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"The 4-Hour Body" by Tim Ferriss. If you are into fitness or just looking for a quality read about a guy being a human guinea pig for the last 10 years of his life, it is a solid read.
I am back down to my college weight following his diet and exercise regiment since the Monday before Christmas and have taken 2" off my waist, 1/2" of both thighs and a 1/4" off my arms. I highly recommend it.
Just finished it last night. You need to write more. Good fiction is hard to find.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spats
Many of the Gnollish words reminded me of Pashto, speaking of which:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg
Kickass boigraphy of sorts about a very rad cat.
I'd love to write more books...but it's not the writing, it's the getting published. The more people you and everyone else tell about TGC, the more it'll sell, and the more likely they'll want more books from me :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Jer
(Present efforts noted and appreciated. Thank you.)
You're right: some of the vowel sounds, in particular, sound more like Pashto than American English, due to gnoll physiology. The syllabic patterns have a lot in common with Polynesian.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jer
There's actually a lot of background on Gnollish that I didn't include in the book because it would be a distraction to the narrative, but which will no doubt be explained as time goes on.
If you want to dig deeper, feel free to ask questions on the forums so we don't totally derail this thread: http://www.gnolls.org/forums
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. Fantastically macabre, but if you can stand it, it's a great book. The story follows scalphunters as they pillage the desert, beautiful wilderness descriptions.
griftopia by matt taibbi
I just picked this up the other day, as well as All the Pretty Horses. Gotta finish my current book (The Beach by Alex Garland, you may know it by the movie with Leo, it kicks ass so far) but they're next on the list.Quote:
Originally Posted by bennerlur
I just finished Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. Yes, the books are extremely popular, but don't let that deter you. I thought all three were worth reading, albeit with a few portions that drag a little. I thought the climax in The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest was great. It's interesting how the story goes from fairly straightforward "who done it?" fiction in the first book to Ludlumesque spy thriller by the third.
I fully enjoyed the Millenium trilogy and would recommend as a fun light read. Kind of interesting with all the Julian Asange stuff going on as well.
My mother just recommended these to me. Gonna have to pick them up.Quote:
Originally Posted by The AD
Just finished RUN by Michaelbrent Collings. It's a pretty original book. Pretty much has you saying WTF is going on till the very end. One of those books that you can't wait to get back to, and hate to have to put down.
Here are some books which you may like or can consider of reading.
1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (Michael Chabon, 2000, Random House)
2. Just Kids (Patti Smith, 2010, Ecco)
3. The Scott Pilgrim Series (Bryan Lee O’Malley, 2004 – 2010, Oni Press)
4. Tess of the D’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy, 1891)
5. Monster Rally (Charles Addams, 1950, Simon and Schuster)
6. Transition Plan by Bob Russell (with Bryan Bucher)
7. Gospel in Life (Tim Keller)
I didn't really feel like it was a light read at all. I'm actually a little surprised how popular the books are considering the length and density of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by hev
OK - one down a bunch more to go. Good read - made me want to go hiking and fishing and camping. But I was bummed he didn't get the girl back in the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
I got caught up in a couple other reads including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's book and George W. Bush's book, both of which I have started and have many pages ahead of me.
Also, I flew through Rigged by Ben Mezrich which was outstanding - a great read that felt like a combo of Boilier Room and a Hunter Thompson book. But I also started Islands in the Stream by Hemingway - I forgot how crazy his characters were. Good stuff. And of course, I'm reading chapters here and there from David Goodman's latest book Best Backcountry Skiing in New England.
Spats, I'm putting your book on my list. Looking forward to it.
I've read the entire Cormac McCarthy quiver - he's probably my favorite writer. Can't wait for his next one.
So recently read the Lost City of Z. its about amazonian explorers and well written
Similarly in that vein. Check out the River of Doubt. its about Teddy Roosevelts expedition to map/explore one of the amazonian tributaries
Also In the heart of the sea:the tragedy of the whale ship essex
picked up World War Z for the transatlantic flight and read it over the holidays. nothing like a zombie book to get you in the christmas spirit. surprisingly good. the author has an incredible imagination in thinking through all the possible scenarios that could go down in a zombie apocalypse.
note: not the best thing to read before bedtime. ;)
A Prayer For Owen Meaney by John Irving. absolutely awesome.
Been listening to Malcom Gladwell's books lately. All are super interesting.
Finished Blink and The Tipping Point thus far and am in the middle of Outliers. Still have to start What the Dog Saw.
Definitely suggest checking them out.
I'm in the middle of it now. Definitely very interesting. Not as funny as his more autobiographical books, but you'll definitely learn a lot by reading it. You'll find out very quickly there's a lot you don't know about the history of things you use every day in your home. For example, the modern can opener with the two wheels and twisting handle wasn't invented until 1925.Quote:
Originally Posted by hev
Seconds on Lamb and Brighter Than A Thousand Suns. Lamb is one of the few books that made me laugh out loud many times over.
I recommend, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.
Interesting about the trilogy. I read the book, enjoyed it very much, but thought the ending was really lousy. And now I know why.Quote:
Originally Posted by Helldawg
I don't know if he can get another 1500+ pages out of the story though.
I would also like to add "Winter's Tale" by Mark Helprin. I have never read another book like it.
i really liked the passage too.though honestly i thought the ending was good and agree that i don't know how he can get more out of it.
i would be ok with the way it ends as is
the lone survivor-marcus luttrell
indian country-philip caputo
the voyage-philip caputo
I like everything I've read by caputo
I found both Cormac's No Country for Old Men and The Road to be kinda meh, but have heard that Blood Meridian is totally tits. On the fence about it, though, based on my dislike of the aforementioned, but could be easily toppled.
I'm also seriously considering going on a full-tilt Charles Portis bender:
Norwood
True Grit
The Dog of the South
Masters of Atlantis
Gringos
Haven't read any of 'em nor do I know a single soul who has, but based on the Coen Bros. version of TG, which seems pretty damn true to the book, methinks that Portis will be a good yarn spinner.
P.S.
Ron Carlson's short stories are solid...check out the At The Jim Bridger collection.
You and my dad could form a book club, same exact book recs he was talking up over x-mas. I read Lost City of Z and really liked it. I'm taking a break from Roosevelt currently so River of Doubt is on hold until next summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by crackboy
hey they are all good books. and it seemed like the OP was looking for adventure type dealios
one of my favorite books is The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie. Awesome if you like dry british humor.
Hey JMO,
You were looking for a good book awhile back and here's one that I think you will like- White Planet: A Mad Dash through Modern Global Ski Culture. It's written by Leslie Anthony (he's written for Powder and SKIER) and details the evolution of skiing and skiing culture. It's funny and the only romance going on is with the pow.
Here's a review of it:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1879126/
The Road wasn't that great. I liked No Country better as a film. But Blood Meridian is wild. The most disturbing book I've ever read. Blood Meridian and Child Of God are my two favorite from C.McC.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
reading "breaking the limit" by karen larsen right now.. pretty good.... she rides her harley from new jersey to alaska and back. kind of an adventure story i guess.
picking up a copy of "Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans" by wendell potter tomorrow.. title speaks for itself.
Apparently the books I read are like the popcorn movies of literature. The not inspirational or informative, but they are fun reads. I just finished 207 Bones, which is by a producer of the TV show Bones. I don't watch the show, but the person that gave me the book said the book reads like the show.
I just started Camel Club, which is the first book in series a series of 5 books so far. I've already read the third book, Stone Cold before I realized it was part of a series and I hope this one is as good.
can anyone recommend a good history of judaism, or pirates?
the camel club books are great. I'm on the third one in the series, and I love them. Of course I haven't read anything by Baldacci that isn't great.
Ok... it's not Judaism, but it touches on it, as their history is often intertwined with Arabic and Islamic history:Quote:
Originally Posted by nateski
http://images.indiebound.com/130/488/9781586488130.jpg
"Destiny Disrupted" by Tamim Ansary - it's a "history of the world through Muslim eyes." It's a crazy good read, absolutely fascinating. It was written very conversationally, as if you were "talking over a beer" at a bar. The last chapter or two really set the stage for the turmoil over in Egypt and general "unrest" in the Middle East. They really build on the info in the rest of the book, though. It really makes you realize how utterly ignorant Americans are of the ways and desires of Muslims, Arabs, Islamists, Middle Easterners, etc.
Just finished "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. Hands down the most unbelievable story I've ever read. I can't think of the last time I was this enthralled by a book.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/ente...g/unbroken.jpg
Dipstik, looks interesting: thanks for the posting it.
And I don't think I've - or anyone else - has mentioned it yet but "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" by Chuck Klosterman is absolutely brilliant. I'm not even into that much "American culture" things like TV, movies, pop culture, etc. (mainly just books and music) but I still loved it. His other books are pretty good too.
tonight i stumbled upon the trailer for this new movie called Limitless and while the film looks kinda meh, it mentioned that it was based on the novel The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn.
i read this book several years ago and it was a serious page-turner. it's basically a modern update on Flowers for Algernon and definitely worth the read.
Glynn's latest, Winterland, looks intriguing, as well...
Gift of the Jews by Thomas Cahill. His other books such as Sailing the Wine Dark Seas, and How the Irish Saved Civilization are amazing as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by nateski
This is a local dude I have met and think he's cool. Reminds me of Wallace Stegner. I doubt he's stoked at the price Amazon's got on his book, but all the more reason for you to buy it.
http://www.amazon.com/Then-Came-Even.../dp/1608190145
To the best of my knowledge, most novelists get paid upfront for their work, usually a certain percentage of the number of books they print up (a buddy of mine is an author and he gets between $2 and $3 a book based on how many they printed--i.e. if they run a print of 30,000 he can make $60,000 or so). No doubt Mr. Hart was paid upfront for his novel. It's the publisher that's taking a loss on the book at this point:Quote:
Originally Posted by Gordyman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remaindered_book
So the only thing that Hart would not be happy about is the loss of royalties on the remainders (I think; but it would depend on the contract he negotiated).
More discussion on the topic: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/...d.php?t=155970
Thanks for the info. I guess more important for Hart is that he write another good one.
That's a good thread form TSD you linked, with good information...but it doesn't talk about contracts and royalties.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
The typical deal is:
-Authors get advances against royalties up front...same as the music industry.
-Usual royalty is 10% of the cover price...more if you're already bestselling/famous. Your agent will take 10-15% of that. You don't get any per-book royalties until the advance is paid back.
-You don't get royalties on unsold books or remainders. Remaindering usually happens at the end of the fiscal year because publishers must pay tax on unsold inventory (as it's an "asset").
So an author might net $2-3/book off the hardcover edition, but less off the trade PB or pulp.
Obviously the publisher is going to offer an advance roughly proportional to expected sales, so initial printings will roughly track advances...but that's not a guarantee.
Other fun facts:
-Less than 2% of books sell 5000 copies or more.
-OVer 30% of books are pulped unread...which includes the millions of copies of Harry Potter and Dan Brown. So the average book has more than half its printed copies pulped unread.