The Book Vipers discussion

Some of my aims for next year:

I want to read more by Julian Barnes, as I have liked the ones that I have read so far. I also want to want to read William Boyd and Sebastian Faulks, as these are authors that I keep hearing about, but have never read anything of theirs yet.

The classic authors that I want to read more of are Graeme Green, George Orwell, John Steinbeck and Saul Bellow.

I have read some John le Carré in the past, and have a number of books of his that I want to read in the coming year.

I normally read a fair number of travel books each year, but this past year I have not read as many as I wanted. Next year I am aiming to rectify that. I am also working my way through the entire Summersdale travel catalogue

Would like to read more natural history too, it is a subject that fascinates me.

I am aiming to read more from the Arthur C Clarke Award nominees and winners lists.

I also want to read some books from the Steampunk genre, as it looks fascinating

The Sense of an Ending is one of my favourite books of all time, the one by which I judge all over 5 star books. I too should read more Julian Barnes

I want to read more of my classics, expand my 2014 challenge, and get through some more series and ignored genres, especially hard case crime collection

Feel free to start your own threads Nikki and Erin

If you're going to read Sebastian Faulks, Birdsong was amazing. I'm halfway through The Girl at the Lion d'Or.

And having a read of Graham Greene's Brighton Rock now as well.

My favourite Steinbeck is The Red Pony, as a child I read it many times!

Graham Greene is one of my favourite authors and I think I'll reread some of his. The Power and the Glory is my favourite.

Haven't read much Sebastian Faulks but I did enjoy A Week in December.

Birdsong is wonderful. Not sure that is the word that should be used. Starts off a bit so so but needs this to contrast with the later parts of the book. Harrowing but memorable. A rare book nowadays that makes me cry, but the tears flowed freely. Book club loved it too.

It seems some of your aims are mine too, Paul. That said I must try to read more books for my thesis, postponed for 3 years. So maybe that's my reward for finishing thesis. I have only read Tinker Tailor. Loved it. Vowed to read more and didn't. Thanks Paul for this thread. Good reminder.

I adored Barnes' Pedant in the Kitchen, and am keen to read his Levels of Life.

I also want to read Birdsong, bought it with Parade's End and haven't got to reading either, so hopefully next year I will. Loved both mini-series so hope the books don't disappoint

Nikki wrote: "The Sense of an Ending is one of my favourite books of all time, the one by which I judge all over 5 star books. I too should read more Julian Barnes"

I also loved this book, really made me think about aging and what it would be like to know that you most likely only have a small amount of years left. Realy great writing.

Just thought, I love John Steinbeck, my ultime favourite, which I have read several times and passed on to my children is "Grapes of Wrath" and of course "Of Mice and Men". But I love his travel book "Travels with Charley: In search of America". In this he travels with his dog by caravan through America, small-town and large and his observations are really interesting. Of course it was in the 60s I think and it would be really interesting to do it now.

East of Eden is another great Steinbeck.

Books on the list so far:

Classic Author List
The Road to Wigan Pier
Homage to Catalonia

The End of the Affair
Our Man in Havana
Travels With My Aunt
Monsignor Quixote

Cannery Row
To a God Unknown
In Dubious Battle
Travels with Charley: In Search of America

Letters
Humboldt's Gift

Modern Author List
A Week in December
Birdsong

Ordinary Thunderstorms
Bamboo: Essays and Criticism

The Lemon Table
Staring At The Sun

Monsignor Quixote sounds interesting. In another group there was a discussion of modern re-tellings of classics, so I am going to steal that one. But I think I still will rather read The Little World of Don Camillo, the movies are great.

Birdsong is in my list for this year too. Hope you enjoy it.

Some great books on that list Paul and some great sounding ones too. Would always recommend a Graham Greene myself!

Steampunk Choices:

The Mammoth Book of Steampunk Adventures
Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories
Steamed
The Inexplicables
Boneshaker
Steampunk Originals
Steampunk Style
How to Draw and Colour Steampunk Machines
Steampunk: An Illustrated History of Fantastical Fiction, Fanciful Film and Other Victorian Visions
Steampunk Emporium: Creating Fantastical Jewelry, Devices and Oddments from Assorted Cogs, Gears and Curios
Extraordinary Engines: The Definitive Steampunk Anthology

My son was trying to explain steampunk to me. What is it again?

Ha ha! It is probably best explained here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk

I think I get it now. : )

Making slow progress through some of these. Have read one Sebastian Faulks so far, and four travel books. Have got one of Orwells books to read, and another by Steinbeck. just haven't got to them yet.

I think you will enjoy Birdsong when you read it. I enjoyed A Week in December, but I thought Birdsong was the better book.

Birdsong is fabulous. I wasn't keen on the beginning but it explains the rest of the book. Later on I was crying with tears running down my cheeks. A rare thing nowadays when reading a book ( or is it whilst reading a book?). Won't say where as it is a spoiler otherwise.

Travels with Charley was worth reading. Nearly bought Birdsong the other day, but have run out of shelf space!

The library will always have a copy.

That was what I thought too.

Doing ok on my travel books so far. I have read 20 so far this year. Not so well on the other goals, as I am crawling through a steampunk book, and have only read three from my modern and classic author goals. Must reserve more from the library soon

Wow, 20 travel books sounds really good. Hope you continue to crawl through your other lists over the next three months :)

Have been looking back over what my goals were for 2015. Have managed 23 travel books, 18 natural history books, none of John le Carré's.

Still working my way through a book of Steampunk short stories. It is great, but I keep being waylaid by other books. Managed a handful of classic and modern authors books and a couple of Clarke nominations which were really good.

Now thinking ahead to next year!

Great job, Paul

Thank you Danielle. Fairly pleased with what I achieved

Sounds like you're doing well there Paul.

Fabulous Paul. I love Le Carre so save them to savour