What Are You Reading?

[ratcheer]

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Very good. :thumbup1:

Tim

[jkroll]

For the past couple of months i've been reading Ian Fleming's early James Bond novels.

They are truly excellent books; Casino Royale and OHMSS being my particular favourites. The films will never quite do them justice, but are fun in their own way. I can't remember which of the novels mentions Floris, but I read it in my late teens and bought some as soon as possible – it was the first I'd heard of the brand. So I have Ian Fleming to thank for that, too. Fortunately, though, the tobacconist Morland's of Grosvenor Street no longer exists (I went looking for it - can one be a Bond anorak?), or else I may have acquired Fleming's/Bond's 60-a-day habit, as well.

[carniby]

Read and Finished(it isnt a big book by any stretch of the imagination).

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Something I always wanted to read.

[johnniegold]

Read and Finished(it isnt a big book by any stretch of the imagination).

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Something I always wanted to read.
A must nonetheless.

[sparkchaser]

"The War that made America"; a short history of the French and Indian War by Fred Anderson. I tend to read non-fiction and about anything that strikes my fancy.

Richard

That was made into an awesome PBS documentary. I own it and it is really, really good.

[TimmyBoston]

For the past couple of months i've been reading Ian Fleming's early James Bond novels.I started with his first (Casino Royale) and have read them in order and have just recently started Goldfinger.These books are amazingly well written and give a fascinating insight into British consciousness in the 1950s.Forget your pre-conceptions of Bond films and try one of his books.I must honestly say Ian Fleming is one of the best and most descriptive writers I have ever read.His books truly deserve to be labelled "classics" and have given me hours of pleasure.Oh and of course we all want to be James Bond eh?

Believe it or not, I've never seen a James Bond film. I really should pick up "Casino Royale"

[Nick]

Right now, I'm working on George Washington's War: The Saga of the American Revolution by Robert Leckie, which is informative, and almost holds my attention, but a much guiltier pleasure that I'm almost through is Persuader by Lee Child. Child is one of those paperback thriller writers. His books revolve around "Jack Reacher", an ex-Army MP. It's a great series because the protagonist has no moral compunction about killin' folks dead. There's no moral to the story, there isn't any political correctness, it's just a whole lotta killin (either with guns, or with bare hands), and a touch o' lovin' thrown in to keep things lively. Most gun nuts will notice the occasional flawed detail, but it doesn't detract from the story. For comparison's sake, I'm almost at the end of my seventh Lee Child book in the time its taken me to get half-way through the Leckie book.

I guess that's American Culture at its finest! :letterk1:

-Nick

[steveo]

Casino Royale is probably my favourite bond film.Very gritty and follows the novel quite closely and Daniel Craig is excellent!

[steveo]

A must nonetheless.

Definately a must!:001_smile

[TimmyBoston]

Began Tooth and Nail by Ian Rankin. My second Rebus mystery, I'm very glad to have found a new mystery writer I enjoy.

[180gVinyl]

Squeeze - song by song

Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook with Jim Drury

:thumbup1:

[Limey]

You'll get a kick out of this one:

It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff
by Peter Walsh

I hoping I'll get some directions on how to beat my RAD and SCAD!

[boboakalfb]

You'll get a kick out of this one:

It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff
by Peter Walsh

I hoping I'll get some directions on how to beat my RAD and SCAD!

Good Luck! :lol:

[qhsdoitall]

You'll get a kick out of this one:

It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff
by Peter Walsh

I hoping I'll get some directions on how to beat my RAD and SCAD!

Not going to happen! You're wasting daylight when you could be out looking for your next cream or soap. :biggrin:

[mark the shoeshine boy]

i'm reading about naked women and beer in the barbershop section...or maybe i'm LOOKING AT THE......:drool:


mark tssb

[smoothshaver]

"The War that made America"; a short history of the French and Indian War by Fred Anderson. I tend to read non-fiction and about anything that strikes my fancy.

Richard

I read his earlier, more extensive book, "Crucible of War" several years ago and learned a lot. I believe that book spends more time on the global aspects of what is known elsewhere as the Seven Years War. The North American war began and ended two years before the more general world war. I've gotten more interested in the subject since moving to an area ("the Forks of the Ohio") central to the story. I've also read and enjoyed several other books from the Oxford History of the United States series.

[Mr-Scruffy]

I just started reading Moby Dick. I came across this great quote:

"I was watching to see where he kept his razor, when lo and behold, he takes the harpoon from the bed corner, slips out the long wooden stock, unsheathes the head, whets it a little on his boot, and striding up to the bit of mirror against the wall, begins a vigorous scraping, or rather harpooning of his cheeks."

Ouch, that must have hurt. No wonder str8s have such a reputation. I also remember Crocodile Dundee having a great str8.

[TimmyBoston]

The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

[judge]

A few are on my plate:

Licensed to Kill by Pelton (about the use of corporations like Blackwater being used to fight wars)

Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett (a classic)

Take it back by Carville

[boboakalfb]

Skippyjon Jones by Judith Schachner

[Rhett]

I am rereading two books currently, aside from my degree, John Keegan: A History of Warfare: excellent and The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

[Soapmistress]

"The Wildfire Season" by Andrew Pyper

A novel of extraordinary power combines the supernatural, edge of your seat suspense, nature in all its wondrous ferocity, and scars--visible and invisible. The writing is a dream, demonstrating that indeed, the past can kill. This is novel that blazes with all the ingredients of the best literature.
--Ken Bruen, author of Calibre and The Dramatist

"Pyper knows how to whirl a complex plot into motion....but exceeds the demands of the suspense-thriller genre. A literary craftsman.....
--The Globe and Mail (Canada)

This book is HOT......love it, can't put it down.

[jlander]

Simple Genius - David Baldacci

Exposure and Lighting for Digital Photographers Only - Michael Meadhra & Charlotte Lowirie

[bababoosky]

How is the Baldacci book, I saw it in Barnes and Nobel the other day and was intrigued. I am currently reading The Alienist - Caleb Carr, excellent!

[TimmyBoston]

You'll get a kick out of this one:

It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff
by Peter Walsh


Step 1: Abandon all shaving and grooming products. A beard is far more cost effective.

[Bucnak]

Just finished Jim Cramers "Mad Money" book 2, getting ready to start "Winning" by Jack and Suzy Welch. And next on the horizon is the new book out "The Reagan Diaries" .... appears interesting.

[TimmyBoston]

Walden and Other Writings by Thoreau. Believe it or not, I've never read this one, I feel it's about time.

[rtaylor61]

"Small Giants" by Bo Burlingham. (http://www.smallgiantsbook.com/)

Randy

[sparkchaser]

Walden and Other Writings by Thoreau. Believe it or not, I've never read this one, I feel it's about time.

I read Walden. Personally, I think the man was full of himself but I'd be interested in hearing what you think about it.

[Thomas]

"Small Giants" by Bo Burlingham. (http://www.smallgiantsbook.com/)

Randy

^ Excellent book!


I'm in the middle of:

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
The Last Season by Phil Jackson

[under a mountain]

I'm reading East of Eden by Steinbeck for like the sixth time.

[Mottern Man]

I'm reading East of Eden by Steinbeck for like the sixth time.

6 times, good lord. Dose it keep getting better?

[daniel]

6 times, good lord. Dose it keep getting better?

I've read Lord of the Rings at least seven times. Sometimes I miss the little nuances in books. :smile:

[jazzman]

I'm reading a terrific book about spies, Communists, Nazis, and the Spanish Civil War. Night Soldiers, by Alan Furst. He's written several books, but this is my first (no pun intended). The plot and characters are fascinating and relatively unpredictable for this genre, but the high quality of the prose is what really stands out.

[under a mountain]

6 times, good lord. Dose it keep getting better?




I've read Lord of the Rings at least seven times. Sometimes I miss the little nuances in books. :smile:


That's the reason..always discovering new things in it.

[TimmyBoston]

6 times, good lord. Dose it keep getting better?

Very much so. You watch movies more than once or watch reruns on TV, Why not a book?

[ratcheer]

I just finished Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. It took me about a month, its 940 pages. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

Tim

[Martlet]

Currently I'm reading "Nick of Time" by Ted Bell

[jpweston]

I'm about halfway through The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper.

[tim8557]

The new Bio on Einstein.

[tim8557]

I just finished Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. It took me about a month, its 940 pages. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

Tim

Before starting my Bio of Einstein, I as well just finished Lonesome Dove and enjoyed it immensely. There is tremendous dialogue to that book and I feel that it translated well to the TV Screen. Casting Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall was absolutley brilliant and the TV (I think that it was HBO) version seems very true to the book.

[jamacdon]

Citizen Soldiers, Stephen Ambrose
The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs, Irvine Welsh

I usually pick up Welsh's new books if they're cheap enough, we'll see how this one is, the last couple have been just okay imo.

[Zeni]

Just started Downbelow Station by CJ Cherryh

[cptranman]

You watch movies more than once or watch reruns on TV, Why not a book?

I had an American Literature professor say you should always read books at least twice. The first time, you read the story. The second time you see all that you missed because you were too busy reading the story the first time.

It would seem to be excellent advice, but I have such a huge stack of new books to read, I can't talk myself into re-reading other books!

Randall

P.S. Oh yeah, I recently read "The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature" which was quite worthwhile. The author even includes a couple of chapters with thoughts on how to read.

I have been working my way through "Generals in Bronze: Interviewing the Commanders of the Civil War" edited by William B. Styple. This book is a collection of notes made by artist James E. Kelly who interviewed over 40 Union Generals for his works on the Civil War. It is interesting for the glimpse at the more personal side of many of these generals, and to hear their thoughts on the war and their peers.

[Soapmistress]

These all sound like such interesting books, in particular the new bio on Einstein. The only thing I get to read right now is running "QuickBooks 2007 Premier" edition. :frown:

Colleen

[peter322]

I just finished the new Khaled Hosseini book, A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was incredible, and on the same level as The Kite Runner. His writing style is so fluid, that the book moves at an intense pace. One is almost tempted to skip words in order to read faster, thus finding out what happens sooner.

Great Book.

[TimmyBoston]

I had an American Literature professor say you should always read books at least twice. The first time, you read the story. The second time you see all that you missed because you were too busy reading the story the first time.

It would seem to be excellent advice, but I have such a huge stack of new books to read, I can't talk myself into re-reading other books!



That's my philosophy with books. Often I try to find a synopsis of a book first, I read that then I read the book, that way I don't get caught up with the story and can focus on the language itself. I do this when I don't have time to read the book twice.

I don't do this with easy reading fiction, ie Kellerman, Cussler, Flynn, etc. They are for story and pleasure alone.

[greendyk]

Just finished Brothers by David Talbot. Great read; couldn't put it down. (It's about JFK and RFK in the 1960s)

John

[TimmyBoston]

I'm reading Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

[TimmyBoston]

Does anyone know of any book forum/communities where books, novels and literature are discussed the way we discuss wetshaving? I'd love to find one, but so far I'm out of luck. :crying:

[ratcheer]

Does anyone know of any book forum/communities where books, novels and literature are discussed the way we discuss wetshaving? I'd love to find one, but so far I'm out of luck. :crying:

I'm sure something like that must exist, but I haven't found it yet. I joined a Stephen King forum one time and it was mostly a bunch of teenie boppers and space cadets. I suppose most online forums are like that and what we have here is somewhat exceptional.

Tim

[TstebinsB]

Jiddu Krishnamurti - Total Freedom: The Essential Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti - Think on These Things
Jiddu Krishnamurti - This Light in Oneself

[sparkchaser]

Does anyone know of any book forum/communities where books, novels and literature are discussed the way we discuss wetshaving? I'd love to find one, but so far I'm out of luck. :crying:

Not 100% what you were looking for but have you gone here? http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum

Or here? http://www.readerville.com/WebX?14@@/

[TimmyBoston]

Not 100% what you were looking for but have you gone here? http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum

Or here? http://www.readerville.com/WebX?14@@/

Thanks for the links. :thumbup1:


I just started reading How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler

[shaveme]

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I just started this last night.

[JBHoren]

After a protracted delay, I've restarted Chandler Burr's The Emperor of Scent; I was only a hundred-or-so pages into the book, and it's such an enjoyable read.

[HoustonianYankee]

About a quarter of the way into Gore Vidal's 1876.

[JonEdangerousli]

Just started "Pearl Harbor" by Newt

[Soapmistress]

Just started..... " I Should Be Extremely Happy in Your Company "

A novel of Lewis & Clark

Colleen

[zachster]

Just finished "The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint", by Brady Udall. Couldn't put it down!

[ratcheer]

I just finished Eragon by Christopher Paolini and just started The Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry, which is a sequel to Lonesome Dove.

Tim

[RJSquirell]

for light summer reading:incazzato re-reading The Adult Learner and History of the Adult Education Movement in hte US.

[luckysealy]

i am currently reading how the scots invented the modern world. the true story of how western europes poorest nation created our world and everything in it. by Arthur Herman. it is taking me a while though since i spend most of my free time here.

[Soapmistress]

I've decided to be honest and say I read several books at once. Especially if I cannot find one that will hold my interest....which currently is the case. Another trip to the library today, means another pile of possibilities.

So still reading "Lewis & Clark" annnnddd now added,

"Coal Black Horse" novel by Robert Olmstead
"The Heirs of Muhammad" Origins of the Sunni-Shia split by Barnaby Rogerson
"Summer Salad menus" lol.....yummy!
"Paper Quilting" by Bridget Hoff

Colleen

[TimmyBoston]

Just started..... " I Should Be Extremely Happy in Your Company "

A novel of Lewis & Clark

Colleen

How does this compare to Undaunted Courage

[Must Dash]

Anyone read Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali? One of the more astonishing reads and the lady is amazing. I got a couple of front row tickets when she appeared at the Sydney Writers' Festival (slightly nerve-wracking with all the body guards and sniffer dogs around plus the info office had been fire-bombed the night before).

[Soapmistress]

How does this compare to Undaunted Courage

I haven't read "Undaunted Courage" ....but now will probably look for it. Is this also a novel of Lewis & Clark? I really enjoy historical books in exploration.

"I should be extremely happy in your company" a novel of Lewis & Clark.

.....is a good book...... but the early chapters have different writing styles...?? So its not just about switching the early characters around, it's like reading a different writer !! It distracts from the flow of the story....so I've been skimming over those chapters waiting for it to come together somehow...but so far no luck.

It's a book that I'll give a few more chapters worth of devotion, but if it doesn't smooth out, I'll put it down.

Colleen

[PTurchan]

Just finished: Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk

Now reading: Reefer Madness by Eric Schlosser

[TimmyBoston]

Just finished: Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk



I've never read Rant, but I've read lots of other Palahniuk novels, and despite being mildly crazy, the man is one hell of a writer, I'll have to look into it.

[Mama Bear]

Just 'finished' Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier, the author of Cold Mountain... and I couldn't put it down. This despite the fact that pages 249 through 280 were missing, and from what I can tell, were a huge part of the story... I am going back to Borders tomorrow and get a copy of the book that has all of the pages.... I want to really 'finish' it.... :crying:

What a remarkable author he is... this is his second book and I can't wait for another one by him.

[Mama Bear]

Does anyone know of any book forum/communities where books, novels and literature are discussed the way we discuss wetshaving? I'd love to find one, but so far I'm out of luck. :crying:

Wouldn't that be fabulous! Each book could have it's own thread... man, if you find something like this, let me know!~

Edit..... Oh Tim! Look what I found, I am a happy woman! http://www.bookandreader.com/forums/index.php

[TimmyBoston]

Wouldn't that be fabulous! Each book could have it's own thread... man, if you find something like this, let me know!~

Edit..... Oh Tim! Look what I found, I am a happy woman! http://www.bookandreader.com/forums/index.php

GREAT LINK SUE!

Thanks so much! I can't wait to browse around that forum!

[Soapmistress]

Wouldn't that be fabulous! Each book could have it's own thread... man, if you find something like this, let me know!~

Edit..... Oh Tim! Look what I found, I am a happy woman! http://www.bookandreader.com/forums/index.php


GREAT LINK SUE!

Thanks so much! I can't wait to browse around that forum!

Hey Sue! Thanks to you too! looks like a great place to check out the latest news on books.

Ok....so I laid down the novel about "Lewis & Clark" and picked up "Coal Black Horse" by Robert Olmstead.....and haven't looked back.

What a great read !! this is a small book 218 pages. I stayed up 2 hours past my bedtime last, because I couldn't put down. The story is about a young 14 year old boy who leaves home in search of his Father during the Civil war, and must cross enemy lines to do so.

Great! highly recommended.
Colleen

[paydepst]

Right now...

Tolkien's LOTR

and

Robert Howard's Bran Mak Morn anthology.

[smoothshaver]

I haven't read "Undaunted Courage" ....but now will probably look for it. Is this also a novel of Lewis & Clark? I really enjoy historical books in exploration.

"I should be extremely happy in your company" a novel of Lewis & Clark.

.....is a good book...... but the early chapters have different writing styles...?? So its not just about switching the early characters around, it's like reading a different writer !! It distracts from the flow of the story....so I've been skimming over those chapters waiting for it to come together somehow...but so far no luck.

It's a book that I'll give a few more chapters worth of devotion, but if it doesn't smooth out, I'll put it down.

Colleen

Collen,

I read Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" a few years back. It's not a novel but rather a history of the venture. Ambrose was a good storyteller, though, and had a darn good yarn to work with.

Ed

[bishop]

In high school, I read a lot of different stuff.

When I was an undergrad, I read all the lit crit I could get my hands on, mostly deconstruction & post-colonial stuff. And a lot of poetry, mostly Romantic. And everything Garrison Keillor I could get my hands on.

When I was a grad student, I read a lot of counseling books. And Garrison Keillor.

Now that I've graduated and am in the summer between school and work, I'm reading the Mitford novels by Jan Karon, and hoping my desire to delve back into the literature I loved as an undergrad will surface. I had to push that aside to get all my graduate stuff done.

Has anyone else picked up a Mitford novel? Karon has completed the series, so you can buy the whole lot now. My mom bought them as they were coming out, then my wife got into them, now I'm reading them. Good lighthearted stuff.

[Thomas]

I just finished Haroun and the Sea of Stories, by Salman Rushdie, and it was the best story I've read in some time. I loved it. I liked Shame as well, and am fixin to start Midnight's Children, or one of the other two books of his that are patiently awaiting my attention. If you've not had the pleasure, Rushdie blends fact and fantasy without any jarring effect on the reader. Haroun was a fun, exuberant magic carpet ride, and I only wish it were another 100 pages longer.

[Howard Newell]

I just finished "The Navy" by the Naval Historical Foundation. It documents the emergence of our nation's Navy into the fleet as it is today, and it includes pictures and photos of all the communities.

[Soapmistress]

Ed, Thank You for the extra details for "Undaunted Courage".

I'm enjoying the little extra tidbits that Gents are adding for the books being read !! Makes one think....ohhh that sounds like a good one to read.

Colleen

[bth88]

"The Sun Also Rises" - Hemingway

[TimmyBoston]

"The Sun Also Rises" - Hemingway

Good choice, one of my favorite books of all time.

[ratcheer]

"The Sun Also Rises" - Hemingway

Is that the one about the Spanish civil war in the 30's? If so, boy, was that a strange book. Very enjoyable, but strange. :confused:

Tim

[TimmyBoston]

Is that the one about the Spanish civil war in the 30's? If so, boy, was that a strange book. Very enjoyable, but strange. :confused:

Tim

Tim, You're thinking of For Whom the Bell Tolls, it's about an American Robert Jordan and his time with Spanish Guerilla group during the Spanish Civil War, it's a brilliant book as well. The Sun Also Rises is about American Ex-Patriates in Paris and their social adventures, it also includes some wonderful passages of the Bull Fights in Madrid. For Whom the Bells Tolls is a war novel, while The Sun Also Rises is a social novel. Both are wonderful and I highly recommend them, but I will admit I'm biased, I think Hemingway is just about as good as it gets.

[bth88]

This thread

[bth88]

I think Hemingway is just about as good as it gets.

Only as good as the man he learned from. I.e. Jack London.

:cool:

[Boogie]

Right now...

Tolkien's LOTR

and

Robert Howard's Bran Mak Morn anthology.


Mark, very nice choice on the Robert Howard collection of Bran Mak Morn stories. I have that collection myself and it's wonderful. I have found that everything Robert Howard has written is fantastic, he is so much more then Conan. Solomon Kane is one of my favorite characters of his. Howard has such a nice flow to his writting.

Personally I am currently reading the third book in the Bernard Cornwell Grail Trilogy, called Heritic. Bernard Cornwell is a recent find for me and I have been eating up his books.

[JonEdangerousli]

I'm not sure if this really qualifies as reading, but I just received my copy of "'Write Now' The Complete Program for Better Handwriting" by Barbara Getty and Inga Dubay. I just started it yesterday and my handwriting is already showing a marked improvement. I'll be a regular calligrapher compared to my former chickenscratch soon!

[ratcheer]

Tim, You're thinking of For Whom the Bell Tolls, it's about an American Robert Jordan and his time with Spanish Guerilla group during the Spanish Civil War, it's a brilliant book as well. The Sun Also Rises is about American Ex-Patriates in Paris and their social adventures, it also includes some wonderful passages of the Bull Fights in Madrid. For Whom the Bells Tolls is a war novel, while The Sun Also Rises is a social novel. Both are wonderful and I highly recommend them, but I will admit I'm biased, I think Hemingway is just about as good as it gets.

Ah, yes. I have read both of those and several others by Hemingway, but it was several years ago. Its hard to keep the stories straight in my mind.

Thanks,
Tim

[TimmyBoston]

Only as good as the man he learned from. I.e. Jack London.

:cool:

Jack London was a great writer, but he didn't influence Hemingway, wasn't even on Ernest's radar. For that, you've got to look at Euorpean writers, primarily Russians, the only American influence was Mark Twain and that was minor. In terms of some technical issues you can look at Gertrude Stein or Ezra Pound.

[TimmyBoston]

This thread

:confused:

[bth88]

Jack London was a great writer, but he didn't influence Hemingway, wasn't even on Ernest's radar. For that, you've got to look at Euorpean writers, primarily Russians, the only American influence was Mark Twain and that was minor. In terms of some technical issues you can look at Gertrude Stein or Ezra Pound.

I'm sure he was neither influenced by London or Fitzgerald aye?

:rolleyes1

[bth88]

This thread:confused:

"What Are You Reading?"

I.e. This thread is what I'm reading right now

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[TimmyBoston]

I'm sure he was neither influenced by London or Fitzgerald aye?

:rolleyes1

He was influenced socially by Fitzgerald, as they sometimes ran in the same circles, and he aspired to his success when he wrote In Our Time, but the influence you're inferring exists comes from Max Perkins not Scott Fitzgerald and once again, He wasn't influenced by London, they have very little in common other than a love for the outdoor lifestyle and obviously being successful writers. :rolleyes1

[TimmyBoston]

"What Are You Reading?"

I.e. This thread is what I'm reading right now

:lol: :lol: :lol:

That is funny :thumbup1:

[bth88]

He was influenced socially by Fitzgerald, as they sometimes ran in the same circles, and he aspired to his success when he wrote In Our Time, but the influence you're inferring exists comes from Max Perkins not Scott Fitzgerald and once again, He wasn't influenced by London, they have very little in common other than a love for the outdoor lifestyle and obviously being successful writers. :rolleyes1

"BIOGRAPHERS HAVE COMPILED AN EXTENSIVE INVENTORY Of the writers who influenced Hemingway's writing. Strains of Jack London and Ring Lardner appear in Hemingway prose published in The Trapeze at Oak Park High School. C.G. (Pete) Wellington helped hone Hemingway's style at the Kansas City Star. Sherwood Anderson became a castoff role model, but introduced Hemingway to his Paris mentors Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and FE Scott Fitzgerald. From the past, Tolstoy, Turgenev, and Dostoyevsky offered additional guidance, all of which helped to mold the man and his mystique."

Hemingway Review, The, 2002 by Bittner, John R

[TimmyBoston]

"BIOGRAPHERS HAVE COMPILED AN EXTENSIVE INVENTORY Of the writers who influenced Hemingway's writing. Strains of Jack London and Ring Lardner appear in Hemingway prose published in The Trapeze at Oak Park High School. C.G. (Pete) Wellington helped hone Hemingway's style at the Kansas City Star. Sherwood Anderson became a castoff role model, but introduced Hemingway to his Paris mentors Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and FE Scott Fitzgerald. From the past, Tolstoy, Turgenev, and Dostoyevsky offered additional guidance, all of which helped to mold the man and his mystique."

Hemingway Review, The, 2002 by Bittner, John R

Yes, the outdoor influence of Jack London and Ring Lardner is evident in Hemingways' plot but not his style. Now Sherwood Anderson, that is an influence that I forgot. Check out Bloom's views, he differs very much with what you've been arguing.

Let's just agree to disagree, this diatribe is cluttering the thread.

[bth88]

Let's just agree to disagree, this diatribe is cluttering the thread.

Silly diatribes, always getting in the way aren't they?

:biggrin:

[TimmyBoston]

Silly diatribes, always getting in the way aren't they?

:biggrin:

One last off topic remark: I think after every one of your posts you should put a Groucho quote, everytime I see the avatar I honesty expect one :biggrin: Now that guy was funny :lol:

[Deuce]

Well.. While I'm not as avid a reader as I probably should be, I did just finish up Band Of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose. I found it so interesting that I've just started Biggest Brother by Larry Alexander (Which was a book I didn't know existed until it was recommended by a co-worker). I've been absolutely fascinated by these books.

[TimmyBoston]

A couple days ago I began Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, it's a story of two rogue members of the FLDS church who murdered their own sister in law and baby niece after they believed they were commanded to do so by God. Very interesting and very scary.

[Flaxorca]

Just finished: Voice of the Gods by Trudi Canavan (Fantasy).

Just started: Collapse (How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed) by Jared Diamond.

Besides the pleasure reading I am knee deep in scientific papers and books...

[greendyk]

A couple days ago I began Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, it's a story of two rogue members of the FLDS church who murdered their own sister in law and niece after they believed they were commanded to do so by God. Very interesting and very scary.

Tim,

Fascinating book, and yes, scary too. He's a fine writer IMO.

I was raised in a fundamentalist Protestant sect, so I react viscerally to a book like that. The tendencies towards violence might vary, but the thinking (or lack thereof) among fundamentalists is the same the world over regardless of the particular religion.


Regards,
John

[JonEdangerousli]

Just finished: Voice of the Gods by Trudi Canavan (Fantasy).

Just started: Collapse (How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed) by Jared Diamond.

Besides the pleasure reading I am knee deep in scientific papers and books...

Can you give us a short review of Collapse?

[jazzman]

A couple days ago I began Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, it's a story of two rogue members of the FLDS church who murdered their own sister in law and baby niece after they believed they were commanded to do so by God. Very interesting and very scary.

Krakauer's "Into Thin Air," about an expedition to Mt. Everest, was one of the most edge-of-the-seat books I've ever read. Knowing that it was true made it very scary, as well.

I'm finishing up Daniel Silva's "The Messenger," the most recent paperback entry into his Gabriel Allon series about a Mossad agent who goes after the terrorists. Silva is the best thriller writer out there today, IMHO.

[Phog Allen]

I have finally gotten around to reading Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series. I have read individual short stories from the line before but I have this giant tome which contains the complete canon. I'm starting from the first listing, A Study in Scarlet, right through to the end. I had forgotten just how good Conan Doyle was. Besides, how can you go wrong with pipe smoking, handguns, steam train rides, and Holmes' piercing wit?

Regards, Todd

[ratcheer]

Right now, I am reading one of Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels, I think it is The Bourne Supremacy. I have never really liked Ludlum's style (too much smart ass military jargon and verbal sparring, even from the female characters), but his plots are very gripping and well thought out. I am reading this biding my time until my August vacation, when I plan to get back to the Lonesome Dove series, of which I have two books to go.

I am also unabashedly awaiting the new Harry Potter novel.

Tim

[Drew S]

Just started back to school for my MBA, so right now I'm reading Managerial Communications and Managerial Economics (sounds fun, huh?).

However, I just finished the following and highly recommend them:
1. Ilium by Dan Simmons - I'm not a science fiction guy but this novel was great!
2. The Iliad by Homer - inspired by the previous book, satisfied my thirst for war, women, and power.
3. Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut - great quick read, very unique style, enjoyable.
4. Confederacy of Dunces - awesome book!!!!! MUST READ!

[ratcheer]

Right now, I am reading one of Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels, I think it is The Bourne Supremacy.

I was mistaken, it is The Bourne Ultimatum. All his titles sound the same to me, too. :redface:

Tim

[HoustonianYankee]

I just finished reading a photo-essay entitled "Flophouse" by David Isay and Stacy Abramson with photos by Harvey Wang. It is a very moving piece about the Bowery flophouses that remain to this day and some individuals that live there. It was featured on NPR and also got some coverage in the NYT. Here is a website that has the NPR piece:
http://soundportraits.org/

If you don't get the book, I encourage you to download the NPR piece. It's about 20 minutes and it is quite extraordinary.

On this website there is also another NPR piece that is a series of interviews of Huntsville, TX prison guards charged with attending inmates on Death Row and how they deal with the emotion that goes along with the task with which they are charged.

I've read this and listened to these pieces and was very moved. Perhaps you will as well.

[TimmyBoston]

I'm also rereading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in preparation for the upcoming novel.

[Flaxorca]

Can you give us a short review of Collapse?

Just started (page 50 or so), but I'll try to remember to review it after I finish. This may take a while though since I don't have a lot of time for pleasure reading nowadays.



snip
However, I just finished the following and highly recommend them:
1. Ilium by Dan Simmons - I'm not a science fiction guy but this novel was great!
snip

I love Dan Simmons, who has written both science fiction and fantasy. Ilium was great! Be sure to read the sequel Olympos as well!

[dennisthemenace]

THE HEAVEN TREE TRILOGY by Edith Pargeter, AKA Ellis Peters of Brother Cadfael fame.

[analog_kid]

http://www.well.com/~sjroby/lcars/images/ETC/getalife.jpg


I got this as a Christmas gift years ago but never got around to reading it. I've read both of Nimoy's books "I am Not Spock" and "I am Spock" and found them both fascinating reads. Can't wait to hear Bill's comments on the Trek fan base.

[TimmyBoston]

Lullaby by Ed McBain

[letterk]

As a long-time Red Sox fan, you'd think I'd have read it by now, but I just started reading Moneyball about a week ago.

The Education of a Coach (the Bill Belichick story) by David Halberstam is next up.

[Edcculus]

I should be starting the new Harry Potter very soon!

[TimmyBoston]

I've been reading the New Harry Potter and should finish it very soon.

Edit: Finished it. Now I'm sad I've got no more to read. :crying:

[Ben314z]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! w00t!!!

[Ben314z]

I've been reading the New Harry Potter and should finish it very soon.

Edit: Finished it. Now I'm sad I've got no more to read. :crying:

There there Timmy. Don't worry about this being the last book. Harry Potter is "the boy who lived" but I think a better title now that the seventh book is published is he is "the boy that lives" for he will always be there ready to come alive for anyone who should pick up one of his books and relive his adventures. I can't wait to start all over and read them all end to end. :w00t:

[elveeskee]

The Sun Over Breda (Captain Alatriste Series) by Arturo Reverte-Perez
and
Spy Chips by Katherine Albrecht
easy quick summer reads!

[TimmyBoston]

Just finished Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule, a true crime book about the Green River Killer.

[Zeni]

Seriously my dog ate my last book. So now I'm reading Eragon to my daughter.

[TimmyBoston]

I'm also listening to Bad Love by Jonathan Kellerman

[VR6ofpain]

Just finished Roadhouse Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughn and Texas R&B. So I opened up Rising Sun, by Michael Crichton. I am a big Crichton fan, but somehow never got around to reading this one. I was at a Salvation Army and saw a hardcover copy in great shape for $1, which gave me enough incentive to read it.

[Bob Dobbs]

I'm listening to "The Dark River: The Fourth Realm" by John Twelve Hawks. It's the second in what is to be a trilogy starting with "The Traveler".

While these are works of fiction. All of the technology sited in the books does exist today which makes the stories quite chilling.


Oh yeah, I'm also listening to the final Harry Potter book! :c6:

[HoustonianYankee]

Just finished Roadhouse Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughn and Texas R&B. So I opened up Rising Sun, by Michael Crichton. I am a big Crichton fan, but somehow never got around to reading this one. I was at a Salvation Army and saw a hardcover copy in great shape for $1, which gave me enough incentive to read it.

Gabe,

If you like books about music and musicians, I highly recommend a book entitled, "But Beautiful" by Geoff Dyer. It traces the lives of the classic jazz musicians of the 30's to 50's. I was one of the best written and most captivating books on the subject I have ever read.

[jazzman]

Gabe,

If you like books about music and musicians, I highly recommend a book entitled, "But Beautiful" by Geoff Dyer. It traces the lives of the classic jazz musicians of the 30's to 50's. I was one of the best written and most captivating books on the subject I have ever read.

Sounds like my kind of book. Thanks for the tip.

I'm reading "The American Home Front: 1941-1942" by Alistair Cooke, the famous PBS host. He wrote it in 1945, but the manuscript remained in a box until shortly before his death in 2004. It details trips he made all over the U.S. during those years. Extremely well written; it really gives you a vivid picture of an America that has almost completely vanished.

[JonEdangerousli]

Sounds like my kind of book. Thanks for the tip.

I'm reading "The American Home Front: 1941-1942" by Alistair Cooke, the famous PBS host. He wrote it in 1945, but the manuscript remained in a box until shortly before his death in 2004. It details trips he made all over the U.S. during those years. Extremely well written; it really gives you a vivid picture of an America that has almost completely vanished.

I'd love to borrow that when you finish.

[DirtyDave]

Right now I am reading "The Myth of the Great War" by John Mosier. It's about World War 1, and how the Germans, through better technology and tactics, were just kicking the rear ends of the French and English.

A friend of mine loaned it to me and I thought it would be dull. Quite the opposite.

The war was never the stalemate as it was so often portrayed. The Germans, with fewer troops, were just grinding the Allies down with comparatively fewer losses on their side.

Neither the French nor the English generals, particularly the French generals, were willing to learn from their mistakes and were quite happy to let their troops get slaughtered as long as the bad news did not become news.

As much as I have joked about the French ability to fight, they were brave men who were willing to die for their county. They just had bad leadership who never became accountable for their incompetence.

The reverse was true for the Germans. There was accountability for command decisions. The only thing that saved the French and its allies was the intervention of the American Expeditionary Force and their willingness to learn from the lower echelon of the French officer corp who had learned and understood how to fight the war and win.

[murph]

The Brothers Karamazov and the last Sharpe book.

[Edcculus]

Well Harry Potter has been finished for a few days...so I guess its back to LOTR. I read them when I'm between other books.

[Thomas]

God is Not Great - Hitchens
The Art of Worldly Wisdom - Gracian

Nothing light or fun at the moment...

[TimmyBoston]

I just started Born on a Blue Day, a memoir by Daniel Tammet, an autistic savant. It's extremely interesting.

[Badgerless]

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

[sparkchaser]

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

Excellent book but now I am afraid to go to Yellowstone.....

[Dennis]

Just finished To Kill a Mockingbird. Had never read it, rectified that. It was excellent. Off to MFK Fisher now...

Dennis

[BrewShaver]

Currently reading Oil on the Brain (http://www.oilonthebrain.com/) by Lisa Margonelli, a non-fiction spacer between the usual lineup of fiction.

[elveeskee]

Right now...

The Judas Strain - James Rollins
The Quest - Wilbur Smith

[jamacdon]

The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs, Irvine Welsh

[Boogie]

I have recently started “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley.

[ratcheer]

I am currently reading the third book of the Lonesome Dove series, Dead Man's Walk, by Larry McMurtry. Man, is it intense! :eek:

Last week, I read the last novel of the Harry Potter series. It was thoroughly satisfying. :thumbup1:

Tim

[Emilius]

The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. Probably his greatest work, along with Crime and Punishment and The Idiot.

[dennisthemenace]

Maigret's Christmas; a book of short stories by Georges Simenon.

[JasonK]

Just finished Flight of the nighthawks by Raymond E. Feist, need to buy Into a dark realm. Been waiting on B&N to get the paperback version of the Hunter's Blades trilogy and The Sellswords saga by R.A. Salvatore.

[Dolamyte]

I'm currently enjoying The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand

[Jodanster]

Just finished The Fall Of Carthage by Adrian Goldsworthy an account, from a military theory perspective, of the 3 Punic Wars. Anyone interested in Roman warfare and the expansion of the Roman empire should get it.

Just about to start The Blair Years, Extracts from Alistair Campbell's diairies.

[MarSellus Wallace]

Middlesex by Eugenides.

[180gVinyl]

To prevent boredom by the pool while on holiday in Spain, I took 3 books with me that had been sitting at the back of the wardrobe for a few months.

Michael Connelly - The Lincoln Lawyer
Robert Crais - The Two Minute Rule
Dennis Lehane - Coronado

I enjoyed all of them

[TimmyBoston]

Began Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis, creepy, but good.

Also listening to The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy.

[KWE]

I'm finishing up Dearly Devoted Dexter by: Jeff Lindsay. Dexter is an interesting character.

[TimmyBoston]

This thread now has 400 posts, I think it's awesome that we all are reading so much and introducing so many new books to each other, I'm so proud of the whole board. :thumbup1:

[Flaxorca]

This thread now has 400 posts, I think it's awesome that we all are reading so much and introducing so many new books to each other, I'm so proud of the whole board. :thumbup1:

+1 still working my way through Collapse though... don't have enough time to read, since I am working on a thesis :frown:.

[TimmyBoston]

+1 still working my way through Collapse though... don't have enough time to read, since I am working on a thesis :frown:.

Trust me, I undertstand that. It's a ridiculous amount of work.

[analog_kid]

I'm currently enjoying The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand

One of my favorites, I read it at least once a year.

This week sometime I'm placing an order from Amazon for some new reading material. For now, I'm enjoying paging through The Dangerous Book for Boys.

[SilkySmooth]

All of these posts of course!

[JBHoren]

I finally finished The Emperor of Scent!

Now, I'm reading Kenneth Davids' book Coffee: A Guide to Buying, Brewing, and Enjoying (having first read his book Home Coffee Roasting: Romance and Revival).

Again, my thanks go out to Arthur J. Cummings, for his recent thread about home coffee roasting, which piqued my curiosity about this, and to all the other B&Bers who posted on this subject (and who answered my newbie questions).

[Soapmistress]

"The God of Spring" written by Arabella Edge

Set in Paris in 1818, during the upheavals of the French Revolution, the Empire, and the Restoration...this novel tells the story of the painter Theodore Gericault and the story of the shipwrecked Medusa and the epic painting of that awful tradgedy at sea.

The first chapter or two....uhmmm....kinda, sorda couldn't make up my mind, but by the third chapter, I was captivated.

Colleen

[Nicolas V]

I saw a similar thread on another site and thought I would start one here.

Anyone reading something interesting? I am currently reading A Peace to End All Peace by David Fromkin. Outstanding.

[MarSellus Wallace]

Full prospectus of Legg Mason Managed Solutions SICAV. Very boring. :frown:

[PTurchan]

Mental Floss Magazine and Reefer Madness by Eric Schlosser. Both are very interesting reads, especially Mental Floss. The only downside to Mental Floss is that it comes out every two months instead of monthly and because of how interesting a read it is, you blow through it rather quickly. Their website does however aid in any longings for the type of material the magazine delivers.

[Flaxorca]

Try this thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12868) :wink:.

[castlecraver]

Just finished Cormac McCarthy's The Road. A tight, intense, dark comedy (in the Shakespearean sense of the word).
My copy had a big "Oprah Book Club" selection stamp on it. Don't let that dissuade you.

After reading that, I wanted to drive my car off a bridge. Sooooo bleak and depressing.

Right now I'm reading Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. I have a deep prejudice against science fiction usually, but this one came highly recommended as a seminal example of the genre.

I still don't really like it.

[Flaxorca]

Finished Collapse... Not sure when I'll have time to write a review but I'll try to remember!

Now reading:
Män som hatar kvinnor by Stieg Larsson (Men who hate women)

It is a detective story about a journalist and a female hacker trying to solve a mysterious disappearance that happened in the mid-60's.

The author died in a car crash in 2004, but managed to write a series of 3 books prior to the accident, the first of which was published in 2005.

[AACJ]

BOTH "What are you reading?" threads have been merged.

[KWE]

Currently, I have two books going "House of Leaves" and "Darkly Dreaming Dexter."

[sparkchaser]

I recently finished Tolkien's Children of Húrin (excellent book BTW) and now I am about half-way through The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain. It is a collection of his published magazine articles. If you're a lover of food or food writing, be sure to check it out.

[infotech]

I'm reading The Good Ole' Boys by Elmor Kelton

Next up - Tooth and Claw by TC Boyle.

[duna]

Finished Collapse... Not sure when I'll have time to write a review but I'll try to remember!


I've read greeeat books from Diamond, but Collapse's the worst. Interesting, and spot-on, but ruffled and without the perfect polished touch of the previous books. :001_huh:

Just finished House Corrino (last prequel of the Dune saga) , imho the best of the prequels (but still very far from Frank Herbert's books) and Inside the third Reich by Albert Speer (autobiography of the WW II industrial production minister, intriguing and full of curious particulars).
Also, I finished this summer the second pass on Travels in white man's Grave, by Donald Macintosh, an astounding collection of tales from MacIntosh's twenty years in Central and West Africa measuring rainforests. A must-read for everybody interested in the land where the sun can easily kill you in one hour, the rain in one minute, and the leopard in one second... if you managed to avoid the snake :wink:

Now finishing Conflict over Convoys from Kevin Smith, a brilliant essay very well written about the strategic Atlantic conflict in WW II.

[TimmyBoston]

Began rereading Catcher in the Rye a couple night ago, it's been ten years since I first read and and I really didn't remember it at all. It's very nice to go through it again.

[mozart]

I'm just making my way through all Terry Pratchett books. Hilarious!

Best - MM

[scagooch]

Chesapeake by James Michener

[Mr. Igg]

Bible (not enough).

A couple books on research methods.

Rescanning a book by Jim Loehr, called Stress for Success (very good).

It's crunch-time at work, so reading is cut way down. :frown:

[Flaxorca]

I recently finished Tolkien's Children of Húrin (excellent book BTW) ...snip

It is waiting for me on a book shelve.


I've read greeeat books from Diamond, but Collapse's the worst. Interesting, and spot-on, but ruffled and without the perfect polished touch of the previous books. :001_huh:

Just finished House Corrino (last prequel of the Dune saga) , imho the best of the prequels (but still very far from Frank Herbert's books) ...snip

Ordered the other Diamond books a while ago. Will have something to look forward to then!

With regard to Dune... I have Hunters of Dune waiting for me on a book shelve... I have also read the Legends of Dune books. I agree that it's not Frank Herbert, but good reading non the less :wink:.

[Lynchmeister]

Began rereading Catcher in the Rye a couple night ago, it's been ten years since I first read and and I really didn't remember it at all. It's very nice to go through it again.

One of my all-time favorites.

[Suzuki]

Just finished All Quiet On the Western Front.

An easy read and one of the best anti-war books I've ever read.

[JonEdangerousli]

Younger Next Year
A Guide to Living like 50 Until You're 80

/I know, I'm only 45, but I'm getting a head start.

[Howard Newell]

"Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7th ed."
:20:

[Flaxorca]

"Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7th ed."
:20:

Is that a good book? I have been thinking about getting a good Human Anatomy and Physiology book, but haven't been able to decide yet... I already have a bunch of Animal Physiology books and the Atlas of Human Anatomy, so I am not sure if it would be worth to get an additional book specifically aimed at human anatomy and physiology...

[Howard Newell]

It's very comprehensive and goes through a good portion of the physiology and chemistry of how humans work. It's just that right now I've already learned the stuff, but I'm having to go back and reread it for the course I'm taking. I know you can get an international version somewhere with the software that comes with it.

[OldSchoolYoungin]

Economics From A Global Perspective, Alan Glanville.

[ratcheer]

I recently finished the fourth and last book of the Lonesome Dove series, Comanche Moon. The entire series was excellent and I am sad that I have finished it.

Now, I find myself with nothing to read. :redface: An odd condition, for me. I usually have a backlog of things I am waiting to get to. I know there are thousands of possibilities, but I usually don't buy anything until inspiration strikes me.

I would start re-reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, if the weather were cooler. But, its not. Maybe I will go back and finish The Chronicles of Narnia. I lost interest at around the fifth book a year or two ago.

I don't know. :confused:

Tim

[MartyW]

Just finished reading "The Brendan Voyage" by Tim Severin. Fascinating book about how he and some others made a small boat out of wood and tanned leather and sailed it from the west coast of Ireland to Newfoundland. It is an older book from the late 70s (he made the voyage in two parts in the summers of 76 and 77). However, I only recently heard about the book while on vacation in Ireland and the tour guide mentioned the legend of Saint Brendan who is said to have landed in North America already in the 6th century AD. If you are interested in sailing or history it is a great read. I also read the new book from Norman Podhoretz "World War IV: The Long Struggle Against Islamofascism" and it is another book I highly recommend. I realize that not all of you will share my political beliefs, and it isn't my desire in this forum to proselytize you to conservatism. Even if you hold to a totally opposite viewpoint, I think that the fact that this book is very well written and also is not a diatribe (as many political books are) makes this worth reading.

[sparkchaser]

Just finished All Quiet On the Western Front.

An easy read and one of the best anti-war books I've ever read.

Agreed. It is one of my favorites. The ending will stick with you.

[Dr. Mike]

Just finished "The Mystery of the Blue Train" by Agatha Christie. Not bad. Not as good as "And Then There Were None," which is excellent, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. If you can figure it out, my hat is off to you.
Currently I am working on a couple. I am re-reading the Lord of the Rings (for the 6th time) and have started the entire Dune universe from the beginning, with The Butlerian Jihad, after recently finishing Sandworms of Dune. Many people hate the prequels and sequels for not being written by Frank Herbert, but I have enjoyed them all.

[sparkchaser]

So, what is the suggested reading order of the Dune series?

[Flaxorca]

So, what is the suggested reading order of the Dune series?

I have read/am reading them in order of appearance, which works well for me (see below). However you might be able to skip preludes and legends at first, since the newest additions are supposedly a continuation of the original series (if I remember correctly based on notes from Frank Herbert himself).

Originals:
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse: Dune

Preludes:
House Atreides
House Harkonnen
House Corrino

Legends:
The Butlerian Jihad
The Machine Crusade
The Battle of Corrin

These are the newest and continue were "Chapterhouse:Dune" ended:
Hunters of Dune
Sandworms of Dune (not published yet)

[sparkchaser]

Thanks. They have been added to "the list".

[Dr. Mike]

I have read/am reading them in order of appearance, which works well for me (see below). However you might be able to skip preludes and legends at first, since the newest additions are supposedly a continuation of the original series (if I remember correctly based on notes from Frank Herbert himself).

Originals:
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse: Dune

Preludes:
House Atreides
House Harkonnen
House Corrino

Legends:
The Butlerian Jihad
The Machine Crusade
The Battle of Corrin

These are the newest and continue were "Chapterhouse:Dune" ended:
Hunters of Dune
Sandworms of Dune (not published yet)

Or you could read them in chronological order:
The Butlerian Jihad
The Machine Crusade
The Battle of Corrin
House Atreides
House Harkonnen
House Corrino
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse: Dune
Hunters of Dune
Sandworms of Dune - actually, Sandworms is already out. I finished it about a month ago.

[Flaxorca]

Or you could read them in chronological order:
The Butlerian Jihad
The Machine Crusade
The Battle of Corrin
House Atreides
House Harkonnen
House Corrino
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse: Dune
Hunters of Dune
Sandworms of Dune - actually, Sandworms is already out. I finished it about a month ago.

Yes that is another possibility. And this means I have to go out in search of a book :lol:.

[MaxTO]

Just finished up...Neuromancer
About to finish...War of the Worlds
About to start...2001: A Space Odyssey

To be completed by mid-december: I Robot, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Oryx and Crake

...should have left this as the only course for summer...oh well *gets back to reading*

[sparkchaser]

Just finished up...Neuromancer
About to finish...War of the Worlds
About to start...2001: A Space Odyssey

To be completed by mid-december: I Robot, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Oryx and Crake

...should have left this as the only course for summer...oh well *gets back to reading*

What class is that for? Sounds like the reading list for a cyberpunk class.

[MaxTO]

What class is that for? Sounds like the reading list for a cyberpunk class.

Science fiction...

I like sci-fi movies and a book once in awhile, but was I shocked to see 5 full books, 2 stories, 2 essays and a presentation to be completed in less than 3 months. This was supposed to be my "easy" course.

[duna]

Yes that is another possibility. And this means I have to go out in search of a book :lol:.

I partially disagree with the proposed 'chronological' order. In my opinion you'll be better server by the previous proposal, 'cos that is the sequence Frank Herbert wrote them, and you can easily leave prequels and the like at the end. Otherwise you'll face a giant step from House Corrino to Dune: Frank Herbert's style is different, he wrote a lot about psichology, feelings, sometimes describing small shades of the behaviour of protagonists for twenty pages. Barely something happened :scared: and when things changed, facts were always astonishing and inspiring (at least they appear to: you wait them sooo long). Moreover the books are absolutely not boring.

[Dr. Mike]

I think that is true. I have read them all, and am now going back and reading them in "chronological" order. But you could definitely read them in the order they were written. Frank Herbert's style was definitely entirely different from that of his son and Kevin Anderson. Frank more often than not dedicated his writing to motives and trains of thought, and would often skip the action, telling you after the fact what happened. God Emperor of Dune is almost completely devoid of action, and was thus difficult for me to conquer when I first read it back in middle school, forcing me to turn away from the series until several years later. But I'm glad that I picked it back up. The new, non-Frank books are definitely more dedicated to action. If I were to compare them to sci-fi movies, the Frank books would be more like 2001, whereas the Brian and Kevin books would be more like Star Wars. Both good in their own way, but definitely different styles. It is fun to read the Frank books, and then pick up the others to see how they explain the origins of the Dune universe (whether their explanations are plausible I will leave to the Dune purists).

[Flaxorca]

I partially disagree with the proposed 'chronological' order. In my opinion you'll be better server by the previous proposal, 'cos that is the sequence Frank Herbert wrote them, and you can easily leave prequels and the like at the end. Otherwise you'll face a giant step from House Corrino to Dune: Frank Herbert's style is different, he wrote a lot about psichology, feelings, sometimes describing small shades of the behaviour of protagonists for twenty pages. Barely something happened :scared: and when things changed, facts were always astonishing and inspiring (at least they appear to: you wait them sooo long). Moreover the books are absolutely not boring.

That is why I proposed it in the first place :wink:. But if so inclined it is possible to read them in chronological order. The point it simply to read them :biggrin:.

[TimmyBoston]

Finished James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia the other day, not factually accurate, but a very cool book from a great writer, I highly recommend it.

[murph]

I'm reading Anthony and Cleopatra, the last in the masters of Rome series by C. McCullough just now. I don't know if it's as good as the earlier ones yet as I haven't read enough to decide.

[ratcheer]

Finished James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia the other day, not factually accurate, but a very cool book from a great writer, I highly recommend it.

I read that one several years ago. I enjoyed it, too.

Tim

[Flaxorca]

Finished Collapse... Not sure when I'll have time to write a review but I'll try to remember!

Now reading:
Män som hatar kvinnor by Stieg Larsson (Men who hate women)

It is a detective story about a journalist and a female hacker trying to solve a mysterious disappearance that happened in the mid-60's.

The author died in a car crash in 2004, but managed to write a series of 3 books prior to the accident, the first of which was published in 2005.

Moved on to Stieg Larsson's second book: "Flickan som lekte med Elden" (The girl who played with fire).

And trying to work my way through a few "prepare-for-GRE" books...

[TimmyBoston]

I read that one several years ago. I enjoyed it, too.

Tim

Great minds think alike! :thumbup1:

[TimmyBoston]

White Jazz by James Ellroy

[sparkchaser]

I just finished reading The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain. It is a collection of the pieces he has written for various magazines and if you enjoy food and travel then I recommend it.

Next I am trying to decide between two William Gibson novels, Virtual Light and Spook Country.

[Danmark]

Recently:
Misquoting Jesus, Ehrman
The God Delusion, Dawkins

Currently:
Two Years Before the Mast, Dana

[180gVinyl]

Recently:

Two Minute Rule - Robert Crais
Echo Park - Michael Connelly

Currently:

The Night Gardener - George Pelecanos

[rexj]

I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude, and I just finished Volume 1 of Shelby Foote's 'The Civil War'.

[Texican]

Just got done with William Gibson's "Spook Country." Not as good with Neuromancer. I don't like the spy game thing he is trying to pull off. Go back to cyberpunk!

Anyway, right now I am re-reading Richard Abanes' "One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."

[TimmyBoston]

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

[masonjarjar]

Neuromancer is great. Actually, every book I've read by Gibson has been a trip. I love books that really get the imagination going..

-Mason

[seamus402]

Romans

[DwarvenChef]

Cookbooks are my thing, not just recipe books though... I'm still working on "On food and Cooking" by Harold McGee. A great book if your into what is going on in your food :biggrin:

[Flaxorca]

Just finished Nobel's Testamente by Liza Marklund, not sure yet what to read next.

[jazzman]

American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush, by Kevin Phillips, a former Republican White House strategist, written before the 2004 election. Scarier than "The Shining," more depressing than "The Bridges of Madison County."

This is a serious book by a serious writer.

[Lynchmeister]

I'm 3/4 of the way through Scar Tissue, which is the auto-biography of Anthony Kiedis. For those who don't know, he is the singer/front-man for the funk/rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

This book has completely entralled me. I highly suggest it.

[Texican]

I'm currently reading The Histories by Herodotus.

Try reading it in Greek! Oh gosh, I had to do that in college (my degree is in Classics). Herodotus is some weird stuff. You'll learn lots about Egypt and Herodotus' opinion on crocodile breeding.

I am considering reading "All Souls' Rising" by Madison Smartt Bell, though I fear that the book might make me antsy. The book is the first part in a trilogy about the Haitian Revolution centered around Toussaint L'Ouverture. I've heard that the book is incredibly white washed, and seems to focus on the atrocities committed by the slave owning French, and not the revolutionaries. Though people do horrible stuff in war, especially under the boot of oppression.

The last book is titled "The Stone Which The Builders Refused..." (a Biblical reference often attributed to Jesus) is aptly named. Toussaint ends up getting betrayed in the end by his own men to Napoleon, only to have the man (Jean-Jacques Dessalines) that betrayed him later turncoat, and declare himself Emperor of the Haitians.

[Dr. Mike]

Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. I am a sucker for a good WWII history book, as well as WWI.

[D'Brie]

Schindler's List

[momo360]

C.S. Lewis' Letters to Malcolm

[sparkchaser]

Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. I am a sucker for a good WWII history book, as well as WWI.

Awesome book. I read this before I saw the series and I am glad that I did. Had I watched the series first, I would have doubted a lot of the events that took place.

[CitizenDan]

http://www.amazon.com/Berlin-Stories-Norris-Goodbye-Directions/dp/0811200701/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-6993649-2618303?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192641342&sr=8-2

The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood

I knew nothing of this book when I picked it up and so far I'm glad I did. :wink:

[jazzman]

Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. I am a sucker for a good WWII history book, as well as WWI.

Ambrose's Undaunted Courage, about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also was incredibly good. Once the journey begins, the book was very difficult to put down.

[MickM]

"On Basilisk Station" by David Weber

Weber is a great character developer. This is first of a series of about 6 books following the lead character Honor Harrington. Space marines sort of stuff but more realistic politics of both the government and military, internal military competition, etc.

Underdog captain makes good is the theme for this one. 75% done, soon to finish I am sure.

When he teams up with John Ringo as in the "March Upcountry" series you get the perspective of the ground pounders and tactics from Ringo and the upstream politics and strategy from Weber. Great combo together.

[MickM]

Ambrose's Undaunted Courage, about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also was incredibly good. Once the journey begins, the book was very difficult to put down.

Read this one and it was great. The ending drags though but that was the nature of the beast for Lewis, too. Absolute great read.

[sparkchaser]

"On Basilisk Station" by David Weber

Weber is a great character developer. This is first of a series of about 6 books following the lead character Honor Harrington. Space marines sort of stuff but more realistic politics of both the government and military, internal military competition, etc.

Underdog captain makes good is the theme for this one. 75% done, soon to finish I am sure.

When he teams up with John Ringo as in the "March Upcountry" series you get the perspective of the ground pounders and tactics from Ringo and the upstream politics and strategy from Weber. Great combo together.

Have you ever read Armor by John Steakley?

[MickM]

Have you ever read Armor by John Steakley?

Nope, but I guess this is a recommendation that I do. Thanks.

[Dr. Mike]

Awesome book. I read this before I saw the series and I am glad that I did. Had I watched the series first, I would have doubted a lot of the events that took place.

This is actually my second time through. I bought it before ever seeing the series (recommended by a history teacher friend of mine), and then saw the series. Reading it again after having seen the series is even better, because I now have a better mental picture of the types of things described in the book.
Did you watch Ken Burns' "The War?" Long, but I enjoyed it. It provided a whole variety of perspectives, but the thing I liked most was it put the whole story in a chronological context. Usually you just get a presentation of the war in Europe or the war in the Pacific. He meshed them together so you got an idea of what events were going on at the same time.

[sparkchaser]

Nope, but I guess this is a recommendation that I do. Thanks.

It's a futility of war novel. I really liked it.

[sparkchaser]

Did you watch Ken Burns' "The War?" Long, but I enjoyed it. It provided a whole variety of perspectives, but the thing I liked most was it put the whole story in a chronological context. Usually you just get a presentation of the war in Europe or the war in the Pacific. He meshed them together so you got an idea of what events were going on at the same time.

I missed it. Well, I caught the first episode but I couldn't get into it. I'll watch it on DVD at some point I'm sure.

[Texican]

C.S. Lewis' Letters to Malcolm

C.S. Lewis' "The Four Loves" is my favorite book of all time. My wife right now is re-reading "The Great Divorce."

[mental]

Going between "Stories of Your Life and Others" (a collection of SF short stories by the incredibly talented Ted Chiang) and "Fool Moon", by Jim Butcher, book two of his "Dresden Files" series.

Chiang is absolutely brilliant and I think his stories transcend the sci-fi label, but there's certainly that element in many of them. I highly recommend it this collection for a thought-provoking read.

The "Dresden Files" are a less intellectual but thoroughly enjoyable series about a practicing wizard in modern day Chicago. Magic exists, but most people don't believe it (or don't want to). The main character gets involved in solving bizarre crimes. Very enjoyable read and a great concept. Think of it as a cross between fantasy and a gritty detective novel and you're sort of on the right track.

I saw someone at the beginning of the thread recommend Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon" and I highly recommend that. Again, sci-fi but with deeply provoking moral questions and a killer premise. "Broken Angels" is a pretty good follow-up but not as good as the original.

[infotech]

After learning about TC Boyle here, I went out and picked up Tooth and Claw. It's a collection of short stories. His style of writing is similar to Mark Twain's. They both have an odd sense of humor and some twisting story lines.

I plan on getting as many of his short stories as I can find.

[Christopher]

About halfway through The Progress Paradox (http://www.amazon.com/Progress-Paradox-Better-While-People/dp/0812973038/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-8712071-6916135?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193116008&sr=8-1). It's often somewhat slanted in terms of political alignments, and he has the habit of occasionally making completely useless comparisons (for example national statistics on the positive side, vs. specific city statistics on the negative side, essentially apples and oranges) but overall still an interesting read so far.

Just starting to re-read No Great Mischief (http://www.amazon.com/No-Great-Mischief-Alistair-Macleod/dp/0375726659/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-8712071-6916135?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193116130&sr=1-1). Probably my favorite novel of all time. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in the Maritimes.

Also started to re-read the Hobbit. Haven't read it since I was about 13 and it's great fun so far.

[BigRich]

I'm about half way through The Amber Room by Steve Berry. I'm a sucker for pop fiction.

[michaelskar]

Inspired by the "Fall" thread here I picked up a copy of Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods...about hiking the Appalachian trail. great book...people were reading it left and right when I worked at Barnes and Noble, but I just never felt the urge then. Sorry I waited so long. Great travel lit...exceptionally well written (IMHO).

[Lynchmeister]

Just started My Life.

[Flaxorca]

Just started with The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond.

[patrisVII]

Finally got Turretin's Institutes of Elenctic Theology and am chewing on that for a while.
Plus I usually find something in the book drop at our local dump. This weekend I grabbed James Hogan's Proteus Operation and Michael Crichton's Airframe, both hardback.

[Izzy]

Currently Reading 'Tycoon' - Peter Jones (of BBC TV Dragon's Den) and a book on Leadership - by ????.

I read a lot of business type books!!

For light reading I am currently reading 'Humble Pie' - Gordon Ramsey.

Kind regards
NIGEL

[TimmyBoston]

Still working my way through Lolita, it's beautifully written but the subject matter is still disturbing.

About ready to start A Confederacy of Dunces.

[CitizenDan]

The Last Gentleman by Walker Percy

[Dale]

Still working my way through Lolita, it's beautifully written but the subject matter is still disturbing.

About ready to start A Confederacy of Dunces.

As you read Lolita, think of it in these terms: the irretrievability of the past, the insatiability of the present, the unforseeability of the future. It is an amazing novel.

[bluedog]

Onions in the Stew, Betty MacDonald

[sparkchaser]

Mosquito: The Story of Man's Deadliest Foe by Andrew Spielman

Very eye opening on the role the lowly mosquito has played in the development of Man. I am about 25% through it and it is fascinating.

[Muckley]

'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' - by Haruki Murakami. Fiction. Murakami's one of my favorites.
'I am a strange loop' - by Douglas Hofstadter. Philosophy, I think. Interesting.
Just finished 'Falling Man' by Don DeLillo. Genius.

[Lynchmeister]

Still reading My Life and now also reading Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work. I've been in kind of a "rut" lately dealing with work and the stress that it can cause, so I finally decided to be an active part of the solution, rather than an inactive part of the problem. This book has been a great source of perspective, which I was sorely lacking.

[Texican]

God and Man: The Poetry of St. Gregory of Naziansus

[JBHoren]

I'm finishing-up Ironweed, by William Kennedy. It's a difficult book to read; both in terms of its content, as well as on a personal level. On-deck is Luca Turin's The Secret of Scent: Adventures in Perfume and the Science of Smell.

[Halden]

Soon I will be Invincible by Austin Grossman -- A must read for anyone that has ever read comic books.

[smoothshaver]

I think it's time to give this thread a boost.

I just finished reading What Went Wrong: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East, by Bernard Lewis. Interesting book by a noted scholar; completed just prior to Sept. 11, 2001. I read this in spurts, so I'm tempted either to reread it or find another complementary work.

I'm also trying to read (again, my efforts are getting broken up):
Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present, by Michael Oren and

The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression, by Amity Shlaes.

[Ladykramer]

Shooter by Jack Coughlin

[rabidpotatochip]

I'm working my way through The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (on book 3) and The Blood Books by Tanya Huff (opened the cover of the first one).

If you're a sci-fi fan pick up a novel called Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson. It's really more of a drama than sci-fi, but it's a good read. I finished it a few months back and it's still one I think about.