Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (2 Viewers)

[krista4]

I wonder if any will come off the list upon another reading.

 

[cosjobs]

For the next year, in order to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday, I am re-reading my 100 favorite books of all time. Currently on The Stand. Next up after that is Lies My Teacher Taught Me. Then Hart's War.

I'd be interested in your top 100 list.

Based on your preferences, I doubt it will be much to your taste, as it's filled with popular novels. But since you asked, here they are, in the order they were written (not in the order I'm reading them this year.):

1. [SIZE=medium]Les Miserables by Victor Hugo[/SIZE]
2. [SIZE=medium]The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas[/SIZE]
3. [SIZE=medium]A Passage to India by EM Forster[/SIZE]
4. [SIZE=medium]An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser[/SIZE]
5. [SIZE=medium]And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie[/SIZE]
6. [SIZE=medium]Animal Farm by George Orwell[/SIZE]
7. [SIZE=medium]The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand[/SIZE]
8. [SIZE=medium]The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk[/SIZE]
9. [SIZE=medium]The Wall by John Hersey[/SIZE]
10. [SIZE=medium]The Desperate Hours by Joseph Hayes[/SIZE]
11. [SIZE=medium]A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin[/SIZE]
12. [SIZE=medium]Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk[/SIZE]
13. [SIZE=medium]Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand[/SIZE]
14. [SIZE=medium]Exodus by Leon Uris[/SIZE]
15. [SIZE=medium]Hawaii by James Michener[/SIZE]
16. [SIZE=medium]The Rise and Fall of The Third Reich by William L. Shirer[/SIZE]
17. [SIZE=medium]Mila 18 by Leon Uris[/SIZE]
18. [SIZE=medium]King Rat by James Clavell[/SIZE]
19. [SIZE=medium]The Man by Irving Wallace[/SIZE]
20. [SIZE=medium]Taipan by James Clavell[/SIZE]
21. [SIZE=medium]Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes[/SIZE]
22. [SIZE=medium]The Chosen by Chaim Potok[/SIZE]
23. [SIZE=medium]Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert Massie[/SIZE]
24. [SIZE=medium]The Promise by Chaim Potok[/SIZE]
25. [SIZE=medium]The Godfather by Mario Puzo[/SIZE]
26. [SIZE=medium]The Seven Minutes by Irving Wallace[/SIZE]
27. [SIZE=medium]The Winds of War by Herman Wouk[/SIZE]
28. [SIZE=medium]The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsythe[/SIZE]
29. [SIZE=medium]The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy[/SIZE]
30. [SIZE=medium]The Odessa File by Frederick Forsythe[/SIZE]
31. [SIZE=medium]Marathon Man by William Goldman[/SIZE]
32. [SIZE=medium]Carrie by Stephen King[/SIZE]
33. [SIZE=medium]The Glory and the Dream by William Manchester[/SIZE]
34. [SIZE=medium]Shogun by James Clavell[/SIZE]
35. [SIZE=medium]Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow[/SIZE]
36. [SIZE=medium]The Great Santini by Pat Conroy[/SIZE]
37. [SIZE=medium]Roots by Alex Haley[/SIZE]
38. [SIZE=medium]The Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin[/SIZE]
39. [SIZE=medium]Trinity by Leon Uris[/SIZE]
40. [SIZE=medium]Evergreen by Belva Plain[/SIZE]
41. [SIZE=medium]The Immigrants by Howard Fast[/SIZE]
42. [SIZE=medium]The Shining by Stephen King[/SIZE]
43. [SIZE=medium]By the Rivers of Babylon by Nelson De Mille[/SIZE]
44. [SIZE=medium]Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer[/SIZE]
45. [SIZE=medium]War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk[/SIZE]
46. [SIZE=medium]The Dead Zone by Stephen King[/SIZE]
47. [SIZE=medium]The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy[/SIZE]
48. [SIZE=medium]Firestarter by Stephen King[/SIZE]
49. [SIZE=medium]The Fifth Horseman by Larry Collins and Dominique LaPierre[/SIZE]
50. [SIZE=medium]Noble House by James Clavell[/SIZE]
51. [SIZE=medium]Cathedral by Nelson DeMille[/SIZE]
52. [SIZE=medium]The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks[/SIZE]
53. [SIZE=medium]Christine by Stephen King[/SIZE]
54. [SIZE=medium]The Last Lion: Visions of Glory by William Manchester[/SIZE]
55. [SIZE=medium]Thinner by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)[/SIZE]
56. [SIZE=medium]Word of Honor by Nelson De Mille[/SIZE]
57. [SIZE=medium]Battle Cry of Freedom by James MacPhearson[/SIZE]
58. [SIZE=medium]The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy[/SIZE]
59. [SIZE=medium]Misery by Stephen King[/SIZE]
60. [SIZE=medium]The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe[/SIZE]
61. [SIZE=medium]The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris[/SIZE]
62. [SIZE=medium]The Charm School by Nelson De Mille[/SIZE]
63. [SIZE=medium]The Last Lion: Alone by William Manchester[/SIZE]
64. [SIZE=medium]The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay[/SIZE]
65. [SIZE=medium]The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett[/SIZE]
66. [SIZE=medium]A Time to Kill by John Grisham[/SIZE]
67. [SIZE=medium]The Stand (Complete and uncut) by Stephen King[/SIZE]
68. [SIZE=medium]Muhammad Ali: Life and Times by Thomas Hauser[/SIZE]
69. [SIZE=medium]Tandia by Bryce Courtenay[/SIZE]
70. [SIZE=medium]She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]
71. [SIZE=medium]The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove[/SIZE]
72. [SIZE=medium]Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress[/SIZE]
73. [SIZE=medium]A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett[/SIZE]
74. [SIZE=medium]Brothers and Sisters by Bebe Moore Campbell[/SIZE]
75. [SIZE=medium]Beach Music by Pat Conroy[/SIZE]
76. [SIZE=medium]Dr. Neruda’s Cure for Evil by Rafael Iglesias[/SIZE]
77. [SIZE=medium]Lies My Teacher Taught Me by James Loewen[/SIZE]
78. [SIZE=medium]The Rainmaker by John Grisham[/SIZE]
79. [SIZE=medium]Black Cross by Greg Iles[/SIZE]
80. [SIZE=medium]I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]
81. [SIZE=medium]Empires of Sand by David Ball[/SIZE]
82. [SIZE=medium]Protect and Defend by Richard North Patterson[/SIZE]
83. [SIZE=medium]Hart’s War by John Katzenbach[/SIZE]
84. [SIZE=medium]What You Owe Me by Bebe Moore Campbell[/SIZE]
85. [SIZE=medium]Pale Horse Coming by Stephen Hunter[/SIZE]
86. [SIZE=medium]The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini[/SIZE]
87. [SIZE=medium]The Devil and Daniel Silverman by Theodore Roszak[/SIZE]
88. [SIZE=medium]Hostage by Robert Crais[/SIZE]
89. [SIZE=medium]Whitethorn by Bryce Courtenay[/SIZE]
90. [SIZE=medium]The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins[/SIZE]
91. [SIZE=medium]World Without End by Ken Follett[/SIZE]
92. [SIZE=medium]Exile by Richard North Patterson[/SIZE]
93. [SIZE=medium]A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer[/SIZE]
94. [SIZE=medium]The Help by Kathryn Stockett[/SIZE]
95. [SIZE=medium]The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perotta[/SIZE]
96. [SIZE=medium]The Confession by John Grisham[/SIZE]
97. [SIZE=medium]Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult[/SIZE]
98. [SIZE=medium]Endgame: Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall by Frank Brady[/SIZE]
99. [SIZE=medium]Sycamore Row by John Grisham[/SIZE]
100. [SIZE=medium]We Are Water by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]

too Kingy

 

[timschochet]

I wonder if any will come off the list upon another reading.

Always possible; I'll let you know.

 

[cosjobs]

For the next year, in order to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday, I am re-reading my 100 favorite books of all time. Currently on The Stand. Next up after that is Lies My Teacher Taught Me. Then Hart's War.

I'd be interested in your top 100 list.

Based on your preferences, I doubt it will be much to your taste, as it's filled with popular novels. But since you asked, here they are, in the order they were written (not in the order I'm reading them this year.):

1. [SIZE=medium]The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe[/SIZE]
2. [SIZE=medium]She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]
3. [SIZE=medium]Beach Music by Pat Conroy[/SIZE]
4. [SIZE=medium]I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]

I like some popular fiction. The above four are among my favorite books, too.

Really? Wally Lamb? I got a book on tape by him once and threw it our the window before I was 50 miles down the road.It was my first/only Lambcounter. I remember it being emotionally over-wrought, heavy-handed sentimentality with dogmatic overtones. Does that sound right?

Just looked him up. The Hour I First Believed was the one I tried to listen to. Maybe its not his finest work?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

For the next year, in order to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday, I am re-reading my 100 favorite books of all time. Currently on The Stand. Next up after that is Lies My Teacher Taught Me. Then Hart's War.

I'd be interested in your top 100 list.

Based on your preferences, I doubt it will be much to your taste, as it's filled with popular novels. But since you asked, here they are, in the order they were written (not in the order I'm reading them this year.):

1. [SIZE=medium]The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe[/SIZE]
2. [SIZE=medium]She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]
3. [SIZE=medium]Beach Music by Pat Conroy[/SIZE]
4. [SIZE=medium]I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]

I like some popular fiction. The above four are among my favorite books, too.

Really? Wally Lamb? I got a book on tape by him once and threw it our the window before I was 50 miles down the road.It was my first/only Lambcounter. I remember it being emotionally over-wrought, heavy-handed sentimentality with dogmatic overtones. Does that sound right?

Just looked him up. The Hour I First Believed was the one I tried to listen to. Maybe its not his finest work?

Yeah. Not a Lamb fan either.

 

[timschochet]

For the next year, in order to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday, I am re-reading my 100 favorite books of all time. Currently on The Stand. Next up after that is Lies My Teacher Taught Me. Then Hart's War.

I'd be interested in your top 100 list.

Based on your preferences, I doubt it will be much to your taste, as it's filled with popular novels. But since you asked, here they are, in the order they were written (not in the order I'm reading them this year.):

1. [SIZE=medium]The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe[/SIZE]
2. [SIZE=medium]She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]
3. [SIZE=medium]Beach Music by Pat Conroy[/SIZE]
4. [SIZE=medium]I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb[/SIZE]

I like some popular fiction. The above four are among my favorite books, too.

Really? Wally Lamb? I got a book on tape by him once and threw it our the window before I was 50 miles down the road.It was my first/only Lambcounter. I remember it being emotionally over-wrought, heavy-handed sentimentality with dogmatic overtones. Does that sound right?

Just looked him up. The Hour I First Believed was the one I tried to listen to. Maybe its not his finest work?

By far his worst, IMO.

 

[whoknew]

I'm about to start Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. It was recommended by a friend. Anyone read it? Good?

 

[cosjobs]

I'm about to start Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. It was recommended by a friend. Anyone read it? Good?

I'm a Paluhniuk fan, but after above five of his novels, I got bored with hi, But the first three were spectacular. I don't think it matters which three you put there. He's so oldlandish and over the top, that you'll love or hate him. But despite his his skill, his tone is always the same and gets tiresome after a while (for me, about 4.5 books). Enjoy him while you can. He reminds me of Hiassen in this respect.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'm about to start Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. It was recommended by a friend. Anyone read it? Good?

Just started this today too. I have the remix, fwiw.

 

[krista4]

For the next year, in order to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday, I am re-reading my 100 favorite books of all time. Currently on The Stand. Next up after that is Lies My Teacher Taught Me. Then Hart's War.

I'd be interested in your top 100 list.

Based on your preferences, I doubt it will be much to your taste, as it's filled with popular novels. But since you asked, here they are, in the order they were written (not in the order I'm reading them this year.):

• The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
• Shes Come Undone by Wally Lamb
• Beach Music by Pat Conroy
• I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

I like some popular fiction. The above four are among my favorite books, too.

Really? Wally Lamb? I got a book on tape by him once and threw it our the window before I was 50 miles down the road.It was my first/only Lambcounter. I remember it being emotionally over-wrought, heavy-handed sentimentality with dogmatic overtones. Does that sound right?Just looked him up. The Hour I First Believed was the one I tried to listen to. Maybe its not his finest work?

By far his worst, IMO.

Yep.

 

[shuke]

I'm about to start Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. It was recommended by a friend. Anyone read it? Good?

I really liked it. But I also have liked a lot of Palahniuk's more recent stuff like Snuff, Rant, and Haunted, and I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority there. Like I've said before, you either like his style or you don't.

 

[KarmaPolice]

For the next year, in order to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday, I am re-reading my 100 favorite books of all time. Currently on The Stand. Next up after that is Lies My Teacher Taught Me. Then Hart's War.

I'd be interested in your top 100 list.

Based on your preferences, I doubt it will be much to your taste, as it's filled with popular novels. But since you asked, here they are, in the order they were written (not in the order I'm reading them this year.):

• The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
• Shes Come Undone by Wally Lamb
• Beach Music by Pat Conroy
• I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

I like some popular fiction.

 

[oso diablo]

Started reading "Natchez Burning" by Greg Iles. About old secrets and crimes from the civil rights era in Natchez, Mississippi being dragged to light today. Only about 150 pages in so far but has all the signs of being excellent.

Has anyone read any of his other stuff?

i've read his novels from the early 2000s (from Quiet Game to Footprints of God). Pretty good southern fiction.

 

[Poke_4_Life]

Cuurently reading - [SIZE=medium]The Winds of War[/SIZE]. I'm really enjoying the book, but it seems so long. I'll probably read War and Rememberance also. In this vein I've also read Devil in the White City recently and plan to read Unbroken.

[SIZE=medium]Its a change for me, as I'm usually reading Cussler or Lee Child type books. Over the last few years I've been trying to broaden my reading. I usually read 30-50 books/year and have been on GoodReads for a while now. Also just started the Longmire series and am really enjoying it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Oh, I saw it mentioned a few pages back but I plan to read The Martian also.[/SIZE]

 

[krista4]

I realized I had stopped halfway through two books a few months ago and figured I should finish them.

First up, I had dropped out halfway through Denali's Howl, by Andy Hall. I'm fascinated with mountaineering so was excited to pick up this account of the worst single incident on Denali, which occurred in 1967 when seven climbers were lost. That said, I thought this book was a mess. Well researched but way too "clinical", with long passages giving word-for-word accounts of communications that occurred between the climbers and the Park Services, and way too little in the way of painting pictures of the actual climbers.

The author's dad was the park superintendent at the time, and I think he had a personal reason for writing this book, to address claims that rescue efforts were insufficient. The fact is, no one knows what happened or what could have been done, which is not the author's fault but an inherent weakness in telling this story. Even so, the author did nothing to make it as compelling a work as it should have been. Please, could we just agree to let Jon Krakauer write all mountain-disaster books from now on?

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'm about to start Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. It was recommended by a friend. Anyone read it? Good?

I really liked it. But I also have liked a lot of Palahniuk's more recent stuff like Snuff, Rant, and Haunted, and I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority there. Like I've said before, you either like his style or you don't.

Finished this one, and was 50/50 on it. Liked it, but at the same time felt what another posted said, and I seemed to hit a wall with Chuck's stuff. Read a few - Fight Club, Choke, Haunted, IM, Diary. Maybe it's that I usually like what he's getting at, but I don't like his style or having to hang out with the characters he ha in his worlds much.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Started a couple others:

Cabinet of Curiosities:

Remember really liking Still Life With Crows, so thought I would try another in the series (pretty sure I went out of order though?). About 100 pgs in and liking it so far.

Night Film:

Really interesting premise of the book and liking it at the start, BUT: I don't understand why seemingly a random word in every sentence is italicized and it is starting to drive me bonkers. Not sure if I will last much longer.

 

[E Street Brat]

Started a couple others:

Night Film:

Really interesting premise of the book and liking it at the start, BUT: I don't understand why seemingly a random word in every sentence is italicized and it is starting to drive me bonkers. Not sure if I will last much longer.

I just read something that did the same thing. I think it was "Creep" It drove me crazy for the first half of the book.

 

[facook]

Recently read-

First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North - Harry August is one of a group of people that when they die they are reborn and start over again in the exact life they had before, except now they can remember everything from their previous life, and from multiple previous lives depending on how many times they've died. Excellent read with some existential questions.

World of Trouble: The Last Policeman Book III by Ben Winters. Last book detailing the impending end of the world via giant asteroid strike as the protagonist, Hank Palace, tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to his sister, who disappeared with a group claiming they could save the world. Not too bad.

World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler. Starts off in a New York town with the people trying to remain civilized and functional some year after the collapse of the global economy. No gas has lead to no government and survival of the fittest. I enjoyed it a lot.

You turned me on to this series by Ben Winters. I'm reading The Last Policeman right now. Half way through, and I love it. Very highly recommended.

 

[skol asylum]

Started a couple others:

Cabinet of Curiosities:

Remember really liking Still Life With Crows, so thought I would try another in the series (pretty sure I went out of order though?). About 100 pgs in and liking it so far.

Night Film:

Really interesting premise of the book and liking it at the start, BUT: I don't understand why seemingly a random word in every sentence is italicized and it is starting to drive me bonkers. Not sure if I will last much longer.

Love the Pendergast books. Here's the order:

RELIC (1995)

RELIQUARY (1997) - Sequel to RELIC

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (2002)

STILL LIFE WITH CROWS (2003)

BRIMSTONE (2004) - Book I of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

DANCE OF DEATH (2005) - Book II of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

BOOK OF THE DEAD (2006) - Book III of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS (2007)

CEMETERY DANCE (2009)

FEVER DREAM (2010) - Book I of "The Helen Trilogy"

COLD VENGEANCE (2011) - Book II of "The Helen Trilogy"

TWO GRAVES (2012) - Book III of "The Helen Trilogy"

WHITE FIRE (2013)

Blue Labyrinth is due out later this year.

 

[Aerial Assault]

I finally finished my book on the origins of World War I (sorry to sound like a doosh; I like international/gepolitical/military history) that I'd been reading forever and remembered that it had been about three years since I'd read a work of fiction. So I started A Game of Thrones. I'm about 50-60 pages in. I get why people like it. Just the prologue by itself was very cool.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I finally finished my book on the origins of World War I (sorry to sound like a doosh; I like international/gepolitical/military history) that I'd been reading forever and remembered that it had been about three years since I'd read a work of fiction. So I started A Game of Thrones. I'm about 50-60 pages in. I get why people like it. Just the prologue by itself was very cool.

Have you been watching the TV show?

Also, you probably already know this but the book series isn't finished yet.

That said, it's a fun/crazy read.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Started a couple others:

Cabinet of Curiosities:

Remember really liking Still Life With Crows, so thought I would try another in the series (pretty sure I went out of order though?). About 100 pgs in and liking it so far.

Night Film:

Really interesting premise of the book and liking it at the start, BUT: I don't understand why seemingly a random word in every sentence is italicized and it is starting to drive me bonkers. Not sure if I will last much longer.

Love the Pendergast books. Here's the order:

RELIC (1995)

RELIQUARY (1997) - Sequel to RELIC

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (2002)

STILL LIFE WITH CROWS (2003)

BRIMSTONE (2004) - Book I of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

DANCE OF DEATH (2005) - Book II of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

BOOK OF THE DEAD (2006) - Book III of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS (2007)

CEMETERY DANCE (2009)

FEVER DREAM (2010) - Book I of "The Helen Trilogy"

COLD VENGEANCE (2011) - Book II of "The Helen Trilogy"

TWO GRAVES (2012) - Book III of "The Helen Trilogy"

WHITE FIRE (2013)

Blue Labyrinth is due out later this year.

Are they all good?

That is what I thought about the order of the one that I have. I also bought Brimstone on the cheap at a library sale or something so I have that sitting at home too, so I guess I have the next in the series too.

 

[Sand]

Recently read-

First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North - Harry August is one of a group of people that when they die they are reborn and start over again in the exact life they had before, except now they can remember everything from their previous life, and from multiple previous lives depending on how many times they've died. Excellent read with some existential questions.

World of Trouble: The Last Policeman Book III by Ben Winters. Last book detailing the impending end of the world via giant asteroid strike as the protagonist, Hank Palace, tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to his sister, who disappeared with a group claiming they could save the world. Not too bad.

World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler. Starts off in a New York town with the people trying to remain civilized and functional some year after the collapse of the global economy. No gas has lead to no government and survival of the fittest. I enjoyed it a lot.

You turned me on to this series by Ben Winters. I'm reading The Last Policeman right now. Half way through, and I love it. Very highly recommended.

Excellent story.

Right now I'm reading Hollow Space, which appears to have lots of influence from Douglas Adams (a good thing). Good reviews, we'll see how it turns out.

 

[igbomb]

Started a couple others:

Cabinet of Curiosities:

Remember really liking Still Life With Crows, so thought I would try another in the series (pretty sure I went out of order though?). About 100 pgs in and liking it so far.

Night Film:

Really interesting premise of the book and liking it at the start, BUT: I don't understand why seemingly a random word in every sentence is italicized and it is starting to drive me bonkers. Not sure if I will last much longer.

Love the Pendergast books. Here's the order:

RELIC (1995)

RELIQUARY (1997) - Sequel to RELIC

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (2002)

STILL LIFE WITH CROWS (2003)

BRIMSTONE (2004) - Book I of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

DANCE OF DEATH (2005) - Book II of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

BOOK OF THE DEAD (2006) - Book III of "The Diogenes Trilogy"

THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS (2007)

CEMETERY DANCE (2009)

FEVER DREAM (2010) - Book I of "The Helen Trilogy"

COLD VENGEANCE (2011) - Book II of "The Helen Trilogy"

TWO GRAVES (2012) - Book III of "The Helen Trilogy"

WHITE FIRE (2013)

Blue Labyrinth is due out later this year.

Are they all good?

That is what I thought about the order of the one that I have. I also bought Brimstone on the cheap at a library sale or something so I have that sitting at home too, so I guess I have the next in the series too.

They're better than most but the first several, especially Cabinet of Curiosities, are far better than the rest.

 

[skol asylum]

Agreed that they tail off a little at the end but I still like them.

 

[igbomb]

Recently read-

First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North - Harry August is one of a group of people that when they die they are reborn and start over again in the exact life they had before, except now they can remember everything from their previous life, and from multiple previous lives depending on how many times they've died. Excellent read with some existential questions.

World of Trouble: The Last Policeman Book III by Ben Winters. Last book detailing the impending end of the world via giant asteroid strike as the protagonist, Hank Palace, tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to his sister, who disappeared with a group claiming they could save the world. Not too bad.

World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler. Starts off in a New York town with the people trying to remain civilized and functional some year after the collapse of the global economy. No gas has lead to no government and survival of the fittest. I enjoyed it a lot.

You turned me on to this series by Ben Winters. I'm reading The Last Policeman right now. Half way through, and I love it. Very highly recommended.

Really liked this series. And the last book was the best of them. Great wrap-up to a pretty cool series.

 

[Aerial Assault]

I finally finished my book on the origins of World War I (sorry to sound like a doosh; I like international/gepolitical/military history) that I'd been reading forever and remembered that it had been about three years since I'd read a work of fiction. So I started A Game of Thrones. I'm about 50-60 pages in. I get why people like it. Just the prologue by itself was very cool.

Have you been watching the TV show?

Also, you probably already know this but the book series isn't finished yet.

That said, it's a fun/crazy read.

Not really; I have seen only a couple of episodes, and none complete, so figure maybe parts of three different eps. I sort of know the drift of the story (for example, Daenerys' character progression is hardly a surprise just based on her first appearance in A Game of Thrones and it's also pretty clear what's going to happen to Jon Snow, if I'm remembering his name right), so I don't think I've ruined myself at all by catching those few partial eps here and there. Actually, various people have gifted me the whole series on DVD to date, so I can catch up on the TV version whenever I want.

Right, I read something about Martin staying ahead of, or trying to stay ahead of, the TV show. Really interesting.

Yeah, agreed - - AGOT is very cool so far. As an LOTR reader since I was about seven or eight I think, I have to measure it against that standard, but the unreliable narration and changing writing style as a result of the shift in character perspective by chapter caught me off guard and was a pleasant surprise. And as I mentioned before, the prologue (and the fate of Ser Waymar Royce and his ranging party) was enough to hook me. And I already know my favorite character will be Daenerys.

 

[Swing 51]

I finally finished my book on the origins of World War I (sorry to sound like a doosh; I like international/gepolitical/military history) that I'd been reading forever and remembered that it had been about three years since I'd read a work of fiction. So I started A Game of Thrones. I'm about 50-60 pages in. I get why people like it. Just the prologue by itself was very cool.

Have you been watching the TV show?

Also, you probably already know this but the book series isn't finished yet.

That said, it's a fun/crazy read.

And I already know my favorite character will be Daenerys.

Oh we'll see about that...

 

[Sand]

I finally finished my book on the origins of World War I (sorry to sound like a doosh; I like international/gepolitical/military history) that I'd been reading forever and remembered that it had been about three years since I'd read a work of fiction. So I started A Game of Thrones. I'm about 50-60 pages in. I get why people like it. Just the prologue by itself was very cool.

Have you been watching the TV show?

Also, you probably already know this but the book series isn't finished yet.

That said, it's a fun/crazy read.

And I already know my favorite character will be Daenerys.

Oh we'll see about that...

Well, she does have the nicest ### of the cast members, so there's that.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Recently read-

First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North - Harry August is one of a group of people that when they die they are reborn and start over again in the exact life they had before, except now they can remember everything from their previous life, and from multiple previous lives depending on how many times they've died. Excellent read with some existential questions.

World of Trouble: The Last Policeman Book III by Ben Winters. Last book detailing the impending end of the world via giant asteroid strike as the protagonist, Hank Palace, tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to his sister, who disappeared with a group claiming they could save the world. Not too bad.

World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler. Starts off in a New York town with the people trying to remain civilized and functional some year after the collapse of the global economy. No gas has lead to no government and survival of the fittest. I enjoyed it a lot.

You turned me on to this series by Ben Winters. I'm reading The Last Policeman right now. Half way through, and I love it. Very highly recommended.

Really liked this series. And the last book was the best of them. Great wrap-up to a pretty cool series.

I've had Last Policeman on my wish list seemingly forever. I'm going there next.

Right now I'm reading Doc: A Novel about Doc Holliday. The author appears to have cut through much of the myth about Doc, the Earps, Bat Masterson, and others. It's well-written and kind of fun, but nothing special.

 

[Swing 51]

Recently read-

First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North - Harry August is one of a group of people that when they die they are reborn and start over again in the exact life they had before, except now they can remember everything from their previous life, and from multiple previous lives depending on how many times they've died. Excellent read with some existential questions.

World of Trouble: The Last Policeman Book III by Ben Winters. Last book detailing the impending end of the world via giant asteroid strike as the protagonist, Hank Palace, tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to his sister, who disappeared with a group claiming they could save the world. Not too bad.

World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler. Starts off in a New York town with the people trying to remain civilized and functional some year after the collapse of the global economy. No gas has lead to no government and survival of the fittest. I enjoyed it a lot.

You turned me on to this series by Ben Winters. I'm reading The Last Policeman right now. Half way through, and I love it. Very highly recommended.

Really liked this series. And the last book was the best of them. Great wrap-up to a pretty cool series.

Right now I'm reading Doc: A Novel about Doc Holliday. The author appears to have cut through much of the myth about Doc, the Earps, Bat Masterson, and others. It's well-written and kind of fun, but nothing special.

By Mary Doria Russell? I really liked that book. Like you said quite different from what we've (me at least) thought about Doc over the years. HBO supposedly acquired the rights but not sure where the production stands.

 

[Aerial Assault]

I finally finished my book on the origins of World War I (sorry to sound like a doosh; I like international/gepolitical/military history) that I'd been reading forever and remembered that it had been about three years since I'd read a work of fiction. So I started A Game of Thrones. I'm about 50-60 pages in. I get why people like it. Just the prologue by itself was very cool.

Have you been watching the TV show?

Also, you probably already know this but the book series isn't finished yet.

That said, it's a fun/crazy read.

And I already know my favorite character will be Daenerys.

Oh we'll see about that...

I'll keep you posted.

 

[Mister Martie]

Think I am going to re-read the brilliant Gene Wolf 3 book Latro in the Mist series, which ends with the masterpiece Soldier of Sidon.

I am very glad this incredibly gifted writer chose SF/fantasy as his genre, as I think it gave him a broader canvass to create on. I think he is probably one of the 5-10 greatest living English writers. Maybe of all time. He is now in his 80s and wont be with us much longer but is still very prolific. I highly recommend him to anyone who enjoys literary SF/fantasy, who wants to be mentally and creatively challenged, and who wants to think about what he/she is reading, all while enjoying the beautiful language.

One of my favorite writers of all time.

 

[Todd Andrews]

Think I am going to re-read the brilliant Gene Wolf 3 book Latro in the Mist series, which ends with the masterpiece Soldier of Sidon.

I am very glad this incredibly gifted writer chose SF/fantasy as his genre, as I think it gave him a broader canvass to create on. I think he is probably one of the 5-10 greatest living English writers. Maybe of all time. He is now in his 80s and wont be with us much longer but is still very prolific. I highly recommend him to anyone who enjoys literary SF/fantasy, who wants to be mentally and creatively challenged, and who wants to think about what he/she is reading, all while enjoying the beautiful language.

One of my favorite writers of all time.

True artist. Brilliant.

 

[Foosball God]

Finally finished The Stand, for some reason I struggled through the last quarter of the book. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't drawing me in so that I couldn't stop reading.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Recently read-

First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North - Harry August is one of a group of people that when they die they are reborn and start over again in the exact life they had before, except now they can remember everything from their previous life, and from multiple previous lives depending on how many times they've died. Excellent read with some existential questions.

World of Trouble: The Last Policeman Book III by Ben Winters. Last book detailing the impending end of the world via giant asteroid strike as the protagonist, Hank Palace, tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to his sister, who disappeared with a group claiming they could save the world. Not too bad.

World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler. Starts off in a New York town with the people trying to remain civilized and functional some year after the collapse of the global economy. No gas has lead to no government and survival of the fittest. I enjoyed it a lot.

You turned me on to this series by Ben Winters. I'm reading The Last Policeman right now. Half way through, and I love it. Very highly recommended.

Really liked this series. And the last book was the best of them. Great wrap-up to a pretty cool series.

Right now I'm reading Doc: A Novel about Doc Holliday. The author appears to have cut through much of the myth about Doc, the Earps, Bat Masterson, and others. It's well-written and kind of fun, but nothing special.

By Mary Doria Russell? I really liked that book. Like you said quite different from what we've (me at least) thought about Doc over the years. HBO supposedly acquired the rights but not sure where the production stands.

Yep. I think what's lowering it a notch for me is:

1. She says in her introduction that, while she enjoys the movie Tombstone, it's incredibly fictionalized (well, duh). She then has at least half a dozen direct or almost-so quotes characters in the film use.

2. I think she tries a little too hard sometimes for a McMurtry vibe.

Now, both of those are probably perception issues on my part but they bug me a smidge. As I said, it is written well. She does a nice jobs separating characters who could all run together. And she really does a nice job inserting origin stories for a dozen or so characters throughout the book.

 

[Tom Skerritt]

Just finished Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami. Recommended by my BIL. Liked it very much. Dark, introspective, alienating, and suspenseful.

 

[FUBAR]

Just finished supreme command by Eliot cohen. Decent read if you're interested in the civ-mil relationship and a cursory glimpse into Lincoln, Churchill, Ben-Gurion and Clemenceau.

Now onto supersurvivors by Feldman and Kravetz.

 

[oso diablo]

David Mitchell's (Cloud Atlas) latest: The Bone Clocks

 

[The_Man]

David Mitchell's (Cloud Atlas) latest: The Bone Clocks

Just read this, and I think a lot of people here might like it. Cloud Atlas is one of the best books I've read in the last 5 years. Bone Clocks has a lot of the same elements, but in a much more conventional narrative structure and - surprisingly - in a book that has to be categorized as modern fantasy.

I really enjoyed it, though I thought there was a little too much mumbo-jumbo explaining the metaphysics of the fantasy element. I would have been happier just taking the fantasy stuff at face value instead of having it explained to me - in the same way the Force is cool in Star Wars, but learning about midichlorians is a major drag in Phantom Menace.

That being said, I have had dreams about the book the last two nights since I finished it, so it is obviously resonating with me. There are some great characters, including a faux Martin Amis. Mitchell is a tremendous writer and I am curious to see how a fantasy novel by a "literary" writer will be received.

 

[Hastur]

I started reading "On Writing" by Stephen King, with "Elements of Style" up next.

Also, my list of books to get next are:

Writing Great Fiction: Plot and Structure

Writing down the bones

Writing Tools

Bird by Bird

On Writing well

Any others that come to mind?

 

[The_Man]

I started reading "On Writing" by Stephen King, with "Elements of Style" up next.

Any others that come to mind?

On Writing is a great book. Are you specifically looking for books about the nuts and bolts of writing, or are you open to a narrative that shows, rather than tells, what trying to be a writer can be like? If so, I'd suggest "A Fan's Notes" by Frederick Exley.

 

[Hastur]

I started reading "On Writing" by Stephen King, with "Elements of Style" up next.

Any others that come to mind?

On Writing is a great book. Are you specifically looking for books about the nuts and bolts of writing, or are you open to a narrative that shows, rather than tells, what trying to be a writer can be like? If so, I'd suggest "A Fan's Notes" by Frederick Exley.

More of the nuts and bolts, but I am open to reading other types re: writing as well. I'll put "A Fan's Notes" onto my list. Thanks!

 

[Ilov80s]

Blood Meridian which is taking me forever. Not because of the book's quality, just my schedule. Cormac McCarthy always blows me away. I have to re-read sentences over and over because they are just so perfect.

 

[Freelove]

I started reading "On Writing" by Stephen King, with "Elements of Style" up next.

Also, my list of books to get next are:

Writing Great Fiction: Plot and Structure

Writing down the bones

Writing Tools

Bird by Bird

On Writing well

Any others that come to mind?

Bolded what I feel are probably the two most useless "essential" writing books of all time. New agey and feel-good, without any real meat for the sincerely aspiring writer. Great if you need a little rah rah push, but if you need inspiration, writing ain't for you anyway. Not that they don't have their fans and adherents, but as a publishing guy, I wouldn't recommend either to anyone I felt had promise.

The King's good, and S&W is pretty much mandatory to at least understand (so you can actively decide when to ignore its advice).

If you aspire to write great short fiction, look at Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular by Rust Hills. Probably still the only worthwhile manual ever written on the literary short.

If you aspire to literary novel-length stuff, The Art of Fiction, and On Becoming a Novelist, by John Gardner. There'll be some carryover from the King book, but Gardner goes a lot more in-depth, provides the deepest portrait you'll find of the young artist growing into an award-winning novelist, and gives writing exercises that are standard prompts in many of the Writers' Workshop model MFA schools around the country.

If you just want to write some fun little books and get published, ignore all of the above, and just read heavily in-genre. Then maybe (maybe, mind you) get yourself a copy of The Marshall Plan if you're having trouble getting started or otherwise find yourself lacking direction, plotwise. It's pure formula, but it's a tried-and-true one that has pretty much limitless applications. If strict formula galls you, J.K. Rowling did okay for herself just kind of following Aristotle's Poetics.

Good luck with it.

 

[facook]

A Brilliant World, book two of Marcus Sakey's Brilliance trilogy. Really good. I highly recommend this series.

 

[Hastur]

I started reading "On Writing" by Stephen King, with "Elements of Style" up next.

Also, my list of books to get next are:

Writing Great Fiction: Plot and Structure

Writing down the bones

Writing Tools

Bird by Bird

On Writing well

Any others that come to mind?

Bolded what I feel are probably the two most useless "essential" writing books of all time. New agey and feel-good, without any real meat for the sincerely aspiring writer. Great if you need a little rah rah push, but if you need inspiration, writing ain't for you anyway. Not that they don't have their fans and adherents, but as a publishing guy, I wouldn't recommend either to anyone I felt had promise.

The King's good, and S&W is pretty much mandatory to at least understand (so you can actively decide when to ignore its advice).

If you aspire to write great short fiction, look at Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular by Rust Hills. Probably still the only worthwhile manual ever written on the literary short.

If you aspire to literary novel-length stuff, The Art of Fiction, and On Becoming a Novelist, by John Gardner. There'll be some carryover from the King book, but Gardner goes a lot more in-depth, provides the deepest portrait you'll find of the young artist growing into an award-winning novelist, and gives writing exercises that are standard prompts in many of the Writers' Workshop model MFA schools around the country.

If you just want to write some fun little books and get published, ignore all of the above, and just read heavily in-genre. Then maybe (maybe, mind you) get yourself a copy of The Marshall Plan if you're having trouble getting started or otherwise find yourself lacking direction, plotwise. It's pure formula, but it's a tried-and-true one that has pretty much limitless applications. If strict formula galls you, J.K. Rowling did okay for herself just kind of following Aristotle's Poetics.

Good luck with it.

I have heard that 'Bird by Bird' was more new-agey than not, but several writing websites have it on their 'must read' list. This kind of 'seals the deal', and I will skip it.

Thanks for the advice! I will put your suggestions into the rotation.

 

[Todd Andrews]

Just finished Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami. Recommended by my BIL. Liked it very much. Dark, introspective, alienating, and suspenseful.

I havent read this one yet, but Murakami is another brilliant writer.

 

[Swing 51]

Finished Galveston by Nic Pizzolatto (aka the creator and writer of HBO's True Detective). Debut novel from a few years ago, pretty good read.

Next up is Nothing to Lose, Jack Reacher book 12.