Love the Dresden books. Love ‘em.Just finished “Storm Front” by Jim Butcher. Thought it was fun, looking forward to reading on in the Dresden series.
Stephen King’s “If it Bleeds” is next up.
I haven't read that one by McPherson, but his "Battle Cry of Freedom" is great.Picked up a copy of "Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief" by James McPherson. About 50 pages in so far. I'm no Civil War historian, but I've enjoyed the author's writing thus far.
I'll add that one to the list, thanks for the rec. I've heard good things overall on McPherson as a writer and historianDon Quixote said:I haven't read that one by McPherson, but his "Battle Cry of Freedom" is great.
I downloaded both this and the one about the Lusitania recently, but started with the latter and am fascinated by it. His books are only so-so in writing, but I always find his research so amazing that I enjoy them.The Splendid and the Vile - Eric Larsen. Awful title, good book - not Larsen's best, but close. It follows Churchill and those around him - family, politicians, his staff, as well as key Nazi members - in his first year as PM and the Bombing of London. If you're familiar with Larsen's style, you'll be in your element. It's non-fiction, but reads like a novel. All quotes are taken from diaries or published/broadcast reports. It leans heavy on the more private aspects of the main characters' lives, though it can't help but have a major throughline that includes the war and its effect on London.
I liked the Lusitania book a lot.I downloaded both this and the one about the Lusitania recently, but started with the latter and am fascinated by it. His books are only so-so in writing, but I always find his research so amazing that I enjoy them.
Its good, read 50 pages so far.KarmaPolice said:That 1918 book looks interesting
about 2/3 through and I'm running out of steam a bit. perfect beach book with the narrative structure allowing for easy pop in and out without missing anything. I'll try to figure out and articulate what's not working for me... feel like it may be the short chapters and jumping around not allowing me to really dig in. prose doesnt knock me out, although it certainly maintains and easy-breezy style- again, good for the beach. also not loving the inclusion of the german gem expert nemesis, which seems forced for the sake of driving plot. but I'm open to seeing where it goes and will finish it out. these are the negatives... but it's been a nice beach book, so thanks for the recommendation, friends... especially considering I"ve been slogging through Absalom, Absalom for going on 3 or 4 years (not a good beach/vacation book).Great book.
Tremendous book- probably a top 10 all time for me.
halfway through, it's terrific. Thanks for the rec guysIt really is - loving the idea of the book and the language/descriptions. The quick chapters and switching back and forth between the characters is perfect for me too.
Where you finding these?85/832 issues down in my quest to read the Marvel Comics of the 1960s beginning with FF #1. Skipping a couple of non-core series. Onto the 70's after I finish the 60's. I'm a slow reader though, even with comics.
https://www.marvel.com/comics/unlimitedWhere you finding these?
Please tell me it is not your personal collection.
I thought this books was meh. Not sure why it was noted as one of the best memoirs by the NYT last year. I kept waiting for it to get interesting but it never did.Now reading The Yellow House by Sarah Broom
Loved the setting in this one. The writing tended toward pedantic and repetitive. It was good enough for me to finish, though.Currently half way through Shantaram. I really like the story, but thing the writing is mediocre at best. To read an 1,000 page novel I'd prefer the author writes like Michael Chabon, Gregory David Roberts is nowhere close to that level.
Huh. The Shantaram schlock is in my all time top 10. I am dumber than I thought I guess.Loved the setting in this one. The writing tended toward pedantic and repetitive. It was good enough for me to finish, though.Currently half way through Shantaram. I really like the story, but thing the writing is mediocre at best. To read an 1,000 page novel I'd prefer the author writes like Michael Chabon, Gregory David Roberts is nowhere close to that level.
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I'm currently reading schlock too embarrassing to mention here. Thoroughly entertaining.
Not at all. I just found a lot of his musings and wording to be very repetitive over time. I still finished the book, which given my impatience with poor books says something. Takes a lot for me to finish a book that long.Huh. The Shantaram schlock is in my all time top 10. I am dumber than I thought I guess.
I wrapped this up a while back.about 2/3 through and I'm running out of steam a bit. perfect beach book with the narrative structure allowing for easy pop in and out without missing anything. I'll try to figure out and articulate what's not working for me... feel like it may be the short chapters and jumping around not allowing me to really dig in. prose doesnt knock me out, although it certainly maintains and easy-breezy style- again, good for the beach. also not loving the inclusion of the german gem expert nemesis, which seems forced for the sake of driving plot. but I'm open to seeing where it goes and will finish it out. these are the negatives... but it's been a nice beach book, so thanks for the recommendation, friends... especially considering I"ve been slogging through Absalom, Absalom for going on 3 or 4 years (not a good beach/vacation book).Great book.
Tremendous book- probably a top 10 all time for me.
halfway through, it's terrific. Thanks for the rec guysIt really is - loving the idea of the book and the language/descriptions. The quick chapters and switching back and forth between the characters is perfect for me too.
When I started it, I was apprehensive since WW2 stories are a bit like beating a dead horse at this point. I was impressed with how it was able to still be unique and find a corner of the war that I hadn't really seen before.I wrapped this up a while back.
Thanks for the recommendations- it was a perfect beach book. Easy to jump in and out of, and told an interesting story(ies) really well. In the credits and thanks at the end it shows how much research went into this- and it really showed on the writing- it felt true, and felt like I was seeing places, parts of, and people in the war I had never considered.
Definitely don't read the sequel. It is far more repetitive and annoying.Not at all. I just found a lot of his musings and wording to be very repetitive over time. I still finished the book, which given my impatience with poor books says something. Takes a lot for me to finish a book that long.
As far as schlock I'm reading something very different from that and about as far from "literature" as you can get (which Shantaram is).
Enjoyed Devolution. There are a couple of "wait, how could.....?" moments, but I'm pretty comfortable rolling my eyes and moving on.I know I'm missing some, but some of my recent reads are:
If It Bleeds - Stephen King. 4 stories in this one. I enjoyed them all, but the 2nd one felt like 3 different ideas he tried to wedge into one.
Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel. The first of her Thomas Cromwell trilogy. It's really good and the style is unique (to me), though I found myself lost a few times by not knowing who was speaking. Plus, there are like 15 different characters named Thomas and another 10 or so Marys and Annes. I'll read the other other two but I needed a break.
The Splendid and the Vile - Eric Larsen. Awful title, good book - not Larsen's best, but close. It follows Churchill and those around him - family, politicians, his staff, as well as key Nazi members - in his first year as PM and the Bombing of London. If you're familiar with Larsen's style, you'll be in your element. It's non-fiction, but reads like a novel. All quotes are taken from diaries or published/broadcast reports. It leans heavy on the more private aspects of the main characters' lives, though it can't help but have a major throughline that includes the war and its effect on London.
I'm on to Max Brooks' Devolution: A Firsthand Account Of The Rainier Sasquatch Massacre . He wrote World War Z several years ago, which I loved. High hopes for this one.
oooo ...let me know what you think. Sounds right up my alley.Uruk-Hai said:Now, I'm on The Vapors by David Hill. It's non-fiction about the rise & fall of Hot Springs Arkansas as a gambling mecca and all-around den of desire.
300 pages into Shantaram myself. It's no Infinite Jest, but I'm enjoying it thus far. Definitely worth a read for those interested at all.Currently half way through Shantaram. I really like the story, but thing the writing is mediocre at best. To read an 1,000 page novel I'd prefer the author writes like Michael Chabon, Gregory David Roberts is nowhere close to that level.
Are you ok?Started reading Black Autumn. I really like post apocalyptic books. Enjoy books like Alas Babylon One Second after Failsafe and On the beach. So I thought I would give this one a try. 55 pages in I notice that the authors are the main characters never read a book that that's happened. I'm going to keep reading for a bit but thinking this might be one I never finish.