|
|
Post by Mercy for All on Jul 13, 2020 16:07:44 GMT
I recently finished Madeleine L'Engle's The Other Side of the Sun; poignant, a bit creepy, and fascinatingly disturbing. I had read it earlier, about 23 years ago, but it didn't stick with me then because I was speed reading through a bunch of her stuff. I'm reading more carefully these days.
Now I'm reading King Rat by James Clavell. I've read a bunch of his historical fiction. I thought this was going to be the same...kind of far east medieval stuff like Shogun. This one takes place in a POW camp in WW2 and is likely obliquely autobiographical.
I'm also reading The Silk Road which is a look at history through an economic lens. Really interesting.
|
|
|
|
Post by Greg55_99 on Jul 13, 2020 16:54:15 GMT
"King Rat". Good book. I think that was actually Clavell's first book. The notion of Cpl King running the camp was a hoot. I've read all of his historical fiction. From "Tai-Pan" to "Whirlwind". He did know how to spin a yarn. A couple of movies he scripted that I like as a youngen' were "633 Squadron" and "To Sir With Love".
I'm spending this summer binge reading the "Dortmunder" series by Donald E. Westlake. Currently going through "Don't Ask". Last summer, I binged on Westlake's "Parker" series.
Greg
|
|
|
|
Post by william on Jul 13, 2020 17:52:12 GMT
I've read all of Clavell's work. Great author.
I'm still on again off again struggling through The True History of the Conquest of New Spain. It may take years. Ive started and finished 4 books since I started this one.
Christopher Moore has a new one, but his should be mostly read in order.
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal was a favorite
|
|
|
|
Post by Mercy for All on Jul 13, 2020 19:14:36 GMT
"King Rat". Good book. I think that was actually Clavell's first book. The notion of Cpl King running the camp was a hoot. I've read all of his historical fiction. From "Tai-Pan" to "Whirlwind". He did know how to spin a yarn. A couple of movies he scripted that I like as a youngen' were "633 Squadron" and "To Sir With Love". Yeah, King Rat was his first. Ironic, because I think I've read all his others and saved this for last. Oh...except Whirlwind--that doesn't sound familiar. What genre is the Dortmunder series? |
|
|
|
Post by Greg55_99 on Jul 13, 2020 19:20:01 GMT
"King Rat". Good book. I think that was actually Clavell's first book. The notion of Cpl King running the camp was a hoot. I've read all of his historical fiction. From "Tai-Pan" to "Whirlwind". He did know how to spin a yarn. A couple of movies he scripted that I like as a youngen' were "633 Squadron" and "To Sir With Love". Yeah, King Rat was his first. Ironic, because I think I've read all his others and saved this for last. Oh...except Whirlwind--that doesn't sound familiar. What genre is the Dortmunder series? That would be mystery fiction. Greg |
|
|
|
Post by Mercy for All on Jul 13, 2020 19:21:48 GMT
That would be mystery fiction. Greg I'll keep that in mind, thanks. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2020 22:05:58 GMT
I recently finished Madeleine L'Engle's The Other Side of the Sun; poignant, a bit creepy, and fascinatingly disturbing. I had read it earlier, about 23 years ago, but it didn't stick with me then because I was speed reading through a bunch of her stuff. I'm reading more carefully these days. Now I'm reading King Rat by James Clavell. I've read a bunch of his historical fiction. I thought this was going to be the same...kind of far east medieval stuff like Shogun. This one takes place in a POW camp in WW2 and is likely obliquely autobiographical. I'm also reading The Silk Road which is a look at history through an economic lens. Really interesting. I just finished Off to be the Wizard a couple of days ago. My wife got it for me as she thought I'd like it and she was right! Not a lot of stories mix computer science and fantasy. Good stuff. So, now I'm in between books, always a dark place for me to be. I don't do well without a book at hand! |
|
|
|
Post by william on Jul 13, 2020 23:04:58 GMT
I recently finished Madeleine L'Engle's The Other Side of the Sun; poignant, a bit creepy, and fascinatingly disturbing. I had read it earlier, about 23 years ago, but it didn't stick with me then because I was speed reading through a bunch of her stuff. I'm reading more carefully these days. Now I'm reading King Rat by James Clavell. I've read a bunch of his historical fiction. I thought this was going to be the same...kind of far east medieval stuff like Shogun. This one takes place in a POW camp in WW2 and is likely obliquely autobiographical. I'm also reading The Silk Road which is a look at history through an economic lens. Really interesting. I just finished Off to be the Wizard a couple of days ago. My wife got it for me as she thought I'd like it and she was right! Not a lot of stories mix computer science and fantasy. Good stuff. So, now I'm in between books, always a dark place for me to be. I don't do well without a book at hand! My wife reads one book at a time. I'll probably never understand you people. I don't think I ever have less than three. They're like channels on the tv - whatever I'm in the mood for. If the book is exciting, I ignore the others, but they're always waiting when I finish. Has anyone read "Finn"? It's a very dark prequel to the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2020 23:15:09 GMT
I just finished Off to be the Wizard a couple of days ago. My wife got it for me as she thought I'd like it and she was right! Not a lot of stories mix computer science and fantasy. Good stuff. So, now I'm in between books, always a dark place for me to be. I don't do well without a book at hand! My wife reads one book at a time. I'll probably never understand you people. I don't think I ever have less than three. They're like channels on the tv - whatever I'm in the mood for. If the book is exciting, I ignore the others, but they're always waiting when I finish. Has anyone read "Finn"? It's a very dark prequel to the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Ah, well I'm known for reading multiple books at a time, but usually only one novel. I'll read a non-fiction book (or books) while reading a novel, but unless you also count the audio book on my phone, I'm usually just on one novel at a time. |
|
|
|
Post by Mercy for All on Jul 13, 2020 23:18:45 GMT
I just finished Off to be the Wizard a couple of days ago. My wife got it for me as she thought I'd like it and she was right! Not a lot of stories mix computer science and fantasy. Good stuff. So, now I'm in between books, always a dark place for me to be. I don't do well without a book at hand! Have you read Ready Player One? |
|
|
|
Post by Mercy for All on Jul 13, 2020 23:19:32 GMT
My wife reads one book at a time. I'll probably never understand you people. I don't think I ever have less than three. They're like channels on the tv - whatever I'm in the mood for. If the book is exciting, I ignore the others, but they're always waiting when I finish. I'm like you. Two or three on the go at a time. A fiction or two and a non-fiction or two. |
|
|
|
Post by Greg55_99 on Jul 13, 2020 23:19:37 GMT
Don't know about you, but I won't enter the water closet without a book.
Greg
|
|
|
|
Post by Mercy for All on Jul 13, 2020 23:21:23 GMT
Don't know about you, but I won't enter the water closet without a book. Greg These days it's my phone. Bad habit. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2020 23:25:23 GMT
I just finished Off to be the Wizard a couple of days ago. My wife got it for me as she thought I'd like it and she was right! Not a lot of stories mix computer science and fantasy. Good stuff. So, now I'm in between books, always a dark place for me to be. I don't do well without a book at hand! Have you read Ready Player One? I started it, but got busy and forgot to get back to it. It's on my list. |
|
robth
Participant
Posts: 131
|
Post by robth on Jul 14, 2020 1:08:42 GMT
Don't know about you, but I won't enter the water closet without a book. Greg Or as I call it: the library. |
|
|
|
Post by jasmine on Jul 14, 2020 1:30:51 GMT
Right now I am reading “Scooby Doo Team-Up” - a comic book series by DC Comics. You guys won’t believe this, but on the DC app, you can download the five collected volumes (issues 1-50) for FREE! I just started reading it yesterday. It’s a perfectly kid-friendly comic book where Scooby and his friends team up with heroes and characters from the DC Universe, from Batman and Superman and Wonder Woman to lesser-known caped champions. I’m loving it so far. ![]()  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2020 21:22:02 GMT
I recently finished Madeleine L'Engle's The Other Side of the Sun; poignant, a bit creepy, and fascinatingly disturbing. I had read it earlier, about 23 years ago, but it didn't stick with me then because I was speed reading through a bunch of her stuff. I'm reading more carefully these days. Now I'm reading King Rat by James Clavell. I've read a bunch of his historical fiction. I thought this was going to be the same...kind of far east medieval stuff like Shogun. This one takes place in a POW camp in WW2 and is likely obliquely autobiographical. I'm also reading The Silk Road which is a look at history through an economic lens. Really interesting. I landed on 31 Days: Gerald Ford, the Nixon Pardon and A Government in Crisis Got in on my Kindle. Each chapter chronicles a different day of the first 31 days of Ford’s presidency. I’m enjoying it a lot so far. |
|
|
|
Post by Greg55_99 on Jul 16, 2020 10:29:49 GMT
I recently finished Madeleine L'Engle's The Other Side of the Sun; poignant, a bit creepy, and fascinatingly disturbing. I had read it earlier, about 23 years ago, but it didn't stick with me then because I was speed reading through a bunch of her stuff. I'm reading more carefully these days. Now I'm reading King Rat by James Clavell. I've read a bunch of his historical fiction. I thought this was going to be the same...kind of far east medieval stuff like Shogun. This one takes place in a POW camp in WW2 and is likely obliquely autobiographical. I'm also reading The Silk Road which is a look at history through an economic lens. Really interesting. I landed on 31 Days: Gerald Ford, the Nixon Pardon and A Government in Crisis Got in on my Kindle. Each chapter chronicles a different day of the first 31 days of Ford’s presidency. I’m enjoying it a lot so far.
Kindle? Oh no! I'm old school and I've been resisting Kindle in lieu of having a real book in my hands. I know technology marches forward but I still love to search a REAL bookstore for REAL books. Sadly, bookstores are going the way of the Dodo Birds.
Greg
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2020 10:40:47 GMT
Kindle? Oh no! I'm old school and I've been resisting Kindle in lieu of having a real book in my hands. I know technology marches forward but I still love to search a REAL bookstore for REAL books. Sadly, bookstores are going the way of the Dodo Birds.
Greg
I like "real" books too, but we've been trying to downsize the amount of "stuff" that we have. As we've watched relatives get older and die and then watched their kids have to go through all of their stuff to get rid of it, we've decided to try to lessen the burden on our kids when that day comes. Hopefully that's several decades away, but now's the time to start making those changes and one thing that I collect that grows fast is books and they take up a lot of room. Going the digital route is better for us in the long run. Besides all that, there's also the instant gratification of getting it right away! Also, our library rents Kindle books as well, which is pretty cool (especially now that we're dealing with the pandemic). |
|
|
|
Post by william on Jul 16, 2020 11:06:57 GMT
Kindle? Oh no! I'm old school and I've been resisting Kindle in lieu of having a real book in my hands. I know technology marches forward but I still love to search a REAL bookstore for REAL books. Sadly, bookstores are going the way of the Dodo Birds.
Greg
I like "real" books too, but we've been trying to downsize the amount of "stuff" that we have. As we've watched relatives get older and die and then watched their kids have to go through all of their stuff to get rid of it, we've decided to try to lessen the burden on our kids when that day comes. Hopefully that's several decades away, but now's the time to start making those changes and one thing that I collect that grows fast is books and they take up a lot of room. Going the digital route is better for us in the long run. Besides all that, there's also the instant gratification of getting it right away! Also, our library rents Kindle books as well, which is pretty cool (especially now that we're dealing with the pandemic). I resisted at first, but no more. Having not only your personal library, but a bookstore in your hip pocket is pretty cool. Not to mention highlighting, changing fonts, skipping around, looking up a character you can't exactly remember or what he said 2 chapters back, or dropping in in the tub, reading with all the lights out and much more. I'm sold. |
|
