Desert Island Books.

[Montreal Wanderer]

If I see that something's got that dull, talentless Sheffield tw*t in it, then it means that I won't be watching it!

My favourite thing with him in was Catherine Cookson's Fifteen Streets on TV. That big lad, Owen Teale, gave him the mother and father of all good hidings.

In many movies he is the villain and usually dies - you should like that. I'm a bit surprised at the vehemence displayed here - tbh I never thought he was that bad.

[Bruce Rioja]

I rarely read fiction

Me either, but I do recommend that everyone reads Eye of the Tiger by Wilbur Smith. Seriously un-put-feck-ing-down-a-ble!

I've read many of his but not that one - is it a contemporary setting or historical?

I have to confess a weakness for P.G. Wodehouse..

Interesting you ask, Monty. It's very contemporary. I only realised that it was written in the seventies quite late on in the book when he mentions a Hillman Avenger (or some-such), up to then the setting in my head was the here-and-now.

[Bruce Rioja]

If I see that something's got that dull, talentless Sheffield tw*t in it, then it means that I won't be watching it!

My favourite thing with him in was Catherine Cookson's Fifteen Streets on TV. That big lad, Owen Teale, gave him the mother and father of all good hidings.

In many movies he is the villain and usually dies - you should like that. I'm a bit surprised at the vehemence displayed here - tbh I never thought he was that bad.

I'm afraid his monotone drawl is absolutely ubiquitous over here, Monty. I really do have him down as incredibly limited, and often poor.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

I've always found not reading fiction a bit of a headscratcher. Lack of imagination? Or maybe they think we have too much of it.

I did talk to someone once who said he couldn't see the point in fiction. Barely watched fictional films either. He needed some kind of historical reference to keep him interested.

Certainly it's better than my dad's approach. He's only read one book for fun in his entire life. Makes Christmas shopping a bit difficult...

I find it hard to get the time to get a good start on a fiction book, without interruptions.
Hence my preference for non-fiction books. But once you get into a good fiction book, there's nothing better.

[TANGODANCER]

If I see that something's got that dull, talentless Sheffield tw*t in it, then it means that I won't be watching it!

My favourite thing with him in was Catherine Cookson's Fifteen Streets on TV. That big lad, Owen Teale, gave him the mother and father of all good hidings.

In many movies he is the villain and usually dies - you should like that. I'm a bit surprised at the vehemence displayed here - tbh I never thought he was that bad.

Possibly he's too good at playing one type of villain role, roles that portay him as what some see as his own character. His alleged wife-beating episode didn't help much either. I could stand him in Sharpe, but not much else. Also, he resembles Robbie Savage somewhat and that won't help much.

[boltonboris]

Sean Bean's very limited in roles he can play. If you need a thiry/forty year old, humourless Yorkshire lout he's your man. Beyond that....

Yeah, but he 'ad a trarl fo't Yonited

[jaffka]

I have recently discovered I can put some 2,000 books on my e-reader so I suppose I would take that, a generator and a lot of fuel.

ereaders are cool, I have one.

Do you know any good sites for downloading books?

[Harry Genshaw]

I've always found not reading fiction a bit of a headscratcher. Lack of imagination? Or maybe they think we have too much of it.

I think thats certainly part of my reasoning. To me life is filled with incredible & remarkable stories so why read about stuff thats made up? I read the Da Vinci code and nearly chucked it several times after going "feck off" at some of the more far fetched bits. Loved Capt Corellis Mandolin though

Of course, I could be reading what has been called non fiction and is actually highly exagerrated.

[TANGODANCER]

Apart from pure fantasy, most fictional stories draw on at least some facts to support their backgrounds. Nothing wrong with fiction. Where would our childhoods have been but for Ryder Haggard, Walter Scott, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Charles Kingsley, Jonathan Swift, Chesterton, Conan Doyle, Stevenson etc etc?

[americantrotter]

Surprised no one's mentioned Harry potter. (Or maybe not. I however, love them and they are a great escape)

Books are so much harder to quantify than films or music. You tend to revisit them less and they stick with me as part of an era in my life as opposed to continued value.

I'd need a Grisham book, a Harry Potter book, the Grapes of Wrath, and several books i can remember nought but the plot.

[Gary the Enfield]

Without getting sniffy about it.....

The books are so complex in terms of storytelling there's no way they could ever transfer to film. They had to condense so nuch that a lot was lost.

Peter Jackson made a reasonable fist of it, but the books bear no relation to the film. As usual.

Plus, Sean Bean is a cock.

I have read the books many times and did enjoy the films (far better than some earlier attempts) but Gary is correct (never thought I'd say that) - they cannot be transferred adequately to film. Not sure I agree about Sean - I mean he beat the French in Spain practically singlehandedly.

[thebish]

Without getting sniffy about it.....

The books are so complex in terms of storytelling there's no way they could ever transfer to film. They had to condense so nuch that a lot was lost.

Peter Jackson made a reasonable fist of it, but the books bear no relation to the film. As usual.

Plus, Sean Bean is a cock.

I have read the books many times and did enjoy the films (far better than some earlier attempts) but Gary is correct (never thought I'd say that) - they cannot be transferred adequately to film. Not sure I agree about Sean - I mean he beat the French in Spain practically singlehandedly.

you mean you've missed that age-old Monty/GtE rivalry????

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Surprised no one's mentioned Harry potter. (Or maybe not. I however, love them and they are a great escape)

Books are so much harder to quantify than films or music. You tend to revisit them less and they stick with me as part of an era in my life as opposed to continued value.

I'd need a Grisham book, a Harry Potter book, the Grapes of Wrath, and several books i can remember nought but the plot.

If you do, don't read 'The Broker'
What a stinker that one is.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

I've always found not reading fiction a bit of a headscratcher. Lack of imagination? Or maybe they think we have too much of it.

I think thats certainly part of my reasoning. To me life is filled with incredible & remarkable stories so why read about stuff thats made up? I read the Da Vinci code and nearly chucked it several times after going "feck off" at some of the more far fetched bits. Loved Capt Corellis Mandolin though

Of course, I could be reading what has been called non fiction and is actually highly exagerrated.

I gave in and chucked the Da Vinci code after a bit. Part of me wishes i'd stuck with it, but i can't be arsed starting it again.

[BWFC_Insane]

Surprised no one's mentioned Harry potter. (Or maybe not. I however, love them and they are a great escape)

Books are so much harder to quantify than films or music. You tend to revisit them less and they stick with me as part of an era in my life as opposed to continued value.

I'd need a Grisham book, a Harry Potter book, the Grapes of Wrath, and several books i can remember nought but the plot.

If you do, don't read 'The Broker'
What a stinker that one is.

Legal thrillers make fantastic holiday books.........

[ohjimmyjimmy]

They do, unfortunately that particular one isn't !
Dean Koontz books as well are good for holidays - maybe not a desert island though

[BWFC_Insane]

They do, unfortunately that particular one isn't !
Dean Koontz books as well are good for holidays - maybe not a desert island though

Haven't read it meself. Read most of Grishams. Steer clear of his "non legal" ones though.

Michael Connelly is ace for hols too!

[Jakerbeef]

I've always found not reading fiction a bit of a headscratcher. Lack of imagination? Or maybe they think we have too much of it.

I did talk to someone once who said he couldn't see the point in fiction. Barely watched fictional films either. He needed some kind of historical reference to keep him interested.

Certainly it's better than my dad's approach. He's only read one book for fun in his entire life. Makes Christmas shopping a bit difficult...

I'm a lot like your pal, Jakerbeef. Even the last two novels I read (and I think I've read no more than five) one was To Kill a Mockingbird which is pretty much autobiographical, and therefore believable, and the other one was Found Wanting by Robert Goddard, and that is based around what is known of Anna Anderson's claim to be Princess Anastasia.

I can see the logic to it. I've always had my head too far in the clouds to do much grounded reading. If I'm interested in the topic I'll devour it though.

For better or worse books like Harry Potter, Twilight and the Game of Thrones/Lotr adaptations are pushing fantastical stuff into the mainstream, which is fine by me. Pratchett and Gemmell novels were a bit of a dirty secret when I was younger.

Which is a shame as Pratchett should be lauded for what he's achieved and has written some genuinely great novels. But he's populist and writes about witches and stuff so he'll always be 'niche'.

[Armchair Wanderer]

For better or worse books like Harry Potter, Twilight and the Game of Thrones/Lotr adaptations are pushing fantastical stuff into the mainstream, which is fine by me. Pratchett and Gemmell novels were a bit of a dirty secret when I was younger.

Which is a shame as Pratchett should be lauded for what he's achieved and has written some genuinely great novels. But he's populist and writes about witches and stuff so he'll always be 'niche'.

Used to love the Terry Pratchett Discworld books, they're funny, clever and very readable. Read the first two or three Harry Potters and they felt like kids books, and each book was the same as the one before it.

Pratchett on a desert island though... they're not the longest books in the world and you'd be through them all in an instant.

[thebish]

For better or worse books like Harry Potter, Twilight and the Game of Thrones/Lotr adaptations are pushing fantastical stuff into the mainstream, which is fine by me. Pratchett and Gemmell novels were a bit of a dirty secret when I was younger.

Which is a shame as Pratchett should be lauded for what he's achieved and has written some genuinely great novels. But he's populist and writes about witches and stuff so he'll always be 'niche'.

Used to love the Terry Pratchett Discworld books, they're funny, clever and very readable. Read the first two or three Harry Potters and they felt like kids books, and each book was the same as the one before it.

Pratchett on a desert island though... they're not the longest books in the world and you'd be through them all in an instant.

that's cos they ARE kids books!