What are you reading?

[sbd]

I finally read Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander this week, an excellent read with lots of detail on old sailing ships. Hard to believe it was written in 1970, it reads as genuinely old. The best thing is, there are another 19 and 1/3 to go.

[john316]

what am I reading... why, the off topics of course...

(sorry)

[SharkNett]

Shadowing the Ghost of the Estuary by Sol Bannura. Got a copy for my birthday last month but been wanting to read this for some.
After that will be The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss.

[dru]

R Scott Bakker's latest "the white luck warrior". Bakker can fall into tedium in his determination to educate the unwashed world of sword and sorcery in philosophy... But I can't put this one down.

Also Umberto Eco's "Kant and the Platypus" now that IS turgid. One chapter at a time, it'll take 10 years but surely I will be better for it.

Finally add the utter dross that is Garnault's response to his critics. (it's a work thing).

[Zed]

In another thread I noticed there are a few fans of Lee Child's Reacher novels on AKFF. I enjoy them too. I'm a little at a loss, though as Child writes a lot about Middle America, and you all get a good idea of American small-town antics. Can anyone recommend an Australian novelist that writes similarly about Australia?

[sbd]

In another thread I noticed there are a few fans of Lee Child's Reacher novels on AKFF. I enjoy them too. I'm a little at a loss, though as Child writes a lot about Middle America, and you all get a good idea of American small-town antics. Can anyone recommend an Australian novelist that writes similarly about Australia?

No real equivalent that I'm aware of Zed, I may have to write them.

There's the hideous Robert G Barrett that periodically chronicles the adventures of Les Norton, but they're (poorly) written about an Australia that I find difficult to recognise (more cliches than an Australian Tourism ad).

Peter Corris writes detective stuff that more accurately reflects (a somewhat dated) Australia, but Cliff Hardy ain't no Reacher.

Shane Maloney is fairly entertaining, more detectivish than lone freedom fighter though.

For a cracking good Australian read, try Peter Carey. Start with Bliss (great film too), Illywhacker is a great book, I enjoyed Oscar & Lucinda, The Tax Inspector... Not in the Lee Child mould, but worthy nonetheless.

Have you read any Tim Winton? I'd start with Breath.

[Scott]

Hey Zed, Tim Winton Breath as SBD recommended, Dirt music by Tim Winton is another good one. Death of a river guide by Richard Flanagan is the best in my opinion. I have re-read this many times.

[kritz]

Zed, Peter Temple's, The Broken Shore is one of the best Australian crime books I've ever read and captures coastal Australia magnificently. The sequel truth is good but nowhere near as good as The Broken Shore. These books are not as action packed as Child's but do have good characters with an equally good plot. Currently turning one or more of his books into movies.

Also for people who like Lee Childs is The Winter of Frankie Machine by Don Winslow.

Also read Bativia's Graveyard by Mike Dash about a dutch ship being shiprecked off Western Australia in 1629 and the bloody mutiny that occured on the island. Good historical book about the dutch empire, Australia and the mutiny. Peter Fitzsimon's has more recently wrote about this event.

[Zed]

Great! Thanks. That'll get me going.

[sbd]

Another vote for The Broken Shore, I couldn't remember the title, but it's a beaut.

[indiedog]

Nearly finished Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Amazing this was written so long ago but still so applicable today. Some philosophies may be transferred to everyday life and indeed kayak fishing.

Funny but I've never found reading about the tedium of the Australian burbs interesting at all so haven't gotten into too many aussie novels. I've made assumptions about many aussie authors and should check them out to see if I'm wrong. Any particular Aussie reads recommended that won't bore me to death?

Bliss is an absolute cracker, Barry Otto in the film is just brilliant.

[RedPhoenix]

Old mans war - John Scalzi.

Onto the second novel at the moment. Good series.

Red.

[patwah]

Death of a river guide by Richard Flanagan is the best in my opinion. I have re-read this many times.

This one intrigues me Scott, worth buying?

[tomstorm]

Recently finished Johnny Cash autobiography (excellent) and now reading The Lord of the Rings again.

[scater]

I wasn't particularly taken with Breath, but I'm keen to read Cloudstreet and Dirt Music by Winton. Peter Carey is a national treasure, Oscar and Lucinda and True History of the Kelly Gang are brilliant.