Book/Author Thread...Good, Bad, & The Ugly.

I'm in the middle of 'And On That Bombshell' book about Top Gear, written by Richard Porter - the script editor who also did a lot of other things for the show. I love it. Just like anything about the 'classic' Top Gear. Actually, I read it for the 2nd time.

I'm currently reading Elton John's autobiograhy and giving 1984 another go. I've tried, and failed (yet again) with A Clockwork Orange.

My favourite book ever is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, focused on a young boy with Aspergers who is investigating the murder of a dog. It is written from the young boy's POV and follows the sometimes focused, yet often erratic thoughts going on in his head. It also deals with his relationship with his widowed dad. Thought-provoking, heartwarming, funny and poignant all rolled into one.

Guernsey Occupied but Never Conquered
It's been sitting around for months and i haven't started it, but that's the next book.

I own TCIOTDITN, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I think that one along with most of my books is in storage, although I have a tote box full of books with  me now. I should go through  it to see which ones I have.
I liked A Spot Of  Bother by the same author. I'd like to read more by him. I find him refreshing. 

What do you think of the Elton John biography? 

I've just finished another Abbey Road book. great insight into the Beatles last hurrah.

Back onto classics for a while - i tend to read some old faves when i need inspiration. Mary Shelley's: Frankenstein - reading for about the tenth time.
Apart from classics, the only other writer i tend to revisit is Douglas Adams. i must've read all of his work a dozen times. He was a brilliant writer - taken from us far too early. i think i'm the only person on the planet who prefers his Dirk Gently series to HHGTTG series...but it is almost a tie for me.

I liked Howard Kaylan's autobiography Shell Shocked

I've actually just finished the Elton book.

I had not long picked it up when you started the thread, and although I knew it was shaping up to be a good read, I didn't think I'd finish it as quickly: my concentration for reading is not the best, I allow my mind to wander and I end up putting books down for other activities, often not returning for a while. That's why I said I didn't see me doing it in one sitting. I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried. Yesterday I decided to clear my mind and really absorb myself in this book - and I couldn't put it down (only to finally go to sleep - but was straight back on it as soon as I opened my eyes).

It's a great read. It covers much more than I expected, and it clears a lot of the movie up as well because I wasn't sure what was real and what was just fantasy - albeit Rocketman is a brilliant movie. I love it.

I won't go into everything - no spoilers lol - but it really is an eye-opener, and I didn't realise just how much I could actually identify with him in terms of my love for music, collecting, family problems and having to reconcile with myself on several issues.

I'm not one for the debauchery, drugs and sex aspects of the lives of others, so I didn't really read it for the sordid details, but obviously they do run through. I wanted to know about young Elton, how he got into the business, and I wanted his POV on the relationship with John Reid, who is a relative of my mum. I'm glad it was more of a balanced account than the movie.

Anyway...I'd recommend it

No, but can only imagine. Might give that a go sometime - or at least build it into one of my quizzes when this lockdown is over

Good!

I've been a busy boy over the past couple of days. Not only has the Elton book been read, but 1984 and Animal Farm have been devoured also. I will give A Clockwork Orange a final go, hopefully will get through it this time. I might as well seize upon my reading mood, for such moods are few and far between

Finally got around to The Catcher In The Rye. Found that quite an excellent book. Lord Of The Flies was a bitch though, had to give up with that.

I'm a big Steven King fan and started to read through all of his books again a couple of years ago, in no particular order. Most, I had previously read, but some I hadn't, and one of those was The Stand. About a virus that killed everyone. I started to read it in late January this year, got half way through, then Covid hit. I didn't stop reading it for that reason, but once we were in lockdown, ironically, I found I didn't have the time to sit and read a book for long, so I'm still only half way through it.

With regards LOTR, which has been mentioned above, I loved the films but for some reason have never been able to get into the books. I do like fantasy and have read all of the David Eddings books, but there just seems to be something about LOTR that makes them difficult to stick with.

Yeah, I think I've probably seen most of the film and TV adaptations. They rarely come across as good as the books, with some exceptions, such as Shawshank, Stand By Me (The Body), Pet Semetary (original), Misery, IT, and The Shining.

I can't really say I've noticed rushed endings. A lot of his books are so bloody long it's a relief to get to the end anyway, as I can't, like some people can, have several books on the go at once, and sometimes I just want to get onto something different.

Did you read his Mr Mercedes trilogy? Loved those. Brilliant characters.

The Dark Tower is King. I've had the collection sitting on a shelf waiting to be read for years. It's a kind of Bucket List thing. I only hope I get a chance to read them in this lifetime!