Book recommendations and why?

[SimonCelsa]

Anything by US author Lawrence Block, especially the Matt Scudder New York private detective stuff.

Gritty, easy to follow, good plots, interesting twists, believable characters, reformed alcoholics, damn good reads!!

Normally pick them up in any good charity bookshop, don't see them much in mainstream retailers.

I believe he wrote them in a chronological series but you can read in any order really,

All the best, Simon

[honesty]

Just read the first book by Patrick Rothfuss. If you enjoy fantasy it's very good.

[Audax67]

Arthur Koestler: Arrow in the Blue and Scum of the Earth (autobiography) are both excellent and easy to read.

[Sweep]

a long long time since I read it but isn't "scum of the earth" rather heavy?

[Ash28]

I have read all but one of the Jack Reacher books. Easy to read, escapism, anti hero character, like a modern day Clint Eastwood "man with no name".

[Abradable Chin]

I don't see why one would necessarily want to read about cycling when touring.
I've recently finished "Skyfaring" by Mark Vanhoenacker. It was poetic, and instilled a sense of wonder and awe of nature, such that I could forgive the flowery language and that it is written in the present continuous. I recommend it as a book you will want to keep reading.

[rmurphy195]

I don't see why one would necessarily want to read about cycling when touring.
I've recently finished "Skyfaring" by Mark Vanhoenacker. It was poetic, and instilled a sense of wonder and awe of nature, such that I could forgive the flowery language and that it is written in the present continuous. I recommend it as a book you will want to keep reading.

I'll second that - I've just finished reading it myself, brought back happy memories of trying to get my private pilots licence a few years back, and a few great laughs over radio station/beacon names!

[Richard D]

Bike books - The Rider by Tim Krabbe (an excellent piece on cycling = suffering), and any of Tim Moore's three cycling travelogues (eg French Revolutions).

My usual cup of tea is fantasy, so echo the recommendation of Patrick Rothfuss (I just re-read his second, and cannot wait for the third part), but can also recommend George RR Martin (another as-yet unfinished saga), plus scifi from Peter F Hamilton and the Expanse saga.

[fossala]

Lenin. The three sources and three component parts of Marxism

Lenin. Karl Marx

Marx, Engels. Manifesto of the Communist Party

Marx, Engels. The German Ideology, chapter 1

Engels. Socialism: Utopian and Scientific

Lenin. What is to be done?

Lenin. State and Revolution

Lenin. Texts against revisionism and opportunism:
The historical destiny of the doctrine of Karl Marx
Opportunism and the collapse of the Second International
The collapse of the Second International
Imperialism and the split in Socialism
Certain features of the historical development of Marxism
Marxism and Revisionism
Marxism and Reformism

Lenin. Left-wing Communism: and infantile disorder

Engels. Anti-Dühring, part III: Socialism

Stalin. The foundations of Leninism

Mao. On contradiction

Engels. Anti-Dühring, part I: Philosophy

Engels. Ludwig Feuerbach and the end of classical German philosophy

Marx. Theses on Feuerbach

Marx. Wages, price and profit

Engels. Anti-Dühring, part II: Political Economy

Marx. Capital Volume I

Lenin. Imperialism, the highest stage of Capitalism

This should keep you busy.

[rmurphy195]

Bike books - The Rider by Tim Krabbe (an excellent piece on cycling = suffering), and any of Tim Moore's three cycling travelogues (eg French Revolutions).

My usual cup of tea is fantasy, so echo the recommendation of Patrick Rothfuss (I just re-read his second, and cannot wait for the third part), but can also recommend George RR Martin (another as-yet unfinished saga), plus scifi from Peter F Hamilton and the Expanse saga.

I wouldn't go for any of Hamiltons books if you want to do any actual cycling, they are far too absorbing!

[Cyril Haearn]

Elgar the Cyclist by Kevin Allen

The Master took cycling lessons at Birchwood (there is a great climb there, alternate steep and easy bits). When he was knighted he cycled to Bromsgrove to tell his dad

Round and especially west of Malvern must be the best cycling country outside of Wales IMHO (alternative facts welcome)
Or is Malvern (Moel Bryn) actually in Wales?

Sir Edward got a bit fed up with those awful new motor vehicles, he moved to London, became a VIP and gave up cycling

Hope someone will write *Larkin the Cyclist* soon

[Cyril Haearn]

Death on the streets by Dr Robert Davis

About cars and the mythology of *road safety*. Published by leading edge in Burtersett

Murder most foul by J S Dean
The same material a few decades earlier

[AMMoffat]

The Story of San Michel by Axel Munthe. Anything by Gerald Durrell

[Cyril Haearn]

Jacques Faizant
Albina and her bicycle

[Cyril Haearn]

Jean-Jacques Sempe
Raoul Taburin (French original) =
Das Geheimnis des Fahrradhaendlers (German)
The bike-shop owner's secret (not sure whether it is available in English)