Stephen King's 'The Stand' has just arrived for me. It is bloody huge...

And it's bloody good. One of my all-time favorite King books alongside the even larger It.

So I just finished my Llhosa book and I have Gates of Fire by Pressfield and The History of just About Everything(?) by Bill Bryson staring at me. Which do I delve into first? Or do I buck the two and get into Suttree by Cormac McCarthy?

Decisions, decisions....

????

How many book listed on here are actually funny?

Well at the recommendation of Colin(?) I picked up a Colin Bateman book, Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men. Was enjoyable and pretty funny in parts as well. I'll be picking up more from him. It takes the mind off of the more heavy history books I immerse myself in.

Sad news indeed. I'm a new acquaintance of his books (have only read the first Flashman book and am currently reading Black Ajax) but I've enjoyed his work so far. It's wonderful how he if not created his own genre he made it his own.

Finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Bygod that was a depressing read. Couldn't put it down, though. Read it in two sittings.

two sittings said the boy?

two sittings, said the man.

okay.

okay?

okay.

Not really expecting that type of book, but not a bad first book to read of McCarthy's. Next Up, Cloud of Sparrows!

Seen Fred Claus - not too bad. Watching Hitman tonight

Hope I don't ruin it for you but Hitman is a sh!te movie. Olyphant as a hardened assasin is about as believable as Keanu Reeves playing anything other than Ted Logan...

Right! So over the weekend I printed out Colin's list and went round to the book store to see what I could find.

I picked up Martel's Life of Pi, the first Flashman book(which I've already dived into), Cloud of Sparrows, The Road (by Cormac McCarthy), Death in The Andes by Mario Vargas Llosa (a great writer whom should be checked out), A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Black Earth (a good looking book about a guy who travels around Russia just after the fall of the Soviet Union).

I also picked up Pillar of Fire, the second part of Parting The Waters both by Taylor Branch. These two books are an exhaustive study of the Rev. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement. I highly recommend these books to anyone who would like a real uinderstanding of the movement and King's part in it as well as the other principal figures in the movement.

I was saddened that I couldn't find any of Bryson's work nor could I find the Prester Quest which sounds like a good read. Ah well, I was going to have to visit Amazon.co.uk sooner or later...

So while I am halfway through Volcano Under Snow (about the highly successful Viet Minh general Vo Nguyen Giap) and Parting The Waters as mentioned above (I enjoyed it so much I'm reading it again), I've now delved into the Flashman series for a little light reading. I didn't figure on the series being so extensive so I'll be out a fair few quid completing the series, but so far I like it. Irreverent and at times you forget it's fictional, and that;s just how I like it! =)

Thanks for the suggestions from everyone. I haven't picked up a suggested book I didn't like...yet...

Saw No Country For Old Men over the weekend. Great movie in the line of Fargo, 'cept not as overtly funny. Maybe it's because it takes place in Texas so a lot of the culturally funny things that were funny in Fargo (I lived in North Dakota for a few years too) aren't funny to me since I have relatives(and I guess me too to an extent) who speak and act as the people in the movie do. Ah well, it's a great movie nonetheless. Tommy Lee Jones' static character serves well in this movie but I wish there had been an unknown in his stead. Same goes for Woody Harrelson's character.

Bardem has placed himself on the list of Great Villains With Obscure Signature Weapons list.

At any rate anyone who is a Coen Brothers fan must see this and those who don't give a toss about the Coen's should watch it anyway.

It wont happen of course but lets hope the mags sack him cos I'd wager Hughes would sign him in an instant ....... and imo he'd be exactly the player that we need. All he'd need would be a bit of astute management.

I used to think the same thing and shouted loudly how we could really use him. But now after his antics last year in our FA Cup clash and his antics this past weekend, I don't think any amount of management can salvage this guy. He's unstable and doesn't have that filter that most players have that prevents you from acting out on the thoughts you get in the heat of the moment. We've only just gotten out from under that Bully Boy tag and that would come right back at us if he signed. I'd prefer Hughes to go for an unknown than get the known bully. He thinks he's so hard because he's a scouse from a rough neighborhood, trying to keep it real when all he is is a cheap shot artist.

Being a complete and shameless tourist I bought The Lancashire Witches in a bookstore in the shadow of Lancaster Castle. Anyone read it and is it even worth it? I've gone through the fuirst 20 pages and it's a difficult read, what witht he olde english and the dialect written out. I'm not one to give up on a good challenge, but if it's not worth it, I won't bother. I have a nice tome about Stalinist Industrial Development, Magnetic Mountain waiting to be cracked open.

Hypo-Luxa, have a look back through this thread and read my recommendation of Imperial Governor by George Shipway (similar in style to Alfred Duggan). It gives a fine telling of one of the bloodiest episodes in the history of Britain (if not THE bloodiest) from the point of view of the Romans. I absolutely loved that book and so did everyone I know who read it, although Blue Phil wasn't as taken with it as I was. Incidentally, Shipway wrote a lot of other books and careful trawling of Ebay sometimes brings them up and most are historical in their theme.

Giving the (highly fictionalised) flip side of the same story as Imperial Governor is the Boudicca series by Manda Scott although I haven't read them, but the reviews are good. From the same period and lower down the evolutionary scale is the Eagle series by Simon Scarrow - good yarns but not in Duggan's league. Scarrow has also added a series written about the Napoleonic wars, although I've never read them. A truly great Roman novel partly set in Britain (though mostly in Germany) is the epic Eagle In The Snow by Wallace Breem. The Last Sodding Legion by VM Manfredi (recently made into a film) is partly set in Britain but it is unadulterrated ###### from beginning to end with the most rubbish villain in literary history who is even more incompetent than that coyote who is always trying to catch Roadrunner. Don't waste your time with it.

Bernard Cornwell is enormously popular and has sold millions of books through his Sharpe series (mainly Napoleonic wars) and his Grail Quest (100 Years War). I've not read the Sharpe books, but I've read the three Grail books and they're entertaining in an endearingly old-fashioned no-brainer type way. He's also written stuff about the Saxon period (my brother really like them) and the absolutely attrocious Stonehenge - avoid at all costs!

Better books (though hard to track down) about the 100 Years War are the two Kemp books by Daniel Hall. Absolutely superb and I think it's criminal they're out of print. The whole period from late 9th century to the 1600s is now subject to many novels of varying quality so choose carefully.

For mighty fine yarns of derring-do on the high seas requiring a few more brain cells than most you could try the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian (the film Master & Commander: Far Side Of The World was based on some of them) which I think are the best of their type. Most of the action involves lucky Jack Aubrey giving Johnny Frog a bloody nose, but in a couple he kicks Uncle Sam's backside! Huzzah! Requiring less thought are the Hornblower books by CS Forrester and the Ramage series by Dudley Pope. For a really epic literary voyage though you should have a pop at the sublime This Thing Of Darkness by Harry Thompson - no battles, but an amazing true story.

For a very different reading experience I would recommend the very funny but historically super accurate Flashman books by George MacDonald Fraser. They tell the tale of the disgraceful rogue Harry Flashman and his misadventures in Britain's foreign wars of the 19th century. Be warned though, they're very addictive.

Colin, Umberto Eco's "Baudolino" is partly about Prester John's kingdom, so you might want to give it a go. I've not read it although it has been sat on the Pending Shelf for some time now, but if it's half as good as Name Of The Rose it's got to be a winner.

Thank you very much sidders! I think I have my reading list set for a few years with that!

Also, have you read Eco's Foucault's Pendulum? I've started it, but it's a slow go for a fair few pages. Does it ever pick up?

Blimey, more recommended reading, I can't keep up with this, but I'll try.

Just to chuck in my two cent's worth (thanks Kent Brockman) may I recommend "The Prester Quest" by Nicholas Jubber. ISBN 0-553-81628-4. Published by Bantam books.

For some unknown reason I've been a bit fascinated by the legend of Prester John (go do a search) and in my most recent wander around the local library I discovered this book.

Partly a sort of hippy narrative about his journey from Rome to Ethiopia, but mostly absolutely crammed full to the brim with history and observations of the regions his journey took him through.

Facinating stuff.

Since I'm about done with the current book I'm reading, are there recommendations on some good Brit history/historical fiction books out there that deal with the time between and including the Roman occupation up to and not including the Industrial Revolution? Visiting the country I saw a lot of names and battles mentioned but was embarrassingly at a loss as to their significance. Being a history major, this just grates on my nerves, so I have to read up on it.

Good recommendations so far, Alfred Duggan...anyone else I should look out for?

Another convert! I really, really liked Conscience Of The King. It's set in the early Saxon period and tells the vicous and entertaining tale of Cerdic Elessing - semi-legendary first king of Wessex and alleged ancestor to most English monarchs, including the current one. The most malacious machiavellian anti-hero character I've ever read and manages to be both repellant and seducing at the same time. Very reminiscent of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman and seems to make virtues of patricide, fratricide and infanticide. Think of Joseph Stalin but without the morals and you've a good idea of what to expect. Ideal reading for anyone running their own firm, with aspirations of moving up in the world and wanting to get rid of a troiblesome spouse. Sample line "I did not seek a wide kingdom, just an absolute one". And there's even a bit of King Arthur thrown in for good measure.

I also liked Three's Company but it's much slower to start off with. It tells the tale of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the least known and least able of the second triumvirate alongside Octavian (later Augustus) and Mark Antony. It's the classic tale of the incompetent buffoon promoted beyond all measure of ability and unable to learn from his mistakes. Laugh out loud funny but strangely moving.

Of the three I have read so far, I have to say The Little Emperors was the least approachable and not as good as the others as it takes a long time to get going. I haven't read Knight In Armour but I'll tag it onto my next Amazon order.

I think I'm going to go with his historical British novels since 1) I'm not too familiar with Brit history and 2) I find it more fascinating (probably because of point #1)

But yeah Duggan was a good referral. Thanks for it!

Oh by the way I finished Knight With Armour on the train from London to Liverpool, so while in the 'Pool I picked up a book called The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. It's pretty good so far, actually, if of course you like fantasy novels...

Just started reading The Little Emperors by the fantastic Alfred Duggan (have a look at his entertaining biog on Wikipedia) and I have to say it's not as good as the others of his that I have read. Early days yet though and the reviews on Amazon are encouraging.

Oi good shout, sidders! I read Knight With Armour on my trip over to the UK. T'was a good read and when I visited the castle in Clitheroe I found it fitting that it was a Norman tower from the same age as the book I was reading took place.

I'll be looking for more of Duggan's work. Any recommendations? I like the sound of Little Emperors and Lady for Ransom. It's hard to find his stuff over here in the States, though.

Exciting stuff, too bad there's no chance of getting a ticket.

In the meantime, I'm listening a lot to Jethro Tull's Aqualung album lately, does anyone know what other albums I should buy?

Roky Erickson

The Cynics

Baby Woodrose

Flaming Sideburns

Fu Manchu

plus various Norwegian gigs from now till Christmas. Happy days!

Roky Erickson's a strange dude. he had a bit of a revival a few years ago, but he's not right in the head. Poor guy tries his best to be a public person again but I don't think it's sticking. He always looked like he wanted to be under a bridge rather than stand on a podium and be introduced. 13th Floor Elevators did put out some good music, though....if you're into that whole Psychadelica kinda thing...

After reading that article it makes me even more proud of what Uncle Jack did for the club. He didn't just "Buy a Championship", he set this club up for loooong after he left this earth, not only financially, but facility-wise as well.

Oh and that Nelsen, he's a top bloke, inn'he?

i'm really looking forward to 'The Ian Curtis movie' - CONTROL- out on 5th october.

trailers here :

I doubt that'll come anywhere close to being released here in the States (maybe NYC and LA), so I'll have to wait for the DVD. Does look good, though. The soundtrack alone is worth it!

This will be my first chance to see Rovers so I will be buying tickets. 48 pounds for the tickets though is so stupidly steep. I'm all for fleecing their own fans but they're taking the p!ss out of the Away fans. If I were a local, I'd not pay either.

(wouldn`t it be a fitting tribute if everybody stood & chanted his name on Sunday....just to let everyone know we`ll never forget him! )

I'll be standing in my living room chanting along while Ther'es Only One Jack Walker flows across Ewood. The dog won't know what to make of me, but...

There's only ONE Jack Walker!

Thanks, Mr Walker for giving a Yank one more reason to be so proud of being a Rovers fan!

Just watched "The Last King of Scotland", finally, and I got to say, a brilliant film. But I find it strange that a film (or rather a book?) based on the history of Uganda and Idi Amin can just invent a person like the Scottish doctor whose name escapes me. (Garrison?)

Agreed. I liked this movie quite a lot, but then again African history fascinates me so I was probably a bit biased.

I was quite disappointed with Rosenrot though. Still, it could be worse, they could have let My Chemical Toilet do a cover of Du Hast.

yeah I heard that wasn't a good album so I didn't bother. Although if i see it on the bargain bin I'll probably pick it up.

I've been a bit behind on the Industrial front as of late. Any good artists out there I should keep my eyes open for?

At least I hear Rammstein are back in the studio. And I can listen to Angel Dust at my leisure.

Rammstein!! Great live act if you've not already seen them. Saw them before they got big here in the states as an opening act for KMFDM. Great show that was...

anyone going to any gigs in the coming months? i'm seeing the following..

go! team at the manchester ritz

lcd soundsystem at the manchester apollo

arcade fire at the MEN arena

the verve at blackpool empress ballroom

interpol at blackpool empress ballroom

Ooo I fancy Interpol and LCD Soundsystem...I'll have to keep an eye out for them...

Anyone have any live shows they're going to during the week of Sept 15 - 23?

The Chemical Brothers are playing Trafalgar Square the weekend before I touch down...I have the worst timing...

Dunn's a great guy and a local lad and we all have fond memories of him as a Rover, but the question remains, does he have what it takes to contribute to the club next year? If there are no creative central middies brought in over the summer are we good enough in that spot with Dunn when Tugay needs his rest? I am hoping the summer with Sparky will whip him into shape, but I don't know if the summer is long enough to rehabilitate Dunny.

We're beyond fighting for survival. We're looked at, although grudgingly, as Euro competitors nowadays and bygod that's the type of players we need to get into the squad. There's no doubt Dunny could be a good addition for any of the newly promoted's or the Fulham's and Wigan's of the crowd, but is he or more appropriately CAN he be what we so sorely need when Tugay is either ineffectual(it Does happen every now and again) or out of the squad?

I still think we need an upgrade and can only afford to have Dunn on as a sub...