Books

[muppet]

Im not sure who wrote it, but Round Ireland with a Fridge is a great read. Its been out a while now, should be easy to pick up in paperback.

Tony Hawkes I think. Very funny book, McCarthy's Bar is good but too much in the way of gushing adoration of everything Irish. Hawkes had only been to Ireland once before the Fridge trip (he was drunk and lost a bet!!) and didn't particularly like it here. Makes the book even better.

Someone mentioned Rubicon...excellent book and likewise I have Persia sitting wiating to be read for ages. Stuck in a rut at the moment of starting books and getting nowhere.

For quick funny essays I recommend Clarksons compilations and alsoTom Humphries' books.

[stephenite]

If you're interested in politics I'd recommend the Blair Years by Alastair Campbell. You might despise Campbell but it's written very well in a diary format so is quite snappy and fast moving and is very insightful - some great anecdotes and NI and the peace process features heavily.
You have to remember that it's written by the original Spin Doctor, so I'm not taking everything as gospel but thoroughly enjoyable read

[Puckoon]

McCarthy's Bar - I've read that - it was ok. Met the man himself in my local a few years back.

The name of the local - McCarthy's of course 

Yeah great book,I read another book by him can't think of the name right now..
Unfortunately he died a few years back,he was a great writer

the road to mccarthy?

[bennydorano]

Recently read 'A monk Swimming' and the follow-up 'Singing my him song', both autobriographical accounts of Malachy McCourt's life(Frank's bro), very very entertaining.

[shezam]

Lance Armstrong - It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

[Dangleberrys]

Have read a few books on the 'Templars' by Steve Berry, excellent stuff, part fiction part fact.  Anybody know any other good ones on the templars?
Also, want to read up on Stalin and Che Quevara so if anybody knows good starting points that would be great....

[Dangleberrys]

 

Bummp

[longball]

Finished Jack O`Connors book, Keys to the Kingdom recently. Very good book even if he does feel that the whole world is against him. Great insight into some of the players and what they go through.
Also bought "The GAA Book of Lists" which has some interesting facts and figures. Certainly well worth a tenner of anyones money.

i have that aswell by Eoghan Corry, i really enjoyed it especially reading about the competitions that no longer exist such as the World Cup 

have book of lists as well- Dennis Taylor used to play minor ball for Tyrone 

[longball]

Just started reading Peter Kays autobiography, only 2 chapters in, very funny so far...

enjoyed the read myself Croí very funny all the way tru

[longball]

Just started reading Peter Kays autobiography, only 2 chapters in, very funny so far...

enjoyed the read myself Croí very funny all the way tru

The book was very funny, but it was also very perdictable. It was like one of his stand up routines, funny the first time you heard it but he does tend to do the same stuff over and over again.

yea, thought if u had seen his standup a lot has appeared in his book! was good read. has ne1 read chris moyles book dunno if id fancy it.

[Croí na hÉireann]

U can see some of the gags coming alright, still gets a chuckle when they arrive all the same...

[Pietas]

By far the best novel I have read this year, and i have gone through a few, is Q and A by Vikas Swarup.

It's about an Indian waiter who wins their version of who wants to be a millionaire.

It's a wonderful read with a great twist in the end.

It pisses all over anything that McCarthy bloke wrote.  In fact, it pisses all over most of the novels and biographies knocking about at the moment.

[easytiger]

Just in the middle of "Half A Yellow Sun" a novel set in the Nigerian Civil war of the late sixties - brilliant so far, but harrowing as well at times.

Finished "Custer and Crazy Horse" a parallel history of the two warriors who met at Little Big Horn, by Steven Ambrose, the same guy who wrote "Band of Brothers" - really interesting and the comparisons between the two and the societies they represented are fascinating.

I'd recommend anything by Anthony Beevor - but "The Spanish Civil War" and "Stalingrad" are my favourites.

And finally, probaly the best work of fiction I've read in the last five years is "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell. You won't regret reading it.

[SidelineKick]

yea, thought if u had seen his standup a lot has appeared in his book! was good read. has ne1 read chris moyles book dunno if id fancy it.

i think it wud be great! u not like him? or maybe he'd be a bit much to listen to for a whole book!

[Billys Boots]

Anthony Beevor ... "The Spanish Civil War"

As if by magic, again, that's what I'm reading at the moment - very good indeed.