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02-07-2010, 01:33 PM | #1231 |
pie is never free
Join Date: Sep 2006
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I've been on a war stories kick for awhile now, finished 'Chickenhawk' by Robert Mason last week. He was a slick (troop transport Huey) pilot in Vietnam, great read, full of action & deep insights, never dull.
The more i read about that war, the more i realize that fiction writers could never be imaginative enough to come up with some of the truly surreal scenarios that the men of that war found themselves in. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenhawk_(book) Finished 'Undercover' by Donald Goddard about a month ago, its about a federal narc named Michael Levine, a true life Sonny Crockett in the 70's & 80's. As far as impact made, he's right up there with Donnie Brasco (Joe Pistone)... in fact they probably knew or knew of each other being northeast guys working a lot of the same kinds of cases during the same era. Its hard to imagine the nerves & huge balls it must take to do this kind of work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Levine_(DEA) Currently reading 'Ark on the Move' by Gerald Durrell, a naturalist who traveled to various far flung islands, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Madagascar,Berenty etc. to document the vanishing wildlife & its habitat. A lot of sad commentary on the state of things in most places & this book is over 20 years old. My town has a Carnegie Endowment library & at the end of each month they stuff a huge shelf with discard books, its an awesome way to build a great library for free, every subject under the sun. I've prolly gotten 50 great books from there in 2+ years. |
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02-07-2010, 02:06 PM | #1232 |
In Search of a Life
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End Zone is a good one of his to read. Pretty short, well written, and about a football player. It's very funny, too.
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02-08-2010, 08:59 PM | #1233 |
Take a Chill Pill
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
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About to start House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski.
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02-11-2010, 09:29 PM | #1234 |
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
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Just started I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.
If it wasn't for the whole Duke law school thing, I'd swear Tucker Max is actually Endelt. |
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02-11-2010, 10:51 PM | #1235 |
Learn it. Know it. Live it.
Join Date: Nov 2002
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Just started reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers.
Looking forward to finally delving into this Pulitzer Prize finalist.
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- * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - Four blessings upon my fellow planeteers: Older whiskey, younger women, faster horses, and more money. |
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02-11-2010, 10:56 PM | #1236 |
Eat/Sleep/Procrastinate/Repeat
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dystopia
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Creative Nonfiction FTW!
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02-11-2010, 10:57 PM | #1237 |
Now you've pissed me off!
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I had sex with someone who was in the same class with Topher, FWIW.
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"When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln |
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02-11-2010, 10:59 PM | #1238 |
Now you've pissed me off!
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Sadly, no. There was one hill in town, and it was manufactured for the 11th hole of the golf course.
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"When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln |
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02-11-2010, 10:59 PM | #1239 |
oxymoron
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Bit out of character, but I was able to get Master and Commander from audible for just under 5 bucks, so I've been listening to that. Like it a lot more than I expected to.
I've tried to start Hero with a Thousand Faces a couple of times, but I'm having a very hard time getting into it. The idea behind it interests me a great deal, but Campbell's prose is just too thick for my taste. Plus there's my inherent dislike of non-fiction. I'm sure I'll plow through it eventually, but it's going to take a while. |
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02-11-2010, 10:59 PM | #1240 |
Eat/Sleep/Procrastinate/Repeat
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dystopia
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Huh. What a strange little connection.
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02-11-2010, 11:00 PM | #1241 |
Now you've pissed me off!
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Two English majors can often have very odd conversations post coitus.
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"When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln |
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02-11-2010, 11:02 PM | #1242 |
Eat/Sleep/Procrastinate/Repeat
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Oh yeah; I've been to that well a few times.
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02-12-2010, 12:36 AM | #1243 |
Insomniac
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If you are a literature major, how difficult is "Inferno" to read? I'm looking for some uber-dramatic, good-vs.-evil masterpiece... something REALLY epic.
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"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." |
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02-12-2010, 05:58 AM | #1244 | |
In Search of a Life
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Quote:
Paradise Lost, on the other hand, is truly about good v. evil and the alluring and interesting nature of evil. On top of that, reading it helps you understand just how much the "modern" concept of Satan, Heaven, and Hell was actually shaped by Paradise Lost instead of the Bible.
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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 |
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02-12-2010, 08:22 AM | #1245 |
Supporter
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America's Secret War (Inside the Hidden Worldwide Struggle Between America and Its Enemies) - George Friedman
Rules Of Deception - Christopher Reich
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If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you. |
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