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Winter reading

I have been thinking a post on cycling books for a few weeks now and prompted by Mags' post over at langkjøring I went looking for recommended reading. I am, to quote Eddie Izzard, 'thinly' read when it comes to cycling so don't ask me who won the Tour in 1940 or who won stage 4 of the 2004 Paris-Nice. I have read the popular cycling books and want to get into something a little more quirky and unfamiliar than the Lance Armstrong story.

I really enjoyed (if that's the right word for such a book) The Flying Scotsman, less so the Lance Armstrong books. Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage is an excellent read and quite a revelation despite recent events. Two books that stand out for me are The Rider by Tim Krabbé and Matt Seaton's The Escape Artist. Krabbé's book is wonderfully written and worth reading even if you are not a cyclist, the characters are fantastic. The Escape Artist is more sober but equally good and begins with one of the best descriptions of a ride I have ever read.

So if I liked Matt Seaton's book I guess the recommendations of the author are a good place to start looking for more books to read. The good thing is I have read at least a few of the books on his list, so I haven't missed out on everything, but I will definitely get hold of some of the others for winter reading.

Any recommendations would be gladly received?

Comments:

Not a cycling book, but still a great read: "Into Thin Air", John Krakauer

Mags
By  mags
 

Jon Krakauer's a pseudo-journalist who needs to read "The Elements of Journalism" before he sets his fingers to another keyboard (or at least spend some time on www.poynter.org)
By  Anonymous
 

I take it you are referring to the debate between Krakauer's accounts of what happened on the mountain and Boukreev's version detailed in "The Climb". It has been shown, again and again, that Boukreev's story, as told in English by DeWalt, is a poorly researched and full off error book. Regardless of who is right or wrong, the events of 1996 was a result of many poor decisions that, when made above 25,000 feet, will kill people. Why didn't Rob Hall turn back at 1400 hours? Why did Boukreev climb down alone, without helping his clients? Many questions and fingers can be pointed. Regardless, the events cannot be undone now.

Mags
By  mags
 

This seems to be as contentious as Touching the Void, I am intrigued!
By  iain
 

There has been a million pages written and many harsh words exchanged about the 1996 episode(s) on the mountain. It is still a sore subject for many. Regardless of fault and who did what, "Into Thin Air" is still a great book. Like it or not, the book is written by a climber who was there. DeWalt probably couldn't pick out the mountain-chain on a map...

Mags
By  mags
 

Please excuse my ignorance on this subject, but this exchange of comments did stir my curiosity to find out more. I found an interesting exchange of views at
http://www.salon.com/wlust/feature/1998/08/cov_03feature.html
By  iain
 

The book is, without a doubt, controversial. And really, it's only one man's version of what happened. To get a "complete" view, maybe reading "The Climb" as well would be more appropriate.

Mags
By  mags
 

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