Favorite books you've read in the last few years

[BillyBadAss 189]

Not looking for new books necessarily, just ones you've discovered as an adult and really enjoyed.

Ready Player One - I'm sure everyone knows this one by now. Must read if you were a kid in the 80s. The movie was shite by the way.. 

The Dog Stars - Peter Heller - post apocalyptic theme. Written by an outdoor magazine writer. It reminded me of a Comac Mcarthy novel, but not as overly wordy and dark. The audio version is great too. If you're a dude who enjoys the outdoors and has ever contemplated survivalist scenarios, I can't imagine you wouldn't appreciate it. 

Edited April 18, 2018 by BillyBadAss

[Rollo Tomassi 80]

I really loved The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach.  Still one of my favorites.

[Ten Bears 2,481]

On 4/17/2018 at 10:29 PM, BillyBadAss said:

Not looking for new books necessarily, just ones you've discovered as an adult and really enjoyed.

Ready Player One - I'm sure everyone knows this one by now. Must read if you were a kid in the 80s. The movie was shite by the way.. 

The Dog Stars - Peter Heller - post apocalyptic theme. Written by an outdoor magazine writer. It reminded me of a Comac Mcarthy novel, but not as overly wordy and dark. The audio version is great too. If you're a dude who enjoys the outdoors and has ever contemplated survivalist scenarios, I can't imagine you wouldn't appreciate it. 

Dog Stars was good.  Thanks for the rec.

Ready Player One loaded in the Kindle and next up.

[Ten Bears 2,481]

But first I started the Warren Zevon bio.  Holy shit that guy could party.

[drewcifer 33]

Lamb, by Christopher Moore. 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,515]

Has there been any recent updates on the release of Ready Player Two?

Edited December 4, 2018 by Nice Guy Eddie

[South Austin 52,521]

On 10/4/2018 at 11:58 AM, drewcifer said:

Lamb, by Christopher Moore. 

Read that about 10 years ago, and it’s awesome.

All The Light We Cannot See is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in the past few years.

[kevwun 15,807]

Dreadnought might be the best book I've ever read.  It's over a 1,000 pages and I still didn't want to be done with it at the end.

[Spartan52 151]

I have just finished a 4 book series called 'The Greatcoats' by Sebastien De Castell

First book is called Traitors Blade

Its kind of a twist on the 3 Musketeers with magic elements and some seriously funny parts and dialogue.

 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[jdhorn92 1,552]

Tattoist of Aushwitz was just OK, then i read a review and its....ahem ..maybe not true in key parts

Kilmead's book on the War of 1812 & Andrew Jackson was pretty good

I'll be gone in the Dark was very good

 

[Liquor and Poker 3,659]

On 12/4/2018 at 8:48 AM, South Austin said:

Read that about 10 years ago, and it’s awesome.

All The Light We Cannot See is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in the past few years.

Good book.  Second only to the Goldfinch in the last 3-4 years of my reading. 

[DalTxHornFan 3,108]

Tom Wolfe fan here.  He died about this time last year.  Since then, I've re-read The Right Stuff, A Man in Full, and Bonfire of The Vanities.  I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite.  The guy could really tell a compelling story.

[MillerEP 30,492]

I haven't read any of his stuff, but I practice Stoicism, and A Man in Full is on the recommended reading list. The blurb on the back didn't sound super compelling to me, but you'd recommend it?

[DalTxHornFan 3,108]

4 hours ago, MillerEP said:

I haven't read any of his stuff, but I practice Stoicism, and A Man in Full is on the recommended reading list. The blurb on the back didn't sound super compelling to me, but you'd recommend it?

Don't know Stoicism, but A Man in Full is a terrific novel.  Wolfe develops all of the characters so well. 

[wild_turkey 3,167]

All The Light We Cannot See is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in the past few years.

Agreed. It’s a masterpiece.

[smwhorn 482]

On May 13, 2019 at 10:27 PM, wild_turkey said:

 

Agreed. It’s a masterpiece.

 

I'm reading this now.  I'm about 1/4 the way through it.  I can't put it down. 

[Teebox 89]

Me too. Wrecking my sleeping. Don’t want it to end. 

[smwhorn 482]

I stayed up late last night (1:00 am which is late for an old guy like me) and finished All The Light We Cannot See.  I can't decide if I liked the ending.  Great read.   Worth the effort.  Just sort of have to digest the ending I think.

[gecko 1,104]

History:  Just finished "In the Kingdom of Ice", author is Hampton Sides.  It's the story of the ill-fated US Arctic Expedition of 1878. 

[jemez84 1]

The Cross Time Engineer series by Leo Frankowski.  A fun alternative history series.

 

Also Quiet:  The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

[South Austin 52,521]

On ‎9‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 5:09 PM, smwhorn said:

I stayed up late last night (1:00 am which is late for an old guy like me) and finished All The Light We Cannot See.  I can't decide if I liked the ending.  Great read.   Worth the effort.  Just sort of have to digest the ending I think.

I thought the ending was alright.  I guess it's hard to tell any ending to a story like that.  Would love to see a well-done film adaptation of the book.

[Willfully Horn 8,038]

“Shantaram,” by Gregory David Robert, is an amazing novel,  though more so for its story than its writing. It’s very well written, certainly, but Roberts doesn’t delight with word choice, like, say, Rushdie (“The Moor’s Last Sigh.”)
 

I’d also recommend “The Hummingbird’s Daughter,” by Luis Alberto Urrea. Excellent book.

“Moths flew off the bean field, like the wind had been painted white, and shattered.”

 

[El Diablo 4,232]

On 4/17/2018 at 8:29 PM, BillyBadAss said:

Not looking for new books necessarily, just ones you've discovered as an adult and really enjoyed.

Ready Player One - I'm sure everyone knows this one by now. Must read if you were a kid in the 80s. The movie was shite by the way.. 

The Dog Stars - Peter Heller - post apocalyptic theme. Written by an outdoor magazine writer. It reminded me of a Comac Mcarthy novel, but not as overly wordy and dark. The audio version is great too. If you're a dude who enjoys the outdoors and has ever contemplated survivalist scenarios, I can't imagine you wouldn't appreciate it. 

Downloaded The Dog Stars last night, I figured a good global pandemic survivor novel is appropriate reading now.

[Hornius Emeritus 12,474]

Underworld by Don Delillo. First chapter is the best piece of fiction I've ever read:

https://writingbooksandmusic.wordpress.com/2015/09/13/the-opening-chapter-of-don-delillos-underworld-might-be-the-single-best-thing-i-have-ever-read/

[Willfully Horn 8,038]

On 11/9/2020 at 9:00 PM, Hornius Emeritus said:

Underworld by Don Delillo. First chapter is the best piece of fiction I've ever read:

https://writingbooksandmusic.wordpress.com/2015/09/13/the-opening-chapter-of-don-delillos-underworld-might-be-the-single-best-thing-i-have-ever-read/

I’d agree if I weren’t so fascinated by India. “Moor’s.” “Shantaram.” 

“All the Light” had receded in my mind, but  your mention of  “Underworld” made an instant connection.

 

[Rimbo 25,991]

https://smile.amazon.com/Mongol-Empire-Its-Rise-Legacy/dp/1412805198/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=mongol+empire&qid=1605240866&sr=8-8

I've mentioned this before. It's like reading one of Robert E. Howard's Conan stories but true and better. In fact, this whole bit from the movie...

... is not in any of Robert E. Howard's stories.

It's on page 95 of Prawdin's book.

[Bama Llama 1,450]

Amor Towles' A Gentleman In Moscow is a fine read or listen.  An aristocrat is arrested after the revolution and placed under house arrest for decades in the Metropole Hotel.  Much intrigue, debauchery and humor ensues.

[kmac30 416]

Read that about 10 years ago, and it’s awesome.
All The Light We Cannot See is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in the past few years.

Read this last week. Fastest book I’ve ever read - couldn’t put it down. Just finished The Killer Inside Me.

I need something like The Light to jump on next. My wife has a list but figured I’d check here first.