I’m reading “a really big lunch” for the first time. Not fiction, but a rad collection of articles. Highly recommended. Harrison is a master.
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I’m reading “a really big lunch” for the first time. Not fiction, but a rad collection of articles. Highly recommended. Harrison is a master.
"Dancing Bears", an allegory between the dancing bears of eastern Europe who, after being freed, continue to dance when in the presence of people and citizens of eastern Europe who pine for the good old days under tyranny.
It starts out well but kind of diverges into unfocused and seeming random stories. Maybe it's just me but I was initially interested but that waned as the book progressed.
about 1/2 way through something in the water. Riveting, but in a worthless beach read sorta way.
I wish all books could be this good. First in a trilogy.
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That's one of my favorites. I just worked my way through This House of Sky.
^^Great, classic memoir. I almost prefer his novels though. Have you read The Bartender's Tale? Good one, lots of plot twists but still nothing melodramatic, which I appreciate about Doig.
Just finished The Fifth Season by NK Jemison (recommended to me by pegleg, but not in this thread). Really cool book. Now I have to wait till the sequel is free at the library.
I checked out Natural Born Heroes from the library, but haven't cracked it yet.
Enjoyable read, but a bit hard to follow at times. And has added to what I am already exploring re diet and exercise. Along with a cool story.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Here’s one I just picked up, by Aaron Franklin, of Franklin BBQ fame:
https://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Stea...0964/ref=nodl_
Excellent trilogy - well worth the wait for II and III!Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
It's been out for a few years now, but just got around to reading Dead Wake by Erik Larson. I thought it was pretty good. His books tend to be a bit formulaic.
I managed to catch David Sedaris in Reno the other night (he spoke/read for about an hour) and then when I got home I rummaged through a coupla boxes and came up with 2 of his books, so I may go on a mini-Sedaris bender once I finish The Bachman Books (early Stephen King novels written under a pseudonym), which I am currently making my way through..
I've also been plugging away on all the post-Fleming James Bond novels. I'm deep into the John Gardner run, which has been hit and miss, but overall enjoyable.
I got around to reading this. There were some pretty lyrical description of the wilds in the beginning that I really dug and enjoyed. And then the book went to shit. too many gear catalog-esque listicles, improbable poorly fleshed characters (amusingly I don't think the main two were - they were just the sort of callow youth that anyone who's posted here should recognize, unsurprisingly reviewers disagreed), improbable action, overall poor plotting and an ending that was improbable, ill-described and unsatisfying. Fundamental problem is it's a book that's exactly the wrong length - it should have been left as a smaller, tighter short story or maybe a novella, or it should have been expanded.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cravenmorhead
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson. Great book for everybody. The title already explains the main plot :cool:
+1 -- the audio version.Quote:
Originally Posted by bobz
“Money Land” by Oliver Bullough. I’m about 1/4 into it; very good so far. Its a history of how “offshoring” money became a thing; how it works; and why it’s pretty much ruining western democracy as we know it. And why it’s pretty much impossible to stop.
Worth a read if you’re into the history of money and financial systems.
I started this Wed since I have 100% success with your book recs and seconding that it's excellent so far. also timelyQuote:
Originally Posted by Flyoverland Captive
find myself highlighting galore
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan
Been mentioned a few times upthread, but deserves rementioning. Pulitzer Prize winner about surfing and life. The guy’s an amazing writer.
Glad you like it! My copy has a lot of dog-eared pages. LolQuote:
Originally Posted by babybear
Has anyone read The Terror by Dan Simmons? This one has been on my list for many years, but I just finally started it. I'm probably only about 50 pages in so far (and it's something like 800 pages), but I think it's going to be really good. It's historical fiction based on Sir John Franklin's ill-fated Arctic expedition in the mid 1800s with a supernatural element thrown in.
I enjoyed it enough that I lent it out. It's better than the one he did about climbing Everest. There was/is a show based on the terror that I think people like.
THE HIKE - Drew Magary
This was a random purchase at the local used bookstore (Grassroots in Reno). The bright cover grabbed my attention along with the NPR pullquote likening it to "early, good Chuck Palahniuk..." (though, admittedly, I don't see that connection at all!).
Within the first few chapters it gleefully mashes up elements of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Jack and the Beanstock, Hansel and Gretel, The Wizard of Oz, Kafka, and The Incredible Mr. Limpet, and Robert Frost, amongst other allusions...
The writing can be clunky in spots, but the overall absurdity and genuine WTF? moments keep things moving briskly.
It's like a grown-up version of Ready Player One (it is a quest story, though instead of videogame and modern pop culture references it utilizes classic lit and folklore) aimed at the married man with kids approaching a mid-life crisis. Granted, I am neither married nor have kids, but it still resonated as it is ultimately about getting older and harboring regrets.
I decided to read the cycle of books The Wheel of Time.
To be ready for the release of the series which will be announced by the end of the year
"Deep Survival"
Laurence Gonzales
https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Survival...dp/0393353710/
Some reasonably heavy psychology and biology. All in all a fascinating look into why people make dumb moves in risky situations. Examples provided are super-pertinent for the TGR crowd including avalanches.
One of the best books I've read in a while. I actually listened to the audio book, which is read by the author. Funny thing is, his surfing buddy Brian Di'Salvatore is somebody I knew when I lived in Missoula, but I never had any idea about his surfing past until I read this. Anyway...yeah, great book. I've always loved surfing literature, but my wife even liked Barbarian Days and she has no real interest in surfing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper
sounds boring but was so good Rain: A natural and cultural history
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
every chapter was interesting. I was bummed when I would get too sleepy to read
I read it too, and liked it. Kind of random, escapist, and not exactly deep, but a good fun read.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
I'm about 9/10 of the way through Neal Stephenson's latest, Fall. I'll say more when I wrap it up, but let's just say that I'm probably not going to recommend it all that highly. Started good; the first 1/3 seemed like a great set-up and had some great characters and plot-diversions (summary: billionaires initiate a project where their brains are to be preserved after death as neural network data, which leads to a widespread business where dead people get to live another life, or lives, within a vast quantum computing simulation).
The second half (which, key factor, is as long as a more typical whole novel) settles into extended meandering accounts of life in bitworld. At some point, I said, "ah, where he's going with this is that life after death will suck, mainly because humans will just bring along with them all the worst aspects of collectivized human nature"... but then he backed off on the dystopian power struggles, and now I'm not sure where it's headed. More later!
(Oh, and I read Deep Survival a long time ago; good stuff. Along similar lines, and also excellent, was Bone Games, by Schultheis.)
The Overstory was just recommended to me. I don’t like fiction, so I’m dubious; anyone read this?
I really liked The Overstory. Converging storylines and a compelling subject. Good read.
Overstory was a bit of a plod to get through for me....he is a GREAT writter some of the time...I was a little disappointed, myself, but great reviews....IMHO, Chet
Fall - Stephenson -was crappy. I. Think the rise & fall of DODO was better if you like old Stephenson
Why can't I get through a Raymond Chandler book? The guy has a great reputation. I guess I just don't like the genre. Just quit halfway through The High Window, which is the second or third time I've tried Chandler. Probably didn't help that I had The Outsider by Stephen King waiting on the nightstand. I've heard that's his best in years and I wanted to get to it.
Naw, I think Chandler can be tough. I have started The Big Sleep several times and still have yet to finish it.Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahman
For the crime/mystery/pulp genre give Jim Thompson, Charles Willeford or James M Cain a try...or anything on the Black Lizard imprint.
I read 'A Gentleman in Moscow' recently. It's an odd book, I liked it a lot.
Qualityland by Marc Uve Kling....some good humour and a easy read while at the same time well written enough to keep my attention... Mobituaries by Mo Rocca... A non fiction book that is also easy and enjoyable to read...and... The latest from Bill Bryson.. The Body.... I like everything he writes.....and .. I am trying to get a copy of Diary Of A Somebody by Brian Bilson... He is my favorite poet and this is his first novel... ..check out his Instagram or Facebook !!!!!!!!!.....But for some reason Amazon doesn't sell it... And I don't know if it has been published in the USA yet...
I am currently reading the Throne of Glass series. If you are into this type of thing I highly recommend.
Barbarian Days -- William Finnegan. Saw it's been recommended a bunch, but seriously good.
Thanks for the other suggestions.
Just got this, but I haven’t read it yet...
https://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...uining-wyoming
Yeah, I’m also reading this now. It’s very good. Not just about surf, more about growing up in the 60’s and 70’s. Thanks for the heads up, y’all.Quote:
Originally Posted by ah81
If you dig fantasy in the vein of AMERICAN GODS or THE SOMNAMBULIST, the Peter Clime's 2017 novel PARADOX BOUND is a fun read that turns the time-honored road trip trope into a fun alternate history romp.
RIYL
American Gods; The Somnambulist; The Matrix; National Treasure