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I think his early books are the best, but he as written some really good stuff all round. I believe he is the thriller writer that sets the standard for all others. The Day of the Jackal, followed by the Dogs of War, are my favourites. Excellent. The Devil's Alternative did not quite...

I read about four of his books years ago. The Prize is one of my favourite books ever. The Man was also very good. An excellent subject. But I thought the Plot was a bit disappointing. My final read of his was the Seven Minutes. Basically it is about a court case, on free speech, or...

I can see this post has been around for a while, but here goes anyway.. I have been looking for The Best and the Brightest and The Making of a Quagmire for some time,with no luck. The Fifties is a good book, also written by David Halberstam. I thought the Fifties was a boring decade...

I just finished the Camel Club. Fast paced and easy to read is about right. It's not Dickens, but it is a nice change from the non fiction I usually read. Reminds me a bit of Robert Ludlum and Jeffery Archer. Not as good as the former, but better than the latter.

I was writing a reply for this thread the other day, and somehow I pushed the wrong button and off it went into cyberworld somewhere. But anyway, just as I was writing how marvellous a book is the Big Sleep, an ad came on the telly for a book review show, and the announcer was saying the book...

I am working my way slowly through The Mayor of Casterbridge. It was a brilliant TV series. I quite enjoy his poetry.

I think his books are marvellous. They are funny in parts, interesting in the history, and of course a lot of sadness in there too. I also like the language. Having said that I read them slowly so I can get it all. But then I believe they were originally written as serials for the masses...

I read them all some years ago up to the Angels Weep, or Men of Men, whichever was later. I haven't read one for a while, but they are good. The person who put me onto his books said something like.."not too many lingering sunsets in these books.." which I think meant plenty of adventure...

I'm not bothered about his private life. I wouldn't put him up there as a great author either though. I think his storylines are very good, and he is certainly easy to read. The type of novel I would read on holidays, when I really wanted to relax. Kane and Abel was quite good, and...

I read Eye of the Needle, Key to Rebecca and Night over Water, which were all brilliant. I have since tried a couple more more but cannot really get into them. I have heard Pillars of the Earth is very good so I might try that. But I agree with one of the above comments, that some of the...

I can't think of a whole lot of live poets I like either, or can't think of a lot of live poets at all. But Billy Collins is one of them. I think he is great. So readable, the subjects so ordinary, but he makes them interesting. Trains, barking dogs, looking out windows. Really...

I watched a program on TV about Ian Fleming recently, which was very interesting. I suppose they aren't towering achievements in literature, but I enjoyed them when I first read the books back in the sixties. No doubt they are quite dated now, like the early movies, but I am enjoying re...

I have only read one. It was years ago. Something about robots taking over, after getting bored with doing all the domestic stuff? I suppose they are all about that? It was very good anyway. I don't read science fiction at all, as it does not appeal. This was a good one though.

Ed McBain, about 20 followed by Ian Rankin's Rebus series where I am reading the latest one, about number 13 I think.

Definitely. I can't remember finishing any a second time, but there are so many.

The Lord of the Rings, From Here to Eternity, The Sand Pebbles, Rebus and Hornblower novels and pretty much anything I have read before which I really enjoyed. Lots of them..

I thought the Hobbit was very good and Lord of the Rings even better. There's me thinking nearly everyone thought that..? I have heard the Simillaron is hard work, but have not tried it yet. I thought the movies were lousy. I watched the first one, and about half the second and couldn't...

I would too, because she justs gets better with each book, unlike some writers who tend to go downhill as they do more books. Not all of course. PD James is a great writer. One of my favourites.

My favourite book is From Here to Eternity by James Jones. I think part of the appeal is that the main character stands up for his principles, even though in the end it costs him his life. Also he is an ordinary working class type fellow, not an outstanding hero type. It also has a...

I'm Roger, from Sydney. I enjoy mainly non fiction, history and particulary military history. Also detective stories, and some thrillers. I also enjoy Victorian literature and poetry.