Like many of you, I'm always looking for a new and interesting book to read. What book are you currently reading?
i'm currently in Every little thing about you from Lori Wick as well as rereading Eclipse
I'm currently reading "The Prehistory of Sex". So far, it's really much less lascivious than you would imagine/hope, but still very interesting.
I just finished reading "Dragon Tears" by Dean Koontz and havent yet decided which book I am going to read next.
Laurel K Hamiliton-Divine Misdemeanors. Can't wait for 'Bullet'
now if we are discussing the to be read pile thats a twenty book list. and depending on my mood which one i pick up next.
Quote from: Rowen MacD on September 13, 2010, 03:09:06 PM
Laurel K Hamiliton-Divine Misdemeanors. Can't wait for 'Bullet'
I loved the first 9-10 books of the Anita Blake series. But the past several have been too much random sex, not enough story (never thought I'd ever say those words :)) I got half way through Incubus Dreams and was just done. I have heard better things about the most recent ones though. Do you agree?
Quote from: SandrineDeLaTombe on September 13, 2010, 03:27:10 PM
Quote from: Rowen MacD on September 13, 2010, 03:09:06 PM
Laurel K Hamiliton-Divine Misdemeanors. Can't wait for 'Bullet'
I loved the first 9-10 books of the Anita Blake series. But the past several have been too much random sex, not enough story (never thought I'd ever say those words :)) I got half way through Incubus Dreams and was just done. I have heard better things about the most recent ones though. Do you agree?
I have read the first two and have been trying to find a copy of the third book to continue reading the series. Although I will admit, I have not searched very hard for the third one, just the local Half Priced Bookstore.
Quote from: LadyShadow on September 13, 2010, 03:38:48 PM
I have read the first two and have been trying to find a copy of the third book to continue reading the series. Although I will admit, I have not searched very hard for the third one, just the local Half Priced Bookstore.
When I sold all of mine back to Half Price books, they said they couldn't keep those books on the shelf, that people came in asking for them all the time. Those first ones were really good, my favorite was "The Killing Dance".
They have some, but not the one I need :'(
Currently reading Super Freakanomics. If you liked the frist book, then you'll love this stuff. So much tasty stats to devour and ponder!
Quote from: SandrineDeLaTombe on September 13, 2010, 03:27:10 PM
Quote from: Rowen MacD on September 13, 2010, 03:09:06 PM
Laurel K Hamiliton-Divine Misdemeanors. Can't wait for 'Bullet'
I loved the first 9-10 books of the Anita Blake series. But the past several have been too much random sex, not enough story (never thought I'd ever say those words :)) I got half way through Incubus Dreams and was just done. I have heard better things about the most recent ones though. Do you agree?
Completely.
I actually wrote LKH a gripe letter about that, and I am
very sure I was not the only one. A few of her books during that phase were pretty much just porn. Shortly thereafter, Obsidian Butterfly saw her start to return Anita to the great supernatural, action-adventure heroine that she is.
When LKH introduced the Merry Gentry series, she seems to have shifted the Ubersex to there, so if you liked the Woman-with-a-Harem theme (and there are some that do) it's still out there. It's actually racier than the Vampire Hunter series.
As for me; I was just happy to see Anita getting back to the Executioner business.
Finishing The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron and in the early pages of The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.
" The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul " by Douglas Adams
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum totally RULES!
in the bathroom: Once and Future King
in the bedroom: Until the Celebration, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (and I will give mondo awesomesauce cookies to anyone who knows this series!)
Next in line: God-Emperor of Dune
I'm currently re-reading book 3 of the Bloody Jack Adventure series, by L.A. Meyer, Under the Jolly Roger. If you have never read these books, they are an absolute must. I believe the 8th one just came out this week, but I have yet to get my hands on it. In all, they are:
Bloody Jack
The Curse of the Blue Tattoo
Under the Jolly Roger
In the Belly of the Bloodhound
Mississippi Jack
My Bonny Light Horseman
Rapture of the Deep
The Wake of the Lorelei Lee
Just finished The Stand by Stephen King...restored version. Now reading Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel.
Dreadnought
by Robert K. Massie
Sorry, I don't read much popular fiction.
Never apologize for different tastes, Dona Catalina! If we were all the same, it would be a very boring life, indeed!
Ok, I'm reading a LKH "Anita Blake" e-book on the ipod, sadly I can't remember which one, because as someone said earlier, they got even more random rape-fantasy harem sex than usual, so I only read a couple sentences here and there while waiting for downloads or something. I think it's the one after Obsidian Butterfly, but the last time I read it was Sat and I've slept and read a lot since then. :)
Also currently e-reading _The Saltmarsh Murders_ by Gladys Mitchell and _How to Keep Your Indoor Cat Sane_.
I'm listening to the Audiobook _Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child_. It's awesome, but read it, don't listen to it, because the transitions (Chapter, section, paragraph) are really choppy. Also, forget all that Julie/Julia crap. The movie was highly entertaining, and I actually did used to read the blog, but you don't learn about Julia Child there. She worked in Military Intelligence! She lived all over the world! She wasn't married until she was 34, and it was some time later that she found her calling! Inspi-freaking-rational, no?
As for "real books," I'm reading Agatha Christie's autobiography. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. She doesn't talk about her famed disappearance, but she talks about everything, and I mean everything else. It's absolutely engrossing. I am also reading _Pleyn Delit_ by Constance B. Hieatt and Sharon Butler, which is an awesome book about medieval food with recipe redactions.
Read all my books! I'm SO going to read most of yours! :D
I'm rereading "After Us The Deluge" by Josef Toman - great book about Rome during Caligula. I'm also reading "Cleopatra's Daughter" - Michelle Moran. I just finished "The Botticelli Secret" by Marina Fiorato and "The Borgia Bride" by Jeanne Kalogridis.
I have two more of Jeanne's books to read, "The Devil's Queen" about Caterina de Medici and "I, Mona Lisa" and also three mystery books by Nancy Bush, "Candy red Apple", "Electric Blue" and "Ultra Violet".
I'm probley going to read Thorn In My Heart next from liz curtis higgs it's the first in a three book series i don't know why but i read lots of book series
Quote from: Welsh Wench on September 13, 2010, 06:23:29 PM
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum totally RULES!
I'm on #8. I was so excited and pleased by them in the beginning, but it's getting repititious. Am I just so easily deterred or what? It's good writing! And they do get into some insane situations! But, I am hoping all the "funny" stuff isn't gone! Grandma is laugh-out-loud awesome! I am just seeing some repeats of similar situations in the last two books. :(
Quote from: Lady Christina de Pond on September 15, 2010, 01:14:39 PM
I'm probley going to read Thorn In My Heart next from liz curtis higgs it's the first in a three book series i don't know why but i read lots of book series
For me, it's because I read and get to know the characters, then they just .. vanish from my life! At least with series I can pick up and keep "knowing" them long after the first book is finished. :)
that might be the reason i enjoy a series i like following the lives of the charaters
Quote from: midnightferret on September 14, 2010, 04:04:43 PM
Ok, I'm reading a LKH "Anita Blake" e-book on the ipod, sadly I can't remember which one, because as someone said earlier, they got even more random rape-fantasy harem sex than usual, so I only read a couple sentences here and there while waiting for downloads or something. I think it's the one after Obsidian Butterfly, but the last time I read it was Sat and I've slept and read a lot since then. :)
Also currently e-reading _The Saltmarsh Murders_ by Gladys Mitchell and _How to Keep Your Indoor Cat Sane_.
I'm listening to the Audiobook _Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child_. It's awesome, but read it, don't listen to it, because the transitions (Chapter, section, paragraph) are really choppy. Also, forget all that Julie/Julia crap. The movie was highly entertaining, and I actually did used to read the blog, but you don't learn about Julia Child there. She worked in Military Intelligence! She lived all over the world! She wasn't married until she was 34, and it was some time later that she found her calling! Inspi-freaking-rational, no?
As for "real books," I'm reading Agatha Christie's autobiography. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. She doesn't talk about her famed disappearance, but she talks about everything, and I mean everything else. It's absolutely engrossing. I am also reading _Pleyn Delit_ by Constance B. Hieatt and Sharon Butler, which is an awesome book about medieval food with recipe redactions.
Read all my books! I'm SO going to read most of yours! :D
IMHO, You are absolutely correct regarding LKH's Anita Blake series. They started out such fun, ended up being nothing but shock value and characters I cannot relate to (which is extremely rare). Obsidian Butterfly was the last decent (I don't know that I'd stretch and call it good as it's been so long since I've read it) book in the series - past that, you can forget plot.
Currently reading:
Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo (the first in the series was decent, Sworn to Silence).
The Riddle of Amish Culture - Donald B. Kraybill (yes, I am researching the Amish. :)
The Screenwriter's Problem Solver - Syd Field (as an amateur screenwriter, I must say a tarot reading has done more good for me so far than this book)
Freaky Deaky - Elmore Leonard (so far, a lot of fun... with some writer-envy mixed in)
The Way of Kings, by Brian Sanderson. (ie. the guy who is finishing the Wheel of Time series for the late Robert Jordan) So far it's very good. It is predicted to be a ten book series (The Stormlight Archive) and weighing in at 1000 pages each.
"Titus Groan" by Mervyn Peake. The first in the trilogy...
Currently re-reading The Belgariad and The Malloreon by David Eddings.
the Lost Books of the Bible (New Testament Apocrypha)
Now reading "The Man Who Fell to Earth" for fun, and "The Web Application Hacker's Handbook" for work.
Quote from: Tom on September 16, 2010, 07:50:45 PM
Currently re-reading The Belgariad and The Malloreon by David Eddings.
LOVE these books!
Currently inbetween books for me! Just finished "The Birth of Venus" by Sarah Dunant, followed by mind-less Nora Roberts.
Holding out for "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett :)
Quote from: appljx on September 18, 2010, 08:45:20 AM
LOVE these books!
Currently inbetween books for me! Just finished "The Birth of Venus" by Sarah Dunant, followed by mind-less Nora Roberts.
Holding out for "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett :)
Try "In the Company of the Courtesan", also by Dunant...
Quote from: appljx on September 18, 2010, 08:45:20 AM
Quote from: Tom on September 16, 2010, 07:50:45 PM
Currently re-reading The Belgariad and The Malloreon by David Eddings.
LOVE these books!
Currently inbetween books for me! Just finished "The Birth of Venus" by Sarah Dunant, followed by mind-less Nora Roberts.
Holding out for "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett :)
pillars of the Earth is on my wish list too
The Business of War Mercaries in the middle ages, and One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters a Cadfeal mystery.
now I'm halfway through Dune Messiah
i'm now in Texas Sky from Lori Wick
"The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time"
Sir Edward Grey
I just finished reading Dreadnought and I am more convinced than ever that term limits of government officials are absolutely neccesary. Once men are in power and see no end to their tenure they can rationalize to themselves the most horrible things.
I just started the "Master and Commander" Aubrey/Maturin books, again, probably my 4th time reading them through, all the way through. As a 'pirate' the technical stuff thrown in with the O'Brians style is like reading crack to me. Takes me about 3 months to read them all.
Quickbooks 2010 For Dummies
Bullet by Laurel K. Hamilton
I finished Fool by Christopher Moore, it was pretty good not as good as Lamb. Hes my favorite author, if ever in need of a chuckle pick up one of his books.
Finished bullet and going to start on a Lyndsay(sp) Sands book that I grabbed on my way out of the pharmacy.
I just finished "Legends of Shannara: Bearers of the Black Staff" by Terry Brooks. It's the 20th book in the Shannara series and just, wow. I love it. The only thing I didn't like was that it ended on a cliff hanger and the next book won't be out until next year! T_T
And, to distract myself, I'm starting in on "The Bell at Sealey Head" by Patricia A. McKillip. She's another author I just adore, her discriptions are so vivid, and nearly every book of hers is set in a different, unique world. I've read probably about ten of her books thus far, so I've got high hopes for this one. :)
I'm about 4 books into the Riley Jenson Guardian Series by Aussie author Keri Arthur. In many ways, her writing is very similar and in many ways better than LKH. Still a lot of sex, though it's refreshing that the heroine is unapologetic about it.
Rowen, I have quite a few of Keri Arthurs books, she is good. I think LKH is still my favorite though...also Christine Feehan and Maggie Shayne.
I finally got Pillars of the Earth!!! ;D
Quote from: Mairte on October 11, 2010, 06:53:21 PM
Rowen, I have quite a few of Keri Arthurs books, she is good. I think LKH is still my favorite though...also Christine Feehan and Maggie Shayne.
Yep, I'm still a loyal fan of LKH and buy
all her books, though I take a break and try a different author when Anita starts to sound whiny to me. I've found that even my favorite authors can get in my nerves if I'm not in the right mindset to read them. When that happens I try someone I haven't read before or switch genres for a while. Oh well, I'm a moody wench sometimes; blame it on menopause. ;)
I have most of Feehans' work but I don't recall reading Shayne.....So I have another author to try ;D
I've been re-reading The Uncollected Wodehouse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Uncollected_Wodehouse).
Quote from: dbaldock on October 12, 2010, 04:14:50 PM
I've been re-reading The Uncollected Wodehouse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Uncollected_Wodehouse).
That looks really interesting.
The Foxfire series, currently in volume 6 (I think). Trying to learn a little about skills that are being forgotten.
Years ago my friends brother read the DragonLance series. I never got a chance to borrow the books, but they series was pretty long as I recall, maybe 15-20 books. Has anyone read the series? If so, what did you think? Would you recommend it?
Quote from: DonaCatalina on October 13, 2010, 08:30:14 AM
Quote from: dbaldock on October 12, 2010, 04:14:50 PM
I've been re-reading The Uncollected Wodehouse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Uncollected_Wodehouse).
That looks really interesting.
It
is interesting! :D
I picked up this hardcover edition at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Plano, TX, back in the late 90's or early 00's. It's still available in paperback from Amazon (used) for less than $10.
Amazon - (used) Uncollected Wodehouse (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1558821198/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used)
Quote from: dbaldock on October 12, 2010, 04:14:50 PM
I've been re-reading The Uncollected Wodehouse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Uncollected_Wodehouse).
PG Wodehouse was one of my mother's favorite authors. Most people don't know where Jeeves came from, but you and I do!
Tipsy gypsy, I have the first two Foxfire books, want to get the rest. Loads of information!
Right now I am looking for a good science fiction/fantasy that will take a while to read. Trouble is, there is so much I have read so its difficult to find something different!
Mairte, I found mine on eBay, but I've seen them in Half Price Books, too.
have you read Diana Gabaldon's books? History, adventure, time travel- big fat juicy books :)
Thank you! I will check them out later, see if I can find them on Amazon.
All her books are in print, so any bookstore should have them, and probably Half Price too (love that place :) )
Oh, did I mention the hot Scot...?
The Fall book two of the Strain Trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Del Toro directed Hellboy movies and Pan's Labyrinth. It's a Vampire novel.
Quote from: Becky10 on October 08, 2010, 04:42:31 PM
I finished Fool by Christopher Moore, it was pretty good not as good as Lamb. Hes my favorite author, if ever in need of a chuckle pick up one of his books.
I've head Lamb is very good...read part of You Suck being the vampire lover I am lol. I think I'll try & read the rest of it & the other two as well.
Lamb is probably the funniest book that I've ever read. I would wake Nim up a night because I couldn't stifle my laughter! I would caution fundamentalist Christians away from it, though. I doubt that you would like it.
Currently reading James Rollins' Sandstorm.
I am going to try to start Empire by Steven Saylor today. A little historical fiction for light reading.
started reading the The Malloreon series by Eddings openning weekend at TRF seems to have put me in a fantasy mood.
Just finished Gladiatrix about the female gladiators of Rome. Started The White mare about Alba aka Scotland during the Roman invasion.
The Fort by Bernard Cornwell
I think I've read just about everything by Cornwell. Very impatiently waiting on the next Sharpe novel.
Just re-read Gil's All Fright Diner - about friends Earl (vampire) and Duke (werewolf) and their battle to save Gil's Diner from zombies and the world from the Old Ones. This is one of the funniest things I've ever read.
I'm still slogging through Wolf Hall. At some point I may have to put it aside as I have never been able to get into it.
Quote from: Taffy Saltwater on October 18, 2010, 09:44:04 AM
Just re-read Gil's All Fright Diner - about friends Earl (vampire) and Duke (werewolf) and their battle to save Gil's Diner from zombies and the world from the Old Ones. This is one of the funniest things I've ever read.
I'm still slogging through Wolf Hall. At some point I may have to put it aside as I have never been able to get into it.
That Gil book actually sounds pretty interesting. Did you like it? Would you suggest it?
Quote from: Valiss on October 21, 2010, 10:50:33 AM
Quote from: Taffy Saltwater on October 18, 2010, 09:44:04 AM
Just re-read Gil's All Fright Diner - about friends Earl (vampire) and Duke (werewolf) and their battle to save Gil's Diner from zombies and the world from the Old Ones. This is one of the funniest things I've ever read.
I'm still slogging through Wolf Hall. At some point I may have to put it aside as I have never been able to get into it.
That Gil book actually sounds pretty interesting. Did you like it? Would you suggest it?
Oh, highly recommended! I heard about it at FenCon in Dallas at a couple of boards by a couple of moderators and picked it up on Saturday morning, brought it back to my room, and read it that night in one sitting. I really enjoyed it and will probably look into getting more of the author's books after the holidays.
If you're interested, here's the Amazon reviews (there will be spoilers, obviously): http://www.amazon.com/Gils-All-Fright-Diner-Martinez/dp/0765350017/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287705753&sr=8-1
Currently about a 1/4 into Cursor's Fury, the third book in the Codex Alera series, but that may be put aside for the short story "Aftermath" in the new Jim Butcher Side Jobs.
The Big Necessity, The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters, by Rose George.
Not something most people would want to sink their teeth into.
During faire, I'm doing well to keep up with the newspaper. Noting much good in it except the comics, anyway. After faire, I think it's time to crack open Ayn Rand's "Anthem".
I just ordered Murder of a Medici Princess. I'll let you know if it is a good read.
just started finding Noel just about to drag the lord of the rings trillagy to work
I'm now dead center in the middle of Keith Richard's Life. Some parts made me laugh, some made me sob.
I just finished Murder of a Medici Princess by Caroline P. Murphy (Author)
Wow. I could hardly put it down. It was fascinating and informative.
I also explains why Spain obviously did not trust the Medicis after Cosimos death and why Eleonora's brothers were recognized in her Spanish title rather than one of her children.
A Curse Dark as Gold by E.C. Bunce
I just picked up a biography of the man who was probably the inspiration for Kipling book The Man who would be King and the movie by the same title ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073341/ ) starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine
The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Would-King-Afghanistan/dp/0374529574/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289270727&sr=1-3
Brief Gaudy Hour...A novel of Anne Boleyn By: Margaret Campbell Barnes
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o2/julessweetie/briefgaudyhour.jpg)
Wow and....WOW. Got through Diana Gabaldons "Outlander" and just started reading "Dragonfly In Amber". I am totally in love with the series so far.
Someone recommended me Sara Donatis "Into The Wilderness" books so going to try those too.
This is late, but Tipsy Gipsy, thank you for telling me about the Outlander series....and HOT SCOT is right!!!! ;D
Currently reading a novel titled "The Queen of Subtleties". It's to Elizabeth from Anne in the form of a letter.
Trinity by Leon Uris is my current read, just finished Harvest Home by Thomas Tyron (2nd time I read it)
The first book in the Bearers of the Black Staff series by Terry Brooks. The Sword of Shannara was my introduction to Science Fiction/Fantasy literature.
As said, I am reading "Dragonfly In Amber" but at the moment, reading two books, started the other this weekend. Its "Shadowheart" by Tad Williams.
I just downloaded Memoirs of Alexander Gardner, Soldier and Traveler
http://www.archive.org/details/soldiertraveller00gardiala
Gardner was born in Wisconsin in 1785 and became a adventurer and mercenary in Afghanistan serving various rulers and for several years was the Commandant of Artillery for a Maharaja. I first ran across a fiction description of him in the novel Flashman and the Mountain of Light
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Gardner_(soldier)
"Pirate Hunting" by Benerson Little. The third in his series of excellent historical treatises on piracy and pirates.
KILLER POLITICS by Ed Schultz and The Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follet
"The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova
The Automatic Detective by A. Lee Martinez, about a robot detective. It's got a nice scifi/noir feel to it, has some nice snappy dialogue, and an interesting story line. From the same writer who brought us Gil's All Fright Diner.
My computer got a horrible virus about two weeks ago, so I had to take it into Geek Squad. They kept it for a week and a half. In that time, I read more than I had in months. I didn't realize how much time the computer took away from reading until I didn't have YouTube in front of me. I read:
The Bell at Sealey Head, by Patricia A. McKillip: I love this woman's writing, she uses words like an artist uses paint to not only create a picture but a mood and impression as well. This story is a fantasy mystery of a small seaside town that hears a bell ring out at sunset every day. Most ignore the bell, but few keep listening for it even in their adult years and it isn't until a strange, young professor comes to town that people start looking into it.
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington: a horrible, disgusting story that's actually very well-written and compelling. Definitely not for children - not even for some adults. Back in the 1360s, twin German brothers who were raised by an uncaring mother and a grave robbing uncle, who taught them the trade, go off to find their grandfather's treasure hidden somewhere in Egypt. Along the way they battle demons, corrupt a priest, destroys lives, and all in the name of the Virgin Mary. This isn't an anti-religion book but the author would have been foolish not to include religion, as it was a huge part of everyone's lives back then.
Dragonwyck by Anya Seton: Published in 1923, this book follows the life of a young Yankee farm girl who always dreamed of a rich life. When her very distant cousin writes to her mother, asking for one of her daughters to come and teach his little daughter how to read, she jumps at the opportunity. She falls in love and marries her cousin and finds herself in an abusive relationship. The characters are wonderfully flushed out – even the evil husband has his good side and reasons to sympathize with him.
Now I'm reading The Never Ending Story by Micheal Ende, because child's book or not, I love reading the books my favorite movies are based on.
Currently reading The Red Necklace:
(http://www.lionunicornbooks.co.uk/images/9781842556344.jpg)
While I wait for my husband to finish The Girl Who Kicked A Hornet's Nest so I can read it! :)
Also just finished The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Yeah, I went on kind of a young-adult fiction kick. :)
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Just finished World War Z.
Currently reading FableHaven-Keys to the Demon Prison and the second Leven Thumps book
Resonance by AJ Scudiere apocalyptic scifi novel.
The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950-1953
Clay Blair Jr.
The Hogfather
by Terry Pratchett
Its a Christmas tradition.
We love Terry Pratchett!!! Read the most recent wee free men book a few weeks ago.
I am really hoping that he can get The Taxman Cometh out.
But Alzheimer's can be pretty agressively destructive.
Quote from: julessweetie on November 08, 2010, 10:09:46 PM
Brief Gaudy Hour...A novel of Anne Boleyn By: Margaret Campbell Barnes
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o2/julessweetie/briefgaudyhour.jpg)
Just bought it on eBay! Looks like a good read!
Finishing the second Game of Thrones book....Amazing!!
The End of Faith by Sam Harris
Now that it's in paperback, I was finally able to pick up The White Queen by Philippa Gregory. I'm not very far in, but so far so good!
I finally picked up a copy of the Narnia books. This has all 7 books combined into one, so that makes storage way easier.
Drums of Autumn, Diana Gabaldon
The Sun also Rises
Wow can these people drink!
Bart Simpson's Guide to Life (I bought it a while back and it caught my eye while I was moving stuff around in our bedroom the other day-it's too funny)
Quote from: Carl and Donna on January 04, 2011, 08:32:46 PM
The Sun also Rises
Wow can these people drink!
A great book by Hemingway! It has more of an F. Scott Fitzgerald flavor to it.
I'm currently reading "Full Catastrophe Living" a book on applying meditation/mindfulness to day-to-day life by Jon Kabat-Zinn. The title is misleading unless you've seen Zorba The Greek and get the analogy to his quote in the film.
I'm also reading "Storied Lives: Discovering and Deepening Your Personal Myth" by Craig Chalquist and Rebecca Elliott. A very succinct, and practical companion to Joseph Campbell's "Hero With A Thousand Faces" which is an extremely academic tome.
'The Invention of Tradition', A great book about how many "ago old traditions" are sometimes not really that old or traditional.
http://www.amazon.com/Invention-Tradition-Canto-Eric-Hobsbawm/dp/0521437733
One of my resolutions this year is to read more. It's funny, but ever since I started teaching reading, I've done very little of it myself.
I've started Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and have several of the mash-up novels to read, including Dawn of the Dreadfuls (the prequal to P&P&Z), Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, Jane Slayer, and Android Karenina.
I got a nook for Christmas, so I also want to go back and read/ re-read all the classics.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
Rereading Lamb the gospels according to Biff.
Its the only book ive ever seriously LOLed while reading
Started reading the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson...hopefully I won't finish them before the last book comes out next year :)
http://www.amazon.com/Eye-World-Wheel-Time-Book/dp/0812511816/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295189798&sr=8-2
Quote from: Becky10 on January 12, 2011, 12:55:26 AM
Rereading Lamb the gospels according to Biff.
Its the only book ive ever seriously LOLed while reading
It is hilarious. 'You can't give the meek a fruitcake'.
I'm reading the following:
-'
Deeper than the Dead' by Tami Hoag (at home)
-'
The Swan Thieves' by Elizabeth Kostova (at work/We have a daily reading time & the administration wants the kids to see us reading. Oh darn, I have to read for 20 minutes every day at work)
-'
Beautiful Boy' by David Sheff (audiobook/listening to in my car)
I love to read.
Quote from: Becky10 on January 12, 2011, 12:55:26 AM
Rereading Lamb the gospels according to Biff.
Its the only book ive ever seriously LOLed while reading
It was/is the funniest book I have ever read. Tears, I would laugh so hard!
Working through my Christmas books...
For Non-Fiction;
Just finished "The Invention of Tradition" Ed. by Eric Hobsbawm it's a great book about how many of the traditions which we think of as very ancient in their origins were invented comparatively recently.
Next up; "Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right" by Jennifer Burns
For Fiction; Finishing up "Blackout" by Connie Willis, and it's sequel "All Clear" is up next.
I just finished The Stand...for about the 6th time...
Now onto Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
Fiction: "The Fort" by Bernard Cornwell
Nonfiction: "Infiltration" by Albert Speer (Yes, the Nazi)
I currently have three Fiction and Two Non-Fiction in the process of being read:
Fiction:
Doomewyte (a novel of Redwall, by Brian Jacques)
The Protector's War (a novel of The Change, by S. M. Sterling)
The Lost Symbol (by Dan Brown)
Non-Fiction:
Fire in the Head (a book about Celtic Shamanism, by Tom Cowan)
The Art of Happiness (by his holiness, The Dalai Lama)
Enjoy Reading!!!
~Keeper
keeper@celticmoonlotusdesigns.com
www.celticmoonlotusdesigns.com (website w.i.p.)
Quote from: Lady Pagos on January 17, 2011, 10:32:00 PM
I just finished The Stand...for about the 6th time...
Now onto Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
Looks like we like the same sort of books!
Reading "Under the Black Ensign" by L. Ron Hubbard. It's a reprint of a pulp he did in the '40's(!).
Pure pirate candy!
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on January 18, 2011, 02:54:02 PM
Quote from: Lady Pagos on January 17, 2011, 10:32:00 PM
I just finished The Stand...for about the 6th time...
Now onto Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
Looks like we like the same sort of books!
And I have a cat named Merlin :)
Finally getting around to reading Super Freakonomics. Good stuff so far, like the first book!
Still on the Outlander series but also reading a book on ghost stories.
A call out for another series! Is there anything similiar to Diana Gabaldons "Outlander" series? I got many of the women in my family reading those books! ;D
I am in the 3rd of the Outlander series. Voyager. I love that the herioine is not 20 years old. I have never charged through books so quickly... at least since I finished Pillars of the Earth and World Without End.
I've decided to go through and read all of Jane Austen's books, since the only one I've ever read is Pride and Prejudice. So right now I'm on Northanger Abbey, and up next is Mansfield Park.
As dorky as it sounds, I'm actually going over some stories again from Chicken Soup for the Couples' Soul. There are a few in there that really warm my heart that I've read before and that I want to read again.
Amy, I agree. Those books get their hooks into you and its difficult to put them down. :) I THINK it was Tipsy Gypsy that said HOT SCOT!!! And, oh gods, she was right!! ;D
Gave up on Pride and Prejudice. Still slogging through Vanity Fair. And am now trying my hand at the Discworld graphic novels. They're growing on me.
HO SCOT is not the word for him. I am so in love with this man! I have even named a guy in my phone Jamie Frazer so he calls me now and then! (crazy things we do!)
Little behind the times but I just started the Harry Potter series for the first time. Finished book 1 in a couple of days and started book 2 so moving on along.
LOL, amy!!!!!!! ;D I love it. I am just finishing up Drums Of Autumn then jumping right away into Fiery Cross. This fourth one took me a while because of some other issues where I didnt have as much time to read.
I loved the movie so much I decided to read the book - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.
I loved Howl's Moving Castle! The first time I saw the movie I ran out and bought the book and both sequels. I love the layers to the story, both in the book and movie.
When I am not reading my nursing books (which I should be doing instead of wasting time online) I am reading Vampire Hunter D: Dark Nocturne and Marvel 1602. Marvel 1602 is a graphic novel that runs under the premise that many marvel super heroes (x-men, fantastic 4, spider man, Nick Fury, Dr. Strange, Dr. Doom, Captain America, Dare Devil,etc...) popped up about 400 years too early. So it is the Marvel Universe. In 1602. I am quite enjoying it.
Having to read through a ton of plays for my modern dramatic theater class, 'shockingly' they're all pretty fricken depressing. Well written, but depressing. Just finished reading Frozen and its got me looking sideways at pretty much everyone right now.
If anyone is wanting to get back to reading but finding time crunch hard I would get into reading plays. Its a nice change of pace and really works your imagination as your not given a bunch of the details. I have a habit of over doing it when i read and getting splitting headaches from pulling long hours so this keeps me from over doing it too much.
The Heart of Valor by Tanya Huff
McNally's Dilemma by Lawrence Sanders
A quirky read and very witty turn of the phrase.
I finished off Northanger Abbey a few days ago, and have moved on to Jane Eyre. I'm attempting to read it before the new movie comes out, but I don't think I can finish it by the 11th. And I'm not sure I will have the self control to not go see it right away...
Just finished up Liberty by Kimberly Iverson. But I only got it because it was in the bargain bin for $1 and it sounded like The Light Bearer which I'd also liked.
Liberty, alas...reads like not particularly great fanfiction with its main character as a flaming Mary Sue (I realize that many main characters could be termed Mary Sues but in this case, trust me, the term is apt).
Anyway...
Finishing up:
Italian Neighbors: or a Lapsed Anglo-Saxon in Verona by Tim Parks. Which is not really fiction at all, but amusing anecdotes about life in Italy.
Also in the middle of reading the Kushiel books by Jacqueline Carey and waiting on Kushiel's Justice and Kushiel's Mercy to get to me from Amazon so I can read them. Also in that order is The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss and Twilight's Dawn by Anne Bishop, so I've got plenty to keep me occupied.
And about the time I get through all of those, later in this month I've got slated Spirit Dances by CE Murphy to show up in the mail. :)
I'm trying to get through, "I Hate You - Don't Leave Me; understanding the borderline personality."
I figure it's about time I get a little more insight. I've been running into these traits enough lately that I figure it's time to get over my biases and try to get a better handle on the disorder.
Just finished Side Jobs by Jim Butcher, which is an anthology of Dresden Files stories.
Started The Vikings: A History by Robert Ferguson at lunch. Didn't have time to read more than the foreword and a few pages but seems interesting so far.
Analise, I'm rereading the Kushiel series right now also, almost done with the 1st one
Finished Drums Of Autumn and on to The Fiery Cross. (Diana Gabaldon) Also reading "Pale Demon" by Kim Harrison but not as into it as Gabaldons books.
Quote from: Trillium on March 04, 2011, 03:04:06 PM
Analise, I'm rereading the Kushiel series right now also, almost done with the 1st one
I was addicted to those, but quit reading her after the story of Phedre and Joscelin played out.
Then I got into the Godslayer trilogy also by Jacqueline Carey. I have never rooted for the 'bad guy' before. This trilogy is just way creepy, but a must read.
Yasmin Galenorn-Otherworld series-Blood Wyne
Love the characters, Love the stories.
Hating the waaay too graphic girl love scenes she writes in this book.
Thinking about reading the Fire and Ice series (Game of Thrones is the first book) again....
"The Exorcist" I like comedy ;)
Recently started Sarum at my husband's insistence- the fictional (but plausible) history of the Salisbury Plain from paleolithic man to the 1940s...
Evermore by Alyson Noel and The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Quote from: Rowen MacD on March 07, 2011, 10:28:34 AM
Yasmin Galenorn-Otherworld series-Blood Wyne
Love the characters, Love the stories.
Hating the waaay too graphic girl love scenes she writes in this book.
Mmmm love that series. Haven't gotten that one yet. And I do have to agree on your point, haha!
Quote from: Rowen MacD on March 07, 2011, 10:09:22 AM
Quote from: Trillium on March 04, 2011, 03:04:06 PM
Analise, I'm rereading the Kushiel series right now also, almost done with the 1st one
I was addicted to those, but quit reading her after the story of Phedre and Joscelin played out.
Then I got into the Godslayer trilogy also by Jacqueline Carey. I have never rooted for the 'bad guy' before. This trilogy is just way creepy, but a must read.
I just finished Kushiel's Mercy the other day. Don't have the Naamah books yet but figure I'll get them at some point. Also got and read through Twilight's Dawn in about a day. It's interesting, with the Kushiel books, I like sticking with the main characters. With the Black Jewels books, I keep thinking, "can't we have more of these
other characters?" I mean..I like Lucivar and Daemon but after the original trilogy, a lot of what they show up to do is so...domestic? Something. They end up being irritating.
Have now started on Wise Man's Fear. Figure that'll keep me occupied for a few days. Then I'll probably do the Naamah books.
Quote from: Lady Rowena Everclear on March 15, 2011, 10:40:54 PM
Quote from: Rowen MacD on March 07, 2011, 10:28:34 AM
Yasmin Galenorn-Otherworld series-Blood Wyne
Love the characters, Love the stories.
Hating the waaay too graphic girl love scenes she writes in this book.
Mmmm love that series. Haven't gotten that one yet. And I do have to agree on your point, haha!
Since her previous books have been action/adventure/paranormal boy-girl romance, she probably should have stuck to that. If she doesn't ramp back the girl porn I won't read her again.
~I just started a quaint little book by Amanda Quick (Lordy, I haven't read her in eons, but that will change)-The Perfect Poison. Victorian England and Murder! What's not to love.
Currently, I'm working on "The Swan Thieves" by Elizabeth Kostova. I loved "The Historian," and this book is quickly living up to the quality of that book.
I've gone through a LOT of historical fiction lately...something that happens when I start missing Faire. xD Phillipa Gregory's "The White Queen" and "The Red Queen," and "The Devil's Queen" by Jeanne Kalogridis, about Catherine de Medici.
For those of you who've read the Kushiel books...while Kushiel's Dart is good, did it take you FOR. EV. ERRR. to get through it? A friend got me all 6 over a year ago, and I've made two attempts to read Kushiel's Dart, and I just cannot make it all the way through. It's not the size of the book by any means. In fact, I don't know -what- it is.
Quote from: jinx on March 16, 2011, 09:08:04 PM
For those of you who've read the Kushiel books...while Kushiel's Dart is good, did it take you FOR. EV. ERRR. to get through it? A friend got me all 6 over a year ago, and I've made two attempts to read Kushiel's Dart, and I just cannot make it all the way through. It's not the size of the book by any means. In fact, I don't know -what- it is.
It took longer than most paperbacks but...it is a big book. Dense with words. I definitely didn't feel like, "omg when is it going to end?" or anything like that. It was actually kind of nice to have a book I couldn't finish in a sitting or two.
Quote from: Rowen MacD on March 16, 2011, 02:39:12 PM
Since her previous books have been action/adventure/paranormal boy-girl romance, she probably should have stuck to that. If she doesn't ramp back the girl porn I won't read her again.
~I just started a quaint little book by Amanda Quick (Lordy, I haven't read her in eons, but that will change)-The Perfect Poison. Victorian England and Murder! What's not to love.
My step-mom gave me an Amanda Quick book, Second Sight, a few months ago. I loved it! Would enjoy finding more of hers
Being a book junkie, I had to jump in here: Amanda Quick is a lot of fun. I'm currently rereading Highwaymen: Robbers and Rogues edited by Jennifer Roberson. It's definitely an "I miss Fest" book. :-)
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it before, but if you like to read and your friends like to read, there are a few great websites out there for tracking your literary habits. The one that I use is:
http://www.goodreads.com/
It's great for not only tracking what I'm reading at any given time, but for letting me see what my friends are reading and for giving me ways to explore other things that I may want to read in the future. You can input your whole library if you like, or you can put things in as you go (which is how I'm doing it).
If you join, and want to friend me, just give me a shout and let me know that you are from this board so I know who you are. I'm on there as myself, Lys Childs-Wiley.
Happy reading, all!
I am now onto the sixth Diana Gabaldon book, "A Breath Of Snow And Ashes". Love it! :)
Re-reading the Thursday Next novels by Jasper Fforde. I can never get tired of them. :D
Finished Wise Man's Fear much too soon (because now I have to wait for the next one!).
Also read Naamah's Kiss which I liked but not as much as the Kushiel books. The characters didn't feel quite as solid to me. That and I felt there was a huge issue with the reason for the second part of the book happening that just made me go, "really? That's really what's happening here? That's why they have to do this? Are you kidding me?"
I'll probably pick up the other books as they come out in paperback anyhow. :)
Oh, I read Wicked, too! And was rather disappointed. Maybe I'd just heard too much hype over the years or something but it completely didn't match up to what I expected it to be. I forced myself to finish it but I returned Son of a Witch instead of reading it. (I'd gone ahead and bought both because borders was doing a "buy 4, get one free" thing)
Another book I just finished was The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Am now going to have to go get the second book as I really enjoyed this one (I admit, I picked it up on a whim because I liked the cover).
OK Mairte. I am only on Book 3 and the kids are almost to them in the Carolina's. I am loving this series way too much! I wish I had more time to read! I am jealous that you know what happens next!
Amy, I completely understand as I am addicted to these books!!
I DO want to know what happens but when I finish the last book I will be bummed out. :-\
Any suggestions for long series of books with romance, drama, action, comedy etc. are very welcome!!!!
I love Diana Gabaldon! Those books are like old friends, it's always comforting to spend time with them. My paperback copies are worn and dog eared, but that just means they're loved! :)
I'm not a big fan of romance novels, but I'm really getting into historical romances, especially Regency and Victorian. I've just wrapped up the Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas, which I enjoyed immensely. Yes, they've got the typical formula for the genre (brooding heroes, passionate love scenes, happy endings) but Kleypas is a good writer and her books have more meat than the garden variety Harlequin novel.
I'm eagerly awaiting the realease of Dead Reckoning, the eleventh installment in Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries, due out next month.
I too am looking forward to "Dead Reckoning"....have all of those Sookie Stackhouse books too.
Thick romance books where the woman has some intelligence and common sense are great. I never really liked harlequins thin little nothing books...though I DID begin with them at the age of 11/12 when my aunts would pass them down to me! ;D
Sigh. Yes. Diana Gabaldons Outlander books will forever now be among my favorites.
Now reading "An Echo In The Bone", last current Outlander book.
Just finished Amanda Quick (I'm addicted to the Arcane Society novels) Second Sight
Now reading-Through Stone and Sea-A novel of the Noble Dead by Barb & JC Hendee.
Not a quick read, but rich in detail so far.
i am currently reading The Scar by China Mielville
Set in the fictional world of Bas-Lag, this steampunk novel tells the tale of Armada, a floating city of pirates built atop the bones of boats that have been press ganged, shanghaied over over centuries. The city is filled with races from all over, Vampir (more of a disease than a race, vampirism is a bactrial infection), The Cactae (plant people covered in spines), the Kephri (beautiful female scholars with a scarab heads who communicate by emitting scents) and many more. Magic meets science, Myth becomes reality, It is truly amazing.
it is one of those books that is soooo well written it just transports you there.
Widget....just hearing about it and I am putting it on my "to read" list! :)
Lately, I've been going back through my collection of books by Patrick F. McManus, who wrote a humor column for Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines.
Patrick F. McManus - Web Site (http://www.patrickfmcmanus.com/)
Patrick F. McManus - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_F._McManus)
The one's I have are listed here (http://www.patrickfmcmanus.com/Books.html) under Collections of Outdoor Humor Pieces.
The book I'm currently re-reading is his first - A Fine and Pleasant Misery (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47841.A_Fine_and_Pleasant_Misery)
Take Care,
David Baldock
First Dawn Judith Miller
again i'm back onto the series thing again
A Cure for Gravity, by Joe Jackson.
Galway Bay! Great read!
by Mary Pat Kelly
alright my reading ren friends riddle me this how do you wash what can't be washed?
I'll tell you
i swap books online sometimes i get one that doesn't smell so nice
i can't read it if it smells horrible
so how do i wash something that i can't wash?
gallon ziploc bag
take and place a dryer sheet inside each cover and in the middle of the book place the book in the ziploc bag and place a dryer sheet on top of it and under it. Zip it up and leave it for a week. you should have a wonderful smelling book and have washed what can't be washed
Almost done with "The Eye of the World" debating on whether to go onto book 2 or something a bit lighter. Don't have any smelly books but going to have to try that trick just out of curiosity.
Sir Iron, once you start you just can't stop, I will warn you. I will also warn you that clothing descriptions will increase exponentially. But the story is a good one. :)
It's time for me to pick up a book again, after I finish with this hat of mine. I think I'm going to jump to my next Patricia Briggs book in the Mercy Thompson series. I definitely haven't been reading enough lately.
Just started reading How to Train Your Dragon, the book on which the movie is based. Though, so far, I'm about 5 chapters in, and it's nothing like the movie (which I love). I hope the book improves!
However, it will probably be interrupted tomorrow, since I will finally be able to get my hands on the latest Bloody Jack Adventure novel. I'm so excited!
Dresden Files. Just finished "Turn Coat" this afternoon.
Eyeballing the never-shrinking book pile to see what's percolated to the surface.
My wife reads the Dresden Files books too, ravic!
The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Sigh. Finished "Echo In The Bone". :-\ But hey....that means a visit to Amazon or Barnes and Noble!! ;D
In the meantime re-reading Feast of Crows to refresh my memory a bit in anticipation of the 5th book....
I finished "How to Train Your Dragon" last night (the movie is way way better than the book), and now I've moved on to "The Wake of the Lorelei Lee" which is the latest installment of the Bloody Jack Adventure series by L.A. Meyer. I highly recommend the series to anyone who likes pirates or adventurous historical fiction. It's one of my favorites.
Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks (Me too, Grov. I just started it last night.)
I really loved the first three Shannara books.
Quote from: Mairte on May 01, 2011, 09:15:54 AM
I really loved the first three Shannara books.
I read them all some years back. And spotted them a month ago on the shelf at a half price book store so I thought I would reread the series.
I'm working thru them for the first by via audiobook. Just not enough time in my days to sit down and thumb through paper like I used to.
Are audio books any good? I thought about getting a couple of my favorites on them but sort of on the fence about it.
Nim and I use audio books on trips. They are great! They allow you to enjoy a book while driving.
I like them for on the road. And with a decent library, you can download books for free.
OMG i read the first Shanarra book my freshman year of highschool! did an oral report on it and even drew out the map, All my LOTR freak friends had never heard of it. Needless to say i made some converts!
Just finished the Treatises of Government by John Locke. Now onto rereading everything for college finals -- then maybe some pleasure books!
Rereading some old books by Andre Norton Sea Siege, Beast Master
Just started Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. I've never read it before, but I saw the most recent version and really enjoyed it.
Considering re-reading "The Dragonbone Chair" by Tad Williams until I can get some more new books.("New" is a loose term here. Even raggedy ones are new if I havent read them! ;D )
Oh! That is such an excellent series Mairte! I've read it several times, and will again!
Yeah, I really like Tad Williams! His Shadowmarch series is excellent too.
My favorite authors are George R.R. Martin (a Song of Ice and Fire), Tad Williams, Diana Gabaldon and Kate Elliot. They write good LONG interesting books that you can really sink your teeth into, lose yourself.
I LIKED Laurel K. Hamiltons Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series but its getting real repetitive. :-\ And the books arent as long. I mean, you just start to get into it and its OVER.
I cant stand that.
Quote from: Mairte on May 09, 2011, 08:04:17 AM
...New" is a loose term here. Even raggedy ones are new if I havent read them! ;D )
A book is new if I haven't read it. Case in point, "The Sword of Shannara" published in 1977 is new 'cause I ain't read it. Yet. I still got 500 some odd pages left.
Finished "The Eye of the World" now working on the second book in the series. Wonderful thing that Nook. I take 22 books to work with me each day.
Eye Of The World WAS one of my favorites, though I havent kept up and read the rest of the series after the first 10 or so. :-\
Maybe time to get the others.
And either a Nook or a Kindle or even Sony Reader....
The kindle price is coming down. Really becoming worth it if you have someone with whom to share books. If you love reading now, making it even easier by not having to hold the book or find a light (lighted cases) then you will feel like a kid again! The only thing they don't have is the smell. I love the smell of a new book.
Game of Thrones-Don't have cable so have to go old school
crazyrennie, hope you enjoy Game Of Thrones. It really drew me in the first time I read the series and I still love it.
BeastMaster by Andre Norton Its one of those books I try to reread ever year.
The Perfect Nazi: Uncovering My Grandfather's Secret Past by Martin Davidson.
So far an interesting book about how and why a seemingly normal person became a member of the SS
reading at this point
sorry very active brain and yes i'm reading all these at once time and yes i can keep each one straight
The once and Future king
The sisterhood of the traveling pants book2
Ink death(the series finally of the inkheart series)
wild at heart(just finished Captivating)
voices of the faithful
Besides The Dragonbone Chair, I have also been reading every now and again a fairy series by Holly Black. They are more teenage books though and dont hold my interest for more than 10 minutes at a time....Going to re-read Game of Thrones and the whole Song of Ice and Fire series again when I get them back. I wish the fifth book was out already. :-\
Might read Kate Elliots "Jaran" books again....
Its REALLY time to order more books or get to barnes and noble.
While going through all my books this week my son says I have enough for a library. I have read most of them at least a couple of times... :)
I highly recommend the Fablehaven series! So much fun! The main characters are 2 kids but you will have a blast with it!
Fablehaven....going on to amazon after I log out here to look at info. ;D
Currently, I'm re-reading Never Sniff a Gift Fish (http://www.amazon.com/Never-Sniff-Gift-Patrick-McManus/dp/0805000313) by Patrick F. McManus (http://www.patrickfmcmanus.com/).
This is a quote from "Poof - No Eyebrows!", a story that relates his youthful adventures with black powder, which may interest the Privateers on the Forum -
...
Attired in out muskrat-skin hats, which we had sewn up ourselves, we mounted our bicycles and, with cannon in tow, set off for the local golf course, where a fairway would serve as a firing range, a putting green as a target.
As we had hoped, the golf course turned out to be deserted. We quickly wheeled the cannon into firing position and began the loading procedure.
"Think that's enough powder?" Retch asked.
"Better dump in some more," I advised. "That croquet ball is pretty heavy."
"And there's some for good measure," Retch said.
The croquet ball fit a little too tightly, but we managed to ram it down the barrel.
Then we both took up positions alongside the cannon to witness the rare and wonderful spectacle of a sewer pipe firing a croquet ball down a golf-course fairway.
"Ready, aim, fire!" I commanded.
Retch tripped the firing mechanism.
Eventually, the thunder was replaced by clanging bells inside our heads, the shattered pieces of earth and sky fell back into place, and the wobbly world righted itself. Retch and I limped over to the side of a utility shed and sat down to relax a bit and collect our senses. Presently, a deputy sheriff drove up. He stood for moment gazing at the haze of smoke wafting gently over the golf course, the patch of smoldering turf ringed by fragments of sewer pipe, baby-carriage wheels, and pieces of two-by-four. Then, hoisting up his gun belt, he sauntered over to us.
"You boys know anything about an explosion out this way?" he asked.
"What kind of explosion?" Retch asked.
"A big explosion."
I was still so stunned I couldn't even think up a good lie. Anyway, I knew the deputy had us cold.
"Now, what I want to know," the deputy went on, "is why are you two boys sitting out here behind this shed smoking?"
"Shucks," I said, "if you'd been a little earlier, you'd have seen us while we were still on fire!"
...
I just finished reading Neuromancer for about the 5th time, I like to read it about once a year. I am about to start The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. I've got quite the backlog of books to read. I keep meaning to get the Game of Thrones books and read those too. After Deliverance Dane, I plan to finally read the Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey.
I would really like to see the Game of Thrones TV show, but I don't have cable, just rely on Netflix and Hulu.
I go through big cycles of Sci-Fi then Fantasy then Historical non-fiction.
Enemy at the Gates, William Craig, 1973. A detailed history of the battle of Stalingrad. Truly harrowing.
Movie of the same name a few years ago that told only a small part of the book.
Reading the last story of three in a Michael Creighton (?spelling) book, called "Eaters Of The Dead".
It is supposed to be a factual account from a transcription made by an Arab who went with some Vikings and ended up fighting Neanderthals WAY after they were supposed to not exist.
Quote from: Mairte on May 31, 2011, 07:33:06 AM
Reading the last story of three in a Michael Creighton (?spelling) book, called "Eaters Of The Dead".
It is supposed to be a factual account from a transcription made by an Arab who went with some Vikings and ended up fighting Neanderthals WAY after they were supposed to not exist.
Which was made into the movie "The Thirteenth Warrior", very entertaining....
Wow, I didnt know THAT! Thanks! :)
I thought the movie was boring. Maybe the book is better.
Quote from: Rapier Half-Wit on May 31, 2011, 09:48:36 AM
I thought the movie was boring. Maybe the book is better.
Well, maybe compared to the TRF campground on AHE it could be considered boring but I liked both of them.
When all Hell Breaks Loose, stuff you need to survive when disaster strikes by Cody Lundin
Todd McCaffrey's-Dragonblood. The further adventures of Pern.
Dare I say it? He writes much better than his mom.
IMHO, he writes like I wish she had all along. He actually develops characters fully, takes the time to describe things like scenery and clothing, equipment and even musical instruments in more than just the quick sketchy afterthoughts that his mom so frustratingly does; almost like after she finished the story, the editor said she had to go back and stick something into the book to make it readable.
I love the Pern universe, but reading Anne was a love/hate experience each time. I am going to enjoy the series with unmitigated joy from now on, now that she has passed this on to her son.
Just finished Amy Tan's 100 Secret Senses. Like most of her books (to me anyway), the mysticism sometimes leaves me scratching my head and of course there's at least one huge emotional set. And I read Marie Antoinette's Secret Diary over the weekend.
Now for some light reading (and I'm being sarcastic here), I'm re-reading the manga: Gankutsuou, the Count of Monte Cristo. Strange dreams will be elicited.
I have a huge backlog of stuff to read right now, and I keep adding to it!
I usally read two books at a time, and I have novels from authors I actually know, or at least correspond with, that have been sitting on the table untouched for months. :-[
I am currently finishing up a good Ayn Rand bio, 'Goddess of the Market' by Jennifer Burns, and need to finish up a book I've had for over a year by an author I'll be seeing at the end of the month so I can talk about it with her!
I don't have HBO, but I keep hearing so much about 'Game of Thrones' that I'd like to read George R. R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, but I promised myself not to start untill I get through what I have on hand!
Quote from: Rowen MacD on May 31, 2011, 03:34:40 PM
Todd McCaffrey's-Dragonblood. The further adventures of Pern.
Dare I say it? He writes much better than his mom.
IMHO, he writes like I wish she had all along. He actually develops characters fully, takes the time to describe things like scenery and clothing, equipment and even musical instruments in more than just the quick sketchy afterthoughts that his mom so frustratingly does; almost like after she finished the story, the editor said she had to go back and stick something into the book to make it readable.
I love the Pern universe, but reading Anne was a love/hate experience each time. I am going to enjoy the series with unmitigated joy from now on, now that she has passed this on to her son.
That's awesomeness Rowan. I love Anne McCaffrey, but do know what you mean. I guess it's time to go back to the bookstore (yes, old fashioned, still buy the actual paper books!) and check out Todd's work.
I was reading a Robert B. Parker but my cat puked on it so I have to throw it out. :'(
Quote from: Welsh Wench on May 31, 2011, 09:18:17 PM
I was reading a Robert B. Parker but my cat puked on it so I have to throw it out. :'(
Yuck.. along with my breakfast after you put that vision in my head...
Quote from: KeeperoftheBar on May 31, 2011, 08:22:26 AM
Quote from: Mairte on May 31, 2011, 07:33:06 AM
Reading the last story of three in a Michael Creighton (?spelling) book, called "Eaters Of The Dead".
It is supposed to be a factual account from a transcription made by an Arab who went with some Vikings and ended up fighting Neanderthals WAY after they were supposed to not exist.
Which was made into the movie "The Thirteenth Warrior", very entertaining....
Yeah, I second Mairte. I read the book and I had no idea they were the same story! :o
Terry Goodkind - Wizard's First Rule
I posted in another thread because I forgot this thread was here, and so looked in the Books/Music area, but I just finished in the past couple of weeks 2 books by Michael Crichton that I thought were really good.
Pirate Latitude and Timeline
Quote from: Welsh Wench on May 31, 2011, 09:18:17 PM
I was reading a Robert B. Parker but my cat puked on it so I have to throw it out. :'(
Just a guess, but I'm thinking your cat didn't like the book.
Quote from: Sir Ironhead on June 12, 2011, 04:38:54 PM
Quote from: Welsh Wench on May 31, 2011, 09:18:17 PM
I was reading a Robert B. Parker but my cat puked on it so I have to throw it out. :'(
Just a guess, but I'm thinking your cat didn't like the book.
Everybody's a critic! ;D
I'm re-reading Stephen King's
Rose Madder.
Soldier and Traveler: Memoirs of Alexander Gardner
http://www.archive.org/stream/soldiertraveller00gardiala#page/n9/mode/2up
An American-born adventurer, Josiah Harlan ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Harlan ) is believed to have been the inspiration for Kipling's story (and the Sean Connory/Michael Caine movie) "The Man who would be King," but I can't help but suspect Alexander Gardner was also an inspiration. I first into ran a fictionalized description of Alexander Gardner in the novel "Flashman and the Mountain of Light" by George MacDonald Fraser. ( http://tinyurl.com/35w2rgu ) Here was the description that Fraser's main character provided of him:
Quote"I noticed a an extraordinary figure lounging in an embrasure above the gate, swigging from an enormous tankard and barking orders at a party of Guardsmen drilling with the light guns on the wall. He was a real Pathan mercenary, with iron moustaches and a nose like a hatchet - but he was dressed from top to toe, puggaree (turban), robe and pyjamys, in the red tartan of the 79th Highlanders! Well I've seen a Madagascar nigger in a Black Watch kilt, but this beat all. Stranger still he carried a great metal collar in one hand, and each time before he drank he would clamp it around his throat, almost as though he expected the liquor to leak out through is Adam's apple."
The only known photo of him, taken in his 80's and eventually published in his memoir, shows Gardner to be just as imposing as his fictional alter-ego. -Still wearing tartan from hear to toe -including a matching tartan turban with a feather plume http://tinyurl.com/3x8s2es The description of the metal collar is due to one of the 14 wounds it is claimed that he sustained over his colorful career. It is said that due to a neck wound he could no longer swallow properly and that the collar provided assistance, or support when eating and drinking.
I am enthralled in the Penderghast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Very good. Very well written. A mixture of sci-fi, mystery, crime and adventure.
Just finished reading
Arcana Imperii: Origins (http://www.thearcana.net/), which is ...
Quote... a Steampunk re-imagining of the classic horror figures of the Victorian Era, where Jack the Ripper and Jonathan Harker battle the forces of darkness. A world in which Dr. Frankenstein's long lost child takes up his work, and Dr. Jekyll's formula finds a new victim. This book introduces you to these creatures and others, all dedicated to protecting the new Industrial Age from its darkest enemies.
For a sample, the first chapter can be read on his web site.
He's also set up a Facebook page -
Arcana Imperii: Origins (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arcana-Imperii-Origins/150530015006645)Its written by Ben Hamby, from Austin, TX, who plays the French King at the Texas Renaissance Festival -
(Click on the image to see the full size 4288x2848 photo)
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1307/5182370215_6230ffcbc0_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/david-r-baldock/5182370215/sizes/o/in/set-72157625279816115/)
I bought it from Ben at his booth at Comicpalooza in Houston on 28-May-11 -
(Click on the image to see the full size 4288x2848 photo)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/5770720262_2d63268f30_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/david-r-baldock/5770720262/sizes/o/in/set-72157626705567207/)
I'm ashamed and embarrassed to admit "the Bite Before Christmas". It's realllly time to hit a bookstore for something more edifying. On the positive side, it was a hand-me-down from my mom; on the negative - vampires ... at Christmas.
EDIT: At least they didn't sparkle.
Javascript: The Definitive Guide - 6th Edition - a real page turner... Oy! I'm way too much of a geek!
I was sooooo tickled to find two more books in the Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms by Mercedes Lackey.
Reading The Sleeping Beauty now, and will start on the Snow Queen next...The Fairy Godmother got me hooked on this series. Funny and fast paced.
I read The Black Swan in the Fairy Tale Series...Awesome. The Elemental Masters series is another favorite.
The CASTINGS trilogy by Pamela Freeman
Ahhh another Mercedes Lackey fan. And tell me, do you ride a white horse?
Rant! by L. Perdue
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rant-l-perdue/1030465165?ean=9781453794401&itm=2&usri=rant
Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
Pretty damn good so far! :)
http://www.amazon.com/Blink-Power-Thinking-Without/dp/0316010669/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308345191&sr=1-1
Feed by Mira Grant. . .only a few pages in, but quickly getting sucked into the storyline. :)
Rereading I Claudius by Robert Graves.
Quote from: Xantrawler on June 16, 2011, 07:26:51 PM
Ahhh another Mercedes Lackey fan. And tell me, do you ride a white horse?
Ahh... I would love to have one of THOSE white horses! ;) My horse is pretty amazing though.... Hehehe.
Quote from: Xantrawler on June 16, 2011, 07:26:51 PM
Ahhh another Mercedes Lackey fan. And tell me, do you ride a white horse?
I can take ML in small doses as far as the Heralds/companions series is concerned. I have the same issue there as I have with Anne (not Todd) Mccaffreys' Dragon riders.
Her 500 Kingdoms books are just great though, I can't get enough of the unusual and sometimes funny twists she puts on classic fairy tales.
reading as of now
once and future king from T.H. white
where the heart is from Billie letts
(i love this book but i didn't like made in the usa)
twilight
(I'm not really a big twihard i just like the story and i don't want some guy to look at me like i'm a peice of meat)
I just started rereading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone today for the billionth time. My goal is to re-read every book by midnight on July 14th, which means I have app 166 pages to read/day. I better get cracking!
alright so i'm currently reading
the Lake House
New moon and
the once and future king
(this one is taking the longest to read because i'm only reading it at lunch)
Just finished "The Outback Stars" a pretty good space opera by Sandra McDonald, and am now on "Serpent's Storm" by the lovely and talented Amber Benson.
Well, I'm not going to make my Potter goal... I'm only just over halfway through Order of the Phoenix, which means I would have to read over 230 pages/day in order to finish. But I have too many things to sew to be able to do that!
I just picked up Heartless, by Gail Carriger! Huzzah! I have been awaiting this for months. I also got The Steampunk Bible, and am browsing it during breaks from Heartless. Love that Steampunk!
Quote from: Lady Christina de Pond on June 20, 2011, 02:13:06 PM
where the heart is from Billie letts
(i love this book but i didn't like made in the usa)
Have not yet read Where the Heart is, but just finished Made in the USA and found it pretty enjoyable, though having lived on the strees of Las Vegas somewhat recently, I did find some of it to be a bit exaggerated to be degrading.... then again, perhaps
my personal exeriences were a bit luckier than the author when she scouted around Vegas. Or maybe she had a hefty advance on her book and looked down on anyone in a homeless state... whatever... anyways...
Aside from Made in the USA, I also just finished Planet of the Apes from 1960-something by Pierre someone or other. Im terrible with author names. Having only seen the two movie versions, I had no idea there was a book. Found it quite dull overall, and a bit holier than thou on the main human characters part, but it had some interesting points so I kept at it.
Might grab an Encyclopedia Brown book in a bit, childrens books put me to sleep pretty quick so I read them when Im lying in bed. lol ::)
I do have Harry Potter years 1 and 2.. Sorcerers Stone and, well, whatever the second one was, on the shelf now. Might grab one of those instead of the encyclopedia brown. I find Potter to be somewhat more enjoyable in general, I loved the movies.
Pierre Boulle is who you are trying to think of, Sam. I read that about 30 years ago and really enjoyed it...a bit different from the movie, but what else is new? Boulle also wrote the novel that "The Bridge on the River Kwai" was adapted from. The two subjects are soooo different that it's hard to believe they come from the same author.
Lets see..
Wild Magic- Tamora Pierce
Pride and Prediduce
Ballad - Maggie Seivater
War for the Oaks - Emma Bull
I have to take Pride and Prediuce a bit a at a time, and the others I bounce between. I LOVE the War for the Oaks
I have heard of the one you mention Merlin, had no idea it was the same author. I might give a look and see if I can find it.
Im working on one called Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell now. About a lady who wins $87M and how everyone wants a piece of her and how, for her, money doesn't buy happiness.
Rule number 1, if you win big bucks, change your name and disappear. lol
Rule number 2, money might not buy happiness but it does buy the things that make me happy. :D
I'm going to show you what a dork I am, my latest read is...............
The Hallmark Keepsake Ornament book. Yeah, sad. More pictures than words.
A DANCE WITH DRAGONS! George R.R. Martin ;D
"The Way of the Wizard: Twenty Spiritual Lessons for Creating the Life You Want" by Deepak Chopra
"The Sermon On The Mount: The Key to Success in Life" by Emmet Fox
and
"Ask and It Is Given" Abraham-Hicks
Wings of the morning from Lori wick
Eclipse
and in the final pages of the once and future king
Finally finished Order of the Phoenix, and I've moved on to Half Blood Prince. I figure, even though I didn't make my read-by goal, I'll finish out the series one more time.
A Dance with Dragons. Finally. After waiting 6 years. Latest in the Song of Fire and Ice Trilogy Series. (Game of Thrones)
Grov, halfway through the Dance. I probably could finish it sooner but have a lot going on.
I HOPE the author takes no longer than a couple of years to finish Winds of Winter!!!!!! This last was too long a stretch.
i just zipped thru the gift from richard paul evans
( i think there is two or three of his books i don't have i have about three or four i haven't read yet)
I just found 18 pages of Books I need to put on my To read list
As for what I am reading. I have a kindle so there for my list is long, but currently I am jumping between two books
The first is call Area 187 - Almost Hell, by Eric Lowther. The Author happens to be a friend of mine, but the read is good if you are into Zombies, with a strange twist.
The other is Searching for Pemberley, by Mary Lydon Simonsen - A search for Jane Austens inspirations of Pride and Prejudice. Not a bad read if you don't mind 1940's lingo
I've just finished Sherrilyn Kenyou's Infinity: Chronicles of Nick and Bad Attitude, the sequel to the first. I have a list of about 15 more, then I'll be on the search again, and I know where to now start looking.
Still working through A Dance with Dragons as time permits but before that, I enjoyed Peter & Max (Fable/fantasy), Paul is Undead (Beatles/Zombie history re-write), and Hunchback Experience (Steampunk-ish).
Okay...I hadn't heard of Paul Is Undead. I looked it up and it is now on my Must Read list.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 30, 2011, 06:25:33 AM
Okay...I hadn't heard of Paul Is Undead. I looked it up and it is now on my Must Read list.
They certainly take some new liberties with zombie lore.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 30, 2011, 06:25:33 AM
Okay...I hadn't heard of Paul Is Undead. I looked it up and it is now on my Must Read list.
I'm going to read this one - right after I finish Divine Misfortune by A. Lee Martinez (who is my newest favorite author)
Quote from: Grov on July 30, 2011, 06:29:54 AM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 30, 2011, 06:25:33 AM
Okay...I hadn't heard of Paul Is Undead. I looked it up and it is now on my Must Read list.
They certainly take some new liberties with zombie lore.
Being a Beatles fan (yeah...I was around when they started...) I'm actually more interested to see what they do with Beatles lore.
The Rutles is one of my favourite comedies for that reason.
Quote from: redkimba on July 30, 2011, 08:48:29 AM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 30, 2011, 06:25:33 AM
Okay...I hadn't heard of Paul Is Undead. I looked it up and it is now on my Must Read list.
I'm going to read this one - right after I finish Divine Misfortune by A. Lee Martinez (who is my newest favorite author)
Thanks! This one look promising.
I'm reading Jackie Kessler-Hells Belles. Great so far, I like the premise that heavenly Angels take turns running Hell. And it's under new management.
Since I have just been reading a little in the morning and evening, I am still on "Dance".
Next up, going to read George R.R. Martins, Hedge Knight and Hedge Knight 2 (I think there is a third as well). They were recommended to me because of the "Dunk and Egg" stories...
Eclipse
Wings of the morning from Lori wick
(starting this at lunch) A perfect day from Richard paul evans
Breaking Dawn
*again*
;D
Quote from: Muffin on August 03, 2011, 09:17:24 AM...Breaking Dawn...
Beats
Breaking Wind (I think it's the sequel) :P
My boy gave me
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson to read. Not too far into it yet, but very enjoyable so far.
Something More
Follow up to
Simple Abundance
Quote from: redkimba on July 30, 2011, 08:48:29 AM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 30, 2011, 06:25:33 AM
Okay...I hadn't heard of Paul Is Undead. I looked it up and it is now on my Must Read list.
I'm going to read this one - right after I finish Divine Misfortune by A. Lee Martinez (who is my newest favorite author)
I <3 Martinez' writing - have you read Gil's All Fright Diner? I was turned on to him last year at Fen Con and have since purchased most (if not all) of his books. And met him at Apollo Con earlier this summer. He signed all my books (6 at the time) & drew little character sketches in them -- my favorite is the little ghost Scottish terrier from Gil's. He's a good artist, too!
Right now I'm bouncing between two books - " Under the loving care of the Fatherly Leader - North Korea and the Kim Dynasty " by Bradley K. Martin, and the " Time of the Twins" series by Margaret Weis.
" Under " is a very well written book detailing the history ( known and speculated ) concerning North Korea, which fascinates me to no end! And " Time " is an awesome offshoot of th Dragonlance series.
I'm currently reading Unsolved Mysteries in American History. Turning out to be a great book.
High Noon in Lincoln: Violence on the Western Frontier. It is an in depth investigation of the Lincoln County War of 1878 which is the setting for the Young Guns movies.
Quote from: Taffy Saltwater on August 05, 2011, 01:23:49 PMI <3 Martinez' writing - have you read Gil's All Fright Diner? I was turned on to him last year at Fen Con and have since purchased most (if not all) of his books. And met him at Apollo Con earlier this summer. He signed all my books (6 at the time) & drew little character sketches in them -- my favorite is the little ghost Scottish terrier from Gil's. He's a good artist, too!
I saw him at a couple of the conventions around here; I LOVED his irreverent attitude. The first one I read was Monster & it cracked me up. I'm slowly collecting his stuff. :)
split between Beauty's Release (A.N. Roquelare) Heretics of Dune (Herbert) and Get Off the Unicorn (McCaffrey)
139 days ro Christmas (and my nook!)
I'm currently reading "Babylonians and Assyrians by Rev. Ah.H. Sacye (an old text from a professor at Oxford that's long out of print, but obtained as an ebook though the Gutenberg Project) and finding it a surprising read. It's almost like archaeology of the archeologists' work, looking at what they once thought they knew, and the assumptions they were making versus the common view today. Makes you think twice about the things we take for granted about the past...
Re-reading the song of ice and fire books. Right now on Clash Of Kings.
Foolishly Forgotten Americans, which is a compilation of stories of interesting people in our history who seem to have fallen out of the history books. Each person gets about 5-10 pages, and the book is arranged in chronological order, starting in the 1600s. I'm up to the 1810s at the point. Very interesting read!
Quote from: Lady Rebecca on August 08, 2011, 04:27:00 PM
Foolishly Forgotten Americans, which is a compilation of stories of interesting people in our history who seem to have fallen out of the history books. Each person gets about 5-10 pages, and the book is arranged in chronological order, starting in the 1600s. I'm up to the 1810s at the point. Very interesting read!
Oh I read that book. It was very good. Just need to get the rest of the series to read.
Quote from: LadyShadow on August 08, 2011, 05:08:51 PM
Quote from: Lady Rebecca on August 08, 2011, 04:27:00 PM
Foolishly Forgotten Americans, which is a compilation of stories of interesting people in our history who seem to have fallen out of the history books. Each person gets about 5-10 pages, and the book is arranged in chronological order, starting in the 1600s. I'm up to the 1810s at the point. Very interesting read!
Oh I read that book. It was very good. Just need to get the rest of the series to read.
I know. I found it when I was looking for the Royal Scandal one at the library. Unfortunately they didn't have that one...
"Cruel as the Grave" by Sharon kay Penman.
The Hobbit by Tolkien for the 5th time :). Gearing up for the movie, hope it's as good as the trilogy!
On to A Storm Of Swords. :)
A perfect day from Richard paul evans
Breaking Dawn
I remember Love from Mollie Hardwick(this has been a favorite of mine for a long time)
The Scar-crow Men by mark chadbourne
Storm of Swords
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 30, 2011, 06:25:33 AM
Okay...I hadn't heard of Paul Is Undead. I looked it up and it is now on my Must Read list.
For those reading
Paul Is Undead. - did you read this with the voice of the Beatles going on in your head? (it just made the book funnier for me)
Going to barnes and noble this week. Any suggestions for books that are along the lines of George R.R. Martins, Song Of Ice and Fire books?
I am going to load up on reading material. :)
Okay. I got four books.
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Black Prism by Brent Weeks
The first Mistwraith book (cant remember the name offhand) by Janny Wurtz
and lastly
Cold Magic by Kate Elliot.
Going to order more on Amazon but once I get into Barnes and Noble, I am an addict!! ::) :D
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
This will be the second time I've read the book. Been meaning to read it again for several decades. I think now, more than ever, it holds particular interest to me.
Just finished Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn, and am starting to read H.G. Wells' The Time Machine.
I just started "Back in the Day. 101 things everyone used to know how to do."
Right now, I am reading A Game of Thrones, The Tales of Conan the Cimmerian, and rereading The Lord of the Rings... Morseo rotating between each book.
OK I started the Moral Landscape, then forgot it somewhere. So now I need to start over.
Doing a "Dance Of Dragons" re-read. With these books, I always discover something I missed!
Then going to start "Black Prism" by Brent Weeks.
THEN it will be time to go on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Again. :D
I just finished "Dearly, Departed" by Lia Habel. I received an advance copy from the New York Comic Con this year and I was genuinely shocked that I enjoyed it. I'm now starting Bram Stoker's "Dracula".
---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=39.194079,-83.628000
Rereading the Honor Harrington series, starting with On Basilisk Station. I love my Nook AND Baen Sci-Fi for all of their free downloads.
I just finished the newest book in the Bloody Jack Adventure series - The Mark of the Golden Dragon, so now I've decided to re-read them all again. I'm currently on book 1 - Bloody Jack.
I just finished reading the manga "The Innocent" - great art and a very interesting premise. Am now just starting a biography of Beau Brummell, interesting character.
Just finished Stephen King's "11/22/63". Really liked it. Sci-Fi AND a love story!
Robin Mckinley's Hero and the Crown
Quote from: Butch on December 07, 2011, 02:48:02 PM
Just finished Stephen King's "11/22/63". Really liked it. Sci-Fi AND a love story!
I'm maybe 200 pages into it and back to blessing the day Stephen King was born. He's back on track - strong - and I'm in love with his world all over again. It was so good to see Bev & Richie again, if only briefly.
The Living Fire mystery a Doc Savage novelet should say rereading.
Still working my way one more time through my collection of Books by Patrick F. McManus (http://www.patrickfmcmanus.com/Books.html).
Currently re-reading The Good Samaritan Strikes Again (1992).
There were a few miscellaneous Sci-Fi and Fantasy books in some bags that a lady gave to my Mom for the Community Reading Room, or to be donated to a Fund Raising Shop. While I was there visiting at Thanksgiving, she asked me to see if I wanted any of them, so I looked thorough the bags and found Anne McCaffrey's The Skies of Pern (2001). I began reading it, but didn't have room in my suitcase to bring it back with me at Thanksgiving, so my parents will be bringing it when they drive up for Christmas next week. Looking forward to finishing the The Skies of Pern.
Just getting started on American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
Re-reading "Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man" by Tim Allen. A light, funny read - especially in the area of male/female interactions...including communication.
I'll also re-read his 2nd book "I'm Not Really Here", a little more serious treatment along the lines of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mechanics" and Richard Bach's "Illusions".
Then I'll likely delve into re-reading some other, more serious books from my library. Funny what strikes you on the next pass through a previously read book...
Kushiels Dart by Jaqueline Carey
I made a Barnes and Noble run this week and picked up three new books. I was starting to twitch without new reading material! :D
I put down the Outlander series with only "Echo in the Bone" left to go for now... and started "Game of Thrones". Call me a lemming but since everyone else was doing it I wanted to be with the cool kids.
Just finished Among the Living a Zombie apox novel not great but not bad. Re-reading Sign of Four the Second Sherlock Holmes novel. Got a Nook for Christmas and have been filling it up surprised at the number of free books out there.
Mastiff- Tamora Peirce <3 her books!
War for the Oaks - Emma Bull great book one of my favorites.
Just finishing American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Should reach the climax (of the book!) tonight.
I have a couple Solstice gifts to read, not sure which one to read first: The View From the Seventh Layer by Kevin Brockmeier, or 11/22/63 by Stephen King...
American Gods by Neil Gaiman is a great book! Emma Bull's , War For The Oaks is also one of my favorites.
Quote from: Taffy Saltwater on December 13, 2011, 01:13:14 PM
Quote from: Butch on December 07, 2011, 02:48:02 PM
Just finished Stephen King's "11/22/63". Really liked it. Sci-Fi AND a love story!
I'm maybe 200 pages into it and back to blessing the day Stephen King was born. He's back on track - strong - and I'm in love with his world all over again. It was so good to see Bev & Richie again, if only briefly.
I caught the Derry visit, and even the reference to It, but missed that it was THE Bev & Richie!
So, let me say "BEEP BEEP, Taffy!"
The Crooked Stick A history of the LongBow by Hugu Soar. Just in two chapters but so far its very interresting.
Quote from: Butch on January 14, 2012, 05:54:58 PM
Quote from: Taffy Saltwater on December 13, 2011, 01:13:14 PM
Quote from: Butch on December 07, 2011, 02:48:02 PM
Just finished Stephen King's "11/22/63". Really liked it. Sci-Fi AND a love story!
I'm maybe 200 pages into it and back to blessing the day Stephen King was born. He's back on track - strong - and I'm in love with his world all over again. It was so good to see Bev & Richie again, if only briefly.
I caught the Derry visit, and even the reference to It, but missed that it was THE Bev & Richie!
So, let me say "BEEP BEEP, Taffy!"
I'm maybe a third into
11/22/63 at this point. You're soooo right! Definitely Stephen King. He remains my favourite author. The cross-reference to other stories is a trademark, which you know if you're a follower of King. I can't think of any stories that didn't cross reference (although I can't remember all of the references) ... maybe some early ones?
I had an opportunity to meet Stephen King once, but didn't take it because of the setting. His youngest son and mine graduated college together. King was just standing a few feet from me in the crowd. I just didn't feel it appropriate to approach him at a family-type event.
The End: The Defiance and Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1944-1945 by Ian Kershaw.
So far, a very interesting look into why Hitler's Germany continued to fight even after the war was lost.
The Pirates of the Caribbean: Price of Freedom by A. C. Crispin.
Interesting young Jack story which gives a lot of background as to Jack himself and as to why a lot of things in the movie series are the way they are now.
Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman.
I had always doubted that Thomas Becket was in the least saint like. This thoroughly researched book agrees with my opinion.
I'm working on The Chronicles of Faerie, by O.R. Melling, currently I'm in the 3rd book in the "trilogy" part of it, called The Light-Bearer's Daughter. I'm hoping to finish it before I head to the airport Friday, so I can take the next in the series called The Book of Dreams.
They are tales of a Canadian-Irish connection with the Wee Folk of Ireland and mortals, and wonderful stories that I've thoroughly enjoyed.
When I've finished with The Book of Dreams, I plan to hunt down some of her other offerings online, since only through The Book of Dreams is available in the U.S.
Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero..... by Chris Matthews
A personal portait of JFK from a more human perspective
UNORTHODOX...by Deborah Feldman
How a woman escaped the Hassidic Jewish way of life to become her own woman. Harrowing about a very secretive side of ultra conservative Jews.
Quote from: DonaCatalina on March 06, 2012, 02:34:35 PM
Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman.
I had always doubted that Thomas Becket was in the least saint like. This thoroughly researched book agrees with my opinion.
I'll have to read this!
In the movie 'Becket' and in most of the (non religiously influenced) histories I've read, Sir Thomas was a hard partier and womanizer in his youth, his primary job being the King's wing man.
He was appointed to the archbishopric as a favor by the king, which backfired on Henry when his buddy actually took the job seriously.
I've moved over to one of Sherrilyn Kenyons' League novels- She writes these soooo much better than the Dark Hunter series. Though she sticks with the 'traumatized-in-his-childhood hero' formula (which is getting kinda boring), she writes some of the funniest scenes in scifi.
I just read the Hunger Games trilogy.
Really glad I jumped on the band wagon.
Cleared 3 books in 3 days.
Needless to say I don't mind so much that I had vertigo all weekend cause it got me out of doing all my weekend duties and chores.
Really good books.
I have some issues with the very end of the last book but apparently I am not alone in that.
I really want to read the Hunger Games trilogy...
Right now reading Timeline by Michael Creighton.
Since I've spent too LONG day in the passenger seat of the truck I've managed to read
Infamous: Chronicles of Nick
Kenyon, Sherrilyn Which is part 3 of a series
and then some light heartede fluff from Shadonna Richards.
I've started Archimedes to Hawking : Laws of Science and the Great Minds Behind Them By Clifford Pickover not going to be light reading, but it very interesting if you like Historical accounts.
I would also like to recommentd
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Martin Dugard, & Bill O'Reilly A very good Historical account of the 15 day prior to the assassination of Lincoln.
Quote from: Auryn on March 26, 2012, 12:59:35 PM
I just read the Hunger Games trilogy.
Really glad I jumped on the band wagon.
Cleared 3 books in 3 days.
Needless to say I don't mind so much that I had vertigo all weekend cause it got me out of doing all my weekend duties and chores.
Really good books.
I have some issues with the very end of the last book but apparently I am not alone in that.
I fought reading these books but finally did it and I am glad I did, I like books like these and A handmaids tale, 1984, ect.
Reading Necropolis: London and Its Dead by Catharine Arnold. Rather morbid but a good read if you are into cemetaries and funeral rights.
Makes it seem that no matter where you walk you are walking on someones grave in London.
Jim
re reading Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett. I needed some cheering up.
I love his witches books....and the wee free men...always good for a laugh!
Dreadnaught (Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier Series #1) by Jack Campbell
For a moment there I thought you meant Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War (1991) is a book by Robert K. Massie
That is a good book. I've read it three times now and picked up something new each time.
Laurel K. Hamilton-Anita Blake, vampire hunter series-Hit List.
Edward and Anita team up. 'Nuff said ;D.
"A Murderous Procession" A Mistress of the Art of Death Novel by Ariana Franklin
She's one of my fav authors.
Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs. First time reading a Temperance Brennan, and I'm impressed so far. :)
Just started reading Ben Hamby's new novel, Rise of the Steam Goddess (http://www.bookpeople.com/event/ben-hamby-rise-steam-goddess).
You may know Ben, since he's been a performer at TRF, as well as having a booth and speaking on panels at Sc-Fi & Steampunk Cons.
Since I have completed the Sword of Truth series (yes, every single book) I thought I would start learning some more SAP. I'll be wrapped up in this for a while.
Just finished "F in Exams: The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers" (Great answers to some good questions)
Now onto "Why Socks Disappear in the Wash: And Over 250 Other Moments of Science"
just about done with book two of Peter F. Hamilton's The Night's Dawn Trilogy, which consists of three 1100 plus page novels; The Reality Dysfunction, The Neutronium Alchemist, and The Naked God. If you like your space opera on an epic scale, with dozens of characters, plots, and sub-plots this is a great read.
One Grave at a Time-Jeaniene Frost-# 5 in the Night Huntress series.
This, Kim Harrison's-The Hollows, and Laurell K Hamilton-Anita Blake-Vampire Hunter and Merry Gentry-Fairy Princess series are the Big Three, IMHO.
just finished the rescue now reading dear john from nicholas sparks
next on the list is disobedience from jane hamilton and then fire from Sebastian Junger
Rereading the complete Honor Harrington series by David Weber
The Brewmaster's Bible: The Gold Standard for Home Brewers
The Complete Joy of Homebrewing- Charlie Papazian
(Got my homebrew kit for B-day earlier this month, made Double IPA, will make Red Ale this week!) ;D
Rereading the Belgariad and Mallorian serries by David Eddings
Keri Arthur-Darkness Hunts
After that I plan to re-read the River God series by Wilbur Smith.
loved River God, it was such a great book.
Quote from: Lady Kaalyn on April 02, 2013, 03:57:08 PM
loved River God, it was such a great book.
Actually started with this when I bought a used library book "The Seventh Scroll'. That was such a fantastic action/adventure novel, I just
had to read the rest of the series, which I did in order that time, starting with River God.
Currently reading a League novel 'Born of Silence' by Sherrilyn Kenyon..
I used to like her once upon a time, but this one is reminding me why I stopped reading her in the first place.
Her heroes somehow evolved from irreverent and funny macho rebels-to excessively sensitive, whiny, eternally and unbelievably misunderstood dudes with an almost vigilante intolerance for anything and anyone non-PC.
rant*If I want to be force fed the latest fashionable cause du jour, I could find less expensive media.* end rant
edit for spelling.
I just finished reading Enders game and Ender's Exile (audio books still count as reading right)??
the funny thing is I had no idea about the movie, I finished reading Ender's game 2 months ago, and then all the hub hub started about the movie.
I adored the book so I hope the movie comes up to par at least.
The Biography of Thomas More. He was much more complex than I had ever thought.
Redoubt - Mercedes Lackey. I just love her stories
Dark Grid by David Waldron I love end of the world stories.
1356 by Bernard Cormwell. I loved the first three novels in the series but am having a hard time with this one.
The Watchers - a secret history of the reign of Elizabeth I, by Stephen Alford.
spy stuff, my favorite.
Stephen King... again... "The Green Mile"
I originally read this as it was coming out in serial form back in `96, and I was in the hospital, and/or under the influence of medications for much of that time.
"Into The Wilderness" by Sara Donati. I have the rest of the series and the first few pages have been intriguing. Hopefully I can just sit down tonight and get immersed in it.
Currently on The Sword of Truth series:
The First Confessor: The Legend of Magda Searus - I was recomended to read after The Omen Machine
Debt of Bones - I was recomended to read after The First Confessor
Wizard's First Rule
Stone of Tears
Blood of the Fold
Temple of the Winds
Soul of the Fire
Faith of the Fallen
The Pillars of Creation
Naked Empire
Chainfire
Phantom
Confessor - Currently reading
The Omen Machine
SO thankful to whomever started this thread and to all who have participated! I shall have to go through it with keen eyes because I am looking for the best medieval books to read! I am almost done the lord of the rings series and I started with the hobbit. Next will be the game of throne series, and then I am at a loss. That's where this thread will come in handy!!
"The Astronaut Wives Club" by Lily Koppel. It's about the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronaut's wives, and how they coped with an intrusive press and their husbands sitting atop what amounted to an enormous stick of dynamite.
Just a bit into the first chapter, but is already quite good.
I am on my fourth repeat of Kushel's Dart by Jaquline Carry.
I have read some rather interesting new series books lately that were free on my kindle..
Winter's Heat by Denise Doming was a very nice pretty HA little romance. Good read.
Call of the Herald by Brian Rathbone, not HA at all, but a very interesting start of a series.
Warrior's of the Cross by T.R Graves was a lovely romance about the Templars. Really great.
I have more I will list later.
Methland by Nick Reding. Not an upper...
Ahh! Reading is good for the soul!
Almost finished with The Templar Legacy, by Steve Berry. I have a new one called Libriomancer by Jim C Hines, and have The Greatest Knight, by Elizabeth Chadwick waiting as well. Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are in a constant rotation for me; my current favorite is Thief of Time.
Our summer reading program in my library tries to encourage people checking out the library books instead of using our own, so I'm going to have to browse shelves again to pick a few more from work rather than list my own. It wouldn't look right if the librarian cheated on her reading list ::)
Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan. So far, pretty amusing.
Catastrophe: 1914 Europe goes to War.
There is a lot they didn't teach you in school.
The assassination of the Archduke was not the reason the war started.
George Washington's Secret Six
Had some customers order the 16th century German playing cards we sell because a version of the deck is a featured in this book so I figured I should check it out. "The Stockholm Octavo"
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061995355 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061995355)
"Coolidge" by Amity Shaes. A good read, along with a pickle and glass of water.
I don't know if I've ever matched a book with a pickle before. Dill? Sweet? spears?
I was attempting to make humor of what some consider a dour man.
Then I should think a dill would be in order.
Most surprising thing: he was a red-head.
Nahlini Singh-Guild hunter series. Excellent writing style.
My current favorite author is still Naomi Novik-She is writing a delicious alternative history of the Napoleonic Wars...where both sides use dragons in combat. Outstanding author, well researched and exceptional attention to detail.
It's highly unusual to have a female author write a male lead character (who's dragon is also male). Lots of combat and political maneuverings; and her intensely detailed descriptions of famous historical figures (Nelson) and the sometimes insanely stiff hierarchy of the Royal Navy are spot on.
Just finished a fantastic horror epic - 'Revenge' by Gabrielle Faust
Shadows of the Redwood - Gillian Summers
Long Mars, by Terry Pratchett. Part 3 of the Long Earth series; a very intriguing sort of idea.
I just began a book given to me by a dear, sweet friend, called "Harpo Speaks." Just a chapter or so into it, but really enjoying it!
Quote from: Rowen MacD on May 20, 2014, 09:31:38 AM
My current favorite author is still Naomi Novik-She is writing a delicious alternative history of the Napoleonic Wars...where both sides use dragons in combat. Outstanding author, well researched and exceptional attention to detail.
It's highly unusual to have a female author write a male lead character (who's dragon is also male). Lots of combat and political maneuverings; and her intensely detailed descriptions of famous historical figures (Nelson) and the sometimes insanely stiff hierarchy of the Royal Navy are spot on.
Was reading the back cover on the last of the
Temeraire novels (thus far) that I finished this weekend. Novik reports that the film rights for this series have been picked up by Peter Jackson of LOTR fame.
This would make a fantastic series of movies...Sort of
Master and Commander meets
Dragonheart.
I just finished House of Gaian by Anne Bishop.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on June 23, 2014, 05:56:05 AM
I just began a book given to me by a dear, sweet friend, called "Harpo Speaks." Just a chapter or so into it, but really enjoying it!
Really?
Quote from: RefMom3 on July 02, 2014, 09:53:01 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on June 23, 2014, 05:56:05 AM
I just began a book given to me by a dear, sweet friend, called "Harpo Speaks." Just a chapter or so into it, but really enjoying it!
Really?
Oh, yeah! Typically, I would stay far away from autobiographies, so I am quite grateful for being turned on to this book.
book apparently I still don't know how to read only one at a time so i'm currently read
Graceling Kristin cashore
the other Boleyn girl phillipa gregory
Quote from: Lady Christina de Pond on July 07, 2014, 10:52:51 AM
book apparently I still don't know how to read only one at a time so i'm currently read
Graceling Kristin cashore
the other Boleyn girl phillipa gregory
How do you like Graceling so far? Even though it's 'young adult' it's a good read, a bit like the original Vampire Diaries. which I borrowed from my daughter when she was a teen.
I didn't like the sequel-'Bitterblue'-as much.
Maybe it's because I read the first one in paperback and the second on Kindle, but the writing style seemed more disjointed to me.
I really like Graceling so far it's been a lunch time read
I also read a few young adult books some of them are great
Ummm...do books of Sudoku count? How about the Shotgun News?
For the 5th time, I'm reading "LONDON" by Rutherfurd.
Young adult books are often extremely well-written, and enjoyable. I think some of it might be because they're not trying to add much of the filler stuff some of the adult authors either want to add, or are encouraged to add.
My daughter felt the same way about Graceling and Bitterblue. She loved Graceling, and was disappointed in the sequel.
Quote from: Butch on July 07, 2014, 08:52:43 PM
Ummm...do books of Sudoku count? How about the Shotgun News?
Butch, you are such an aristocrat! ::)
Re-reading the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson. Currently on book seven. Awesome epic fantasy with amazing depth and breadth. If you haven't read it and love fantasy, love complex story lines and great character development check it out!
I'm re-reading "When in the Course of Human Events" by Charles Adams.
Quote from: RefMom3 on July 09, 2014, 10:11:06 AM
Young adult books are often extremely well-written, and enjoyable. I think some of it might be because they're not trying to add much of the filler stuff some of the adult authors either want to add, or are encouraged to add.
My daughter felt the same way about Graceling and Bitterblue. She loved Graceling, and was disappointed in the sequel.
It struck me that Bitterblue read like bad fanfic for Graceling.
Usually authors get
better not worse; but from what I understand-this one actually did start writing on FanFic.net. ....which BTW was the origin of the Twilight series.
I'm really getting the feeling she had (a lot) of professional help on that first novel.
If I can find another copy-I want to re read
Legacy by Susan Kay; about the life of Elizabeth I. It's fictional, but is
such a good read.
Here is an excerpt from the prologue; it's a pretty good representation of the writer's style:
http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Acclaimed-Elizabeth-Englands-Passionate/dp/product-description/1402238681/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books (http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Acclaimed-Elizabeth-Englands-Passionate/dp/product-description/1402238681/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books)
It tells the story of Gloriana from first and 3rd party POV, through her entire life. Her love of 'Robin' was all encompassing, and when he died; she never recovered. The ending (her death, and her reunion with the man she loved) had me bawling.
This phenomenal author only wrote two books- both in the 1980's:
Legacy and
Phantom ;about the life of the Phantom of the Opera. She has not produced a book since.
Both are riveting reads. I don't know why she gave up writing.
I'm a person who re-reads books constantly, and always have been, even when there are so many, many, MANY others I want to read. It intrigues me greatly to see so many references to others who re-read. I also love the variety of titles mentioned. As a library lady, I'm very excited about all of this ;)
I'll re-read Stephen King's The Stand every few years. I think it's his longest single novel, and some of his other books I will re-read less frequently. I tend not to store details, so a re-read seems fresh.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 18, 2014, 06:10:01 AM
I'll re-read Stephen King's The Stand every few years. I think it's his longest single novel, and some of his other books I will re-read less frequently. I tend not to store details, so a re-read seems fresh.
Is this one about a haunted podium?
Quote from: Jack Daw at Work on July 19, 2014, 07:50:57 PM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 18, 2014, 06:10:01 AM
I'll re-read Stephen King's The Stand every few years. I think it's his longest single novel, and some of his other books I will re-read less frequently. I tend not to store details, so a re-read seems fresh.
Is this one about a haunted podium?
Wise guy...
Me and my box of tissues just finished Nicholas Sparks' book "The Last Song." It was the first book of his I've read, and I'm looking forward to reading the others. If they are anything as heart-wrenching as this book, I predict I will make Kleenex very wealthy.
Nicholas Sparks is very popular in my library. He has several titles you can sniff through ;), but you might also try Luanne Rice, Nicholas Evans, or Kristin Hannah. Gentle reads, within a romance framework.
Possibly not for the tastes of Wizards, though...
How about a nice romantic horror story?
No, thank you, Master Wizard; I think I'll pass...
I'll see what I can come up with, though.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 23, 2014, 12:28:32 PM
How about a nice romantic horror story?
I try to avoid the Kardashian Bio's thank you!
Romantic Horror story... Christine by Stephen King?
Quote from: Rowen MacD on July 24, 2014, 11:13:54 AM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 23, 2014, 12:28:32 PM
How about a nice romantic horror story?
I try to avoid the Kardashian Bio's thank you!
ROFL!
Quote from: Stuben on July 24, 2014, 09:18:51 PM
Romantic Horror story... Christine by Stephen King?
I'm not sure I would call that romance, Stuben.
Misery might qualify, though it's more a story of unrequited love. It is the only book of Stephen King's that I could not finish. It seemed to go on and on setting up the story and never really reaching that usual point in King's work where you could not put the book down.
King's
Rose Madder is a great story, I thought, about spousal abuse.
I will sheepishly admit that I have not read through the many pages of this thread, so please don't beat me too hard... wait, never mind...
Anyway, I just interrupted my re-reading of the Harry Potter series (read it for the first time last year, and OMG I LOOOOOOOOVE Harry Potter!!!!) to read the Song of Ice and Fire series. I had tried to read it several years ago, but got confused by all the names, and gave up. After watching the HBO series this year, though, I have been better at keeping mental track of who is who, and am really enjoying it now. I am about 200 or so pages away from finishing A Game of Thrones and can't wait to read the next one!
When I get through this series (at least what's currently available of it) I plan on reading all of the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels.
*edited for spelling -oops!
I think the only Steven King novel I re-read was "Pet Cemetery". I don't know why, but I really liked that one. I tried reading "It" when I was younger (I'm pretty sure I was still in elementary school) but my mom took it away from me when I started telling her what was happening in the story. LOL
Quote from: Tink on July 27, 2014, 11:09:21 PM
I think the only Steven King novel I re-read was "Pet Cemetery". I don't know why, but I really liked that one. I tried reading "It" when I was younger (I'm pretty sure I was still in elementary school) but my mom took it away from me when I started telling her what was happening in the story. LOL
I loved Pet Cemetery! I read it in one sitting and didn't finish until 3am. I couldn't get any sleep at all. But, the movie sucked.
I am much too suggestible to read Stephen King, or anyone in that genre. I'm a wimp and a sissy, and admit it. I do want to read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, though, due to the baseball theme.
Now, I'm looking forward to As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes. It is due to be released on my birthday.
Happy Birthday to me! ;)
I need to reread that one. I don't remember much about it. Don't feel bad. Nimue will only read Stephen King in the daylight. Many years ago, she was reading The Shining — late at night. She was in a particularly tense part of the story when the reading lamp popped its bulb. She squealed and threw the book across the room. That was the last time she read his stories at night.
LOL I'm sure I would do the same thing (as well as jumping/falling out of the chair from fright!)
Lol, yeah i won't read him either. The only book if his i ever enjoyed was "eyes of the dragon ". I have been working on R.A. Salvatore's dark elf books. Read them all many years ago. Drizzt is awesome!!
Quote from: Rowen MacD on July 24, 2014, 11:13:54 AM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on July 23, 2014, 12:28:32 PM
How about a nice romantic horror story?
I try to avoid the Kardashian Bio's thank you!
This made my day ;D
I am currently reading Hounded by Kevin Hearne. About an Druid who lives in Tempe AZ so far I am enjoying it
I've read about all of King. Checked out his latest one, but didn't read it. I read that one on the JFK assassination twice. There was a time (late '80s) when I was reading all of his previous stuff, nd he got predictable. I had to stay away for a few years to "reboot" that portion of my head.
Butch, I experienced that with Robert Ludlum's books. I must have read 6 or 7 in a row, one immediately following the other, and I had to stop. All of those conspiracies, and secret societies and such were just too much for me to absorb within a 3 month period. Haven't picked one up for years.
I just finished Legacy: The Acclaimed Novel of Elizabeth, England's Most Passionate Queen -- and the Three Men Who Loved Her by Susan Kay, and have moved on to The Queen's Bed: An Intimate History of Elizabeth's Court by Anna Whitelock.
I've been reading the Cary Elwes book and find it just makes me want to watch the movie again- for the umpteenth time. I also have a collection of the nonfiction essays by Terry Pratchett, called A Slip of the Keyboard. I'm also reading one recommended by Rani , called Silverlock, by John Meyers Meyers. It's wonderfully inventive, but I read it when I'm under the hair dryer, and I keep falling asleep ;)
I'm currently back on my crime novels... Jefferson Bass' Bones of Betrayal, from the Body Farm series.
Quote from: Irma on July 30, 2014, 11:10:18 AM
I just finished Legacy: The Acclaimed Novel of Elizabeth, England's Most Passionate Queen -- and the Three Men Who Loved Her by Susan Kay, and have moved on to The Queen's Bed: An Intimate History of Elizabeth's Court by Anna Whitelock.
Legacy has to be one of the best fictional accounts of Elizabeth's court I have
ever read. The ending had me bawling like a baby.
Susan Kay only wrote one other novel ;
Phantom-about the life of the Phantom of the Opera. That was even more amazing!
Fantastic writer- but sadly, not a prolific one.
Reading Stepen King's Revival. I'll probably finish it tonight. It reminds me a bit of his story The Cove (or whatever it was called).
Since it's Stephen King, I WILL read it, as I am a huge fan. Let me know how many thumbs you can give it when you finish.
Well, finished it up last night. It didn't get supernatural until the very end; and just kinda hinted at it before. I guess in the same way that it did in The Stand: believable scenario throughout most of the story, with very small wisps of supernatural occurrences sprinkled here and there (until the climax near the end). Typical King first-person dialogue. A lot takes place in Maine. Has the unexpected tragedies thrown in throughout (as he so often does).
If you like his recent stuff (or The Stand, or It), you'll enjoy this.
Cheers!
Just started (out of sequence) Black Powder War-#3 in the Temeraire novels.
This one, for some reason was just about impossible to find; and since I have finally reached the second to last book in the series-I needed to read this one to fill in some crucial gaps.
I have been devouring these books since picking up 'His Majesty's dragon'. I think it's better written than the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey; and so rich in detail it's easy to get lost in this alternate history of the Napoleonic wars....with dragons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temeraire_%28series%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temeraire_%28series%29)
Butch, The Stand is my favourite novel. I've read and reread it numerous times. Looking forward to this then...
I just finished Tradition! by Barbara Isenberg, about the history of the musical "Fiddler on the Roof." Some interesting background on the personalities involved in the development of the story, and the performers through the years. I have to get the sequel to Silverlock, because it shouldn't have ended that way, Rani! lol
I am almost finished with, "A History of the World in Six Glasses" by Tom Standage. It's better than I thought it would be. Beer and Bread, everybody!
I just finished "The Greatest Knight" and "The Scarlet Lion" by Elizabeth Chadwick. What an amazing story!! It is the story of Sir William Marshall, who was Eleanor of Aquitane's protector and served 5 different kings. It had me crying at the end....
I'm currently on Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, 5th book in the Outlander series
Just started Mr Mercedes last night. More King, I know. Waiting for the third Orson Scott Card book in the Mither Mage series (after The Gate Thief). I like Card.
Love me some Stephen King, Butch! I am on the Dark Tower series. I had never read those before.
I'm amazed you haven't read that series by King, Sir.
Trillium, I read the Greatest Knight last year (I think it was last year), and have the Scarlet Lion but haven't started it yet. I think I love William Marshall; I hope his wife would be ok with it ;)
The death of Terry Pratchett recently hit me hard; he is probably my favorite author. I'm about halfway through his Dragons at Crumbling Castle, which is a collection of short stories geared to younger reader, which he wrote when he was very young, around 17. Very light, humorous, and kind of bittersweet now.
Reading King takes time. You can't skim his stories and get it all like you can many other authors. He's incredibly detailed...like Kevin Brockmeier, in some respects (which I know you've read).
I have to prepare my head to read the longer King stories, although The Stand I have read over and over.
Were you sitting while you read it, Merlin?
Finished Mr Mercedes. A detective/crime novel. No supernatural elements to it. Not like his other stuff. His matter-of-fact descriptions of tragedies will let you know it's him. Quick, easy read.
Mr Mercedes was indeed an easier read than normal.... but quite enjoyable, if that is a valid description of a King story.
Jack, I was reclined as I read The Stand, lest I grow weary.
Maybe that might be something I can handle, then. I just realized the other day that it has been a very long time since I'd read something that allowed me to completely immerse myself in it. Bummer.
Just finished Affliction by Laurel K Hamilton. If you like zombies, specifically rotting zombie vampires, you'll like this one.
She does fantastic paranormal/police mashups, lots of action and gore, but I had all but quit reading her when she started getting away from the spooky stuff and more into soft porn. Her books are still being stocked under Scifi instead of paranormal Romance for some reason.
Still waiting for the last installment of the Tremaire series. There were some premature announcements that League of Dragons was ready to publish-but her website says that the manuscript was returned to her and has not yet been resubmitted. Hopefully we shall see that this year!
In the meantime Novik produced a teaser for the start of the next series; Uprooted.
This has a distinct Mercedes Lackey flavor to it; and since I love Lackey's Elemental Masters series, I'll definitely be picking this one up once it hits the shelves.
Rowan, my wife Vicki has just started reading a story by Laurel K. Hamilton!
Butch-I've read just about everything she has out, and I can say for certain that her earlier novels in the Anita Blake series (there is even a comic book series by Marvel for this character) were better than the later ones.
You would love the Tremaire series.
I finally picked up The Wrecking Crew, by Kent Hartman. It's about the studio musicians (including a young Glen Campbell) who played on hundreds of early rock n'roll recordings. The theme for the summer reading program in my library is "Reading to the Rhythm" and I wanted to keep music as the theme for my books. I love bios and history, and am finding it fun reading. There is a documentary now, too, and our library will be getting that, as well. Should be good!
Funny you should mention Wrecking Crew. Yesterday morning I was telling Nimue about the Wrecking Crew after we watched a video of Glen Campbell and Roy Clark tearing up Ghost Riders in the Sky. "I had no idea Glen Campbell could play like that," says she.
An accomplished bassist as well as guitarist, he played the lead on Wichita Lineman with a Fender Bass VI, backed by The Wrecking Crew. He also toured with The Beach Boys for a short period, and played guitar on the classic Pet Sounds album.
Jumping back and for between Ebooks.
The Amber Witch Originally published as a literary hoax which purported to be an actual 17th-century chronicle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amber_Witch
The Moonstone Generally considered the first detective novel in the English language. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moonstone
I'm busy with catching up with R.A. Salvatore's last four books.... :)
lol, Frasier we've been catching up on all the newer extentions to the Drizzt series! Love Salvatore, such an excellent fantasy writer
Brothers of the Sword/Children of Time. By Michael Reisig
One of the best books I ever read. Period.
Dead Ice by Laurell K Hamilton...She is the best. Anita Blake is one of the baddest good guys ever.
Started "Finders Keepers" last night. The second novel in the series that King started with "Mr Mercedes".
By the Orders of the Great White Queen: An Anthology of Campaigning in Zululand, 1879
I'm in the middle of two books:
- The Personal Memoirs of General U.S. Grant;
- Eisenhower - by by Geoffrey Perret.
I had gotten the Perret book for my library; it was very well-reviewed, I think. I'm in the process of weeding the 900 section again; I'm pretty sure I'd kept this the first time I'd gone through it.
I"m on the fourth installment of Candace Robb's Owen Archer series, and it's called The King's Bishop. Very enjoyable series. I've also finally gotten myself the last of the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, called The Shepherd's Crown,, but I don't know when I'll really read it. It will be hard to read it, knowing it's the last one ;)
I've recently started re-reading the original Shanarra trilogy (Sword of, The Elfstones of, The Wishsong of...). They were always favorites of mine.
I'm still slogging my way through the newer installments of the Drizzt series. Having a harder time staying interested, I think maybe the stories have gotten too serious, not enough comedic breaks. I've also discovered a love of historical mysteries. Been reading Will Thomas' Barker and Llewellyn series (set in Victorian London) and really enjoying it.
Hey Trillium,
Where are you at in the series? I have read all of them and agree that at one point they turned from being a fun fantasy reads to being gloomy and too serious with Wulgars alcoholism and the central characters getting old...
Yeah, I'm on the ghost king, transitions 3. Spell plague has hit. Been a lot gloomyness for a while. I suspect that's why I'm having a hard time with it. Same reason I never finished game of thrones
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I read an article by someone who is one of the major voices in Reader's Advisory in libraries, who said for every book she reads, she gives it her age plus 10 to capture her attention. After that many pages, if she is having trouble or isn't interested enough, she goes to another book.
Summer Reading Program time! Many libraries have this, and I think most have expanded it now to include adult reading programs as well as the ones for children. I just finished the 10-volume series by Candace Robb about the character Owen Archer, and enjoyed it very much. First one is "Apothecary Rose," and one of the side themes involves the role of his wife, who is an apothecary in York. I also just started a fantasy book called "Uprooted," by Naomi Novik. So far, it reminds me of a Beauty and the Beast sort of story, but there are other threads I see, too. It's partly influenced by Polish legends and folklore, and when my 24-year-old daughter read it (and she is an avid reader, and of Polish heritage through her dad), her comment was that the author was really straining to come up with names befitting a fantasy. I had just barely started it, and had to tell her the names weren't made up, they were Polish...
Just finishing another King short story collection...
"Killing Reagan" by Dugard and O'Reilly. I was disappointed as most of the information was derived from news sources I recall during that time. It's a fast read.
Just finished "The Diabolical Miss Hyde" by Viola Carr (forensic mystery, magic, steampunk London - a la Dr. Jeckyl & Miss Hyde). "The Bad-^ss Librarians of Timbuktu and Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts" by Joshua Hammer is what I want to read next, but I'm on a waitlist for it.
I keep looking for perfect summer reading in one of those little share-a-book corner library boxes. They're so cute!
Every librarian is a bada** librarian (Refmom3, MLS '84 ;) )
That looks like a great book; I bought it for our library, too. Another new one that looks interesting is Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren. Ditto "Grunt," by Mary Roach. Pardon; end of occupational suggestions.
Those little "library to go" boxes can be really cute. I think our outgoing director would have liked to have put up a few, but I suspect our town government would be less than enthusiastic.
Below the Surface, and Breaking the Surface. Two books by Matt Heber, whom I met (and bought books from) at the KC Comic Con recently. They held my interest. A near future post-apocalyptic Earth where the humans live in the ocean. Some sort of public unrest that leads to a revolution, and the story follows the main protagonists through their adventures. I would almost call this a young adult novel series.
I just finished hehashing old history (sort of).. Exodis by Leon Uris. Good book but I suppose biased to the Jewish side.
I just finished The Hidden Oracle, book one of The Trials of Apollo, by Rick Riordan. It's a YA novel, from the man who wrote the Percy Jackson series, plus a few other series based in either Roman, Egyptian, or Norse mythology. The one thing that I liked about the books was that you really had to be familiar with the myths (and many of the more obscure myths) to understand all the whys/wherefores of the plot, and he doesn't take the time to give background info in the story. I thought it was very similar to the way JK Rowling used history, mythology, and word etymology, although I think JK is a better writer. It was a fun summer read ;)
But now I need something else...
His Kane series is a lot of fun
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It is a lot of fun; one of my kids had thought she'd heard he was going to combine the Kanes with one of the other series, which could be interesting. Imagine the Egyptian pantheon vs. the Greeks...
Another fun "kids" series is Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. Rumor has it that it will be a movie at some point. My entire family has enjoyed the series, including my parents and siblings. Trying to convince my son to read it but he doesn't like to read... ???
Over the summer I found a fun mystery series based in a year-round renaissance festival. Renaissance Faire Mysteries written by Joyce & Jim Lavene. They seem to have a good feel for faire and its varied characters and attendees.
I've read a few of those by the Lavenes. Enjoyed them, too.
It's entirely possible that your son just isn't going to be into reading, and that's just the way it goes. It's also possible that he hasn't found something that has clicked with him yet, or maybe there's a physical thing that makes reading more of a chore (for instance, has to wear glasses that always slide, which can be annoying). Have you tried audio books? Not everything comes in audio, but more and more titles do, including for kids. He might prefer listening; many of our patrons do.
You don't say how old he is, but a series I loved was about a 14-year-old boy in England who accidentally finds out that his father and uncle were secret agents, and he was being trained by them in "secret agent" ways. It's the Alex RIder series by Anthony Horowitz, first book is "Stormbreaker." A movie was made of it, too, which I think kind of bombed, but I enjoyed it.
He has ADHD, which I think is a big part of it. And is totally engrossed in video games. He does enjoy audio books when we can find good ones for his age (13). He enjoyed Percy Jackson and the Kane series. He liked some of the Harry Potter movies and LOTR, but can't get him to read the HP books. Hopefully he will get into it more as he gets older. My hubby didn't really enjoy reading until after we got together...
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I wonder if he would enjoy the Charlie Bone series, by Jenny Nimmo? It's another fantasy series, about a boy who can hear people in photographs talking. I checked our library's catalog, and audio versions are available. You might try some classic lit, too, like the Oz books, for example. Many of those are available in audio, which is nice for having the option of reading when you feel like it, or listening when that's more convenient.
I recently acquired the iBook, "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson. It's a non-fiction account of 2 Americans that find a previously unknown sunken U-Boat. I haven't started it yet.
I remember getting that for our library. Looked good, I thought. Hope you enjoy it.
I just started "The Princess Diarist," by Carrie Fisher. She had found the journals she'd kept while making Star Wars, and uses that as a framework for a memoir.
Current reads( Yes I read multiple books @ the same time) are
Ciao, Bella from Ryan Phillips
For women only what you need to know about the inner lives of men. From Shaunti Feldhahn
I remember Love from Molly Hardwick
Hugh and Bess from Susan Higginbotham
I'm halfway through The Saltergate Psalter, by Chris Nickson. Historical fiction, set in 1361 in England, and the sequel to The Crooked Spire. This author was mentioned by Candace Robb, an American author of another historical series I'd loved, and I'm enjoying this series as well. I recently finished several in a series by Shanna Swendson called Enchanted, Inc. Fun, fantasy fluff ;)
I'm reading, "Washington: The Indispensable Man", by James Thomas Flexner. It's a dated book, first published in 1969, but it's a good biography on George Washington. My brother also gave me two other bios on Washington for this last Xmas, which I intend to read one after the other.
Flexner was known for his Washington bio. I recently bought a book for my library called Never Caught: The Washingtons' Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge, by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. Our head of technical services, who catalogs the material, was not happy with me because she couldn't decide where it was supposed to go: African American civil rights history? Ona Judge bio? Washington's political career? There were a few places. I'm not sure where we finally decided to put it.
To get a well-rounded view of our first president, I'm currently reading, "His Excellency George Washington" by Joseph J. Ellis. I had just finished, "Washington: The Indispensable Man" (an older bio) by Flexner. There is less detail on his last two days of life, but more in the middle on his private frustrations with the British and his changing position on slavery.
Re-reading American Gods before the TV series comes out.
I just finished Curious Minds: A Knight and Moon Novel, by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton. I'd never read an Evanovich before, but the word "Knight" will usually catch my attention ;) So did the name Phoef Sutton; turns out he has written a lot of TV, including for Cheers. It was about a very wealthy man who began to suspect his financial advisors of shenanigans, and the woman who worked for the investment company who initially was supposed to keep track of him and then report back to her boss, but realized that the guy was right. It was a breezy, fun, read.
My third and final biography on George Washington: It's called "Washington - A Life", by Ron Chernow. This is clearly the best biography on our first President that I have read. I highly recommend it for its additional detail.
"A Cast of Falcons" by Steve Burrows, was a gift from my wife. It's a birder murder mystery!! I have only just started reading it.
Ron Chernow wrote Alexander Hamilton, and it was one of the primary sources Lin-Manuel Miranda used for the musical. Chernow has one coming out in October about Ulysses S. Grant. I wonder if Mr. Miranda will get an advance copy;)
I've had a surprisingly hard time settling on a book; I didn't even finish one during our summer reading program. Nothing was keeping my attention, for some reason. But I just started The Service of the Dead, by Candace Robb, set in York in 1399 (and accidentally brought home the second of the series, too, so I should be set for bit).
Currently reading Old Man's War by John Scalzi. Methinks I may need to continue on with the series.
I had seen that mention of that book, Master Merlin, and borrowed it for my Kindle, but wasn't able to get to it in time before it was returned. Worth it?
I've enjoyed it, but my taste in books is a little weird.
And yet you are an enthusiastic reader, which indicates you find things that capture your attention. What does that tell you? ;)
That I am weird? Hell's bells, girl! You already KNEW that!
"A Cast of Falcons" by Steve Burrows. It's a birder murder mystery set in the Western Highlands of Scotland. I just started it, so I'm reserving my opinion for later.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on August 14, 2017, 06:30:22 AM
I've enjoyed it, but my taste in books is a little weird.
What it actually tells me is that no matter your taste, there is something somewhere that will appeal to it ;)
I wouldn't say "weird." I'd go with "eclectic."
Quote from: Jack Daw at Work on August 17, 2017, 06:16:07 AM
"A Cast of Falcons" by Steve Burrows. It's a birder murder mystery set in the Western Highlands of Scotland. I just started it, so I'm reserving my opinion for later.
Looks like Steve Burrows has written at least 4 books, that are available on Amazon.
I may have to check out his mystery series.
Quote from: dbaldock on August 20, 2017, 10:19:55 PM
Quote from: Jack Daw at Work on August 17, 2017, 06:16:07 AM
"A Cast of Falcons" by Steve Burrows. It's a birder murder mystery set in the Western Highlands of Scotland. I just started it, so I'm reserving my opinion for later.
Looks like Steve Burrows has written at least 4 books, that are available on Amazon.
I may have to check out his mystery series.
So far; so good. (But, he takes a while to intro all of his characters.)
My daughter passed on a series suggestion that she had gotten from someone, after my daughter had suggested the Jasper Fforde "Thursday Next" series. The suggestion was a British author named Jodi Taylor, and the series is "Chronicles of St. Mary's." The first book is "Just One Damned Thing After Another." Madeleine Maxwell is a time-traveling historian working for St. Mary's, which is a research facility. Their job is to witness historical events, and record them if possible, then come back and show everyone what really happened at Agincourt, or the Fall of Troy, etc. A lot of fun, with a cafeteria-style dollop of historical study ;) I'm already in book 4, after only 2 weeks.
*Thursday Next is a "literatec;" the characters in books get a lot of downtime when the books aren't being read, and sometimes they get up to shenanigans and the literatecs get them back in line. Also a fun series, although not as lighthearted as St. Mary's.
"Washington" by Ron Chernow. This is the third biography on the first president that I have read, and it is the BEST. I highly recommend it.
Ah, but could it be a musical? ;)
I just finished the St. Mary's series, stumbled across it at the library. I absolutely loved it! A lot of fun!
Trillium, I'm assuming you meant the St. Mary's books by Jodi Taylor...? There are a few short story collections for St. Mary's that are really good. You might like 2 of her other stories, The Nowhere Girl and the Somewhere Girl. You think it's going to follow a formula, and then she surprises you.
Quote from: Trillium on November 14, 2018, 01:03:08 PM
I just finished the St. Mary's series, stumbled across it at the library. I absolutely loved it! A lot of fun!
If so, Benedict Arnold's seeping leg wound would keep him out of all the choreography.
Back to the books...
Currently reading A Murdered Peace, by Candace Robb, who is fast becoming a favorite author. The latest in a series about Kate Clifford, set in 1400 York. Also, just picked up The Curse of Oak Island, by Randall Sullivan. A friend introduced me to the History channel show, and I ordered this for my library.
Currently reading sporadically (I've been REAL busy) a novel by another local... "Ginger Snaps," by Webb Hubbell. Anyone else ever read him?
Haven't read him, but I've heard of him. Clinton connection, yes?
I just finished Nuns behaving Badly Tales Of Music, Magic, Art, And Arson In The Convents Of Italy Not anywhere near as salacious as the tabloid style cover suggests, but an interesting look at politics between convents and the church authorities as well as some of the things that went on in convents. https://www.amazon.com/Nuns-Behaving-Badly-Tales-Convents/dp/0226534723 (https://www.amazon.com/Nuns-Behaving-Badly-Tales-Convents/dp/0226534723)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61%2Bcjop1%2BQL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Certainly is attention-grabbing. Considering that there were likely a number of women in convents against their wishes, I'm sure there was a fair amount of impious behavior.
Quote from: RefMom3 on April 26, 2019, 10:37:11 PM
Certainly is attention-grabbing. Considering that there were likely a number of women in convents against their wishes, I'm sure there was a fair amount of impious behavior.
That was an interesting tidbit it mentioned. Some families could only afford a large dowry for the eldest, or most favored daughter to get married into a "good" family. Since the "dowry" paid to become a "bride of Christ" was less expensive, it was common to put the younger daughter(s) in convents. In fact it was not uncommon for novices to end up in the same nunnery as family like their aunts or great aunts.
Good point. Isn't it interesting to think of a nunnery as a sort of "family business?"
Enjoyed reading Scott Bradlee's "Outside the Jukebox: How I Turned My Vintage Music Obsession into My Dream Gig", about the founding of Postmodern Jukebox.
I was going to get the Scott Bradlee book for the library, but I didn't think anyone would read it :( Might just borrow from another library for myself.
I've been reading a bio of George Patton. Extremely short and concise, but interesting. Evidently, now, it's thought he was dyslexic. I've been told I have to watch the movie (which I've never seen).
Patton was one of only two wide release movies filmed and distributed in Dimension-150. There was also a D-150 print of the original Star Wars that was shown for the London premiere. We had a D-150 theater in Little Rock where I saw Patton. It was extraordinary.
It is a good movie, fairly accurate, I think, except for the voice. George C Scott has a much deeper voice than George Patton had.
I'm almost finished with "The End" by Ian Kershaw, about Germany from 20 July 1944 to 8 May 1945 and why the Third Reich didn't surrender but kept fighting till 'the end'. Very interesting....
I can't think of the last movie I watched; "Patton" was highly recommended (not surprisingly ;) ), so I will watch it...eventually...
I buy the books in the 900 classification in my library, which includes history, and every month I'm amazed at how many books are being published about WWII. I could easily spend the entire monthly budget on WWII alone. Unfortunately, not many seem to be read by our patrons, so I have to be very selective. One that I thought looked interesting is called "D-Day Girls," by Sarah Rose, about women who acted as spies in the resistance.
I'm finishing a book by Candace Robb called Conspiracy of Wolves, the latest in her Owen Archer series. Set in York in the late 14c, with many actual historical people such as John Thoresby and Geoffrey Chaucer as characters. Very well done.
In this time of COVID 19, I find it stress relieving to read about when things were worse and people survived. I'm currently reading "BLOODLANDS Europe Between Hitler and Stalin" by Timothy Snyder. It mostly covers the mass murders in Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic States by both the Nazis and Soviets. It makes our bad times seem very mild in comparison.
One of the reviews for that book says that between Stalin and Hitler, there were 14 million people killed while they wrestled over control of agriculture. Incredible. Just incredible.
I buy for the 900 section in my library, which includes history, and I'm amazed every month to see how many books are still being written about WWII, and are different from the others already written. I could probably hit my budget every month with just those.
I have always been fond of the 940 section, myself. WWII in particular. I especially like reading how different historians view the same battle. I have books by both Cornelius Ryan and Antony Beavor on D-Day, Arnhem and the Battle for Berlin. It is amazing what the people when through, both service and civilian during those days. Makes one truly humble.
A former director had us do a weeding project that I have called "The Purge," because she didn't want any title over 10 years old, and if we kept something older, we had to justify it, especially if the circ numbers were low. I got rid of so many things that made me sad, and just wonder why people weren't reading this stuff; it was interesting! lol.
I bought one that isn't multiple opinions on one event, but several events described by many historians. It's called I Wish I'd Been There: Twenty Historians Bring to Life Dramatic Events that Changed America, by Byron Hollinshead. Cool idea.
At the moment, I'm reading two books -
Beginning Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, with Kindle version of - "The Color of Magic"
On Project Gutenberg, re-reading P.G. Wodehouse books, currently - "A Damsel in Distress"
Terry Pratchett is so much fun! I love the discworld series!
Terry Pratchett also wrote a series with Stephen Baxter called the Long Earth, and it was about "stepping" to other worlds, finding a New Earth. Interesting. He also wrote the Johnny Maxwell trilogy, which I enjoyed more than I thought I would. Very different from the Discworld, but still enjoyable.
I'm guessing there has been a lot of reading done over the past several months...
my library now has several staff leading our book discussion group (which is frankly something I'm not comfortable with at all; I'm not much of a talker...I'm a listener, and sometimes stare-at-a-person-wondering-if-I-just-heard-what-I-thought-I-heard..er), and in a couple of weeks my book will be Make Your Bed: Little things that can change your life...and maybe the world, by Admiral William McRaven. It was based on a wonderful speech he gave as a commencement address.
The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrove
on page 90... enjoying the writing style and content is interesting. :)
The Art of Theft, by Sherry Thomas, which is book 4 of the Lady Sherlock series (she made Sherlock into Charlotte; interesting), and re-reading A Symphony of Echoes, book 2 of the Chronicles of St. Mary's, by Jodi Taylor. It is about a group of historians who study historical events in contemporary time (but don't call it time travel!). Then I have The Lady from Burma, by Allison Montclair waiting. It is the 4th book of the Sparks and Bainbridge series, about 2 women in post-WWII London who start a marriage bureau and somehow end up solving murders.
The Lady of Sherlock is on my TBR list!!
I finished The Dance Tree...based on the "dancing plague" of 1518 in Strasbourg....I really enjoyed it!
happy reading :)
The Lady Sherlock series is great! If you like those, check out the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn. The King's Pleasure by Allison Weir is next up on my nightstand. Written in King Henry's point of view, should be interesting.
I love the Veronica Speedwell books; I get the monthly newsletter from Deanna Raybourn, and the next Veronica book is due to come out in March, I think. Veronica is quite a character ;) I also enjoyed her book Killers of a Certain Age, which reminded me of Richard Osman's series The Thursday Murder Club. Seniors solving murders, or seniors committing them. Last summer I read an interesting book called The Phantom Tree, by Nicola Cornick, which involved a woman who grew up in Wolf Hall but somehow time-traveled to the present day. I'd also recommend Candace Robb's Owen Archer series (enjoyed her others, too, but this is my favorite of them).
Quote from: Trillium on September 05, 2023, 12:37:58 PMThe Lady Sherlock series is great! If you like those, check out the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn. The King's Pleasure by Allison Weir is next up on my nightstand. Written in King Henry's point of view, should be interesting.
love Alison Weir! and yes, her new one you mentioned is on my coming up soon list :)
I will have to check out this series mentioned here...so many books so little time.
started The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom.....book club pick
I've never read an Alison Weir; I keep seeing things that look like they'd be perfect for me, but somehow haven't picked one up yet. Part of the problem with me and reading lately is that my contacts are about 10 years old and I desperately need to update the prescription, but have been using reading cheaters and that's not doing my vision any good. Something just gets in the way of making that appointment.
I completely understand! I need to upgrade my glasses to progressives. I'm not looking forward to it. I have to take them off to sew and I've noticed reading is getting more difficult. It's not cheap so I keep putting it off. I am currently reading Murder Wears a Hidden Face by Rosemary Simpson. Another series I really enjoy, set in New York Gilded Age.
That's a bummer RefMom3 and Trillium.. Hard to read enjoyable without right glasses:/
Just started The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman.... ALso known as Christopher the Insulter at ren faires.
I remember many years ago (maybe in the late 80s?), during a visit to Bristol, my now ex-husband wanted to pay Christoph $20 to hurl insults at his best friend who was with us, but we never seemed to be able to catch Christoph on the grounds at a time he wasn't doing something. There's a part of me that isn't sorry I missed it... Hope you enjoy the book!
I'm re-reading the Rose Hotel: a memoir by Rahimeh Andalibian on my kindle fire. It's actually very good.
Quote from: RefMom3 on February 07, 2024, 10:42:25 PMI remember many years ago (maybe in the late 80s?), during a visit to Bristol, my now ex-husband wanted to pay Christoph $20 to hurl insults at his best friend who was with us, but we never seemed to be able to catch Christoph on the grounds at a time he wasn't doing something. There's a part of me that isn't sorry I missed it... Hope you enjoy the book!
[quote author=RefMom3 link=msg=450930 date=1707367345
Oh boy! Lol! So you've seen him ! I never saw his act :/. Would not want to be insulted by him I bet he can really "go there" lol...His "Between Two Fires" was great
I have seen him, but I really don't remember anything specific,but I did know I didn't really want to be nearby if the deal had gone through and the insulting commenced ;D
Sounds like he knew his way around an insult !
I'm dragging through this book btw. My son liked it but I'm disappointed.
Is this your book club book, or the Christopher Buehlman? If it's the book club, that's still ok if you don't care for it; that may make a more lively discussion. If it's the latter or another book you've picked up for your own enjoyment, let me share a piece of advice from a librarian named Nancy Pearl, who is a librarian from Seattle who developed a whole new way of doing book recommendations for reader's advisory. I think one of the most sensible things she'd come up with was to give a book your age plus 10 pages to decide if you should finish a book you're not enjoying. She says if it hasn't caught your interest by then, put it down and pick up another. It may not resonate with you at this moment, and may not ever, but you can always return to it later and try again. There are too many books that you will enjoy to spend time on one you're not enjoying. And don't feel guilty about it. There isn't one book in the world that will connect with everyone. (Ok, I'm finished ;) )
Very good advice! Sometimes books just don't click. I give it several chapters before I let it go.
I've replied twice to this but don't see my posts.
Yes good advice.. I have the book 130 pages.. eh.. I'll try again down the road
Quote from: laedyfaire on February 28, 2024, 07:52:45 AMI've replied twice to this but don't see my posts.
Yes good advice.. I have the book 130 pages.. eh.. I'll try again down the road
You are seen, laedyfaire ;)
I thank thee :))
"Crecy, 1346: Triumph Of The Longbow" by Osprey Books.
The first time I remember reading about Crecy was in the novel Katherine, by Anya Seton, which I read (the first time) when I was about 10 or 11. My parents belonged to the Literary Guild when they got married in 1956, and that was in the bookshelves, so I read it. I think it was the first thing I'd ever read set during the Middle Ages. Hope you enjoy the book~ :)