The Forum Book Club
Posted by Locke Cole
Post reviews and recommendations of your favourite books here for your fellow forumers. You never know, you might come across a new favourite.
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i haven't read a story book since leaving school over 10 years ago, i just read car and f1 magazines and books, but when i was a kid i used to love Roald Dahl books such as George's Marvellous Medicine, Danny The Champion of the World, The BFG, The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and another one i liked was Clive King's Stig of the Dump.
if you haven't read any of 'em, do so! doesn't matter if you're older.
RIP Jules, never to be forgotten. #KeepFightingMichael
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/07/2009 11:47PM by Muks_C.
if you haven't read any of 'em, do so! doesn't matter if you're older.
RIP Jules, never to be forgotten. #KeepFightingMichael
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/07/2009 11:47PM by Muks_C.
Wizard's First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
This is one of my favourite fantasy books of all-time. It is well-written and manages to hold the attention right from page one to the dramatic ending of the story, which is no mean feat for a book that pushes 1,000 pages. All the classic elements of fantasy are here, but bent to a unique plot and setting. The characters are explored and developed superbly, and react to the (numerous) plot twists exactly as you'd hope them to.
There is telling influence from Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey" blueprint here, and it's another example of how to use his framework to create a good story. The main protagonist, Richard, finds himself caught up in a struggle for power between two foreign nations which he had hitherto not even known existed. His travelling companions all turn out to have secrets or hidden abilities, some more alarming than others, and he is dragged inescapably to the confrontation at the end of the book. The way it all links together is very clever. What really makes the story, however, is the broad variety of locations he visits along the way and the detail in which they are described.
This is the first book in the "Sword of Truth" series. As a stand-alone book it is excellent, but unfortunately the rest of the series is nowhere NEAR the quality of this first book. I'd highly recommend it as a single-shot fantasy adventure which will keep you going for weeks, but IMHO this is a one-hit wonder.
K*bots UK, specialist providers of 'fun science' Curriculum Enhancement days for Primary and Secondary schools in Britain.
Please find us on [en.wikipedia.org] for more information.
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
This is one of my favourite fantasy books of all-time. It is well-written and manages to hold the attention right from page one to the dramatic ending of the story, which is no mean feat for a book that pushes 1,000 pages. All the classic elements of fantasy are here, but bent to a unique plot and setting. The characters are explored and developed superbly, and react to the (numerous) plot twists exactly as you'd hope them to.
There is telling influence from Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey" blueprint here, and it's another example of how to use his framework to create a good story. The main protagonist, Richard, finds himself caught up in a struggle for power between two foreign nations which he had hitherto not even known existed. His travelling companions all turn out to have secrets or hidden abilities, some more alarming than others, and he is dragged inescapably to the confrontation at the end of the book. The way it all links together is very clever. What really makes the story, however, is the broad variety of locations he visits along the way and the detail in which they are described.
This is the first book in the "Sword of Truth" series. As a stand-alone book it is excellent, but unfortunately the rest of the series is nowhere NEAR the quality of this first book. I'd highly recommend it as a single-shot fantasy adventure which will keep you going for weeks, but IMHO this is a one-hit wonder.
Last book i read was 'Crashed & Byrned' by Tommy Byrne. Very good no-holds-barred account of making a break in motorsport... Ferry good.
If you go for fantasy check out Stephen R. Donaldson's "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever". Extremely innovative, well written (yes, it is literature) and psychologically thought through.
Donaldson's world creation as presented in the first chronicles (3 books, published in the late 70s) is a every bit as fascinating and appealing as that of JRRT - without being a just another copy with dwarves, elves and orcs. Karen Wynn Fonstad, who made that famous Middle Earth Atlas, also made one for Donaldson's "The Land".
The second chronicles (3 books, early 80s) are different but still a very good read. The last chronicles are just being published (4 books, #3 and #4 are yet to be published, so I'm waiting).
REHAB IS FOR QUITTERS
Donaldson's world creation as presented in the first chronicles (3 books, published in the late 70s) is a every bit as fascinating and appealing as that of JRRT - without being a just another copy with dwarves, elves and orcs. Karen Wynn Fonstad, who made that famous Middle Earth Atlas, also made one for Donaldson's "The Land".
The second chronicles (3 books, early 80s) are different but still a very good read. The last chronicles are just being published (4 books, #3 and #4 are yet to be published, so I'm waiting).
REHAB IS FOR QUITTERS
i have book 1 of the second chronicals of thomas covenant sitting on my pc table. i hope i have the first 3, cant read things out of order now. I think i got them from my aunt many moons ago just havent got around to reading them yet. thanks for the review vader. (just found book 1 and 3 of the first chronicals)
My favourite books of all time would have to be:
The Dark Tower by Steven King
Its a set of 7 books, the first 4 books written over about 20 years and the final 3 over 3 years. the first 4 are amazing and easily my favourites. Basicly its a story of Roland Deschain, the Last gunslinger in a world that has moved on. His quest is to get to the dark tower to fix whatever is wrong with the tower.
Another favourite set of books is the:
tomorrow when the war began series By John marsden
These are aimed at teenagers and are really well written, its about a group of freinds who all live on farms or in the small town close by who decide to skip the big show they have once a year and go on a camping trip. only to find that when they emerge from there hidyhole (which they name hell) that australia has been Invaded by another country. you never know who they are just that they are of asian culture. and they decide to fight back against the invasion. Really really great books. 7 in all, and another 3 after that. I have all but the first 2 books in first edition hard covers, and i really want them. im just not paying 400 dollars for the first one :\
My favourite books of all time would have to be:
The Dark Tower by Steven King
Its a set of 7 books, the first 4 books written over about 20 years and the final 3 over 3 years. the first 4 are amazing and easily my favourites. Basicly its a story of Roland Deschain, the Last gunslinger in a world that has moved on. His quest is to get to the dark tower to fix whatever is wrong with the tower.
Another favourite set of books is the:
tomorrow when the war began series By John marsden
These are aimed at teenagers and are really well written, its about a group of freinds who all live on farms or in the small town close by who decide to skip the big show they have once a year and go on a camping trip. only to find that when they emerge from there hidyhole (which they name hell) that australia has been Invaded by another country. you never know who they are just that they are of asian culture. and they decide to fight back against the invasion. Really really great books. 7 in all, and another 3 after that. I have all but the first 2 books in first edition hard covers, and i really want them. im just not paying 400 dollars for the first one :\
those marsden books were superb, korn_freak. I've read through the 7 of them a good three times now. I still argue with people about what country it was that invaded, I'm pretty sure it was indonesia 
I read Stig of the Dump in the early summer of 1994, and ever since then I've thought it was awesome. I'd recommend it to anybody who hasn't read it yet.
MikaHalpinen Wrote:
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> those marsden books were superb, korn_freak. I've
> read through the 7 of them a good three times now.
> I still argue with people about what country it
> was that invaded, I'm pretty sure it was indonesia
>
Korn_freak eh. why do you think it's indonesia? You really don't get any info except there of Asian culture. I read them about 10 times I'd say. I dunno how I can keep going back, but I do! AIlso have you read the Ellie chronicals?
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> those marsden books were superb, korn_freak. I've
> read through the 7 of them a good three times now.
> I still argue with people about what country it
> was that invaded, I'm pretty sure it was indonesia
>
Korn_freak eh.
why do you think it's indonesia? You really don't get any info except there of Asian culture. I read them about 10 times I'd say. I dunno how I can keep going back, but I do! AIlso have you read the Ellie chronicals?I'd never heard of Thomas Covenant before this thread, but after a bit of research I think it would definitely be worth my time ordering the first trilogy. Cheers! 
As a somewhat darker recommendation, consider the Assassin's Quest trilogy by Robin Hobb. Unusual for the fantasy genre in that the entire story is written in the first person, but it works because it gives you complete access to the thoughts and psyche of the intellectually brilliant main character on his journey from orphaned court urchin to royal assassin - and back again.
The story is steeped in political chess games, revenge, prejudice, shifting loyalties and disturbing revelations about many of the main characters. Hobb doesn't shy away from laying bare the frailties and failings of mankind, much in the same way as the Song of Ice and Fire series (another one I'd recommend for its power-games intrigue). The main character is a genuine anti-hero, someone you're rooting for in spite of all the terrible things he does. But the plot runs along at breakneck pace and the characters are so solid and believable that you genuinely feel love, hate and anger through their actions.
K*bots UK, specialist providers of 'fun science' Curriculum Enhancement days for Primary and Secondary schools in Britain.
Please find us on [en.wikipedia.org] for more information.
As a somewhat darker recommendation, consider the Assassin's Quest trilogy by Robin Hobb. Unusual for the fantasy genre in that the entire story is written in the first person, but it works because it gives you complete access to the thoughts and psyche of the intellectually brilliant main character on his journey from orphaned court urchin to royal assassin - and back again.
The story is steeped in political chess games, revenge, prejudice, shifting loyalties and disturbing revelations about many of the main characters. Hobb doesn't shy away from laying bare the frailties and failings of mankind, much in the same way as the Song of Ice and Fire series (another one I'd recommend for its power-games intrigue). The main character is a genuine anti-hero, someone you're rooting for in spite of all the terrible things he does. But the plot runs along at breakneck pace and the characters are so solid and believable that you genuinely feel love, hate and anger through their actions.
NeilPearson Wrote:
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> i have book 1 of the second chronicals of thomas
> covenant sitting on my pc table. i hope i have the
> first 3, cant read things out of order now. I
> think i got them from my aunt many moons ago just
> havent got around to reading them yet. thanks for
> the review vader. (just found book 1 and 3 of the
> first chronicals)
>
Do yourself a favour and read them in the correct order. You will understand the second chronicles without the first, you just won't really understand the feelings and motives of those acting.
And yes, it needs some time to read into the chronicles. Thomas Covenant is far from being everybody's darling (not for nothing Hugh Laurie was under discussion to play Covenant in a movie project that unfortunately has been cancelled.) He does some pretty stupid, shocking and appalling things when entering the Land but once you get over it he will grow on you.
REHAB IS FOR QUITTERS
-------------------------------------------------------
> i have book 1 of the second chronicals of thomas
> covenant sitting on my pc table. i hope i have the
> first 3, cant read things out of order now. I
> think i got them from my aunt many moons ago just
> havent got around to reading them yet. thanks for
> the review vader. (just found book 1 and 3 of the
> first chronicals)
>
Do yourself a favour and read them in the correct order. You will understand the second chronicles without the first, you just won't really understand the feelings and motives of those acting.
And yes, it needs some time to read into the chronicles. Thomas Covenant is far from being everybody's darling (not for nothing Hugh Laurie was under discussion to play Covenant in a movie project that unfortunately has been cancelled.) He does some pretty stupid, shocking and appalling things when entering the Land but once you get over it he will grow on you.
REHAB IS FOR QUITTERS
-Senna- Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I despair of anyone who posts in the same thread
> with more than one account Neil, it seriously
> lowers the tone don't you think? :P
>
it took me forever to remember the password for my old account, and anyway i only did it because mike called me korn freak. so ner ec83
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> I despair of anyone who posts in the same thread
> with more than one account Neil, it seriously
> lowers the tone don't you think? :P
>
it took me forever to remember the password for my old account, and anyway i only did it because mike called me korn freak. so ner ec83
:D
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