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Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter shuke
- Start date
Hawk Fan
Footballguy
Armor by John Steakley: Recommended by a friend. Pretty good action sequences, but why would you go billions of miles to fight giant evil ants in hand to hand combat?
Currently reading The Stars My Destination: Love this so far. Great classic sci fi which is extremely funny as well.
On Writing by Stephen King: Excellent.
Reread 1984: Obviously fantastic.
Haunted (listened to audiobook): Never could really get into this and was tempted to give up on it a few times. Great if you like disgusting.
Currently reading The Stars My Destination: Love this so far. Great classic sci fi which is extremely funny as well.
On Writing by Stephen King: Excellent.
Reread 1984: Obviously fantastic.
Haunted (listened to audiobook): Never could really get into this and was tempted to give up on it a few times. Great if you like disgusting.
krista4
Footballguy
Hmmm...well, I've wondered if I might get more out of an individual book if it weren't being set aside occasionally. Just think I must have some mild ADD or something, though.
whoknew
Footballguy
I'm reading about 5 books right now. Don't worry about it.The most recent was O Jerusalem based on someone's recommendation on this site.
igbomb
Footballguy
Die Trying - Lee Child
One of the better thriller writers going right now. A lot of testosterone in his books.
The Gunslinger - Stephen King
I hope it gets better, because the first book was kind of meh
The Orchard Keeper - Cormac McCarthy
Cormac is my favorite living author, but this book was pretty mediocre. I'll cut him some slack since it was his first novel, but this was one disjointed mess. The quality of writing was the only thing that made me stick with it.
A Simple Plan - Scott Smith
Really good. I'm not sure if I buy that a good person could slide into evil so easily, buy maybe I'm just naive. Great writing though, I may have to check out the film.
Next up:
Suite Francaise - Irene Nemirovsky
One of the better thriller writers going right now. A lot of testosterone in his books.
The Gunslinger - Stephen King
I hope it gets better, because the first book was kind of meh
The Orchard Keeper - Cormac McCarthy
Cormac is my favorite living author, but this book was pretty mediocre. I'll cut him some slack since it was his first novel, but this was one disjointed mess. The quality of writing was the only thing that made me stick with it.
A Simple Plan - Scott Smith
Really good. I'm not sure if I buy that a good person could slide into evil so easily, buy maybe I'm just naive. Great writing though, I may have to check out the film.
Next up:
Suite Francaise - Irene Nemirovsky
prosopis
Arizona Chupacabra
Reading 3 currently
To kill a mockingbird- I never read this and feel I should. So far I like it quite a bit.
Mere Christianity ,CS Lewis- Very good book which are actually radio broadcasts he made around WW2
Game of inches, Peter Morris- Excellent book about how baseball rules were shaped. I am liking this one quite a bit. Really good history of the game.
Recently finished Haunted which I feel would have been better as just a book of short stories. I still dont know why he went through the whole premise of a writers retreat/lockdown. Some of the short stories were excellent and some were really just there for the gross out factor. I really liked the nightmare box story.
To kill a mockingbird- I never read this and feel I should. So far I like it quite a bit.
Mere Christianity ,CS Lewis- Very good book which are actually radio broadcasts he made around WW2
Game of inches, Peter Morris- Excellent book about how baseball rules were shaped. I am liking this one quite a bit. Really good history of the game.
Recently finished Haunted which I feel would have been better as just a book of short stories. I still dont know why he went through the whole premise of a writers retreat/lockdown. Some of the short stories were excellent and some were really just there for the gross out factor. I really liked the nightmare box story.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
First book sucked. It gets way better.
Tough As Nails
Glave Master
I never read the book...but I really enjoyed the movie. Paxton and Billy Bob both do a really solid acting job.
igbomb
Footballguy
That's what I'm banking on. I've heard too many good things about and like King too much to give up on it anyway. It could suck from book 1-7 and I'd probably finish it.
igbomb
Footballguy
I've heard that the two really diverge about halfway through. Plus he spends a lot of the book in the main character's head, so I have to believe that they are pretty different.
Johnny Detroit
Footballguy
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
I used to be this way. Recently I was cleaning out my side of the bedroom and had a pile of about 20-30 books that I had been reading or got part way through, etc.... so I've been trying to crack down on the # of them that I read at a time. A lot of my problem was that I'd order something through the library that took a bit to come in. I'd be reading another book or two but feel that I have to read the library one quick so I could get it back on time, and forget what I had read in the other book. So - I've been keeping better track of what's coming in through the library and trying to limit the reading to 1 non-fiction and 1 fiction book at a time.
igbomb
Footballguy
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
If you haven't heard about this book, look it up on wikipedia. And read the critics' reviews on Amazon (Link). Phenomenal writing. Incredible perspective.
Tripwire by Lee Child
Not as good as the first two, but still better than nearly every thriller writer out there.
If you haven't heard about this book, look it up on wikipedia. And read the critics' reviews on Amazon (Link). Phenomenal writing. Incredible perspective.
Tripwire by Lee Child
Not as good as the first two, but still better than nearly every thriller writer out there.
oso diablo
Footballguy
this is my current on-the-john book. it has 2 volumes. i finished the first one about the "game on the field" and am now working through the "behind the scenes" volume. an amazing amount of research/effort this guy put into it.
Fiddles
Footballguy
have this one lined up on the shelf to read next
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Fiddles
Footballguy
I listened to this on audio a few years ago. Didnt like it at all. The daughter and father interplay was beyond annoying.
Fiddles
Footballguy
almost finished with The Chris Farley Show
a very quick bio of farley compiled by his brother Tom
compiled meaning each chapter is made up of quotes from his friends, castmates, family, and the religious community he was active in
highly recommended even for the casual fan
fast and entertaining.
http://www.jesterjournal.com/ChrisFarleyShow.htm
a very quick bio of farley compiled by his brother Tom
compiled meaning each chapter is made up of quotes from his friends, castmates, family, and the religious community he was active in
highly recommended even for the casual fan
fast and entertaining.
http://www.jesterjournal.com/ChrisFarleyShow.htm
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Kinda feeling the same way. About 1/2 way through the first book and have been lukewarm to it so far. Does it start getting better right away with book 2??
bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
just picked up a book called " the prosecution of George W Bush for Murder" by Vincent Bugliosi. The guy who wrote the famous helter skelter book about the manson family
facook
Footballguy
I actually enjoyed book 1, but I think it's pretty widely accepted (and I concur) that book 2 is the best book in the series.
beer 30
Footballguy
Washingtons Crossing
I think based on a recommendation from this thread, regardless, pretty good read so far. Very detailed account of what a group of non-functioning misfits the Continental Army was early on and the man who held it all together.
I think based on a recommendation from this thread, regardless, pretty good read so far. Very detailed account of what a group of non-functioning misfits the Continental Army was early on and the man who held it all together.
pantagrapher
Footballguy
Just started "A Walk on the Wild Side" by Nelson Algren.
Love it so far.
Love it so far.
Leo Scanlon
Footballguy
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Bill Bryson's memories of growing up in the Midwest in the 50s and 60s. Like most of Bryson's books, it's an entertaining and very funny read.
Before that, I read Stephen Ambrose's To America -- Personal Reflections on an Historian. His final book, it contains his thoughts on the periods of history he wrote about and insights about his writing.
Before that, I read Stephen Ambrose's To America -- Personal Reflections on an Historian. His final book, it contains his thoughts on the periods of history he wrote about and insights about his writing.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Don't know how, but I knew zip about the story or series so I was a littleI actually enjoyed book 1, but I think it's pretty widely accepted (and I concur) that book 2 is the best book in the series.
when he meets the kid from New York in the middle of the desert. Wondering WTF is going on....I've read the entire series and have started over. (Currently on The Wastelands.) Anyway, I have much more respect for The Gunslinger now after seeing how much foreshadowing there was in it and it was written 20 years before he even knew how he was going to finish the series.Drawing of the Three and Wizard and Glass are the best. The Dark Tower VII was pretty good as well.Don't know how, but I knew zip about the story or series so I was a littleI actually enjoyed book 1, but I think it's pretty widely accepted (and I concur) that book 2 is the best book in the series.
when he meets the kid from New York in the middle of the desert. Wondering WTF is going on....
Redwes25
Footballguy
About half way throgh "When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler" by David Glantz. A little brief given the breadth of the topic but given that when it was written it was the first western book to tell the story of WWII from the Russian point of view using primarily Soviet sources released after the cold war it really sheds light on very ignored portion of WWII from a US point of view.
I think it also does a good job of dispelling the belief that the Soviets basically relied on the West to defeat Hitler. The scope and the ferocity of the Eastern front pales in comparison to anything fought in France, North Africa or Italy. One interesting tidbit is that at the invasion of Normandy Germany mustered 60 divisions in France to fight the US and Britain compared to the 150 divisions fighting on the Eastern Front.
http://www.amazon.com/When-Titans-Clashed-...s/dp/0700608990
I think it also does a good job of dispelling the belief that the Soviets basically relied on the West to defeat Hitler. The scope and the ferocity of the Eastern front pales in comparison to anything fought in France, North Africa or Italy. One interesting tidbit is that at the invasion of Normandy Germany mustered 60 divisions in France to fight the US and Britain compared to the 150 divisions fighting on the Eastern Front.
http://www.amazon.com/When-Titans-Clashed-...s/dp/0700608990
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Absolutely
yankeebrat
Footballguy
Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore
badmojo1006
Footballguy
I am going to the used book store and buying classics. Currently I am reading White Fang then will read Uncle Toms Cabin
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Newer editions of The Gunslinger have portions rewritten to make it fit better with the later books. I believe this was done right around when VII was published.Just finished a re-read of George RR Martin's first 4 A Song Of Ice And Fire books. The 5th book still isn't done & it's now looking like a 2009 publishing date.I've read the entire series and have started over. (Currently on The Wastelands.) Anyway, I have much more respect for The Gunslinger now after seeing how much foreshadowing there was in it and it was written 20 years before he even knew how he was going to finish the series.Drawing of the Three and Wizard and Glass are the best. The Dark Tower VII was pretty good as well.Don't know how, but I knew zip about the story or series so I was a littleI actually enjoyed book 1, but I think it's pretty widely accepted (and I concur) that book 2 is the best book in the series.
Next up is World War Z by Max Brooks. I had started this about 3 months ago & stopped about 50 pages in - not because I didn't like it but because I was also reading Martin's books & got tunnel vision.
After that, I've got Dan Simmon's The Terror & Joe Hill's (S King's son) Heart Shaped Box on deck. I'm also toying with tackling King's Dark Tower from beginning to end, which I've never done. From The Wastelands on, I've read them as they were published (with a couple of re-reads of III & IV but not the others).
I'll also bite off a chapter or two of McCullough's 1776 when the mood strikes. For some reason I can easily slide back into this one even after a few weeks.
pantagrapher
Footballguy
Read that book several years ago and loved it. Fun stuff.
facook
Footballguy
You've got a sweet few months of reading ahead of you. Those are all well worth it. The Terror, especially, is one of my favorite novels in recent years.Newer editions of The Gunslinger have portions rewritten to make it fit better with the later books. I believe this was done right around when VII was published.Just finished a re-read of George RR Martin's first 4 A Song Of Ice And Fire books. The 5th book still isn't done & it's now looking like a 2009 publishing date.I've read the entire series and have started over. (Currently on The Wastelands.) Anyway, I have much more respect for The Gunslinger now after seeing how much foreshadowing there was in it and it was written 20 years before he even knew how he was going to finish the series.Drawing of the Three and Wizard and Glass are the best. The Dark Tower VII was pretty good as well.Don't know how, but I knew zip about the story or series so I was a littlewhen he meets the kid from New York in the middle of the desert. Wondering WTF is going on....
Next up is World War Z by Max Brooks. I had started this about 3 months ago & stopped about 50 pages in - not because I didn't like it but because I was also reading Martin's books & got tunnel vision.
After that, I've got Dan Simmon's The Terror & Joe Hill's (S King's son) Heart Shaped Box on deck. I'm also toying with tackling King's Dark Tower from beginning to end, which I've never done. From The Wastelands on, I've read them as they were published (with a couple of re-reads of III & IV but not the others).
I'll also bite off a chapter or two of McCullough's 1776 when the mood strikes. For some reason I can easily slide back into this one even after a few weeks.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I really like Dan Simmons so I'm looking forward to getting into The Terror. About the only thing I haven't really liked of his is the Hyperion series. I know it gets lauded in the SciFi threads & the writing is good enough, but the story just didn't do it for me.For Simmons fans, check out Crook Factory. It's atypical for him - not horror or scifi. It's a fictionalized (how much, I don't know) story about Ernest Hemingway's involvement as a spy in WWII. Really, really entertaining.facook said:You've got a sweet few months of reading ahead of you. Those are all well worth it. The Terror, especially, is one of my favorite novels in recent years.Uruk-Hai said:Newer editions of The Gunslinger have portions rewritten to make it fit better with the later books. I believe this was done right around when VII was published.Just finished a re-read of George RR Martin's first 4 A Song Of Ice And Fire books. The 5th book still isn't done & it's now looking like a 2009 publishing date.I've read the entire series and have started over. (Currently on The Wastelands.) Anyway, I have much more respect for The Gunslinger now after seeing how much foreshadowing there was in it and it was written 20 years before he even knew how he was going to finish the series.Drawing of the Three and Wizard and Glass are the best. The Dark Tower VII was pretty good as well.Don't know how, but I knew zip about the story or series so I was a littlewhen he meets the kid from New York in the middle of the desert. Wondering WTF is going on....
Next up is World War Z by Max Brooks. I had started this about 3 months ago & stopped about 50 pages in - not because I didn't like it but because I was also reading Martin's books & got tunnel vision.
After that, I've got Dan Simmon's The Terror & Joe Hill's (S King's son) Heart Shaped Box on deck. I'm also toying with tackling King's Dark Tower from beginning to end, which I've never done. From The Wastelands on, I've read them as they were published (with a couple of re-reads of III & IV but not the others).
I'll also bite off a chapter or two of McCullough's 1776 when the mood strikes. For some reason I can easily slide back into this one even after a few weeks.
Fiddles
Footballguy
Just finished the Wind Up Bird Chronicle. It was interesting and different but overall disappointing. Im ok with some open endedness but damn.Ooooo, I can't wait to see your update on this one. About a month ago, I finished The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which easily slid right into my top 10 all-time favorite books. Better than Kafka on the Shore, which I also loved.
urbanhack
Fight The Power!
chicago boy -
NorvilleBarnes
Footballguy
The Post American World - Fareed Zakaria. Excellent so far.
Recently finished:
Hostile Waters by Peter Huchthausen - excellent true account of an accident involving a soviet nuclear sub of the US coastline. Great read..I consumed it.
A Smile as Big as the Moon by Mike Kersjes - true story of the journey of a special education teacher from Michigan in the 80s who fights to get his special ed students in to Space Camp. A very inspiring story.
currently reading Moon Shot by Alan Shephard and Deke Slayton - the two astronaut's account of America's race to the moon. Very good so far.
Hostile Waters by Peter Huchthausen - excellent true account of an accident involving a soviet nuclear sub of the US coastline. Great read..I consumed it.
A Smile as Big as the Moon by Mike Kersjes - true story of the journey of a special education teacher from Michigan in the 80s who fights to get his special ed students in to Space Camp. A very inspiring story.
currently reading Moon Shot by Alan Shephard and Deke Slayton - the two astronaut's account of America's race to the moon. Very good so far.
Foosball God
Foos
I was on vacation last week so I read The Partner and The Last Juror by Grisham and Night Watch by Terry Pratchard. I enjoyed all of them. This was the first Discworld book I have read and while Pratchard wasn't as funny as they made him out to be he is good with words and satire, I did find myself chuckling through some of it.
Just finished "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer last night. It was okay, but could have been a lot better. I'm sure I would have liked it more if I was a teenager or had ovaries. I can certainly see why every chick I know is addicted to this series though. It's basically a teen romance novel with a vampire setting. I may pick up the next book as there is some good stuff in there, you just have to wade thru some occasional teen lovey dovey stuff to get to it.
I read her new unrelated book "The Host" before this one and it was much better and more adult oriented (which is why I was willing to try Twilight out.) An interesting take on the classic invasion of the body snatchers plot.
Starting "Don Quixote" next.
I read her new unrelated book "The Host" before this one and it was much better and more adult oriented (which is why I was willing to try Twilight out.) An interesting take on the classic invasion of the body snatchers plot.
Starting "Don Quixote" next.
roadkill1292
Footballguy
I think I liked The Partner more than all the rest of his books. That's the one where the guy absconds with millions from his corrupt law firm and fakes his own death, right? (Hope that's not a spoiler). Lotsa bad apples get their comeuppance in that one.
Mookie Blaylock
Footballguy
Right in the middle of Rule by Secrecy by Jim Marrs. Umm...wow?! Don't even touch it if you enjoy the world we are living in today.
Foosball God
Foos
Yes. The Last Juror was good because it was from the point of view of a newspaper guy instead of a lawyer, it was a refreshing change of pace from some of his books. I like the lawyer tales, but it can get boring to read more than one of them in a row.
Hawk Fan
Footballguy
Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Meh. I was disappointed. I don't care for Asimov's writing style; I also recently read I, Robot. I'll probably read the other two in the original trilogy eventually. As far as classic sci-fi goes, I really liked The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. Recently read his short story collection Virtual Unrealities which was good but not as good as his novel. I'll be reading The Demolished Man soon (winner of the first Hugo award in 1953).
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Enjoyed this.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I thought this was very good, though the last third dragged a little bit after a major plot point, and Leah's sections got pretty preachy.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Enjoyed this.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I thought this was very good, though the last third dragged a little bit after a major plot point, and Leah's sections got pretty preachy.
Tough As Nails
Glave Master
Huh. You are the first person I've ever heard say that. I thought that (and the others in the Foundation series) book was outstanding. Definitely avoid the others in the series as they are pretty much identical in style and pace. Who are some of your favorite sci-fi writers? Asimov, in my opinion, is better at establishing characters and situations in the openings of his books than anybody else. You feel like you know the world after 50 pages...I always thought that was amazing. I'm not coming down on you for not liking him...just curious to see what you do like. I'm the guy that doesn't like Neil Gaiman, so I get plenty of grief on that one.Hawk Fan said:
Hawk Fan
Footballguy
There is very little characterization. I didn't feel invested in the book and didn't really care what happened. The dialogue only serves to advance the plot. There is no description. The "science" and ideas seem dated, even by 1950s standards. I do like Neil Gaiman. I haven't read much science fiction, but I plan on reading some Heinlein next.
Tough As Nails
Glave Master
Different strokes here. I'll be interested to hear what you think of Heinlein. Go with Farnham's Freehold.Go Hawkeyes!
SofaKings
Footballguy
Halfway through and enjoying it immensely.
