Books Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading - Page 36

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.

Miles · 03-29-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adept Havelock

If there are any Arthur C. Clarke fans out there, I'm about 200 pages into his last work and loving it. It's a collaboration with Stephen Baxter (British Hard Sci-fi author) called "A Time Odyssey". The trilogy is "Time's Eye", "Sunstorm", and "Firstborn". I think Baxter had the most to do with book 2, it's not as good as the first and last (so far).

Clarke called it an "orthoquel". In "A Space Odyssey", the intelligences that sent the Monolith were cultivating "mind" throughout the galaxy. In "A Time Odyssey", their goals and methods are considerably different.

It's no "Childhood's End", but what is?

I have only read Rama and 2001 so far but enjoyed both of them. I have "Childhoods End" and "The City and the Stars and the Sands of Mars" up on my soon to read list.

plbrdude · 03-29-2008, 06:19 AM

i have been reading "the new birth" by david k bernard. very interesting theology.

Fairplay · 03-29-2008, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I finished The Kite Runner a couple of days ago. Not the kind of book I'd buy on my own, but a friend gave it to me. Wonderful book - hooks you immediately. I may well read the author's next book.

I read his next book A Thousand Splendid Suns, I didn't care for it at all. It was too depressing and it just kind of went on and on like that through most all the book. Big thumbs down IMO.

I did like Kite Runner though.

BigOlChiefsfan · 03-29-2008, 10:52 AM

For anyone who'd like a little sample of Arthur C. Clarke, here is The 9 billion names of God

Adept Havelock · 03-29-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOlChiefsfan

For anyone who'd like a little sample of Arthur C. Clarke, here is The 9 billion names of God

Thanks. I hadn't read that in years.

NewChief · 03-29-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noa

Hey, what were the other Roth books you picked up? Did you read them? I just finished The Human Stain and thought it was excellent. Thought the stuff about Clinton was hilarious and outstanding. He really does a great job of setting up all the characters so you think you know who you like and dislike, and then as he tells you the story of each person, you understand them and gain compassion, and it becomes much more complicated. I love that.
I think this was one of my favorites of his, along with American Pastoral.
His early writing seems to be whimsical and funny, while the later writings have a lot more anger and emotion. Reading the Human Stain and American Pastoral just got me really riled up and got me to think a lot about our country. He is definitely my favorite author. Hopefully you got around to a book of his that you actually like.

I did read the Human Stain and really enjoyed it. I may get back to some other Roth books in the future, but I'm pretty backed up on my reading list.

NewChief · 03-29-2008, 11:31 AM

Currently reading Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card because my students keep bugging me to read it and discuss it with them. I loved Ender's Game, and I'm unsure why it's taken me so long to read this one. I'm loving it as well.

JohninGpt · 03-29-2008, 01:07 PM

Just Started "World Without End", Ken Follett. Sequel to "Pillars of the Earth".
I read "Pillars of the Earth" in 1991, when I was in Iraq for the first time, it is still one of my all-time favorites. I hope this one lives up to it.

BigOlChiefsfan · 03-29-2008, 08:26 PM

I've been on the waiting list for 'In the Courts of the Crimson Kings' by S.M. Stirling, JoCo library just came thru for me today. I like Stirling as a collaborator w/David Drake mo' bettah than I like some of his 'straight up, no chaser' stuff, but these recent Mars/Venus books are pretty good. They're a homage to the old John Carter of Mars - and every other 'jump between planets inhabited by beautiful girls in skimpy duds, dinosaurs and bad green MoFos' book you ever read as a kid. If you didn't read those books...it's not too late.

NewChief · 04-14-2008, 06:11 PM

Took me ages to find this thread without the search feature. Someone rep me (neg or positive, I don't give a shit), so I can easily find it again to bring back to the top.

Anyway:
Read a bunch of stuff, but the one of note would be A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaleid Husseini, author of the Kite Runner. I know a lot of people on here didn't like it, but I thought it was brilliant. It's centers on women in Afghanistan instead of men, which is why I think a lot of people don't like it as much. Excellent, though.

Delano · 04-14-2008, 08:01 PM

Over the last two weeks I read the first 960 pages of The Pillars of the Earth, and no shittin' you, my dog ate the damn thing while I was gone to a wedding.

I read the last 20 pages in a book store and have moved on to McCarthy's The Road. Jesus, this thing is depressing. I really like McCarthy and I think I'll move on to The Border Trilogy next.

NewChief · 04-14-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delano

Over the last two weeks I read the first 960 pages of The Pillars of the Earth, and no shittin' you, my dog ate the damn thing while I was gone to a wedding.

I read the last 20 pages in a book store and have moved on to McCarthy's The Road. Jesus, this thing is depressing. I really like McCarthy and I think I'll move on to The Border Trilogy next.

I dug The Road, which I read pretty recently. I went through a McCarthy phase about 10 years ago, but I think I need to revisit his work again. He seems like he'd stand up to rereads.

RJ · 04-14-2008, 10:17 PM

I'm about halfway through [I]The Road[I] right now and yes, it is depressing but it's also hard to put down.

An observation about getting older - It was only a few years ago that I had a problem with putting a book down when I needed to sleep. I'd know I was going to suffer for it in the morning but I'd just keep turning the pages.

Today I have the opposite problem. No matter how badly I wan to stay awake to read I just can't do it. My eyes get heavy and after trying to read the same paragraph three times I finally put down the book and turn off the light. Lately, I'm finding that the book that used to take me 2-3 days to read now takes me 2-3 weeks.

The mind is willing but the eyes are not.

**Reaper16** · 04-14-2008, 11:37 PM

I have some stuff that I'd like to be reading, but am forced to write papers for classes and read Dickens' "Bleak House."

Once school ends, I have two delicious looking pieces memior/creative nonfiction: "The Boys of My Youth" by JoAnn Beard, and "The Florist's Daughter" by Patricia Hampl.

Jenson71 · 04-14-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

I'm about halfway through [I]The Road[I] right now and yes, it is depressing but it's also hard to put down.

An observation about getting older - It was only a few years ago that I had a problem with putting a book down when I needed to sleep. I'd know I was going to suffer for it in the morning but I'd just keep turning the pages.

Today I have the opposite problem. No matter how badly I wan to stay awake to read I just can't do it. My eyes get heavy and after trying to read the same paragraph three times I finally put down the book and turn off the light. Lately, I'm finding that the book that used to take me 2-3 days to read now takes me 2-3 weeks.

The mind is willing but the eyes are not.

I think you have to stop trying to read in bed, unfortunately.

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: $-2149100	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: 19,388

03-29-2008, 06:19 AM	#527
plbrdude turd herder extraordiaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: hickville,mo Casino cash: $9997165	i have been reading "the new birth" by david k bernard. very interesting theology.
Posts: 2,249

03-29-2008, 10:52 AM	#529
BigOlChiefsfan Certified Bourbon taster Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Shawnee KS Casino cash: $6380157	For anyone who'd like a little sample of Arthur C. Clarke, here is The 9 billion names of God __________________ A man can never own too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition. -- R. Kipling
Posts: 5,164

03-29-2008, 11:31 AM	#532
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $7200204	Currently reading Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card because my students keep bugging me to read it and discuss it with them. I loved Ender's Game, and I'm unsure why it's taken me so long to read this one. I'm loving it as well. __________________ 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
Posts: 21,845

03-29-2008, 01:07 PM	#533
JohninGpt Dammit Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Busted Stick, IT Casino cash: $4228304	Just Started "World Without End", Ken Follett. Sequel to "Pillars of the Earth". I read "Pillars of the Earth" in 1991, when I was in Iraq for the first time, it is still one of my all-time favorites. I hope this one lives up to it.
Posts: 4,161

03-29-2008, 08:26 PM	#534
BigOlChiefsfan Certified Bourbon taster Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Shawnee KS Casino cash: $6380157	I've been on the waiting list for 'In the Courts of the Crimson Kings' by S.M. Stirling, JoCo library just came thru for me today. I like Stirling as a collaborator w/David Drake mo' bettah than I like some of his 'straight up, no chaser' stuff, but these recent Mars/Venus books are pretty good. They're a homage to the old John Carter of Mars - and every other 'jump between planets inhabited by beautiful girls in skimpy duds, dinosaurs and bad green MoFos' book you ever read as a kid. If you didn't read those books...it's not too late. __________________ A man can never own too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition. -- R. Kipling
Posts: 5,164

04-14-2008, 06:11 PM	#535
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $7200204	Took me ages to find this thread without the search feature. Someone rep me (neg or positive, I don't give a shit), so I can easily find it again to bring back to the top. Anyway: Read a bunch of stuff, but the one of note would be A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaleid Husseini, author of the Kite Runner. I know a lot of people on here didn't like it, but I thought it was brilliant. It's centers on women in Afghanistan instead of men, which is why I think a lot of people don't like it as much. Excellent, though. __________________ 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
Posts: 21,845

04-14-2008, 08:01 PM	#536
Delano [b]Supporter[/b] Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A Hypnagogic Landscape Casino cash: $7705015	Over the last two weeks I read the first 960 pages of The Pillars of the Earth, and no shittin' you, my dog ate the damn thing while I was gone to a wedding. I read the last 20 pages in a book store and have moved on to McCarthy's The Road. Jesus, this thing is depressing. I really like McCarthy and I think I'll move on to The Border Trilogy next. __________________ A million CPilgrims face Mecca. Think of the power behind that fact. All logging in now. And bending. And praying. ChiefsPlanet is the angle at which realities meet. - Don DeLillo
Posts: 13,020

04-14-2008, 10:17 PM	#538
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9895202	I'm about halfway through [I]The Road[I] right now and yes, it is depressing but it's also hard to put down. An observation about getting older - It was only a few years ago that I had a problem with putting a book down when I needed to sleep. I'd know I was going to suffer for it in the morning but I'd just keep turning the pages. Today I have the opposite problem. No matter how badly I wan to stay awake to read I just can't do it. My eyes get heavy and after trying to read the same paragraph three times I finally put down the book and turn off the light. Lately, I'm finding that the book that used to take me 2-3 days to read now takes me 2-3 weeks. The mind is willing but the eyes are not.
Posts: 14,938