Category Archive for ‘books’ at the shaky kaiser

Archive for the 'books' Category

no more flashman

Published on 3/1/2008 in books and news. 0 Comments

George MacDonald Fraser has died.

a song of fire and ice

Published on 28/8/2007 in books and telly. 0 Comments

Bit late on this one:

HBO has acquired the rights to turn George R.R. Martin’s bestselling fantasy series “A Song of Fire & Ice” into a dramatic series

I hope it’s awesome, because the books are. You don’t have to be massively into fantasy literature to enjoy this series. It’s awesome. Trust me:

Martin’s series has drawn comparisons to J.R.R. Tolkien, because both are period epics set in imagined lands. But Martin has eschewed Tolkien’s good-vs.-evil theme in favor of flawed characters from seven noble families.

The book has a decidedly adult bent, with sex and violence comparable to series like “Rome” and “Deadwood.”

brilliant book

Published on 3/11/2006 in books. 4 Comments

This is the scoop, nicked from here:

How many other books will help you thrash someone at conkers, race your own go-cart, and identify the best quotations from Shakespeare? The Dangerous Book for Boys gives you facts and figures at your fingertips – swot up on the solar system, learn about famous battles and read inspiring stories of incredible courage and bravery. Teach your old dog new tricks. Make a pinhole camera. Understand the laws of cricket. There’s a whole world out there: with this book, anyone can get out and explore it.The Dangerous Book for Boys is written with the verve and passion that readers of Conn Iggulden’s number one bestselling novels have come to expect. This book, his first non-fiction work, has been written with his brother as a celebration of the long summers of their youth and as a compendium of information so vital to men of all ages. Lavishly designed and fully illustrated in colour and black and white throughout, it’s set to be a perfect gift for Father’s Day and beyond.Chapters in The Dangerous Book for Boys include: The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, Conkers, Laws of Football, Dinosaurs, Fishing, Juggling, Timers and Tripwires, Kings and Queens, Famous Battles, Spies, Making Crystals, Insects and Spiders, Astronomy, Girls, The Golden Age of Piracy, Secret Inks, Patron Saints of Britain, Skimming Stones, Dog Tricks, Making a Periscope, Coin Tricks, Marbles, Artillery, The Origin of Words and The Solar System.

More about the book here and here.

What every boy should have to hand:

# Swiss Army knife - removes splinters
# Compass - your trusty guide
# Handkerchief - doubles as a sling
# Magnifying glass - look at small things, start a campfire
# A marble - big one, for luck
# Needle and thread - to sew up wounds, mend torn shirt
# Pencil and paper - note down criminals’ car numbers
# Torch - read secret plans by night
# Fish-hook and thread - add stick and worm and you won’t starve
# Box of matches - dip the tips in wax (it waterproofs them)

The bowline knot:

bags and books

Published on 25/1/2006 in books and miscellaneous. 1 Comment

I’m addicted. I simply cannot stop buying them. I have enough unread books at home to take up five to ten years at the pace I currently read. Still I just received 22 books from Amazon — all the rest of the Flashman that I didn’t have, some other George MacDonald Fraser books and a load of nice easy holiday thrillers from Lee Child and Harlan Coben. Not enough though. The Does Anything Eat Wasps book has put me on a knowledge and science vibe, so I just popped out to buy:

Six Easy Pieces: Fundamentals of Physics Explained
Surely You’re Joking, Mr.Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character
The Wisdom of Crowds
A Short History of Nearly Everything (even though I have the hardback!)

I also have too many bags, but since I’m going away again soon, I thought I needed a new bag. I didn’t really, but the Samsonite 750 Series / PRO-DLX Prox Lapt. Briefc. S D31*039 is great!

225

Published on 18/7/2005 in books. 5 Comments

The new Harry Potter book is $225 HKD in Dymocks. They are having a laugh. $180 over in the shop in Tower 1 Exchange Sq. $163 online at Paddyfield, or around $120 from Amazon, plus delivery though.

Free, on the internets: