It's on my to be read list. Hopefully in 2020.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
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It's on my to be read list. Hopefully in 2020.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
For myself, still working on Oliver Twist, a biography of Dashiell Hammet, and now the sequel to The Knight (it's called The Wizard).
Working my way through the Witcher books. Currently on The Tower of Swallows
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...llow_Orion.jpg
I think I'll start on those. Enjoyed the show immensely, never played the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
I highly recommend reading the first two books of short stories before starting the novels. The 1st season on Netflix pulls from the short stories.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
Reading Order:
(Short Story collections)
1) Last Wish
2) Sword of Destiny
(Novels)
1) Blood of Elves
2) Time of Contempt
3) Baptism of Fire
4) Tower of Swallows
5) Lady of the Lake
6) Season of Storms (takes place before book 1, Blood of Elves, but I've been told it's best to read last)
Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
I started Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. And I've almost finished a little paperback by Piers Anthony called Prostho Plus that's a little goofy, but probably the light read that I've needed this week.
Finished book 3 of LOTR with my middle kid (probably my favorite section) so we've hit the halfway point.
I wrapped The Silmarillion right after the new year. Liked it better than I thought I would.
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...36/841/075.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
I will have to remember this thread when my kids are grown and gone and I have time to read again. Outside of a little BBB and news articles, I can’t seem to get any reading in.
Audiobooks changed the game for me. It’s amazing what you can get for free through hoopla and overdrive with a library card.Quote:
Originally Posted by techman05
I could listen at home. My drive is less than 2 miles for work.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
Still working on Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. In the meantime, I've almost finished Shark Drunk. I'm not really sure how to describe it, but I'm enjoying it.
Just finished the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King. Good stuff...sort of prequels to The Outsider.
Just finished reading It for the first time.
On to The Stand...probably a mistake, but it seems appropriate.
Outbreak is trending on NetflixQuote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
I started feeling bad while reading it. King is such a great writer.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
He really is. As soon as I finish one I have to start another. IT was terrifying.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
I saw this on the shelf at the library and thought to myself "God bless the fool that picks that up for the first time right now."Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
I want to say I was fighting a head cold or something when I read it years ago. Even that wasn't ideal.
I've been mixing some Wendell Berry short stories in with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Got a non-fiction pirate book on deck matey. And finally moved to Return of the King with the middle kid. He and the youngest also absolutely loving this series.
I have started the book series that "The Expanse" is based on. About 2/3 of the way through the second book. It's pretty good. Like the characters. Not sure I'm going to love where the story is headed.
Adrian Tchaikowsky has a pretty interesting pair of books that starts with Children of Time. More or less hard SF with some interesting twists.
If you want to go anti-Star Trek, a very downer view of the galaxy but an intriguing story, try Cixin Liu's trilogy that starts with The Three Body Problem.
Really good non-fiction: Agent Zigzag. It's about a British double agent during WW2. Fascinating reading about how it really worked.
I'd like to check out the Expanse as well. Excellent show.
On a more serious note, reading though Echoes of Exodus. It's quite thought-provoking.
Still chipping away at The Stand, but picked up LOTR this morning. I’ve never read all the way through. No time like the present.
I think I have The Three Body Problem on my to read list.
I finished Jonathan Strange, reading the books mentioned above and the novel of The Neverending Story. Apparently the author hated the movie, but it's seemed fairly faithful so far.
It's so good. Taking forever to read aloud, but just so so good.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
I can’t make myself read it or watch it as much as I think I’d like to. I’m a grown made who isn’t scared of clowns, except one.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
Like something terrifying? Read Dean Koontz's "Phantoms".
Ha! Yeah, I’m still not sure I wave to watch the new one. Reading isn’t as intense, but still pretty terrifying.Quote:
Originally Posted by techman05
Koontz can write some very disturbing stuff. He taps into human psychology for fear better than most writers. He's a bit uneven but when he hits the mark it can be rather intense.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
I just read a GREAT book, by an author that is a Louisiana Tech grad, no less. The author, Randy Grigsby, grew up in Minden, and lives Shreveport. The book is, "A Train to Palestine". Here's a recent review of the book (March 5, 2020) by the Jerusalem Post:
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Book-review-A-Train-to-Palestine-619871
https://www.amazon.com/Train-Palestine-Children-Stalins-1939-1943/dp/1912676273
This book is EXCELLENT, and tells the TRUE story of an 8-yr old Jewish boy and his family, who were forced to flee their Cologne, Germany, home one evening when Hitler's Nazi's showed up at their front door uninvited in Oct 1938. With thousands of others, they were immediately whisked away to a local train station and sent to eastern Europe, where they faced even further persecution from Joseph Stalin's communist USSR soldiers. From there, things only got worse. The book traces the young boy's cold and cruel odyssey, and the challenges with famine and disease that he must overcome as he makes his way thru eastern Europe, a Siberian slave labor camp, a tent city in Pahlavi, on the Caspian sea, and eventually to Tehran. All this, in an effort to make his way to "Palestine", at a time before it was named Israel.
This book is a home run, guys. It contains 5 years of valuable research done by the author --a former Tech Talk Sports Editor-- and tells the story of a young boy's determination, and his "will" to survive, some of the most brutal and unforgivable circumstances anyone has ever faced. I highly recommend it.
Grisham’s “The Broker”. Chicoms(allegedly) pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes with their surveillance system that gets hacked and manipulated by unknown cyber attackers. Hhmmm......
Finished Return of the King last night with the now 8 year old. Absolutely one of the best experiences of the (pretty difficult) last school year or so. That's a pretty tough set of books to read aloud, but man, so rewarding.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
Moved on to Babe, which ought to be a little more palatable for both boys. We also still have some Bad Guys books from the library that got put on hold for a bit that we will likely break back out. Might suck big sister back into reading with Dad with Narnia or The Green Ember soon.
Ride of the Rohirrim (actually that whole 2-3 chapter section) was a highlight. My version didn't sound like this, unfortunately.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6jhKEqtLxM&t=408s
i've never tried to read it out loud, but i just started re-reading the series. i used to just skip over the poems and songs, but this time i did the whole theatrical production in my head, including adding a tune to the songs. totally worth it. i hope you sang those songs for your boy...Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
I wouldn't call it singing per se, but I did try to make it clear when a character was singing or reciting.Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
Taking a short break from fiction and reading NT Wright’s Justification. Interesting argument, but I’m still not compelled.
Been on an "exploring/settling the west kick". So many books about Lewis and Clark... Lots of controversy involving Meriwether Lewis...then throwing in some Daniel Boone.
Any of you have a favorite author or views of these?
When I was young, me and my father had the pleasure of eating with Dr. Wright at the MacAlister's in Monroe when he came into town for a conference.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
His work on justification is interesting indeed. No question he's a preeminent New Testament Scholar. In terms of pure compelling-ness, I'm more taken with his book Surprised by Hope.
That's what I've heard. I've got The Day the Revolution Began in the wings after I finish this one. In his defense, I'm hopping into the middle of a debate that is nuanced and complex (and my Greek isn't what it once was). It feels like he's overcorrecting a valid issue. Good mental stretch either way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
My parents got really into Lewis and Clark a few years back, camped along a lot of the trail. Not sure what their favorite books were, I think I've seen the Stephen Ambrose book at their house and they bought at least one while following the trail - but I found this one pretty interesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Marvel made a bunch of comics free on their app (Marvel Unlimited) for these troubling times.
Free issues include some vintage Spidey and Xmen. Also some of the newer reboots of Capt Marvel, Fantastic 4, etc.
Be sure to get the app on your tablet. (Comics are hard to read on a phone)
i've been listening to the podcast wright does with justin briarly. "overcorrecting" is a good way to describe the way i feel about a lot of the things he says. he always has really, REALLY good insight, but always has to contrast his view with the view of "many in the west". this often turns out to be somewhat of a strawman, if my experience is any guide, and he seems to bounce perhaps a little too far for the sake of contrast.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
Working on The Iliad. I know the stories, but have never made it through the translated verse version despite having had it (and matching Odyssey) on the shelf for years. Kind of have to get into a rhythm on that kind of thing, it's challenging to read much of at a time for me.
I think I'm going to start Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit. It seems daunting and the movies may have tainted it, but it seems to be "the" books to read for people like me. Think I'll move on to Neil Gaiman's work afterwards.
Gaiman made me like fiction again. The Ocean at the End of the Lane May be my favorite. Neverwhere, Good Omens, and American Gods are epic.Quote:
Originally Posted by JuBru
If you can get your hands on the collected Sandman stuff, there is a ton of gold in there.
I'm not all in on all of this, but did find it interesting to think about:
https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publ...-deep-literacy
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
I'm just over 300 pages in. Pretty good.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
My Dad's been reading a lot about Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, who are partial inspirations for the characters in the book. One of them is buried not far from here. He was telling me recently about some of the differences between the real-life events and the fictionalized versions.
Not too long ago I read The Book of Jhereg (which collects the first three books in a fantasy series about a kind of mafia fantasy assassin). I really enjoyed it, have already ordered the 4th book in the series (there are a lot of them). My boys have me reading an old Hardy Boys book to them (picked based on the cover).
Finally got around to reading some Prachett - liked it very much. Immediately ordered another.
Working on The Deep and The Phantom Tollbooth (which I somehow haven't read before).
Halfway or so through The Silver Chair with the kids. We're reading in publication order (as God intended) so The Horse and His Boy will follow - although I might mix in some shorter stuff before we start that one, we have a lot of books out of the library that we need to get through. Sometimes it's hard to find the right balance with a 4 year difference between my boys (big sister sadly less interested in reading together, usually off reading her own stuff :( - although as oldest, she did get her share of bedtime stories and sometimes we can suck her in with something she knows she loves or is new to all of us). Narnia has been working pretty well, but I don't want to short the little one on picture books - except there is only so much voice I have left at bedtime.
I just finished book seven of the Expanse. I had my doubts about this one as it started, but it got better as it went. Supposedly, there are two more (only one is finished). Thankfully, they aren't G. R. R. Martin paced writers. They've written the whole series since his last book came out. Only concern is that there's some minor hinting on Wikipedia that they may be thinking 10 books now. I don't need any Wheel of Time nonsense
Tried hard to read David McCollough's The Great Bridge. Just finding it too mired in detail--especially engineering details. Some of you guys might like it, I guess. McCollough is hit and miss with me. I really like Path Between the Seas and 1776, but didn't like the one about Paris or this one.
reading Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey of Whole Foods (and a Harvard prof whose name I've forgotten). Really good book. It's a very well organized argument for classic free-enterprise capitalism (in contrast to either crony capitalism or neo-liberalism). Some of the things he argues for just make so much sense it's hard to get why many businesses fail to see it (other than myopic short-sightedness, of course).
Working on a book review for Practicing the King's Economy -- a Christian take on economic issues. The review has been tough because it was a book I wanted to like but have found a bit disappointing. The basic idea that there are a set of keys to how we should think about our relation to the world is good. It's just that the two main authors are highly involved in inner city ministry and they can't get past that for any of their examples. Work is not a good because it makes money you can donate. Work is a good in itself. They seem to be missing that key point, which diminishes the value of the book in this context for me.
Accidentally found a great combination. I listened to Heirs of the Founders by H. W. Brands (about Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster) while reading American Lion, John Meacham's book about Andrew Jackson. The contrast was cool. A lot of the times I'd be at the same point in the story, but get it from different perspectives. Really interesting combination of perspectives around the US from 1812 to the Civil War.
Have a book about Camelot and the third of Ken Follett's books about Kingsbridge Cathedral on deck.
If it sounds like I'm reading a lot, it's summer. While I have had work to do, I've had some definite down time. And some of them are audio books.
These sound like helpful reads. May have to check them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
I started a long reply to #349 about how capitalism and Christianity are fundamentally incompatible. But then remembered my own distaste for (what would quickly become) political discussion outside of the Politics forum. And decided nothing good would come of it.
I've been reading Craig Alanson's "Expeditionary Force" series. It's sci-fi, shoot-em-up, space-wars junk food. Imagine the Little Caesar Hot-N-Ready menu, but in novel form. But they're free on Kindle Unlimited and action-packed and the characters are hilarious. Highly recommend for casual bedtime / toilet reading.
YI’m glad you didn’t embarrass yourself with such a silly argument. Always better to think twice.Quote:
Originally Posted by Champ967
You could do it in the form of a book recommendation rather than a typed argument.Quote:
Originally Posted by Champ967
Boyd's such a tease.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
I'm reading American Sphinx by Joseph Ellis. Next will be Washington: The Indispensable Man by Flexner.
Yes...it's because I watched Hamilton.
Matthew 5-7, then. Strongly recommend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
A funny guy, eh :laugh:Quote:
Originally Posted by Champ967
I really like Ellis Founding Brothers is one of my favorite books about the period. I'd be interested to hear your take on his work on Jefferson.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
Please do it!! You will never be sorry. The trilogy is so good and even more captivating vs. the movies.Quote:
Originally Posted by JuBru
finished lord of the rings (second time through -- third if you count listening to the audio version) and decided as soon as i finished to order the silmarillion. i don't think i'll read it right away. right now, i'm working on the deep things of God and the bounty trilogy.
I put the Silmarillion off for years because I was scarred by The Book of Lost Tales - which looked/sounded so cool (but is so, so boring). The Lost Tales are basically early versions of the Silmarillion. Then I stumbled across this blog, read a few posts and decided to hold off on reading more until I'd read the actual work -and . . . I really mostly liked it better than I thought I would. Well worth reading.Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
I happen to follow Sanders on twitter and noticed that you can hear him on this podcast talking about the Trinity, might save you the trouble of reading his book. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
i follow him on twitter also. i bought his book when i saw him at the lanier theological library talking about the trinity in the old testament.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
Currently reading Space Station Down by Ben Bova and Doug Beason. Shameless plug: Doug Beason is my brother. :)
Cool!Quote:
Originally Posted by RowdyDawg
Just finished up "The Lies of Locke Lamora" by Scott Lynch.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51q+A0B7N9L.jpg
My current read(listen):
"All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon...._QL70_ML2_.jpg
I really liked that one. I know I read at least one sequel which I also remember liking.Quote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
I really liked it too. It was a pretty neat story.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
I picked up the next one, "Red Seas Under Red Skies," but I needed a break from fantasy. I haven't read it yet.
Yeah, I've got to space that kind of thing out some. Fantasy in general, but particularly the twisty-turny complex scheme/emotional stakes thing in these. I like it, but not too much in a row. When you get back to it, I remember liking Red Seas Under Red Skies as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by ITdrummer
Ordered Johnny Tremain for my bigger kids as a book I remembered liking a lot as a kid. Eventually got them to agree to at least read the first chapter or so because I think they'll like it, but on the condition that if they do I can't say "I knew it, I told you so!"
:icon_razz:
Meanwhile I picked it up to leaf through and got hooked myself. So far it's holding up pretty well, and I still think they'd like it if they give it a chance.
The Gentlemen Bastards books were pretty good, especially if you like heist stories. The later stories were much weaker than Lies though.
A friend just loaned me Gardens of the Moon. It's a bit different from the fantasy I'd normally read but I'm enjoying it well enough so far.
You know Gardens is book 1 of 10 right? It's a good series. The books tend to skip around a bit though time and 1-2 aren't as good as the others, but it's a fun adventure story for the most part.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
Just thought about a series to recommend. Dennis Taylor is the author. The first book is We Are Legion (We Are Bob). Semi-comedy SF. Tells a cool story. Was a trilogy. Just noticed there's now a fourth one. The trilogy is a well contained story, though.
As far as I can tell, only available through Amazon. I listened on Audible. I have never seen the paperbacks in a store.
Yes lol I'm aware. Quite a brave step.Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
Unpopular opinion: rather read those 10 than the Wheel of Time again.
i came really close to getting that on audible when i had free credits to use. i think i wound up going with crime and punishment instead. i still may pick it up and give it a listen if i get some free credits again (or start travelling a lot again).Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
I've never been able to make myself try Wheel of Time. I don't like stories where the author clearly doesn't have a plan of how to end it. And that's always been my impression of Jordan, and to a lesser extent--Brooks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
i did try. slogged through the first chapter and decided paint drying on the wall was much more interesting. a day later i did not even remember a single detail of what i had just read.Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
Sounds a lot like WBB.Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
I probably say this every time they have come up on this thread, but I really liked the first couple and then slogged down for good somewhere around 4, 5, or 6 and never picked it back up. Even that far back (when the plan for was a shorter set) it was pretty clearly getting padded.Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
I think I still have those first few, and I've always considered trying to start over and get through the whole set - but so far it's just not ever seemed worth it.
maybe a little off topic, but i follow sanders on twitter partly for the interesting theological insight, but mostly because he's really good a twitter. and i think i like him as a person. there are very few public people that i think i would like to get to know personally. he is one of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
as an example of the type of thing that endears me to him, here is one footnote he placed in a serious book about a serious theological subject: "have you ever stopped to ask, what if there were no hypothetical questions?" an actual footnote. the footnote just prior to that referenced simon chan's spiritual theology: a systematic study of the christian life.
you may roll your eyes, but sanders is my dad joke hero.
My Jefferson book is at my office, so this weekend I started reading Flexner’s The Indispensable Man about George Washington. Pretty crazy how inept he was in his first “military” command. Committed, essentially, an act of War that could’ve set France and England at it had cooler heads not prevailed.
Allegedly.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
;)
This thread was fantastic.Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
Started the Three-Body Problem over the weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
Finished the Phantom Tollbooth and I'm almost there on The Deep.
The bedside stack o'books to be read next is getting out of hand (darn you online card catalogue and library curb-side pick-up!). Since I've been reading a lot of SFF genre stuff, might work on The Shipping News or Song of Solomon along with The Three-Body Problem (instead of another Pratchett).
love it!Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
Finished The Shipping News. It was fine, I see why it won so many awards, didn't necessarily knock me off my feet.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
Tore through another Vlad Taltos book, and a pretty good little book that my daughter had read and recommended to me last year called The Wild Robot. Finished The Last Battle with the boys, reading them Catwings now.
Working on Just Mercy and Song of Solomon.
Southern Reach #2 (Authority) on deck, along with the 2nd and 3rd March graphic novels about John Lewis. Also couldn't resist ordering The Martian Chronicles last week (because I had been thinking about There Will Come Soft Rains for some reason, which sticks out in my mind as maybe third place in the "creepy and masterful short stories by Bradbury I remember reading pretty young" after The Veldt and All Summer in a Day.)
1. Have you started the Silmarillion yet?Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
2. I can't believe there was a post that mentioned Ray Bradbury that you haven't commented on yet.
Speaking of Solomon, I just started Solomon Says. Really has made me examine my life and daily habits in light of wisdom.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
1. not yet. just started superego by frank fleming so that i can listen to the audible version of the sequel, which he gave me for free.Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
2. you know i love me some bradbury, but i have not read the martian chronicles. i think i've read a couple of the stories contained in it, but not the whole selection.
I have started reading a series of books...volumes! on Napoleon. It covers every detail of his life, and every aspect of his tenure as emperor of France. It also includes ALL the side stories of his relatives and friends he placed in positions of power, naming them governors of various places, like regions in Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, etc... It is four volumes totaling nearly 3,000 pages of texts, charts, graphs, maps...
It's gonna take me some time to get through it all. I am not as young as I used to be, when I could start and finish a 400-page historical book in one weekend. Now, my eyes get tired, and all of that.
Here's a tidbit...between 1796 and 1815, his reign as at least a general of an army, his armies included a total of 820,000 "foreigners" who were, ahem, convinced to serve in the Army of France. For instance, in his ill-advised invasion of Russia in 1812, his 630,000-man Grand Army included nearly 200,000 foreign nationals. His southern covering army on that march was 28,000 Austrians, 5,000 Italians, and one division of Frenchmen, 10,000 men.
Napoleon's economic policies are fascinating and he was way ahead of his times with innovative laws that encouraged entrepreneurship and rewarded such endeavors. Of course, all of it contributing to the greater good of the vast French Empire.
I decided to read Good Omens. Somewhat interesting story, but rather disappointing overall. For one thing, it feels like the authors read Douglas Adams one too many times. The style and feel is like Adams on steroids. It also has the problem of too many story lines. I’ve been tempted to check out the series, but I’m not sure it’s a good enough story to warrant it.
I love Neil Gaiman and Iike Good Omens, but The Ocean at the End of the Lane is my favorite by him.Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
The only other one I've read by him was American Gods -- which I think might be the better of the two.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
Of the ones I’ve read, American Gods just felt different...less light and fun. Took me a few tries to get into American Gods. If you do audiobooks, check out one of the ones that he (Gaiman) reads.Quote:
Originally Posted by TechDawgMc
If you have youngish kids, “Fortunately the Milk” is a lot of fun.
You ever get around to reading Annihilation or The Hike?Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
I ordered a Clive Barker book this week but it looks to be more fantasy than horror (which is fine with me). I also ordered Coraline for the 10 year old and Fortunately the Milk for just a little October spookiness (not sure if the later is scary at all, but given the author, it'll at least be unusual).
Have you or yours read the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson? My big ones and I are reading them (separately) and really liking them so far. I spotted a Wendell Berry reference in like the 4th chapter (the barber shop in town is run by J. Bird - that's got to be Jayber Crow, right!).
My son loves the Wingfeather Saga. I haven’t read them. I’m going to look for Annihilation today!Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
Still working my way through Wizard of the Crow. It's not bad, but it is quite long (yeah I know, twss).
And Just Mercy at the same time. It would be a much shorter read by itself, but I feel I need to mix in something else just to give myself a bit of an emotional break.
Finished Authority. Different from Annihilation, but not bad. Creepy. I guess I need to finish the trilogy now.
Working on an Ian Fleming Bond and a book about life in the 14th century now.
Also finished How to Eat Fried Worms with my boys last night. That book was written in the early 70s and it was a little jarring how much more similar the childhoods depicted in the book are to my (1980s) childhood than to my kids' experience. The boys were just so-so on it overall, but I thought it was pretty good.