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Native Speaker by Chang-Rae Lee
I liked the whole cultural assimilation thing and paying attention to language and stuff but the subplots about the guy's wife and stuff did not interest me much. |
Universal Baseball Association, Inc - Post-modern novel about a guy who obsesses over a dice based fantasy baseball game he created. I found it thought provoking and sad and next to Pafko at the Wall this is the best merging of baseball and literature I've ever read.
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Churchill: The Prophetic Statesman by James C. Humes. Rather than a biographical study, this book focuses on the prophetic writings and musings of Winston Churchill, who predicted nuclear bombs, aerial strikes, both World Wars, the Iron Curtain, and the ultimate demise of the USSR. A very novel concept, as well as a quick and gripping read rather than the dry biographical studies of one of Western civilizations most important figures.
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Just out of curiosity, how many of you own or use an e-reading device?
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I am behind the times and do not use a device, still just paper + ink.
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Book of Sketches-Jack Kerouac
10 Kerouac has always been one of my favorite authors. The prose poetry he has in this book is just eye-opening. Great off-the-cuff observations mingled with philosophical musings. |
Ike and Dick: A Strange Political Marriage. If you are a political junkie, as I am, this is a book for you. It covers Nixon and Eisenhowers relationship from the Pres/VP 1950's, Nixons Wilderness years and Eisenhowers retirement in the '60's as well as the marriage between Ike's grandson and Nixon's daughter. An awesome read covering the two political heavyweights of mid-century America and the men at the epicenter of the Republican split that lives on till this day (they were both fairly moderate). If politics are your thing, or even history, check it out. Well written and great stories, mostly from the mens' own words.
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Books??? What a buncha dorks. Wait for the movie!
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Supergods by Grant Morrison.
It's partially a history of comic books, partially Morrison's own personal autobiography, and partially his philosophy on life, the universe, and everything. And it's fucking fantastic. I did a whole blog article about it here, if you're so inclined. |
Isn't It Pretty to Think So? by Nick Miller
Dunno, kinda interesting story about the disconnection of my generation, but some of the prose is just goddamned awful. Overlong and meandering too. 6/10 |
Coolidge by Amity Schlaes. One of the most penetrating biographies of a US President in recent memory, that of the 30th President, Calvin Coolidge (1923-29). Shlaes utilizes turn of the century New England as the backdrop of Coolidges formative years and how the Progressive era of American politics formed his philosophical (and economical) foundations. If you are an avid student of history, especially that of the 20th century American variety, this one is for you. From Benjamin Harrison through the New Deal it describes and vividly illustrates the first man that made a true frontal assault upon the size of government and it's debt.
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A Storm of Swords 10/10. Best of the three I've read so far. Don't know how GRRM can top it, so I will assume he probably won't. Going to take a break from the series so I don't way too far ahead of the tv series.
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The Bourne Identity - 10/10
I finally got around to starting the books after seeing the movies so many times. I'm actually glad I saw the movies first because I would have been really disappointed in them I think. Love the premise and really enjoyed how much more depth there was in the book, though I know I would have enjoyed it without seeing the movies first. Really liked how the characters were introduced and "fleshed out" over the course of the story. The flashbacks were great too, and easy enough to follow. I'm into Supremacy now, about a third of the way through. Loving it. |
Game of Thrones- 10/10
Fantastic. Deserves all the praise it gets. Don't think I've ever despised a fictional character as much as I do Joffery. |
The books are amazing.
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I a few hundred pages into Stephen Kings Under the Do,e but am discouraged that they are making it a network miniseries..
Gonna go pick up something horror or dark fantasy related.. Prolly At the Mountains of Madness because its a classic and ive never read it.. any suggestions i want to read Game of Thrones cause ive never seen the show but dunno if i want to get into a series atm |
The Game of Thrones books are a massive chunk of time, if you have any doubts about committing to a series leave them alone.
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i will read them, just want something that wont "tie me down" atm
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They're hard going at times as well, overall good but personally I think they're over-blown at times and a little 'worthy'. David Gemmill is better for me and if you want something as a one of type try Knights of Dark Renown which while being part of his Drenai setting is a stand alone novel, or if you want something deeper Stephen Donaldsons Thomas Covenant books are well worth a look, pluss they're set in sets of three which is more manageable time wise.
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it was pretty good
i can def see why people would make the comparison cause of how he builds the characters and the "doom and gloom" of the situation nothing compares to the stand you should def read The Talisman and Black House if you haven't |
I ended up getting this..
It's the first of a three part series and seems like a light, fun read.. Any read Gaiman?? Nevermore or that American Gods book?? |
Neverwhere is fine (even if Gaimen never liked it), helps if you 'get' the reference a little but not much, he did one with Terry Pratchett as well 'Good Omens' which is well worth a look if you want something fun.
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The Indispensable Milton Friedman- a collection of essays from Friedman's career beginning in the fifties through the new millennium, highlighting his libertarian/capitalist outlook and reasoning as the best paths forward. I heard about Friedman as a lone wolf during JFK and LBJ 1960's liberalism and decided to check into what the man was about. I loved it and it is quite a read for people looking to expand their thoughts on politics and economics.
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Almost President: The Men Who Lost But Changed the Nation
A great book reviewing various men who ran for the highest office but lost, yet still made an impact on the country one way or another. The book highlights historical figures that came close in defeat (Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas, W.J. Bryan, Tom Dewey, Gore, Kerry, and McCain) and the figures that lost big in landslides, though they may have had an even bigger impact than the others (Al Smith, Adlai Stevenson, Barry Goldwater, and George McGovern) as well as the greatest wildcard in American political history, Ross Perot. It's really is a great book if you enjoy history or American politics. Personally, I would have preferred if they included profiles of one or two more important figures with large impacts in defeat, preferably Charles Evans Hughes and Robert LaFollette. Overall, a great read and highly recommended. |
Was waiting to get some shots done and reread 400 pages of "Foley is Good"
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John Green-The Fault In Our Stars: 8/10
Initially I was somewhat put off by the entirely-too-erudite-for-teens-to-be-speaking dialogue, but it gives way to a nicely underplayed story that refuses to give into maudlin sentimentality. Would that the YA section of the bookstore was papered with John Green copycats instead of Twilight copycats. |
"MacArthur's War" by Bevin Alexander
This book caught my attention and I purchased it due to its claim that it was about the MacArthur-Truman showdown during the Korean War. At slightly over 200 pages it is a quick read, but is mostly a recap of the war up until the disagreement over policy and execution of the war between the military God and the Commander in Chief which take up the last 20 pages or show. It's very good and written by a reputable and very well studied author but doesn't make good on the books promise to show how America could have fallen under an authoritarian MacArthur regime. If you are a fan of military history and 20th century political/geopolitical intrigue check it out. |
Finished the first three Bourne books. Wonderful. Lots of twists, so it was a bit hard to keep up sometimes since I was reading in spurts on the bus, but I loved them.
Almost have to look at the books and movies as separate Bourne universes to not be disappointed that the latter don't stay true to the former at all (except in the very beginning). Interested to see where van Lustbader took the characters with the next set of novels. |
John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath 9/10
I started this book around this time last year, but I wasn't really in the mindset to really read anything so I didn't get too far into it, and then I began my studies in September and things that were not to do with uni were put aside. Now that my postgrad studies are over I took the book up again and I have to say that it was a fantastic read. I would like to read more about the American dustbowl and the treatment of "Okies" by businessmen and the authorities in California. Now moving onto Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge, before returning to Skakespeare's Othello, which I also picked up and dropped ages ago. |
"The Savior Generals" by Victor Davis Hanson
This book looks at 5 particular generals who were able to save and/or snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in major wars though they are not usually associated with some of the great military leaders of history. Themistocles was able to defeat the Persians at the Battle of Salamis after the crushing defeat of Thermopylae, Belisarius nearly reformed the old Roman Empire with the Byzantine Empire in the Gothic Wars, William Tecumseh Sherman's drive through the South and capture of Atlanta in the American Civil War, Matthew Ridgway's miracle in Korea (perhaps the most impressive) and David Petraeus' Iraq Surge that turned the tide in the that war. A deft history lesson and look at what makes these exceptional leaders. If you are not a fan of history and how it shapes the present day I recommend it on the Petraeus chapter alone; it gave me a prospective and analysis of the Irag War that I had never been aware of. It may have changed my opinion on the War itself. A fascinating read. |
Dan Brown - Inferno 9/10
Absolutely loved this book. I'm a real fan of the Robert Langdon character and knew a fair amount about Dante's Inferno (which fascinated me) before reading this book. It's quite fast paced and moves very quickly, I often found myself reading it for hours on end and couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the twist ending in this book a lot more compared to The Lost Symbol, which had me scratching my head a little bit. Will no doubt read through this multiple times. |
Thomas Hardy - The Mayor of Casterbridge 8/10
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The Perks Of Being A Wallflower 8/10
Read it in the space of a few hours, dunno, not as cheery as the movie trailer made it out to be which is a terrible reason to read a book anyway I guess. |
Kennan: An American Life
This is a single volume biography of 700 pages, focusing on the life of American diplomat, Ambassador, scholar, philosopher, historian and the man that is credited with the concept of "containment" as a plausible strategy during the Cold War: George F. Kennan. He lived from 1904-2005, a long life full of many stories and his life story serves as a wonderful companion to follow along with western history during the 20th century from a time before automobiles and WWI through a post 9/11 world. For those interested in politics, history, or even personal philosophy this is a wonderful read. |
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Narrative: :y: Anti-Slavery message: :y: Pro-Christian message: :n: |
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