The Reading/Book Thread

[TombRaiderKuchen]

Every so often I pick up a book to read amongst all the studying and gaming. Although I'm not the most avid reader out there, but I do enjoy a good book every once in a while. So do any of you like to read? Novels, Essays, Comic books, Manga, anything?

What are your favourite books or what's the latest that you've read? Discuss!



For me, the most recent book that I read was "The Hobbit" by J.R.R Tolkien. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I'm well prepared for the movie coming out in December this year

Now I am currently reading through an e-book that one of my friends, who is an aspiring author, has written It's pretty awesome so far. It's called "Fiendlord: The Undying Night Book One". It's a fantasy story about a boy named Azred Ferla, 10, who's home village was attacked by demons, killing his father in the process. 14 years later he becomes an accomplished mage and warrior determined to rid the lands of Garlina of the "Midnight fiends" once and for all.

Here's a link if you wanna check it out: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80357

[hash47]

Probably read 10000's of pages of History each year because of my degree, but other than that i really really love sci-fi book's, by authors like Asimov and Orson Scott Card.

Other than that, i have read a lot of just random "male" fiction like Clive Cussler and Andy Mcnab, and a few graphic novels and manga. As long as it is a good book i'm up for trying it.

I have strangely never read Harry Potter though, unlike seemingly everyone else of my age, i was a much bigger fan of Darren Shan! But i have been meaning to get around to Tolkien, i just need to find the time in between Uni work.

[Tyron]

Probably read 10000's of pages of History each year because of my degree.

Same here! In fact I got mostly history books for christmas. Studying the first world war for my Masters at the moment. Where you studying?

(also I'm not stalking you, I've commented on 3 of your posts in the space of 5 minutes - pure coincidence )

[VirtualScot]

Probably read 10000's of pages of History each year because of my degree.

Same here! In fact I got mostly history books for christmas. Studying the first world war for my Masters at the moment. Where you studying?

(also I'm not stalking you, I've commented on 3 of your posts in the space of 5 minutes - pure coincidence )

Not WWI. But my granddad fought at El Alamein, and believed but not confirmed to have been part of the Salerno mutiny. Some old photos i have.

In the centre on the right, at the back



In the middle and on the left is my great uncle Angus

[Tyron]

Probably read 10000's of pages of History each year because of my degree.

Same here! In fact I got mostly history books for christmas. Studying the first world war for my Masters at the moment. Where you studying?

(also I'm not stalking you, I've commented on 3 of your posts in the space of 5 minutes - pure coincidence )

Not WWI. But my granddad fought at El Alamein, and believed but not confirmed to have been part of the Salerno mutiny. Some old photos i have.

Excellent! Mine was in Bomber Command in the RAF during the Second World War. El Alamein was a good battle to be in! History is always fascinating

[hash47]

In Portsmouth, in my second year currently. How about you? how are you finding the masters, and what are you doing it on specifically?

I really really like History but i feel like i have been in education too long now, want to finish my degree and join the RAF! Might further my education later on as i would love to get a P.H.D one day!

[VirtualScot]

Don't know what part of crawling through a 5 mile mine field, facing your enemy in bloody close combat. To then be chased by Panzers, is good.

My uncle Angus wrote a letter that my auntie still has to get hold of. Detailing the graphic nature of how many of his friends had died.

[hydr0x]

Yeah, I read a lot of books, here's my "currently reading" stack:

[Tyron]

Don't know what part of crawling through a 5 mile mine field, facing your enemy in bloody close combat. To then be chased by Panzers, is good.

My uncle Angus wrote a letter that my auntie still has to get hold of. Detailing the graphic nature of how many of his friends had died.

No battlefield is ever good, but as far as popular culture goes - El Alamein was a "good" battle. It was the turning point in the North African front, and some say the turning point of the war.

[Tyron]

In Portsmouth, in my second year currently. How about you? how are you finding the masters, and what are you doing it on specifically?

I really really like History but i feel like i have been in education too long now, want to finish my degree and join the RAF! Might further my education later on as i would love to get a P.H.D one day!

I'm at Kent, currently going through my dissertation topic ideas! I felt that way too about university, so I left for a 2 year gap. Now I'm back in and I wonder why I left in the first place!

The RAF are good, a professor at my uni used to teach at Sandhurst. They can sponsor you for training if need be.

[VirtualScot]

Don't know what part of crawling through a 5 mile mine field, facing your enemy in bloody close combat. To then be chased by Panzers, is good.

My uncle Angus wrote a letter that my auntie still has to get hold of. Detailing the graphic nature of how many of his friends had died.

No battlefield is ever good, but as far as popular culture goes - El Alamein was a "good" battle. It was the turning point in the North African front, and some say the turning point of the war.

Ahh then i apologise for misinterpreting as to what you meant by good.

[hash47]

In Portsmouth, in my second year currently. How about you? how are you finding the masters, and what are you doing it on specifically?

I really really like History but i feel like i have been in education too long now, want to finish my degree and join the RAF! Might further my education later on as i would love to get a P.H.D one day!

I'm at Kent, currently going through my dissertation topic ideas! I felt that way too about university, so I left for a 2 year gap. Now I'm back in and I wonder why I left in the first place!

The RAF are good, a professor at my uni used to teach at Sandhurst. They can sponsor you for training if need be.

I live in Sittingbourne (Kent) so i'm guessing we're not too far from each other, i need to start thinking up dissertation idea's too, going to be hard thinking of a title which will allow for 10,000 words! Yeah, i think the RAF will be a good bet in this job climate but i have always wanted to join the armed forces. Should hopefully be able to get in as an officer, so fairly good pay and in no real danger! And as you mentioned, they will pay for training which is always nice!

[Tyron]

Don't know what part of crawling through a 5 mile mine field, facing your enemy in bloody close combat. To then be chased by Panzers, is good.

My uncle Angus wrote a letter that my auntie still has to get hold of. Detailing the graphic nature of how many of his friends had died.

No battlefield is ever good, but as far as popular culture goes - El Alamein was a "good" battle. It was the turning point in the North African front, and some say the turning point of the war.

Ahh then i apologise for misinterpreting as to what you meant by good.

That's okay, I study war at university - thankfully that's the closest I'll get to an actual war *touch wood*.

I live in Sittingbourne (Kent) so i'm guessing we're not too far from each other, i need to start thinking up dissertation idea's too, going to be hard thinking of a title which will allow for 10,000 words! Yeah, i think the RAF will be a good bet in this job climate but i have always wanted to join the armed forces. Should hopefully be able to get in as an officer, so fairly good pay and in no real danger! And as you mentioned, they will pay for training which is always nice!

Sweet I'm from Dartford! Used to work in Maidstone too - and got a few friends from Sittingbourne. Will you be going to Geek 2012 at Margate?

I'll be doing 20,000 words for my MA, and then up to 100,000 for PhD.I forget about word counts if I'm honest - it's a bit like clock watching

What kind of area you looking to write about? Any particular areas?

Bit of a curveball but do you know a Sam Avery at Portsmouth? He's also in his second year doing marketing.

[hash47]

I find the same thing with word counts, but sometimes when the essay is dragging on you cant help but keep checking, 20,000 would be a nightmare , proof reading alone would take ages!

I may be going to Geek 2012, just depends what i have going on at Uni but i will be back in Kent on the 16th and will try and go if i can!

History wise i prefer more modern stuff as that is what i am used too, i've studied the World Wars and Soviet Russia so much but i did Middle Eastern Politics last term which was really interesting! However i think my biggest historical passion in Mongolia and Genghis Khan, yet no where really teaches it in the UK, and i don't know how it would work out as a dissertation if i could do it =S

Finally, i don't know Sam Avery but i do have someone on facebook who does!

[Tyron]

I find the same thing with word counts, but sometimes when the essay is dragging on you cant help but keep checking, 20,000 would be a nightmare , proof reading alone would take ages!

I may be going to Geek 2012, just depends what i have going on at Uni but i will be back in Kent on the 16th and will try and go if i can!

History wise i prefer more modern stuff as that is what i am used too, i've studied the World Wars and Soviet Russia so much but i did Middle Eastern Politics last term which was really interesting! However i think my biggest historical passion in Mongolia and Genghis Khan, yet no where really teaches it in the UK, and i don't know how it would work out as a dissertation if i could do it =S

Finally, i don't know Sam Avery but i do have someone on facebook who does!

Yeah mongolia might be quite a trek for original sources I did mine on WW1 and went to the National Archives and did some research in Flanders. I'm sure you can find some journals online, and I'm certain there will be some people willing to talk to you over the internet. Just a shame mongolia is far away.

[hash47]

Also run into the fact i can't read ancient Mongolian so will be relying on unreliable translations! Will probably end up doing something about the superpowers roles int the middle east during the 20th Century

[Tyron]

Also run into the fact i can't read ancient Mongolian so will be relying on unreliable translations! Will probably end up doing something about the superpowers roles int the middle east during the 20th Century

Interesting subject! All the way from T.E. Lawrence to the first iraq war.