What Are You Reading?

[Robxcarlson]

Try- "Child of God" by Cormac McCarthy- warning: it is a bit twisted.

I read this one this morning - it's super short and this was my second time. It's hard to feel sympathy for Lester Ballard.

Re-reading Blood Meridian now, and I'd like to pick up some other McCarthy books.

[AndrewWiggin]

Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik.

Love the Temeraire series.

[Mic360]

Just read "The Alchemist"

[blary54]

The Lost City of Z....its about Percy Fawcett the great amazon explorer that disappeared. Pretty interesting.

[Dennard]

The Lost Symbol- Dan Brown.

[SRock]

The Lost Symbol- Dan Brown.

If you really like it or really don't, either way, you should read one of the accompanying books that explains a bit more about where Dan Brown did well with his Masonic references and where he really missed the mark.

[ratcheer]

I have almost finished The Terror - whew, over 900 pages. Next up, I have asked my library to bring in Drood, also by Dan Jenkins.

Tim

[Dennard]

If you really like it or really don't, either way, you should read one of the accompanying books that explains a bit more about where Dan Brown did well with his Masonic references and where he really missed the mark.

Thanks, Rob. I'll probably do that. I know he has missed the mark on Christianity in just about all his books, so I don't doubt that this book is any different about the Masons.

[TulsaLhorn]

Just finished Terry Pratchett's Pyramids and have moved on to Guards!Guards!

I have to say Pyramids was a hard read.. I barely got through it. Hope this next one is better.

[redwing]

xrays - at work;

[hicksdm]

Just picked up 1776. Been so tied up with school that my reading has taken a hit. I have a long trip coming up so I am going totake advantage of the time.

[auk1124]

Still reading Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson. Thank God its an abridged version.

I can't decide whether Johnson was just an insufferable, egomaniacal a-hole and Boswell a fawning celebrity worshipper, or whether the stars aligned and a truly great mind befriended a truly great biographer.

Maybe the answer is somewhere in between.

[jtb]

Grapes of wrath for me now.

[funkyb]

working my way through all of tom clancy's books. reading rainbow six now, about 1/2 way through and loving it.

[dema]

Wrapping up Brams Dracula. I read the sequal recently written by his great grandson and decided to read the original.

I'm thinking of hitting Mary's Frankenstein next. I used to read some fantasy novels ( the Drizzt Series) but I've lost interest since I don't play Dungeons and Dragons anymore.

[Dennard]

The Varieties of Religious Experience- William James

[ratcheer]

I just finished The Terror by Dan Simmons. I enjoyed it, but it was very long and tedious. The ending was worth it, though. I thought Black Hills was much more enjoyable from start to finish.

Today, I got Drood by the same author. I will be starting on it, shortly.

Tim

[dklaiman]

I'm about 75 pages into "Tokyo Vice" by Jake Adelstein.

[Soulcraft]

Im always reading 3-4 books at the time. Currently:

History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
Homicides - One year on the killing streets by David Simon
The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land by Thomas Asbridge

and....

well...

some dirty secret...

The Last Symbol by Dan Brown

[BTJR99]

Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain

The Billionaire's Vinigar - Benjamin Wallace

Mousejunkies!: Tips, Tales, and Tricks for a Disney World Fix: All You Need to Know for a Perfect Vacation - Bill Burke

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom - Susan Veness

[cnnc97]

Finished The Glorious Cause by Jeff Shaara a couple of days ago.

Just started Duma Key by Stephen King.

[Not A Nice Person]

I'm working my way through North's Heathen Gods in Old English Literature, which is stellar, but I took a break for some trashy summer reads---Leonard's Road Dogs (sort of a sequel to Out of Sight) and Sigurdardottir's My Soul To Take, a murder mystery set in Iceland. Both quite good!

NANP™

[ShavedZombie]

I'm rereading, again, the entire works of Poe and HP Lovecraft....

I love Lovecraft's work

[kg4ghn]

I used to read some fantasy novels ( the Drizzt Series) but I've lost interest since I don't play Dungeons and Dragons anymore.

I have never played Dungeons and Dragons, and the Forgotten Realms series is all I have been reading for a little over a year now.

I have read all of the Drizzt books except for The Ghost King(just counted and that's 18 Drizzt books :001_cool:), the Sell Swords trilogy, the Elminister series, and about 10 other single books. I am running out of Forgotten Realms to read.

I am going to start reading some of R. A. Salvatore's other books once I finish the last couple I have now. I love his style of writing.

[jrodriguez]

Been reading a lot of Chaim Potok lately - right now I'm reading The Book of Lights.

[Legion]

Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse.

[SRock]

Thanks, Rob. I'll probably do that. I know he has missed the mark on Christianity in just about all his books, so I don't doubt that this book is any different about the Masons.

:thumbup1:


Finished The Glorious Cause by Jeff Shaara a couple of days ago.

Just started Duma Key by Stephen King.

King is quite possibly my favorite fiction author. :thumbup1:

[ratcheer]

Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse.

I read that about 40 years ago. I can't remember much about it, but I do remember that it influenced me. :thumbup1:

Tim

[ratcheer]

:thumbup1:



King is quite possibly my favorite fiction author. :thumbup1:

I have never read what many consider his greatest work, The Shining, because I thought the movie was terrible. Yesterday, reading a magazine in a doctor's office waiting room, I found out that King hated that movie, too. This gives me new hope and the book is now at the top of my list for the next thing to read.

Tim

[straight_razor_dave]

King James Version of The Holy Bible. You cant come any closer to life long wisdom and enduring knowledge.

[DanNYC]

My roommate handed me The Average American Male by Chad Kultgen a few days ago. Very quick read, but interesting take on the male mind when it comes to dating and marriage.

Not one of my favorites, but still a decent read.

[Soulcraft]

King James Version of The Holy Bible. You cant come any closer to life long wisdom and enduring knowledge.

May I recommend the New Revised Standard Version published by harpinCollins? It is a much much better translation.

[blary54]

Currently reading "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson.

http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279763000&sr=8-1

Pretty darn interesting.

[kwk285]

I just started Sideways. I really enjoy the movie and hope that the book is good.

[arghblech]

Mirrorshades : the cyberpunk anthology Edited by Bruce Sterling.

[bman40]

Watership Down by Richard Adams

[jbird1264]

Paul Bloom -- How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like
P.G. Wodehouse -- Young Men in Spats (I think I have about 90 books by Wodehouse left to read.)

[pantablo]

"Object To Be Destroyed, The Work of Gordon Matta-Clark". A wonderful artist from the 70's. the work is very architectural, which appeals to me.

For example:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1067/534850962_1d66c02625_o.jpg


Tonight I read "The Subway Mouse" by Barbara Reid [to my kids].:blush:
Very nicely illustrated with plasticine that is shaped and pressed onto illustration board. Acrylic paint, found objects, and other materials are also used for special effect.

[Johnny_Z]

Gates of Fire.

It's about the Spartan 300.

[straight_razor_dave]

May I recommend the New Revised Standard Version published by harpinCollins? It is a much much better translation.


Maybe but the King James is more true to what was originally translated. In the NIV's and NKJV's they re arrange alot of words and even add and take things out of it. Just my opinion though.

[SRock]

May I recommend the New Revised Standard Version published by harpinCollins? It is a much much better translation.

I don't know about a 'better' translation but easier to read for many.


Maybe but the King James is more true to what was originally translated. In the NIV's and NKJV's they re arrange alot of words and even add and take things out of it. Just my opinion though.

I agree but just like the wet shave world YMMV

[Confuzius]

Rudy Rucker - The Ware Tetralogy
http://www.rudyrucker.com/wares/
Software
Wetware
Freeware
Realware
Great cyberpunk books, available as free Creative Commons Licensed download.


It starts with Software, where rebel robots bring immortality to their human creator by eating his brain. Software won the first Philip K. Dick Award.

In Wetware, the robots decide to start building people —and people get strung out on an insane new drug called merge. This cyberpunk classic garnered a second Philip K. Dick award.

By Freeware, the robots have evolved into soft plastic slugs called moldies —and some human “cheeseballs” want to have sex with them. The action redoubles when aliens begin arriving in the form of cosmic rays.

And with Realware, the humans and robots reach a higher plateau.

I've finished the first two so far and just started the second, good stuff, I never would have thought that I could manage this much reading as just a PDF file, but it's not been bad at all, although it makes me think I need an e-book reader...

[patrisVII]

David Baldacci The Whole Truth and Deliver Us From Evil. A series with the same operative from a trans-national law enforcement agency. Not all that good. I picked them up because I enjoyed Baldacci's Camel Club series, but these new novels were a let down. The idea of media manipulation of truth in The Whole Truth was intriguing though




Maybe but the King James is more true to what was originally translated. In the NIV's and NKJV's they re arrange alot of words and even add and take things out of it. Just my opinion though.

The KJV was based on late, and even incomplete, Greek manuscripts. The main source was Erasmus' Greek New Testament compilation (actually Theodore Beza's revision of Erasmus' text). Erasmus did not have access to complete manuscripts for several books, most notably Revelation, and he transcribed the Latin Vulgate into Greek in these instances. We now have much earlier and fully complete Greek texts for all the books of the new testament. This is reflected in modern translations, including the New King James.

No modern translation adds words or phrases as such, but the English usage and translational approach will mean considerable difference in word count. The New American Standard Bible is the most direct, word for word, English translation available, and as a result, it does not offer the easiest or smoothest reading. Other translations (including the original Authorized Version or KJV) follow varying degrees of translational latitude to allow for readability without sacrificing fidelity to the original meaning and context.

Most modern translations remove the following from the direct text, but usually provide notational reference:

- a reference to the specific names, 'Father, Son and Holy Ghost' and the phrase 'these three are one' in 1 John 5:6 & 7. Only appears in a few later (800 AD Latin, 1200 AD Greek) manuscripts and is not in any citations by the Church Fathers or other ancient writers (similar phrasing to the trinity name in the context of 1 John does appear in Cyprian's De Catholicae Ecclesiae Unitate, but not as direct citation).

- Mark 16:9- 20. Absent from very early manuscripts (including Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, the most complete ancient manuscripts) and not cited by writers until 4th century. More debated among New Testament scholars than the 1 John Trinity reference as it is included in the vast majority of manuscripts. Some also argue from stylistic differences that it is an addition and not original.

There is no question that modern translations are based on more complete and better attested manuscript evidence than the KJV. Personal preference and theological points about specific English words and phraseology between translations are other matters entirely (indeed there were major theological controversies with the KJV at its time of publication - the Puritans wholly rejected it and retained the Geneva Bible English translation well into the 18th century)

[HokieGeek]

Just finished reading Perdido Street Station and Steven Brust's Dragon. Now reading Carl Sagan's Contact. :thumbup1:

[maskaggs]

A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
Star Wars: Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams
Britons by Linda Colley

[arghblech]

... $BIBLE_STUFF ...

If you are interested in translations and care to go exploring the New Testament, I recommend the J. B. Phillips translation aka The New Testament in Modern English. He wrote this in the late 50's and I found it a very interesting approach. The full text is legally available here (http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPNT.htm) and some background material and other possibly interesting tidbits here (http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPhillips.htm).

[wilsonent]

If you are interested in translations and care to go exploring the New Testament, I recommend the J. B. Phillips translation aka The New Testament in Modern English. He wrote this in the late 50's and I found it a very interesting approach. The full text is legally available here (http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPNT.htm) and some background material and other possibly interesting tidbits here (http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPhillips.htm).

Just last week I saw a truck with two bumper stickers.

One read "If it aint King James, it aint Bible".
The other read " The King James Bible, the only authorized Bible".

Some people feel very passionately about this subject. In fact, one person told my former pastor "The King James version was good enough for Paul, it's good enough for me"

Not worth getting worked up about if you ask me. I do love reading the King James version, just can't understand it very well.



In any event, I just started reading Lonesome Dove. Hard to read without hearing Robert Duval's voice, or Tommy Lee Jones' voice saying Gus' and Call's dialogue.


Jeff

[Chacho]

The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl. I've enjoyed his previous two books, they are literary mysteries that are meticulously researched.

[Robxcarlson]

If you are interested in translations and care to go exploring the New Testament, I recommend the J. B. Phillips translation aka The New Testament in Modern English. He wrote this in the late 50's and I found it a very interesting approach. The full text is legally available here (http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPNT.htm) and some background material and other possibly interesting tidbits here (http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPhillips.htm).

I never thought much about translations until I took a course on the Bible as Literature in my undergrad. One of the main points of that class was the spectrum of various translations and their strengths and weaknesses. This course introduced me to JB Phillips and I read his translations alongside the KJV and NIV. Reading the Phillips Bible did get me interested in his other works, too. He's written quite a few relatively short and helpful spiritual works.

[arghblech]

I never thought much about translations until I took a course on the Bible as Literature in my undergrad. One of the main points of that class was the spectrum of various translations and their strengths and weaknesses. This course introduced me to JB Phillips and I read his translations alongside the KJV and NIV. Reading the Phillips Bible did get me interested in his other works, too. He's written quite a few relatively short and helpful spiritual works.

His other writings fall well outside my interests but he made a very brave attempt to modernize this text. That takes a lot of nerve even discounting the size and scope of the translation. It's nice to hear that his audience isn't completely lost.

Anyway, not being interested in religion, I usually stay out of this but I thought Phillips could stand a mention.

[patrisVII]

If you are interested in translations and care to go exploring the New Testament, I recommend the J. B. Phillips translation aka The New Testament in Modern English. He wrote this in the late 50's and I found it a very interesting approach. The full text is legally available here (http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPNT.htm) and some background material and other possibly interesting tidbits here (http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPhillips.htm).

My personal favorite is the ESV. I do have a number of bibles though, including the single author translations; Moffat, Taylor's original Living Bible (as opposed to the NLT revision) and a very old copy of Rotherham. I am familiar with Phillips translation as well and I it like better then the ones on my shelf.

Committee translations, like the KJV, ESV, NASB and NIV tend to avoid paraphrasing as much as possible, which is the approach I agree with. Paraphrasing can easily put theological agenda ahead of fidelity to the original language (pretty apparent in Tayor's Living Bible, hence the revision to the NLT).

Greek, being nearly perfectly inflected, is a very compact written language. Translating Greek to English means greatly multiplied word counts (two or more words for nearly every noun and many verbs in a sentence). Paraphrasing usually ups the word count even more and destroys the ability to trace English words used to the Greek terms. As such, it leaves the reader to simply trust the translators ideas of what was being said.



Just last week I saw a truck with two bumper stickers.

One read "If it aint King James, it aint Bible".
The other read " The King James Bible, the only authorized Bible".

Some people feel very passionately about this subject. In fact, one person told my former pastor "The King James version was good enough for Paul, it's good enough for me"

Not worth getting worked up about if you ask me. I do love reading the King James version, just can't understand it very well.



In any event, I just started reading Lonesome Dove. Hard to read without hearing Robert Duval's voice, or Tommy Lee Jones' voice saying Gus' and Call's dialogue.


Jeff

I've known a few King James Only folks (a life long friend was falling into it, but our discussions let him see where the foundational premise is wrong). The discussion would always come down to the Trinity reference in 1 John 5:6-7 and that because of its elimination, modern translations deny the deity of Christ. Besides the obvious of having them look at John 1:1 in any modern translation, I respond with the following:

- the verse was never referenced in any of the ancient heresy debates regarding the nature of God or the divinity of Christ or the Holy Spirit. For example, Athanasius never used it in his refutation of Arius before, during or after the Council of Nicea.

- Erasmus left it out of his first two editions of the the Greek New Testament because the manuscripts he had did not contain it. He even consulted with Bombasius in Rome to see if the Vaticanus manuscript had it (which it does not). Public outcry forced him to include it in his third revision.

- as to the deity of Christ, read Romans 9:5. The KJV uses a confusing word order that makes Christ's deity at best ambiguous. Nearly every modern translation words the sentence as a clear declaration of Christ's Godhood (NASB renders it similar to the KJV)

I'd love to trace the history of KJV only-ism. It seems to be strictly American and not that old (of course modern version have only multiplied in the last 40 years or so).

[Dennard]

The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl. I've enjoyed his previous two books, they are literary mysteries that are meticulously researched.

Pearl is one of my favorite writers. I haven't read his latest one yet. I need to remember that next time I go to the library.

[ratcheer]

I am well into Drood, by Dan Simmons, now. It is also about Charles Dickens, although fictionalized. Still, it is thoroughly historically researched. Very interesting and exciting.

Tim

[mouscacha]

I've recently started reading again. I've started "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind. An oldy, but goody. Thank God for Kindle. Just too bad that the don't have the entire series on kindle...

[King of Kailua]

I'm reading Walter Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz (http://www.librarything.com/work/book/61834685).

A Quote:
"There were spaceships again in that century, and the ships were manned by fuzzy impossibilities that walked on two legs and sprouted tufts of hair in unlikely anatomical regions. They were a garrulous kind. They belonged to a race quite capable of admiring its own image in a mirror, and equally capable of cutting its own throat before the alter of some tribal god, such as the deity of Daily Shaving. It was a species which often considered itself to be, basically, a race of divinely inspired tool makers; any intelligent entity from Arcturus would instantly have perceived them to be, basically, a race of impassioned after-dinner speechmakers."

http://img.skitch.com/20100725-x28dgp2wnk761t4d9j3ykfjwtt.preview.jpg (http://skitch.com/mharing/dqns8/canticle)

[mouscacha]

I'm reading Walter Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz (http://www.librarything.com/work/book/61834685).

A Quote:
"There were spaceships again in that century, and the ships were manned by fuzzy impossibilities that walked on two legs and sprouted tufts of hair in unlikely anatomical regions. They were a garrulous kind. They belonged to a race quite capable of admiring its own image in a mirror, and equally capable of cutting its own throat before the alter of some tribal god, such as the deity of Daily Shaving. It was a species which often considered itself to be, basically, a race of divinely inspired tool makers; any intelligent entity from Arcturus would instantly have perceived them to be, basically, a race of impassioned after-dinner speechmakers."

http://img.skitch.com/20100725-x28dgp2wnk761t4d9j3ykfjwtt.preview.jpg (http://skitch.com/mharing/dqns8/canticle)

And how do you like it so far?

[King of Kailua]

And how do you like it so far?
:thumbup1:
I like it but I've been on a dystopic tip in lit. for a while. The text flows smoothly and I find myself easily engrossed in it's world. From what I've read of critique, Miller's other works haven't reached Canticle's benchmark, but I am really intrigued by his style of writing which describes a post deluge, threadbare, and worn out human world 300+ years after some kind of nuclear war holocaust. I am finishing up the first "book"; Fiat Homo (Let There Be Man) now. I can imagine this book really resonating with the western 1959 cold war audience to whom it was first presented. It hasn't lost anything in 51 years, at least to me for our world, and the way we treat it. I'm not Catholic, nor do I know Latin, but I think a SF fan who had studied Latin or is of an "orthodox" faith would like this book a lot.

I did find this study guide for Canticle (http://wsu.edu:8000/~brians/science_fiction/canticle.html) on the web if anyone is interested.

[devil24]

Daemon by Leinad Zeraus (Daniel Suarez), a high-tech thriller.

So far, so good :thumbup1:.

[breadstick]

I've recently started reading again. I've started "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind. An oldy, but goody. Thank God for Kindle. Just too bad that the don't have the entire series on kindle...

If you can find the books in another format, there is a free program named calibre that will convert any e-book format into one for your reader. It's easy to use and works for most readers on the market.

[Neuromancer]

Life Lessons of a Legend by Capt. Tony Tarracino & Brad Manard, and Sailing: The Basics by Dave Franzel

[DFrancis]

Just finished Terry Pratchett's Pyramids and have moved on to Guards!Guards!

I have to say Pyramids was a hard read.. I barely got through it. Hope this next one is better.

Guards! Guards! is good, Terry Pratchett gets better as he goes on, so I say stick with him, his stuff from the last ten years is outstanding.

On that note I have just finished Unseen Academicals :thumbup:

[mouscacha]

If you can find the books in another format, there is a free program named calibre that will convert any e-book format into one for your reader. It's easy to use and works for most readers on the market.

Thank you! I had no idea this would even be possible. I really enjoy reading on the iPad; much more than my kindle. Even with all the glare issues, it's just more comfortable. Especially since I can prop up the iPad in horizontal mode, lie down on my side, and read hands free!

--And I just found stone of tears in ebook! Thanks again!

[jmwebster]

Just got done with Pillars of the Earth (Really looking forward to this being a miniseries on Starz now!!) and World without End by Ken Follett.

Now reading some Homebrewing related books:
Brew Like a Monk by Stan Hieronymous
Radical Brewing by Randy Mosher

[hawkeye13]

I'm currently reading Shake hands with the Devil by Romeo Dallaire and I am shocked that it looks like there are only 2 posts out of 2800 from people who have read it. It is an amazing read and will more than likely shake your faith in the UN (if you ever had any). I don't think I will ever figure out how Kofi Annan became Secretary General after being involved in this. I have read extensively on history and military history from ancient times to modern day Iraq and have never found a book that so succinctly fits the saying "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". I guess more accurately it would be ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to have their hands tied by bureaucrats thousands of miles away’.

Of course this is just my 2 cents but I think it’s going to take quite a bit of reading before this isn't my top recommendation.

[lindcruiser]

I haven't read this yet, but if it's more twisted than some parts of The Road... then I will be suprised. The Road is one of the few books I have read non-stop, in one sitting.
I have a feeling you'll be surprised : )

[Dennard]

The Origin of Species- Darwin

[HokieGeek]

The Origin of Species- Darwin
nice! would love to read it sometime! :thumbup:

[kg4ghn]

"The Highwayman"

by R.A. Salvatore

[Deltaboy]

Nathan Bedford Forrest

http://www.amazon.com/First-Most-Nathan-Bedford-Forrest/dp/0914427725/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280452518&sr=1-11


NBF was a Big Bad MAN!

[Deltaboy]

My personal favorite is the ESV. I do have a number of bibles though, including the single author translations; Moffat, Taylor's original Living Bible (as opposed to the NLT revision) and a very old copy of Rotherham. I am familiar with Phillips translation as well and I it like better then the ones on my shelf.

Committee translations, like the KJV, ESV, NASB and NIV tend to avoid paraphrasing as much as possible, which is the approach I agree with. Paraphrasing can easily put theological agenda ahead of fidelity to the original language (pretty apparent in Tayor's Living Bible, hence the revision to the NLT).

Greek, being nearly perfectly inflected, is a very compact written language. Translating Greek to English means greatly multiplied word counts (two or more words for nearly every noun and many verbs in a sentence). Paraphrasing usually ups the word count even more and destroys the ability to trace English words used to the Greek terms. As such, it leaves the reader to simply trust the translators ideas of what was being said.




I've known a few King James Only folks (a life long friend was falling into it, but our discussions let him see where the foundational premise is wrong). The discussion would always come down to the Trinity reference in 1 John 5:6-7 and that because of its elimination, modern translations deny the deity of Christ. Besides the obvious of having them look at John 1:1 in any modern translation, I respond with the following:

- the verse was never referenced in any of the ancient heresy debates regarding the nature of God or the divinity of Christ or the Holy Spirit. For example, Athanasius never used it in his refutation of Arius before, during or after the Council of Nicea.

- Erasmus left it out of his first two editions of the the Greek New Testament because the manuscripts he had did not contain it. He even consulted with Bombasius in Rome to see if the Vaticanus manuscript had it (which it does not). Public outcry forced him to include it in his third revision.

- as to the deity of Christ, read Romans 9:5. The KJV uses a confusing word order that makes Christ's deity at best ambiguous. Nearly every modern translation words the sentence as a clear declaration of Christ's Godhood (NASB renders it similar to the KJV)

I'd love to trace the history of KJV only-ism. It seems to be strictly American and not that old (of course modern version have only multiplied in the last 40 years or so).

It is mostly found in the USA but you will find some in England and Down under that hold this narrow view.

All the KJV only folks I have meet have a pit bull mentality.

[mskembo]

I enjoy the musicality of the KJV, but am also a fan of strictly literal translations. What I really don't like are interpretive translations. I think re-forming the words of prophets and "interpreting" their writings instead of leaving them to speak for themselves is wrong.

Mike

[3am Shadow]

1 more for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
I read that and The Girl who Played with Fire.
Now I'm onto the last book.

Just read the lost city of z.
Interesting read.

A few sprinkling of graphic novels.. Batman of course.

[HokieGeek]

A few sprinkling of graphic novels.. Batman of course.

Which? I'm currently reading the second volume of knightfall.

[Confuzius]

I just finished Cell by Stephen King, in which a mysterious "Pulse" sent out over cell networks turned anyone using a cell phone into a murderous zombie. It was a pretty fun read.

[HokieGeek]

I just finished Cell by Stephen King, in which a mysterious "Pulse" sent out over cell networks turned anyone using a cell phone into a murderous zombie. It was a pretty fun read.

I'm not usually a King fan, but I really enjoyed Cell. :thumbup1:

[Confuzius]

It was actually my first foray into zombie lit, I still need to check out at least WWZ.

[DFrancis]

Fool by Christopher Moore, a very dirty version of King Lear.

[HokieGeek]

I still need to check out at least WWZ.
Yes! Yes you do! :w00t:

[Taz94]

Grudem's Systematic Theology

[73mountaineer]

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

- Steve :001_cool:

[chickpea]

Just read the lost city of z.
Interesting read.



Just started reading that last night and I am already close to a third of the way through. Great read so far.

[patrisVII]

It was actually my first foray into zombie lit, I still need to check out at least WWZ.


I found WWZ really disappointing - just not that entertaining and not well written.

[ratcheer]

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

- Steve :001_cool:

Great book. It scared the bejezus out of me, because it describes horrible things that have real possibilities. I literally worried for weeks after reading it.

Tim

[patrisVII]

I enjoy the musicality of the KJV, but am also a fan of strictly literal translations. What I really don't like are interpretive translations. I think re-forming the words of prophets and "interpreting" their writings instead of leaving them to speak for themselves is wrong.

Mike

Actually the KJV is a very literal translation - besides the archaic words, the other real difficulty modern readers have the KJV is its adherence to the Greek syntax.

You're probably familiar with this info, but for the benefit of interested folks who may not be -

Modern literal translations:

NKJV - based on the same, less robust, manuscript tradition as the original KJV, but includes notes that cover textual variants and readings from the older manuscripts. Very literal and I find it excellent for in-depth study

NASB - Revision of ASV, itself an Americanization of the ERV, the first major translation utilizing the Masoretic Hebrew text and Wescott & Hort's Greek text which emphasized the more ancient manuscripts. Even tighter with Greek syntax than the KJV/NKJV, this is probably the best bible for in-depth study, but not well suited for quick reading.

RSV - advertised as a revision of the ASV/ERV, but used the Nestle-Aland Greek text - sits at the outside limits of literal translation with renderings much freer then the ASV. Also heavily criticized for its decision to ignore the New Testament interpretations of the Old Testsment in the translation of the Hebrew ('young woman' instead of 'virgin' in Issiah 7:14, among others) and for confusing renderings of Greek words in many areas (using 'body' for the traditional 'flesh' gives an impression of the gnostic rejection of the material body as evil for example).

ESV - most recent new translation. A revision of the RSV, with an eye to restoring consistent Greek usage and translating the Old Testament in light of the New Testament's treatment of it. Very readable, if not quite as literal as the NKJV or NASB - my everyday bible.


Free translations ( 'Dynamic Equivalent', etc - aimed at rendering with common English wording and syntax, while avoiding of full paraphrase):

NIV- totally new translation (not a revision of previous English translations) - Not my favorite, but probably still the most popular English bible.

Goodspeed- Single author. Goodspeed was a traditional Protestant liberal and hence he was quick to say he did not believe the overtly supernatural aspects of the bible and he doubted much of the traditional claims to New testament authorship. None of this really shows up as bias in his text however, the result being a fairly accurate, though a bit highbrow, readable book.

JB Phillips: Single author. Borderline paraphrase, but with no overt theological bias. Has some idiosyncratic word usage (like 'Christian' for 'saints;) and he abridges the text in what appears to be an arbitrary fashion.

EDIT: NET Bible (http://net.bible.org/home.php) My wife reminded me of this bible. A new, on-line only translation (the NET acronym is a deliberate play on words New English Translation and net, as in www). Produced mainly by Dallas Seminary folks with Dan Wallace at the helm. Similar in approach to the NIV with its own set of idiosyncrasies. However, it is a tremendous research resource - Type in a search on a book, chapter or verse and up pops a page with tabs that cover the passage in the KJV, the original language (the transliterations are a bit odd, but consistent), cross references, all the proper names that appear and more articles than you could possibly read. One heck of a lot of work went into this site!


Paraphrases:

Living Bible: Ken Taylor's (founder of Tyndale House publishing) rewriting of the ASV in low grade level American English. Taylor had no training in original languages, with the result of serious misinterpretation in many areas. Modern American semi-Pelagian theological bias jumps out in key passages like Acts 4:27-28, 13:48 and Romans 8:28-29. Despite being heavily promoted by Billy Graham, the criticism of these weak points drove a committee based rewrite, published as the New Living Translation in 1995.

Amplified Bible: Modern, lower grade level rewrite of the ASV with explanatory expansions, parenthetical statements and alternate readings included in the text, as opposed to foot notes. I find it nearly impossible to read.

[Dennard]

nice! would love to read it sometime! :thumbup:

It's an interesting read. It took me a while to get used to the way the book is written. I'm not a scientist by education, and the first chapter was the toughest so far to understand. But I figured it was time to read this classic.

[breadstick]

I loved WWZ. I thought it was very entertaining and well written. It's like reading a documentary the way it's written. There is a movie of the book in the works starring Brad Pitt. I hope they don't screw it up.

I am, however, biased to all things zombie. I have been a fan of zombie books and films since I was a kid. I think if I weren't, though, I would still really enjoy the book.

[patrisVII]

I loved WWZ. I thought it was very entertaining and well written. It's like reading a documentary the way it's written. There is a movie of the book in the works starring Brad Pitt. I hope they don't screw it up.

I am, however, biased to all things zombie. I have been a fan of zombie books and films since I was a kid. I think if I weren't, though, I would still really enjoy the book.

I did like the approach, just not the execution. I liked many aspects of the book, like the failed tactics of conventional war and the planned sacrifice of whole communities, but the writing seemed stilted to me and I found it a bit of a struggle to stay interested. This was the first and only Zombie novel I have read, but I really enjoy the better zombie movies (original DOTD, 28 Days Later, Last Man on Earth).

I just finished Readings in the Classical Historians by Mike Grant. Nice sampling of the ancient historians with useful introductions and commentary by Grant. Covers the familiar (well, relatively speaking) like Herodotus, Suetonius and Tacitus to the more obscure like Sallust and Appian. Also includes the Church historians Luke and Eusebius. Whetted my appetite for more direct reading of some of these fellows.

[Bullwinkle]

since I took up smoking a pipe and cutting back on cigars.. I'm reading a collection of Shelock Holmes

[HokieGeek]

Ok, so I gave up on reading Contact. It got tedious. I am now reading Elizabeth Bear's Carnival. It feels pretty comfortable, so far.

[jazzman]

The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, by Nathaniel Philbrick. A great story told with an exciting style.

[breadstick]

Just finished Under The Dome by Stephen King. Starting A Farewell To Arms Today

[whybenormal]

What book or books are you reading right now? What are you finding stimulating? What would you recommend to others?

Currently reading Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_Search_for_Meaning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logotherapy

HIGHLY recommended to anybody.

[SpyvSpy]

Just finished The mark of the assassin by Daniel Silva and now reading his book Deceptor.

[xillion]

Ship Breaker by: Paolo Bacigalupi

[arghblech]

Crystal Express a collection of short stories by Bruce Sterling. I'm undecided as to whether this is relevant to my interests. I only picked this up because Sterling is one of the cyberpunk authors I haven't read much of.

[patrisVII]

About half way through Jevon's Elementary Lessons in Logic. Much more absorb-able than Issac Watt's Right Use of Reason - Jevon's book is the better overview of classical logic.

[Soulcraft]

Currently reading Bone vol.3. So good.

[Chisanga]

No Crystal Stair by Theodore Kornweibel

[honed]

Just finished "A portrait of the artist as a young dog" by Dylan Thomas.
Marvellous book, funny & still a lot of food for thought!

[Dennard]

Poetics and Rhetoric- Aristotle.

[ratcheer]

I have started my fourth book by Dan Simmons, Ilium. While the first three I read were excellent historical fiction (Black Hills, The Terror, and Drood) with elements of the supernatural, Ilium is more of a straight science fiction fantasy. It is good as far as it goes, but I just do not enjoy these types of things as much.

Tim

[maxman]

The Girl Who Kicked a Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson.

A good series actually. It takes a while to get into it though.

[auk1124]

Ghost Story by Peter Straub, an oldie from a local used book store. Slow, grinding start, picked up speed about halfway through, last few chapters were pretty good, inconsequential ending. Straub's writing has always been dissatisfying to me, somehow. For throwaway horror novels Stephen King and Dean Koontz have been safer bets for me.

With that said, I also just finished Blockade Billy by Stephen King. Fifteen dollars for two short stories that can be read in less than two hours, and neither of them were very good. A complete rip-off. Wasn't worth two bucks, let alone fifteen. King is no longer a safe bet and my trust in him is slipping.

[M80]

scored a copy of Seas, maps, and men; an atlas-history of man's exploration of the oceans today.

heres a digitized online version in case anyone wants to take a look:
http://www.archive.org/stream/seasmapsmenatlas00deac#page/12/mode/2up

[Shave Cave Dweller]

Just finished 'Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett second read. Ready to crack open 'World without end' first time. Long warm summer days require long books!

[VonMises1881]

Various writings of Plutarch and A Long, long way by Sebastian Barry, recommended by a dying Christopher Hitches.

[Oglethorpe]

I'm about half way through World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War.

Really fun read!

[hypnoz]

"Wealth of Nations" - Adam Smith
"A Conflict of Visions - Ideological Origins of Political Struggles" - Thomas Sowell

Both are fantastic so far. I'm about halfway through each of them.

[auk1124]

Absolute Power by David Baldacci. Not my favorite thriller writer but this one is pretty good - better than the movie.

[AlanL]

The Idiot (http://www.amazon.com/Idiot-Fyodor-Dostoevsky/dp/0375702245) by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky; Everyman edition (http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/classics/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375413926).

[cnnc97]

Just finished Under The Dome by Stephen King. Starting A Farewell To Arms Today

Did you like Under the Dome?

If you did, you should check out Duma Key, I just finished it yesterday.

I started Rose Madder last night.

[King of Kailua]

Starting Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said (http://www.librarything.com/work/book/61833478) by Philip K. Dick. I've got just a couple days left before school and teaching take me back into it's clutch. PKD take me away!
http://img.skitch.com/20100817-djsed96n39ty5mkrmd3cqdc7k3.preview.jpg (http://skitch.com/mharing/d1chk/flow-my-tears-the-policeman-said-cover)

[raserman]

Just finished reading The Arc of the Medicine Line by Tony Rees. The book is an excellent historical chronicle about the U.S., British and Canadian establishment of the U.S./Canada 49th parallel: from Lake of the Woods, MN to Northwest Roky Mtns, MT in
1873-74.

[cnnc97]

Just finished reading The Arc of the Medicine Line by Tony Rees. The book is an excellent historical chronicle about the U.S., British and Canadian establishment of the U.S./Canada 49th parallel: from Lake of the Woods, MN to Northwest Roky Mtns, MT in
1873-74.

I might have to check that out, it sounds interesting. Especially since I've been to the NW Angle where you are surrounded by Lake of the Woods and Canada. You have to call the border patrol from a little shack to check in when you get back to MN from Canada. We also had to call Canada every morning to tell them we were going to fish in Ontario waters and were getting there by boat.

[scottb]

Try- "Child of God" by Cormac McCarthy- warning: it is a bit twisted.

just finished. Yowza.

[RF1963]

Just started Rubicon, The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland. I've been dipping into it for research for an extra mural Uni paper but it's well written so thought I'd read it for pleasure too.

[Tripnastic]

"Papa Hemingway" by Hotchner. Pretty good so far. It's less of a traditional bio and more of what it was like to hang out with Hemingway through the years.

[ratcheer]

I just finished Ilium by Dan Simmons. After a slow and weird start, it was excellent. Possibly one of the best sci fi books I have ever read.

Now, I am starting The Shining by Stephen King. I never read it before, because I thought the movie sucked. When I read that King didn't like the movie either, I thought maybe I should give the book a try.

I have also ordered Olympos by Dan Simmons at my library. It is the sequel to Ilium.

Tim

[poirot]

I've been reading a lot of John Steinbeck recently. I just finished Of Mice and Men, and I thought it was great. It cut out all the bullshit and hit me straight with morals. Now I'm in the middle of The Pearl. Up next is East of Eden.

[SRock]

Just picked this up:

http://www.horrorbid.com/images/blog/669.gif

Anyone read it yet? Thoughts/Opinions?

[toes]

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

[arghblech]

Currently switching between The fantastic stories of Cornell Woolrich and Ladies and gentlemen, the Bible! by Jonathan Goldstein.

[Neuromancer]

PRIVATE by James Patterson, and Sailing For Dummies by J.J. & Peter Isler...

[wilsonent]

Just finished Lonesome Dove. Great book.


Starting Mount Dragon. (Lincoln and Child)


Jeff

[SlowRain]

I was hoping there was a thread like this on here.

I just finished Hollywood by Gore Vidal last night. I like his others that I've read better: Burr, Lincoln, and Empire. Hollywood was a little uneven because of the crossover between politics and movies, and the character he used to bridge the two didn't work for me. It also lacked a great deal of the wit that I've come to expect from Vidal.

Now reading Red Gold by Alan Furst, who is one of my favorite writers and whom I imagine would appeal to a lot of members on this particular discussion forum.

[xillion]

The Man in the High Castle by PKD

[kadett]

Hegemony or Survival by Noam Chomsky

[ratcheer]

Just finished Lonesome Dove. Great book.



+1

Have you read the other books in the series? Streets of Laredo, Dead Man's Walk, and Commanche Moon - they are all excellent.

Tim

[Hairy Callahan]

Doing a fast re-read of Blood Work by Michael Connelly. Seen the movie the other day on cable and been thinking about the book ever since, so I dug it up and, well, it's like being with old friends.

Listening to Carl Haissen's new novel on audiobook. Star Island. Kind of funny but I don't see him ever topping Skinny Dip. That novel his rip-roaringly funny. I was at the airport when that novel was just hitting paperback. Of course, I had (long before) already read it. Some dude was sitting with his wife reading a newly purchased copy of it. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, waiting for him to start splitting a gut with laughter. He must have been a judge or something. He never cracked a smile. I couldn't believe it. That novel had me in stitches.

Getting ready to make the long commitment to listen to Spandau Phoenix on audiobook. I've heard great things about that book and I've tried to read the pulp version but it just seems to get put down at every opportunity. So I'm gonna give it a try on audio.

[mdevine]

Just finished "The Road" and starting "The Prefect" by Alastair Reynolds.

[mdevine]

I just finished Ilium by Dan Simmons. After a slow and weird start, it was excellent. Possibly one of the best sci fi books I have ever read.

Now, I am starting The Shining by Stephen King. I never read it before, because I thought the movie sucked. When I read that King didn't like the movie either, I thought maybe I should give the book a try.

I have also ordered Olympos by Dan Simmons at my library. It is the sequel to Ilium.

Tim

If you enjoyed "The Ilium" you will really like "Olympos". Simmons is one of my favorite authors. If you haven't read the Hyperion/ Endymion series yet, you have some great reading to look forward to.

[thunderball]

The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.

[kwk285]

I just finished Dirt by Stuart Woods. His books are like James Bond movies. You know how they will play out but enjoy them just the same.

[Duncanh48]

I'm about a third of the way through George Pelecanos' "The Night Gardener", so far so good!

[SlowRain]

I'm about a third of the way through George Pelecanos' "The Night Gardener", so far so good!
I'm curious about that one. Let me know what you thought of it when you've finished it.

[wilsonent]

+1

Have you read the other books in the series? Streets of Laredo, Dead Man's Walk, and Commanche Moon - they are all excellent.

Tim

Haven't read any of the others, nor have I seen any of the other movies. Which one should I read next?...Commanche Moon?

[funkyb]

The Bear and the Dragon - Tom Clancy

[patrisVII]

http://www.richardsonsbooks.com/shop_image/product/9780553213508.jpg


One of the all time great stories!

Much less compact literary style and much more complex plotting than modern novels, but one helluva tale that really puts you inside Edmond's skin!

[ratcheer]

Haven't read any of the others, nor have I seen any of the other movies. Which one should I read next?...Commanche Moon?

No, I listed them in the proper order. Note that they are not in fictional time sequence, but in order of writing/publication.

So, Streets of Laredo should be next, which is the ending of the fictional time sequence.

Tim

[Duncanh48]

I'm curious about that one. Let me know what you thought of it when you've finished it.

Will do, it's been a good read so far with some interesting similarities to characters/storylines from the Wire.

[luvmysuper]

The complete works of H.G. Wells

[SlowRain]

Will do, it's been a good read so far with some interesting similarities to characters/storylines from the Wire.
Interesting comment. George Pelecanos wrote a few episodes of The Wire. I haven't read anything by him, nor seen that show, but I'm getting curious.

[arghblech]

Interesting comment. George Pelecanos wrote a few episodes of The Wire. I haven't read anything by him, nor seen that show, but I'm getting curious.

I grabbed one of his based on his work on the wire. I wasn't impressed. It was linear and simple... read more like a screenplay than a novel. YMMV and maybe I just got a lousy book.

[Dennard]

The Meaning of Relativity- Albert Einstein.

[Leche]

One of the all time great stories!

Much less compact literary style and much more complex plotting than modern novels, but one helluva tale that really puts you inside Edmond's skin!

Such an excellent novel. The plot and the characters are wonderful.

Currently I'm reading the second book of David Baldacci's Camel Club books, The Collectors. If you like conspiracy theory and intelligence gathering this is a good series.

[surfreak]

Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan -- about halfway through The Path of Daggers.

Also, I just finished re-reading the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. Highly recommended to any fantasy nutcases -- er, nuts -- like myself. I've "started" Warbreaker (the ebook version) by Sanderson a few times, but I'm going to have to get a hard copy. There's nothing quite like an ink-and-paer book.

[noahpictures]

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

Stopped after 200 pages. Way too much exposition and running dialogue. Can you say Editor wanted? Book needed to be 300 pages maximum.

100 pages into Hitch-22 so far so good.

[xillion]

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

[Robxcarlson]

Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf

[Ride4TheBrand]

When Trumpets Call
Theodore Roosevelt after the White House

By Patricia O'Toole

[patrisVII]

Currently I'm reading the second book of David Baldacci's Camel Club books, The Collectors. If you like conspiracy theory and intelligence gathering this is a good series.


You will enjoy the rest of the series I'm sure - each book was better than the previous (given that it's all pure escapist stuff with wildly improbable events constantly surrounding Oliver Stone). I will give you the spoiler that the Kung Fu CIA mystery man from The Camel club does not reappear in any of the subsequent novels (though there is a fifth due out later this year).

I've not really enjoyed Baldacci's other stuff though.

[SeattleSparky]

Buddy finished it this weekend camping and handed it to me. The cover seemed very off putting, but so far a good read!!:001_cool:

[RSC]

The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas.


One of the all time great stories!

Much less compact literary style and much more complex plotting than modern novels, but one helluva tale that really puts you inside Edmond's skin!

+1

I'm about half way through an unabridged version. A free version is available , but I'm reading the Kindle Penguin Classics eBook version, which gives me footnotes and a newer and probably more accurate translation.

[saltypete]

The Noam Chomsky Reader, Heavy going but interesting,

Pete

[1LT]

Just started Hemingway - For Whom the Bell Tolls

[kg4ghn]

R. A. Salvatore's Spearwielder Trilogy.

A trilogy about a normal man in our world sucked into a fantasy world and sent on a quest with an Elf, a Dwarf, and a leprechaun. This trilogy is Salvatore's tribute to Tolkien.

[surfreak]

R. A. Salvatore's Spearwielder Trilogy.

A trilogy about a normal man in our world sucked into a fantasy world and sent on a quest with an Elf, a Dwarf, and a leprechaun. This trilogy is Salvatore's tribute to Tolkien.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa... I thought I had every Salvatore book in print. Dammit! Have you read any of his other works?

[innerlogic]

David Mitchell - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

[ratcheer]

Olympos by Dan Simmons

Tim

[Neuromancer]

Sailing For Dummies by Peter & JJ Isler and Rain And Other South Sea Stories by W. Somerset Maugham

[krawlx]

I'm into The Ancient Garden by Hwang Sok-Yong. It's a really depressing story about a political prisoner under the dictatorships in Korea, his capture and subsequent return to a much more modern country after 18 years in the clink. It's perfect for the rainy season, and especially interesting as much of the action takes place in neighborhoods near where I live.

[honed]

"Coming up for air" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_Up_for_Air) by George Orwell

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

I'm about a 1/4 way through a classic...Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

Christopher :badger:

[infotech]

Coyotes: A Journey Across Borders With America's Illegal Migrants by Ted Conover

This was a really good book. It was published back in 1987 with the journey tacking place around 1984-85. It really brings to light the differences between illegal immigration of the 20th century and today. I suspect it would be life threatening for an author to try the same thing today, especially considering recent news.

[beginish]

A couple of years ago, I picked up the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (each a trilogy) to re-read what I last read in the 80's. I put "The One Tree" (second book in the second trilogy) down about 2 years ago, and just picked it up again.

[NBT]

The Monks Of New Skete..... The Art of Raising a Puppy, and How to Be Your Dogs Best Friend.
Getting ready to train a new member of the family in a few months...we have any Rottie Breeders on the forum?

[baazjg]

Just finished War by Sebastian Junger. Highly recommend.

Next up is Johnstown Flood by David McCullough.

[matt711]

I just read all the Robert B. Parker "Jesse Stone" series last month. I am now working on the Robert Crais "Elvis Cole" series. So far this year I finished off everything from Randy Wayne White (Florida author that reminds me of home) and James W. Hall.

None of them are educational but all of them have been great entertainment.

-Matt

[Beardo]

Robert Fagles' translation of The Aeneid.

If you haven't read his translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey, I urge you to drop everything and go get a copy of them, they are marvelous. Unlike most translations of Homer and Virgil which seem to be translated in such a way as they really only go down well if read, Fagles does a good job of translating them so that they work equally well when spoken. Given that at least in the case of Homer, these poems were originally enjoyed this way, it makes a wonderful change of pace to the prosey translations that I read growing up.

[Greglam]

"Christ and Apollo: The Dimensions of Literary Imagination" by William Lynch

"Eschatology" by Josephy Ratzinger

"Transformation in Christ" by Dietrich von Hildebrand

"Nichomachean Ethics" by Aristotle

[Sami_Sdata]

A couple of years ago, I picked up the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (each a trilogy) to re-read what I last read in the 80's. I put "The One Tree" (second book in the second trilogy) down about 2 years ago, and just picked it up again.

I read the first trilogy many years ago as well. It was one of those stories that really sucked me into the action. The depressing themes of the stories put me in such a bad mood while reading them that my wife says reading them again might shorten my life expectancy. Maybe some time when she's out of town for a few days I'll re-read them and see if they still effect me so strongly.

[Ray-man]

From Eternity to Here by Sean Carroll

The Search by Nora Roberts

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

All on my new Nook!


Ray

[Alacrity59]

Stephen Booth "Lost River".

[jazzman]

Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides. The story of the U.S.'s conquest of the southwest, focusing on Kit Carson and the Navajos. This may sound kind of preachy, but I think every American should read it.

[BladeRunner001]

Some of the posts on B&B:lol:

[slutzinc]

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacbos. Just started on it yesterday, but it's hilarious from page one of his introduction. This will certainly help shorten my 8-hour car ride up north to my hometown.

[hitemfrank]

Started reading 'The Proud Highway' last night. I like what I've read so far but will be putting it back down for a while. I only started reading TPH as I couldn't find Hunter S.Thompson's 'The Gonzo Papers Anthology' (The Great Shark Hunt / Generation of Swine / Songs of the Doomed) when I was leaving for the emergency room last night. I really didn't get much reading done in the 7 hours I was there though which was disappointing.

I found the anthology soon after getting home so I will continue reading Generation of Swine before going back to TPH. Having said that I may go straight onto Songs of the Doomed, depending on my mood, after finishing Generation of Swine.

[breadstick]

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacbos. Just started on it yesterday, but it's hilarious from page one of his introduction. This will certainly help shorten my 8-hour car ride up north to my hometown.

That book was hilarious. I need to get the rest of his books.

[Barbarian]

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams.

[Deuce22]

I have a long list of books to read...

I just finished "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Lutrell.

I am currently reading "One Bullet Away" by Nathaniel Fick - Officer from Generation Kill

Next up will probably be "Fiasco" and "The Gamble" by Thomas Ricks

If you haven't figured it out, I have a thirst for knowledge about our current conflicts. All very good reading...

[HokieGeek]

For Whom The Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway

[Slowhand]

Current - "One Second After" & "Ben Hogan's Five Lessons"
On Deck - "The Paleo Diet"
After that - "Prodigal God"

[noahpictures]

"Mindset" and "Hitch-22"

[Dennard]

Candide- Voltaire

[skembomatt]

Just picked up Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters 10 secrets every father should know. By. Meg Meeker, M.D.

[DE Shaver]

Just cracked open Iain Banks novel, The Wasp Factory.

[auk1124]

Three Days to Never by Tim Powers.

[Edcculus]

Just started Atlas Shrugged. I'll report back on how I liked it in 5 years! :lol:

[kg4ghn]

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa... I thought I had every Salvatore book in print. Dammit! Have you read any of his other works?

Yes he is my favorite author. A very quick count puts me at 31 of his books.

[patrisVII]

Just started Atlas Shrugged. I'll report back on how I liked it in 5 years! :lol:


I didn't like it myself. Though I largely agree with its political viewpoint, it is didactic and preachy and very undramatic considering its plot and the background of its author as a screenwriter.

I had the exact same reaction to Michael Crichton's 'State of Fear'. Though I agreed 100% with his perspective that environmentalism, with its global warming apologetic, constitutes a religion seeking to control the lives of all human beings, the novel itself was nigh unreadable.

L. Neil Smith stuffed all the libertarian talking points into his novels and still kept them more or less fun to read. Robert Heinlein did it even better in his best works. And The Lord of The Rings conceptualizes freedom better than nearly any other work of fiction without ever trying to disguise a lecture on policy as dialogue.

[SalvadorMontenegro]

I HATED Atlas Shrugged. HATED it. It is so unbelievably arrogant. I was openly rooting for Howard Rourke to fail miserably. The philosophy is fine, but as patris said, it is exceedingly preachy and, as I said, arrogant.

I'm finally going to finish Lost Illusions by Honore de Balzac! I've been reading it since before Christmas! I've finished a lot of other books in this time and had put this one off. It's all right. There are parts that wonderful and other parts that aren't. Balzac is meticulous and feels compelled to explain every minute detail with precision, so that the reader is given a thorough description of things like the judicial system in early 19th century France. Holy crap, I don't care. I'm reading a novel here. I want to be entertained. And if I'm going to be educated, I want to be educated about something relevant to my life. Yes, I'm talking to a dead man on a message board!

[xillion]

Zero History by William Gibson

[patrisVII]

I HATED Atlas Shrugged. HATED it. It is so unbelievably arrogant. I was openly rooting for Howard Rourke to fail miserably. The philosophy is fine, but as patris said, it is exceedingly preachy and, as I said, arrogant.



I think you're referring to The Fountainhead - that's the book with the architect Howard Roark as the main character. John Galt and Dagny Taggart take Roark's place as political-philosophers-in-residence in Atlas Shrugged. The Fountainhead was more readable than Atlas IMO, but still not a good book by any stretch. The movie with Gary Cooper was much more enjoyable (Rand wrote the screenplay).

[The Seeker]

http://imgur.com/MCXnA.jpg

[Snipersnest]

Just finished re-reading "Term Limits".

[AACJ]

I am not a reader but I saw the movie about Rush and heard about the book Neil Peart wrote about his travels after his daughter and wife died.

Ghost Rider.

[jsrdrnr]

90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

[patrisVII]

http://imgur.com/MCXnA.jpg

Deadliest Warrior show has the Green Berets losing to Spetnaz and the SEALS losing to the Israeli Sayeret.

After all, when Faramir/the-300-voice-over-dude dramatically tells me an Apache can beat a Gladiator or Jesse James' boys can whip Al Capone's capos, who am I to question it?

[Edcculus]

I'm also preparing for my honeymoon cruise by reading David Foster Wallace's essay "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again". Also called "Shipping Out (http://harpers.org/media/pdf/dfw/HarpersMagazine-1996-01-0007859.pdf)" as it originally appeared in Harper Magazine.

[pelicano]

Re-reading "Au Rebours" (Against Nature) by J.K. Huysmans for the third time.

My avatar is the cover for the latest Penguin edition.

[patrisVII]

Book of Romans with Charles Hodge's and Martin Luther's commentaries.

[breadstick]

The Lemony Snickets series. I loved the movie and they books are written the same way. Very entertaining.

[PlayerPiano]

The Lemony Snickets series. I loved the movie and they books are written the same way. Very entertaining.

HUGE fan, very quirky.

[auk1124]

The Blue Edge of Midnight by Jonathon King. Pretty typical mystery thriller for current times: heavy on character development and setting details, so-so on plot. All in all an entertaining read though and I will look for more of his books.

[rtaylor61]

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Finally.

Randy

[Legion]

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner.

It's really interesting. Recommended. :thumbup1:

[patrisVII]

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner.

It's really interesting. Recommended. :thumbup1:

Very fun read and I guarantee you won't leave it without strong opinions on the authors' choice of subject matter and their conclusions.

[SalvadorMontenegro]

I think you're referring to The Fountainhead - that's the book with the architect Howard Roark as the main character. John Galt and Dagny Taggart take Roark's place as political-philosophers-in-residence in Atlas Shrugged. The Fountainhead was more readable than Atlas IMO, but still not a good book by any stretch. The movie with Gary Cooper was much more enjoyable (Rand wrote the screenplay).

Oh yeah. You're right. I think that says a lot about how much I liked the book!

I'm about to begin Autumn of the Patriarch by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. My third book by him. I wasn't wild about 100 Years of Solitude, but loved Love in the Time of Cholera.

[David in Boston]

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner.

It's really interesting. Recommended. :thumbup1:

Great Book!:thumbup1:

[paratrooper]

Reading two right now, actually:

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
Guests of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden

[auk1124]

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey

Good book. Makes me want to float down a river with a pipe and a pouch of Prince Albert.

[ratcheer]

The Book of Murdock by Loren Estleman.

Tim

[Epicurean]

Maxims and Reflections of a Renaissance Statesman
by Francesco Guiciardini
Translated by Mario Domandi

Guiciardini was a friend and contemporary of Machiavelli. This book is a series of thoughts and advice that Guiciardini left for his children. I refer to this book as a Machiavellian bathroom reader.

[BEAR DEN]

Just started Stephen King's Under the Dome.

[SlowRain]

Oh yeah. You're right. I think that says a lot about how much I liked the book!

I'm about to begin Autumn of the Patriarch by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. My third book by him. I wasn't wild about 100 Years of Solitude, but loved Love in the Time of Cholera.
Love in the Time of Cholera is one of my top-ten favorite novels. Absolutely beautiful writing--or should I say translating? Whichever it is, it is amazing.

I just finished The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, which was okay. It's interesting from a historical standpoint, and should appeal to those who like books about crime.

I'm currently reading Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carré.

[ratcheer]

Last night, I started on Heretic by Bernard Cornwell.

Tim

[Schick_Fan]

Currently The Beautiful and The Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I bought a copy of his short stories that I will be reading next. I've recently been reading all of his books, though I read the Great Gatsby in high school.

[ratcheer]

Last night, I started on Heretic by Bernard Cornwell.

Tim

In addition, I received a suggestion from an old, retired minister the other day to read the entire New Testament, one chapter per day. If no days are missed, it will take 260 days.

I have completed through Matthew 2. :001_smile I am reading from Today's New International Version, which I am finding to be excellent.

Tim

[bythbook]

re-reading William Gibson's Pattern Recognition, with Spook Country next, both as prelude to the new (and concluding?) novel in the series - Zero History.

any other Wm. Gibson fans around?

[Dennard]

Utopia- Thomas More

[shaveiam]

Dangerous Visions - a collection of short stories editted by Harlan Ellison

[kwk285]

I just started Adam by Ted Dekker. It is pretty good so far. I have so many authors that I like to read that there is little chance for me to try an author that I haven't read before. It is a really nice change.

[BigRich]

i just finish The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I'm starting on The Girl Who Played With Fire.

[arghblech]

Manhattan Love Song Cornell Woolrich

[benb]

Just started Stephen King's Under the Dome.

I love stephen king's writing. to quote king himself:
'Im a salami writer. I try to write good salami, but salami is salami.'


Utopia- Thomas More

I didn't realize people read this for leisure outside of any formal schooling. Is this a re-reading for you, Dennard?

[steven1979]

I just finished the Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. The Shadow of the Wind was an incredible read too.

[ratcheer]

Caesar by Colleen McCullough

Tim

[Laz]

Just started Stephen King's Under the Dome.

How is it? I picked it up, but haven't got around to it yet.

I am currently reading a collection of short stories, Los Angeles Noir (http://www.amazon.com/Los-Angeles-Noir-ebook/dp/B001SEQR0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1285922258&sr=1-1).

[breadstick]

How is it? I picked it up, but haven't got around to it yet.

I read it recently and loved it. I am a Stephen King fan, anyway, but this wasn't really horror as much as a character study of how people in this town would react to something horrible happening like this. It was a great one. Highly recommended, as well as The Cell. I love zombies and this was a very interesting take on the concept, with the usual Stephen King "some other worldly force is controlling things" spin.

[Never2Late]

Just finished Mattterhorn and picked up the Canterbury Tales... Looking forward to it.... I vaguely remember reading certain passages in college.

[wintermute2]

re-reading William Gibson's Pattern Recognition, with Spook Country next, both as prelude to the new (and concluding?) novel in the series - Zero History.

any other Wm. Gibson fans around?

Doing the same thing (notice my handle?). 2/3 of the way through Zero History. It doesn't feel "Gibsony" until 100 pages in. 200 pages in the action really starts. After my Gibson blitz, I'm going to un-Gibsonize myself with a couple of sagas: Beowulf and the Niebelungenslied.

[Laz]

I read it recently and loved it. I am a Stephen King fan, anyway, but this wasn't really horror as much as a character study of how people in this town would react to something horrible happening like this. It was a great one. Highly recommended, as well as The Cell. I love zombies and this was a very interesting take on the concept, with the usual Stephen King "some other worldly force is controlling things" spin.

King does a great job developing characters.

[DougK]

I'm about 2/3 or the way through The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. He keeps getting better with every book.

[fleshdunce]

Recently finished A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin (http://www.amazon.com/Game-Thrones-Song-Fire-Book/dp/0553573403). Not sure how I never stumbled upon this series before now but I must say I absolutely loved it. So many different characters, well written, excellent plot, and even though it is fantasy I feel as though these people actually act like real people, that is, there is no simple good or bad as in something like Lord of the Rings. Many shades of grey.

Wanted to read this before HBO's series based on it premieres this spring. Can't wait to start reading the second one.

[Mercer]

I just finished Where the Buck Stops: The Personal and Private Writings of Harry S. Truman; while I don't get along with his political views, his approach to the history of the Presidency is very interesting.
I'm about to start on a Civil Drafting book to prepare for a seminar, but my next fun book will be The Sword-Edged Blonde: An Eddie LaCrosse Novel. The writer is Alex Bledsoe, a friend from high school, so I'm going to give him a shot.

[steven1979]

Just finished Pillars of the Earth. Great read!

[DE Shaver]

Just cracked open a book I haven't read in a long time, Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings.

[Sal]

ust finished Wicked, The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
by Gregory Maguire

Very surprised at this book, and I highly recommend.

I'm not a big Wizard of Ozz fan, but this is a far cry from fan fiction. It tells the story from the Witch's point of view.

It is a deep story that is really about politics, with a good bit of philosophy.

Turns out she was not "Wicked" but was actually a pretty good person with high ethical standards and strong convictions, who backed her way into sorcery and was not even very good at it.

She was activist and part of an underground movement to overthrow the Wizard of Oz, who was a tyrant, and who treated various populations ruthlessly.

She was an Animal rights activist, but not regular animals (notice one is capitalized). There were two types, one walked and talked and had "Spirit" and the other were just animals.

Dorothy came in at the ass end of the story and was just a dumb kid.

The witch of the east, her sister, became ruler by birth right of Munckinland, which was made up of dwarfs and normal size people.

The "good" witch of the north was a good friend (college roommate actually), and they were not really at odds with each other.

The shoes had been a gift to the witch of the east from her father and became a political symbol during her reign.

Anyway, I must reiterate that this is a good book, and a sequel came out recently.

[Delawareguy]

Just finished Pillars of the Earth. Great read!

Agreed. The follow up, "World without End," is also good.

I just finished "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. It's about the author's attempt to spend a year living by the rules of the bible exactly as they are written. I found it very interesting even though he didn't shave for a year.

Now reading "Catch-22."

[hitemfrank]

Agreed. The follow up, "World without End," is also good.

I just finished "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. It's about the author's attempt to spend a year living by the rules of the bible exactly as they are written. I found it very interesting even though he didn't shave for a year.

Now reading "Catch-22."

I went looking for "The Year of Living Biblically" last week but couldn't find it. Picked up "My Experimental Life" by him though. I'm about hal way through and am enjoying it so far.

[Niubi]

Finished "The Passage" by J.Cronin

http://bks7.books.google.it/books?id=zJJtPwAACAAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&sig=ACfU3U3-Wmol7LRnIXCoTYPpw3Z_NsOP6Q

Started "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman

http://bks6.books.google.it/books?id=j69KNwAACAAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&sig=ACfU3U0kT1rbmjo0VeBfthHX6_dInCuPuQ

[mboschm]

Un negre amb un saxo (A nigger with a saxophone), by Ferran Torrent, a valencian writer. I don't know whether you can find it outside the Catalan Countries, but if you can, read it. Crime, humour... Also from the same author, No emprenyeu el comissari (Do not bother the commissar).
Flaubert's parrot, by master Julian Barnes.
Lo mejor que le puede pasar a un cruasán (The best thing that can happen to a croissant) by Pablo Tusset. So, so good.

[dreadpirate]

Leisure reading this calender year:

Slaughterhouse five Kurt Vonnegut
Cannery row John Steinbeck
Starship Troopers Robert Heinlein
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Heinlein

I am currently on a Heinlein kick right now. I love his work.

[Alacrity59]

Deadpirate . . . nice list. There was something about Science Fiction from authors back then . . . much more based on extrapolations of what was known science wise vs. more lately where there seems to be little need of any basis in what is known . . . science wise.

Just my take on it.

[patrisVII]

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Heinlein



One of my all time favorite stories!

Stuck on Wake Island so I'm doing lots of reading -

How shall we then live? - Francis Schaffer

Retief's War, Retief's Ransom and Dinosaur Beach -Kieth Laumer

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - forgot the author

All the Rage - F. Paul Wilson (fourth Repairman Jack novel)

[Niubi]

Finished "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman

http://bks6.books.google.it/books?id=j69KNwAACAAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&sig=ACfU3U0kT1rbmjo0VeBfthHX6_dInCuPuQ

I'll start.... "Dune" by Frank Herbert

http://bks4.books.google.it/books?id=B1hSG45JCX4C&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&sig=ACfU3U2MagqWUP-7geVSkc3K-ivhI3pHLA

[DougK]

Just cracked open a book I haven't read in a long time, Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings.

The Belgariad is one of my favorite fantasy series. It blew me away when I was a teenager and I still re-read it every year or so. I'm about to start Zelazny's Amber series again, which is another favorite; every time I pick up the series, I discover something I missed previously.

[King of Kailua]

Still reading Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil by Peter Maass (http://www.librarything.com/work/book/63391059)

I've been pretty busy, and it's a library book that is overdue unfortunately. The read is well worth the fine though.

Here's a short review of the book on The Oil Drum blog.. (http://http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5802)

@Niubi: It might be a nice follow up after reading Dune eh?

126771

[FL shaver]

My wife has me reading the Steig Larsen books. The Girl Who Played with Fire. Getting through it... She also has the Wicked Witch novel on a table. Maybe give that a read next...

[gooferbert]

Currently reading Stephen King's The Dark Tower series...on IV of VII. what a commitment, but really entertaining!:thumbup: