Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter shuke
- Start date
facook
Footballguy
Red Dragon - Thomas HarrisWhere Serpents Lie - T. Jefferson Parkeranything from the Pedgergast series - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
MrPhoenix
Ron Paul Soldier
Damn, and I was all set to get "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield. It's the fictional account of the last surviving Spartan in the Battle of Thermopylae and it's gotten great reviews. I'll go with that for now, but Serpents will be next!Actually, I changed my mind. I went with The Last Jihad.
Last edited by a moderator:
SofaKings
Footballguy
What are you looking for in particular? Battle Cry is a good start. Shelby Foote's three volume history is excellend. Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals delves into the political aspects of the war. Ann Hagedorn has a good book out about the Underground Railroad in southern Ohio. As for battles, Coddington's work on Gettysburg is fantastic, that coupled with Gottfried's Maps of Gettysburg is a good pair. Anything by Bruce Catton will be useful as well.
palmerville
Footballguy
Just finished iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon by Steve Wozniak.
If you can get past the first couple of chapters where he tells you how awesome and smart he is, it is a good book. Very interesting account of his work on the Apple I and II. Covers other areas of his life as well, starting a remote control company, putting on the US festival, teaching, etc.
Seriously though, Steve needs some humility.
If you can get past the first couple of chapters where he tells you how awesome and smart he is, it is a good book. Very interesting account of his work on the Apple I and II. Covers other areas of his life as well, starting a remote control company, putting on the US festival, teaching, etc.
Seriously though, Steve needs some humility.
Last edited by a moderator:
Britney Spears
guest speaker
I just put this on my Amazon wishlist.It proceeded to reccomend the DVD: "Alvin & the Chipmunks".Just thought this was really strange.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
A couple of people in another thread suggested Shutter Island by D.Lehane. Pretty damn good book - just got done reading it a couple days ago. Would make a great movie too.MrPhoenix said:
igbomb
Footballguy
imdb lists it as coming out in 2009 with DiCaprio as the lead.As many great things as I've heard of Lehane, maybe it's time I start checking out his stuff.
Apes with Guns
Footballguy
because Theodore is a WW2 era Japanese sterotype
igbomb
Footballguy
Just finished Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Really interesting book. Kind of a cool twist on the detective thriller genre. Sci-fi geeks would love his vision of 25th century Earth.
From Publishers Weekly:
This fast-paced, densely textured, impressive first novel is an intriguing hybrid of William Gibson's Neuromancer and Norman Spinrad's Deus X. In the 25th century, it's difficult to die a final death. Humans are issued a cortical stack, implanted into their bodies, into which consciousness is "digitized" and from which-unless the stack is hopelessly damaged-their consciousness can be downloaded ("resleeved") with its memory intact, into a new body. While the Vatican is trying to make resleeving (at least of Catholics) illegal, centuries-old aristocrat Laurens Bancroft brings Takeshi Kovacs (an Envoy, a specially trained soldier used to being resleeved and trained to soak up clues from new environments) to Earth, where Kovacs is resleeved into a cop's body to investigate Bancroft's first mysterious, stack-damaging death. To solve the case, Kovacs must destroy his former Envoy enemies; outwit Bancroft's seductive, wily wife; dabble in United Nations politics; trust an AI that projects itself in the form of Jimi Hendrix; and deal with his growing physical and emotional attachment to Kristin Ortega, the police lieutenant who used to love the body he's been given. Kovacs rockets from the seediest hellholes on Earth, through virtual reality torture, into several gory firefights, and on to some exotic sexual escapades. Morgan's 25th-century Earth is convincing, while the questions he poses about how much Self is tied to body chemistry and how the rich believe themselves above the law are especially timely.
Really interesting book. Kind of a cool twist on the detective thriller genre. Sci-fi geeks would love his vision of 25th century Earth.
From Publishers Weekly:
This fast-paced, densely textured, impressive first novel is an intriguing hybrid of William Gibson's Neuromancer and Norman Spinrad's Deus X. In the 25th century, it's difficult to die a final death. Humans are issued a cortical stack, implanted into their bodies, into which consciousness is "digitized" and from which-unless the stack is hopelessly damaged-their consciousness can be downloaded ("resleeved") with its memory intact, into a new body. While the Vatican is trying to make resleeving (at least of Catholics) illegal, centuries-old aristocrat Laurens Bancroft brings Takeshi Kovacs (an Envoy, a specially trained soldier used to being resleeved and trained to soak up clues from new environments) to Earth, where Kovacs is resleeved into a cop's body to investigate Bancroft's first mysterious, stack-damaging death. To solve the case, Kovacs must destroy his former Envoy enemies; outwit Bancroft's seductive, wily wife; dabble in United Nations politics; trust an AI that projects itself in the form of Jimi Hendrix; and deal with his growing physical and emotional attachment to Kristin Ortega, the police lieutenant who used to love the body he's been given. Kovacs rockets from the seediest hellholes on Earth, through virtual reality torture, into several gory firefights, and on to some exotic sexual escapades. Morgan's 25th-century Earth is convincing, while the questions he poses about how much Self is tied to body chemistry and how the rich believe themselves above the law are especially timely.
Chigurh
Footballguy
I'm almost finished with The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. It is amazing and I don't want it to end.
If you don't know any Spanish, you may be turned off by the frequent use of it throughout the book. I think Diaz provides enough context for you to get it even if you don't speak the language, but I could see how it would annoy someone.
If you don't know any Spanish, you may be turned off by the frequent use of it throughout the book. I think Diaz provides enough context for you to get it even if you don't speak the language, but I could see how it would annoy someone.
Just finished......A Millions Buck by 30....by Alan Corey. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...47&hl=corey
Going back and re-reading SSNLHE.
Going back and re-reading SSNLHE.
Power Monster
The Midnight Stalker
Tony Robbins - Awaken the Giant Within
kblitz
Footballguy
Finished Anne Applebaum - Gulag: A History
Very well written, informativ, easy to read book that gives an overview about the Gulag system form the beginning untill the 1990ies. Esspecially the second part of the book about the dayly life in the camps is very good. Many of the important sources and books one the Gulag system have been used and quoted by Applebaum. So the book is a very good startingpoint.
Christopher Moore - A dirty Job:
quiet entertaining story about a normal guy who becomes death, easy to read, nice ideas.
Currently reading Varlam Shalamov - Kolyma Tales
Very strong narrations and stotries about the life in the Gulag camps arround Kolyma, where Shalamov was robbed of much of a lot of his lifetime.
Very well written, informativ, easy to read book that gives an overview about the Gulag system form the beginning untill the 1990ies. Esspecially the second part of the book about the dayly life in the camps is very good. Many of the important sources and books one the Gulag system have been used and quoted by Applebaum. So the book is a very good startingpoint.
Christopher Moore - A dirty Job:
quiet entertaining story about a normal guy who becomes death, easy to read, nice ideas.
Currently reading Varlam Shalamov - Kolyma Tales
Very strong narrations and stotries about the life in the Gulag camps arround Kolyma, where Shalamov was robbed of much of a lot of his lifetime.
Exfireman_62
Footballguy
I enjoyed "Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara and the other two "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure" by his son Jeff ShaaraArcher Jones writes a really technical book about different aspects of the Civil War
http://cwbn.blogspot.com/2004/11/few-remin...cher-jones.html
Last edited by a moderator:
pantagrapher
Footballguy
Recently finished:
"The Defense," Nabokov —One of his early ones. He was very critical of other translaters, and I'd never read anything he translated from Russian, so I was curious to see how it flowed. Not bad, but nowhere near as good as his later work.
"The Corrections," Jonathan Franzen—I thought it had promise, but failed miserably. I tend to hate books like this even more than those that fail from the outset.
Just started:
"The Art of the Novel," Henry James—I'm always interested in reading great writers write about writing. This is pretty good so far, but incredibly dense.
"As I Lay Dying," Faulkner—I'm barely following the narrative (I know it shifts from chapter to chapter, but I don't even know who's who at this point, and I'm halfway finished). That's what I get for trying to read it on the train. I love Faulkner's writing though.
"The Defense," Nabokov —One of his early ones. He was very critical of other translaters, and I'd never read anything he translated from Russian, so I was curious to see how it flowed. Not bad, but nowhere near as good as his later work.
"The Corrections," Jonathan Franzen—I thought it had promise, but failed miserably. I tend to hate books like this even more than those that fail from the outset.
Just started:
"The Art of the Novel," Henry James—I'm always interested in reading great writers write about writing. This is pretty good so far, but incredibly dense.
"As I Lay Dying," Faulkner—I'm barely following the narrative (I know it shifts from chapter to chapter, but I don't even know who's who at this point, and I'm halfway finished). That's what I get for trying to read it on the train. I love Faulkner's writing though.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Not sure I get the last 30 or so pages. I'm not very smart.DeLillo is a masterWhite Noise is a tremendous book, and pretty accessible as wellOnly problem was that after reading it I developed a wicked Dylar® addiction.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Starting tonight based on this review.
oso diablo
Footballguy
just finished Down River by John Hart. Great, great mystery/legal thriller. Perfect for the summer.
a la Turow, Grisham, Raymond Chandler
a la Turow, Grisham, Raymond Chandler
aardball44
Footballguy
Cracked open A Voyage Long And Strange (by Tony Horwitz) last weekend. Good stuff about the explorers who visited North America between Columbus in 1492 and the Pilgrims in 1612, and Horwitz' own research into their routes and the native people they would have encountered along the way.
Ash
Footballguy
Just finished reading Jeff Lindsay's "Darkly Dreaming Dexter", the basis for the Showtime series. Good read, but honestly I was expecting more. Seems the series did a great job fleshing out some characters that were more furniture than anything else in the book. A lot of the plot regarding the Ice Truck Killer was not in the book as well. Ending is quite different too, but I won't spoil.
All in all, the book seemed like more of an outline to me, nowhere near as fleshed out plot and character wise as the series. I'm a bit surprised, first time I can remember thinking the movie (or show) was better than the book.
Cheers.
All in all, the book seemed like more of an outline to me, nowhere near as fleshed out plot and character wise as the series. I'm a bit surprised, first time I can remember thinking the movie (or show) was better than the book.
Cheers.
shake zula
Footballguy
Just finished Whitley Strieber's The Greys
It was good if you are interested in Aliens and UFOs.
It was good if you are interested in Aliens and UFOs.
Weapon of Mass Instruction
Watch my feet!
You don't mess...with Reacher.
Tiny Dancer
Footballguy
Reading "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Heinlein. Pretty good thus far but not too far into it.
prosopis
Arizona Chupacabra
I am about 1/2 way through Haunted. I am not liking it as much as you did. Some good short stories in it. I dont get the whole premise of it, unless it all comes together at the end. So far I am thinking a book of short stories would have sufficed.I recently finished Moby ****. It was pretty good. I did not expect all the information on whales in it. I knew it was a whaleing story but I was surprised by all the anatomy,history,boating lessons. It was good though and I am glad I finally read it.
Maelstrom
Footballguy
The library is your friend - I was waiting for Confessor to come out in paperback also, but finally picked it up from the library. I liked the way Goodkind wrapped up the series. Fairly satisfying, IMO, and worth reading now. Makes me wonder why I haven't been going to the library as much.
Sundays Rule
Footballguy
Just finished The Killer Angels now im into Gods and Generals....Civil War interest piqued.
Last edited by a moderator:
HellToupee
Footballguy
currently reading a coworkers copy of Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins
he claims it nonfiction
he claims it nonfiction
roadkill1292
Footballguy
General Lee's Army by Joseph T. Glatthaar, a professor at a small college in Ohio. Focuses on the men, their backgrounds and the day-to-day difficulties they endured to keep at it for four brutal years. Glatthaar shies away from tactical discussions (he gives a disappointingly short summary of events at Antietam, for example) and puts dents in the "Superman" aura of the Army of Northern Virginia while still admiring the leadership, morale and fighting ability of the troops.
While it's fashionable to downplay the role of slavery as the primary cause of the war, Glatthaar's census studies leads him to conclude instead that slavery was the key issue for the average soldier, partly because a higher percentage of them came from slaveholding families than the overall southern population base. The letters home that he documents support his theory to a large degree.
A new look at the war and I've enjoyed it so far.
While it's fashionable to downplay the role of slavery as the primary cause of the war, Glatthaar's census studies leads him to conclude instead that slavery was the key issue for the average soldier, partly because a higher percentage of them came from slaveholding families than the overall southern population base. The letters home that he documents support his theory to a large degree.
A new look at the war and I've enjoyed it so far.
Stoneys
MudCat
pretty good book. I read it about 2-3 years ago, how did you like it?
Stoneys
MudCat
Just bought Battle Cry of Freedom. I will be getting the Shaara's trilogy, maybe for Christmas, as it may take me that long to get through Battle Cry. I hope to be picking up Shelby Foote's Civil War: A Narrative at some point as well.
oso diablo
Footballguy
Reading: River of Doubt
Former President Theodore Roosevelt's daunting adventure into the heart of Brazil to navigate and chart an unknown tributary of the Amazon. It doesn't go well. Good read.
Up next: So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger, whose first novel, 2001's Peace Like a River, is my all-time favorite read. Long (and eagerly) awaited.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt's daunting adventure into the heart of Brazil to navigate and chart an unknown tributary of the Amazon. It doesn't go well. Good read.
Up next: So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger, whose first novel, 2001's Peace Like a River, is my all-time favorite read. Long (and eagerly) awaited.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Thought the end was great. But based on reviews of Lehane's works, I think I expected more overall. 7/10.Next up: The Keep by Paul F. Wilson
Tough As Nails
Glave Master
Recent reads:
Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo...excellent. The copy I got had 2 updated introductions by Trumbo that were fantastic. Definitely recommend this book.
Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. Meh. The beginning is just tedious and boring. That's not an unusual tone or set-up from other Palahniuk books...but this one was particularly maddening for some reason. Grab Choke or Haunted instead of this one.
Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy. This guy is friggin' amazing. That is all.
Next up: The Garden of the Last Days by Andre Dubus (House of Sand and Fog guy)...a nice little ground swell of praise for this book even though it was just published a couple weeks ago.
Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo...excellent. The copy I got had 2 updated introductions by Trumbo that were fantastic. Definitely recommend this book.
Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. Meh. The beginning is just tedious and boring. That's not an unusual tone or set-up from other Palahniuk books...but this one was particularly maddening for some reason. Grab Choke or Haunted instead of this one.
Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy. This guy is friggin' amazing. That is all.
Next up: The Garden of the Last Days by Andre Dubus (House of Sand and Fog guy)...a nice little ground swell of praise for this book even though it was just published a couple weeks ago.
facook
Footballguy
Finished: The Messenger by Daniel Silva. Really well written spy novels (based on current geo-politics) from this author. There is a pretty pro-Israel bent to his stuff, though, so some here may not be fans. I really enjoy his work.
Now: Phantom Prey by John Sandford. Sandford writes very good murder mysteries starring Lucas Davenport. Excellent crime series.
Next: The Reapers by John Connolly. Wow, I'm really in a series/pulp-fiction groove.
Now: Phantom Prey by John Sandford. Sandford writes very good murder mysteries starring Lucas Davenport. Excellent crime series.
Next: The Reapers by John Connolly. Wow, I'm really in a series/pulp-fiction groove.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
krista4
Footballguy
Been dying to read this one, but am putting it off until I cut back on the number I'm already in the middle of.Right now, in midst of:Lolita: Reading the annotated version for the first time.
Consider the Lobster, David Foster Wallace: Just never got around to this one even though I love his other books. Timely right now anyway as there's a fascinating story from when he accompanied McCain during the 2000 campaign.
Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami: My favorite author, and this is my "light" reading at the moment as this appears to be his most accessible work.
The Quiet American, Graham Greene: Reading in anticipation of my trip to Vietnam starting in three weeks.
A Cook's Tour, Anthony Bourdain: I guess this is light reading, too. I enjoy his show and want to read his stories of Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia.
Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi: Someone lent me this when I mentioned Lolita. Haven't gotten too far into it yet and am unsure whether I'm going to like it.
Is it normal to be in the midst of so many books simultaneously, or do most people finish one before picking up another? I like to rotate among them based upon what I'm in the mood for a particular day, but I'm wondering if that's what other people do, too.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
One at a time.
beer 30
Footballguy
Great read, I'm not sure I'm buying him calling Osama bin Laden on the Cole and World Trade Center bombings but then who better would know than the commander of the region. All-in-all a pretty good read and insight to the last 4 major wars America has been involved in.
I read this last year, or tried to anyhow. Just didn't hold me. I didn't find it depressing (well anymore than I would any book describing our soldiers deaths and being hamstrung by the government) just very boring. I didn't finish it, seemed like a rehash over and over, just changing the names.bentley said:
pantagrapher
Footballguy
Tough As Nails
Glave Master
One at a time here for the most part as well. Sometimes I'll really labor through the first part (or middle) of a book. Rather than read with half-interest...I'll pick up another and then come back to the first with a fresh look. Usually helps to keep my concentration level up on whatever I'm reading.
