What are you reading?

Glenn

Glenn

Hall of Famer
#91
#91
"A Princess of Mars" written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and soon to be in your neighborhood theater called "John Carter." I think the Martian series by ERB was on a par with his "Tarzan" series. This will be my third reading which is almost something I never do much less read any book twice.
 
Warhawk

Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#92
#92
Warhawk said:
I am about halfway through "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" by Jared Diamond. I highly recommend it based on what I've read so far. A fascinating look at societies and why some collapse (Easter Island, Vikings in Greenland, etc.) and why some succeed (Iceland, Japan, etc.), focusing on internal and external reasons including a lot of detail on climate, food sources, trade, etc. I am adding "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by the same author to my Amazon wish list now.
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OK, so I just finished reading "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" and while interesting in topic, it is slow reading at times and not as good as Collapse, in my opinion. But I would read GGS first if you are going to read both. The topics are interesting and answer questions you may not know you had to begin with.

I also read "Up and Down California in 1860 -1864, the Journal of Wiliam H. Brewer". He helped lead the first geologic survey of California. I wasn't quite sure of what to expect with this one and think that I was hoping for more than I got. It was still neat to read about his travels and the conditions of many cities he visited at the time and the adventures he had. Not as much geology as you may think, but more about the travels and perils of such a journey across California in that time.

I also tore through a couple novels by Boyd Morrison just for fun.

I just started reading "Two Graves" by Lincoln and Child. Another Pendergast novel. Haven't gotten far into it yet, but a refreshing change of pace after GGS!
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#93
#93
I'm re-reading the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. I'd forgotten how enjoyable they are to get lost in for a few hours at a time.
 
Prophetess

Prophetess

Gallifrayain
#94
#94
VF21 said:
I'm re-reading the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. I'd forgotten how enjoyable they are to get lost in for a few hours at a time.
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those are some really good books. Wish I had the whole series. I have bits and pieces of them.

I'm currently reading A Christmas Carol on ebook(almost done, next up is Les Miserables), Agatha Christies' Mrs.McGinty is Dead in paperback, any and all books that Ziah brings me(this is a wide variety of paperback and hardback books). His favorite lately are easy read Mickey books for prereaders, he's picking up words and I love it!
 
Warhawk

Warhawk

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Staff member
#95
#95
Just finished reading Earth Unaware by Orson Scott Card. It is the first in a series covering the First Formic War that precedes the events in Ender's Game. Takes a while to set up the story, but gets going partway through and is entertaining. Easily read - it is in a young adult style of writing. The sequels should be better without all the "required" backstory to start the new series.
 
TyFreak Evans

TyFreak Evans

Bench
#96
#96
I will be honest. Never have been a huge fan of reading, and I probably never will. BUT, I have always been a huge fan of the possibility of writing, and I am in the early stages of planning a novel, or a series of novels.

Stay tuned, my friends.
 
T

The Hammer

All-Star
#99
#99
spudfan said:
Born to Run is a great book for entertainment and motivation. As far as actually running advice and realistic information...
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Completely agree. And, the "nutrition" advice is absolutely ****ing horrendous.

He's a great writer, no doubt. But if I ever saw him in person I would dress him down vociferously for taking a subject with some solid science behind it, and completely butchering the presentation of that science, which makes him and the (still decent) science look totally retarded. How that **** got past his posse of proofreaders boggles my mind.

I will refine your point a bit if I may. For running advice, I agree, but for running philosophy, it's pretty spot on. But you can't run on philosophy. What most people end up doing is getting psyched about barefoot/minimalist running after reading the book, and then going to youtube for Lee Saxby, Dr. Cucuzzella, or Dr. Lieberman videos (or other qualified coach) to get the basics.

But really, it's pretty simple. Just take off the ****ing retarded foam cushion, and your pretty far along to changing your stride naturally. Use what minimal road/trail protection you need, just don't pad your heel, and don't have arch support... and transition SLOWLY. You can also do some very basic posture/balance drills. Lee Saxby has some great vids.

I'm a full on barefoot/minimalist convert at this point, and it happened pretty damn quick after getting wind of this philosophy. It's a game changer for me.

 
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Padrino

Padrino

All-Star
#100
#100
currently reading Strange Light by Derrick Brown. it's one of my favorite new collections of poetry. i'd offer that it can be read by anyone. anyone. so don't be afraid to approach the fullness of its pages. flash a middle finger to the apprehension that high school classrooms instill in young readers with respect to poetry, because too many individuals carry that anxiety so much farther than is necessary. you don't have to "get it," and i don't care what your reading habits are, there's never a bad time to give poetry a try...
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#103
#103
I finally got a chance to read Ender's Game (having found it at a yard sale and remembering that it had been mentioned in some of our reading threads). I have to admit to being very pleasantly surprised. It was an easy yet very enjoyable read.
 
Warhawk

Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#104
#104
VF21 said:
I finally got a chance to read Ender's Game (having found it at a yard sale and remembering that it had been mentioned in some of our reading threads). I have to admit to being very pleasantly surprised. It was an easy yet very enjoyable read.
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That was me! Glad you liked it. It is definitely a bit of a "young adult" book, but still enjoyable to adults as well. I loaned it to two folks at work and they liked it too. Definitely looking forward to the movie.
 
HndsmCelt

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#105
#105
These days I am deep into old school detective novels. I am currently rereading the Travis McGee books by John D. McDonald. Got "The Green Ripper" out tonight
 
kennadog

kennadog

Dog On It!
#106
#106
HndsmCelt said:
These days I am deep into old school detective novels. I am currently rereading the Travis McGee books by John D. McDonald. Got "The Green Ripper" out tonight
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Love McGee. Haven't read all of them. One of my most favorite old school PI's was Lew Archer by Ross MacDonald. I did read everyone of them. Just donated all of my old paperbacks a few months ago. Darn near brought me to tears, but minimizing my household is a necessity. ;)

I'm a bit of a ghoulish reader and into detective/murder mystery.police procedural type books for "entertainment." (Yet, I look like such a sweet old lady, mwwwwahahahahaha.) Reading Joyce Carol Oates "Zombie." Truly a chilling novel written in first person by a serial killer. Just downright frightening.
 
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HndsmCelt

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#107
#107
I'll put it on my list. I am now reading Richard Stark AKA Donald Westlake. I into the 3rd Parker book "The Outfit." Serious old school hard boiled pulp fiction.
 
Kingster

Kingster

Hall of Famer
#109
#109
I love this topic. Am always searching for good reading material. I'm reading The Six Wives of Henry VIII (Weir), the Deptford Trilogy (Davies) , and Winterkill (CJ Box).
 
Kingster

Kingster

Hall of Famer
#110
#110
kennadog said:
Love McGee. Haven't read all of them. One of my most favorite old school PI's was Lew Archer by Ross MacDonald. I did read everyone of them. Just donated all of my old paperbacks a few months ago. Darn near brought me to tears, but minimizing my household is a necessity. ;)

I'm a bit of a ghoulish reader and into detective/murder mystery.police procedural type books for "entertainment." (Yet, I look like such a sweet old lady, mwwwwahahahahaha.) Reading Joyce Carol Oates "Zombie." Truly a chilling novel written in first person by a serial killer. Just downright frightening.
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Sometimes I like reading frightening books also. I've never read one more frightening than The Exorcist. Even more intense than the movie. If they really made the movie like the book people would leave the theater. :) This is a good sub-topic: what is the most frightening novel you've ever read?
 
Kingster

Kingster

Hall of Famer
#112
#112
Warhawk said:
OK, so I just finished reading "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" and while interesting in topic, it is slow reading at times and not as good as Collapse, in my opinion. But I would read GGS first if you are going to read both. The topics are interesting and answer questions you may not know you had to begin with.
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I read it, and found some interesting ideas in it. But the analysis of China and their development was woeful imo. To not deal with ideology as a key factor in the fate of societies is limited in my view.
 
Prophetess

Prophetess

Gallifrayain
#115
#115
Currently rereading The Phantom Tollbooth on my phone. One of my very favorite books. Incredibly easy read at this age but hey I don't have a lot of time and it brings back great memories. I hope to get to my very new to me actual books soon.
 
kennadog

kennadog

Dog On It!
#118
#118
I love the Phantom Tollbooth!

Interestingly, as many of King's books as I've read, I've never read The Shining." Have to add it to my read soon list.

Scariest book. I may have to think about that one. I've read so many books, I'm not sure. In Cold Blood is definitely one of them. Silence of the Lambs was pretty darn scary/creepy

Also read The Last Stand of Fox Company not long ago. True story about one of the Marine Corps most extraordinary and celebrated battles. It occurred in Korea. Very intense and incredibly scary in a whole different way. Just unbelievable courage and fortitude. I've read several books about the Korean War recently to satisfy my desire to know more about a war that has been so glossed over in US history books, sandwiched between to glorious victory of WWII and the major controversy and upheaval of the Vietnam conflict. David Halberstam's book on the Korean War (or "police action") was very good, too.
 
Warhawk

Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#119
#119
I am finishing "The Last Dark" - the final book in the final Thomas Covenant series by Stephen R. Donaldson. Might even finish tonight. While at times I think he goes into a bit too much detail, I find the stories captivating and the characters engaging to read about. Check them out (in order!) if you are into fantasy at all. I was introduced to "Lord Foul's Bane" in maybe 1983 or so.

The series are as follows (stolen from wiki for copy/paste):

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever
  1. Lord Foul's Bane – (1977)
  2. The Illearth War – (1978) ("Gilden-Fire" - first published 1981)[1]
  3. The Power that Preserves – (1979)
The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
  1. The Wounded Land – (1980)
  2. The One Tree – (1982)
  3. White Gold Wielder – (1983)
The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
  1. The Runes of the Earth – (2004)
  2. Fatal Revenant – (2007)
  3. Against All Things Ending – (2010)
  4. The Last Dark – (2013)
 
Padrino

Padrino

All-Star
#120
#120
finally getting around to working my way through david foster wallace's encyclopedic Infinite Jest. i absolutely loved the wit and depth of his short story collection, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, and i've been wanting to dive into his most accomplished novel ever since...
 
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