Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (5 Viewers)

[Maelstrom]

Wanted to get into an Alternate History type book. Buddy from the gym recommended this one:

Worldwar: In The Balance

Basically aliens invade Earth during WWII. Pretty interesting concept.

There's two or three of Turtledove's books in that particular series, isn't there? (too lazy to look it up) If you end up liking his work, like I sort of do, try his massive series where the South wins the initial Civil War. That one goes on for 80 years of craziness. Nothing like Confederate tanks bogging down in Pittsburgh to jumpstart your imagination.

Yeah. There's 3. He actually just did a really cool thing. There's a guy dying from cancer, has about 2 months to live. He forwarded him a copy of his newest book that doesn't come out til the summer, and is willing to tell the guy how the whole thing ends. I'll link a video when I find it.Here's the link: Turtledove

Sometimes his work is meandering and repetitive but you can't help but like a guy who cheerfully lists on his cover biographies "After flunking out of UCLA....."

I really enjoyed that series, there was actually 4 books in WorldWar series and 3 more in the Colonization series that was basically a continuation. I liked how he referenced the real characters from that time, and even real events, but then it takes off in a different direction.I couldn't get into any of the other alternate history books he's written, must be something about WWII and aliens that resonated with me. (Generally a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, so I guess that makes sense.)

 

[KarmaPolice]

Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale was very good.

This has been on my shelf for years but never got around to it. Bumping it up the queue.

I read it several years ago and thought it was good, but I wouldn't go very good.

Love Atwood's writing, and I think A Handmaid's Tale and The Blind Assassin are her best.

 

[Rick James]

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Pollan delves into the reasons why we, as a society, think about food differently than the rest of the world. I'm about half finished, and it's been a very interesting read.

 

[beer 30]

Getting ready to start Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

Read this over the holiday and quite enjoyed it. Feel like the story was cut off too abruptly at the end - almost like he was on a deadline to finish the book. Could use a sequel. Any other similar genre recommendations out there?

Lucifer's Hammer was so good you almost don't notice that it was written in 1977 and computers played little role in the plot.You might also like Footfall, another Niven and Pournelle collaboration, this one about a fairly interesting invasion from outer space. If it's comparable to anything, it might be to Harry Turtledove's series about the same subject.

not sure if this is close as i haven't read those books, but just finished lights out.it's about a EMP (electric magnetic pulse) being set off taking out all power and the events that unfold for some people trying to get by.

thought it was really good.

Is this the one where they hole up in the mountains of North Carolina? Or just a similar-sounding novel?

no, they are in texas.1 second after is the 1 i think you are talking about, which was just recomended to me.

I'm sure you're right and I appreciate the refresher. I think we actually talked about One Second After earlier in this thread. Had an interesting story line but was very poorly edited, was the consensus.Will definitely check out Lights Out.

Big fan of One Second After, probably because it is set about 2 hours from where I live in Asheville, NC so it really hit home should something like this ever occur. Quick, easy read.

 

[PizzaDeliveryGuy]

Scoop was very entertaining. It well worth the quick read and has a lot of laughs in it.

Next up is The Tale Of The Genji. This may take a month or so.

Still hammering away. I don't think I would put it high in a rec list but I am past the point of no return.

 

[Bronx Bomber]

I haven't read this entire post so In not sure of this has been mentioned yet, but I'm reading the 'Prey' series by John Sandford. There's like 23 books all with this detective Davenport. I'm on the 5th on and really enjoying them.

http://www.johnsandford.org/books.html

 

[sports_fan]

"The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" by Tom Wolfe

I'm about 1/3 of the way through. It's a 1960s period piece on the hippies counterculture. Wild ride so far.

 

[Jutz]

The Visible Man: Chuck Klosterman - I just started reading this book. Not very far into it, but it is pretty good so far.

This is not your standard CK book about pop culture and sports. This is a fiction novel. His previous attempt at a fiction novel, Downtown Owl, was not received well at all. I read it and thought it was pretty good so I thought I would give this a try.

The basic premis is a guy figures out how to make a 'cloaking device' that allows him to essentially be invisible. He doesn't use this power for anything corrupt. He doesn't spy on people to get secrets, or peep on women. He just observes people that are hanging out by themself. He says he feels the only way you can truely know what somone is like is by seeing what they do when they are alone. He has a moral delimma with this as it seem immoral to do such 'spying' but since he is not doing anything destructive with his device he is compelled to do it.

That's about all I got so far. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks for the tip on this one. One of the most interesting books I've read in a long time.

No problem. You actually finished the book before I did. I saw this post last night and I only had a few chapters left, so I finished it. It was really good. I thought it was unique at a time where that is difficult to achieve.

 

[Daywalker]

After more than a decade I just finished a reread of David Halberstam's October 1964. The fact that this is one of his lesser known books demonstrates just how good he was. He was remarkable in his ability to capture the inherent conflict of generational changes.

100 pages into "The Breaks of the Game." Sublime.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm almost done with the first book in Butcher's Dresden Files - Storm Front - and am enjoying it. It's written in first-person in a kind of a hard-boiled detective style. The difference between this series and those 40s/50s detective noirs is that the main character is a wizard who is sort of a PI and helps the police solves crimes in present-day Chicago. Dresden being a wizard doesn't make him all-powerful, though - for instance, his magic plays hell with electronics (can't use a cell phone, elevators break down when he's on them, light bulbs explode) - and sometimes hinders him. His narration goes down pretty easy and there are some downright funny passages. There's nothing real deep going on and I'm hoping Dresden gets a little more "gray" as the series progresses. But it's a quick, breezy read and I hear the later books are better than the first couple.

 

[Instinctive]

When Religion Becomes Evil: 5 Warning Signs, by Charles Kimball - really interesting read

 

[The Flying Elvis]

Just finished Cloud Atlas... About 1/3 through I wasn't feeling it a lot but onc the Somni chapters began I became real invested. It was a pretty interesting experience reading the Zachry chapters, had to go through it real slow and deliberate. I am not sure I would recommend the book to everyone because it isn't very traditional but it was definitely worth the read and makes you think.

 

[Sand]

When Religion Becomes Evil: 5 Warning Signs, by Charles Kimball - really interesting read

Just finished Born to Run. Not the revelation I've heard the book is, but a solid B.Switching over to the religious historical theme I'm reading God's Jury: The Inquisition and the Making of the Modern World. Pretty good so far, we'll see how it holds up.

Next up is Unbroken and The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Just finished Talent Code, good book.

Now moving onto War Room, before the NFL Draft kicks into gear.

 

[The_Man]

Just started reading "The Fear Index," the new book by Robert Harris, and it is awesome. I really, really like Harris - he wrote Fatherland (a detective mystery set in an alternate 1960s Germany where the Nazis won WWII), The Ghost (made into the movie "The Ghost Writer" a couple of years ago), and a couple historical novels about Cicero. Only about 100 pages in, but I highly recommend it so far.

 

[Instinctive]

Finally got some reading time the past couple days:

The Affair, by Lee Child - newest Jack Reacher novel. I always enjoy Reacher books.

The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games

Catching Fire

Mockingjay

All three were good, quicker reads than I expected, but not groundbreaking or exceptional like everyone makes them out to be.

 

[Joe Mammy]

Big fan of crime noir. Have been consuming some of the new guys- Charlie Huston, Duane Swarzinkski and Dave Zeltserman. All great stuff and refreshing to see new writers churning out classic crime noir pulp.

But now I am stuck on the master, Jim Thompson. I started with "The Killer Inside Me", written in '52 and it was amazingly chilling and you knew this guy is just not right! Just finished "Pop 1280" which was not only scary as hell but LOL funny. Read about 5 with 24 to go, very tough to put down.

Kubrick worked with Thompson on many movie screenplays and said the man would show up to meetings quite drunk and imposing. The cover of The Killer Inside Me has a Kubrick quote on the cover, "probably the most chilling and believable first-person story of a criminally warped mind i have ever encountered."

 

[The Flying Elvis]

Starting Infinite Jest... Wish me luck. Is it worth it to labor through it?

 

[The_Man]

Starting Infinite Jest... Wish me luck. Is it worth it to labor through it?

Well worth it, though it takes a lot of effort. Twice I started and bailed out around 150 pages in, before I got over the hump on my third go-round. Before starting that third time, I read some of Wallace's non-fiction to get used to his style and made it go much, much easier. Kind of like getting acclimated to altitude before making a try at the summit.

 

[Swing 51]

The Affair, by Lee Child - newest Jack Reacher novel. I always enjoy Reacher books.

Is it true that one doesn't need to read the Jack Reacher books in order? No back story from book 1 is needed to know what is happening in book 11 for example?

 

[Maelstrom]

Reading Lucifer's Hammer right now. Pretty decent book so far, despite having been written in the late 70s.

 

[Sand]

Reading Lucifer's Hammer right now. Pretty decent book so far, despite having been written in the late 70s.

Did we even have printing presses back then?

 

[Bengalsfan]

Just started "Rise to Rebellion" by Jeff Shaara tonight.

 

[Jutz]

Just started Men, Women, and Children by Chad Kultgen the author of The Average American Male & The Lie. I read both of those and liked both.

 

[steelerfan1]

The Affair, by Lee Child - newest Jack Reacher novel. I always enjoy Reacher books.

Is it true that one doesn't need to read the Jack Reacher books in order? No back story from book 1 is needed to know what is happening in book 11 for example?

here's what lee says about it.

 

[kupcho1]

Starting Infinite Jest... Wish me luck. Is it worth it to labor through it?

Well worth it, though it takes a lot of effort. Twice I started and bailed out around 150 pages in, before I got over the hump on my third go-round. Before starting that third time, I read some of Wallace's non-fiction to get used to his style and made it go much, much easier. Kind of like getting acclimated to altitude before making a try at the summit.

I'm boggled by why people think IJ is so tough to read. On a scale of 1 to Finnegans Wake it's maybe a 7. Highly enjoyable book. There will be sections and characters that stay with you for a long, long time.

 

[Instinctive]

The Affair, by Lee Child - newest Jack Reacher novel. I always enjoy Reacher books.

Is it true that one doesn't need to read the Jack Reacher books in order? No back story from book 1 is needed to know what is happening in book 11 for example?

here's what lee says about it.

I think you could read them three ways:1. However you want, like the order in which you obtain them. Randomly, basically.

2. Order written

3. Chronologically - that would put the one I just read like 2nd I think. Maybe 1st.

I would definitely recommend reading in the order he wrote them. I think that, for instance, The Affair (which I just read) is something I enjoyed a lot more by knowing some things about what happened, and the fact that the book answered questions for me that I wouldn't have known to even ask if I started with this book.

TO unpack, I mean that I knew from past books I had read that something had happened to end Reacher's military career. There were always hints and references to it in other books, but it just kind of built the mystery for me - that added to this book when I read it.

 

[shuke]

Reading Lucifer's Hammer right now. Pretty decent book so far, despite having been written in the late 70s.

Did we even have printing presses back then?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. I loved this book. I listened to the audiobook in the car, which was well done with a full voice cast. I may go back and read this one, since it is a long book with a ton of themes and I listened to it over many short drives in the car.

Skippy Dies is one of the best books I've read in years. I highly recommend it.

Was just catching up with this thread yesterday. Picked this one up at the library today.

 

[Swing 51]

The Affair, by Lee Child - newest Jack Reacher novel. I always enjoy Reacher books.

Is it true that one doesn't need to read the Jack Reacher books in order? No back story from book 1 is needed to know what is happening in book 11 for example?

here's what lee says about it.

I think you could read them three ways:1. However you want, like the order in which you obtain them. Randomly, basically.

2. Order written

3. Chronologically - that would put the one I just read like 2nd I think. Maybe 1st.

I would definitely recommend reading in the order he wrote them. I think that, for instance, The Affair (which I just read) is something I enjoyed a lot more by knowing some things about what happened, and the fact that the book answered questions for me that I wouldn't have known to even ask if I started with this book.

TO unpack, I mean that I knew from past books I had read that something had happened to end Reacher's military career. There were always hints and references to it in other books, but it just kind of built the mystery for me - that added to this book when I read it.

Thanks fellas

 

[Maelstrom]

Reading Lucifer's Hammer right now. Pretty decent book so far, despite having been written in the late 70s.

Did we even have printing presses back then?

I deserve that. Not exactly what I meant though - for the topic matter, it could easily be dated by the time period it was written in. In this case, the story holds up pretty well.

 

[Instinctive]

The Affair, by Lee Child - newest Jack Reacher novel. I always enjoy Reacher books.

Is it true that one doesn't need to read the Jack Reacher books in order? No back story from book 1 is needed to know what is happening in book 11 for example?

here's what lee says about it.

I think you could read them three ways:1. However you want, like the order in which you obtain them. Randomly, basically.

2. Order written

3. Chronologically - that would put the one I just read like 2nd I think. Maybe 1st.

I would definitely recommend reading in the order he wrote them. I think that, for instance, The Affair (which I just read) is something I enjoyed a lot more by knowing some things about what happened, and the fact that the book answered questions for me that I wouldn't have known to even ask if I started with this book.

TO unpack, I mean that I knew from past books I had read that something had happened to end Reacher's military career. There were always hints and references to it in other books, but it just kind of built the mystery for me - that added to this book when I read it.

Thanks fellas

NP - and I would highly recommend them. Great reads, pretty much every single one.

 

[Sand]

Reading Lucifer's Hammer right now. Pretty decent book so far, despite having been written in the late 70s.

Did we even have printing presses back then?

I deserve that. Not exactly what I meant though - for the topic matter, it could easily be dated by the time period it was written in. In this case, the story holds up pretty well.

Yeah - we need a :softball: smiley. BTW, if you liked that have you read Greg Bear's Forge of God and Anvil of Stars? Those are the best books in that genre that I've read.

 

[Maelstrom]

Reading Lucifer's Hammer right now. Pretty decent book so far, despite having been written in the late 70s.

Did we even have printing presses back then?

I deserve that. Not exactly what I meant though - for the topic matter, it could easily be dated by the time period it was written in. In this case, the story holds up pretty well.

Yeah - we need a :softball: smiley. BTW, if you liked that have you read Greg Bear's Forge of God and Anvil of Stars? Those are the best books in that genre that I've read.

No, but they are on my list now. Thanks! Not really the same genre but was also looking at "The Mote in God's Eye" by Niven and Pournelle.

 

[TexanFan02]

Reading Lucifer's Hammer right now. Pretty decent book so far, despite having been written in the late 70s.

Did we even have printing presses back then?

I deserve that. Not exactly what I meant though - for the topic matter, it could easily be dated by the time period it was written in. In this case, the story holds up pretty well.

Yeah - we need a :softball: smiley. BTW, if you liked that have you read Greg Bear's Forge of God and Anvil of Stars? Those are the best books in that genre that I've read.

No, but they are on my list now. Thanks! Not really the same genre but was also looking at "The Mote in God's Eye" by Niven and Pournelle.

It's really good. The sequel is not as good.

 

[Sand]

BTW, if you liked that have you read Greg Bear's Forge of God and Anvil of Stars? Those are the best books in that genre that I've read.

No, but they are on my list now. Thanks!

Good - they're awesome. In fact, those two books would make for spectacular movie adaptations. They are Greg Bear's best, along with Eon.

Also, just finished up Endurance: Shackelton's Incredible Voyage. Unreal story, and one that would seem fictional unless you knew that it was biographical. I could not give this any higher praise.

 

[D_House]

I'd make a strong recommendation for Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. That's the book that the TV show, Homicide: Life on the Street, was based upon. Great read.

I recently finished this David Simon (creator of The Wire) book. It's a very good true crime view of the homicide detective's work. Simon spends the year 1989 with Baltimore murder police and tells the stories of the detectives and the cases they work, while also taking the time to describe the criminal justice system and the culture and politics of Baltimore city and its police department.It's a very detailed work, and for that reason I don't think that I'd recommend it to everyone. It's necessarily very long, and since Simon obviously used this experience as source material for a lot of his later work, if you've seen Homicide or The Wire, you've already absorbed the vast majority of Simon's perspectives on inner cities and the police that work them. I'd only recommend the book to those that really want to know the details of how a murder case was investigated in mid-1980s Baltimore or obsessive Homicide/Wire fanatics.

 

[Swing 51]

The Affair, by Lee Child - newest Jack Reacher novel. I always enjoy Reacher books.

Is it true that one doesn't need to read the Jack Reacher books in order? No back story from book 1 is needed to know what is happening in book 11 for example?

here's what lee says about it.

I think you could read them three ways:1. However you want, like the order in which you obtain them. Randomly, basically.

2. Order written

3. Chronologically - that would put the one I just read like 2nd I think. Maybe 1st.

I would definitely recommend reading in the order he wrote them. I think that, for instance, The Affair (which I just read) is something I enjoyed a lot more by knowing some things about what happened, and the fact that the book answered questions for me that I wouldn't have known to even ask if I started with this book.

TO unpack, I mean that I knew from past books I had read that something had happened to end Reacher's military career. There were always hints and references to it in other books, but it just kind of built the mystery for me - that added to this book when I read it.

Thanks fellas

NP - and I would highly recommend them. Great reads, pretty much every single one.

Finished Killing Floor (Reacher book #1) last nite. Good read. Stayed away from the familiar cliches for the most part.I'm assuming all of the Reacher novels have the same writing style/feeling?

 

[Brady Marino]

Finished up The Hunger Games over the weekend and starting into Catching Fire. Thought it was a pretty entertaining read. I can see where some would say it's written for teenage girls in mind as the story goes through the eyes of the main character, but I was still pretty entertained. Pretty well written and thought it was a FAST read. Couldn't put the book down once the actual Games started.

I hear the two books that follow (Catching Fire and Mockingjay) are lackluster in comparison, but hopefully they're at least as half as entertaining as Hunger Games was.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Finished up The Hunger Games over the weekend and starting into Catching Fire. Thought it was a pretty entertaining read. I can see where some would say it's written for teenage girls in mind as the story goes through the eyes of the main character, but I was still pretty entertained. Pretty well written and thought it was a FAST read. Couldn't put the book down once the actual Games started.I hear the two books that follow (Catching Fire and Mockingjay) are lackluster in comparison, but hopefully they're at least as half as entertaining as Hunger Games was.

I'm about where you are - 2nd book, maybe 1/2 way through. Entertaining reads, if not high literature.

 

[Brady Marino]

Finished up The Hunger Games over the weekend and starting into Catching Fire. Thought it was a pretty entertaining read. I can see where some would say it's written for teenage girls in mind as the story goes through the eyes of the main character, but I was still pretty entertained. Pretty well written and thought it was a FAST read. Couldn't put the book down once the actual Games started.I hear the two books that follow (Catching Fire and Mockingjay) are lackluster in comparison, but hopefully they're at least as half as entertaining as Hunger Games was.

I'm about where you are - 2nd book, maybe 1/2 way through. Entertaining reads, if not high literature.

No, definitely not. But then again, you're not expecting a book written through the eyes of a 16 year old girl to exactly be Shakespeare, either. If it was, then it'd probably suck, actually.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Finished up The Hunger Games over the weekend and starting into Catching Fire. Thought it was a pretty entertaining read. I can see where some would say it's written for teenage girls in mind as the story goes through the eyes of the main character, but I was still pretty entertained. Pretty well written and thought it was a FAST read. Couldn't put the book down once the actual Games started.I hear the two books that follow (Catching Fire and Mockingjay) are lackluster in comparison, but hopefully they're at least as half as entertaining as Hunger Games was.

I'm about where you are - 2nd book, maybe 1/2 way through. Entertaining reads, if not high literature.

No, definitely not. But then again, you're not expecting a book written through the eyes of a 16 year old girl to exactly be Shakespeare, either. If it was, then it'd probably suck, actually.

I think anyone who liked Bachman's "The Running Man" (NOT the movie) or "The Long Walk" will like it.

 

[JFT Ben]

I think anyone who liked Bachman's "The Running Man" (NOT the movie) or "The Long Walk" will like it.

I think I've said it before, but if you liked Hunger Games, check out Battle Royale (a translated japanese book by Koushun Takami). Totally awesome (though does get a little confusing with all the japanese names) and in same vein.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I think anyone who liked Bachman's "The Running Man" (NOT the movie) or "The Long Walk" will like it.

I think I've said it before, but if you liked Hunger Games, check out Battle Royale (a translated japanese book by Koushun Takami). Totally awesome (though does get a little confusing with all the japanese names) and in same vein.

Crap. Amazon doesn't have it for Kindle. Looks good. I may have to slum it & get the paperback.

 

[Hov34]

The Affair, by Lee Child - newest Jack Reacher novel. I always enjoy Reacher books.

Is it true that one doesn't need to read the Jack Reacher books in order? No back story from book 1 is needed to know what is happening in book 11 for example?

here's what lee says about it.

I think you could read them three ways:1. However you want, like the order in which you obtain them. Randomly, basically.

2. Order written

3. Chronologically - that would put the one I just read like 2nd I think. Maybe 1st.

I would definitely recommend reading in the order he wrote them. I think that, for instance, The Affair (which I just read) is something I enjoyed a lot more by knowing some things about what happened, and the fact that the book answered questions for me that I wouldn't have known to even ask if I started with this book.

TO unpack, I mean that I knew from past books I had read that something had happened to end Reacher's military career. There were always hints and references to it in other books, but it just kind of built the mystery for me - that added to this book when I read it.

Thanks fellas

NP - and I would highly recommend them. Great reads, pretty much every single one.

I've read 3 of the Reacher novels:1. Killing Floor

13. Gone Tomorrow

17. The Affair

I don't think it would matter, I just read the synopsis of each and plucked the ones that sounded interesting. They are quick easy reads.

 

[johnadams]

One Joe Abercrombie's fifth book, The Heroes. Given all the Game of Thrones devotees, I'm a bit surprised that his name doesn't come up here as much. Best part was, I had biz trip to the UK a few weeks ago and finished one of his books about a battle between barbarians and nobility in the shadow of Windsor Castle. Pretty cool.

 

[Clifford]

Reading "the crossing" by Cormac McCarthy. 4 words sum up the border trilogy this far: don't go to Mexico.

 

[Sand]

One Joe Abercrombie's fifth book, The Heroes. Given all the Game of Thrones devotees, I'm a bit surprised that his name doesn't come up here as much. Best part was, I had biz trip to the UK a few weeks ago and finished one of his books about a battle between barbarians and nobility in the shadow of Windsor Castle. Pretty cool.

Loved the first four. I now have this one on my list.

 

[sn0mm1s]

One Joe Abercrombie's fifth book, The Heroes. Given all the Game of Thrones devotees, I'm a bit surprised that his name doesn't come up here as much. Best part was, I had biz trip to the UK a few weeks ago and finished one of his books about a battle between barbarians and nobility in the shadow of Windsor Castle. Pretty cool.

I thought his First Law Trilogy was ok - but there were a ton of (what I considered) large plot holes and characters not acting at all logically. It was a good for a first trilogy but as far as fantasy/sci-fi he usually breaks into the 3rd-4th tier of books I recommend.

 

[facook]

One Joe Abercrombie's fifth book, The Heroes. Given all the Game of Thrones devotees, I'm a bit surprised that his name doesn't come up here as much. Best part was, I had biz trip to the UK a few weeks ago and finished one of his books about a battle between barbarians and nobility in the shadow of Windsor Castle. Pretty cool.

I thought his First Law Trilogy was ok - but there were a ton of (what I considered) large plot holes and characters not acting at all logically. It was a good for a first trilogy but as far as fantasy/sci-fi he usually breaks into the 3rd-4th tier of books I recommend.

Just started The Blade Itself. I've read mixed reviews here and elsewhere, but I thought I'd give it a shot. After meeting the first three central characters, I'm pretty intrigued.Recently finished The Burning Soul by John Connolly. I've mentioned him several times - Connolly is just outstanding if you like crime/PI novels - and the creepy and supernatural factor makes his writing that much better in my opinion.