TestMonkey
Member
Any of the oral history collections by Studs Terkel, The Good War and Hard Times especially.
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What are you reading? (June 2016)
- Thread starter Maklershed
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Any of the oral history collections by Studs Terkel, The Good War and Hard Times especially.
Servbot #42
Unconfirmed Member
I'm still reading that HP Lovecraft collection, i just finished The Nameless City. It's gonna take me awhile to read all of short stories and novels. In other news i bought the novelization of that Steven Soderbergh movie Solaris, it was on sale for 2 bucks so i don't really mind if it's crap.
Solaris has been on my wishlist for like 3 years, kinda weird that i have only bought it now
SpaceHorror
Member
Currently reading Old Man's War by John Scalzi.
Really enjoying it so far.
Really enjoying it so far.
I've recently read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and The Art of Living by Epictetus. Some of the best books I've ever read. Very insightful and a lot of the things they're saying are things I've been thinking about for a long time, or have been trying to apply in my life already. More people should read these books and I know a lot of people that could improve their life by applying some of the lessons that are to be learned from these books.
Wrapped up Gestapo Mars by Victor Gischler last night. It's good, unclean, fun and though it has some issues with pacing and story, I really enjoyed it. For the last few days I've been reading The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley and today I'll be starting The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund.
sparky2112
Member
There should be a 'Murakami for beginners' link in the OT every month.
I guarantee that this book won't make you sad:
Just started this audiobook per your recommendation here, even though it wasn't directly for me lol...enjoying it so far!
Mossybrew
Banned
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle IMO.
I started with "wind/pinball" which is his first two stores he wrote combine din one book and enjoyed it. I followed up with "hard boiled Wonderland and the end of the world" and enjoyed it as well.
I just returned from a 4 day family vacation/road trip. Started The Magicians on audio book during the trip, but only made it about a third of the way through. I am also around 40% of the way through Blood Song by Anthony Ryan.
Audible has a 2-for-1 sale on The Great Courses lecture series. I am debating getting a couple, but I am not sure what to pick.
Audible has a 2-for-1 sale on The Great Courses lecture series. I am debating getting a couple, but I am not sure what to pick.
Ive read quite a few, so if you list some I might be able to give you a rec. I don't have any credits atm, so I am not quite sure if every course is up for sale or just a selection
Well, you will have to remove the DRM and then convert it to a proper kindle format. I am pretty sure that removing DRM is illegal though (could be wrong)
Actually didn't see this, Infinite Jest has been on my to-read for awhile now. I'll see if I can't knock out Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino this weekend and I'll get a start on it.
I'd just avoid his bigger books (1Q84 and Wind Up Bird Chronicle) for the time being. They are quite long winded.
ThisGuy
Member
Mmm, I know it is with music, so I'm guessing the same with books. That's a shame. Thanks for the reply though.
It's a selection, but there are over 150 on sale.
I think I am mainly interested in the History courses, since the science stuff seems pretty basic given my background.
Here are the history courses on offer
America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era
Lost Worlds of South America
The Persian Empire
History's Greatest Voyages of Exploration
The Skeptic's Guide to American History
Turning Points in Modern History
Espionage and Covert Operations: A Global History
Living History: Experiencing Great Events of the Ancient and Medieval Worlds
World War II: A Military and Social History
The Vikings
Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations
The Industrial Revolution
The History of the Supreme Court
The World Was Never the Same: Events That Changed History
The African Experience: From 'Lucy' to Mandela
Alexander the Great and the Macedonian Empire
The Decisive Battles of World History
The Joy of Ancient History
World War I: The Great War
A History of Russia: From Peter the Great to Gorbachev
The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest
The History of Ancient Rome
Maya to Aztec: Ancient Mesoamerica Revealed
Foundations of Eastern Civilization
The Fall and Rise of China
A History of Eastern Europe
History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach
Big History: The Big Bang, Life on Earth, and the Rise of Humanity
The History of Ancient Egypt
Turning Points in American History
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts
Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Western World
Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon
If you want some more detailed info on any of the bold I'll try to provide some more info as to why I liked it
I wish I'd never read The Goblin Emperor. Only because I'd like to read it for the first time again. It's a great book. Seriously.
I haven't posted in one of these threads in a while. For some reason this year I've hardly been able to concentrate and actually finish many books at all. I've started a bunch and I can't get myself in the frame of mine to read. That said, I'm determined to finish:
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
It's really funny at parts (I'm not that far in though).
Read Star Wars: Bloodline by Claudia Gray.
I really liked this one. It gave us a look at the political side of a Star Wars universe while still retaining its Star Warsness, it basically avoided all the prequel stuff which also focused on the politics. 20 years have passed since The Empire fell and the New Republic was founded. The political landscape is drawn down the middle by two groups, The Populist who believe in freedom of each planet with little government control and the Centrist who believe in total government control like the Empire, but they swear it will be different this time. Leia is now a senator and a Populist and she is bored out of her mind. One day the senate is called in to investigate a gangster organization and Leia jumps at a chance for action, unfortunately a young, brash Centrist named Ransolm Casterfo forces his way into joining the investigation. This is Star Wars at its best, you get intrigue, you get action, you get mysticism, and you get budding friendships and betrayals. I really enjoyed this book and hope that there are many more of this quality in the rebooted Star Wars universe.
Reading Gears of War: The Slab by Karen Traviss
I like the Gears storyline, I find it enjoyable, so naturally I decided to read a book or two before Gears of War 4 drops on the Xbone later this year. Not very far into it, but it is interesting at least so far.
I really liked this one. It gave us a look at the political side of a Star Wars universe while still retaining its Star Warsness, it basically avoided all the prequel stuff which also focused on the politics. 20 years have passed since The Empire fell and the New Republic was founded. The political landscape is drawn down the middle by two groups, The Populist who believe in freedom of each planet with little government control and the Centrist who believe in total government control like the Empire, but they swear it will be different this time. Leia is now a senator and a Populist and she is bored out of her mind. One day the senate is called in to investigate a gangster organization and Leia jumps at a chance for action, unfortunately a young, brash Centrist named Ransolm Casterfo forces his way into joining the investigation. This is Star Wars at its best, you get intrigue, you get action, you get mysticism, and you get budding friendships and betrayals. I really enjoyed this book and hope that there are many more of this quality in the rebooted Star Wars universe.
Reading Gears of War: The Slab by Karen Traviss
I like the Gears storyline, I find it enjoyable, so naturally I decided to read a book or two before Gears of War 4 drops on the Xbone later this year. Not very far into it, but it is interesting at least so far.
Thanks. I will look into the ones you bolded other than the Archaeology stuff. Not a huge fan of that either.
I started reading a book called Sin, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation: Christian and Muslim Perspectives. It's very interesting. I am finding the Muslim chapters more challenging; the terms, names of people and schools of thought, concepts, assumptions, and frameworks are (obviously) very different from what I'm used to, but there's also a lot that is familiar - maybe not the exact same path, but often ending up in a similar place. I'd definitely recommend checking it out.
MrOogieBoogie
BioShock Infinite is like playing some homeless guy's vivid imagination
Any thoughts on the Hyperion series?
Atraveller
Banned
Started reading The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel, it's full of interview with the director and the actors, fans of the movie would like it I'm sure.
I wonder what the audio book is like, the names in the book are all a mouthful!
sparky2112
Member
Tip for first time Infinite Jest readers: it typically doesn't 'click' until pages 250-300, so give it time. Also, *everything* is related to the story - sometimes importantly, sometimes not so much, but there's nothing in there that doesn't belong, even though at times you'll be like, 'WTF - that was so random'. Finally, if you're suffering from an honest addiction while reading it, Wallace has been there / done that, so be prepared to really take a hard look at yourself.
He has two short story collections that make for a good gateway. That said, if you'd rather go with one of his novels, I'd start with Norwegian Wood. It's an excellent book, and more straight-forward than his other stuff. I found it was beneficial to wrap my head around Murakami's prose before I dove into his more absurd stuff.
Grenouille
Member
WascallyWabbit
Member
Just got done reading Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman's adaptation) and Immortal Circus (book one)
If you're into urban fantasy, Neverwhere should really hit the spot. Both are kind of in that same vein and fairly quick and short reads, good stuff for summer
If you're into urban fantasy, Neverwhere should really hit the spot. Both are kind of in that same vein and fairly quick and short reads, good stuff for summer
I was going to read Infinite Jest, alas I am placing it on the back burner this year. GRE studies will drain me enough as is.
Anyway I completed Sapiens. Loved it to death even if I had contrasting views on some of the author's points. Worth a read. Now I started on Game Change via paperback, and A Woman In Charge on my Kindle. I somewhat dropped The Magician for the time being. I am on my nonfiction political kick at the moment.
Anyway I completed Sapiens. Loved it to death even if I had contrasting views on some of the author's points. Worth a read. Now I started on Game Change via paperback, and A Woman In Charge on my Kindle. I somewhat dropped The Magician for the time being. I am on my nonfiction political kick at the moment.
Infinite Summer, gaf edition, has just started! Get going now and you've only got ten pages to read.
Nezumi I expect to see you there.
Nezumi I expect to see you there.
Maklershed
Member
Forgot to update yesterday. I finished City of Bones. Took eight books to happen but it was the first meh book I've encountered in the Bosch series. Now on to one I've been hearing a lot about lately and how it's like Indiana Jones - Amazonia. I'm a few pages in and I can confirm that it least kicks off on an interesting start.
Amazonia by James Rollins
Amazonia by James Rollins
VyechnayaSlava
Member
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Just finishing this one up. Not as good as the first book, but still an interesting enough premise to keep it going. Up next on the docket:
I started reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb. I'm not very far, but it probably says something about my expectations with Hobb that my first impression was, "Oh, good. She didn't give me a moppet to get emotionally attached to who she can slowly do all the things to."
Interested in hearing your thoughts.
There's a moppet now. Hobbs!!
Infinite Summer, gaf edition, has just started! Get going now and you've only got ten pages to read.
Nezumi I expect to see you there.
Interested in hearing your thoughts.
His Majesty
Banned
Diving back into the Malazan universe. Last time I ended at Midnight Tides but since it's too long ago I started again. Just started Deadhouse Gates which I fondly remember as one of my favourite fantasy books.
One of the best fantasy series of all time, enjoy.
One of the best fantasy series of all time, enjoy.
User 479360
Banned
I didn't realize that The Fireman by Joe Hill had come out, else I would've been all over it earlier. My hold came due at the library today, though, so I'll probably go pick it up.
Just deciding if I want to get it from that library, where you can only renew something once, or wait for the other one to have my hold come up, because it allows unlimited renewals. I'm a very slow reader.
Just deciding if I want to get it from that library, where you can only renew something once, or wait for the other one to have my hold come up, because it allows unlimited renewals. I'm a very slow reader.
Maklershed
Member
Plan to have it for awhile because its huge.
SpaceHorror
Member
Finished up "Old Man's War" last night. Loved it. The final act was thrilling and touching. Also, loved the humor of the book.
I went and registered for a new library card yesterday, first time I've been to a public library in ten years. Figured since I'm reading more often these days I can save myself money by using Georgia's fantastic public library system.
Anyway, picked up "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman.
I went and registered for a new library card yesterday, first time I've been to a public library in ten years. Figured since I'm reading more often these days I can save myself money by using Georgia's fantastic public library system.
Anyway, picked up "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman.
Maklershed
Member
I wish I had a library near me. 
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