Recently finished Hunt: At World's End. It was okay, not as good as the previous Hunt titles, but action-filled nonetheless. The pacing was somehow off for me. I'm hoping it's just a one time thing having to do more with this author than with the series as a whole. It's pretty much what you expect, an adventure seeking for some supernatural relic, fraught with danger and just enough romance to remind you that the lead character is a man's man. Next up: Wild At Heart by John Eldridge Have any of you guys read it?
I guess I should state that, yes, I finished Meg: Hell's Aquarium in about 4 days, quite a record for me :ashamed001
Recently finished Wild At Heart by John Eldridge It was a great book, and I highly recommend it to any man who feels the world is robbing our masculinity. While Eldridge's interpretation of scripture is sometimes somewhat questionable, what he has to say is a very important message to today's man. Basically, it's a call to embrace our masculine strengths in our search for God's companionship. Like I said, his interpretation of scripture might not jive 100% with how you read it, but don't let that distract you from his point. If I had the money, I'd buy this book for every man I know. Right now, I'm working on Terry Pratchett's The Color of Magic.
I'm juggling a few right now: Some short story collections by Robert Bloch and another one by Robert E. Howard Two Noam Chomsky books (both on media/propaganda) Weapons of Mass Instruction-John Taylor Gatto
Read Halo: Evolutions- cool if you're into sci-fi or the story of the Halo video game. Also, Boneshaker by Cherie Priest- another cool sci-fi book. Sort of a combination of Resident Evil and Bioshock (if you play video games) In a genre called steam punk = set in the 1800s with technology from the future, but powered by gears and steam rather than microchips and electricity. Good reads!
I've always been fascinated with the steampunk aesthetic from a visual perspective. If you enjoy it, you should really check out H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Actual Victorian sci-fi can be a lot of fun once you get around how formal the language is.
Just finished Terry Pratchett's The Color of Magic. I finally understand what all the fuss has been about. I've long put off reading any Pratchett, because his books were always on the shelf exactly where Mervyn Peake should have been. I'm glad I gave in, and tried this book. Pratchett does a great job of putting a new spin on some of my favorite tropes. The satire kept me chuckling like a simpleton throughout. As I started reading the last 10 pages, I started getting that sinking feeling you get when you suddenly realize that the TV show you've just watched for the last 45 minutes is just part 1 of 2, but I found the ending to be very apropos, considering the style of the rest of the book. I guess the one thing this book made me realize most, though, is that my luggage is entirely too boring. In an effort to expand my horizons, I'm trying something new and reading more than one book at the same time. I'm currently working on A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Free eBook available here), and Caravan to Xanadu. The former is early Sci-fi and the latter is a story about Marco Polo. By the way, have we got any Goodreads users on here?
Still working on Pictures at 11 by Norman Spinrad and Caravan to Xanadu by Edison Marshall, but I just finished A Princess of Mars: I always associated the name Edgar Rice Burroughs with Tarzan–until I read this book. For now on, Mr. Burroughs will be a sci-fi writer in my mind. While the science in this early example of science fiction seems a bit dated, given what we now know about our solar neighbor and it’s nature, it is easy to get lost in the fantasy and embrace the world of Mars and it’s inhabitants. I found myself quickly suspending my disbelief and enjoying the ride as the central character, John Carter, revealed himself to be exactly what I want my heroes to be–a hero. We live in a society that is obsessed with anti-heroes and flawed protagonists, and I found it thoroughly refreshing to see a champion who knew what direction his moral compass was pointing. This is an excellent tale of heroism, love, and humanity, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a light leap of fantastic adventure.
I read the entire Mars series back in the late 60s. As you say, the technology seems a little outdated, but I guess we need to remember when it was written and what was state of the art back then. Just recently downloaded it from Libra Vox and listened to it. Thought I'd be disappointed but I wasn't. Glad its stil around. Alan
Finished Pictures at 11 awhile back and forgot to mention it here: At first, I had my doubts, as the book seemed slow to start. However, after making it about 40 pages in, the action and suspense started kicking in. The obvious comparisons to “Network” not withstanding, I found the book to be quite entertaining, if not a little predictable. It’s one of those stories that you know how it has to end, and you kind of get frustrated with the characters because you spot stuff before they do, but it still manages to throw in a surprise or two and does a good job of maintaining a healthy sense of tension and doubt. It absolutely reads like a movie, which is oddly poignant given the message of the book. Then, just this week, I finished Caravan to Xanadu: I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this exciting look into the life of one of history’s most famous adventurer merchants. I realized, as I read this book, that I don’t really know much about his life, despite the fame of the name Marco Polo. The story begins with a young Marco Polo living in Venice, and awaiting word from his traveling father whom he’s never met. When his father returns with news of his visit to the great Kublai Khan, Marco’s adventure begins as do his plans to return to Xanadu with his unloving, cunning, and cruel father. If even one third of the events described in this book are actually true, Marco Polo’s youth was an amazing experience. Marshall does a great job of describing the decadence and splendor of the Khan’s empire and his description of the romantic interludes between Marco and an enchanting slave girl are nothing short of touching and captivating. Marshall does a great job of making you think this is written in the first person by Marco himself, almost inhabiting the thoughts and impressions of a young man seeing the world for the first time. This book is definitely one of the best $1 purchases I ever made on a whim, and it will find a permanent place on my shelves. Right now I'm about halfway through The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle, and I'm finding it to be a thoroughly fun read.
The last couple years it's pretty much been nothing but brewing "literature". I've been stuck on "Brewchem 101" lately just haven't been able to really get into it though. Read almost all of the brewers publications list of beer styles books, homebrewing for dummies etc, etc, etc... Michael
I have been reading a few by Jeanette Walls....both very good books Currently I'm reading this book. Only about 2 chapters in though so I can't comment much I used to like reading a lot back when I was younger, but for some reason I quit reading for fun. I think it was because I got into college and had to read against my will for so many years. Now that I'm approaching graduating with my Masters degree, I've picked up the hobby again
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow You can get the free digital edition here. I’ve always treated books much the same way I treat movies; the more popular it is, the less inclined I am to check it out. A couple of years ago, when Little Brother was still a new book, the hype was quite prominent, and I avoided reading it. Recently, I saw this nice hardbound copy at my local Goodwill, and figured it might be worth dropping $2 to check it out. I already had a free digital copy sitting on my e-reader taking up space until some unknown later date, but I thought a bound copy might be nice. Having the physical book in hand, I cracked it open to read a few paragraphs. Then I burned through the book, quickly (at least for me). One of the blurbs on the dust jacket calls it an “important” book, and I’m inclined to agree. Somewhat familiar with Doctorow through sites like boingboing, I knew he was a tech savvy guy, but I was thoroughly impressed with his ability to readily break down some pretty complex technology into layman’s terms. His descriptions of how surveillance can be misused and applied as an invasion of privacy under the guise of protection was both frightening and all too familiar in a world that has trouble drawing the line between terror and freedom. I’m recommending this book to everyone I know, not so much for it’s mostly believable plot, not for it’s fun and identifiable characters, or even for it’s great use of suspense. No, I’m recommending it because it’s a great reminder to remain vigilant when privacy and personal information is concerned. I found the ending to be a bit rushed, and the characters to be a bit naive from time to time, but then I have to remember this is a YA novel and I might not totally identify with the protagonist on too many levels, being in my mid-30′s. Any flaws in the book were really quite marginal, at best, and I heartily recommend everyone read this book–if just for the concepts presented within.
I just finished The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle last night at about 1:00 AM. Wow. The book is mostly comic relief, and I'd say that surprisingly Mel Brooks probably came closer to capturing Robin Hood than the newer movies have (I haven't seen Erol Flynn's Hood yet). The first part of the book is pretty whimsical and quite a bit repetitive, but somewhere around the 60% mark, it turns into a pretty stirring adventure and about 3/4 of the way through, it starts to make a gradual transition to something more mature and gritty. The 3rd act has some pretty tense moments in it, and I found myself genuinely fearing for the safety of some of the beloved characters I had come to know and love. If you like upbeat, happy endings, I implore you, don't read the epilogue. At least one villainous character gets his comeuppance in an undignified and much deserved way, but the ending is so terribly sad, and kind of depressing. I kind of knew this going in, but I read it through anyway, for the sake of completion. I wasn't in any way prepared for the ending of this book. It was far sadder and unexpected than I had anticipated and yet, it felt complete. I'm not sure I would change the ending if I had the opportunity, somehow, it grounds the story in reality. I think it's that sense of reality and mortality that makes the ending so poignant. It's like you've watched this band of cut-ups, these Merry Men, grow and mature, and like all things in life, the world corrupts this idealism, and the whole thing feels tainted and paradoxically, fulfillingly unsatisfying. I recommend the book. If you want it to stick with you, I recommend reading the epilogue.
Just finished this, this week: Lone Star Planet by H. Beam Piper My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was a quick, fun read. It’s basically a western, a political satire, and sci-fi rolled into one. Being from Texas, I enjoyed the fantasy of Texas being its own sovereign planet, and the characterizations of the prominent figures could have been based on people I know very well. I know some of the intent was probably to poke a little fun at Texans, and our unique sense of justice, but I found myself fascinated with the prospect of some of the more outrageous parodies being implemented. The story has everything you’d pretty much expect; there’s intrigue, villainous rogues, lovable rogues, the Foghorn Leghorn type guy, the timid government officials, courtroom drama, and a gunfight or two. If this were a movie, you’d likely either mock it for its lack of substance, or laud it for its heaping helping of fun! It's available for free download on http://manybooks.net
I am just finishing a pretty interesting book by St. Thomas Aquinas. It is called very creatively Introduction to St. Thomas Aquinas, The book is very interesting and makes you think about pretty much everything. http://covers.openlibrary.org/b/olid/OL6028002M-M.jpg
I have ADD when it comes to reading, so i usually have 3 or four open at any time. Im working on: Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is an adolescent novel written in free verse, chronicling a family in the midwest and their struggles during the dust bowl (1930s). Although it is written for adolescents, anyone can read it and draw from it the incredible difficulties families had to go through during the dust bowl. It's very sad. The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfield takes place in NYC during the early part of the 20th century. Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung are historical characters among fictional characters that come to NYC to give talks on pyschoanalysis. Meanwhile, a murder and an attempted murder have taken place among the city's rich higher class. And of course the murder and attempted murder are sexual in nature so Freud and colleagues are asked to give their opinion and eventually psycho analyze the girl who survived. I enjoy the historical facts and psychology in the story and the interaction among the characters and Freud. For some reason, though, the author paints Carl Jung as a weirdo and Freud as a hero. A Week in the Woods is another adolescent novel about a kid who moves from the big city to the country, while his parents go away for work. So he's all alone with his maids (he's rich) and at a new school, and he's a bit ticked off that he had to leave his old school and friends behind. So this book is about him taking it out on his new fifth grade teacher,while the fifth grade teacher tries to get through to him. The Poems of Alexander Pope is a collection of most, if not all, of his poems and writings.
Just finished up Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore My rating: 5 of 5 stars I really quite enjoyed this adventurous tale mixed with a small town story. I found it to be an inventive story with some exciting, if not humorous, twists on some old ideas. The wit practically oozes off the pages, and every character has a certain charm that rings with authenticity. If I had any complaint about the story, it's that it seemed, at times, to dwell on giving the back story on each and every character in the book. Stick with it, though, those back stories are relevant and necessary to the payoff at the end of the book. Moore has an excellent gift for building suspense and though the story wraps up quickly, it wraps up thoroughly. It was an excellent read, and I'll definitely be recommending it to my reading friends.
