What book are you reading now, or what was the last book you read?

[Mad Processor]

Offended? I'm proud of this thread dammit!

Currently reading some various stuff. Cthulhu books and the Sin City books. I don't have too much time to read lately ...

[Doktor Sharpness]

Last book finished: American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis

Currently working through: Odd Thomas by "that hack" Koontz at work, Naked Pictures of Famous People by John Stewart in my bathroom at home.

[Bishop]

Now: the DaVinci Code
Then: Odd Thomas

[Z A C H E R]

Stephen King's teh cell

[my sex is artsy]

Goethe's Faust.

[Fighting_Irish1]

Last : Heritic - Bernard Cromwell

Now: The Pale Horseman - Bernard Cromwell

[Alfuh]

Now: American Council of Exercise Personal Training Manual :(
Then: Can't remember, been studying this stupid thing for so long!
Next: Poker books, more training books
On the horizon: American Psycho!

[TrickyNicky]

Now: The Winter King by Bernard Cromwell

I finished Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman last week. Great writer.

[DCBooks]

On the horizon: American Psycho!


Brett Easton Ellis is always fun.

I just finished King's new one, Cell. See the King thread for a short review. Before that I read Anansi Boys by Gaiman, which was quite good. It didn't have the high points of gristle found in some of his other stuff, but the story felt more complete and tighter than his other stuff as well.

[DCBooks]

Now: The Winter King by Bernard Cromwell

I finished Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman last week. Great writer.

That's hilarious that you posted Anansi Boys while I was writing about it. Reps.

[Doktor Sharpness]

Brett Easton Ellis is always fun.

I just finished King's new one, Cell. See the King thread for a short review. Before that I read Anansi Boys by Gaiman, which was quite good. It didn't have the high points of gristle found in some of his other stuff, but the story felt more complete and tighter than his other stuff as well.

How's the novel of Rules of Attraction?

I found Bateman much more charismatic and almost a sympathetic character than they pulled off in the film, but at the same time was a little nauseated at some of the things he did in the book. It really is a sort of "Transgressive Art" deal with that one. Still fucking wild, and definitely achieved the goal of having you cheer for him to kill some folks who were just filth, but they steared toward him killing relative innocents instead, likely for impact.

I'm still not convinced the murders actually happened, but maybe that's because I viewed the movie as pushing the point that it was all in his head.

[DCBooks]

How's the novel of Rules of Attraction?

I found Bateman much more charismatic and almost a sympathetic character than they pulled off in the film, but at the same time was a little nauseated at some of the things he did in the book. It really is a sort of "Transgressive Art" deal with that one. Still fucking wild, and definitely achieved the goal of having you cheer for him to kill some folks who were just filth, but they steared toward him killing relative innocents instead, likely for impact.

I'm still not convinced the murders actually happened, but maybe that's because I viewed the movie as pushing the point that it was all in his head.

In the book, he flashes back on so many indescretions with women in college, that I really didn't doubt his view of reality. Still his condo must have stank. In the movie, his fantasies are a bit more ambiguous, and at the end with the doodling, you are left to wonder about most of what you've seen. I liked it that way.

Rules is farther from the book, and except for a nice interlude with Patrick visiting his brother, I didn't really get much out of it. Each chapter only vaguely links to the previous, and it might be more interesting on a re-read.

[Fighting_Irish1]

Now: The Winter King by Bernard Cromwell

I finished Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman last week. Great writer.

I envy you starting the warlord cronicals your in for a treat fucking ace trilogy would recomend it highly to anybody

[Dewey's Diva]

I am reading New Frontiers in Public Library Research. I don't recommend it, especially if you are operating heavy machinery.

[Doktor Sharpness]

In the book, he flashes back on so many indescretions with women in college, that I really didn't doubt his view of reality. Still his condo must have stank. In the movie, his fantasies are a bit more ambiguous, and at the end with the doodling, you are left to wonder about most of what you've seen. I liked it that way.

Rules is farther from the book, and except for a nice interlude with Patrick visiting his brother, I didn't really get much out of it. Each chapter only vaguely links to the previous, and it might be more interesting on a re-read.

Yeah, I was thinking about that as well (his stuff about killing the girl in college), but it seemed to happen later in the book, when he was getting progressively less lucid. Also, at one point he recounts "raping a girl with a can of hairspray" which he then has a short conversation with at dinner. He notes her giving him a dirty look, but I was like "Ummm..." Also, he has those couple of chapters that end with him running screaming through stores and up the street, past people he knows. I was wondering if some of it was supposed to be drug induced, especially when he says things like "which doesn't really matter, since I'm just dreaming all this anyway..." and things like that.

Very interesting, either way.

[ventrue]

I just got finished with:

Tom Clacy's Netforce "The Archimedes Effect" - by Steve Perry and Larry Segriff

"Midnight Voices" - by John Saul

"A Million Little Pieces" - by Jamed Frey

Star Wars "Outbound Flight" - by Timothy Zahn

"A Million Little Pieces" was pretty good. It told about Frey's drug addiction to alochol, crystal meth, coke and various other drugs. He detailed his struggles through rehab. Some of the things he went through were pretty hardcore and disturbing. I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars.

The other books are just filler, until I can get my new books in the mail.

[Z A C H E R]

Stephen King's Rose Madder, which is a really really really good book, that puts you in the mind of a woman who has been abused for 14 years, and even in teh mind of the abuser.



also to teh Dark Tower fans, I love those books too.

ROLAND IS TEH MAN!

[mpt0069]

I just finished "Pulp" by Charles Bukowski. It's a takeoff on the hard boiled detective genre but also served as an allegory for death (Bukowski finished it a few months before he died). Snappy dialogue and some intersting situations. Right now, I'm back to reading #7 in the Garrett P.I. series.

[DeltaSigChi4]

I'm reading A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, Winning Modern Wars by GEN Wesley Clark and (still) A People's History of the Unites States by Howard Zinn.

E

[Alfuh]

I'm currently reading: Athletic Body in Balance by Gray Cook
and just finished: Core Performance by Mark .. forget the last name atm

Next is: Periodization: Theory and Methodology of Strength Training by Tudor Bompa
Followed by: Science and Practice of Strength Training by Zatsiorsky

Mmmm books

[Cheney]

Just finished re-reading Fahrenheit 451 and Animal Farm, reading Hard Times right now, and will then be moving on to 1984 and Slaughterhouse Five.

[Lord Prawn]

I just finished Dan Brown's Deception Point. Pretty good, if you take it for what it is.

Currently I am reading: The Prudent Investor's Guide To Hedge Funds, by James P. Owen, and 'Se Deg Ikke Tilbake' by Karin Fossum. I like the Hedge Fund one.

[XiAoYuFOREVER]

currently reading NASM(sport medicine).

[Alfuh]

currently reading NASM(sport medicine).

Going for the cert I assume?

I was going to get that one, but found out I could get the ACE cert for $200 less than the barebones NASM package and most gyms don't care which you have as long as you have one. That said, the NASM does seem better.

[mpt0069]

I'm going back and reading through the Phillip Marlowe series (as told by the incomparable Raymond Chandler) again. Close to finishing "The Big Sleep" and will be ready to tackle "Farewell, My Lovely" here in the next day or so.

[XiAoYuFOREVER]

Going for the cert I assume?

I was going to get that one, but found out I could get the ACE cert for $200 less than the barebones NASM package and most gyms don't care which you have as long as you have one. That said, the NASM does seem better.

certified personal trainer > liquor store owner

[Bird]

A SCANNER DARKLY
i already read it, phillip k dick is one of my fav authors,but i saw the previews for the film version and i started it again.

[Malibu]

THEN: The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay

NOW: Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry

NEXT: Re-reading John Steinbeck's East of Eden

[Skean]

A Cop's Life. Some really interesting stories from this cop in Las Vegas with over 30 years on the job.

[Cheney]

Crutch is from Vegas. I will have to see if he has read this or not.

[DeltaSigChi4]

THEN: A Clockwork Orange (Anthony Burgess)

NOW: A People's History of the United States (Howard Zinn), Winning Modern Wars (GEN Wesley Clark), Mansfield Park (Jan Austen)

NEXT: 1984 (George Orwell)

E

[IX Equilibrium]

Just finished "Lie Down With Lions" by Ken Follett

[Chan Ho Nam]

The Zapatista Reader - compilation of various writers (edited and with intro by Tom Hayden).

[Z A C H E R]

Rose Madder-Stephen King

[J. Walter Weatherman]

I just read Unredeemed Captive by John Demos.

What a piece of pig shit that was.

[my sex is artsy]

TS Eliot's "The Wasteland".

[DCBooks]

TS Eliot's "The Wasteland".

Good luck, I had to read that in highschool and again in college. Not as bad as Joyce, but close.

I just plowed through Rosemary's Baby and Son of Rosemary by Ira Levin. I love Boys from Brazil, and Rosemary's Baby was good, but the sequel was weak. He's lost it. I'm also taking breaks from fiction and reading Machiavelli's The Prince on the can.

[KD=KO]

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I love it so far.

[adamn]

Introduction to Psychology.

Written by Satan..

[Malibu]

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I love it so far.


that is a fucking great book. enjoy.

I just finished "Kaffir Boy", by Mark Mathalbane.

I'm starting "Monster: Autobiography of an LA Gang Member", by Sanyika Shakur, aka Monster kody Scott.

[Skean]

The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City. It's a really interesting book so far.

[DeltaSigChi4]

I just plowed through Rosemary's Baby and Son of Rosemary by Ira Levin.

Like the horror film?? I never knew it was a book. It was an outstanding film though. My favorite horror genre piece.

E

[J. Walter Weatherman]

I just plowed through Rosemary's Baby and Son of Rosemary


You sick bastard

[DAZEDJELLYLEGS]

Dean Koontz The Face. Very good from the always immaginative Koontz.

Stephen King is recognised as the king of horror but his stories are weak alot of the time. He just writes weak stories beaufitully elevating the material. Koontz I find an easier read but without Kings descriptive writing slightly less scary. His stroies are better than Kings though.

Speaking of King I read 'The Girl who loved Tom Gordon' on a plane a little while ago. Very good and up there with his highly underrated Geralds Game. Come to think of it King is best when he doesnt actually have much storyline like in those two.

[Z A C H E R]

Dean Koontz The Face. Very good from the always immaginative Koontz.

Stephen King is recognised as the king of horror but his stories are weak alot of the time. He just writes weak stories beaufitully elevating the material. Koontz I find an easier read but without Kings descriptive writing slightly less scary. His stroies are better than Kings though.

Speaking of King I read 'The Girl who loved Tom Gordon' on a plane a little while ago. Very good and up there with his highly underrated Geralds Game. Come to think of it King is best when he doesnt actually have much storyline like in those two.


Kontz better then king?


Now frigging way. The Stand, and It are epic novels that touch upon so many themes, and brings out so many emotions that Kootnz could never touch with shitty ass novels such as Phantoms. Stephen King has wrote some books that arn't as exciting as others, but the ones that are great, excell anything, anyone in the horror genre has ever written.

Clive Barker is also close to Kings level.

I also like Anne Rice, mainly for her historical fiction she adds to her novels rather then her supernatural cast of charachters.



But by far the best series ever written in the history of literature is Frank Herbert's Dune Series.

[the chairman211]

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions

[Chan Ho Nam]

The Mexico Reader: History, Culture, Politics.

I have a stupid 12 page essay that was due a couple days ago and it looks like I'm gonna need to find some more sources tommorow. :(

[Zeffryn]

Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought

Pascal Boyer

It's an excellent book. Wonderful if you're into theological philosophy.

[Alfuh]

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions

That sounds cool. I think I've heard of it before. Let us know what you think about it when you're done.

[IX Equilibrium]

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I love it so far.

Follett's the man.

I am now reading "The Key to Rebecca" by him.

I just started it. It takes place in Egypt during WWII.

[PickleDick]

just ordered and got the first four Chopper books.


Im epecting greatness, if i wasn't so drunk right now i would start to read them.

[Malibu]

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions


that book is a winner. really easy read too. I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts when you finish.

I'm reading Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry right now. I'm about 350 pages in (its about 850), and I daresay it may be one of my favorite books I've ever read. Hopefully the story stays good for the next 500 pages.

[Malibu]

just ordered and got the first four Chopper books.


Im epecting greatness, if i wasn't so drunk right now i would start to read them.


I read the first one, and if you liked the movie you will absolutely love the book.

[( o Y o )]

I have currently got three on the go.

1. Map of Bones, by James Rollins
2. (I think the title is) A Short History About Everything, by Billy Bryson
3. (No idea what the title is) by Graham Masterton. Masterton is simply the best horror writer so I rarely bother even looking at the covers of his new books...if there is something newly released I just buy it.

[Tauvington]

It's been about 4 or 5 weeks now, I think (the days all seem to blend together lately), that I finished reading David Westheimer's 1964 signature novel "Von Ryan's Express."

Yeah, I watched the Frank Sinatra film adaptation of this story on AMC back in high school (probably 10, 12 years ago), and the movie is unquestionably what initially sparked my interest in reading Westheimer's book. My dad, who's got an entire fucking library amassed in my parents' basement (the guy is a 62 year-old retired English professor with a fortune of literature at his disposal) loaned me his original paperback copy--a first printing from '64. This novel was 1,000X better than the motion picture.

Now, as much as I love "Old Blue Eyes," Sinatra didn't even REMOTELY capture the depth of this story's protagonist (I do realize that it was filmed 50 years ago, though, so it's probably not his fault). Ryan was a truly admirable, yet entirely despicable main character, and I never knew exactly what to make of him. In addition to that, I was SHOCKED at the edgy, and often blood-thirsty manner in which Westheimer articulated the violence in this tale (he was a POW in the second world war, and much of the novel's specifics were drawn from his personal experience).

I wasn't expecting this book to be as striking as it turned out to be, I guess.

[Tensei]

Albert Camus - A Happy Death
Found it at the used book store for $1. Wanted the Stranger but they didn't have it, plus they say this book is like a precursor to that one. Really short book, so far an easy read. Central theme is "Is it possible to die a happy death?" I'll see.

[natecrime]

Morita - Made in Japan, a book about Son'y's president and the differences and difficulties in business in Japan and America.

[Crax]

State of Fear by Michael Crichton

This book was great. I can't think of another book I have read recently that I liked as much as this one. He did TONS of research for this book and while it is fiction, he cites resources for many things his characters are saying and uses legitimate graphs as well. I think it would be well worth it for anyone to read just for entertainment and the story. Anyone who enjoys geography and earth sciences would be interested as well

[mpt0069]

The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte

This book is about an art restorer that finds a hidden inscription in a 1500s Flemish painting called "The Game of Chess" that suggested one of the people in the painting was murdered. So the art restorer goes to solve the mystery of who killed who in the painting with the help of an art historian, an antiques dealer, and a prodigy chess player. Someone gets wind of what she's doing and people around her start getting killed.

This book sounds better than it is. I was pumped to read because I loved the idea but this book is VERY slow. But it's almost as if that was what the intention was. Like a game of chess. Slow and methodical with the occasional shock. There's a lot of chess explantion in the book as well since they were deciphering the game that was being played in the painting. Hopefully it picks up in the last fifty pages.

[Z A C H E R]

TommyKNockers, stephen King

[Mad Processor]

I'm currently reading "The Antarktos Cycle", a lot of various short stories. Working on the actual "At the mountains of madness" by H.P Lovecraft.

[Gabriel]

The King Beyond the Gate by David Gemmell

[Alfuh]

Hopefully finishing Gray Cook's "Atheltic Body in Balance" this afternoon then I can start on Zatsiorsky's "Science and Practice of Strength Training." Then I plan on revisiting Martin Rooney's "Training for Warriors"

[chuck]

Now: Troubled sleep by Sartre
Next: back to finish Joyce's masterpiece Ulysses

[DeltaSigChi4]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0451526295.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Then:
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Now:
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
1984 by George Orwell

Next:
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

- MM

[chuck]

just ordered and got the first four Chopper books.


Im epecting greatness, if i wasn't so drunk right now i would start to read them.

are we talking chopper as in the melbourne nutcase?
celebrating a guy like that is moronic. like thinking lenny McClean is a hero.

[Fighting_Irish1]

Last Read - Eye of the world - Robert Jordan (Wheel of time book 1) My brother give it to me recomending it highly I must say it was a bit shit

Currently Reading - The Pale Horseman - Bernard Cornwell (Been waiting ages for it to come out jst got it yesterday am 3/4 the way through it, cracking read)

Next book - Lord of the North - Bernard Cornwell (Why stop a good thing?)

[Z A C H E R]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0451526295.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Then:
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Now:
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
1984 by George Orwell

Next:
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

- MM

wasn't BBM a novela?

[Fighting_Irish1]

wasn't BBM a novela?

For this post you deservie to die of cancer, of the prostate.

Last Book - The Pale Horseman - Bernard Cornwell (marevelous read, read it in 48 hours)

Next Book - Lords of the North (Getting it today can't f'in wait!)

[Snacks]

Morita - Made in Japan, a book about Son'y's president and the differences and difficulties in business in Japan and America.


I was thinking Pat Morita. You know, Miyagi sensei?

[The Kraken]

I'm currently reading "The Antarktos Cycle", a lot of various short stories. Working on the actual "At the mountains of madness" by H.P Lovecraft.
Oh, nice! You should also read Edgar Alan Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym". "Mountains" was written as more or less a sequel to this, though it's not really necessary to read them both.

I'm currenlty reading "Intelligent Thought (Science Versus The Intellegent Design Movement)". It's got some great contributors: Richard Dawkins (famous for "The Selfish Gene", Daniel C. Dennett (famous for "Consciousness Explained", Lisa Randall (famous for being a totally hot physicist! - well, past her prime now. Damned smart, too.), Tim D. White (Co-discoverer of "Lucy"), Leonard Susskind (famous maverick in the field of string theory), Steven Pinker (famous for "The Blank Slate")...

[Crutch]

I just re-read the Da Vinci Code since I plan on seeing it in a few days

[Doctor]

killing yourself to live - chuck klosterman

[Fighting_Irish1]

Last Book - Lords of the North

Next Book - have'tn decided maybe Book 2 of the Wheel of time

[TrickyNicky]

Currently reading: Day by Day Armageddon by J. L. Bourne. Very interesting zombie novel about a Naval airman who survives the Zombocalypse and tells the story through entries in his journal. The writing is very bare bones, meaning it employs very little literary devices that are crammed into author's heads in their pro writing courses. It's refreshing and fun. Read half of it before sleeping last night because I couldn't put it down. Will probably finish it today while pretending to work.

[SnjoNegri]

Napoleon & Wellington- Andrew Roberts

[Tapout2GJJ]

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

[Bird]

Horny Biker Slut Comix, issue 3-4

[Skean]

NYPD: Stories of Survival From the World's Toughest Beat

[Dewey's Diva]

Positive Discipline for Preschoolers

Jacob is the devil!

[DeltaSigChi4]

wasn't BBM a novela?

Short story.

E

[DeltaSigChi4]

Just finished:

http://images.bestwebbuys.com/muze/books/34/0451524934.jpg

http://images.bestwebbuys.com/muze/books/79/0826317979.jpg

http://www.wildaboutmovies.com/images/BrokebackMountainBook.jpg

Currently:
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Pentagon Papers edited by George C. Herring

Next up: SlaughterHouse- Five by Kurt Vonnegut

E

[DCBooks]

The Ninth Configuration by Willaim Peter Blatty.

Currently reading the Indian Killer.

[pants]

Tis by Frank McCourt

[Kilroy]

Jonas Gardell - Jenny

David Batra - Vän av Ornding (friend of order)

[Z A C H E R]

Stephen King's Misery

[DeltaSigChi4]

Tis by Frank McCourt

Did you read Angela's Ashes first?

E

[mpt0069]

Seville Communion by Arturo Perez-Reverte. Then it's off to the world of Dashiell Hammett.

[the chairman211]

i recently finished Thank You for Smoking (2nd Buckley book)
and Fever Pitch (my 5th Hornby book).

once i get a paycheck i'm thinking of LBJ: Master of the Senate

[the chairman211]

that book is a winner. really easy read too. I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts when you finish.

I'm reading Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry right now. I'm about 350 pages in (its about 850), and I daresay it may be one of my favorite books I've ever read. Hopefully the story stays good for the next 500 pages.
i missed this, but i enjoyed the book immensely. highly enjoyable, strictly a pleasure read really.

[the chairman211]

killing yourself to live - chuck klosterman
read this as well; for whatever reasons i enjoyed the first half much more than the second. i found klosterman rather self-involved and pretentious at times (forgive me, i read it several months ago so my precise thoughts have fallen by the wayside). i was 50/50 on this specific book, there were enjoyable moments so i might give Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs a shot yet.

[TrickyNicky]

I've been on a zombie kick lately. I finished Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne, which is a chronological novel about a naval pilot surviving the zombocalypse one journal entry at a time. It is very barebones, with absolutely no prose or other literary elements, which only helps to give it a crisp military feel to it. I recommend it if you are interested in the subject.

Currently I'm reading the Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. It's a very tongue-in-cheek survival textbook on how to identify, take-out, and survive a zombie infestation. So far it is informative and actually pretty well done.

Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack

1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

[mpt0069]

Thaks for the recommendation, Nicky. I'm pretty intrigued by the concept as it's written by a real life naval officer and all. I did read a review or three that state the book leaves off on a cliffhanger. Is that correct?

[derubermensch]

Martin Heidegger: Being and Time

[serenityDEVINE7]

I'm reading this Al Franken book my grandma recommended me called "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them." It's for a project.

[the chairman211]

I've been on a zombie kick lately. I finished Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne, which is a chronological novel about a naval pilot surviving the zombocalypse one journal entry at a time. It is very barebones, with absolutely no prose or other literary elements, which only helps to give it a crisp military feel to it. I recommend it if you are interested in the subject.

Currently I'm reading the Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. It's a very tongue-in-cheek survival textbook on how to identify, take-out, and survive a zombie infestation. So far it is informative and actually pretty well done.

Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack

1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don?t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.
couple friends of mine read this a full two years ago or so. i remember that prisons were the ideal hiding spot b/c they are already fortified, and i think it said get out of the city. my friend is on a zombie posting board and everything

[Bishop]

couple friends of mine read this a full two years ago or so. i remember that prisons were the ideal hiding spot b/c they are already fortified, and i think it said get out of the city. my friend is on a zombie posting board and everything
If you've read "the Walking Dead", you'd know for a fact that prisons are a good spot. You just need a big black man to clear out the gymnasium

[Kilroy]

I'm reading this Al Franken book my grandma recommended me called "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them." It's for a project.

That book is awsome though... :)

[TrickyNicky]

Thaks for the recommendation, Nicky. I'm pretty intrigued by the concept as it's written by a real life naval officer and all. I did read a review or three that state the book leaves off on a cliffhanger. Is that correct? Yes, it definitely ends on a cliffhanger. Since the journal written after events happen, things change very quickly in short amounts of writing. I don't want to give anything away, but its worth paying for IMO.

[Marshal G.K. Zhukov]

Imperial Hubris by oh i dont know its in my bathroom, lolz. If you'd really like to understand the political and idealogical motvation of bin Laden and al-Queda or if you are generally interested in the Middle East and Arab perceptions of the US, terrorism etc. it has my highest recommendation.

[mpt0069]

Yes, it definitely ends on a cliffhanger. Since the journal written after events happen, things change very quickly in short amounts of writing. I don't want to give anything away, but its worth paying for IMO.


Cool, thanks. I just ordered it.

[Malibu]

Reading Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" right now. Not bad so far.

I'm reading Norman Mailer's "The Executioner's Song" next.

[Malibu]

Next up: SlaughterHouse- Five by Kurt Vonnegut

E

I found Vonnegut's writing style pretty fun and refreshing. The book itself was not quite as good as I expected though.

[Malibu]

i missed this, but i enjoyed the book immensely. highly enjoyable, strictly a pleasure read really.

After Lonesome Dove, I read the other three books in the series. None of them could hold a candle to Lonesome Dove, but the last one, Streets of Laredo, and the second one in the series, Comanche Moon, were pretty enjoyable on a strictly entertainment basis.

[ventrue]

"Sunstorm" - Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter - mildly entertaining
Star Wars Legacy of the Force "Betrayal" - Aaron Allston - Average Star Wars book

[Skean]

"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria" by Beverly Tatum

[DeltaSigChi4]

I'm reading this Al Franken book my grandma recommended me called "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them." It's for a project.

Al Franken supports the troops.

E

[Skick]

http://www.sleazeroxx.com/books/scartissue.jpg
Just borrowed it from a friend. Probably going to open it up in a bit.

[Z A C H E R]

Stephen Kings It

[tak]

i'm just finishing up "american psycho" by bret easton ellis. i'd been wanting to see the movie for a while and i finally did recently. after finding out it was based on a novel i decided to read it. as much as i liked the movie, the book is much much better. it's seriously one of the best books i've read in a long time. patrick bateman's insanity constantly switches from being extremely disturbing (nailing a girl to the floor, cutting her tongue out, spraying her with mace, and fucking her mouth until he comes) to downright hilarious (stealing a urinal cake from a restaurant, covering it with chocolate, putting it in a godiva box, then tricking his girlfriend into eating it).

before that i read moneyball, which i had been meaning to read for a very long time. i would deem that a "must-read" for any baseball fan. it really shows you how stupid the "convetional wisdom" is in baseball.

next up, unless i find something new that i'm really interested in, i'll probably re-read "american tabloid" and "the cold six thousand" by james ellroy in anticipation for the release of the final novel in that trilogy that should be out some time next year.

[Grr]

i hope they serve beer in hell, by tucker max. hilarious if you enjoy getting drunk and making an ass of yourself and others.

[natecrime]

Tucker Max is a fucking legend.

[Malibu]

Reading Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" right now. Not bad so far.

I'm reading Norman Mailer's "The Executioner's Song" next.

I lied.

I finished Hemingway (tedious and long-winded, just couldn't really get into it), and then read Mario Puzo's "The Godfather". Excellent book. Really enjoyed it.

NOW I'm going to start Mailer's "The Executioner's Song"

[Grr]

tucker max is fucking funny. i highly suggest that book to any male. ladies might not find it as funny.

[Ricco]

The lincoln lawyer

[Alfuh]

I recently read Dave Tate's "Under the Bar" and once I get this exam out of the way I am going to FINALLY start on Zatsiorsky's "Science and Practice of Strength Training"

then go back and reread some of my other training books and if I get the itch for it, I'll reread one of my Palahniuk books.

PS reading on the beach is pwn

[natecrime]

www.tuckermax.com also, great stories up in there.

[Grr]

sushi pants - amazing story

[natecrime]

The one with all the legal issues with that Blonde girl is brilliant. Bunny boiling bitch.

[DeltaSigChi4]

Finished:
http://webcontent.harpercollins.com/images/large/0060528427.jpg

http://www.bayarea.net/~kins/AboutMe/Cranbrook/GIFs/PentagonPapers_bookcover.jpg
(Not this edition, but I couldn't find an image of the one I studied)

http://www.beingtheremag.com/images/0504/slaughterhouse-5-book.jpg

Currently:
Republic of Fear - The Politics of Modern Iraq (Kanan Makiya)

Next:
No idea.

I found Vonnegut's writing style pretty fun and refreshing. The book itself was not quite as good as I expected though.

It's the first work of his I read, so I found it very engaging. I didn't put it down in the span of a few days and just consumed it whenever I had a few minutes of spare time. Less than three (3) days to finish it; now I have to find some more of his work somewhere on this camp.

[chuck]

the adventures of augie march by saul bellow
swann's way by proust
dog eat dog by edward bunker

[kcb]

No-Limit Hold 'Em: Theory and Practice

[DCBooks]

No-Limit Hold 'Em: Theory and Practice

I just breezed through the Poker Afficianado's handbook. Currently plodding through The Serial Killer's Club.

[kcb]

I just breezed through the Poker Afficianado's handbook. Currently plodding through The Serial Killer's Club.

You a poker player?

[DCBooks]

You a poker player?

Rachel and I have spent a few hours on Yahoo's hold-em, but we usually just don't have the time. The book had distilled tips and stories from a lot of other sources which was cool, but it was very light reading.

[kcb]

Rachel and I have spent a few hours on Yahoo's hold-em, but we usually just don't have the time. The book had distilled tips and stories from a lot of other sources which was cool, but it was very light reading.

The book I'm reading now delves into poker theory for hold 'em, which involves lots of mathematics. I'm not a very mathemtical person, so I have to reread some sections twice, but all in all, it's a very helpful and informative book.

[Slugworth]

The last book I read (mandatory for school) was 'Reservation Blues'. 4/10

[DataLifePlus]

Last books I read: Geek Love by Katherine Dunn (awesome fucking book), Choke by Palahniuk, High Fidelity by Hornby, Hot Water Music by Bukowski, and Welcome to the Monkey House by Vonnegut.

Currently reading: Guns, Germs, and Steel and Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Treasury.

What I'll read next: Probably more Vonnegut and some Heinlein.

[DeltaSigChi4]

Finished:

http://www.audioeditions.com/covers/E4P722s.jpg

Currently:
Republic of Fear - The Politics of Modern Iraq (Kanan Makiya)

Next:
No idea.

E

[natecrime]

Just finished: Howard Hughes, Richard Baranson biographies.

Currently: Chinese for beginners, What is Opus Dei?

Next: History of secret teachings of all ages.

[Allatura]

1776 by David McCullough.

I love the American Revolution, and all the politics that go with it. Everyone was a badass.

[DaPun]

"The Ambiguity of Alexander the Great"

[Mia]

Runaway Jury
-John Grisham

[DeltaSigChi4]

Finished:

http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/30/130630.jpg
The Kurt Vonnegut short story, not the film.

Currently:
Republic of Fear - The Politics of Modern Iraq (Kanan Makiya)

Next:
No idea.

E

[UTT]

"Gates of Fire"

fucking great

[suburbanshaolin]

Just finished reading the Hunter's Blades Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. A really good read if your into fantasy. Drizzt Rules!!!

[chuck]

dog eat dog by edward bunker
the adventures of augie march by saul bellow

proust's swann's way is next

[Malibu]

1776 by David McCullough.

I love the American Revolution, and all the politics that go with it. Everyone was a badass.

All of McCullough's stuff is good. My dad read 1776 and loved it. I need to get my hands on that book soon.

[Malibu]

"Gates of Fire"

fucking great


I'll rep to that. One of my favorite books.

[Z A C H E R]

About to finish Stephen Kings Cujo, only about 17 books left of his i need to re read and I am done.

[Optimus Van Optimum]

Administering a Windows 2003 Server or some shit like that. Its the book to upgrade my windows 2000 MCSA and MCSE to 2003.

[Mad Processor]

Just finished "Burning Bright", one of the older Shadowrun novels. Good book if you like Shadowrun.

[Tapout2GJJ]

Im off to Borders- anyone have any reccomendations for a good read?

[UTT]

Im off to Borders- anyone have any reccomendations for a good read?
Gates of Fire. I know you'll love it. ITs about the 300 Spartans. X read it and loved it.

[TrickyNicky]

What types of books do you like?

[UTT]

What types of books do you like?
he mostly prefers Dr Seuss or Goosebumps.

[TrickyNicky]

Well can you blame him? One Fish, Two Fish and Say Cheese and Die are classics...

[UTT]

Well can you blame him? One Fish, Two Fish and Say Cheese and Die are classics...
reps!!!:p too bad mine are worth nothing!!! :(

[Severed Synapse]

2001: A Space Odyssey

As the end drew near it was a mind boggling read .

I loved it!

[Tauvington]

I'm cheating here with this one, because it was probably 30 or 35 books ago for me. Still, I'd very much like to give it a plug in this thread.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7451/1902593642lr5.jpg

"BAD" is the most incredible book I've ever experienced. There's never been another story that's captivated my interest and attention like this did. My older brother loaned me his copy a while back, and I spent the entire weekend reading it from cover to cover.

James Carr was the co-founder and leader of the most viscious prison gang (the Wolf Pack) in the entire state of California during the race riots of the 50's and 60's. There are passages of violence (rapes, murders, and every other type of brutality you could possibly think of) in this book so intense and unsettling that they'll remain with you for years after you've read it. Carr is a detestable, yet oddly compelling and likeable character. His story is fascinating.

[Malibu]

I'm cheating here with this one, because it was probably 30 or 35 books ago for me. Still, I'd very much like to give it a plug in this thread.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7451/1902593642lr5.jpg

"BAD" is the most incredible book I've ever experienced. There's never been another story that's captivated my interest and attention like this did. My older brother loaned me his copy a while back, and I spent the entire weekend reading it from cover to cover.

James Carr was the co-founder and leader of the most viscious prison gang (the Wolf Pack) in the entire state of California during the race riots of the 50's and 60's. There are passages of violence (rapes, murders, and every other type of brutality you could possibly think of) in this book so intense and unsettling that they'll remain with you for years after you've read it. Carr is a detestable, yet oddly compelling and likeable character. His story is fascinating.


Thanks Tauv. I will definitely check this out.

[Slugworth]

About to finish Stephen Kings Cujo, only about 17 books left of his i need to re read and I am done.
I could just imagine you tweaked out to the verge of over dosing and attempting to read. You need to go to rehab you druggie.

[Cheney]

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

[jiddu]

Economics for dummies

[Lord Prawn]

Reading 'Getting Things Done' by David Allen, hoping it will help me get more effective in the office so that I can go home earlier and wank or something. It's actually very good, so I'd like to recommend it to other busy folks here.

[Necrocide]

I read Weaveworld by Clive Barker because I'm waiting on the last two Dean Koontz hardbacks to move to paperback....and it's taking FOREVER. This is the third Clive Barker book I've read, and it's going to be the last. I'm all for odd stuff, but that cat is just bizarre. I may pick up some of C.S. Lewis' non-fiction stuff to hold me over for a little while longer until Forever Odd hits paperback.

[jiddu]

fact - I've never read a whole book from start to finish untill I was like 20

fact #2 - I've never read a non-fiction in my whole life

[Zeffryn]

Religion Explained and the Celestine Prophecy.

[T-Bag]

the tipping point. its all aboot trends and addictive social tendencies and the people that make them happen. Also im reading "the singularity is near" by ray kurzweil. its pretty heavy but it makes me stoked aboot the near future

[fightguy]

I'm reading Dave Barry's new book "Money Secrets". Not his funniest book, but it's still pretty good

[TrickyNicky]

Reading Stephen King's Cell. So far, the book is a fun romp.

[Sir Gibbs]

I just finished reading fingerprints of the gods by Graham Hancock and am now reading Jarhead by Anthony Swofford.

[VMA]

I read some of my sister's novel cant remember which.. i'll prob be reading anne rice one of these days

[Doktor Sharpness]

I started reading The DaVinci Code, and stopped. Overrated. Whenever you start a novel with a big pretentious blurb about how accurate and researched your book is, you should try not fucking up in the first four pages. Even letting all that aside, it was a fairly boring read as far as fiction goes.

My mother-in-law brought up a few boxes of my wife's books, so I'll be reading her glut of Dave Barry stuff and some of the King and Koontz stuff she had that I haven't read.

[chuck]

just finished a history of south america and still working on saul bellow.

[Mad Processor]

Finally started on the Wheel of Time series, reading the first book "Eye of the world" right now.

[TrickyNicky]

Finally started on the Wheel of Time series, reading the first book "Eye of the world" right now.
Are you a fantasy buff? I'm not flaming, just curious because I know of some that are top-shelf.

[fightguy]

I started reading The DaVinci Code, and stopped. Overrated. Whenever you start a novel with a big pretentious blurb about how accurate and researched your book is, you should try not fucking up in the first four pages. Even letting all that aside, it was a fairly boring read as far as fiction goes.

My mother-in-law brought up a few boxes of my wife's books, so I'll be reading her glut of Dave Barry stuff and some of the King and Koontz stuff she had that I haven't read.
<----the biggest Dave Barry fan in the world

Which Dave Barry books do you have to choose from?

[Skick]

Guns, Germs, and Steel

I've read about 40 pages and it has yet to pick up. So far it's consisted of 20 pages of the author tooting his own horn, speaking of his accomplishments and another 20 explaining what each section and chapter will be about.

[DeltaSigChi4]

Finished:

http://www.audiobooksonline.com/shopsite/media/0553502735.jpg


Currently:
Republic of Fear - The Politics of Modern Iraq (Kanan Makiya)

Next:
No idea.

E

[Doktor Sharpness]

<----the biggest Dave Barry fan in the world

Which Dave Barry books do you have to choose from?

Suzy says you can't be a bigger Dave Barry fan than a Miami native... She's been to seven of his seminars, four "Rock Bottom Remainders" concerts, and seen him every year at the Herald Hunt (I saw him there once).

All the following books are autographed by him:

Dave Barry is from Both Mars and Venus
Dave Barry is Not Making This Up
Dave Barry in Cyberspace
The World According to Dave Barry (which is apparently two books)

And a handful of others. That guy rules.

[West]

Just finished "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe"
Thought it was pretty good.
One day I'll finish all the chronicles of Narnia.

[Schadenfreude]

Finally started on the Wheel of Time series, reading the first book "Eye of the world" right now.


You've got a shitload of reading ahead of you. I've read the first 11 books, got the final one, but it'd been so long that I'd forgotten a good bit of the plot, characters, who's who, who's doing what, etc etc. I'm not sure I have it in me to go back and reacquaint myself with it just now.

That said, George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series pwns the crap out of the Wheel of Time, even as good as WOT is. Do yourself a favor and pick it up asap if you're even a casual fan of the genre. You won't regret it. TrickyNicky can back me up on this.


As for me, I just bought Steven Pressfield's latest two days ago, The Afghan Campaign......finished it earlier today. Outstanding, as all his work is. Chronicles the campaign of Alexander the Great in Afghanistan during his conquest through the eyes of a soldier. Great illustration and contrasting of the people and terrain there, and insight as to why we're having our current military troubles in the region. Nobody has ever conquered the Afghans. Highest recommendations for this one, as with all his books.

[fightguy]

Suzy says you can't be a bigger Dave Barry fan than a Miami native... She's been to seven of his seminars, four "Rock Bottom Remainders" concerts, and seen him every year at the Herald Hunt (I saw him there once).

All the following books are autographed by him:

Dave Barry is from Both Mars and Venus
Dave Barry is Not Making This Up
Dave Barry in Cyberspace
The World According to Dave Barry (which is apparently two books)

And a handful of others. That guy rules.
You tell Suzy something for me! I AM THE BIGGEST DAVE BARRY FAN EVER!

If I lived anywhere in close proximity to his I would routinely be staying the night at his house and he probably would have birthed our children. Seriously though, I'm going to give you some reps so will you give them to Suzy for me?

[fightguy]

Nevermind, I'm all out. Tell Suzy that it is the thought that counts

[Doktor Sharpness]

Nevermind, I'm all out. Tell Suzy that it is the thought that counts

I tell her that whenever she says she wants to spend some time together, and I take off for Vale Tudo.

I'm with her in spirit.

[Z A C H E R]

The Stand:Complete and Uncut Version

[Mad Processor]

Are you a fantasy buff? I'm not flaming, just curious because I know of some that are top-shelf.

Yeah I like fantasy stuff.

[Mad Processor]

Just got the "Bad Astronomer" book, have peaked into it, looks like fun! Am I the only one who often reads more than one book at the time? I often read one fantasy/fiction book and one science/history book at the time.

[Skean]

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis. Very interesting look into his crazy life and experiences. I'm only a few chapters in so far and I really like it. I would recommend it to and Red Hot Chili Peppers fan.

[Lord Prawn]

I'm still reading the book on personal effectiveness called "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. I've spent a long time reading it, and hope to get around to finishing it some day.

[chuck]

just finished waiting for the Barbarians by Coetzee. cant recommend it higher.

now i am just finishing One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest and again its fantastic.

[Malibu]

Finished "Rules of Attraction", by Brett Easton Ellis. Good, but not nearly as good as "American Psycho".

Starting "Lone Star Nation", by HW Brands. It is the story of the battle for Texas independence. I expect it to be a good read.

Next up: Going to read Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged". I've been meaning to check these out for a while. Any opinions on these two would be appreciated.

[chuck]

Next up: Going to read Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged". I've been meaning to check these out for a while. Any opinions on these two would be appreciated.

have been trying to get around to reading them myself. tell me how you find them

[DCBooks]

Finished "Rules of Attraction", by Brett Easton Ellis. Good, but not nearly as good as "American Psycho".

Starting "Lone Star Nation", by HW Brands. It is the story of the battle for Texas independence. I expect it to be a good read.

Next up: Going to read Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged". I've been meaning to check these out for a while. Any opinions on these two would be appreciated.


I read Atlas Shrugged a couple of times. As far as objectivism goes, I think it's too awkward a philosophy to apply to the real world, but Rand's fiction can really sell it. Quite a departure from Brett Ellis.

Just finished Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness. I really like his "we live on the crust of the world" concept, but with the exception of the Lurking Fear, his stuff comes across like documentaries of weird. I really need some characters to worry about before I can call it horror.

[CTY]

I just re-read Slaughter House Five, haven't read it since maybe 8th grade, its still really good.

[Oliver Klosov]

reading a book called "the Draft" it's about scouting and the nfl draft

[?berRick]

Fight Club was the last book I read, now I am reading The One Hundred Years of Solitude.

[chuck]

Fight Club was the last book I read, now I am reading The One Hundred Years of Solitude.

both good books. try marquez's love in the time of cholera too. thats awesome and his short stories called strange pilgrims

[?berRick]

I just re-read Slaughter House Five, haven't read it since maybe 8th grade, its still really good.

The main character really bothered me, he kept whining and bitching. It also made american soldiers in WW2 look bad, plus he kept raging on certain people, like that one guy just cause he was in shape.

[?berRick]

both good books. try marquez's love in the time of cholera too. thats awesome and his short stories called strange pilgrims

Chronicle of Death Foretold got me into Marquez's writing, I also plan on reading Love in the time of cholera and the autum of the patriarch.

[tak]

The main character really bothered me, he kept whining and bitching.
i guess the book and the forum have more than just the name in common. ZING!!

[?berRick]

i guess the book and the forum have more than just the name in common. ZING!!

*da da dum* *symbol crash*

[NutzOnUrFace]

I just read the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene. Great fucking book.

[DataLifePlus]

Next up: Going to read Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged". I've been meaning to check these out for a while. Any opinions on these two would be appreciated.

Those two are both on my next to read list as well. I'm a hardcore Anarcho-capitalist (or free-marketeer, as I like to say) and feel rather guilty for not having read them yet. I guess I'm a litte intimidated by their size.

[chuck]

I read a lot especially when I cant train.

Just finished
The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow
A book about the history of Turkey
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

Now I am on

The Fall by Albert Camus
Answered Prayers by Capote
China since 1911
Gravity's Rainbw by Thomas Pynchon

[kcb]

I'm reading Introducing Logic. I just started it, but it is as exciting as it sounds like it would be. I'm reading it as a prerequisite to a bunch of philosophy books that I'm going to get.

[chuck]

I'm reading Introducing Logic. I just started it, but it is as exciting as it sounds like it would be. I'm reading it as a prerequisite to a bunch of philosophy books that I'm going to get.

good on you man.

[kcb]

good on you man.

Why, thank you.

[TrickyNicky]

Currently reading:

Hey Rube by Hunter S. Thompson
Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

[Mighty Feez]

"Taras Bulba" by Nikolai Gogol was the last book I read.

[DCBooks]

Because Chuck asked. I just finished Nocture by Ed McBain. It's an 87th precinct novel. They read like rated R Law & Order episodes. I have a James Elroy(Black Dahlia, LA Confidential) short story collection next up, and I'm dabbling at Barker's Cabal when I don't feel like crime fiction.

At work I'm perusing Palahniuk's Haunted.

[ventrue]

"The Andromeda Strain" - Michael Crichton
"Congo" - Michael Crichton
"America" - Stephen Coonts
"Velocity" - Dean Koontz
"Spin" - Robert Charles Wilson
"Hunters of Dune" - Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

[ashrael]

Finished Stephen King's "Night Shift," a collection of short stories from the '70s including "Trucks", "Lawnmover Man", and "Children of the Corn".

I am current reading King's "Bag of Bones".

[Necrocide]

I just picked up a copy of Jose Canseco's biography, Juiced, for four bucks. Hardback, to boot.

[Kamuela]

"The Andromeda Strain" - Michael Crichton
"Congo" - Michael Crichton
"America" - Stephen Coonts
"Velocity" - Dean Koontz
"Spin" - Robert Charles Wilson
"Hunters of Dune" - Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Can't go wrong with Crichton. Definitely my favorite author, with my favorites being State of Fear and Jurassic Park

The book I'm currently reading is Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy, and I approve

[Fighting_Irish1]

Reading Book 4 of the Wheel of time - Shadow Rising

[DCBooks]

IMD/Ricco suggested Odd Thomas over in the King thread where they were discussing Dean Koontz. Finished it last night. Light hearted horror for the most part, but takes a dark turn later on. It ended in a way I want to read the sequel just to try and cheer myself up.

[Z A C H E R]

I am about to finsh reading 4 past midnight tonight.

[Z A C H E R]

Finished Stephen King's "Night Shift," a collection of short stories from the '70s including "Trucks", "Lawnmover Man", and "Children of the Corn".

I am current reading King's "Bag of Bones".

nightshift is great, and I think Bag of Bones was the first book written from an older more mature king.

[Necrocide]

IMD/Ricco suggested Odd Thomas over in the King thread where they were discussing Dean Koontz. Finished it last night. Light hearted horror for the most part, but takes a dark turn later on. It ended in a way I want to read the sequel just to try and cheer myself up.

Odd Thomas is great. Just a fantastic character, and Koontz manages to pull off the twist that so many authors and directors go for. Difference is, where you can see most of them coming a mile away, and it ends up having no impact, it hits you like a brick about two pages before the reveal in Odd Thomas..and like you said, it's just kind of puts a damper on you.

[Don]

Watch my back - Geoff Thompson

[chuck]

Arabian Nights and Days - Naguib Mahfouz - unbelievably good at the moment.

China since 1911 - interesting stuff

About to start White Noise by Don DeLillo (cant wait to read that) or Gravity Rainbow by Pychon.

[Spydermonkey]

Because Chuck asked. I just finished Nocture by Ed McBain. It's an 87th precinct novel. They read like rated R Law & Order episodes. I have a James Elroy(Black Dahlia, LA Confidential) short story collection next up, and I'm dabbling at Barker's Cabal when I don't feel like crime fiction.

At work I'm perusing Palahniuk's Haunted.
Fuckin shit right, Ed McBain is the shit, right up there among my faves like Loren Estleman, Robert Parker, and James Lee Burke.

[Spydermonkey]

For fun, Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston, true story about small pox and the anthrax attack, not as good as his other book Hot Zone
For school, Lament for a Nation by George Grant and Like Everybody Else, Only Different by Morton Weinfeld.

[DCBooks]

Forever Odd, sequel to Koontz Odd Thomas. Good read, not quite as dark as the first. I was bothered by the ret-con insertion of a close friend not mentioned in the original, but beyond that a good read and sequel.

[Malibu]

I'm cheating here with this one, because it was probably 30 or 35 books ago for me. Still, I'd very much like to give it a plug in this thread.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7451/1902593642lr5.jpg

"BAD" is the most incredible book I've ever experienced. There's never been another story that's captivated my interest and attention like this did. My older brother loaned me his copy a while back, and I spent the entire weekend reading it from cover to cover.

James Carr was the co-founder and leader of the most viscious prison gang (the Wolf Pack) in the entire state of California during the race riots of the 50's and 60's. There are passages of violence (rapes, murders, and every other type of brutality you could possibly think of) in this book so intense and unsettling that they'll remain with you for years after you've read it. Carr is a detestable, yet oddly compelling and likeable character. His story is fascinating.


Finished this a couple weeks ago. Great read. Not too long, but extremely entertaining.

Great autobiography of when Folsom and San Quentin were truly hardcore prisons. Crazy really.

EDIT: Tauv, post in here so I can rep you again for the recommendation.

[TrickyNicky]

Finished The Taking by Dean Koontz last night based off a recommendation by Necrocide. It was interesting and well written, but I thought it ended pretty abruptly. The reveal was pretty easy to spot, but was still decently planned. All in all, a good read.

[Malibu]

Finished "Rules of Attraction", by Brett Easton Ellis. Good, but not nearly as good as "American Psycho".

Starting "Lone Star Nation", by HW Brands. It is the story of the battle for Texas independence. I expect it to be a good read.

Next up: Going to read Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged". I've been meaning to check these out for a while. Any opinions on these two would be appreciated.

Finished "Atlas Shrugged" a couple days ago. Wow. CAn't recommend it enough.

Easily one of my favorite books (granted, I have a lot of favorites). Ayn Rand developed her own philosophy, "Objectivism", and both this book and "Fountainhead" are fictional platforms for her to express it. It makes for an increible read. Epic really. The characters are devleoped so that the reader will feel that they are either totally heroic, or completely despicable.

I'm actually going into a change of pace now and reading Bill Simmons' (ESPN's Sports Guy) "Now I can Die in Peace". I figure I will mow through it and then start "Fountainhead", which I have heard from many people is even better than "Atlas".

[Jerkface]

Gai-Jin - James Clavell

I'm about 1/4 of the way through this book but for people who know Clavell, that's still about 360 pages into it. It's the 5th book I've read by him, and so far is living up to expectations, although not quiiiiiiiite as good as some of the others. I read Shogun, then Tai Pan, the King Rat, then A Children's Story, now Gai-Jin.

Shogun and Tai Pan I would recommend to anyone. Two of the greatest books I've ever read. King Rat was pretty solid, but for some reason I didn't enjoy quite as much. A Children's Story was about 50 pages long in giant font, usually about one paragraph per page. Hardly worth calling a book, it was much more just like a short story. Decent, though if you're going to get it from the library, get something else too.

Gai-Jin is awesome so far, it's just a little more complicated than Tai Pan and Shogun. There are a lot of different characters with Japanese names, and Japanese alias', and about 7 different plots going on at any given time. If you can follow it though, it's pretty hard to put down.

[Kilroy]

This book about out new Prime Minister, my god that guy is a douche...

Fucking asshat...

[Optimus Van Optimum]

The MCSE section of Windows Server 2003 Upgrade....oh yeah...great reading

[Skick]

Recently finished 1984
Meh, I don't see what all the fuss about this book is.

[Tauvington]

Finished this a couple weeks ago. Great read. Not too long, but extremely entertaining.

Great autobiography of when Folsom and San Quentin were truly hardcore prisons. Crazy really.

EDIT: Tauv, post in here so I can rep you again for the recommendation.

Rep away, sir. :cool:

[Kilroy]

The MCSE section of Windows Server 2003 Upgrade....oh yeah...great reading

Im sorry, it just has to be done...

[Malibu]

Rep away, sir. :cool:

done and done.

[Malibu]

Im sorry, it just has to be done...


thanks, I was looking for that.

[CTY]

Gang of Chicago, great book, I read a good portion of it before, and am re-reading.

http://www.alchemyofbones.com/images/books/gangsofchicago.jpg

[Z A C H E R]

Stephen King's Nightmares and Dreamscapes.

[The Kraken]

Arabian Nights and Days - Naguib Mahfouz - unbelievably good at the moment.

China since 1911 - interesting stuff

About to start White Noise by Don DeLillo (cant wait to read that) or Gravity Rainbow by Pychon.
Nice choices. I read DeLillo's book Ratner's Star not long ago. I enjoyed it but wished it wasn't quite as self-indulgent as it turned out to be.

I'm about to begin Mark Danielewski's Only Revolutions. His book House of Leaves was one of the best things I've ever read. Difficult, but worth it.

[Necrocide]

Finished The Taking by Dean Koontz last night based off a recommendation by Necrocide. It was interesting and well written, but I thought it ended pretty abruptly. The reveal was pretty easy to spot, but was still decently planned. All in all, a good read.

Cool. Glad you enjoyed it. I agree that the end could have been a little less abrupt, but I enjoyed it. It's not his best work, but it's solid. I can't wait for Forever Odd to hit paperback at the end of the month.

[The Kraken]

Oh, forgot one (the one I'm reading NOW!) - The Plague by Camus.

[ashrael]

I just finished Stephen King's "Bag of Bones" and before that, "Night Shift", a collection of his short stories. I think I am going to read something by Crichton now.

[The Kraken]

I've seen a few people mention "Night Shift" - anybody read "Skeleton Crew"? I thought it was pretty good.

[chuck]

Oh, forgot one (the one I'm reading NOW!) - The Plague by Camus.

great book, great writer, have just read The Fall by Camus and am reading a short stories book called The Exile and the Kingdom. The Outsider/The Stranger is one of my favourite books.

also reading

The Shamans Coat by Anna Reid about the tribes of Siberia, very good so far.

Just about to start the Leo Africanus by Amin Maalouf

[The Kraken]

This is my first one from Camus, but I like it and I'm sure I'll read more from him. I'll have to add The Stranger to my list.

[Animal Squabbles(old)]

I just finished reading Bert Sugar's "Boxings 100 Greatest Fighters" Trinidad was nowhere to be seen and that is ridiculous. Right now Im reading Sun Tzu's "The Art of War".

[chuck]

Im reading Sun Tzu's "The Art of War".

its a interesting book especially the chapters on riling the enemy and planning

[my sex is artsy]

Reading both "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro and "The Trial" by Franz Kafka right now. Last book before that was "Remembering Babylon" by David Malouf.

[Animal Squabbles(old)]

its a interesting book especially the chapters on riling the enemy and planning


So far I read half of the book and that is only the introduction. Ive read lots of these samurai strategy books including "The Book of the FIve Rings". After the art of war IM gonna read "The Hagakure"

[chuck]

Reading both "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro and "The Trial" by Franz Kafka right now. Last book before that was "Remembering Babylon" by David Malouf.

The Trial is great.

i haven't read Remains of the Day but I read one Ishiguro book last year, the caricatures were set in Shanghai and it made me want to vomit. It actually made me angry it was so stereotypical. I wanted all the characters to die horribly. the rose-tinted Englishness of it all, like going back to Jane Austen. very typical of a foreigner living in upper middle class England, romanticising about the past.

I imagine Remains is probably better as the film was a decent story.

[chuck]

So far I read half of the book and that is only the introduction. Ive read lots of these samurai strategy books including "The Book of the FIve Rings". After the art of war IM gonna read "The Hagakure"

well, Sun Tzu was Chinese and samurais were Japanese. would be a good comparison of Chinese and Japanese thought.

[Necrocide]

I'm currently about halfway through "Juiced", Jose Canseco's biography. Thought provoking, it makes sense, and is unintentionally hilarious on more than one occasion.

[The Kraken]

Reading both "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro and "The Trial" by Franz Kafka right now. Last book before that was "Remembering Babylon" by David Malouf.
I agree that The Trial is a really good one. Also, if you haven't seen Orson Welles's movie The Trial, I recommend it. The sound is horrendous, but it's still enjoyable, and very very strange, of course.

[chuck]

just started White Noise by Don DeLillo. so far, very good.

[Snacks]

On the Genealogy of Morals: A Polemic - Written by Friedrich Nietzsche.

[John O'Brien]

http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0646313959&id=MCuM5KQifAEC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=thiaoouba+prophecy&sig=Glqq5ZFEddI97sCTi_gs8uOQjxs

Thiaoouba Prophecy. Read it before, great reading. Favourite book for sure.

[chuck]

put it on the book thread
http://www.bloodyknux.com/forum/showthread.php?t=759&page=17

hey I didnt do that...........hmmm (thinks maybe greater powers are at work here. must be careful)

[Necrocide]

I just finished reading Bert Sugar's "Boxings 100 Greatest Fighters" Trinidad was nowhere to be seen and that is ridiculous. Right now Im reading Sun Tzu's "The Art of War".

If we're considering all weight classes through all of boxing history, there's a good chance that Felix Trinidad doesn't make my top 100, either. And I'm sure Bert Sugar knows about a LOT more guys than I do.

Anyway, I just started on The Oldest Rookie, which is the autobiography of Jim Morris. He's the guy that Dennis Quaid played in Disney's "The Rookie". After just 100 pages, it's clear that all professional baseball players, no matter how unassuming and humble they appear to be, are lying jerks.

Jose Canseco probably told the truth about steroids and absolutely nothing else in his book. In The Oldest Rookie, Jim Morris talks about how he threw a baseball from BEHIND the left field fence to home plate...on the fly...and the distance marker on the left field fence was 285. Oh, and he was seven years old when this happened.

Jerks. All of them.

[chuck]

finished White Noise by Don DeLiilo one of the great novels of the last 25 years especially by an American.

Also finished the Shamans Cloak about the the tribes of Siberia. interestinf stuff though the pattern is similar to the Aborigines or American Indians with a slight ideological edge.

reading the World According to Garp. only 120 in so far but amusing and well written.

gotta pick up a few other books tmrw. Leo Africanus is one. forget the others.