Since I got a lot of cool ideas for downloads from NAKID's "What are you listening to?" thread, thought I'd see if I can drum up some interesting stuff for the nightstand.
I'm a chapter away from finishing re-reading Edward Abbey's "Desert Solitare" which is a totally different book now that I'm surrounded by rocks and cactus day after day instead of deciduous trees, grass and LOTS of asphalt like the first time I read it.
Next in line is Edmund Morris' "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt," which I didn't even realize was in the bookcase until the other day.
After that, I'm up for anything -- classics, new lit, trashy, graphic novels -- I'm kind of getting in a rut lately, re-reading old favorites, and wouldn't mind getting out of it. Whatta ya got?
I just finished The Year of Living Biblically (http://www.ajjacobs.com/books/yolb.asp), was pretty interesting.
Now I gotta figure out what I'll be taking on my flight tomorrow, it's a long way to Singapore.
Forever Odd
I need a new book.
last thing I read was palahniuk's "snuff"
At night I've been reading "The White Spider" the classic account of the first summit of the Eiger Nordwand by Heinrich Harrer and during the day at work I've been picking through "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlett off of Ron Paul's reading list.
Just finished the Twilight series (no comments from the peanut gallery, I LOVE vampires...) [clap]
Now reading Shantaram. Totally DIFFERENT and moving book. It's a narrative about an Australian convict that escapes and moves to India. It's quite beautiful and I'm about halfway through it. I highly recommend it. [thumbsup]
Your thread.
The back of my morning Mountain Dew can. :)
I had planned to read "House of Leaves" by Mark Danielewski (which I've had laying around for months) whilst unemployed, but other tasks came first and I'm back to work next week.....
I need to read more, I miss it.
The Black Company Series by Glen Cook. Very different and stripped down fantatsy.
Quote from: River on November 06, 2008, 09:31:10 PM
Just finished the Twilight series (no comments from the peanut gallery, I LOVE vampires...) [clap]
My girlfriend has read all four in the last week.
She expects me to see the movie with her.
I read the back of the book, and saw the preview -- fat make the beast with two backsing chance that is going to happen.
As for me --
Killing Mr. Waton by Peter Matthiessen. Some good `ole time Florida history.
In the middle of two different crappy books that I feel like I need to gut it through right now. The last good one I read was
Outrageous FortuneQuote from: wbeck257 on November 07, 2008, 05:37:51 AM
My girlfriend has read all four in the last week.
She expects me to see the movie with her.
I read the back of the book, and saw the preview -- fat make the beast with two backsing chance that is going to happen.
A bunch of female friends have read it. Asked if I wanted to borrow it to read. :-\ They're planning on getting dressed up for the movie. What is more pale - Trekkie or Twilightie?
Quote from: metallimonster on November 07, 2008, 05:24:26 AM
The Black Company Series by Glen Cook. Very different and stripped down fantatsy.
Very cool - also read
A Cruel Wind - chronicle of the Dread Empire
Quote from: River on November 06, 2008, 09:31:10 PM
snip - I LOVE vampires - snip
Christopher Moore -
Bloodsucking Fiends and
You Suck
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Adventures_of_Kavalier_and_Clay) by Michael Chabon
"Race and Culture", Thomas Sowell
I've got three others (not just Sowell) on deck, and about three more that I want to buy. There's no time for indulging in fiction.
Rereading On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Next will probably be a reread of a Kurt Vonnegut book
Warped Passages, Lisa Randall: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions
It's about: Supersymmetry, Standard Model observables, cosmological inflation, baryogenesis, grand unified theories, general relativity, and string theory.
Guns, Germs, and Steel, The Fates of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond
About: Human History- argues that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world. Societies that had a head start in food production advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage, and then developed writing, technology, government, and organized religionâ€"as well as nasty germs and potent weapons of war
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy , by John J. Mearsheimer (Author), Stephen M. Walt (Author)
About: "loose coalition of individuals and organizations who actively work to steer U.S. foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction." promotes "crimes perpetrated against the Palestinians" and also "hostility towards Syria and Iran" and is a primary cause for the United States to set aside its own security in order to advance the interests of another state [Israel]; and that U.S. Middle East policy has been driven primarily by domestic politics, especially the Israel Lobby.
LA
Quote from: bobspapa on November 06, 2008, 07:49:18 PM
Forever Odd
the Odd series is fun.... isn't he the one doing the modern Frankenstein too? I've started that series and it's cool too. Workin on The Fountain Head myself, read it before but my memory is swiss cheese about stuff from before I got sober, so it's almost new again. [cheeky]
"The Forge of God" By Greg Bear
Sci Fi about the destruction of earth.
Also reading the Bible.
"A Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander.
Quote from: LA on November 07, 2008, 11:29:15 AM
Warped Passages, Lisa Randall: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions
It's about: Supersymmetry, Standard Model observables, cosmological inflation, baryogenesis, grand unified theories, general relativity, and string theory.
Sounds phenominal! I'll have to check it out. You might be interested in
Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku--if you haven't already read it. It's about the relative possibility of the invention of things like time travel, psychokinesis, teleportation, etc.
Quote from: elTristo on November 07, 2008, 09:18:55 AM
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Adventures_of_Kavalier_and_Clay) by Michael Chabon
Slightly OT but Chabon, Frantzen and Wolfe were hilarious in that Simpsons episode!
Back on topic... Sacred Architecture Caroline Humphrey/Piers Vitebsky
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Good read, if not 100% perfect. It's more journalistic than historical in some parts, Shirer was a journo by trade so that is not a suprise. Some things are wrong, some things are legends, but the overall narrative is very comprehensive and sometimes utterly fascinating in the abject ridiculousness of politics surrounding the start of the war.
Quote from: NeufUnSix on November 07, 2008, 02:10:53 PM
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Good read, if not 100% perfect. It's more journalistic than historical in some parts, Shirer was a journo by trade so that is not a suprise. Some things are wrong, some things are legends, but the overall narrative is very comprehensive and sometimes utterly fascinating in the abject ridiculousness of politics surrounding the start of the war.
Ahhhh. Is this the inspiration behind the German artilary you've been building?
Just finished "Cooking for Kings: The Life of Antonin Careme, the First Celebrity Chef"
Quote from: NeufUnSix on November 07, 2008, 02:10:53 PM
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Good read, if not 100% perfect. It's more journalistic than historical in some parts, Shirer was a journo by trade so that is not a suprise. Some things are wrong, some things are legends, but the overall narrative is very comprehensive and sometimes utterly fascinating in the abject ridiculousness of politics surrounding the start of the war.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Since Shirer used literally tons of captured Nazi documents, I am curious to know what things you believe to be "wrong" or "legends".
The reliance on Nazi documents is problematic in itself; he often refers to apocryphal tales as well (sometimes he points it out, sometimes not). For instance, stories around Hitler's (usually created by Hitler) background.
Recently finished 'One Good Run - The Legend of Burt Munro'.
In the middle of 'Leanings' by Peter Egan.
Gotta get 'Top Dead Center' by Kevin Cameron.
Quote from: MendoDave on November 07, 2008, 12:15:32 PM
Also reading the Bible.
everybody dies at the end ;)
[laugh]
Donnie Brasco by Joe Pistone. I already read Unfinished Business, which was the second book by Pistone a former FBI agent who penetrated the Italian Mafia for six years and sunk a bunch of members. It's pretty cool to hear some of the etiquette of the mob and what they used to do. [thumbsup]
working on 'the brothers karamazov.'
after that i plan to tackle alberto moravia's 'boredom'.
Quote from: zarn02 on November 07, 2008, 07:45:56 PM
working on 'the brothers karamazov.'
After that's settled, track down a copy of David James Duncan's "The Brothers K" -- it's VERY loosely hung around Dostoyevsky's novel but sprawls all over the place from minor league baseball, the war in Vietnam, wood stoves, Indian culture (the Asian subcontinental kind) and Hindu mysticism, fishing in the Northwest, and (of course) the nature of families and brotherhood. A splendid book.
Quote from: DCXCV on November 07, 2008, 08:16:13 AM
Christopher Moore - Bloodsucking Fiends
Almost done with this one...was a good choice for my long flight. [thumbsup]
Quote from: LA on November 07, 2008, 11:29:15 AM
Guns, Germs, and Steel, The Fates of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond
About: Human History- argues that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world. Societies that had a head start in food production advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage, and then developed writing, technology, government, and organized religionâ€"as well as nasty germs and potent weapons of war
Never read it, but I have seen him give a lecture, definitely interesting theory.
(http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n43/n219824.jpg)
trying to get into something deeper than the usual lowbrow stuff ;D
Quote from: factorPlayer on November 09, 2008, 03:13:54 AM
(http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n43/n219824.jpg)
trying to get into something deeper than the usual lowbrow stuff ;D
[laugh]
awesome.
Just finished Three Cups of Tea (Mortenson and Relin).
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ (http://www.threecupsoftea.com/)
One of The most inspirational books i've ever read.
On to some Clavell next. Re-reading Whirlwind.
Quote from: msincredible on November 09, 2008, 01:19:09 AM
Almost done with this one...was a good choice for my long flight. [thumbsup]
I LOVE Christopher Moore's books. I started off reading "Lamb" and have now read all but the first 2 of his books. Great Stuff [thumbsup]
For random, thoughtless fiction I read Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels.
For some reason I enjoy a protagonist who doesn't really mind putting someone in pain.
Same reason I read Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp books.
I enjoy much of Dean Koontz's work, in particular Odd Thomas. When I got to the 'twist' at the end of the book, I literally threw it across the room. It took me 2 weeks to pick it up and finish it. Neither of the sequels have been as good.
He's been working on a modern Frankenstein's Monster trilogy, but its taking him a loooooooong time to come out with the 3rd book. I'm losing patience. >:(
My favorite piece of fiction of the last several years has got to be Max Brooks' "World War Z." After reading it, you'll want to get "The Zombie Survival Guide." Much more "informative," but not nearly as entertaining. Handy to have stacked on the back of the toilet.
Having raided the local used bookstore, I just finished a pair of Forsyth novels, "The Caine Mutiny," and I re-read "Ender's Game."
I'm currently working my way through "Jonathan Strage & Mister Norrell" by Susanna Clarke, which I found on the remainder shelf for $4. Hardcover.
QuoteIn the middle of 'Leanings' by Peter Egan.
Gotta get 'Top Dead Center' by Kevin Cameron.
I was happy to see that I'm not the only one with a piercing and uncompromising intellect I'm part way into TDC and Sport Bike Performance Handbook with Leanings next on the end table.
Just finished the first 11 books of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series. Ate 'em like candy. Sooooo much better than the TV series.
I'm about halfway through "Cyteen" by C.J.Cherryh. Not bad, but it took most of the first half to come together and get interesting.
Just finished up Kurt Vonnegut's Galapagos last night.
Damn his stuff can be depressing. McCarthy's The Road is more uplifting than a lot of Vonnegut.
Quote from: Obsessed? on November 09, 2008, 08:05:15 PM
I'm currently working my way through "Jonathan Strage & Mister Norrell" by Susanna Clarke, which I found on the remainder shelf for $4. Hardcover.
I liked that book. By the end I thoght it could have been about 100 pages less.
I am reading Long Way Round, Race to Dakar, The Wonder Crew-the untold story of a coach, navy rowing, and Olympic immortatilty, and a book of Barbara Jordan essays.
Quote from: Langanobob on November 09, 2008, 09:24:32 PM
I was happy to see that I'm not the only one with a piercing and uncompromising intellect I'm part way into TDC and Sport Bike Performance Handbook with Leanings next on the end table.
;D
Leaning is great for occupying small bits of free time, as it's a collection of short stories.
Fantastic writing.
I'm a bit concerned that TDC won't yield much I haven't already seen, as I don't usually miss reading that column in the magazine.
But it will be good having a big batch of it all in one spot.
Just finished Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh. Fantastic - deeply disturbing and incredibly hilarious at the same time. Much darker than the movie.
Quote from: Obsessed? on November 09, 2008, 08:05:15 PM
I enjoy much of Dean Koontz's work, in particular Odd Thomas. When I got to the 'twist' at the end of the book, I literally threw it across the room. It took me 2 weeks to pick it up and finish it. Neither of the sequels have been as good.
I was pissed. I called lm and told her.... "thats f'd up >:( " [laugh]
she cried when she read it.
reading the wheel of time...again
this will be the 12th time for book one, the 11th for book 2 and so on
all in hopes the final book comes out sometime in the next 18 months as that is how long it will take to read
I still can't keep track of all the characters
this may be what is wrong with me
[coffee]
Quote from: Mother on November 11, 2008, 04:15:01 AM
reading the wheel of time...again
Yet another series I gave up on quite a while ago.
I hope for your sake that last book comes out soon. ;)