NationStates Jolt Archive

Anybody reading anything interesting? I just picked up Blow the House Down by Robert Bauer. I may be getting addicted to spy novels.

"Clarkson On Cars"

I haven't read a fiction book in ages. I really should take it up again.

I'm devouring the complete works of John Mortimer at the moment.

Currently, I am reading Cryptonomicon. It's...different. Very different. But good.

Just bought a copy of the King James version of the Bible, and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister from the same author as Wicked. An interesting retelling of the old fairy tales from the villain's point of view -- and the villain may not be as bad as all that, all things considered.

Dance of Days: 2 Decades of Punk in our Nation's Capitol

Even if you aren't interested in punk as a movement, it's a compelling tale (the authors almost make you beleive that you're there) and a glance into the cultural changes in DC as a city since the '80's.

I'm also rereading old Star Wars books, but those aren't quite as interesting.

Conquistador (http://www.sfsite.com/02a/co145.htm) by SM Stirling. It's an entertaining story.

the unabridged verion of the Count of Monty Cristo by Dumas and Enders Shadow by Orson Scott Card

The World is Flat, by Thomas L. Friedman. A long read (600-odd pages) but interesting nonetheless. It's about how globalization and its attendant technologies has made it possible for individuals and small businesses to play the role that large corporations once did. Exporting of labor, outsourcing, geopolitical shifts, blah, blah, blah. It's required for a book discussion seminar that's coming up in the fall.

I just tore through War With the Newts by Karel Capek, the guy who wrote the play R.U.R. where the term 'robot' comes from. I read the play for novelities sake and liked the writing and the description of the book sounded interesting. They understated that. It was fantastic, loved it, recomend it for all.

Especially if you're fans of Vonnegut or Stanislaw Lem. He's like some unholy union of the two.

well, I'm currently reading a thread titled "So what are you reading there?" Still trying to figure out who's the protagonist... :D

EDIT: Smeg. Beaten to it. DAMN YOU JUNII!

I'm reading the Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, it's interesting, and different definately; her different writing style takes a bit getting used to, though.

Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand. It's crap basically, but on principle I always finish books.
And The island of the day before by Umberto Eco. It's a pretty good read so far.

Actually, I'm reading Dune for about the 20th time. I love this book.

Heh, trying to read The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. I get too easily distracted though. It is a really long read at 1208 pages in length.

I just finished "The Once and Future King" and "The Book of Merlyn" (The unofficial last chapter to TOFK) by T.H. White. I have another King Arthur series ready to read by Stephen R. Lawhead, but first, I might either read "The Da Vinci Code," or The "Communist Manifesto." Havn't decided which one to read first.

the unabridged verion of the Count of Monty Cristo by Dumas and Enders Shadow by Orson Scott Card
Monty Cristo? A bit like Monty Python?

If you're reading a book the least you can do is learn to spell its title. :rolleyes:

In between World Cup matches (yes, I'm one of the 13 Americans who watches the World Cup) I've been reading Democracies: Patterns of Majoritarian and Consensus Government in Twenty-One Countries and The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know.

I don't know any good spy novels though; sorry.

I just finished "The Once and Future King" and "The Book of Merlyn" (The unofficial last chapter to TOFK) by T.H. White. I have another King Arthur series ready to read by Stephen R. Lawhead, but first, I might either read "The Da Vinci Code," or The "Communist Manifesto." Havn't decided which one to read first.
Go with the Communist Manifesto. It's far more interesting. Better plot and characters overall too, and not quite as outlandish.

"Clarkson On Cars"

I haven't read a fiction book in ages. I really should take it up again.
That guy seems cool. I'm thinking about picking up The Cobra in the Barn and/or The Gold Plated Porsche, not by Clarkson, but same vien. The latter especially because I've done that myself with a beat up 914 that only I loved.

I just finished "The Once and Future King" and "The Book of Merlyn" (The unofficial last chapter to TOFK) by T.H. White. I have another King Arthur series ready to read by Stephen R. Lawhead, but first, I might either read "The Da Vinci Code," or The "Communist Manifesto." Havn't decided which one to read first.
The Communist Manifesto really isn't long by itself and as a piece of history it is sort of interesting. I dunno, I haven't read The Da Vinci Code though so I wouldn't know much about it.

I might either read "The Da Vinci Code," or The "Communist Manifesto." Havn't decided which one to read first.

Read the Manifesto -- it's short.

Anybody reading anything interesting? I just picked up Blow the House Down by Robert Bauer. I may be getting addicted to spy novels.
THANK YOU

i saw the author on the colbert report (or the daily show) the other day and when i got a come-on for a book on new mexico history from amazon and needed another book to go with for free shipping i couldnt remember his name!

im currently considering books i havent read yet to take on vacation TOMORROW!!

not that ill have much time to read but its scary to be without a good book.

I recently finished reading "Metamorphoses" by Ovid. Now, I've been reading "The Portable Jung" and "The Basic Writings of C.G. Jung."

Just finished the third of the Thursday Next series, by Jasper Fforde (his name is awesome!!!) -- they're really original and creative, i think. Entertaining and interesting, and they go pretty quick. -- I devoured them. :)

Monty Cristo? A bit like Monty Python?

If you're reading a book the least you can do is learn to spell its title. :rolleyes:
it was one of their lesser known works...

I believe the start of the argument between the hero and villian was over a dead parrot. :D

it was one of their lesser known works...

I believe the start of the argument between the hero and villian was over a dead parrot. :D
"How did he know that was going to happen?"...

it was one of their lesser known works...

I believe the start of the argument between the hero and villian was over a dead parrot. :D
No no no, it was about a deal that was offered where the Count could either take the offer or what was behind on of the three curtains...

No no no, it was about a deal that was offered where the Count could either take the offer or what was behind on of the three curtains...

nono

its the one where the "count" was a intererant street hustler who scammed people with a famous 3-card game.

I just finished Julius Caesar, and I'm going to start Othello quite soon.

I've always meant to read such classics. They're magnificant.

'Why, man, he doth bestride the world like a Collossus, and us petty men are made to walk under his huge legs and look about to find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at one time are masters of their fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.'

Magnificant.:)

Anybody reading anything interesting? I just picked up Blow the House Down by Robert Bauer. I may be getting addicted to spy novels.
*Blows something else*
Good work DCD.

Lately i've been reading dun dun dun...
'NEW ZEALAND WAR HISTORIES'
Campaign and Service Volumns

The series is made up of at least 44 books and was commisioned after World War Two as a history of New Zealands involvment in World War Two on land sea and in the air.

The titles among them are...
The Pacific
To Greece
Crete
The Relief of Tobruk
Battle for Egypt
Alam Halfa and Alamein
Bardia to Enfidaville
Italy, Volumn I: Sangro to Cassino
Italy, Volumn II:From Cassino to Trieste
Problems of 2 NZEF
Documents-Volumns I-III
War Surgery and Medicine
New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy
New Zealand Medical Services in New Zealand and the Pacific
The New Zealand Dental Services
....
At this point i got bored of typing and decided to google search.
Wow apparently they are available over the Interweb...
NEW ZEALAND WAR HISTORIES (http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-corpus-WH2.html)
Since the last one of these topics i saw i have read all these bolded ones the underlined ones i do not own.
The Pacific
To Greece
Crete
The Relief of Tobruk
Battle for Egypt
Alam Halfa and Alamein
Bardia to Enfidaville
Italy, Volumn I: Sangro to Cassino
Italy, Volumn II:From Cassino to Trieste

I also own the Naval history,27 (Machine Gun) Battalion, 28 (Maori) Battalion and Petrol Company.

I have managed to read 1 book per 20 working days, i only read on the train and at smoko.Each book is roughly 500 pages.

God they are great.
This first one i read was 'Bardia to Enfidaville' as i knew little about the final push of 8th armies drive to expel Panzer Armee Afrika/German Italian Armee/etc...

I am really gutted about not having the Crete edition.:(

just finished cat in the hat. that was one hell of a long read. i could only do a couple words a day. it is hard to sound all the words out.

...
And The island of the day before by Umberto Eco. It's a pretty good read so far.
I'm not going to spoil it for you, but that book has one of the most bizarre, yet quietly understated, plot twists ever.

I'm reading the hard copy version of 253, by Geoff Ryman. It's an easy, fun read. It's also an interactive novel on the web, but I've not checked that out yet.

The World is Flat, by Thomas L. Friedman. A long read (600-odd pages) but interesting nonetheless. It's about how globalization and its attendant technologies has made it possible for individuals and small businesses to play the role that large corporations once did. Exporting of labor, outsourcing, geopolitical shifts, blah, blah, blah. It's required for a book discussion seminar that's coming up in the fall.
I'll put in a second vote for this one.

Just read "Jump over the Wall" the story of David. Wouldn't recommend it.

Before that "Three Cups of Tea" Greg Mortenson. Really Good biography of a man who has made it his life work to build schools in Pakistan and Afganistan. It really gives a lot of information about the culture of the area and how to work with the people of that area. THUMBS UP

Before that "Our Endangered Values" Jimmy Carter. A good book on values that the "conservative christians" are destroying. good read.


Sorry don't have time for fiction.

More William by Richmal Compton and Haigs Generals

I am reading What's Not To Love? by Jonathan Ames. Polymorphously perverse genius.

Freedom Evolves by Daniel Dennett

I just finished Julius Caesar, and I'm going to start Othello quite soon.

I've always meant to read such classics. They're magnificant.

'Why, man, he doth bestride the world like a Collossus, and us petty men are made to walk under his huge legs and look about to find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at one time are masters of their fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.'

Magnificant.:)

My two favorite tragedies are Macbeth and Hamlet (in that order).

I just finished Julius Caesar, and I'm going to start Othello quite soon.

I've always meant to read such classics. They're magnificant.

'Why, man, he doth bestride the world like a Collossus, and us petty men are made to walk under his huge legs and look about to find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at one time are masters of their fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.'

Magnificant.:)
Dig Lord Buckley's take on the funeral oration:
Hipsters, flipsters, and finger-poppin' daddies,
Knock me your lobes,
I came to lay Ceasar out,
Not to hip you to him.
The bad jazz that a cat blows,
Wails long after he's cut out.
The groovey is often stashed with their frames,
So don't put Caesar down.
The swinging Brutus hath laid a story on you
That Caesar was hungry for power.
If it were so, it was a sad drag,
And sadly hath the Caesar cat answered it.
Here with a pass from Brutus and the other brass,
For Brutus is a worthy stud,
Yea, so are they all worthy studs,
Though their stallions never sleep.
I came to wail at Ceasar's wake.
He was my buddy, and he leveled with me.
Yet Brutus digs that he has eyes for power,
And Brutus is a solid cat.
It is true he hath returned with many freaks in chains
And brought them home to Rome.
Yea, the looty was booty
And hip the trays we weld(?)
Dost thou dig that this was Caesar's groove
For the putsch?
When the cats with the empty kicks hath copped out,
Yea, Caesar hath copped out, too,
And cried up a storm.
To be a world grabber a stiffer riff must be blown.
Without bread a stud can't even rule an anthill.
Yet Brutus was swinging for the moon.
And, yea, Brutus is a worthy stud.
And all you cats were gassed on the Lupercal
When he came on like a king freak.
Three times I lay the kingly wig on him,
And thrice did he put it down.
Was this the move of a greedy hipster?
Yet, Brutus said he dug the lick,
And, yes, a hipper cat has never blown.
Some claim that Brutus' story was a gag.
But I dug the story was solid.
I came here to blow.
Now, stay cool while I blow.
You all dug him once
Because you were hipped that he was solid
How can you now come on so square
Now that he's tapped out of this world.
City Hall is flipped
And swung to a drunken zoo
And all of you cats are goofed to wig city.
Dig me hard.
My ticker is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And, yea, I must stay cool til it flippeth back to me.


Othello is probably my favorite Shakespeare play.

Oh, I'm reading a lot of books at the same time:

1) Goethe's Faust
2) The possibility of an island, by Houellebecq (though I'm not quite liking it)
3) A book of short stories by Franz Kafka
4) Charles Dickens', "The cricket of the hearth"

just read Hard Work by Polly Toynbee (sp?) and now re-reading (bits of) Introduction to Political Thought by prof Perry Roberts and doc Peter Sutch



boo Nozick!

Magi'i of Cyador by L.E. Modesitt
Very good fantasy series.

Just finished Escape from Kathmandu, by Kim Stanley Robinson.

Currently, I am reading Cryptonomicon. It's...different. Very different. But good.
That book is great. I'm reading The Adolescent and Apex Hides the Hurt.

Dean Koontz Fear Nothing Not bad, but I liked "Life Expectancy" more.

I had just finished Tracy Kidder's Mountains beyond Mountains and a little something called Company.

Anyone else reading War books?

Currently:

My American Journey by Colin Powell, with Joseph E. Persico

and then:


From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State: Fraternal Socieities and Social Services, 1890-1967 by David T. Beito
Mutual Aid for Survival: The Case of the Mexican American by Jose Amaro Hernandez
Continue working on The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

I had just finished Tracy Kidder's Mountains beyond Mountains and a little something called Company.
I read that months ago. :P

It was better than JenGov, I'll give him that.

I read Lolita by Nabokov a couple of weeks ago, which i loved, but i'm not reading anything at the moment.

"Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett.

Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut.

Anybody reading anything interesting?

I just finished Set this House in Order (http://home.att.net/~storytellers/sethouse.html) by Matt Ruff, which ,although not of the same weird genius as Fool on the Hill (http://home.att.net/~storytellers/foolhill.html), is quite an interesting read.

"Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett.
:D

I am currently reading Flags of our Fathers, going to be re-reading Black Hawk Down next

About 1/4 through "Ghost Wars: History of the CIA in Afghanistan."

Had been meaning to read it for ages, it won the Pulitzer.

Pretty interesting stuff.

Also the New Yorker I got in the mail today.

The Color Of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to his White Mother

Stupid assigned summer reading. :rolleyes:

I just finished "The Once and Future King" and "The Book of Merlyn" (The unofficial last chapter to TOFK) by T.H. White. I have another King Arthur series ready to read by Stephen R. Lawhead, but first, I might either read "The Da Vinci Code," or The "Communist Manifesto." Havn't decided which one to read first.


Don't read the da vinci code.

Read the new yorker review of the movie and book before you take that lemming's leap.

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/cinema/articles/060529crci_cinema

Nothing. :( I havent read for pleasure in too long. I did recently finish a Piers Anthony series tho. I don't really like his style of writing at all, but i enjoy the story, and wanna know what happens to the characters. I hope to read some Kurt Vonnegut this summer, as i've never read him (gasp, i know!) and there are all kinds of references i miss as a result.

I'm reading "The Pirates", a book on pirates. Though I just finished "The Duel" by Joseph Conrad.

Just bought a copy of the King James version of the Bible, and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister from the same author as Wicked. An interesting retelling of the old fairy tales from the villain's point of view -- and the villain may not be as bad as all that, all things considered.
Have you looked at Grendel? It is Beowulf from...well...Grendels POV. by...um...John Gardner? I think.
It is pretty interesting.

Anyway, I'm reading Europe Central by Vollmann right now. Good stuff.

Currently, I am reading Cryptonomicon. It's...different. Very different. But good.
Neal Stephenson rules. You've read Snow Crash?

Currently, though, I'm reading the Iliad. It's really amazingly good. I suppose I have a taste for epic poetry type things. When this is done, then it's on to the Kalevala and Beowulf and Gilgamesh (well, it'll probably be a while before I get around to doing anything, but eventually)

Don't read the da vinci code.

Read the new yorker review of the movie and book before you take that lemming's leap.

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/cinema/articles/060529crci_cinema

Brilliant review. My feelings exactly, only more eloquent and witty.

I hope to read some Kurt Vonnegut this summer,

Certain works would be recommended to you more, but if you get the chance, I suggest Player Piano. It's set in an America in which a supercomputer makes the country's decisions, people's career options are determined by their IQ, and nearly everything that can be automated is.

[Heh. On preview, the above looks like a nation description from NS. Have I been here too long already?]

"Company"

I tend to read several things at once, and switch between them depending on my mood. Right now:

Battle Born, by Dale Brown.
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, by Jung Chang.
The Social Contract, by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Monty Cristo? A bit like Monty Python?

If you're reading a book the least you can do is learn to spell its title. :rolleyes:
:rolleyes:
nope not like monty python...dumas wrote in the early 1800's he also wrote the three musscatears

Right now I'm reading Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Very good, but depressing as all hell.

I'm rereading Exodus by Leon Uris

Anybody reading anything interesting?
Uh ...

The Non-Local Universe by Nadeau and Kafatos and

The Hidden Connections by Fritjof Capra

:rolleyes:
nope not like monty python...dumas wrote in the early 1800's he also wrote the three musscatears

He just means its Monte Cristo not "monty". And, as long as Im being an ass I might as well say "Musketeers".

Certain works would be recommended to you more, but if you get the chance, I suggest Player Piano. It's set in an America in which a supercomputer makes the country's decisions, people's career options are determined by their IQ, and nearly everything that can be automated is.

[Heh. On preview, the above looks like a nation description from NS. Have I been here too long already?]
Thanks for the recommendation.

The works of JK Rowling, I'm planning to get through them all these holidays, already completed The Philosophers Stone and The Hlaf-Blood Prince, I'm onto The Chamber of Secrets;)

Monte Cristo? Yup, I loved that book as much as The Three Musketeers!

I'm reading Talk of the Devil: Encounters with Seven Dictators by Riccardo Orizio.

Also, I just finished The Myth of Hitler's Pope: How Pope Pius XII Rescued Jews from the Nazis by David G. Dalin.

I'm reading Mountain of Black Glass by Tad Williams. Highly enjoying it.

"Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett.

Hey! Be careful with my pages.

http://fan.stoepselchen.net/hogfather/bilder/index_01.jpg

I'm currently reading Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon

Linky (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/185798806X/qid=1151830837/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8576367-1060608?s=books&v=glance&n=283155)

Interesting stuff. :)

Well in between reading scripture, I have been rereading Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel. As soon as I finish it again, I will probably reread his book, Collapse. Both are very, very interesting reads :)

I just finished Thief of Time yesterday.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy.

Persecution: How Liberalism is Waging War Against Christianity by David Limbaugh.

I'm re-reading his Dark Materials (Like, the 30th time of reading or something ridiculous like that) just finished the Subtle knife, and about to start The Ameber Spyglass.

I'm re-reading his Dark Materials (Like, the 30th time of reading or something ridiculous like that) just finished the Subtle knife, and about to start The Ameber Spyglass.
I quite like those books too. Been ages since I read them. I might have to again.

The Social Contract, by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Great pick!
It makes one think a lot and it is enjoyable.


I'm re-reading his Dark Materials (Like, the 30th time of reading or something ridiculous like that) just finished the Subtle knife, and about to start The Ameber Spyglass.

I need to borrow "The Amber spyglass" from a friend so that I can finish the trilogy. I liked it, but preferred Pullman's 1976 novel, Galatea.

Monty Cristo? A bit like Monty Python?

If you're reading a book the least you can do is learn to spell its title. :rolleyes:
It's really hard to believe how shallow someone with so many posts can be.

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry

WHEN I GROW UP, I WANNA BE AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST XB!

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry

WHEN I GROW UP, I WANNA BE AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST XB!

If you are serious, this might help!


http://www.llu.edu/llu/sph/programs.html

http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/majors/epid.html