The First 2006 Big Read

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 26 Dec 2005, 08:34

Now that you've flipped through those literary Christmas pressies and totted up the value of the book tokens, it's time to nominate the first Big Read of the new year:

I got:

Bob Dylan Chronicles
Iain Banks The Algebraist

(both gratefully received along with the socks)
and so am putting them forward for inclusion.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 26 Dec 2005, 08:56

Love your signature, rathers.

I have to say, having just read the synopsis/review of the Algebraist on Amazon, I'm re-thinking

a) my approach to space opera
b) my approach to iain m banks
c) the effort i put into reading books last year
d) my scorecard with the Big Read

watch this "Space"

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 26 Dec 2005, 16:16

I got 'Until I find You' John Irving.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 27 Dec 2005, 00:32

I got the Collins Official Scrabble Dictionary which runs to 1332 pages, which would definitely be a HUGE read...but I've read the first page, and I just can't follow the plot ...so far the aardvark seems to have been abandoned at the abattoir

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 27 Dec 2005, 11:28

foxy wrote:I got the Collins Official Scrabble Dictionary which runs to 1332 pages, which would definitely be a HUGE read...but I've read the first page, and I just can't follow the plot ...so far the aardvark seems to have been abandoned at the abattoir

I have read up to 'zo' a Tibetian breed of cattle but I still never win!

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 01 Jan 2006, 22:59

I'll add 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini

Kept me up waaaaay past bedtime for a couple of nights.

Jackson Priest · Post by **Jackson Priest** » 04 Jan 2006, 16:01

I got the Bob Dylan Chronicles book last christmas. It is very good indeed, and I would think you need not necessarily be a Bob Dylan fan to appreciate it.

I've been trying to think of books I read last year to recommend. Up until 1st March I read approx 4 books*, and after that my reading habits changed, such that I am now happy if i can read 2 or 3 paragraphs before falling to sleep at night.

One book which has kept me awake lately though has been Philip Roth's The Plot Against America. And last year's fave, from those distant misty times when I used to read books, was Erasure by Percival Everett.

I got The Man In The High Castle by Mr PK Dick at christmas, so I may read that next.

*ie 4 books between 1st Jan 2005 and 1st March 2005, not 4 books in my entire lifetime, although 4 would not be far off.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 19 Jan 2006, 23:25

As we are being denied a vote for the first read, I suggest that you listen to what others thought of 'The Kite Runner' by using the 'listen again' thingy that I discovered recently. Wow what a fab thingy it is; all I have to do now is make the day about 48 hrs long and I can listen to most things that I would like to but missed...

The Kite Runner - A Good Read

Oh cobblers the link doesn't work just now but try anyway...

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 20 Jan 2006, 08:30

mr magnolia wrote:As we are being denied a vote for the first read...

I wasn't denying a vote, I was just waiting for suggestions. No point in voting if there isn't a choice.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 23 Jan 2006, 00:55

rathbone wrote:
I wasn't denying a vote, I was just waiting for suggestions. No point in voting if there isn't a choice.

OK.OK

I'll get onto it.

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 29 Jan 2006, 10:14

Well Mr. M., it looks like it's only me and thee.

As I've now read both of my suggestions, the Kite Runner it is..!!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 29 Jan 2006, 13:12

rathbone wrote:Well Mr. M., it looks like it's only me and thee.

As I've now read both of my suggestions, the Kite Runner it is..!!

What was wrong with my suggestion then? Mind you, I'm half way through it and I can already see that it might not appeal to some. I've been meaning to read "The Kite Runner" for a while now so I reckon that'll be my holiday reading in a fortnight's time Rathbone

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 29 Jan 2006, 14:15

Marya wrote:. I've been meaning to read "The Kite Runner" for a while now so I reckon that'll be my holiday reading in a fortnight's time Rathbone

Me too

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 29 Jan 2006, 16:36

Well Mr. M, it looks like it's thee, me, Marya and Foxy

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 29 Jan 2006, 19:28

rathbone wrote:Well Mr. M, it looks like it's thee, me, Marya and Foxy

might join you

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 29 Jan 2006, 19:36

I've just finished John Peel's autobiog which I enjoyed immensely. Froglette likes to buy books for me and apparently 'The Kite Runner' is one she has squirrelled away to read on holiday. Unfortunately, that's not until Ocotober!

She also gave me Alan Bennett's 'Untold Stories' so I think I might start that next.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 29 Jan 2006, 21:52

I am currently reading Gloria Hunniford - Next to you.

Both amazing women.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 29 Jan 2006, 22:23

Bob Jefferson wrote:She also gave me Alan Bennett's 'Untold Stories' so I think I might start that next.

Homer got me that as an anniversary pressie Bob, which was great. Unfortunately, he immediately started to read it himself and the most entertaining bits to me OUT LOUD.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 29 Jan 2006, 23:59

Marya wrote:Unfortunately, he immediately started to read it himself and the most entertaining bits to me OUT LOUD.

I'm afraid I do that too. Annoying isn't it?

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 30 Jan 2006, 00:16

We had friends round for dinner on friday, and one of them, who is an absolutely avid reader, asked me if I'd read any good books lately, as she's having trouble finding anything good to read. I said, "The POL book club have recommended this, this, this, this, this, etc...", and she got very excited, said she would try some of them, and which would I recommend? At that point I had to 'fess up that I've read pretty much none of them, having been far too busy with text books of late.

But I just wanted you all to know that you've done a good turn to a book-needy friend.

Bellybabe

Jackson Priest · Post by **Jackson Priest** » 01 Feb 2006, 23:43

Bob Jefferson wrote:I've just finished John Peel's autobiog which I enjoyed immensely

I've just finished it too - very entertaining. Kept having to read bits out to Mrs Priest, much to her obvious joy.

Right, think I'll settle back and enjoy a nice bit of Dick now.

Mate of Marya · Post by **Mate of Marya** » 02 Feb 2006, 06:42

Pardon?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 02 Feb 2006, 07:01

Jackson Priest wrote: Right, think I'll settle back and enjoy a nice bit of Dick now.

Ooooooooo - you are awful etc etc.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 27 Feb 2006, 13:10

Time goes by...

I'm excitedly awaiting some views on this first quarter's big read. I'm hoping to read it again in March, but if anyone wants to borrow it instead of buying one, feel free to ask!

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 10 Mar 2006, 14:43

Thanks Mr. M.!!!

I like books where I learn things and I came away from this feeling that I knew a little bit more about what went on in Afghanistan under the Taliban. (Co-incidently I finished reading it just after having watched The Road To Guantanemo).

I donâ€™t want to spoil anything for people who are either still reading or have still to start ( we know who you are!), but some of the imagery really sticks - what about the man who is so desperate to feed his children that he tries to sell his artificial leg in the street market? Or the comment that there are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but not a lot of childhood.

Following the Marya criteria, I thought the first half of the book was weaker, and more sentimental, than the second part. It definitely picks up following the Russian invasion. Some of the plot twists were a bit contrived and the part where Amir meets the old beggar who just turns out to be the university teacher who taught his mother when she was a young woman stretched even my credulity.

Having said that, I wanted to keep reading once Iâ€™d started and I liked the underlying symbolism of the kites as a proxy for war and for Afghanistan with its strings being pulled by outside forces.

So, what are you going to recommend for the next Big Read?

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 06 Apr 2006, 18:59

Before we leave this one behind, did anyone else actually read it yet?