Yes, that's the one. Personally I was a bit underwhelmed after all the hype. I thought the first half was good, but it got a little tedious toward the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by satori
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Yes, that's the one. Personally I was a bit underwhelmed after all the hype. I thought the first half was good, but it got a little tedious toward the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by satori
Cheers AD! I thought I had replied but must not have hit the send button before heading to class.
If you dont mind, would you elaborate on the tedious aspect? Like, was it kinda a repetitious existence of him being beaten, forced to work, beaten, forced to work kinda thing? Kinda like the Death Railway? Cheers again!
Pretty much. To me the most interesting part of the book was before he was captured. But I know lots of people love the book so I'm probably in the minority.Quote:
Originally Posted by satori
Cool, cheers for the response.
I have downloaded many novels on my ebook created by Kivsoft Flipbook Maker, so that I can review them anytime when I am free.
I'm in the same minority. I just finished it, and I agree about the tediousness. What's frustrating is that it starts out really engaging, but then becomes tedious. The story is fascinating, and she definitely did her research, but it felt like she rushed the second half. A lot of "one day this happened, then another day that happened, and then another day..." Also, lots of go-nowhere foreshadowing. She was working with an amazing story, I just don't think she's that good of a storyteller.Quote:
Originally Posted by The AD
Maybe my hopes were too high because it's gotten so many good reviews.
Anyone read City of Thieves what did you think ? Just finished To the White Sea. Thought it was alright novel good descriptions made me see and feel the story. Thought it dragged a little, liked the ending. Now i need a new book.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtbcat
I just finished Ragtime, by E.L. Doctorow, and it's terrific. Almost 40 years old, so no revelation, but terrific writing about a period in which I am very interested (the first few decades of the 20th century). Highly recommended.
2nd/3rd/whatever Monkey Wrench Gang & Lamb... 2 of my all-time favorites.
If you're a dog lover, check out this collection of short stories: Dog is my Copilot
On leadership: Pete Blaber's book The Mission, the Men, and Me was an excellent and very entertaining read. One of the chapters takes place in the Bob Marshall wilderness.
I too was surprised at how not dry of a read it was. Coll did a great job putting all the pieces together and keeping it read-able. Have you read Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile? IMO those two books should be read in tandem. The Main Enemy by Milt Bearden & James Risen also devotes a section on bleeding the Soviets in Afghanistan.Quote:
Originally Posted by satori
Lately I have pivoted to nonfiction books on the US & Iran:
The Devil we Know by Robert Baer
Guests of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden
13, No I haven't. But if you enjoyed Ghost Wars and think they go well together, I'll had that to my list. Cheers! I'm only finishing up the chapter on Massoud right now as we are in the midst of our school year winding down and Im marking final exams, but looking forward to finishing it up. Thanks for the recommendations.Quote:
Originally Posted by 13
Have you read The Places In Between by Rory Stewart? Very cool travel writing and extremely funny.
Just started reading The Final Frontiersman. Pretty interesting so far.
As a certified Coach, I suggest you pick up a copy of Angie Abdou's The Canterbury Trail and then blast your core with some side splitting belly laughs.
http://backcountryskiingcanada.com/i...20Trail%20Book
I've read it twice - it's a real onion of a book. My abs are ripped now, yours could be too.
Curious to hear if anyone else on here has read this - I have a feeling it will appeal to a lot of folks here...
Plus the author is a bit of a hottie... :wink:
City of Thieves is fantastic - a one-sitting read. I really really really liked Gone Girl, a great summer/beach book.
Given your tastes, 13, it sounds like Our Divided Political Heart is right up your alley.Quote:
Originally Posted by 13
Just saw an extended interview of the author with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show site and it sounds really insightful.
For those who seek to know the light, The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Also worthy works are Gibran's The Procession, and Sea and Foam.
Skeletons on the Zahara.
Nice, updated version of Riley and Robbins' accounts.
If you are into caving and espionage, read Shibumi by Alex Trevanian. Old, but this book rivals Kane and Abel (Archer) and any of the Bourne (Ludlum) books. FWIW, this summer, I have re-read The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell To Arms, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Lord Jim, Heart of Darkness and Slaughterhouse Five. All Great reads.
I should re-read me some Hemmingway..
I don't really have tastes, I just go through phases. I'll add that book to my list.Quote:
Originally Posted by splat
How come you haven't written a novel yet? I always enjoyed reading your stuff in Powder and I meant to ask you that when we met at Mammoth, but we were too busy bullshitting about somethings or other.
Scrape Exchange, a mostly funny book with some thought provoking moments:
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A truly fascinating read.
might have been mentioned:
Bright Shiny Morning - James Frey
Very engaging and an exceptional, unusual writing style, imo. Episodes about various people in LA.
Just finished Boomerang by Michael Lewis. Essentially it's a collection of articles that he wrote for Vanity Fair about travels in Greece, Germany, Ireland, Iceland and the U.S. to discover the reasons for their respective financial situations. Easy read, very insightful. Starts off strong, lulls just a smidge in the middle, and finishes strong.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...SH20_OU01_.jpg
David McCullough: The Greater Journey - A history of the first wave of American artists, doctors, scientists and intellectuals going to France. Really interesting read. Who knew that Samuel Morse who created Morse code was actually a failed painter?
Paul Theroux: The Tao of Travel - Collections and Reminisces by travel writers such as Nabokov, Tolkien, Dickens, Thoreau, Chekov, Greene, among others. Piquant dreamtime vignettes.
can anyone rec. a van gogh biography?
Lust For Life, by Irving Stone. There are more recent books but they're all judged in relation to this one.Quote:
Originally Posted by nateski
"Ready Player One" is my current favorite book. Really just a fun read all the way through. It does help if you grew up playing with an Atari game system. I'm having a really hard time finding a book I like even 1/2 as much since finishing it.
I'll add another vote to "The Art of Racing in the Rain". The story is told from the POV of a dog recounting his life on the day he dies (not a spoiler - you find this out on page 1). If you've ever loved a dog you will LOVE this book.
"A Dogs Purpose" is another great read if you like dogs. Read this BEFORE you read "Art of Racing..." or you will think it's not very good. That's not a fair assessment though as both books have stuck with me long after I finished reading them.
Reading this now. Really enjoying it.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-of-Fie...-+chad+harbach
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I'm partial to this one, but I know the author:Fly Like the Wind: http://goo.gl/50m2fr
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Just read Machiavelli's The Prince . Really good and really quick (if you like nonfiction/history/politics/philosophy etc.).
Also, The Greatest Game Ever Played was really good but you have to be interested in golf. The movie looked shite. Plus, Shia Labeouf.
Solo by William Boyd released this week is quite good so far.
The original James Bond character set in 1969 (six years after You Only Live Twice was set) written in the (almost exact) style of Ian Fleming.
I wouldn't suggest you try it unless you'd read and enjoyed some of the Fleming novels though.
Fantastic book. Reads like a novel.
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http://www.amazon.com/The-Guns-Last-...zg_bs_5031_5#_
I've been re-reading surf books waiting for the snow to fly in Colorado.
A couple of novels by Kem Nunn:
The Dogs of Winter -- takes place in/around PNW at a mythical big wave spot accessed via American Indian tribal land. Good characters, gritty with a surprise twist at the end.
Tapping the Source -- CA desert kid searches for his missing sister in a southern California surf town. He struggles to learn to surf, finds a mentor who takes him to the fictional "Ranch" where some weird shit goes down.
haven't read it in a bit but The Lost Tribes of Palos Verdes (highbrow) and Gidget Must Die (highjinx) aren't bad for the surf list.
I reread Solo Faces, as well as some other James Salter works. Well worth the time.
Cadillac Desert was mind blowing, and one of the most excellently written non-fiction books I've ever read.
Orphan Master's Son- OMG, North Korean dude that went thru all types of shenanigans. I'd tell you about it but it would ruin it. read that shit.
I'll second this. Good book.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhelihiker
Also: Cutting for Stone. Though the first 100 pages should be 20. After that it is brilliant.
And if you want something nobody has heard of but should know: Gould's Book of Fish.
I went through a North Korean read-spell earlier this year--good book. If you're looking for non-fiction on the subject, check out "Escape from Camp 14." Bio of a dude who was born and raised in a NK prison camp, later escaping to China and S. Korea, now Cali. Quick and haunting. He's like a feral human.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhelihiker
I just finished Ishmael and agree with Alaskan Rover; the ideas stick with you. I found the dialog to be kind of plodding in places, but it's short and a quick read. It's a perspective-changer, for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alaskan Rover
I'm reading The Sportswriter by Richard Ford. Pretty good. If you're 40 plus, have lived a little and are starting to wonder WTF is this all about, it will hit close to home.