The Singapore Forum

Just finished th excellent BangBang Club (a harrowing story of war photographers in SouthAfrica)

Now reading Brian Moore's autobiography

Confessions of an economic hitman

Now reading the invisible man

Anila's Journey

I've read some of the Skystone series by Jack Whyte. End of the Roman era in the UK and how King Aurther came forward from that. OK.

Got something crap on the kindle at the moment. will find something else soon.

Started a book group in Oz. Books read so far:

(1) One Day by David Nichols
(2) Sister by Rosamund Lupton
(3) Come Back To Me by Sara Foster

All excellent, and Sara came to our group to talk which was great (she lives in Perth).

Other stuff I've read recently: Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton, and ""The Girl with the" trilogy by Stiegg Larsson. I downloaded the first one to my Kindle in December but was never quite in the mood. When I finally started I couldn't put them down.

Books are for losers. They'd only interfere with my Smurf's Village game.

On my shiny new Kindle I have

Lethal Intent - Quentin Jardine. One of an excellent series of Detective novels set in Edinburgh
The Fry Chronicles - Steven Fry. Follow up to Moab is my Washpot

I've just consumed the Phryne Fisher series, think there about 14 of them. Don't think they'd be to many of your tastes, but I enjoy the lightness of the writing, the social politics they address, the attitude of Ms Fisher, and the references to 1920's Melbourne & Australia. Been falling asleep to Jeeves Omnibus. On the look out for some good stuff.

I'm in need of a new series & bit of a detective novel addict, so if your recommending that one BoD, am off to the bookshop...

Oooh, I'm half way through 'Lessons from the Land of Pork Scratchings' by Greg Gutfield and I'm just about to begin 'One Day' by David Nicholls...have heard good things about this one so have been saving it for an uninterrupted beach read...that time has come!! Woo Hoo!!

i just got myself 'Breakfast at Tiffanys' - only ever watched the movie, have never read the book!

Great book, but much darker than the film.

Brian Moore finished now reading Them by Jon Ronson

Ok...have read 'One Day' and can highly recommend it...just a little word of warning...be prepared for a twist towards the end...this story is coming out in the cinema soon...so read it now!!

http://youtu.be/uLUWHW5NxwI

Just read a couple of the Daniel McRae books by Gordon Ferris: not shabby. Available cheap through Amazon Kindle website.

Thanks Duck, will look that up.

I've just finished fiction "A few right thinking men" by a newish writer to the scene, Sulari Gentill. Australian Sydney theme, 1930s, build up to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Drawn out a bit in places, but was very pleasantly surprised. I'm now quite interested to go back and understand better the 1920-30's period between the 2 major world wars. I had no perception about the strong influence of communism in the country during that period - asked the pater about it, as a history buff, and he looked at me in horror and guffawed at my ignorance. Nice complement to the guilty pleasure of the Phryne Fisher series I've just finished.

A couple of books by Simon Lelic :

Rupture - about a school massacre, institutionalised bullying. Very good, sombre.

The Facility - a new disease is uncovered in right - wing Britain. Ok, bit predictable.

Also some of the Nicci French novels, Red Door and another that escapes me for now, easy, psycholigical crime stuff.

I'm about halfway through The Passage by Justin Cronin. Very enjoyable.

Just finished From The Dead, the latest book in the Tom Thorne detective series by Mark Billingham. That was good too.

just finished "I Am Ozzy", Ozzy Osbourne's autobiography.

what can i say, it's quite different from Richard Branson's autobiography, that's for sure...

I am ozzy is very funny

Just finished Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde.

Looking for inspiration now or will end up reading the Flashman series again.

I read that last year, what did you think?

One day is great isn't it Duck? I couldn't put it down.

I've just finished reading Once a Jolly Hangman by A Shadrake. Must say it left me a bit cold. The writing wasn't good (he says he's an ex Fleet Street journalist (?!) and I just couldn't get too excited about his arguments against capital punishment when people know the risks they face coming into Singapore. Was kinda surprised at the revelations about all the drug taking here in Singapore (but I'm probably really naive when it comes to that kind of thing...(alcohol being my only drug of choice)

Shades of Grey, Tas? I liked it - he has a great imagination and when I got into it & found the balance between madness, drama, comedy and satire I enjoyed it immensely. I did prefer the Thursday Next series though. What did you think of it?

Reading the short stories of Somerset Maugham right now. Lots of stories of, among other things, Malayan planters and Borneo colonial administrators in the inter-war years. And Gin Pahits and Stengahs. So many Gin Pahits and Stengahs.

Just finished Keith Richard's Life (took me long enough to get around to it but it was well worth the wait).

Now reading a few, among them, How to Listen to and Understand Great Music - The Great Courses, which is quirky at times but I'm learning new things.