badmojo1006
Footballguy
Currently reading American Prometheus biography Robert Oppenheimer.
younger brother Frank lived up the street from me growing up... drove an old black sedan (ala men in black movie) and had a black lab that drove around with him. that lab was the bane of our collie's existence- the sweetest dog you could imagine... until that black sedan rolled by and then *whammo*- kujo, with teeth bared in froth, eyes rolled back and barking from hell.Currently reading American Prometheus biography Robert Oppenheimer.
I have about 40 pages left in this one. Quite different McCarthy than I am used to. It's good, just a departure from his more violent novels (Blood Meridian).I have 'All the Pretty Horses' in queue as well. Really been digging McCarthy lately.
I thought Beacon 23 was great. Would recommend.Just finished David Moody's Hater trilogy (Hater, Dog Blood, Them or Us). First one was unique, second one was good, third one seemed to drag forever. This guy is more of a storyteller than a writer. Not sure I'd recommend this.
Started Beacon 23 by Hugh Howey. After Moody, Howey reads like Cormac McCarthy.
I liked Before the Fall. I was engaged till the end. Not great, but good.Finished Before the Fall over the weekend. It was okay, but glad I didn't spend more than the $3.99 that I spent on it. Almost put it down out of boredom at a couple of points. But I'm not really the thriller-type, so maybe others will find it better.
After finishing that, started Jon Meacham's Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George H.W. Bush. Enjoyed Meacham's bios on Jefferson and Jackson. Looking forward to this one.
In the middle of "Before the Fall" right now. I totally agree with the good, but not great assessment. I have "The Girls" next which is supposed to be the hot summer book.I liked Before the Fall. I was engaged till the end. Not great, but good.
I'm on Seveneves by Neal Stephenson now. Like most of his stuff, I have to slog through the more technical science stuff, but I'm really digging the story and characters.
For some reason a lot conservative libertarian types view Rand as some kind of prophet. The gym teacher I work with is a hardcore Tea Party/Libertarian and he is always reading and re-reading Rand, giving copies to co-workers to read, telling kids to read it, etc. There is a certain social/political segment of the population that is heavily influenced by her books in a way that transcends art. Three books is major overkill, but her work certainly has it's cult even today (maybe as much as ever today).
no Kesey either.
and it's 3 Rands. (anthem, fountain, atlas) I enjoyed her novels just fine- pulpy beach reads more than anything else. still head-scratching that they're anywhere near this list.
eta: oops... was scanning it for Sometimes a Great Notion instead of the obvious one.
If it's an Oprah book, you know it's ####ty.Don Quixote said:I'm not sure if anyone else follows this sort of stuff, but Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad just dropped a month ahead of schedule. It was one of the most anticipated books of the year -- WaPo and NYT both published great reviews this morning too. I can't wait to finish what I'm reading now and get to it.
I had to revisit this thread simply so I could right this travesty. What a fantastic imaginary ride through the OASIS. Wonderfully narrated by Wil Wheaton.I was hoping somebody could recommend my next book. I'm embarrassed to say that my ADD prevented me from reading too many books but audiobooks have been a godsend to me. I just devoured them now.
I tend to like biographies an American history. I just finished the Wright brothers in about three days, it was fantastic.
I did not like the game of thrones series/fire and ice, World war Z, the Martian (way too technical and boring), and I don't understand the love for Ready Player One (just because you mention every popular item that was produced in the 1980s doesn't mean it makes a good story. Sure it brings back the nostalgia of the era but I just never got where the story was going and lost interest about halfway through)
Thanks so much in advance guys.
Loved Ready Player One. Really well done book.I had to revisit this thread simply so I could right this travesty. What a fantastic imaginary ride through the OASIS. Wonderfully narrated by Wil Wheaton.
Agreed. The narration was spectacular and I felt like I was in the OASIS myself listening to the story unfold.I had to revisit this thread simply so I could right this travesty. What a fantastic imaginary ride through the OASIS. Wonderfully narrated by Wil Wheaton.
"Destiny and Power" was great. Thorough and balanced account of Bush's life and career -- including from Meacham's interviews with Bush, his family, and officials that he worked with, and access to the personal diaries of George H.W. and Barbara Bush. An overall positive portrait though, and I'm glad to see Bush getting some respect for what he was able to accomplish, as I think he gets knocked down a bit too much.After finishing that, started Jon Meacham's Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George H.W. Bush. Enjoyed Meacham's bios on Jefferson and Jackson. Looking forward to this one.
Thatnks for this., did not know another Parker novel had come out - just ordered! I loved Seveneves, as most of everything else by Neal StephensonTook a break from Seveneves to read A Time of Torment, the latest Charlie Parker from John Connolly. Another fine addition to one of my favorite series.
Now, back to Neal Stephenson's speculative fiction tome.
Interested in hearing what you thought?Next up is The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, which I think was recommended here after I had posted that I read Replay, which I really liked.
I'm a slow reader. I'll let you know.Interested in hearing what you thought?
Replay was a fun easy read and I quite enjoyed it. Harry August on the other hand took a bit more concentration and was a bit deeper in scope. I enjoyed it but it sort of turned into a spy novel half way through.
My mother had these two and I tried to read them when I was eight or nine. As I suspect it is with most who post here, I was fairly precocious and read well above my age level. But, holy crap, this stuff was waaaaay beyond me at the time and I finished neither of them. I haven't tried to read Vonnegut since, but I reckon I should give these another go since - even if I'm no more mature (& am probably less so) - at least I have a prayer of understanding them better now.Finished reading Breakfast of Champions and Cat's Cradle. Both were funny and also a quick read.
Yeah you should go back and read them. They are quick, easy and fun. No way a 9 year old could get those books. Total waste of time. An educated adult should understand them pretty easily. They aren't at all complicated. They are just critiques of modern society, religion, consumerism, etc. You might not "get" it as some people just don't like KV's sense of humor, but you will understand his points.My mother had these two and I tried to read them when I was eight or nine. As I suspect it is with most who post here, I was fairly precocious and read well above my age level. But, holy crap, this stuff was waaaaay beyond me at the time and I finished neither of them. I haven't tried to read Vonnegut since, but I reckon I should give these another go since - even if I'm no more mature (& am probably less so) - at least I have a prayer of understanding them better now.
Have you read any other Hemingway? I prefer The Sun Also Rises, but FWTBT is great as well. Two very different books. FWTBT is a great war epic with a very clear plot where TSAR is just a bunch of wandering drunks without much of a real plot. It did take me awhile to get through the odd way he literally translated the Spanish to English, but other than that it's a true classic.Finished reading Breakfast of Champions and Cat's Cradle. Both were funny and also a quick read.
Reading Infinite Jest just felt like a chore. Didn't have the commitment to finish it.
Now onto For Whom The Bells Toll by Hemingway.
Yes, freshman year of university while taking Lit I.Have you read any other Hemingway? I prefer The Sun Also Rises, but FWTBT is great as well. Two very different books. FWTBT is a great war epic with a very clear plot where TSAR is just a bunch of wandering drunks without much of a real plot. It did take me awhile to get through the odd way he literally translated the Spanish to English, but other than that it's a true classic.
Love Vonnegut. If you can find it, check out his collection of short stories, Welcome to the Monkey HouseFinished reading Breakfast of Champions and Cat's Cradle. Both were funny and also a quick read.
Reading Infinite Jest just felt like a chore. Didn't have the commitment to finish it.
Now onto For Whom The Bells Toll by Hemingway.
The AWOL soldier walk in the woods? Makes my heart sink & soar in what, three pages?Love Vonnegut. If you can find it, check out his collection of short stories, Welcome to the Monkey House
Some truly amazing stories in there.
Yes...And Tom Edison's Dog?The AWOL soldier walk in the woods? Makes my heart sink & soar in what, three pages?
book hasn't left my "throne"side mag stand in 30 yrsYes...And Tom Edison's Dog?
My copy is a bit fragile, so I only pull it out every 6 months or so when I want really good storytellingbook hasn't left my "throne"side mag stand in 30 yrs
Review I read in the Wash Post made me put it on my list.I'm only about 10 percent into Nathan Hill's "The Nix" and I already feel like I'm going to be telling everyone that I know (and don't know) to read it. Funny and well-written.
That review is what made me get it. Ron Charles' reviews in the Post are among those that I trust the most. (He's a good follow on Goodreads to see his updates too, for anyone on there.)Review I read in the Wash Post made me put it on my list.
If you enjoy that, read the series from Donald Burgett. Excellent recounting of his time as a paratroop in the 506 PIR. Everyone is familiar with Band of Brothers and the 506st. E Company was the focus of that series, largely thanks to Ambrose's book. Burgett was in A Company and went through the same deployments with E Company.Listening to D-Day by Stephen Ambrose. Im about 85% through and its a good accoun so far.
It was announced today that "The Nix" is going to turn into a TV series starring Meryl Streep and directed and produced by JJ Abrams. I suddenly feel very hip.I'm only about 10 percent into Nathan Hill's "The Nix" and I already feel like I'm going to be telling everyone that I know (and don't know) to read it. Funny and well-written.
I finished The Fireman. If you like Hill, you'll like this one.Recent reads:
City Of Mirrors Thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't mind the Fanning interlude as much as some did, though he got a little too mustache-twirly at times. I think this a fine ending to a very good series with good payoffs for the main characters.
End Of Watch This was the final book in King's Mr Mercedes series. I thought this was on a par with the first two, which I'd categorize as "good, but not great". They are fun reads, but King's age is starting to show in how he draws his younger characters.
Speaking of "King" and "younger", I'm now on Joe Hill's The Fireman. I'm about 25% of the way through and really like it.
I was hoping this would lead me right into Scott Lynch's Thorn Of Emberlain in a couple of weeks, but I read the other day the release date has been pushed back to no-one-knows-when. Bummer......
Oh well, Michael Kortya has a new one out and I've enjoyed everything of his I've read so I'm on to that one next. I think he started out writing straight detective/crime novels (I haven't read those), but has branched out into some genre/supernatural stuff over the last several years (which I think I've read all of).
I thought Harry August was fairly meh. Enjoyed Replay more for multiple reasons.Interested in hearing what you thought?Next up is The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, which I think was recommended here after I had posted that I read Replay, which I really liked.
Replay was a fun easy read and I quite enjoyed it. Harry August on the other hand took a bit more concentration and was a bit deeper in scope. I enjoyed it but it sort of turned into a spy novel half way through.