What are you reading?

I'm in the middle of David Baldacci's "Divine Justice", which contains the following line...
 
Experience without cynicism was a sure sign your brain had dry-rotted and you hadn't bothered to notice.

I'm half way through Louis L'Amour's first Hopalong Cassidy Novel, "The Rustlers Of West Fork". My Hoppy research for a course I'll be teaching on the Hopalong Cassidy phenom led me to this great novel....three more to read!

leethebard


I'm half way through Louis L'Amour's first Hopalong Cassidy Novel, "The Rustlers Of West Fork". My Hoppy research for a course I'll be teaching on the Hopalong Cassidy phenom led me to this great novel....three more to read!

Did Louis L'Amour create the Hopalong Cassidy character that went on to 50s TV fame?

I am reading Trouble in Paradise by Robert B. Parker. It is his Jesse Stone series. I watched Thin Ice with Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone on TV last week so thought I would give this one a go. Thin Ice is not one of his titles so wonder if it was based on one of his books and renamed or just a borrowing of the character? Selleck looks great for the role but the book Jesse Stone is a lot, lot younger.

I just finished High Profile by Robert B. Parker - I really like his Jesse Stone novels - Tom Selleck absolutely nails the character to a T. 

Re-reading "Marjorie Morningstar" by Herman Wouk.  Sometimes you just need that kind of escapism....

Davydd

leethebard


I'm half way through Louis L'Amour's first Hopalong Cassidy Novel, "The Rustlers Of West Fork". My Hoppy research for a course I'll be teaching on the Hopalong Cassidy phenom led me to this great novel....three more to read!

Did Louis L'Amour create the Hopalong Cassidy character that went on to 50s TV fame?

Clarence E. Mulford was the creator of Hopalong Cassidy. "Bar-20" was written in, I believe, the early 1900's (1907?)  pb 

baileysoriginal


I just finished High Profile by Robert B. Parker - I really like his Jesse Stone novels - Tom Selleck absolutely nails the character to a T. 

The thing that bugs me about Robert B. Parker novels including Spenser with Susan Silverman and Jesse Stone with Jenn is the dialogue between the lead man and woman. It just doesn't ring true and seems so phony. But I've never been in therapy. Maybe people are like that. Maybe it was also because the Spenser dialogues had "said" overused. The Jesse Stone series is an improvement in more constraint of the use of "said" in the flow of dialogue.

Davydd


I am reading Trouble in Paradise by Robert B. Parker. It is his Jesse Stone series. I watched Thin Ice with Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone on TV last week so thought I would give this one a go. Thin Ice is not one of his titles so wonder if it was based on one of his books and renamed or just a borrowing of the character? Selleck looks great for the role but the book Jesse Stone is a lot, lot younger.

I am a Robert B. Parker addict.  I just finished Night and Day, the latest Jessie Stone novel, and have pre-ordered Chasing the Bear, Brimstone, and The Professional.

I just finished "The Snowball" (Warren Buffett and the Business of Life) by Alice Schroeder. An amazing man.  pb

The Lost City of Z....Incredible book

The Fire Kimono ....great series about fuedal Japan and a Japanese detective.

I don't know if anyone else has read these books, but I have just started reading Anne Perry's The William Monk Mysteries, starting with The Face of a Stranger.  The books are about a police detective in Victorian London but were written in our time.  So far the book is quite interesting and well-written.  For any fans of the TV show "Monk," sorry, but there is no relationship between the book and the show.

The Ruin Of The Roman Empire- a new history by james j. o'donnell
 .it begins at the time of ancient roman revival during the sixth century and goes to the rise of Islam.

"The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. What a terrific book.

Hello All,
I just re-joined the History Book Club,
and am just starting  to read
"Iroquois Diplomacy On The  Early American Frontier,"
by Timothy Shannon.
After that I am eager to turn the pages of
"The Great Medieval Heretics," by
Michael Frassetto.
But it may take some time as spring is coming
and I have a garden to plan and plant.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

Fieldthistle

Have you read "The Frontiersman" by Allan Eckert?
It is a very detailed history of the early western expansion across Appalachians into KY/WV/OH.

It goes into both view points (whites vs Indians) of expansion. 

Just finished :The Lost Temple" by Tom Harper.  It was alright, ending kind of stunk.  Going to the library today to pick up a fresh batch.

"The IRS Taxpayers Guide"

Cheers, John 

seafarer john


"The IRS Taxpayers Guide"

Cheers, John

Aren't we all struggling through that.

I'm also reading The Shaman Laughs by James D Doss. The main character is Ute reservation policeman, Charlie Moon.

Hello All,
Cajunking, I haven't read "The Frontiersman."
It sounds interesting and I'll seek it.
Thank You,
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

I just read a couple of Brad Meltzer novels, The Book of Lies and The Book of Fate.

I'm familiar with Meltzer through some of his comic book writing for DC Comics, but these are the first novels of his that I've read.

The Book of Lies revolves around the death of Superman creator Jerry Siegel's father (his father was really murdered and to this day no one knows why) and how that ties in with a wide-reaching conspiracy. I'd always found it interesting that Jerry Siegel, a kid personally affected by violence, went on to create a hero that bullets couldn't kill, so it was really interesting to read a book that wonders the same thing. 

The Book of Fate is about a presidential aide who's horribly wounded during an attempt on his boss' life. Years later, he begins to discover that nothing about that day is as it seemed. 

I found both books to be kind of slow-starters, but once the plot really kicked in, they were really good reads. I'll definitely be reading more of Meltzer. 

I also read the first volume of Fantagraphics' Complete Peanuts Collection. It's a really wonderful packaging of the first years of the comic strip. I've already checked out Volume 2 and should start it tonight.   

The last Jesse Stone  T.V. mystery was not based on the books. Parker likes Tom Selleck in the role

Death - a life

George Pendle

It is death's autobiography!

That sounds great, GNeedles --

I'm reading Rumo: And His Miraculous Adventures, by Walter Moers. It's a satire epic starring a wolfperting (doglike creature...)

The Secret of Chimneys (1925) by Agatha Christie.

I just finished The Seuss, The Whole Seuss, and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual biography of Theodore Geisel. At first I was skeptical; the author admits he didn't interview anyone who knew Dr. Seuss personally. But this is a well-researched look at the work of Dr. Seuss, a must-read for any fan. I was surprised to learn that Dr. Seuss was disappointed by the way his only live-action movie (the ones with Jim Carrey and Mike Myers don't count, imo) The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T turned out. It's one of my favorite children's movies.

I also read The Mothman Prophecies. It was garbage.

The other night I finished The Trouble With Tom by Paul Collins. It's about what happened to the body of Thomas Paine after his death. His body had more wacky adventures than most people do in their entire lives.

Now I'm reading The Terror , a novel by Dan Simmons. It's about a polar expedition that goes wrong. Being iced in with dwindling food supplies would be bad enough...but something is hunting the ships' crews, picking them one at a time. I'm loving it so far.

In the last couple of weeks I've started reading four books at once.  One for grownups:
1. The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) by Agatha Christie.  And three for grownups who are kids at heart:  2. Don Sturdy on the Desert of Mystery (1925); 3. Tom Swift and his Motorcycle (1910), and 4. The Haunted Churchyard (1890), the latter a dime novel featuring the detective Old King Brady.

been recouperating by reading Company of Liars by Karen Maitland. a murder mystery set during the middle ages. as if the plague wasn't bad enough.

Lately I have been reading the William Monk series by Anne Perry, mystery books about a Victorian era policeman turned private detective.  So far I have read The Face of a Stranger, A Dangerous Mourning, and Defend and Betray.  Currently I am reading A Sudden, Dangerous Death.  (There are several books in the series.)  The books are are well-written and done an excellent job setting the tone of life in those days.    Anne Perry is a contemporary author and has a somewhat unusual past, including a murder conviction as a young person.

Note: this series of books has no relationship to the "Monk" television series.
edited 06/22/2009: changed "Anne Tyler" to "Anne Perry" in first line  - wrong author listed

I'm reading (or re-reading in most cases) the original James Bond novels, in order.

this week, i'm reading
A RELIABLE WIFE by Robert Goolrick
next week, i'm starting
ALL OTHER NIGHTS by Dara Horn
both are complex stories with surprising endings.
 
i'm so excited! i just got a copy of
LAND OF THE LOST SOULS; MY LIFE ON THE STREETS
by Cadillac man.  he's a homeless man who has written for several magazines as well as the ny times.
fascinating man and fascinating reading.

Just finisher The Associate - John Grisham

Today it is a book on the history of Shaniko, Oregon.

Catching up on the Dresden Filles series byb Jim Butcher, I am on "A Small Favor"

I'm reading "No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy.  Yes, the movie was made based on the book.  I'm in the middle and  the movie and the book are just about EXACTLY the same. Its a fantastic read if you can take the horror of it all. 

This afternoon I finished Roy Blount, Jr.'s "Alphabet Juice" a look at the quirks and roots of the English language. This is the first work of Blount's I'd read, other than his chapter in the Rock Bottom Remainders book, the book written about the band formed by Stephen King, Dave Barry, Blount, just to name a few. I'll definitely seek out more of this work.

I just started Dan Simmons' Drood, a novel that revolves around the final years of the life of Charles Dickens. I really enjoyed Simmons' The Terror and I'm enjoying Drood so far, but I'm only a couple chapters in. This book is huge!

Don Sturdy in the Land of Volcanoes (1925) by Victor Appleton.

I'm trying to get through Eat Pray Love.

I'm still in India. She comes across as wayyyyy self absorbed at times, and India is the worst so far.

I'm reading The Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens by Daniel Wing and Alan Scott.

Re-reading The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka now that the MacMansion Age may have passed, thankfully. 

Also I think the Tarheel in Buffalo has a slight error in naming the author of the William Monk books ----- he mentions Anne Perry later on but not as the author------

Just finished all the WEB Griffin books and am waiting for some more.

the ancient mariner


Re-reading The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka now that the MacMansion Age may have passed, thankfully.

I know Sarah. She has done well with her series of "not so big" books. With her success she moved from Minnesota to North Carolina. I suspect in her career she has design more larger homes than not so big homes. That is pretty much the only kind of architects get for clients unless it is a vacation home. Even some of those have gotten grossly oversized.

Nevertheless, big or not so big, not much is getting built right now.

Last weekend at a garage sale, I stumbled upon a box of old 1950's, 60's, early 70's comic books.  Batman, Spiderman, Wierd War, Archie, The Atom, Justice League of America.  Got about 50 comics for $5.

Condition - fairly poor.  Readable, but not of collection value.  Still, a fun blast from the past.  Was fun to be magically transported back in time to being 8 years old, thumbing through old friends.

just finished reading prayers for sale by sandra dallas. a charming book.
shanghai girls by lisa see

working on sunnyside by glen david gold

yesterday got we two, the marriage of victoria and albert by gillian gill, as well as the physick book of deliverance dane by katherine howe.   these should keep me out of trouble.

the ancient mariner


Re-reading The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka now that the MacMansion Age may have passed, thankfully. 

Also I think the Tarheel in Buffalo has a slight error in naming the author of the William Monk books ----- he mentions Anne Perry later on but not as the author------

Just finished all the WEB Griffin books and am waiting for some more.

Thanks so much for catching that error of mine.  You are right that I listed the wrong author; it is Anne Perry and not Anne Tyler.  I went back and corrected it just now.  That would really have confused anyone looking for the books.

Just finished Assagi, Wilbur Smith...great read!

I'm on a James Lee Burke kick now - just finished ""The Tin Roof Blowdown" and starting on "Jolie Blon's Bounce " - next up is Scott Carpenter's "Mr. Undesirable."

Buffalo Tarheel-------  You peaked my interest in the Anne Perry/William Monk series and I got the 1st three from the library. 
Different and very interesting-------Thank you,  Sir --- my nights have been filled with Victorian gore.  Good Stuff !!!!

You Have Been Warned, by James Patterson. I am working my way through all of his books they have at the local library.  I also have borrowed Blue Horizon by Wilbur Smith, also one of my favorite authors.

Hater by David Moody, pretty disturbing book so far. Right up my alley!

Was visiting a friend in Calif who lent me her copy of "THe Island" by Victoria Hilsop.  While it''s a novel, it is based around a real leper colony off of Crete.  A very pognant story and I was amazed to learn just what life must have been like fr someone with leprosy. Not at all what most people think!

I just finished 'Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex' by Mary Roach.  It's made of solid awesomeness.

A little light summer reading.   I am reading The Gulag Archipelago.

I'm struggling with one of my favorite Authors, Jeffery Deaver's, latest release, Roadside Crosses, 100 pages in, I'm still bored...way below his usual thrillers!

Nancypalooza


I just finished 'Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex' by Mary Roach.  It's made of solid awesomeness.

I really like Mary Roach's books. Oddly, I don't like her Readers Digest columns, but her books are always good. I didn't like Bonk as much as Stiff, but I still really enjoyed it.

Just finished Relentless by Dean Koontz, in my opinion his best bar none,

the ancient mariner


Buffalo Tarheel-------  You peaked my interest in the Anne Perry/William Monk series and I got the 1st three from the library. 
Different and very interesting-------Thank you,  Sir --- my nights have been filled with Victorian gore.  Good Stuff !!!!

I just now saw this note.  I'm glad that you enjoyed the series so far.  They are quite well-written.  I still have a few more to work through and will have to take a couple along on next week's trip.

I'm reading "Guards! Guards!" by Terry Pratchett. It's one of his DiscWorld books. He's created a world that's large enough than he can add a fantasy spin to anything he wants to write about. He can do standard (though very, very funny) sword and sorcery stuff, or he can do detective novels, all the under the umbrella of Discworld. "The Fifth Elephant" is pretty much a police procedural...only with werewolves. "Guards! Guards!" concerns DiscWorld's police force dealing with a dragon. I'm loving it so far.

On the commute to and from work, I've been listening to Aron Ralston's "Between a Rock and a Hard Place." Ralston became trapped in the desert after a boulder fell on his arm. It's the story of his struggle to free himself. While I'd admire his determination to stay alive, including taking some very drastic steps to free himself, I keep getting frustrated with the dumb mistakes he makes. I lead a pretty sedate lifestyle, but even I know that going off to the desert to hike without telling someone exactly where you're going is not smart.

I am about to start reading The Chronicles of Narnia, along with something written by Noam Chomsky, probably throw in a cook book or two when C. S. and Noam start to get too taxing for my brain. (school starts back July 31st and I am starting to miss my students-most of them anyway)