Books Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading - Page 32

big nasty kcnut · 03-11-2006, 10:37 PM

I'm reading The New American Revolution by tammy bruce. She is a great thinker and funny.

NewChief · 01-18-2008, 01:29 PM

Finished Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. My main problem with this book is that it has three different types of writing in it. One is the protagonist writing his novel. Another is letters to the protagonist from the protagonist's Ukranian translator. The final is the Ukranian translator trying to tell the story of the events that took place between he and the protagonist. The book alternates chapters methodically, rotating between these two authors and genres. The problem with the book is that I loved two of the chapter types (the two by the Ukranian translator), but I hated the third (the novel by the protagonist). Interesting book, regardless, especially for people who enjoy the English language. The Ukranian translator has an interesting command of the English language and is obviously heavily reliant on a thesaurus, making for some good humor.

I've now started The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. It's very readable. My main problem with it is that it's a memoir. I'm really starting to hate this genre because, to me, the genre has turned into fiction based on the author's life. Authors have been drawing on life experience to write for years. Suddenly, though, memoir becomes a hot marketing tool and lends some authenticity to the writing or some such nonsense, so everyone labels their work a "memoir" when it's completely obvious that the author has played around with the actual events.

keg in kc · 01-18-2008, 01:36 PM

I've ended up reading Philip José Farmer's 'Riverworld' series. About finished with The Magic Labyrinth, the fourth, and then it's on to the fifth and final book, (The) Gods of Riverworld.

It's pretty interesting, although there are times he really drones on with character reflection.

HonestChieffan · 01-18-2008, 01:56 PM

Just finished "The Huntley"...Civil War submarine History and recovery, currently in a bio of Sherman and another on Alexander Hamilton.

keg in kc · 01-28-2008, 08:20 PM

Just finished Duma Key, Stephen King's latest. I think it's one of his best.

RJ · 01-28-2008, 09:52 PM

Following Chiefs Planet recommendations, I just finishedThe Blind Side . Excellent book. I thank those of you who suggested it and suggest it to those of you who haven't read it. Very interesting, and on so many levels.

Just started No Country for Old Men. I was sucked in right away. I think Cormac McCarthy will be landing on my favorite writers list. Why did I know nothing about him before now? Guess I wasn't paying attention.

nychief · 01-28-2008, 09:53 PM

Bobby Fischer goes to war

**luv** · 01-28-2008, 10:09 PM

Playing For Pizza
John Grisham

pikesome · 01-28-2008, 10:31 PM

I'm working through the third Takeshi Kovacs novel, Woken Furries by Richard Morgan. Altered Carbon and Broken Angels were the first two. The world is kind of like a Blade Runner/Neuromancer hybrid with cloning, gene splicing and digital consciousnesses and the stories (especially the first) are very noir-ish. Altered Carbon makes me think Chinatown meets Blade Runner. Kinda.

**Reaper16** · 01-28-2008, 10:34 PM

"In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan was wonderful.

I've discovered the very talented Steve Almond. His nonfiction book, "Candyfreak," is a cool look at the inner workings of both the regional candy buisness and the mind of the candy-obsessed. His latest book is a collection of essays titled "(Not That You Asked)," and it rules. Almond is both very funny, and a consummate craftsman of the language.

RJ · 01-28-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

"In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan was wonderful.

Just read a description, sounds good, I'll check it out. Thank you.

**noa** · 01-28-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

Just started No Country for Old Men. I was sucked in right away. I think Cormac McCarthy will be landing on my favorite writers list. Why did I know nothing about him before now? Guess I wasn't paying attention.

You could probably read The Road in a very short time. Its not that long and it really grabs hold of you.

My favorite book of his is Blood Meridian. Its inspired by a real group of U.S. army guys who were hired by Mexicans to kill Apaches in 1800's. Very brutal and the entire book is really bleak, but I suspect if you like No Country, you'll appreciate this as well.

RJ · 01-28-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noa

You could probably read The Road in a very short time. Its not that long and it really grabs hold of you.

My favorite book of his is Blood Meridian. Its inspired by a real group of U.S. army guys who were hired by Mexicans to kill Apaches in 1800's. Very brutal and the entire book is really bleak, but I suspect if you like No Country, you'll appreciate this as well.

Thank you, I'll check it out. That sounds like something I'd enjoy.

I received quite a few books for Christmas this year and then I bought myself some books and on top of that I've been given a bunch of recommendations. Maybe by this time next year I'll be caught up. If nothing else. perhaps my brain will be bigger.

irishjayhawk · 01-28-2008, 11:37 PM

Any good recommendations on a look into Evolution? (Aside from Origin of the Species)

**Reaper16** · 01-28-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

Just read a description, sounds good, I'll check it out. Thank you.

If you haven't read Pollan's previous work, "The Omnivore's Dilemma," then I urge you to do so. IDoF is sort of the follow up to that book, in that The Omnivore's Dilemma looks directly at 4 different food chains from start to finish -- and in doing so examines the ethical and environmental concerns about food in this country. In Defense of Food was written to answer the question that a lot of readers of TOD had at the end: "What should I eat?" IDoF looks at the relationship between food and human health.

Jenson71 · 01-28-2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

Any good recommendations on a look into Evolution? (Aside from Origin of the Species)

1. The Ancestor's Tale and The Selfish Gene by Dawkins
2. The Third Chimpanzee - Jarod Diamond
3. The Phenomenon of Man - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
4. The Making of the Fittest - Sean Carroll

03-11-2006, 10:37 PM
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $1350900	Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading I'm reading The New American Revolution by tammy bruce. She is a great thinker and funny.
Posts: 18,886

01-18-2008, 01:29 PM	#466
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $9600204	Finished Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. My main problem with this book is that it has three different types of writing in it. One is the protagonist writing his novel. Another is letters to the protagonist from the protagonist's Ukranian translator. The final is the Ukranian translator trying to tell the story of the events that took place between he and the protagonist. The book alternates chapters methodically, rotating between these two authors and genres. The problem with the book is that I loved two of the chapter types (the two by the Ukranian translator), but I hated the third (the novel by the protagonist). Interesting book, regardless, especially for people who enjoy the English language. The Ukranian translator has an interesting command of the English language and is obviously heavily reliant on a thesaurus, making for some good humor. I've now started The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. It's very readable. My main problem with it is that it's a memoir. I'm really starting to hate this genre because, to me, the genre has turned into fiction based on the author's life. Authors have been drawing on life experience to write for years. Suddenly, though, memoir becomes a hot marketing tool and lends some authenticity to the writing or some such nonsense, so everyone labels their work a "memoir" when it's completely obvious that the author has played around with the actual events. __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken Last edited by NewChief; 01-18-2008 at 01:43 PM..
Posts: 21,762

01-18-2008, 01:36 PM	#467
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	I've ended up reading Philip José Farmer's 'Riverworld' series. About finished with The Magic Labyrinth, the fourth, and then it's on to the fifth and final book, (The) Gods of Riverworld. It's pretty interesting, although there are times he really drones on with character reflection.
Posts: 58,682

01-18-2008, 01:56 PM	#468
HonestChieffan Seeking the Truth daily Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the Country in MO Casino cash: $1954309	Just finished "The Huntley"...Civil War submarine History and recovery, currently in a bio of Sherman and another on Alexander Hamilton. __________________ “Make no mistake. If you try anything to raise the cost of vishessavatubs, I will veto it.” - Joe Biden, SOTU 2023
Posts: 53,412

01-28-2008, 08:20 PM	#469
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	Just finished Duma Key, Stephen King's latest. I think it's one of his best.
Posts: 58,682

01-28-2008, 09:52 PM	#470
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9955202	Following Chiefs Planet recommendations, I just finishedThe Blind Side . Excellent book. I thank those of you who suggested it and suggest it to those of you who haven't read it. Very interesting, and on so many levels. Just started No Country for Old Men. I was sucked in right away. I think Cormac McCarthy will be landing on my favorite writers list. Why did I know nothing about him before now? Guess I wasn't paying attention.
Posts: 14,931

01-28-2008, 09:53 PM	#471
nychief MVP Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NYC Casino cash: $6909466	Bobby Fischer goes to war __________________ Good Time Charlie, Uncle Doobie and the Great Frisco Freakout.
Posts: 7,884

01-28-2008, 10:09 PM	#472
luv MY LITTLE #15 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $6089600	Playing For Pizza John Grisham
Posts: 63,446

01-28-2008, 10:31 PM	#473
pikesome PEW PEW Join Date: May 2005 Casino cash: $10004900	I'm working through the third Takeshi Kovacs novel, Woken Furries by Richard Morgan. Altered Carbon and Broken Angels were the first two. The world is kind of like a Blade Runner/Neuromancer hybrid with cloning, gene splicing and digital consciousnesses and the stories (especially the first) are very noir-ish. Altered Carbon makes me think Chinatown meets Blade Runner. Kinda. __________________ 4. Performance enhancing drugs: A) are my ticket to the Hall of Fame. B) would be better if they tasted like fruit and were shaped like various Flintstones characters. C) are not for me, because I find that cocaine aids my performance much more effectively. D) apparently worked for Rodney Harrison.
Posts: 5,191

01-28-2008, 11:37 PM	#478
irishjayhawk Feelin' Alright Join Date: Aug 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	Any good recommendations on a look into Evolution? (Aside from Origin of the Species) __________________ "Think about how stupid the average person is. Then remember that half the people in the world are stupider than that." --George Carlin
Posts: 16,887