ok so my new job means i'll be spending countless hours sitting around on a boat (hard life ey) and that means i need some new reading material

so hit me with all the good ones... surfing related is preferred

thanks in advance

Surf wise, you'll love the latest Tim Winton, "Breath". His Locky Leonard books are aimed at younger readers, but I still enjoyed them. If you like his writing then Dirt Music is also great.

For humour try Terry Pratchett's discworld series, best to start at the beggining, but it doesn't matter that much.
Douglas Adams, "Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy"

Sci Fi / fantasy Orson Scott Card, the Alvin series is really good.
Stephen Donaldson, "The Gap" and "Thomas Covenant" series

elmo said...

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (all five books in the trilogy)

The universe makes a lot more sense after reading it

well that's 2 votes for hitchhikers.

Bustin down the door- Rabbit Bartholmew
If all else fails-Picture premium

Yellow pages A-K (Sydney-2004 edition)
couldn't get into the L-Z sequel (except for the sailboard section).

You might try "Slaughterhouse 5", by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Great anti-war book, based around the WW2 bombing of Dresden.

(Was made into a good movie too, which is often not the case with good books)

And, definitely, another vote for HHGTTG.

World War Z by Max Brooks.

Great book set ten years after the world war between Zombies and humans. Critiques the issues we face today. The recollection of the Battle of Yonkers is a classic piece of writing.

On my coffee table right now

Ralph
Windsurf
Sporting Shooter

can tell it is a guy's house huh

I am a kiter so I struggle a bit with reading some of the more learned stuff but I really enjoyed,

The art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama

Any of the Stone Barrington novels by Stuart Woods

And

All the Archie Mcnally novels by Lawrence Sanders

getfunky said...

Mark _australia said...

On my coffee table right now

Ralph
Windsurf
Sporting Shooter

can tell it is a guy's house huh

Cancelled the subscription for Redkneck monthly eh?

No I just catalogue them so last months is read, indexed and filed already. Awaiting the July edn now.

Mark _australia said...

getfunky said...

Mark _australia said...

On my coffee table right now

Ralph
Windsurf
Sporting Shooter

can tell it is a guy's house huh

Cancelled the subscription for Redkneck monthly eh?

No I just catalogue them so last months is read, indexed and filed already. Awaiting the July edn now.

Ha ha - hopefully there is a follow up article for the "How to remove a stray digit from your eye" issue.



Yep - I agree to the votes for Orwell. His short stories are good reading too. Less harrowing and more observational from his travels through asia/India etc. Somerset Maugham's short stories are good 1-2 day reads in a similar vein too.

Whatever you do NEVER EVER be tempted to read Zen and the art of motorcycle maintanence. Biggest load of repetitious bollocks ever committed to paper!! Couldn't even find any advice on how to change a tyre either.

decrepit said...

elmo said...

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (all five books in the trilogy)

The universe makes a lot more sense after reading it

well that's 2 votes for hitchhikers.

yeh is good

The Karma Sutra - could be quite gripping if your on the boat alone!

The Wilbur Smith books are OK and there an ongoing story (get them from a second hand book shop)

The Aquitaine Progression - quite gripping but in a different way by Robert Ludlum - read it in three days of howling NWrs one winter at the Bluff in WA

Mao's last dancer - nice story about poverty in China by Li Cunxin

Einstein - the A life in science

The book about the Sydney Hobart yacht by Rob Mundal - could't put that one down - the race the year it relly blew - then again probably not a good idea while boating

The lord of the Flys

The Enid Blyton collection

All time Favourite Monty Pythons big red book

Happy Reading

for one amazingly smart son of a beach, maurice cotterell will blow you away,

life of pi was cool for something light with a twist

and dr seuss will have the laugh last from us all

Agree with a lot of these suggestions.

If you like fantasy try Magician by Raymond E. Feist and the series that follows. Also, most anything by David Gemmel, particularly his Druss the Legend series.

getfunky said...

Whatever you do NEVER EVER be tempted to read Zen and the art of motorcycle maintanence. Biggest load of repetitious bollocks ever committed to paper!! Couldn't even find any advice on how to change a tyre either.

Hmmm I really liked it! It was one of the half dozen I brought with me from over east...

Life changing book: The Celestine Prophecy
Ripper sci-fi yarn: The gap series by Stephen Donaldson (as Decrep suggested)
One night stand: Anything by Ben Elton