I'm sure I've said this before but I really haven't ever been someone who would sit down and read a book to relax. Actually at high school instead of reading the book (Educating Rita) I got the movie out, the English lit teacher thought I had a great understanding of the underlying subtext.

Anyways that has changed, and probably started to change a few years ago and it's been getting worse. I've always liked and once in a while read Science Fiction, I'm a big fan of Iain M Banks stuff (see bit below) but I never really ventured much beyond that.

I started to read a few books related to 'work' geeky stuff really and also a few of those management books that are supposed to help, actually maybe some of them did. I did enjoy the Jack Welch books (he was the CEO at general Electric for a time, very good reads)

Then I stumbled onto Sam Bourne who is actually the British journalist, Jonathan Freedland he's written 4 books now and I've pretty much enjoyed them all,The Righteous Men (2006), The Last Testament (2007), The Final Reckoning (2008) and The Chosen One (2010) the 1st one i think was the best but certainly found myself getting through them pretty quickly. I like they way he's weaved in a bunch of religious information that you think? Ok that's interesting but it all adds to the tension in the books which is great. I do find I like anything that has a slightly mythical style tone to it.

Then there is Vince Flynn who writes about a CIA agent Mitch Rapp (they are in the progress of getting a movie together for this series of books) and again, very good, actually really good. I really enjoyed them. The last once he's done a bit of a reboot which I think is pretty clever as it keeps the character (money train!) going but lets him retell a whole bunch of new stuff from the start, kinda like what they are trying to do with Bond I think. The last one American Assassin was really good and starts off telling you about how Rapp was recruited to the CIA, his training and his 1st mission. It was probably one of my favourites but then I have to say I have liked all of the Mitch Rapp books.

Iain [M] Banks is the same guy as Iain Banks lets just clear that up, so he does sci fi with the M in his name and other stuff like the crow road as just Iain Banks so people know what it is. I became a fan when I went on holiday with a mate to Jamaica (even now I can't say Jamaica or thinking apparently without having to add, No she wanted too!  it appears I will never grow up!) Anyways I read Player of Games while on holiday and it was a 'Culture' novel which is a race of people that Banks writes about and it was just fantastic, ever since then I've been a fan. Sometimes though he goes a bit off, his previous book 'Matter' really wasn't great, Look to Windword before that was, and now this one Surface Detail was great as well, I think it's possibly an ever 2nd book think or just when he has a lot of Ship minds in there The ships are self aware, actually they are the smartest things in the universe and they know this so have fun with it, some go a bit loopy and some just well, best you pick up a book and read. For me, Surface detail a real return to form.

The last book i read was a little different again. it's by a Clinical Psychologist Nigel Latta who has been on kiwi Tv with his show the Politically Incorrect parenting show which is just fantastic, it's really sound advice that really just sticks the odd finger up at the nanny state (all available on DVD!). Anyway I got this book as a present from my other half, sure she wasn't trying to tell me anything?. and it's exactly what it says on the tin, it's a book for Dad's raising daughters and covers a myriad of stuff you just don't think about and I have to say it was very helpful. it covers everything from the fact that it's dad's job to play rough with his daughter to the whole dreaded 1st boyfriend (I have my shotgun all picked out!)

So currently I'm reading the new 007 novel by Jeffery Weaver,Carte Blanche. I'm never sure that it's a good thing for someone to write someone else's character, take Jason Bourne for instance?. should have left that well alone. Anyway I've just started this book but already I'm struggling a little as it's pretty hard to figure where this fits in to the whole James Bond story, if at all. It may well be he's decided to just ignore everything else and start again, not sure. I am sure I hate the fat he keeps referring to him as James Bond, please! we know who it is, just get on with it! anyway, I shall keep you posted but at the moment the outlook isn't great.