stavenatives

Frozen Music by Marika Cobbold, an excellent book, two people, Esther Fisher and Linus Stendal take you on a non-stop journey through their life and thoughts… I thoroughly enjoyed this story, almost believable!

Fatal Passage by Ken McGoogan, the untold story of Arctic explorer John Rae, a powerful story of human endurance as John sets out to explore the North West passage.

Out of Control by Kevin Kelly, the New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, and the Economic World. Took me ages to read this book, well worth persevering if you like popular science. You will be transfixed, baffled and amazed at what some scientists will theorise, simulate and put themselves through!

Fear and Trembling by Amélie Nothomb, a humorous and cynical novella of how the Japanese corporate culture is mad. Her website is here, not in English!

Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine, I got this book as a Birthday present and it is truly amazing! Douglas and Mark, including many other bizarre individuals, take you on a expedition exploring life that is happening, or not, on this planet of ours. Highly recommended!

My Chemical Romance: Something Incredible This Way Comes by Paul Stenning, I believe this is the first book of its kind on one of the world’s hottest new bands, a fascinating look at Gerard Way and My Chemical Romance. I couldn’t put this book down until I had reached the final page!

All Fun and Games until Somebody Loses an Eye by Christopher Brookmyre, another masterpiece of espionage, intrigue, gadgets and hoovering! I can highly recommend this book, brilliant!

Glasgow Zen by Alan Spence, a fine wee book to keep in yur back pocket! An example from the book: “On the suchness of things: AYE, THIS IT IT. THIS IS THE THING”.

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, an enjoyable story about love and friendship. A happy book!

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, a truly enthralling book that will leave you thinking. You will laugh out loud, and be deeply disturbed by events depicted by the stories of the holocaust. (The DVD is excellent too by the way, but you really ought to read the book first).

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, 607 pages later and I’m again truly mesmerised by the awesome complexity of what this author can achieve. Well worth reading!

Masters of Doom by David Kushner, an extraordinary inside story about developers John Carmack and John Romero, the creators of the successful video games Doom and Quake. An absolute must for anyone who has played either of these games or has an interest in gaming. An excellent gift from a good friend of mine.

a million little pieces by James Frey, the story of James’ time inside a drug rehabilitation clinic. Hard hitting, gut wrenching and humorous, sometimes all within the same sentence.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka, yet another fine recommendation. I couldn’t put this book down, an easy read whilst sniggering quietly to oneself in the corner! Oh, and some fascinating facts about tractors.

a big boy did it and ran away by Christopher Brookmyre, terrorism, students, gaming, girls, battle of the bands and in the middle of it all a newly qualified English teacher! A non-stop intriguing story by this Scottish writer.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, a totally amazing book! Difficult to know where to begin except it takes you through time and space in a truly mesmerizing fashion, I can highly recommend this to anyone wishing to expand their horizons from the written word.

Winterdance by Gary Paulsen, suggest that you read this book, you will be transfixed. It’s about the fine madness of Alasken dog racing.

Pompeii by Robert Harris, pure brilliance. Another book you just can’t put down!

Beyond the Great Indoors by Ingvar Ambjornsen, highly recommended if you’re spending too much time indoors reading books!

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, this book will take you places! Murakami has a vivid imagination, watch yourself!

MUSE by Ben Myers, a fascinating outlook into the history of the band MUSE.

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami, a rather imaginative look into the minds of sheep!

Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, is a profound meditation upon the nature of loss, love and the healing power of words. A truly absorbing book, for those of you too young to remember the second World War – read this book.

Provinces of Night by William Gay, the saga of the Bloodworth clan set in the American South. A darkly humorous, supremely engaging story.

Shipping News by Annie Proulx, a wonderful story of life, hardships and renewal as portrayed by the character Quoyle.

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis and Larry Sloman, think you know the Red Hot Chili Peppers?

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, young Augusten Burroughs absorbs experiences that could make for a shocking memoir: the son of an alcoholic father and an unstable mother, he’s handed off to his mother’s therapist, Dr. Finch, and spends his adolescent years as a member of Finch’s bizarre extended family.

The Blindfold by Siri Hustvedt, un-put-downable (again), intense and interesting.

In Shackletons Wake by Arved Fuchs, an incredible journey of human endurance through ice and storms following the journey of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Taking on the World by Ellen MacArthur, her autobiography of the unforgiving Vendée Globe race.

Ice Bird by David Lewis, the story of sailing his yacht Ice Bird single-handed to Antarctica. Along the way he endured incredible seas, constant gales, snowstorms, freezing cold, a couple of capsizes and a dismasting. If you’re thinking of sailing to Antarctica then I suggest you read this book first!