stacks of books piled by your bedside

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Hawai'i A Sense of Place (ooooh to have Ms Malia Pili-potts pimp Pua'i's pad!) The books is like "I Spy" for adults. ;)

The Fourth Crusade: The Sack of Constantinople. Because I need to know this. And because it is quite an interesting read (one of these days, I am gonna take me a Roman/Greek/Turkish cruise). The histories of those Greek city/states have always fascinated me. Even if I could never pronounce their names.

The Surrendered Wife. Because I got it on ebay for $6 (inc s/h) and because I had to see for myself what the f*** this broad was THINKING when she wrote this book!

full reviews to come later.

whatcha reading?

[kimo55]

His Majesty O'keefe

Let's See if the World is Round

Phantasms of the living

to name a few

[sinjin]

...one of these days, I am gonna take me a Roman/Greek/Turkish cruise).

I did just that as a weddingmoon this past summer. It was great. I must get back to Turkey again and spend more time though. A cruise gives you very small doses of the places you call upon.

I just finished with "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen" by Liliuokalani.

[Menehune Man]

whatcha reading?

"A Pirate Looks At Fifty" By Jimmy Buffet

The book is a travelogue with flashbacks - and not the kind you might fear. Insightful and entertaining, this detailed instruction on how to live a rewarding life might well be deemed the ultimate self-help manual. Review: Book Page

I'll be 44 on Feb. 13th, so figure since I'm getting closer to being a pirate looking at fifty myself, that this would be good reading!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

I did just that as a weddingmoon this past summer. It was great. I must get back to Turkey again and spend more time though. A cruise gives you very small doses of the places you call upon.

I just finished with "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen" by Liliuokalani.

well, to do what I'd really would like to do would involve moving to the region for 3-5 years. But I would settle for a cruise. :)

[Linkmeister]

"1776," by David McCullough.

"The Handmaid's Tale," by Margaret Atwood.

[Leo Lakio]

Humphrey Burton's biography of Leonard Bernstein,
"Spoon River Anthology" by Edgar Lee Masters (poetry),
"102 Minutes" by Jim Dwyer & Kevin Flynn (inside the WTC),
"Candyfreak" by Steve Almond (about the chocolate industry),
David McCullough's biography of John Adams.

[alohabear]

Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Hobbit

[Leo Lakio]

Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Hobbit
Are you reading them now, because you saw the movies and enjoyed them?
Or are you waiting to see the films until after you read the books?
Or have you already read them, and are returning to 'em?

[ExtraScoop]

Monster-The Autobiography of an L.A. gang member by Sanyika Shakur, aka Monster Kody Scott.

Interesting but not a great read imo.

[Menehune Man]

Are you reading them now, because you saw the movies and enjoyed them?YES
Or are you waiting to see the films until after you read the books?NO
Or have you already read them, and are returning to 'em?YES

I kinda deal with "The Lord of the Rings" like they do the Golden Gate Bridge. The maintenance crew starts at one end painting, then when they get all the way across, take a quick breather and start again. :o

[Leo Lakio]

I kinda deal with "The Lord of the Rings" like they do the Golden Gate Bridge. The maintenance crew starts at one end painting, then when they get all the way across, take a quick breather and start again. :oWhich reminds me...you mentioned back in October (in a different thread) that you wanted to remember to re-read "Watership Down" again - here's another reminder.

[Linkmeister]

I kinda deal with "The Lord of the Rings" like they do the Golden Gate Bridge. The maintenance crew starts at one end painting, then when they get all the way across, take a quick breather and start again. :o

Oh, nice. I re-read them at least every other year. Same with "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass."

[Leo Lakio]

"1776," by David McCullough.Definitely on my "someday" list...

[Menehune Man]

Which reminds me...you mentioned back in October (in a different thread) that you wanted to remember to re-read "Watership Down" again - here's another reminder.

Oh yeah! Thanks I wrote it down just now and will soon. That was cool my friend. :cool:

[Adri]

Just finished The Tattoo by Chris McKinney and Blu's Hanging by Lois-Ann Yamanaka. Right now I'm reading Marley & Me by Josh Grogan. After that, I think, is Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers by Yamanaka and The Queen of Tears by McKinney.

[flying snow]

Things I've been reading:

Almost French by Sarah Turnbill (i think that's her last name)

Nonfiction, travelogue/memoir. She's from the land of Oz, is travelling around before settling down and meets a man in Bucharest. She visits him in France...and if I told you anymore it would ruin it. I liked it alot, read more like fiction.

Also just finished The Genius Factory by David Plotz. It's the story of the Nobel Sperm Bank. Dr. Robert Graham created it in 1980, only using sperm he got from people who were Nobel Laureates. Or so we thought...

Both were fast reads, read them in two days, but I'm also on spring break and have time. Once school is going again, there goes recreational reading. Sigh.

About a year ago I read a Japanese author (who's living in Hawaii) called Takashi Matsuoka. Read both of his books: Cloud of Sparrows and Autumn Bridge. I really wish he'd put another book out, as I loved these. It's about love and samaurais. Sort of. Read the inside of the jacket.

ALso spent the last year reading all of Terry Brook's the SHannara series...and I do mean ALL of them. I do hope he continues with it, as I was really into it. Gotta love fantasty.

[Linkmeister]

I've made a truly fateful decision. I was returning Robert Wilson's "Spin," "Darwinia," and "The Chronoliths" to the library the other day (all three are good, but "Spin" really goes far beyond his earlier work in terms of scientific speculative fiction) and I thought "I wonder if there are any copies of the Aubrey/Mathurin series here." The first two books (of 20 or so!) were on hand, including "Master and Commander," so I checked them out.

This could be a dreadful mistake or a joyous choice. :D

[flying snow]

If you like science fiction, I highly recommend Robert Heinlein. He's one of my all time fave authors. Friday is probably my favorite book by him.

Another sci/fi/fantasy author that's good is Michael Moorecock. His Eternal Champion series rocks...with the exception of Von Beck, I found that a little dry. Or something.

And, if you have never read any of the Dragonlance novels, you should. Margaret Weiss and Tracey Hickman kick ass.

(Is my inner geek showing? Oh wait, I am a geek. Lol.)

I have never read anything by Stephen King before, and there was an excerpt from his newest book, Cell, in Entertainment Weekly a while ago. Well, I ended up reading the excerpt and decided I needed to know what happened. I highly recommend it as well. THe only thing I wasn't thrilled about, was the ending, I felt it just left me hanging.

[Linkmeister]

I've got most of Heinlein's stuff, and some of Asimov's, and a few of Clarke's. I've also got a fair bit of Simak and da Farmer. I've read a lot of the other "name" authors, too.

Wilson is relatively new among sci-fi authors, maybe 8 books.

[kaneohegirl]

if you are into mystical mixed with today with some HOT romance you should read the books by Laurell K Hamilton (http://laurellkhamilton.org/) both her Vampire Hunter series and her Merry Gentry (involving the Faerie Court) are EXCELLENT.

[Adri]

Heh, I'm saving Hamilton's Micah for the plane ride to the mainland for a trip I'll be taking soon. I've read most of her other books. However, I know a couple of people who are really uncomfortable with the amount and detail of the sex in her writing.

[U'ilani]

I just finished "The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk, and I have to say I don't understand what all of the hype was about--this book has sold around 4 million copies. While she certainly writes beautiful prose, and her protagonist was pretty well developed, her other characters are black & white (no pun intended!), and she tries to draw out more from the simple storyline than is really there. In all, this book is boring.

I've just started "The Intuitionist" by first-time novelist Colson Whitehead.

[Linkmeister]

My review of "The DaVinci Code" is here (http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/001845.html).

Your mileage may vary.

[alohabear]

Are you reading them now, because you saw the movies and enjoyed them?
Or are you waiting to see the films until after you read the books?
Or have you already read them, and are returning to 'em?
I first read them in middle school. They are such escape fiction that at least once a year I like to read the whole trilogy. The films, although well made, cannot compare to the words of Tolkien.

[Leo Lakio]

Humphrey Burton's biography of Leonard Bernstein,
"Spoon River Anthology" by Edgar Lee Masters (poetry),
"102 Minutes" by Jim Dwyer & Kevin Flynn (inside the WTC),
"Candyfreak" by Steve Almond (about the chocolate industry),
David McCullough's biography of John Adams.
Made it through three of these so far (Bernstein, Masters, Almond); added "Salt" by Mark Kurlansky to the stack.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Made it through three of these so far (Bernstein, Masters, Almond); added "Salt" by Mark Kurlansky to the stack.


I own a copy of Salt. It was an interesting read, but not necessarily a riveting one. Still, the topic of salt is an understated one in this day and age and that book was a great reminder that wars were fought over the stuff, as well as civilization shaped by its trade.

I just bought "Ireland" by Frank Delaney, and contemplating getting the audio cd set, as the whole point of the book is based on oral history, and that might be the best way to digest the material. Jury is still out on that one (audio books are expensive! And I've never "done" audio books before).

[U'ilani]

Hawaii Public Library System is really great. You could borrow the audiobook instead of buying it. I've just checked out their website, and you can place holds on-line and they'll forward the "book" to whichever library you select once it becomes available.

[timkona]

"A Civil War" - the story of Army/Navy Football rivalry

"Pigskin" - the history of football from the beginning until the TV age (1950)

"Dick & Jane Rainy Day Fun" - my 4 year old reads it to me

"The Worldly Philosophers" - historical review of the great economists

"The Pirate Dictionary" - got it at DisneyWorld last summer

[MadAzza]

"Stealing land, the European way."

"Stealing land, the Japanese way."

"Stealing land, the Korean way." (pamphlet)

"Gaining the upper hand in relationships through intimidation."

"Pidgin: Da Primer."

"Dr. LatexGlove, or How I learned to stop worrying and love the kaka," by Mufi Hannemann

"Hawaii on $967 A Day."

[kimo55]

"The Pirate Dictionary" - got it at DisneyWorld last summer
I can just guess what is listed in the
arrr
section

[scrivener]

I've just started "The Intuitionist" by first-time novelist Colson Whitehead.
Hey U`ilani, is this the one about the elevator repairmen? If it is, let me know what you think; I've been dying to check that out.

Most of my reading lately has been related to work on my master's, including Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Beloved and Frank McCourt's Teacher Man. However, the stuff near my bed is stuff to help me unwind: The Ratvolution Will Not Be Televised by Stephan Pastis (a Pearls Before Swine collection) and the latest issue of Paste magazine.

[beaker]

Plowing through a stack of late-1970's-era fantasy anthologies:
Swords Against Darkness IV
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories 3,4,5,9,13,14

[Leo Lakio]

I can just guess what is listed in the
arrr
section
And don't forget the letter "aye."

[Leo Lakio]

I own a copy of Salt. It was an interesting read, but not necessarily a riveting one. Still, the topic of salt is an understated one in this day and age and that book was a great reminder that wars were fought over the stuff, as well as civilization shaped by its trade.Thanks - I wouldn't have picked it myself, but it was lent by a co-worker, to whom I had lent Kurlansky's "1968."

[U'ilani]

Hey U`ilani, is this the one about the elevator repairmen? If it is, let me know what you think; I've been dying to check that out.

Most of my reading lately has been related to work on my master's, including Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Beloved and Frank McCourt's Teacher Man. However, the stuff near my bed is stuff to help me unwind: The Ratvolution Will Not Be Televised by Stephan Pastis (a Pearls Before Swine collection) and the latest issue of Paste magazine.

The Intuitionist is about a black female elevator inspector. I just finished it last night. There is so much you could say about it, I don't know where to start. Just trying to categorize this book is difficult--it has aspects of science fiction, fantasy, literary... Hard to explain it. Basically, it is an allegory. There are a lot of layers to the text. I didn't love the book, but I was amazed with the originality and the presentation. I'd give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

I've got Teacher Man on hold at my library--I'm actually #60 out of something like 300 holds. One of these days it'll finally be mine to read.

I've just started Our Lady of the Forest, which will then be followed by Gentlemen and Players.

I do enjoy reading a lot of Young Adult fiction. Just a few months ago I finally read Enders Game, which I loved. Another one I just can't say enough good things about is Looking for Alibrandi. And the book Twilight was a great read.

[U'ilani]

I gave up reading Our Lady of the Forest--some of the subject matter was unappealing. I finished Gentlemen & Players, written by the author of Chocolat. It reminded me of the movie, The Talented Mr. Ripley, but with a twist at the end. I just started A Long Way Down and was loving it, but it was so rife with obscene language I just couldn't take it anymore and had to stop. Tomorrow I'll be starting Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard. I've heard the movie was dreadful, but my husband loved the book so I thought I'd give it a try.

My goal this year is to read 50 books. I'm on schedule to make it, but December is such a difficult month to have spare time to read, so we shall see.

I'm on the waiting list to receive the following books from my library (the fantastic King County Library System in Washington):

- Hungry Planet: What the World Eats
- The Tipping Point
- Marley & Me
- The Lost Painting
- The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
- Teacher Man
- Freakonomics
- Jane Eyre
- Bleak House
- Hoot
- Garlic & Sapphires
- 1776

[kine1]

The lakota Way, by Joseph Marshall. I just saw a PBS ( Masterpiece Theater) production called Bleak House. I just wondered if it was the book you refered to. It was set in England in the 18'th century I think.

[kumukulanui]

Still got 'Tales from the night rainbow' in the stack and dip into it now and then.

Peter F

[U'ilani]

I'm reading Battlefield Earth right now and am really enjoying it. Great sci fi stuff. The introduction, though, really put me off. L. Ron Hubbard has this incredibly long discussion about what true science fiction is, and he just comes off as totally self-important as he bashes other books and writers. [Reminded me a bit of Tom Cruise. :rolleyes: ]

[kimo55]

B.E. IS a fabulous book put out by a great man, They should make this into a movie, It would do great!

[U'ilani]

And just to ensure that it does well at the box office, Terl should be played by someone like John Travolta. :D

[U'ilani]

The lakota Way, by Joseph Marshall. I just saw a PBS ( Masterpiece Theater) production called Bleak House. I just wondered if it was the book you refered to. It was set in England in the 18'th century I think.Yes, I was referring to the Dickens classic.

[Menehune Man]

Which reminds me...you mentioned back in October (in a different thread) that you wanted to remember to re-read "Watership Down" again - here's another reminder.

Okay I got it today!

From the back cover...
Watership Down is a remarkable tale of exile and survival, of heroism and leadership... the epic novel of a group of adventurers who desert their doomed city, and venture forth against all odds on a quest for a new home, a sturdier future.

OhBoyOhBoyOhBoyOhBoyOhBoy!

[U'ilani]

I haven't finished Battlefield Earth yet. I was really enjoying it at first--it kind of reminded me of the Planet of the Apes--but it is sooo long and it feels really monotonous at this point.

I'm going to start Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl and maybe go back to Battlefield later.


If anyone likes sci fi, I recommend The Clone Republic by Kalani-grad Steven Kent:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0441013937/sr=8-1/qid=1146800150/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-7399831-5309434?%5Fencoding=UTF8

[Menehune Man]

From the back cover...
Watership Down is a remarkable tale of exile and survival, of heroism and leadership... the epic novel of a group of adventurers who desert their doomed city, and venture forth against all odds on a quest for a new home, a sturdier future.

I've made it to chapter 11 out of 50 so far, and really enjoying it!
I wish I had more uninterupted reading time, but alas time is just so precious and packed with other worthy or even not so worthy consumers.

[LocoBoy]

An earlier post mentions the Lord of the Rings trilogy which are all great. The book that preceeds them "The Hobbit" is gotta be one of my most fav books. I've read several times and never get bored. I think a movie for it would be cool, I only have the cartoon version on DVD :) .

[U'ilani]

I finished Garlic and Sapphires and have just started 2 non-fictions--John Adams and The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece. I almost never read 2 books at once, but the 2nd book became available at the library and you gotta take 'em when they're available or the wait will be several months.

Regarding Garlic and Sapphires, it's basically a memoir of a woman who was the restaurant critic for the New York Times. She writes about the disguises she would don and the personas she would assume in order to accurately assess a restaurant's food and service. She tells of the lavish treatment given to her when she was not in costume but was recognized as the NYT food critic. She also dishes a heap of criticism on the execs at the paper. Happily for her, she escaped from the Times and is now the editor-in-chief for Gourmet magazine.

[Adri]

I'm making my way through a bunch of Diane Mott Davidson's books. It's fun but not too strenuous reading ~ murder mysteries involving a caterer and as a bonus, the books include recipes for the dishes mentioned in the stories.

[U'ilani]

Just finished The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece. It's a non-fiction book explaining how a painting of "The Taking of Christ" was discovered to be a true Caravaggio. I think it was meant to read like a great mystery novel that ends up being true, but instead it was quite boring and went off on a tangent about the beautiful female researcher who made the discovery.

I'm just starting a chick lit called In Her Shoes (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743418204/qid=1149079565/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-4745657-4800136?s=books&v=glance&n=283155)by Jennifer Weiner, and I've just put on hold for me at the library another non-fiction book called Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142003697/sr=8-1/qid=1149078986/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-4745657-4800136?%5Fencoding=UTF8)about one of the greatest masterpieces of all time. The latter got 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, so I think I'll have better luck with that one than I did with The Lost Painting.

[helen]

Halfway through Homeward Bound by Harry Turtledove. Alternate history about invading alien race that comes to Earth during World War II. This is the eighth book in the series that takes place in the year 2031 where humans have made it the alien's home world.

[Linkmeister]

Halfway through Homeward Bound by Harry Turtledove. Alternate history about invading alien race that comes to Earth during World War II. This is the eighth book in the series that takes place in the year 2031 where humans have made it the alien's home world.

You're a stronger reader than I am. I gave up on Turtledove a while back (pre-WW II, I think ); I'm not sure whether it was the style that got me or what, but I just lost interest.

[Linkmeister]

For whatever reason, I couldn't get into the Aubrey/Mathurin books, so I took 'em back to the library. Just read Paris 1919: Six Months that Changed the World (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375760520/sr=8-1/qid=1148257264/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-0818671-9671043?%5Fencoding=UTF8), about the peace talks which resulted in the Treaty of Versailles and the redrawing of state boundaries throughout Europe and the Middle East. After reading it, it's no wonder there was A) World War II and B) an ongoing problem between Arabs and Jews in Palestine.

Also just finished Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen. I got that at Safeway one day, and read it in two nights. Funny funny book.

[helen]

You're a stronger reader than I am. I gave up on Turtledove a while back (pre-WW II, I think ); I'm not sure whether it was the style that got me or what, but I just lost interest.
I never read Turtledove's other works. What's really strange was that when I initially saw the first book In the Balance at a bookstore I thought it would be an interesting book for a friend of mines who happens to be a World War II buff.

So I brought the book for him and a few weeks later I was asking how's the book and he was mentioning that the alien invaders had problems coping with Earth's enviroment.

I figured I should least buy my own copy and start reading it and I was hooked on to the series.

[U'ilani]

I just finished The Tipping Point (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316346624/qid=1149475167/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-4745657-4800136?s=books&v=glance&n=283155)by Malcolm Gladwell. As a sociologist and observer of the human condition, Gladwell deserves a star or two on the old Amazon five-star scale. As a marketer and packager, he scores a five plus. The gist of his book is that if something is popular, lots of people have bought into it. That's it. That's the whole point of his book. He backs up this thesis by citing such things as the resurgence of Hush Puppy shoes, the drop in crime in NYC in the 90s, the development of Sesame Street, the rise & fall of Airwalk Shoes, and--if you can believe it--the midnight ride of Paul Revere! The best proof that Gladwell understands "tipping points" and how to achieve them is the sales of this book. It was first published in Jan. 2002; and now more than 4 years later it's still on the bestsellers list!

[Linkmeister]

I never read Turtledove's other works. What's really strange was that when I initially saw the first book In the Balance at a bookstore I thought it would be an interesting book for a friend of mines who happens to be a World War II buff.

So I brought the book for him and a few weeks later I was asking how's the book and he was mentioning that the alien invaders had problems coping with Earth's enviroment.

I figured I should least buy my own copy and start reading it and I was hooked on to the series.

Heh. That would indeed be a surprise. "Alien invaders? Huh?"

I started with the World at War series post-Civil War and got up to 1918, I think. I didn't read "Guns of the South" (http://tinyurl.com/out4n) about the future-worlders supplying the South with AK-47s, but that's not part of the series anyway.

[Leo Lakio]

I didn't read "Guns of the South" (http://tinyurl.com/out4n) about the future-worlders supplying the South with AK-47s, but that's not part of the series anyway.That's the only one of Turtledove's books I have read; I enjoyed the "alternative-history" aspect, but just haven't let myself get caught up in anything else by him.

[helen]

Finished reading Homeward Bound yesterday. Not much historical figures got mention compared to other books. James Dean the actor lived longer and was in a movie that sounded like Saving Private Ryan but made in 1970's instead of the 1990's.

Matt Damon is still acting in 2031.

And while never mentioned by name Henry Kissinger is part of the team that goes to the alien's home world and is referred to as "The Doctor".

[Kings House]

LoL - yup there's a stack of them

Ariel Gore's ATLAS OF THE HUMAN HEART is next!

[U'ilani]

I stopped reading In Her Shoes; didn't care for it. I also started and stopped Invitation to Provence and Flashpoint; one was boring, one was cliche-filled. I used to think I had to finish a book I had started, but I guess I'm maturing because I just don't give a darn anymore. If I don't like it by page 20 or so, I chuck it for another one.

I just started Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card. This one's a thriller instead of the sci-fi of the brilliant Enders Game. It's kind of sad so far--the dad just started a crappy job, the 8-yr-old son has no friends, the family has serious financial problems...

[flying snow]

The Tipping Point

Empress by Shan Sa.

Haven't been reading much...too busy playing Civ 4 and Myst.

[flying snow]

Oh. If you guys want a good trilogy, check out Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy. I absolutely loved these books. Really loved them.

[U'ilani]

I've got a bit too much piled up on my nightstand, but I read a review on these 2 books and had to put myself in the queue for them at my library: Theft: A Love Story (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307263711/qid=1149917854/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-4745657-4800136?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) by Peter Carey and Water for Elephants (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565124995/qid=1149917931/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-4745657-4800136?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) by Sara Gruen. There are 60 to 80 holds on each of them--a good sign, I hope. The reviewer said that Water for Elephants had one of the happiest endings she's ever read. I'm looking forward to that; Lost Boys, my current book, is quite a downer.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

I just finished a WONDERFUL novel entitled "Ireland" by Frank Delaney. It was one of those books that I simply did not want to end!!!! Googling him, I found an npr link, and have decided that I must chuck up the bucks to hear him read the audio cd version. Aint gonna be no finer way of sitting in traffic I can guarrantee!

[sinjin]

I'm rereading Garrett Hongo's "Volcano: A Memoir of Hawai‘i" after many years. Mr. Hongo is firstly a poet and as such his memoir has some very beautiful prose. The textures he communicates transports one to that place, especially if one is familiar through personal experience.

[Adri]

I think I've read almost all of Diane Mott Davidson's books in the Goldilocks Catering series and now that I'm at the end, it strikes me that the main character is really kinda annoying. I guess not too annoying, since I did read almost the whole series, but still.

I'm going to read Japanese Eyes, American Heart (waiting for it from the library).

[U'ilani]

I just finished Paranoia by Joseph Finder. Excellent corporate espionage suspense thriller right up to the denouement--a real deus ex machina ending. http://hawaiithreads.com/images/smilies/mad.gif

I finally got my turn at Teacher Man by Frank McCourt from my library. Following that, I will read the sequel to Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card.

[U'ilani]

What a disappointment Teacher Man was. His prose goes down easily enough; completely effortless. Wish that I had that talent. I also wish I admired the man as much as I do his prose. This memoir reveals him to be a highly insecure, directionless, and adulteress man who never seemed to get what life was all about. I was also surprised to find that he was not a great teacher--he seemed to want to just "get by," for the most part. Don't expect this one to be a feel-good teacher-hero story a la To Sir With Love.

[Linkmeister]

I bought Ron Suskind's "One Percent Doctrine" yesterday, helping push it to the top of the best-seller lists. I'd have started it, but the two newsweeklies arrived in the mail, too. On the "read current info first" principle, the book will have to wait till this afternoon/evening before I start in.

[U'ilani]

I finally got this book from my library (I was in the queue for it for months). It truly rates FIVE STARS! I plan to buy it as a Christmas gift for my in-laws. Here's my review of it:

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580086810/sr=8-1/qid=1151129129/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8719458-5878340?%5Fencoding=UTF8) by Peter Menzel

What does your family eat over the course of one week? How does that compare with another family half a world away from you? Photographer Peter Menzel visited 30 families in 24 countries and did a comparative photo-chronicle to identify this very thing. This is a large hardcover book that you might want to check out of the library rather than buy (it retails for $40). Most interesting is the family from Greenland whose weekly food intake includes musk ox, walrus, and arctic geese. Most sad is the family in a Darfur refugee camp whose weekly food expenditure is $1.23. And then there's the United States... Wow, what a contrast.

[U'ilani]

Just started Keeping Faith (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0688177743/qid=1151645455/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-8719458-5878340?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) by Jodi Picoult last night. I've never read anything by her before and I'm not sure why. She's a very engaging, readable writer, and this looks to be quite an interesting story.

Friends have been urging me to read These is My Words (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060987510/qid=1151645643/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8719458-5878340?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) [sic :D ] by Nancy Turner, and I managed to snag a copy from my library. This book was written in 1999 and is a YA novel, and yet it just recently seems to have hit the book club circuit. Not sure why. I won't be able to start it for at least another week. Recently-borrowed books and audiobooks are piling up.

[mamapuleta]

I kinda deal with "The Lord of the Rings" like they do the Golden Gate Bridge. The maintenance crew starts at one end painting, then when they get all the way across, take a quick breather and start again. :o


Ha ha, me too, except I alway run out of paint before the end, and the rest of the maintenance crew finished long time ago and went home already.

I'm re-reading "Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers." That always gets me started. First I laugh a lot, and loud too like a camel, fall outta my chair, get up, get something to eat, chase the grand babies around the house, put em in their car seats, then we all gotta drive to the library so I can get the other "Dwarf" books. :D :)

[U'ilani]

I just finished M. M. Kaye's Shadow of the Moon. It was a wonderful historical fiction novel full of adventure, danger and romance. I felt as if I just watched a 4-hour movie--M. M. Kaye's writing is so vivid, the characters and the settings so fully developed, and the storyline itself--based on historical fact: India's violent revolution against its British masters--so interesting.

The one downside is that the book is sooo long (614 pages if you read it--or 22 tapes if you listen to it on audiobook as I did).

[sinjin]

I'm into "A Thousand Miles In The Rob Roy Canoe" by J. MacGregor, M.A.

It chronicles a kayak trip on European river in the 1860's. Exactly my cup of tea.

"It is, as in life, that each care and hardship is a very Mentor of living. Our minds would only vegetate if all life were like a straight canal, and we in a boat being towed along it. The afflictions that agitate the soul are as its shallows, rocks, and whirlpools, and the bark that has not been tossed on billows knows not half the sweetness of the harbor of rest."

[Linkmeister]

If that's your cup of tea, try this one: The Strong Brown God (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0395567564/102-9124999-6112121?v=glance&n=283155) about the exploration of the Niger River. It's on my shelves (and read!), and it's very good.

[U'ilani]

I recently finished The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier. I'm now reading The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom. It's the antidote to the pop psychology/sociology fluff making the bestsellers' list such as The Tipping Point and Freakonomics, yet still accessible although scholarly.

[Leo Lakio]

"1776," by David McCullough.Just about done with this; it came out in paperback while I was in the Midwest earlier this month; I though it would make for good reading over the Fourth of July. America's best history writer alive, in my opinion, followed closely by Stephen Ambrose.

[U'ilani]

I'm thrilled to have finally gotten Water for Elephants (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565124995/sr=1-1/qid=1154152891/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-5700416-7804152?ie=UTF8&s=books) by Sara Gruen from my library. There are presently 271 holds on it (Seattle library system), so I feel quite fortunate.

I also feel fortunate that my son played in the pool for 2 hours--with me at poolside reading this wonderful story. I'm presently on Chapter 6. Though Gruen lacks the dazzling prose found in a bunch of books I've read lately, she surely makes up for it with a story that's a good escapist read.

I checked the Hawaii Public Library System catalog, and it appears that it's on order.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

U'ilani, what a prodigious reader you are!

I just inherited a small trash bag of paperbacks that are about 10 yrs old. The one that grabbed my eye is Gates of Fire (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553580531/sr=8-1/qid=1154224081/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5292988-1986366?ie=UTF8) and from the first couple of chapters, I can see that the author is deeply in love with the subject as well as fine prose. geruggrumblesunovabitcgottareadeachparagraphtwicem rumrumble.

My kid has for her summer reading list To Kill a Mockingbird and Good Earth. I think I am going to read them after her, because I have never touched either book before.

[U'ilani]

My kid has for her summer reading list To Kill a Mockingbird and Good Earth. I think I am going to read them after her, because I have never touched either book before.I wish my daughter's school had a required summer reading list. It's the only way I could get her to read those good classics. I hope you post your thoughts on The Good Earth. I'm part Chinese, and the descriptions of how the husband treated the wife really resonated with me.

[Shan-n]

Right now I am reading...

"Until Today" by Iyanla Vanzant. Basically as the cover says it is daily devotionals for spiritual growth and peace of mind. Boy do I need that right about now! :)

"Confessions of an Introvert" by Meghan Wier. I am hoping that by reading this I can learn to network with other professionals better and learn that it is ok to be an introvert.

"The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2006" by Bob Sehlinger. I was trying to plan a trip to Disney World this year but I am not sure if that is gonna happen. There is always next year...right? :D

[U'ilani]

I just started Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400063205/sr=1-1/qid=1155186589/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4544616-6843239?ie=UTF8&s=books) by Katrina Firlik. Firlik says that she is one of 200 female neurosurgeons--I'm surprised that there are that many. Interesting book so far. She's a bit cocky, but I understand from a GP friend of mine that that is pretty typical of neurosurgeons. She does take a funny swipe at dermatologists. If I find that passage again I'll post it here.

[U'ilani]

I think I've finally burned myself out on books, although I am listening to Daniel Silva's The Messenger on audiobook whenever I'm in the kitchen cooking or cleaning. I'm busy running around with my kids this summer and making sure they are reading. My 14-yr-old just started Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. She just finished Stephenie Meyer's sequel, New Moon--she started it in the evening and didn't go to sleep until the following morning after she had finished it. I wouldn't call it quality literature, but I'm just glad there are books that get her to read so feverishly. My 10-yr-old is busy reading his Simpsons comic books, plus I give him computer game time for reading his library book--it's the only way I could get him to read anything other than the Simpsons junk.

[Linkmeister]

I've been hearing about Terry Pratchett's Discworld series for several years, so I thought I'd start reading them to see if I liked them. Since the first one he wrote was The Colour of Magic, I thought I'd start there. Shrug. But then I got persuaded to try again with some of the later ones; the consensus seems to be that he didn't really hit his stride till about Book 4. Ok, I thought, and I picked up Night Watch, Thief of Time, The Truth, and Monstrous Regiment at the library.

I am now hooked. I went online and put 19 books on reserve, thinking they'd arrive in dribs and drabs. HA! (http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/002032.html) (photo at link)

[blueyecicle]

Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub...

Just finished The Presence by John Saul...
and Monster by Jonathan Kellerman...

And YES my mother-in-law says I read "prison" books too! :p

[Adri]

Night by Elie Wiesel

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/HOLO/ELIEBIO.HTM

It's well written but a painful book to read.

[U'ilani]

Night by Elie Wiesel

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/HOLO/ELIEBIO.HTM

It's well written but a painful book to read.I borrowed that book from the library feeling that it was important for me to read--but I just couldn't get myself to read something that I knew would be so painful.

I just finished reading The Messenger (http://www.amazon.com/Messenger-Daniel-Silva/dp/0399153357/sr=1-1/qid=1157070316/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4544616-6843239?ie=UTF8&s=books)by Daniel Silva. It's a spy thriller involving an Israeli spymaster trying to thwart an attack by a Saudi terrorist network that has their sights on Pope Paul VII. 4 out of 5 stars--a bit too contrived but still good.

[jessicat]

I work at a library and read any chance I can get, so my books change daily.

I indulge mostly in historical romance because it's in easy read (1 hour), and makes me tingly in the toes.

Of course, I also read a lot of YA fiction (and other books with a little more depth when I feel the need to be well-read).

My ongoing books (the ones that I just can't finish in one day) are:
1984 - George Orwell
Tender is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Whoever said the sequel to Ender's Game, right on. That series is the best I've ever read, and I usually don't even like science fiction. Orson Scott Card really did a good job with those books.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

I was in B&N in HNL this past week, and I saw that they had their classics for 50% off. I bought "the Prince" by Machiavelli and "Walden/Civil Disobedience" by Thoreau. Not on sale, but I grabbed them anyway, was the 2-vol set of "Democracy in America" by De Tocqueville. I wish I could was highly fluent in French and Italian, because I would prefer to tackle those reads in their original languages.

[U'ilani]

If any of you enjoy legal thrillers that are character-driven ala John Grisham's works, I highly recommend The Lincoln Lawyer (http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Lawyer-Novel-Michael-Connelly/dp/B000G04RIU/sr=1-1/qid=1157851868/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4544616-6843239?ie=UTF8&s=books) by Michael Connelly. Excellent, excellent book--full of twists and turns and a 3-dimensional protagonist. Note: The story's not about Abe Lincoln's counselor--it's actually about a defense attorney who owns a Lincoln Town Car.

[U'ilani]

Currently reading Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere primarily because Stephen King has raved about his books so much.

[Adri]

I love Gaiman's work. Neverwhere was made into a movie, in case you like the book :)

[U'ilani]

Hey, I didn't know that. I'll keep that in mind. I'm liking it so far, but I'm only on page 70.

[SusieMisajon]

Okay, everybody....this is my paranoid bird flu self speaking....see if you can find the book 'The 900 Days'. It's all about the blockade of Leningrad by Hitler and his gang, during the war. The people starved. They were eating shoe leather soup. And babies.

Okay, it's not Stephen King...it's not fiction...but you'll be scared, I can tell you!

Hmmm....I read it at about the age of ten or eleven...maybe THAT'S why I stay a little bit lolo!

[SusieMisajon]

Oops! How I did that, two posts the same?

[Leo Lakio]

Okay, everybody....this is my paranoid bird flu self speaking....see if you can find the book 'The 900 Days'. It's all about the blockade of Leningrad by Hitler and his gang, during the war. The people starved. They were eating shoe leather soup. And babies.

Okay, it's not Stephen King...it's not fiction...but you'll be scared, I can tell you!

Hmmm....I read it at about the age of ten or eleven...maybe THAT'S why I stay a little bit lolo!I remember it well - I also read it when I was around the same age - utterly amazing what people did to survive in a siege like that.

Imagine what you would do if you didn't have access to the everyday things you take for granted...for nearly three years...

[SusieMisajon]

Das right, Leo....an das TWICE as long as hiding out from bird flu!

[manoasurfer123]

Das right, Leo....an das TWICE as long as hiding out from bird flu!
nuff with the bird flu susie...

however I haven't read that book... however, after reading that Leo had read it... I did find some summaries very interesting.

It's a very gruesome and crappy part of history that many people never learned about in public schools....and thanks for sugestting the reading.

I will add a link to the summary I read.
http://www.curledup.com/900days.htm

I will add this to my further to be read about and learned about list.

[SusieMisajon]

I can live with the fact the Leo has more credibilty than I have.

[Leo Lakio]

I can live with the fact the Leo has more credibilty than I have.Ouch! :D Not sure I would wear that mantle comfortably, you know...let's hope we never have to find out who is better prepared for a catastrophe (guess where I'd bet my Euros? Or is it still Francs?)

[SusieMisajon]

It's euros.

[Leo Lakio]

Merci - I was too lazy...er, I mean, busy with work (yeah, that's it) to look it up.

Anyway - back to the book. As I mentioned to Susie in a PM, I first read "The 900 Days" in an excerpted form, but was so drawn in that I had to read it in its entirety. As a child, it was a huge eye-opener - a detailed look at circumstances that I could never imagine having to deal with.

It's lengthy, it's explicit, it's detailed, and it's by a fine writer of history, Harrison Salisbury, who specialized in the Soviet Era. It was banned in Russia for a number of years, and the siege itself was the inspiration for the 7th Symphony of Shostakovich.

[SusieMisajon]

Wow, Leo...funny how we each went in a different direction with that book. You went deeper and found out about the symphony, and I freaked out and became a prepper.

I'm going to find the music and see if it evokes how I felt, when I read the book.

[Leo Lakio]

You went deeper and found out about the symphony, and I freaked out and became a prepper.When the apocalypse comes, you'll be the one with supplies and survival skills --- and I'll be the one to provide the final soundtrack.

Guess which of us is likely to have more company in our shelter? ;) I just hope I'll have enough time to read all those books piled by my bedside (yes, that was a shallow attempt to stay on-topic - I'm a better derailer than re-railer, I fear.)

[Linkmeister]

I love Gaiman's work. Neverwhere was made into a movie, in case you like the book :)

I just read "Good Omens" and found a surprise (http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/002034.html) on the frontispiece.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

I just bought Special Topics in Calamity Physics. (http://www.amazon.com/Special-Topics-in-Calamity-Physics/dp/067003777X) This is the author's first novel, and I bought it because I judged the book by its cover.

[achow]

The only book that I have by ny bedside is my 'Olelo 'Oiwi Hawaiian language book by Hokulani Cleeland. I am learning 'Olelo Hawai'i.

[Adri]

I just read "Good Omens" and found a surprise (http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/002034.html) on the frontispiece.

Wow, that is surprising that they left it in circulation if it's authentic.

[SusieMisajon]

Merci - I was too lazy...er, I mean, busy with work (yeah, that's it) to look it up.

Anyway - back to the book. As I mentioned to Susie in a PM, I first read "The 900 Days" in an excerpted form, but was so drawn in that I had to read it in its entirety. As a child, it was a huge eye-opener - a detailed look at circumstances that I could never imagine having to deal with.

It's lengthy, it's explicit, it's detailed, and it's by a fine writer of history, Harrison Salisbury, who specialized in the Soviet Era. It was banned in Russia for a number of years, and the siege itself was the inspiration for the 7th Symphony of Shostakovich.
Here is the scary music to go with the scary book.

http://it.stlawu.edu/~rkreuzer/pmcginley/seventh.html

Just to let you all know...I will NOT be playing this music during any pandemic!

[WindwardOahuRN]

Here is the scary music to go with the scary book.

http://it.stlawu.edu/~rkreuzer/pmcginley/seventh.html

Just to let you all know...I will NOT be playing this music during any pandemic!

In case of pandemic, try this one: :eek:

(Click on "Carl Orff's Carmina Burana---O Fortuna."):

http://www.albany.edu/music/chorale/listen.html

The translation from the Latin makes it even scarier and most appropriate for pandemic accompaniment.

[SusieMisajon]

Oooh! Maybe we need a thread called 'Chickenskin Music'!

[WindwardOahuRN]

Oooh! Maybe we need a thread called 'Chickenskin Music'!

LOL.

Might as well toss in the English translation here:

>>O Fortune, like the moon of ever changing state, you are always waxing or waning; hateful life now is brutal, now pampers our feelings with its game; poverty, power, it melts them like ice.

Fate, savage and empty, you are a turning wheel, your position is uncertain, your favour is idle and always likely to disappear; covered in shadows and veiled you bear upon me too; now my back is naked through the sport of your wickedness.

The chance of prosperity and of virtue is not now mine; whether willing or not, a man is always liable for Fortune's service. At this hour without delay touch the strings! Because through luck she lays low the brave, all join with me in lamentation!<<

Bring on the pandemic!

[Leo Lakio]

In case of pandemic, try this one: :eek:

(Click on "Carl Orff's Carmina Burana---O Fortuna."):

http://www.albany.edu/music/chorale/listen.html

The translation from the Latin makes it even scarier and most appropriate for pandemic accompaniment.I LOVE "Carmina Burana"! I discovered it back when I studied Latin in high school. (Really.) But it's the only one of Orff's works I can listen to repeatedly; the other two works in the trilogy (of which "Burana" is the first) can't stand up to it.

[Mike_Lowery]

"Positively No Filipinos Allowed" - Antonio T. Tiongson, Jr., Edgardo V. Gutierrez and Ricardo V. Gutierrez

"The Souls of Black Folk" - W.E.B. DuBois


Jus' keepin' up with my self studies in ethnich studies.

[Miulang]

I LOVE "Carmina Burana"! I discovered it back when I studied Latin in high school. (Really.) But it's the only one of Orff's works I can listen to repeatedly; the other two works in the trilogy (of which "Burana" is the first) can't stand up to it.
Yes, definitely Carmina Burana is a fantastic opera. I've seen it performed live twice (once in Salt Lake City and once in Seattle)...something about seeing hell on stage really is inspiring! ;)

Miulang

[Leo Lakio]

The Seattle Symphony & Chorus are doing it again next summer, and Pacific Northwest Ballet has it on the bill sometime soon.

[sinjin]

Yes, definitely Carmina Burana is a fantastic opera. I've seen it performed live twice (once in Salt Lake City and once in Seattle)...something about seeing hell on stage really is inspiring! ;)

Miulang
My wife love's that one. I enjoyed it as well. Best nap I had all year.:D

[U'ilani]

I finished Neverwhere and enjoyed it, although I'm not a fan of urban fantasy and don't plan on picking up another Gaiman book.

I just finished Killer Instinct (http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Instinct-Joseph-Finder/dp/0312347472/sr=1-1/qid=1160184390/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4544616-6843239?ie=UTF8&s=books)by Joseph Finder--WOW! It's a fabulously entertaining corporate thriller that I cannot recommend highly enough. The audiobook has an interview of Malcolm Gladwell (author of Tipping Point & Blink) by Joseph Finder. They discuss the whole corporate salesmen mentality.

Currently reading my teenage daughter's book, New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer. Next up is Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith and London is the Best City in America by Laura Dave.

[Menehune Man]

Over the years... I have had 3 complete sets of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings". I keep giving them away. Quite a few months ago I gave just "The Hobbit" to my 13 year old God daughter. Well yesterday at the Kailua library, I bought the exact same 50th Anniversary Edition to fill in the hole, along with "Unfinished Tales" by Tolkien. Pretty cool! I've never read "Unfinished Tales". Exciting huh?!

[Leo Lakio]

Just finished a bio of Scots comic Billy Connelly, by his wife (who is a former comedian and presently a psychotherapist.) Now on the stack: two bios of the late Douglas ("Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy") Adams, a bio of deceased English singer/songwriter Nick Drake, a new comic thriller ("The Shroud of the Thwacker") by Chris Elliott, Christopher Moore's latest: "A Dirty Job," and "Talk To The Hand," a book about the increase of rudeness in society, by Lynne ("Eats, Shoots & Leaves") Truss. Soon to join them: "The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson, whose writings on travel, the English language and everything else are hilariously brilliant.My wife love's that one. I enjoyed it as well. Best nap I had all year.:DYou even slept through the drunken orgy scene?

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Over the years... I have had 3 complete sets of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings". I keep giving them away. Quite a few months ago I gave just "The Hobbit" to my 13 year old God daughter. Well yesterday at the Kailua library, I bought the exact same 50th Anniversary Edition to fill in the hole, along with "Unfinished Tales" by Tolkien. Pretty cool! I've never read "Unfinished Tales". Exciting huh?!

confession time: am I the only one who cannot find the LOTR/Hobbit writings exciting in the least? I mean, the movies were ok, and I have attempted the series many times throughout my life, but still....eh. Cannot finish them. Cannot find it inside of me to care. (Did like CS Lewis' Mere Christianity, though).

[Leo Lakio]

confession time: am I the only one who cannot find the LOTR/Hobbit writings exciting in the least? I mean, the movies were ok, and I have attempted the series many times throughout my life, but still....eh. Cannot finish them. Cannot find it inside of me to care. (Did like CS Lewis' Mere Christianity, though).Tried (starting with The Hobbit) on several occasions, never got particularly far. Have moved on - far on. Haven't seen the movies, either. Same for the entire Narnia series. I did succeed however, on my third attempt, to read all six books of the Gulag Archipelago series by Solzhenitsyn, so I know what I'm capable of.

[Menehune Man]

confession time: am I the only one who cannot find the LOTR/Hobbit writings exciting in the least?

That's okay Pua'i Mana'o. Different books for different kooks! HaHa! :p

I really enjoy the twisted reality of the story. It's like a parallel of even today. I love the Great outdoors, adventure(s), testing and overcoming the boundaries and obstacles in life and of the evil present.
Although there's alot of tragedy, turmoil and loss, Good finally overcomes!
The once ragged King gets his Elven Queen. Cool! :D

[Pua'i Mana'o]

When I was in high school, I tackled the whole Dune series (which at that time went up to God Emperor of Dune). I *know* that was a rough read of four or so books, but that series left quite an impact on me which has remained ever since. It was my first awakening on water issues and our need for it, and what life would be without good quality water. The worms and spice and funky nuns, well, uh, some of that I furrowed my brow to get through it. When the spoof "Doon" came out (I read the series within a year of the movie), I remember howling with laughter as I got so much of that humour.

Ergo, I can do science fiction. I have done it. I can do historic fantasy. But I couldn't roll through LOTR (again, the movies were all fascinating).

[Leo Lakio]

Ergo, I can do science fiction. I have done it. I can do historic fantasy. But I couldn't roll through LOTR (again, the movies were all fascinating).Suggestion: check out Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series. Started as a trilogy, then (decades later) he added a couple more to the series, followed by a couple of "pre-quels." His estate has authorized others to continue the series, so I believe it's up to ten volumes now.

[Linkmeister]

Suggestion: check out Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series. Started as a trilogy, then (decades later) he added a couple more to the series, followed by a couple of "pre-quels." His estate has authorized others to continue the series, so I believe it's up to ten volumes now.

The first three are by far the best.

I just finished "The Dragon Waiting," by John M. Ford. I'd finished his "How Much for Just the Planet," the only Star Trek novel which incorporates musical comedy; I enjoyed it very much. (It's also the only Trek novel I've ever even picked up.)

"Dragon" is a lot harder. It's an alternate history set in the 17th century, one in which Byzantium owns most of Europe other than a rump state in France; England's holding on by the skin of its teeth. Christianity has barely gotten a toehold in Europe. It would help to have a decent knowledge of the Wars of the Roses, which I don't. I'm gonna have to go back to it at some point.

I'm now starting Caleb Carr's "The Alienist," set in New York in 1896. Theodore Roosevelt is a reformist Police Commissioner (true to the facts), but the title character is a psychologist, a field which was just beginning to be acknowledged at the time. Roosevelt asks the guy to find a serial killer. It's been good through the first 100 pages.

[EastCoastTropics]

Just finished From Baghdad With Love. Besides my bed I have Burned (given to me by my boss), The Companies We Keep, Fearless Golf by Dr. Gio Valiente, several Golf mags and Feng Shui books .

[sinjin]

Would anyone have a recommendation for a good biography of Capt. James Cook?

[Linkmeister]

Would anyone have a recommendation for a good biography of Capt. James Cook?

I own one that I haven't read in a million years, written by Alistair MacLean, of all people ("Where Eagles Dare," "The Guns of Navarone," etc.). I wouldn't swear to the historical accuracy, although I suspect it's reasonably good; MacLean had his reputation to think of. It was well told, though.

[zatoichi]

I finished reading and already loaned out World War Z by Max (son of Mel) Brooks.

Great read and very funny.

It is about the near catastrophic war against the Zombies.:D

[Adri]

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. It has a different "voice" than the kinds of things I usually read but overall I enjoyed it.

[U'ilani]

Just started Idlewild by Nick Sagan and currently reading You're Not You by Michelle Wildgen--enjoying both. I quit Polar Star and hated both New Moon and London is the Best City. I've also started reading a non-fiction book by Susan Wise Bauer regarding classical education called The Well-Educated Mind, or something like that.

[shaveice]

i was reminded of this book when the discovery channel (i think) aired a tv version of the book (last week), "bringing down the house: the inside story of six m.i.t. students who took vegas for millions".

http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Down-House-Students-Millions/dp/0743249992/sr=8-2/qid=1161479272/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-5862637-7601634?ie=UTF8
(be sure to read the users' reviews of the book)

fascinating cuz it's true and those students worked their tails off to beat a business that doesn't wanna lose a penny! (basically, they counted cards and used probability to their advantage and they did work in teams.) really fascinating!

[nachodaddy]

Would anyone have a recommendation for a good biography of Capt. James Cook?


Try Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz. Easy read. Part history, part travelogue.

[808shooter]

I love flying sometimes, it has given me back time to read since I've had kids.

Last week I flew to LA and back. On the way, Good to Great, not a bad book about the characteristics of public companies that have made a documented transformation from an average performing organization to a overachieving one. I liked the writers methodology and technical scientific approach to his findings.

On the way back, I read Freakonomics. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected and got more out of it than expected. The interesting thing to take away for me was the lesson that you should always keep other's motivations in mind when assessing a situation. As a fairly accomplished sales guy and very empathetic person I think I am always doing this but the book validated this practice.

Other books on the prior trips this year are Thousand Barrels a Minute and The World is Flat. I highly recommend both as books that give one a good perspective on events that are occuring in the world today. The first outlines prior energy crisises and how the worlds economy was affected as one de facto energy source was supplanted by another. Good read. The second book discusses the effect of the world'd glut of telecommunications infrastructre and how it will transform our global economy in the years to follow. Very interesting reading. I would say extremely interesting.

[808shooter]

I started with the World at War series post-Civil War and got up to 1918, I think. I didn't read "Guns of the South" (http://tinyurl.com/out4n) about the future-worlders supplying the South with AK-47s, but that's not part of the series anyway.

If you liked the alternate history aspect of the storyline, you may want to check out Marching Through Georgia, (I forget the second books name) and Stone Dogs by SM Stirling. About the Loyalists in post Revolutionary USA fleeing to South Africa where over the next 150 years they dominate Africa and become a world power to challange Nazi Germany and the USA. Very dark and disturbing read but also hard to put down.

I read almost all of Turtledoves alternate history storylines way back when but I always preferred the Draka series. I think all three books were later consolidated into a novel called "The Draka" or something.

[U'ilani]

My son has been ill this week (stuffy nose, coughing, vomiting, the usual stuff this time of the year), so I've been home with him spending a lot of time watching TV and reading books. We've just begun a really unusual book titled Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park (http://www.amazon.com/Death-Yellowstone-Accidents-Foolhardiness-National/dp/1570980217/sr=1-1/qid=1161928439/ref=sr_1_1/002-4544616-6843239?ie=UTF8&s=books). It chronicles the various ways people have died at Yellowstone. So far we've covered death by hot springs, bison, avalanches, and rocks. Some of the stories are scary and gruesome, and I've asked my son several times if he's wanted me to stop, but he is absolutely fascinated by these accounts.

[Marco]

I just finished reading Where the Wild Things Are to my little ones. Man, that book sure seemed a whole lot better when I was a kid. Growing up sucks sometimes.

Don't have much time to read for pleasure, but I did finish Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. It's about The Battle of Thermopylae, a story set in ancient Greece, about 300 Spartan soldiers that held off a narrow pass against millions of Persians for 3 days. It's pretty good stuff. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Those in the military would definitely appreciate it, and maybe even be inspired by it.

[shaveice]

Don't have much time to read for pleasure, but I did finish Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. It's about The Battle of Thermopylae, a story set in ancient Greece, about 300 Spartan soldiers that held off a narrow pass against millions of Persians for 3 days. It's pretty good stuff. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Those in the military would definitely appreciate it, and maybe even be inspired by it.
oh yeah. that's a classic in case anyone hasn't read it. at amazon, 522 people posted comments about the book and average rating is 4.5 out of 5! that's pretty impressive.
http://www.amazon.com/Gates-Fire-Novel-Battle-Thermopylae/dp/055338368X/sr=8-3/qid=1161944313/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-5862637-7601634?ie=UTF8&s=books

for those who like frank miller's stuff (e.g. sin city), you might wanna check out his version of the story...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569714029/ref=pd_cp_b_title/002-5862637-7601634

[Marco]

oh yeah. that's a classic in case anyone hasn't read it. at amazon, 522 people posted comments about the book and average rating is 4.5 out of 5! that's pretty impressive.
http://www.amazon.com/Gates-Fire-Novel-Battle-Thermopylae/dp/055338368X/sr=8-3/qid=1161944313/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-5862637-7601634?ie=UTF8&s=books

for those who like frank miller's stuff (e.g. sin city), you might wanna check out his version of the story...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569714029/ref=pd_cp_b_title/002-5862637-7601634
Yeah, it was a fun read. As for Frank Miller's graphic comic, "300", did you know they're making it into a movie? I used to have the URL for the trailer but don't anymore; it looks pretty sick. Completely done in CGI, and has that "Sin City"-like feel to it.

I'm really into ancient Greek history, and also Arthurian history, so next book I get a chance to start, I'm either looking to find a fictionalized account of the Trojan War, or I might pick up The Winter King, by Bernard Cornwell. It looks like it got great reviews on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Winter-King-Arthur-Warlord-Chronicles/dp/0312156960/sr=8-1/qid=1161974859/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6071309-0169750?ie=UTF8&s=books).

[shaveice]

Yeah, it was a fun read. As for Frank Miller's graphic comic, "300", did you know they're making it into a movie? I used to have the URL for the trailer but don't anymore; it looks pretty sick. Completely done in CGI, and has that "Sin City"-like feel to it. .

yup, you're right and here it is:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/300/

[Adri]

Every Grain of Rice: Portraits of Maui's Japanese Community by Rita Goldman and The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain.

[amethyst9]

'Inheritance' by Lan Samantha Chang

This was a pick of a book club I was in last year. They now meet at a time not convenient for me. It was one of my favorite books I read during the time I was in that group. Another fav was 'Dreams From My Father' by Barack Obama.

This month my new book group is reading 'Inheritance', so I'm re-reading it, not something I normally do. The main parts of the book are set in China from 1930 to 1949. Not everyone who lived through them talks about those times, so for those of us who know people who lived in China during that era, it's very moving.

There are some ideas I want to explore more fully and may be able to understand better on the second read. Among them are the roles that family members take on and how they change. And also the ideas of duty and love within a marriage or a relationship outside of marriage. And about whether and when it's better to 'let go' of the past. And about the baggage we inherit from our family legends and history. And how to find the gems of our heritage among all the emotional rubbish.

[amethyst9]

Oh. If you guys want a good trilogy, check out Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy. I absolutely loved these books. Really loved them.

I agree that this is a good series. When people talk to me about Harry Potter, I recommend this series. I just really like Pullman's writing style. And I love Lyra. I've read other books by him as well, they're often designated YA.

[amethyst9]

I'm making my way through a bunch of Diane Mott Davidson's books. It's fun but not too strenuous reading ~ murder mysteries involving a caterer and as a bonus, the books include recipes for the dishes mentioned in the stories.

I enjoy this series. I feel like I know her family by now. I guess the characters are what makes them appealing, plus Goldie's catering career.
I've tried a few of the recipes. These are set in Colorado.

A new writer I enjoy for light mystery reading is Laura Childs. Her series are set in Charleston, SC and involve the owner of a tea shop, Theodosia Browning. Again, the characters are fun - and one of the characters is the city of Charleston. Plus, there are recipes. I love tea and tea shops.

My favorite mystery writer is Marcia Muller. Her detective series is centered around Sharon McCone. These are grittier than the two series mentioned above, and set mostly in San Francisco. I enjoy Muller's writing style.

Most of the time I don't read mysteries, but when I do, I look for these three author's latest books.

[amethyst9]

I just finished "The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk, and I have to say I don't understand what all of the hype was about--this book has sold around 4 million copies. While she certainly writes beautiful prose, and her protagonist was pretty well developed, her other characters are black & white (no pun intended!), and she tries to draw out more from the simple storyline than is really there. In all, this book is boring.

I've just started "The Intuitionist" by first-time novelist Colson Whitehead.

I read 'The Intuitionist' for my book group, but didn't make it to the discussion. I had mixed feelings about it. I guessed the 'secret.' The writing drew me in, but I'm not so sure about the story. Whatever underlying message was there (and I think there is one) was almost pulled off, but it didn't entirely work for me. Maybe if I had made it to the discussion, I'd understand what I missed and what I need to remember about the book.
What did you think ?
I'd say it's worth a try to read it, it's better than most current fiction writing.

[amethyst9]

The Intuitionist is about a black female elevator inspector. I just finished it last night. There is so much you could say about it, I don't know where to start. Just trying to categorize this book is difficult--it has aspects of science fiction, fantasy, literary... Hard to explain it. Basically, it is an allegory. There are a lot of layers to the text. I didn't love the book, but I was amazed with the originality and the presentation. I'd give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

I've got Teacher Man on hold at my library--I'm actually #60 out of something like 300 holds. One of these days it'll finally be mine to read.

I've just started Our Lady of the Forest, which will then be followed by Gentlemen and Players.

I do enjoy reading a lot of Young Adult fiction. Just a few months ago I finally read Enders Game, which I loved. Another one I just can't say enough good things about is Looking for Alibrandi. And the book Twilight was a great read.


Oh, I just posted on about 'The Intuitionist' - sounds like your 'take' on it was similar to mine. It was quite a feat for such a young writer.

'Ender's Game' is a classic. I'm not into science fiction, but love this book. It really talks in it's way about how we educate our youth. I have a son who is something like Ender, but I guess we could all identify with him in some ways.

[U'ilani]

amethyst9: You might enjoy this website (http://www.kcls.org/pearlspicks/), seeing as you are also from the Seattle area. I'm so grateful to have so many well-stocked, highly-frequented libraries here--and it's fun having Nancy Pearl from our neck of the woods. You can hear her on NPR every so often giving her latest book recommendations.

[U'ilani]

Currently listening to a wonderful Young Adult book with my son--The Cloud Chamber (http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Chamber-Joyce-Maynard/dp/068987152X/sr=1-1/qid=1163577177/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-0743400-8478435?ie=UTF8&s=books) by Joyce Maynard. Although I'd like to say I borrowed the audiobook for him, the truth is a lot of the books I've enjoyed this year have been YA novels. Something about the simple coming-of-age theme that really appeals and speaks to me. Weird.

[U'ilani]

I'm finally starting The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon this week. This comment by a Washington Post reviewer is the reason I just had to read it:

Before everything else, Carlos Ruiz Zafón's European bestseller is a book about a mysterious book, and its even more mysterious author. Try to imagine a blend of Grand Guignol thriller, historical fiction, occasional farce, existential mystery and passionate love story; then double it. If that's too hard to do, let me put it another way: If you love A.S. Byatt's Possession, García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, the short stories of Borges, Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, Arturo Pérez-Reverte's The Club Dumas or Paul Auster's "New York" trilogy, not to mention Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre Dame and William Hjortsberg's Falling Angel, then you will love The Shadow of the Wind.