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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 15:59 - 18 Dec 2014 Post subject: |
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map wrote: | Rogerborg wrote: | I'm going through the Aubrey / Maturin series ("Master and Commander") again... |
I prefer the original take on that, C. S. Forester's Hornblower series. |
Forester is a great page turner, but I find O'Brian both more credible as an observer of human nature, and more evocative in his descriptions.
I love O'Brian's take on the age of sail, attributing a series of meticulously described (mostly) factual actions to his fictional characters, enabling him to play with and speculate about the personalities involved without having to limit himself to strict chronology or location.
It's the boldness of his writing that really impresses me though. Switching from flowingly wordy to punchy summary terseness with deft adroitness....
Master and Commander wrote: | 'Then I must tell you that on Sunday mornings it is the custom, in that country, for people of all ages and conditions to dance, on coming out of church: so I was dancing with Ramon Mateu i Cadafalch in the square before the cathedral church of Tarragona, where I had gone to hear the Palestrina Missa Brevis. The dance is a particular dance, a round called the sardana; if you will reach me your fiddle I will play you the air of the one I have in mind. Though you must imagine I am a harsh braying hoboy.' Plays. |
... and throwing in casually humorous touches...
Post Captain wrote: | Mrs Williams never came down to breakfast; and quite apart from this the breakfast-room at Mapes was the most cheerful in the house. |
I find that he combines the best parts of Forester, Austin and Dickens.
</Radio 4> ____________________ Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike |
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Clanger |
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Clanger Stirrer
Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 12:50 - 21 Dec 2014 Post subject: |
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Currently reading Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
Supernatural fantasy has a new anti-hero named James Stark.
I'm enjoying it, I don't normally read the fantasy genre, as I tend to stick to crime thrillers. But this one has been a good read so far...I'm mid-way through, and I've been dedicating up to an hour a night to read it. ____________________ Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss |
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alexknight200... |
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alexknight200... Crazy Courier
Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :
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Fisty |
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Fisty Super Spammer
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :
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RedPanda |
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RedPanda Could Be A Chat Bot
Joined: 07 Oct 2014 Karma :
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CBFcarl |
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CBFcarl Nearly there...
Joined: 29 Oct 2013 Karma :
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 17:43 - 31 Dec 2014 Post subject: |
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Finding the SR-71 book a bit boring, seems to be mainly lists of the checks carried out to perform a typical mission, although some interesting bits in there. I think maybe he's written more than one, and I may have the wrong one?
So to give some lighter reading, I've gone for "Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes" by Norm DeWitt. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Howling Terror |
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Howling Terror Super Spammer
Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :
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charliemopic |
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charliemopic Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 03 Oct 2013 Karma :
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weasley |
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weasley World Chat Champion
Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :
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gbrand42 |
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gbrand42 Could Be A Chat Bot
Joined: 23 Jul 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 10:54 - 01 Jan 2015 Post subject: |
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Just started Jupiters Travels by Ted Simon, not seen this book before, picked it up for 50p in a charity shop. Early days but quite good. ____________________ Yamaha RD50M, Honda C90, Yamaha RS100, Yamaha RD125LC, Honda XL125 V9 Varadero, Honda NT700VA, Honda VFR800X, Honda CRF1000L, Honda ST1300 Pan European |
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sensi5446 |
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sensi5446 Trackday Trickster
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Karma :
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Clanger |
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Clanger Stirrer
Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :
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Slacker24seve... |
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Slacker24seve... World Chat Champion
Joined: 10 May 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 22:35 - 04 Jan 2015 Post subject: |
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Just finished the last of Le Carré's George Smiley books, Smiley's people. Pretty good. I've gone old school now, The Thirty-nine Steps by John Buchan. ____________________ Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace |
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thx1138 |
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thx1138 World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Karma :
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dolly3900 |
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dolly3900 Traffic Copper
Joined: 12 Jul 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 15:45 - 05 Jan 2015 Post subject: |
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Currently....
Pratchet/Gaiman - Good Omens
Pratchet - Lords & Ladies
Adams - So Long & Thanks For All The Fish
Colfer - And Another Thing
Prisg - Zen & The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance
Huxley - Brave New World
Asprin - Myth inc. In Action
Yes, I know, but I have various ones in differing locations/rooms, etc. so depending on where I am, depends on what I read. ____________________ 2002 Rieju RS2-50 (Sold, spares or repair), 2010 Suzuki DR-125SM (Traded for ->), 2007 Honda CBF 600 (Sold), 2010 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 (Briefly, now returned), 2007 Suzuki Intruder 1800m (Even More Briefly, traded in for ->), 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 650 |
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sensi5446 |
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sensi5446 Trackday Trickster
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Karma :
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sidewinder |
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sidewinder World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Karma :
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Eddie Hitler |
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Eddie Hitler World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Karma :
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Posted: 20:23 - 05 Jan 2015 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 19:15 - 06 Jan 2015 Post subject: |
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"The Fast Stuff" by Matt Oxley.
A collection of articles the bike journalist has written over the years about racing. Interviews with the likes of Doohan, Schwantz, Lawson etc. Trying his hand at Suzuka with the big boys, trying the nasty 500 GP bikes.
Want to know how to rear wheel steer? Doohan explains (kind of ).
Really enjoying it. If you like your reading in short bursts, this book would be ideal. Well written, informative, funny and downright scary. Only downside is a raft of typos on the Kindle version, but otherwise gets the from me. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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el_oso |
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el_oso World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 May 2008 Karma :
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CaNsA |
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CaNsA Super Spammer
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 14:38 - 07 Jan 2015 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 15:16 - 07 Jan 2015 Post subject: |
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el_oso wrote: | A brief history of time - Stephen Hawking. Quite suprised I haven't read this earlier. Quite an easy read on a non-intuative phenomenon
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Have you read "Epic of Evolution - Seven Ages of the Cosmos" by Eric Chaisson? Wonder if it's the same kind of thing. I would definitely recommend Chaisson's book.
My understanding of science isn't deep, although I've dabbled with trying to grasp quantum theory ("Quantum - A Guide For The Perplexed" by Jim Al-Khalili) and other bits and bobs like "The Edge of Physics" by Anil Ananthaswamy, "Collider - the search for the world's smallest particles" by Paul Halpern and I also enjoyed "Neutrino" by Frank Close. All good reads for those who are curious about such things but at a, shall we say, layman's level ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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RedPanda |
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RedPanda Could Be A Chat Bot
Joined: 07 Oct 2014 Karma :
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chris-red |
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chris-red Have you considered a TDM?
Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 15:45 - 07 Jan 2015 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip wrote: | chris-red wrote: |
I read a lot and often have multiple books/audio books on the go.
Currently I'm reading
2nd Sharpe book (Chronologically) he is in India chasing a renegade officer, Can't remember the title
Skunkworks all about the Advanced Technology being developed at Lockheed Martin, U2, SR71 etc.
The Fellowship of the Ring, Finished the Hobbit Film and though I'd give it ago I've read the Hobbit before but never LotR
Approaching Storm (Audiobook) It's a Star Wars Novel set between Episode 1 and 2
Modern Toss:- A Decade in the Shithouse, it's more a Comic Book Annual type thing Modern Toss is Hilarious if you don't know what it is have a look. Funnily enough this is in my Shithouse for when I have a dump.
Stars Wars Omibus:- Knights of the Old Republic Vol3
Stars Wars Omibus:- Droids
A pair of Star Wars Comic book omnibus's (Omnibi?) One is at my missus' place. That is the only book out of those listed I have picked up since Monday
Recently Finished:- Fermat's Last Theorem, Maths book, really interesting it's a kind of history of maths then tells the history of Fermat's Last Theorem. Really interesting, if you have the vaguest interest of Maths or Science you will love it.
Tomb Raider book, can't remember the title set after the latest Game, it was pretty good, a light easy read.
Princess Mononoke, The original book by Haziao Miyasaki (That is probably spelt horrifically) He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli (The Japanese Disney for lack of a better term, Spirited Away etc.) This is a book he wrote in the 80's to try to get funding for a film, the book has little to do with the Princess Mononoke Film but has loads of great artwork, you can really see his films in it, although it is basically a childrens book TBF. |
All at once?!
chris-red wrote: | Sled Driver, it's a book written by an SR71 pilot just telling stories about what it was like. Really interesting, it is rare and out of print now. Copies go for £100's, I have it on PDF. If anyone fancy's reading it I'll send it to them. |
Available on Kindle for £9.02 Just bought on your recommendation and cos it's right up my street
I've recently finished:
Viper Pilot: A Memoir of Air Combat, by Dan Hampton - Wild Weaseling in F-16s; good.
Stealth Fighter, by Lt Col William B. O'Connor - how not to go to war! - ok.
Fast Movers: Jet Pilots and the Vietnam Experience - short profiles of those who flew combat missions, and their experiences - good.
See a pattern here?
I read Lord of the Rings again for the first time in a long while a few months ago, and still found it to be excellent, better than The Hobbit by far, perhaps unsurprisingly. The Hobbit is written in a much more light-hearted manner, almost as if aimed first and foremost at children, whilst LOtR has a much more serious feel to it. Obviously both evergreens though. |
I think you bought the wrong one! This is the one I mean...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sled-Driver-Flying-Fastest-Aeroplane/dp/1857800028/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420641307&sr=8-1&keywords=sled+driver
I guess you meant this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flying-SR-71-Blackbird-Operational-Mission/dp/0760332398/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1420641307&sr=8-7&keywords=sled+driver
I have that one but I am yet to read it.
I've got worse not better with the books too. On that list I've only finished the audiobook and it has been replaced with another one called shatterpoint.
I'm also reading Knight Errant the book and Graphic novels
I still have the others to finish, Although I'm nearly done with Kotor 3, Droids and Modern Toss don't really count as I dip in and out of them.
I also have the Roald Dahl Autobiography queued but not started! ____________________ Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything. |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 9 years, 128 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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