on:
17/04/2009 10:29:38 »
"Of mice and men" John Steinbeck
"Flowers for Algernon"
Anything Zane Grey as I love his descriptions...and particlar his old west stories...
I love science fiction but have no one particular author...
Love biography... comedies and time travel books.. Lol and of coarse to relax ...Love stories.. the more romantic and mushy the better!
I love poetry.....especially heart felt poetry!
multiple poets...
Thereau....Longfellow.....Robert and Elizabeth Browning...Teasdale.. tons more....
I read lots more fix it manuals or do it yourself books then one would think!
I love children's stories also!
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