Updated 'What are you reading' thread

[Justinvs]

Reading the new one by Orson Scott Card, but I'm damned if I recall the title at the moment. Also "A Thousand Names For Stranger" by Julie Cznerda, "The Face" by Dean Koontz, "Mockingjay" by Susanne Collins and the final installment of the "Lost Fleet" series by Jack Campbell.

Yeah, I read too much SF!

Justin

[Agave_Blue]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLH

Initials?

It's by Greg Palast. It's a few years old. For me it's a re-read actually.

Originally Posted by Leep Dog

I'm reading "Space" by James A. Michener; it's an historical fiction story of the development of the US space program; very interesting.
....

Great book.

Back when I was 19 or so, I read it and that book - specifically - changed my life. Literally. I remember it vividly; one of those few undeniable turning points where we make a conscious choice that effects everything afterward.

[Nighthawk]

Originally Posted by Agave_Blue

I've burned through a good handful of books the past couple of months.

Recently finished re-reading The Killer Angels and Gods and Generals (M and J Sharra).

Currently finishing a left-wing screed the topic of which is not allowed here.

Then I've got the Laura Hilenbrand book Unbroken that a freind loaned me. I really liked her story on Sea Biscuit.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/d...400064168.html

I loved "The Killer Angels"... It is the best of those books and was done by the father, the others by the son. Its a different book than the others, taking a much more personal look at the characters. Its more of a serious novel from my perspective, though I enjoyed the subsequent books. Won the Pulitzer prize too as I recall.

[jjkrause84]

Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766 by Fred Anderson.

This book should be required reading for all American history buffs....amazing, amazing stuff (only slightly hindered by the author's 'not having used many French sources).


I'm also reading Time Must Have a Stop by Aldous Huxley

[Nighthawk]

I'm currently reading a novel titled "The Winter Queen". Well written, interesting but a bit slow. Before this one I read David McCullough's Pulitzer prize winning biography of Harry Truman, which I highly recommend. Next up is Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped". I've never read it. Thought I would give it a try.

[Nighthawk]

Originally Posted by jjkrause84

Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766 by Fred Anderson.

This book should be required reading for all American history buffs....amazing, amazing stuff (only slightly hindered by the author's 'not having used many French sources).


I'm also reading Time Must Have a Stop by Aldous Huxley

Hey! "The Crucible Of War" is a great book. Have you read Francis Parkman on the entirety of the french and Indian wars? The language might be a bit tough but he was the first to cover that ground and it is a huge work of several volumes.

[telepathetic]

Today I'm finishing off the latest Tim Dorsey book: Electric Barracuda. All his books are the zany adventures or 2 nut case fugitives in Florida. These are not deep, cosmic books, but they are quite entertaining and funny.

I lived in Florida for a few years in the 70's (and may well live there again someday).

Here's are the other books in the series:
Florida Roadkill (1999)
Hammerhead Ranch Motel (2000)
Orange Crush (2001)
Triggerfish Twist (2002)
The Stingray Shuffle (2003)
Cadillac Beach (2004)
Torpedo Juice (2005)
The Big Bamboo (2006)
Hurricane Punch (2007)
Atomic Lobster (2008)
Nuclear Jellyfish (2009)
Gator A-Go-Go (2010)

I average 2 to 3 books a week. Unless it's something like Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth. That'll eat up a week all by itself.

[P Thought]

I just finished My Reading Life, by Pat Conroy, and started in on Battle Cry of Freedom, a one-volume history of the Civil War and the events leading up to it, by James McPherson. I read every day, but often only ten or twenty minutes at a time, so this one will take me a while.

[brokenjoe]

Originally Posted by PlunderDog

Just finished "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and am about a third of the way through "Last Night in Twisted River" by John Irving.

Originally Posted by middy

"Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy

I think I've read all of C. McCarthy's stuff. Brilliant, but like an auto wreck that you can't look away from.

I've always said that Blood Meridian is like a version of Apocalypse Now if it had have been set in the American Southwest in the 1800s.

[blowtorch]

I know someone who reads lots of Cormac McCarthy.

I'm currently reading "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse, bit by bit, on my lunch hour, and very much enjoying it.

[brokenjoe]

Originally Posted by Mjark

Lately I've been on a fiction binge. The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War - Bernard Cornwell, Son of Heaven - David Wingrove, December 6 - Martin Cruz Smith and Galileo's Dream - Kim Stanley Robinson.

In between those I've reading a non fiction book, April 1865 the Month That Saved a Nation by Jay Winik it's excellent. His other book the Great Upheaval is also terribly good. He's a wonderful writer and scholar.

At hand now is The Good Son - Michael Gruber a novel set partly in right now Pakistan. He's a very interesting, thoughtful and imaginative author. I've enjoyed all his books so far.

Not to overload your plate, but you might want to look into Patrick O'Brian's series of Jack Aubrey novels. Wonderful stuff, and with 20 1/2 novels it ought to keep you occupied for a while!

[brokenjoe]

Originally Posted by Agave_Blue

I've burned through a good handful of books the past couple of months.

Recently finished re-reading The Killer Angels and Gods and Generals (M and J Sharra).

Currently finishing a left-wing screed the topic of which is not allowed here.

Then I've got the Laura Hilenbrand book Unbroken that a freind loaned me. I really liked her story on Sea Biscuit.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/d...400064168.html

Thanx for the heads up on L.H. I really enjoyed Seabiscuit -she's got a great style. I'm gonna' look for this one.

[brokenjoe]

Originally Posted by Walker

Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters by Robert Gordon

I've read the Muddy Waters bio. Tip top stuff, and well written. Enjoy.

[Flaneur]

Moneyball, by Michael Lewis

(but I've read two of Cormac McCarthy's since New Year........)

[PrivateIron]

In an effort to appear less of a philistine I'm reading Tolstoy's War and Peace, took me some time to get into it but I'm starting to really enjoy it.

Just finished reading Danny Wallace's 'Awkward Situation's for Men' - a great and hilarious read, not sure if it'll be easily available in the US though.

[middy]

Originally Posted by brokenjoe

I think I've read all of C. McCarthy's stuff. Brilliant, but like an auto wreck that you can't look away from.

I've always said that Blood Meridian is like a version of Apocalypse Now if it had have been set in the American Southwest in the 1800s.

That's an apt description. His style is almost mesmerizing... dreamlike. The same effect I get from Apocalypse Now.

[charlie cash]

"Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy

That's my favorite of his books.
I'm reading Milton's Paradise Lost. Every once in a while I read one of the classics that I overlooked in my youth.

[BigDaddyLH]

Originally Posted by charlie cash

That's my favorite of his books.
I'm reading Milton's Paradise Lost. Every once in a while I read one of the classics that I overlooked in my youth.

You might be interested in Philip Pullman's trilogy, "His Dark Materials", which was inspired by Paradise Lost. In it, men and fallen angels attempt to kill "The Authority" and establish a Republic Of Heaven.

[slauson slim]

Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia. New bio of T.E. Lawrence.

Spies of the Balkans: A Novel. Fast moving and lots of action about pre-WWII Salonika and the Balkans.

Sea of Thunder. History of WWII Battle of Leyte Gulf. Insights into Japanese and American commanders, vivid description of battles, info on battleships Yamato and Musashi.

Justine - Lawrence Durrell. Literary classic about naughty goings on in 1930 Alexandria, Egypt. First book of trilogy.

[castpolymer]

Just finished the Fender Amp book that came out a while ago. Very cool and very informative.