Whatcha reading?

[PittsburghTiger 6186]

37 minutes ago, shakahorn said:

 

 

Just started this one.  It's holding my interest quite well through the first few chapters.

I enjoyed it. I think you will as well.

[Post Oak 20213]

I can't remember all the Jack Reacher books I've read so started in reverse chronological order.  

The latest one [I think] was the best so far.  The others were fine but nothing great.  

They're easy reads and I can knock one out in about 4 days if I get time for it

[NorthLoop 14204]

1 hour ago, Post Oak said:

I can't remember all the Jack Reacher books I've read so started in reverse chronological order.  

The latest one [I think] was the best so far.  The others were fine but nothing great.  

They're easy reads and I can knock one out in about 4 days if I get time for it

Alex Cross books are my go-to for easy knockout reads when I'm in between actual good books

[TwiceHorn 31471]

On 7/21/2020 at 11:50 AM, kevwun said:

Just finished this.  Really, really good.  I'm going to have to watch the movie again.

All of Wouk's stuff is pretty, pretty good.  I did Caine, and the movie and then went nuts on Wouk.  Good stuff.

[kevwun 15788]

I'm reading the Winds of Remembrance now after finishing Winds of War.  I wonder if the tv series is worth watching?

Edited August 25, 2020 by kevwun

[TwiceHorn 31471]

24 minutes ago, kevwun said:

I'm reading the Winds of Remembrance now after finishing Winds of War.  I wonder if the tv series is worth watching?

It was on TV when I was a kid.  For some reason, I associate it with being soap-opera-ish.  Not sure if that came from my parents, or glimpses of it, or what.  I didn't watch enough of it to form a real opinion or know the story. But I was pleasantly surprised by the "of" books.

[PittsburghTiger 6186]

Just the other day I finished Army of Evil, A History of the SS.

It was a very good book. It was very much a book based on facts and how the SS was set up and its hierarchy.

I am about halfway through Wicked River, The Mississippi When it Last Ran Wild. 

[Mo Horn 8842]

Don't want to CR this thread, but curious if anyone has read this? Is it worth picking up? 

[UpperWestside 6164]

2 hours ago, Mo Horn said:

Don't want to CR this thread, but curious if anyone has read this? Is it worth picking up? 

I read it about a month ago. Many people have found reading it an exercise in frustration, but I felt like it was a good book to have read. It will challenge how you think about things when it comes to race and it’ll make you feel uncomfortable at times, but that’s the point l believe. There were some lessons I took from it that are helpful.

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

I ordered Caste by Isabel Wilkerson right before it was announced as an Oprah Book (or whatever her reading club is called). Had several projects dumped in my lap so I hope to get to it soon. I’ve heard of the book above but haven’t read it. 

[demos 3003]

On 7/7/2020 at 8:58 AM, unoriginal said:

Chaos makes a convincing case that they did a hell of a lot worse than that.

They did. Kinzer's book kinda goes through it all. I bought Chaos but haven't start it yet.

Just bought this, some crazy shit in here too:

[NorthLoop 14204]

About to start this after Amazon badgered me for months to buy it. Seems very highly rated. Would like to knock it out before Thujone's book arrives next week. Anyone read it yet?

 

[wild_turkey 3159]

I bought that off Amazon and it came in large print which was not clear from the listing. That annoyed me so I sent it back, then I read the reviews to see if other people had the same problem (they did), then by reading reviews I convinced myself I wouldn’t like it after all.

So I’m curious to see your review when you finish it.

[Delta Charlie 150]

Edited September 3, 2020 by Delta Charlie
BETTER PIC

[bluto 4929]

Tried audio booking power of the dog and it just felt kinda ruined by my watching Narcos on Netflix. And audiobook with the different voices just got annoying.

Had a couple dif recs from friends this week-
Black Edge
& Fooled by Randomness

[Post Oak 20213]

This is ok.  I'm about 1/3rd through.  I feel like it's a good companion to the podcasts.

I might like it better if I haven't listened to all of his podcasts multiple times.

 

[Hefeweizen 5321]

On 6/3/2020 at 12:08 PM, ImissWallyPryor said:

Holy shit, the Comanches were savage fucks. 

Great book.  Really evocative and gives some serious respect for both the Comanche and the settlers.

[4th&Five 41552]

On 8/30/2020 at 9:29 PM, NorthLoop said:

About to start this after Amazon badgered me for months to buy it. Seems very highly rated. Would like to knock it out before Thujone's book arrives next week. Anyone read it yet?

 

I read it when it came out. I liked it a lot. 

[Post Oak 20213]

Started this one.

Story of two main characters trying to make their way after the Revolutionary War.

I really like the two main characters. It's written a little differently.  One chapter is written from the POV of one character and then the next chapter from the POV of the other character. Then alternating chapters.

I don't care for that style but so far I like it.

 

 

 

 

[castolon 193]

On 9/6/2020 at 7:19 PM, 4th&Five said:

I read it when it came out. I liked it a lot. 

Big fan. Not normally in my wheelhouse but I enjoyed it. 

[Post Oak 20213]

On 9/8/2020 at 8:43 AM, Post Oak said:

Started this one.

Story of two main characters trying to make their way after the Revolutionary War.

I really like the two main characters. It's written a little differently.  One chapter is written from the POV of one character and then the next chapter from the POV of the other character. Then alternating chapters.

I don't care for that style but so far I like it.

 

 

 

 

This was really good.  Well developed characters and a great premise.

I thought it could've been about 20 pages shorter but once it got cooking I couldn't put it down.

My first David Liss book.  I'm off to read some more.

[NorthLoop 14204]

On 8/31/2020 at 9:49 PM, wild_turkey said:

I bought that off Amazon and it came in large print which was not clear from the listing. That annoyed me so I sent it back, then I read the reviews to see if other people had the same problem (they did), then by reading reviews I convinced myself I wouldn’t like it after all.

So I’m curious to see your review when you finish it.

Finally finished, not because it wasn't good, but because life sometimes gets in the way of my reading time. 

It was good, not great. The author is a travel writer so she does a real good job of immersing you in the environment. However this was apparently her first novel, and it shows a little. The storyline get a bit predictable and a lot of the dialogue is hackneyed and weak. In the end I was like "well that was a pleasant story" rather than being blown away like a lot of the reviews I've read. Let me ask you this question - Do you like the movie "The Notebook"? If yes, you will love this book. If meh, you will like this book. If hell no, you won't like this book. I was right there in the middle. 

[WBT 20572]

I read Follett's new one, this time a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth.  It was good.  I feel like with the two sequels and now this one, he has mostly rewritten Pillars three times in different time frames.  This one is set around the turn of the last millennium, so England is showing the first signs of eventually coming out of the dark ages and there are lots of Viking raids.  It also has the familiar tropes - the genius builder, the evil scheming bishop and his family, the couple that fall in love but are kept apart by their different classes and said scheming bishop.  But I really loved the original, so this was good too.

Edited September 24, 2020 by WBT

[El Diablo 4232]

I'm "reading" Richard Henry Dana Jr's "Two Years Before The Mast; The Life Of A Sailor", published in 1840, in audio book. It's his account of the 2 years (duh) that he spent aboard a sailing ship out of Boston from 1834-1836. I've read it twice before in the conventional way and I like this edition. The reader is pretty good, gets a bit excited at times with the voices but not to the detriment of the story really. This also has a shit ton of other material included, probably an extra 4-5 hours worth of it is supplemental stuff. Started with a long discussion on the many revisions that the author released over his lifetime and the why and the changes that were made. The book includes notes wherever phrases or terms that might be unfamiliar are used and things like that. Oh, also one of the later editions left out a significant part of the first chapter due to Dana's changing views on certain aspects of his life as a seaman and this included that. Then the last chapter is the one he added 24 years after he first published the book. It's a great listen at times, rounding Cape Horn is a harrowing experience and just the day to day of climbing all over a ship in terrible weather. If there could be one complaint it's the long tedious passages about handling the sails. "Unreef the topsail, boom the takle, strip the limp lines and set the jib boom. Haul the royal sheet, turn the studding sets, reave the blocks too and then it's salt for all." Things like that that go on and on. Like anybody could even know that shit. 

One kinda cool thing is Texas gets a shout-out as Santy Anny is president of Mexico and consequently California during the time they are going up and down the coast collecting hides to take back to Boston. 

I recommend it just for the "holy fuck those bastards were crazy" sentiment it's sure to provide.

[unoriginal 55]

Finished The Forgotten 500 about WW II aircrews going on bombing runs over heavily defended Romanian oil fields. The damaged bombers that couldn't make it back meant their crews were captured, unless they were able to hide with help from the locals. The trapped airmen and the locals came up with a plan to bring in rescue planes without alerting the nearby Germans, while also trying to avoid running afoul of the official policies of the US State Department. Several involved received medals/awards which remained classified for decades after the war ended (for reasons I won't spoil here).

[NoName 16352]

On 8/24/2020 at 7:51 PM, Post Oak said:

I can't remember all the Jack Reacher books I've read so started in reverse chronological order.  

The latest one [I think] was the best so far.  The others were fine but nothing great.  

They're easy reads and I can knock one out in about 4 days if I get time for it

i started reading the Gabriel Allon books in August...Daniel Silva is one of the best fiction writers out there.

HIGHLY recommend.

[CycleTex87 2970]

Just started this, two pages in

update - I’m about 20% in, characters are kind of one dimensional, story is good but predictable.  

Edited October 13, 2020 by CycleTex87
Update

[Post Oak 20213]

Just finished this one.  It's my second David Liss books.  It's was good. Not great.  His books (so far) seem to take a while to get going but once they get up to speed I've found them hard to put down. 

Starting another one now and after that I'm going to start William Faulkner.   

 

 

[El Diablo 4232]

On 9/29/2020 at 5:47 PM, CycleTex87 said:

Just started this, two pages in

Seeing his name got me curious as to what might be available in my audio library and I found an early novel of his, "The Modigliani 
Scandal". Written in '78 I think. Light fare, an entertaining mystery of a girl on the hunt for a lost painting and the shenanigans that go on among artists, art collectors and art dealers.

[WBT 20572]

I like this series for the mysteries and the will they/won't they with Strike and Robin.  There's also enough Enlighness to make them interesting.  The case this time is a 40 year old disappearance and the investigation stretches out over a year.  It was pretty good.

[4th&Five 41552]

i swear i got this rec. on this thread but i can't find it now.  maybe it was a different thread.  either way great read.

[Armybrat 40846]

Re-reading for the first time in 45 years....

 

[Gunsup 56]

I like most of Pearlman's books, but this one is really good so far.  I never realized just how much Kobe was disliked by almost every Laker for the first few years he was there.  

[MillerEP 30455]

Talking about it in the Video Games forum, and thought I'd post it over here, since I just started reading it. For those who grew up on the Sierra games like I did, this book is written by Roberta William's husband and co-founder of Sierra Ken Williams. I haven't gotten very far yet, but it's the ultimate insider book:

[Masshole Horn 773]

Starting this one

If this isn’t set on the Llano Estacado, I’ll be very disappointed.

[El Diablo 4232]

Someone upthread mentioned Jack Reacher novels. I'd never heard of them so had to google and that got me to thinking about some men's action novels we passed around when I was in the Navy. No, no, wait, nothing like that. I meant Mack Bolan books, "The Executioner" series. So I downloaded the first 3, plowed thru those, then the next 3 and then the 3 after that. These are audio books all done by the same crew, very much like listening to a radio program. Most all were written around 1970 and set in that time so much is quite dated but some of the author's views of the future are a bit prescient. Most recent thing I can think of him mentioning was the growing role the media plays in everyday lives. 

I say give one a try if you're looking for a few hours of macho escapism. 

[SimonBolivar 10958]

I needed something with a bit more depth while also being shorter after reading a few Stephen King books.

 

[Enchubben 5510]

Robert Bryce. Love all of his stuff and he’s a longhorn.

[El Diablo 4232]

I downloaded "The Electric Koolaid Acid Tests" audio book. The reader does it like a piece of performance art, which for the subject matter is fantastic. It does get a bit tedious at times, you sort of wish you could come down but can't, but for the most part it works for me. 

[Capn81 372]

I like most of Pearlman's books, but this one is really good so far.  I never realized just how much Kobe was disliked by almost every Laker for the first few years he was there.  

This one is in spot two in queue for me. Diving into Pappyland starting today, but I am looking forward to Three Ring Circus.

[austingirl 2191]

On 9/29/2020 at 7:47 PM, CycleTex87 said:

Just started this, two pages in

update - I’m about 20% in, characters are kind of one dimensional, story is good but predictable.  

Did you read Pillars of the Earth? I enjoyed that trilogy, as well as his Fall of Giants series, and am wondering if this compares.

[austingirl 2191]

Just started this. I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell so I'm hoping this is on par.

[Red Five 40858]

Just finished The Silence by Don DeLillo. It's only about 100 pages with a huge font, so it only took me about half an hour. It was a waste of a half hour. Cool premise but doesn't work at all.

[Teebox 89]

Just started this, probably 100 pages in.  Loving it so far, basically a novelized biography, with much Christopher Hitchens material

 

[Hook1997 5354]

Got a copy of Greenlights by McConaughey I’m reading, hey it’s a easy fun read.  He’s got some crazy stories, his family is ah interesting.

[4th&Five 41552]

[ROFL BOX 6649]

I am friends with someone who worked on this film (front end, pre-production).

I wonder if he has read this & if so, will try to get his take on it.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

[4th&Five 41552]

It’s an oral history so basically interviews with cast and crew and she got all the big players. I learned a lot and I’d already read a ton about it. Highly recommend for fans of the film or just Austin stories from ‘92. 

[SimonBolivar 10958]

Started Ready Player Two and I've stopped about 10% in right now. I'm a big fan of the 1st one but this one doesn't have the same amount of fun as tge 1st one. I'll probably pick it back up. 

 

Right now I'm on...

 

[Gil Bang 25958]

On 9/25/2020 at 4:36 PM, El Diablo said:

I'm "reading" Richard Henry Dana Jr's "Two Years Before The Mast; The Life Of A Sailor", published in 1840, in audio book. It's his account of the 2 years (duh) that he spent aboard a sailing ship out of Boston from 1834-1836. I've read it twice before in the conventional way and I like this edition. The reader is pretty good, gets a bit excited at times with the voices but not to the detriment of the story really. This also has a shit ton of other material included, probably an extra 4-5 hours worth of it is supplemental stuff. Started with a long discussion on the many revisions that the author released over his lifetime and the why and the changes that were made. The book includes notes wherever phrases or terms that might be unfamiliar are used and things like that. Oh, also one of the later editions left out a significant part of the first chapter due to Dana's changing views on certain aspects of his life as a seaman and this included that. Then the last chapter is the one he added 24 years after he first published the book. It's a great listen at times, rounding Cape Horn is a harrowing experience and just the day to day of climbing all over a ship in terrible weather. If there could be one complaint it's the long tedious passages about handling the sails. "Unreef the topsail, boom the takle, strip the limp lines and set the jib boom. Haul the royal sheet, turn the studding sets, reave the blocks too and then it's salt for all." Things like that that go on and on. Like anybody could even know that shit. 

One kinda cool thing is Texas gets a shout-out as Santy Anny is president of Mexico and consequently California during the time they are going up and down the coast collecting hides to take back to Boston. 

I recommend it just for the "holy fuck those bastards were crazy" sentiment it's sure to provide.

As a former resident of Dana Point, CA, I approve this post.