First up, may I recommend Gary Sutherland's "Hunting Grounds":

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/3370157/Hunting-Grounds/Product.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hunting-Grounds-Gary-Sutherland/dp/1841585866/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198166624&sr=8-1

 

Its an excellent journey round all 42 Scottish fitba grounds in one season.  Detailing transport, pre-match venues for a pint, the quality of the pies at the ground, and a review of the performance of both the players and the fans.  He goes into some depth in his report for each ground.  Its rather witty too!

 

He obviously visits Pittodrie (2-2 cup game with Hibs last season), and also a Falkirk v Aberdeen SPL game where the away fans are praised.

Currently reading 'Loonyology' by Charles Bronson (nutter widely known as 'Britain's most dangerous prisoner')

 

Bit of a weird book. Jumps all over the place as he seems to recall stories from his 34 years in Prison completely at random. Thought he would have more intersting stories than 'beating up narks' and fighting against the system etc etc

 

Thinks himself to be a bit of a comedian, and beleives that he is very intelligent by throwing in random facts throughout. I'm nearly finished and it's got a bit tedious. Guy is obsessed with becoming a celebrity.

Just started reading Arctic Chill by Arnaldur Indridtasson. Not a bad start to the book so far.

I have been working my way through the Red Riding books.

I've finished the first three, and thought 1980 was the best.

Just started 1983 last night.

 

Away on holiday on Wed, and just started my holiday read yesterday.

"Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts described by the Daily Telegragh as a "literay masterpiece" and early impressions are they're not wrong.

Tells the story of a convicted Australian armed robber and heroin addicts escape to India, where he lived in a Bombay slum. where he established a free health clinic and joined the Mafia, working as a money launderer, forger and street solidier. He found time to learn Hindi & Marathi, act in Bollywood and fought with the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan. Book runs to over 900 pages and ought to keep me entertained lying in the sun.

Just finished reading The Shack. Very thought provoking.

Just finished "The Ice Man" by Philip Carlo, a biography of Richard Kuklinski a mafia hitman and all round serial killer.

 

A good read but one of his others, about a similar kind of dude, Tommy Pitera was very disappointing.

 

Just started "The Brother-hoods" by Guy Lawson and William Oldham about 2 polis who were mafia hitmen.

Currently reading Peter Hook - "Hacienda - How Not To Run a Club".

Reasonably interesting and entertaining so far.

 

Good to hear he hates The Smiths!

The Smiths are alright.

One of my mates did their dissertation on how the hacienda influenced bar and club design. Met peter hook, nice guy apparently. And the smiths are Shite.

aye, The Smiths are shite. How Soon Is Now? is a good song but generally they're dirge.

Saw the Smiths at the Capitol in mid eighties, seem to mind Morrisey storming off stage in a huff after an hour, but nae really sure because I might have been intoxicated

Johnny Marr is alright but Morrisey's a prized tit.

I love The Smiths.

 

I read Lustrum from the ever excellent Robert Harris. His stories of Roman politics are wonderful.

 

I'm on to Shout by Philip Norman. Updated version. Magic so far.

Anyone get any paperbacks for Xmas that they can recommend ?

I love The Smiths.

I read Lustrum from the ever excellent Robert Harris. His stories of Roman politics are wonderful.

 

I'm on to Shout by Philip Norman. Updated version. Magic so far.

 

Is that a new een? Recently read The Ghost and was quite impressed. Nae sure which one of his to try next, as he seems to have a vast number of novels on a similar theme.

Yep, I've loved al lhis books.

 

He had an earler one about Cicero called Imperium. These only two which envoke the same story/people although some have similar settings in time.

 

Start at the start with him,

 

- Fatherland

- Enigma

- Archangel

- Pompeii

- Ipmerium

- The Ghost

- Lustrum

Yep, I've loved al lhis books.

 

He had an earler one about Cicero called Imperium. These only two which envoke the same story/people although some have similar settings in time.

 

Start at the start with him,

 

- Fatherland

- Enigma

- Archangel

- Pompeii

- Ipmerium

- The Ghost

- Lustrum

 

Cheers min 

Erm I'm reading Keith Floyd's autobiography.

 

Cooked.  Got drunk.  Got married.  Got divorced.  Cooked.  Got drunk.  Got married.  Got divorced.  etc...

Reasonably entertaining though.

Erm I'm reading Keith Floyd's autobiography.

 

Cooked.  Got drunk.  Got married.  Got divorced.  Cooked.  Got drunk.  Got married.  Got divorced.  etc...

Reasonably entertaining though.

 

Sounds like Pele's. Except there's no cooking, of course.

Sounds like Pele's. Except there's no cooking, of course.

 

Or shagging, until recently. Before viagra he was playing snooker wi a length of rope.

Currently reading Stephen King - The Stand, Frankie Boyle's autobiography and another book about mafia cops in the NYPD.

 

 

Is that a new een? Recently read The Ghost and was quite impressed. Nae sure which one of his to try next, as he seems to have a vast number of novels on a similar theme.

 

Fatherland and Imperium are his best IMO. Think I read that Lustrum is the second book in his Cicero trilogy?? I thought Ghost was probably his weakest effort so if you enjoyed that you'll love the rest of his books.

 

Just finished the Frankie Boyle autobiography, quite enjoyable post Christmas fayre with a few laugh out loud bits. Comes across as a very honest and intelligent guy, which I don't suppose is all that surprising.

 

Just started Sleepy Head by Mark Billingham.

In to fiction just now and currently reading Robert Ludlum's Bourne series.

 

Just started Sleepy Head by Mark Billingham.

 

Have you read the others as well 

Have you read the others as well 

 

Not yet, thought I'd start at the beginning. The wife bought me a few for my Christmas as the wifie at Waterstones told her I'd like them, given the books I normally read.