New book on Archie Moore out

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 27 May 2004, 11:49

Just thought I'd let all the boxing book buffs know.

J · Post by J » 27 May 2004, 11:52

actually im going on hols in 3 weeks and its the only time that I actually
1. enjoy reading immensely (books anyway) and secondly have the bloody time to do so

any recommnedations and I dont necessarily want the fact based "boxing anorak books", was thinking bout picking up james toney's biography that would be entertaining....anyone else got a scooby ?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 27 May 2004, 11:55

I'm the same mate, planes and trains and automobile reading, along with the Khazi.

I can highly reccomend Johnny Cash's autobiography (never said it had to be boxing), Black lights is a good one, as is "This bloody Mary is the last thing I own" "Night Train", "The fight" "Dark Destroyer", there's a few to be going on with.

Mr T's autobiography is also excellent, as is 'By George' by Big George.

J · Post by J » 27 May 2004, 11:57

cheers

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 27 May 2004, 12:05

'Gilroy was here'. The life story of Scottish Boxing legend Bert Gilroy through the eyes of his grandson.

Kev

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 27 May 2004, 12:06

Just remembered another couple....

shit, I don't believe it, I've fornicating forgotten before I could type them in...

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 27 May 2004, 12:09

'The Rochdale Thunderbolt' - The Story of Jock McAvoy. A great read

J · Post by J » 27 May 2004, 12:10

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Just remembered another couple....

shit, I don't believe it, I've fornicating forgotten before I could type them in...

cheers for that bout as much use a chocolate condom.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 27 May 2004, 12:13

Dunno, reckon there's a few birds out there who'd go for 'em

A chocolate fireguard, or a chocolate teapot, as a former fuckface of a boss was commonly referred to are nearer the mark.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 27 May 2004, 12:31

J wrote: any recommnedations and I dont necessarily want the fact based "boxing anorak books", was thinking bout picking up james toney's biography that would be entertaining....anyone else got a scooby ?

The Fight - Norman Mailer - All Time Classic
Sweet Science - A J Liebling - Boxing's greatest writer?
Kings Of The World - Dave Remnick - Brilliant book. best writing on Liston too.
Ghosts of Manila - Mark Kram - Terrific writer: Ali "We went to Manila as champions, Joe and me, and we came back as old men"

Raging Bull - as good as the film.
Black Lights is v good - so is his Ali bio.
Larry Holmes bio is excellent too.
Dark Trade - Don McRae - great book on Toney and co.
Anything by the great Hugh McIlvanney

J · Post by J » 27 May 2004, 12:33

cheers all!

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 27 May 2004, 14:28

If you want something away from boxing might i suggest the following:

Michael Connelly - either City of bones or Chasing the dime (detective novels, good for a bit of light reading)

Anything by Steinbeck

Philip K. Dick - Do androids dream of electric sheep (it's not his best work, but Bladerunner is loosely based on it)

Yann Martel - Life of Pi

Kazuo Ishiguro - When we were orphans

K.R. Popper - The open society and it's enemies (it's very highbrow sociology and philosophy that was written in the late 40's but it's still relevant to todays society)

I've just read Stephen King's Nightmares and Dreamscapes, it's a really good collection of short stories. Excellent for using up 10 minutes or so at a time.

Just one last book, Michael Caine's autobiography that makes for quite an interesting read.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 27 May 2004, 14:46

Totally agree Michael Connolly is a great writer and Patricia Cornwell

Kev

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 27 May 2004, 14:57

glittermonkey wrote:If you want something away from boxing might i suggest the following:

Just one last book, Michael Caine's autobiography that makes for quite an interesting read.

interesting read eh?? now i bet that 'nto a lot of people know that.

Everyone should read the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell at least once in their lives. Class War and an amazing read too. stirs such emotions

On a boxing level whilst ive many many books, around a hundred in all, id always recommend Roger Kahns book on Dempsey..'A Flame of Pure Fire' anof course McIlvanney on Boxing by Hugh McIlvanney.. how sports writing should be done. However at all costs avoid Hausers Ali biography.. such blinkered sickly sychophantic rubbish

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 27 May 2004, 14:58

Kevin wrote:Totally agree Michael Connolly is a great writer and Patricia Cornwell

Kev

I read huge amounts of books, but i can honestly say that Connelly is my favourite writer in the whole crime genre. Lost light is another good one of his.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 27 May 2004, 15:02

Yes I have read them all a great writer

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 27 May 2004, 17:40

neil r wrote:
However at all costs avoid Hausers Ali biography.. such blinkered sickly sychophantic rubbish

I don't really see how. From what I recall it's just the people who were around Ali during his career, remembering first hand what actualy happened. There's been a lot of crap written about Ali, but at least these people were there.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 27 May 2004, 17:49

glittermonkey wrote: Kazuo Ishiguro - When we were orphans

Weird book that wasn't it, excellent writer.

If you like crime - The King is Charles Willeford. Only wrote a few, from the 50's to the 80's, but there's nothing else like them. Dead pan Psycopaths that make your blood run cold, and a truly black, hilarious sense of humour. Sideswipe, Black Mass of brother Springer, High priest of California...fantastic writer.

Or "The killer inside me" Jim Thompson - Steven King is their Number One Fan - seriously.

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 27 May 2004, 17:59

MightyWarrior wrote:
neil r wrote:
However at all costs avoid Hausers Ali biography.. such blinkered sickly sychophantic rubbish
I don't really see how. From what I recall it's just the people who were around Ali during his career, remembering first hand what actualy happened. There's been a lot of crap written about Ali, but at least these people were there.

if u ever read it again look for anything negative, theres next to nothing. anything anyone says remotely not in keeping with the 'aura' of ali is quickly backed up with "ah yes but..."

its almost as if hausers research for the book consisted of placiong an add saying "were you close to ali and got nice things to say if so please contact me"

theres plenty about ali thats far from gracious and which are very seldom addressed. and this book just glosses over it all

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 27 May 2004, 18:45

MightyWarrior wrote:
glittermonkey wrote: Kazuo Ishiguro - When we were orphans
Weird book that wasn't it, excellent writer.

What won the booker prize that year i wonder? It must have been something pretty good. I read that one last year sometime and i always mean to find something else of his, i just never get round to it.

I've got another one that i forgot about earlier, The Last Legion by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. If you like epic novel it's as good as they come. The twist towards the end is something special.

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 27 May 2004, 19:09

neil r wrote: Everyone should read the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell at least once in their lives. Class War and an amazing read too. stirs such emotions

agree with that.

J · Post by J » 28 May 2004, 05:21

some interesting stuff cheers, not big on crime books tho, usually take an irving welsh novel when i go away, blokes screwed in the head.
mr nice by howard marks is a decent read also if thats your bag.
Also have Mike Athertons biography to read so 3 bboks should be enough I reckon....cheers though will check this thread fomr time to time and pick up some of the aforesaid books. nice one

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 28 May 2004, 06:07

Back to the thread subject of Archie Moore, I read a funny little tale a while back, can't remember who by, but he was a young reporter interviewing Moore over dinner prior to a fight (in London I think), years ago.

Archie was doing his chew the meat and spit out the pulp routine and the reporter was amazed at his dedication – getting the goodness out of the meat without putting on the pounds. Said reporter was even more impressed when a waiter asked if Mr Moore would like any dessert and the champ politely decliined....

...but then pulled out a large cigar and ordered a brandy.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 28 May 2004, 09:01

Kevin wrote:Totally agree Michael Connolly is a great writer and Patricia Cornwell

Kev

Don't you mean Steven Connolly, Kev?