What are you reading right now?
- Thread starter funkykingston
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Yeah, I really liked those "Game of Thrones" books (I think there are three right now). They are incredibly nerdy, of course, but quite enjoyable page turners none the less.
<<<besides, who am I-- Economist/statistician/computer scientist -- to disparage the nerdiness of anyone? If you live in a glass house, dont call the kettle black.>>>
As far as what I'm reading right now:
1. "Wealth and Poverty of Nations: why are some so rich and some so poor" Slowly reading it on the metro, to and from work. Its an analysis by an ancient Harvard historian/economist (David Landes) on why societies developed the way they did, and why europe emerged as the econ/commercial/military powerhouse that it did.
2. "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol II" THis is a "graphic novel" (glorified comic book) that I picked up from a display by the front door the last time I was at the library with my kids. I haven't "read" much of it, but I was thinking/hoping it would be better. I'd heard good things about the original.
3. And then of course I read innumerable editions of "the proud little puppy", "goodnight moon", "mcduff and the baby", "once upon a potty", etc... night after night after night. Deep stuff.
<<<besides, who am I-- Economist/statistician/computer scientist -- to disparage the nerdiness of anyone? If you live in a glass house, dont call the kettle black.>>>
As far as what I'm reading right now:
1. "Wealth and Poverty of Nations: why are some so rich and some so poor" Slowly reading it on the metro, to and from work. Its an analysis by an ancient Harvard historian/economist (David Landes) on why societies developed the way they did, and why europe emerged as the econ/commercial/military powerhouse that it did.
2. "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol II" THis is a "graphic novel" (glorified comic book) that I picked up from a display by the front door the last time I was at the library with my kids. I haven't "read" much of it, but I was thinking/hoping it would be better. I'd heard good things about the original.
3. And then of course I read innumerable editions of "the proud little puppy", "goodnight moon", "mcduff and the baby", "once upon a potty", etc... night after night after night. Deep stuff.
I loved it. A very quick and easy read and it is absolutely hilarious.
I've been meaning to read Vonnegut since I first saw the film of Slaughterhouse Five at age 12 and I keep forgetting to. Gotta make a note next time I hit the bookstore.
In keeping with the thread, I'm currently reading the huge stack of "Rolling Stone," "Blender" and "Spin" magazines that I haven't touched since May.
I've been meaning to read Vonnegut since I first saw the film of Slaughterhouse Five at age 12 and I keep forgetting to. Gotta make a note next time I hit the bookstore.
In keeping with the thread, I'm currently reading the huge stack of "Rolling Stone," "Blender" and "Spin" magazines that I haven't touched since May.
About Vonnegut - I was a big fan back in the day. Read a lot of his stuff and found it insightful and provocative. I picked up a copy of Cat's Cradle a while back; I haven't been able to muddle my way through it. I guess it's true - you can't go home again...and apparently you can't rekindle a taste for Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. once you've had your fill.
I do too. After going through a major Anne Rice phase (just the Vampire Chronicles, none of her other series), but the last book of hers that I read, "The Vampire Armand," literally took me over a year to get through because I had to keep taking breaks -- just way too slow. I've got the next one on my list, but every time I'm about to start it, I find something else to read instead.
VF21 said:
I should probably explain. The "back in the day" I'm referring to was 30+ years ago...
SDKing said:
Does that mean that you haven't read anything he's written since 1975? I love reading his work from different eras, and seeing how he's changed as a person. His early stories from the 50's are way different than his latest novels in the 90's. But I know what you mean about not returning. I still love the Brady's, but I don't think I could watch them anymore.
On the other hand, I've read every single book written by Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Doc Smith, a lot of Arthur Clarke, and most of the fiction of Isaac Asimov. For some reason, those authors stuck with me while Vonnegut just faded into vague memory. I have probably read at least two books a week since I was about 12. (Often times I've read as many as 5 or 6 a week, especially before I discovered the Internet.)
A couple of authors have made a big impression on me - to the point where I try very hard to read them on a regular basis. These include Poe, Stephen King's earlier works, James Patterson, Robin Cook, Janet Evanovich, Patricia Cornwell, Anne McCaffrey ... and Ogden Nash.
Bricklayer said:
Dumas v. Kelly.
Not much of a read thus far. Decided correctly on procedural grounds but otherwise unexceptional.
Not much of a read thus far. Decided correctly on procedural grounds but otherwise unexceptional.
The other day I had to draft a response to a petition for post-conviction relief that was based on ineffective assistance of counsel during the petitioner's appeal. As I was reading his grounds, I was like wow, this guy has some good points. When I finally got curious as to who his attorney was, I realized that he was pro se in his appeal. That dude really had me going there for a little while. I wanted to suggest that he sue himself for malpractice.
Evert C. Albers and D. Jerome Tweton (editors), 1999, The Way It Was - The North Dakota Frontier Experience, Book Three: The Cowboys and Ranchers: The Grass Roots Press, Fessenden, North Dakota.
This is a compilation of "living history" interviews of local "old timers" that was done during the Great Depression (1930s) by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The interviews are quite interesting. These folks knew and associated Teddy Roosevelt and other notable characters. Cowboys and ranchers tend to have acolorful view of historic and mundane events. Plus, in those early days people had a tendancy to die without much difficulty.
One letter was written by a frontier woman to her brother "back east". She admonished her brother not to come out because she and the kids were "not feeling well". Before too long, three members of that ranching family died from tirichinosis. They probably ate some under-cooked pork or bear meat. Another local family lost six children in two years from meningitis and diptheria. My mother had polio, which they called infantile paralysis.
The photo is my great-grandfather, who was a ND rancher in the badlands region from 1887 to 1905. This was the prairie ranching boom of the late 19th century.
This is a compilation of "living history" interviews of local "old timers" that was done during the Great Depression (1930s) by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The interviews are quite interesting. These folks knew and associated Teddy Roosevelt and other notable characters. Cowboys and ranchers tend to have acolorful view of historic and mundane events. Plus, in those early days people had a tendancy to die without much difficulty.
One letter was written by a frontier woman to her brother "back east". She admonished her brother not to come out because she and the kids were "not feeling well". Before too long, three members of that ranching family died from tirichinosis. They probably ate some under-cooked pork or bear meat. Another local family lost six children in two years from meningitis and diptheria. My mother had polio, which they called infantile paralysis.
The photo is my great-grandfather, who was a ND rancher in the badlands region from 1887 to 1905. This was the prairie ranching boom of the late 19th century.
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