Book Thread number ?

[leswp1]

Re: Book Thread number ?

You can purchase versions that have the entire group of books combined in a single binding, to get readers a cheaper version.

THis is the kind of stuff I get at the library. My library even lets you download books to you kindle/etc

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Book Thread number ?

THis is the kind of stuff I get at the library. My library even lets you download books to you kindle/etc

I do too, but he's talking about buying books, and thus my response. I only tend to purchase new releases that I want to read ASAP.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Book Thread number ?

You can purchase versions that have the entire group of books combined in a single binding, to get readers a cheaper version.

THis is the kind of stuff I get at the library. My library even lets you download books to you kindle/etc

One of these years, I will read the three volumes of The Civil War, by Shelby Foote, by borrowing them. My previous library had one set of them, so I figure my current one, in a town twice the size, has at least one set themselves.

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I do too, but he's talking about buying books, and thus my response. I only tend to purchase new releases that I want to read ASAP.

Found it for $11.35 on Amazon. Purchased.

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

One of these years, I will read the three volumes of The Civil War, by Shelby Foote, by borrowing them. My previous library had one set of them, so I figure my current one, in a town twice the size, has at least one set themselves.

I don't know if the library has them but when I read the whole series 4-5 years ago I read 9 single volumes, each of the 3 books is divided into 3 books/sections. I bought them on special at either B&N or Borders for $1.99 so it cost me $18 to get them all in hardcover. Not sure if that was a special release or what.

 

[leswp1]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I do too, but he's talking about buying books, and thus my response. I only tend to purchase new releases that I want to read ASAP.

ditto. I usually only purchase books I am likely to read again.

One of these years, I will read the three volumes of The Civil War, by Shelby Foote, by borrowing them. My previous library had one set of them, so I figure my current one, in a town twice the size, has at least one set themselves.

We have a library consortium (not sure how many are in it but quite a few). You get on line, reserve a book. If the home library doesn't have it then they pull it from another one. They email you when it is ready for pick up. How can you beat that?

 

[joecct]

One of these years, I will read the three volumes of The Civil War, by Shelby Foote, by borrowing them. My previous library had one set of them, so I figure my current one, in a town twice the size, has at least one set themselves.

They're sitting on one of my bookshelves. Want to borrow them?

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

ditto. I usually only purchase books I am likely to read again.

Likely to? Preferable. There are some that I have bought because I think they are necessary for a decent source of knowledge/reference/etc. Of course, I rarely buy fiction, so that factors into such things.

Edit: for example, every book reader should have a copy of things like "The Art Of War" by Sun Tzu and "The Prince" by Machiavelli.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I like Sci Fi. Some books that may be off the beaten track, but were entertaining

I'm about a quarter of the way through Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. Highly recommend.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Edit: for example, every book reader should have a copy of things like "The Art Of War" by Sun Tzu and "The Prince" by Machiavelli.

I shudder at anyone claiming 'everyone should own a copy of x', whether it's a book, movie, or what have you. No matter how important you feel the work is - it is not required to resonate the same way with everyone, and there's nothing wrong with them if it doesn't. I've been anti-canon for a long time, and I have a literature degree, for pete's sake. Read what you want. If someone else likes it too, great, but it's not up to you to decide how they should feel. I allow that I may be a little sensitive on this topic.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Been reading several of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/J.-Maarten-Troost/e/B001IGJL8M">J. Maarten Troost's</a> travel books - very funny, and pretty quick reads. Just finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Headhunters-My-Doorstep-Treasure-Island/dp/1592408737/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">Headhunters on my Doorstep</a>, about his trip to follow Robert Louis Stevenson's trip around the South Seas. He had just gotten out of rehab (Troost, not Stevenson), so that plays a big part. Didn't like it as much as Sex Lives of Cannibals or Planet China, but it was still good. I haven't read the Fiji one (Getting Stoned with Savages) yet.

 

[USAFA Bulldog]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Working my way through The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick. Got 3 or 4 PKD books for Christmas, making it a good progress towards owning all his novels.

 

[Handyman]

Re: Book Thread number ?

One of these years, I will read the three volumes of The Civil War, by Shelby Foote, by borrowing them. My previous library had one set of them, so I figure my current one, in a town twice the size, has at least one set themselves.

My GF bought me those from Half Price Books in amazing condition...I want to read them but I know I will disappear for weeks if I do

 

[SJHovey]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My GF bought me those from Half Price Books in amazing condition...I want to read them but I know I will disappear for weeks if I do

What I personally loved about those books was as I read them, I basically "heard" the narration of the story I was reading in Shelby Foote's great southern voice. Same thing happens to me when I read a David McCullough book.

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Recent Reads

The Murder House by James Patterson I have been a fan of David Ellis’s stand-alone books and now he writes for James Patterson. This book follows a former NYC detective now out on Long Island investigating murders that take place in the so called murder house a house with a history crime and mayhem taking place in it. Good read

The Forgotten Soldier (Pike Logan #9) by Brad Taylor The latest Taskforce novel finds them hunting down a member of their own who has gone rogue and is attempting to track down the men responsible for his brother’s death in Afghanistan. When Pike and his team track him down he appears to have stumbled onto a current plot that despite the efforts of Washington to pull them back they may want to follow thru on. Not quite as good as the previous novels.

Herbert Hoover (The American Presidents #31) by William E. Leuchtenburg As I work my way thru reading biographies of Presidents on the lesser known Presidents I often find myself reading books from this series and they have been hit or miss. Seeing that this author had written many books on his predecessor FDR made me wonder how fair of a shake he could give Hoover. It was an okay book and while there were parts of it that you could see the author’s dislike of Hoover’s policies come thru many times he also defended some of Hoover’s actions.

Stonewalled: My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation, and Harassment in Obama's Washington by Sharyl Attkisson This books tells the story of the death of investigative journalism in the modern age. How many “news” agencies just accept the spin of politicians and their handlers without doing any real look further into the situation. She also shows how “The most open” administration in history distorts, distracts and hides the truth from the press. I also like where many times in the book she wonders what the reaction would be from her colleagues if instead of President Obama or Eric Holder doing it, it was done by Dick Cheney or George W Bush.

Sharpe's Trafalgar (Richard Sharpe (chronological order) #4) by Bernard Cornwell This book tells the story of Sharpe’s journey home from India to England. When the ship he is on is taken by the French Navy and then taken again by a British Warship he finds himself fighting with the Navy against the French and Spanish at Trafalgar. Good read.

Spies Against Armageddon by Dan Raviv, Yossi Melman This book tells the story of Israeli intelligence from inception to the present including all it’s fabulous successes and it’s failures. Good read

First to Fly: The Story of the Lafayette Escadrille, the American Heroes Who Flew For France in World War I by Charles Bracelen Flood This is not a complete history of the Lafayette Escadrille but mainly individual stories of some of the men who flew in the unit. It was okay but lacked a complete story of the squadron.

Code of Conduct (Scot Harvath #14) by Brad Thor As much as I enjoy most of Thor’s novels this one was lacking. The ending especially seemed rushed and not developed out. The storyline was a groups attempt to wipe out a large portion of the population and Scot Harvath’s attempt to stop the plot, the Mossad and a whole lot of middle level bureaucrats are involved as well.

The Badger: The Life of Bernard Hinault and the Legacy of French Cycling by William Fotheringham The Patron of the peloton. 5 time Tour De France Champion, the Badger, this tells the tale of Bernard Hinault and his rise to dominate the sport of cycling in the last 70’s and early 80’s after the retirement of Eddy Mercxx and before the rise of Greg Lemond and Miguel Indurain. As the book tells Hinault was the last of the riders who competed a full schedule rather than gear the whole year around 1 Grand Tour winning many classics, and smaller Tours. His Grand Tour record is remarkable 5 Tour De France Wins in 8 attempts, 3 Giro wins in 3 attempts and 2 Vuelta wins in 2 attempts. It also delves into the rivalry and feud with Greg Lemond in the 85 and 86 Tours, and into his aggressive riding style. good read.

Dangerous Ground (Jerry Mitchell #1) by Larry Bond This book follows a hotshot fighter pilots transition to submarines after a near fatal plane crash grounds him. Fighting amongst the crew while on a top secret environmental mission in Russian waters stymies his qualification process but soon they may have to deal with a more dangerous situation after finding something that is not supposed to be there. First couple hundred pages are okay as Mr. Bond explains life onboard a sub with some nice action in the last 100 pages or so. Ok read.

A Prayer for the Dying by Jack Higgins A very early Higgins novel which shows a storyline he will follow in future books. A former IRA assassin Martin Fallon is forced into committing an assassination, unfortunately there is a witness which he must attempt to shut up. The method he chooses is unacceptable to his employer and they have it out. Ok read

At All Costs by John Gilstrap An early John Gilstrap book this follows the discovery and subsequent manhunt of a couple who are on the FBI’s 10 most wanted for a crime they didn’t commit. A police raid flushes them out of hiding and they go on the run, which is complicated by their teenage son. They decide to try and clear their name which brings the full might of the FBI and the people who framed them against them. This book introduces Irene Rivers aka Wolverine who plays a part in his Jonathan Graves series. Good read.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

A buddy and I swapped books to read. He's reading "Up, Up, and Away: The Kid, the Hawk, Rock, Vladi, Pedro, le Grand Orange, Youppi!, the Crazy Business of Baseball, and the Ill-fated but Unforgettable Montreal Expos" by Jonah Keri, great book. I learned a LOT after reading it.

In exchange, I got "Boy On Ice: The Life And Death Of Derek Boogaard" by John Branch. Started it tonight, already 1/3 of the way through it (300~ page book). Easy read, but very informative about his pre-NHL days. Really enjoying it so far.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Finished <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9938498-in-the-garden-of-beasts">In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin</a>. Really good book - definitely recommend. Written from the viewpoint of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany (and his family) when Hitler came to power. It was interesting to read a foreigner's first-hand view of how it happened. It's easy to look back now and wonder how something like that could happen, but a little frightening to read about how easily it did happen.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Started <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330603-the-sandcastle-girls">The Sandcastle Girls</a>. Not done yet, but very, very good so far. I need a little break from books about genocide after this, though.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Started <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330603-the-sandcastle-girls">The Sandcastle Girls</a>. Not done yet, but very, very good so far. I need a little break from books about genocide after this, though.

Finished this yesterday. Set during the Armenian genocide, it's sort of a love story about a missionary from Boston and an Armenian engineer (although the love is not the big part of the story). Pretty graphic at times, but really interesting. Partially told from the perspective of their granddaughter researching their family history. It reminded me of Khaled Hosseini's books.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Just finished a book I've wanted to read for a long time - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153">Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking</a> by Susan Cain. Really, really liked it. Very enlightening; definitely recommend for anyone. Obviously I'm familiar with the introvert side (from, you know, being one ) but it was interesting to read about all the connections to things I didn't even realize were related: TV viewing preferences, argument style, risk aversion... It was also interesting to read about some of the differences between extroverts and introverts and why there are differences at all. I DEFINITELY recommend for people who've been told their entire lives that they should talk more, smile more, and just generally be a different person than the one they are. The extrovert ideal can be overwhelming, but being an introvert is not a personality flaw.

oh, and also: extroverts caused the financial collapse.