Topic: Books Thread

[Caaveman82]

I just finished "The End Of Faith" by Sam Harris. It was a pretty good book. Not the usual bible bashing stuff, actually presents a fair argument. Any way.. I also just started "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" by Tucker Max. I have been having trouble getting through it because every time I pick it up and start to read I laugh so hard I may/have/risk peeing a little... good book to read aloud with a group of friends.. only if you like rib crushing style laughing though.

[Peterbylt]

A book thread in a motorcycle forum, how, uh, uh unusual.
I am a Scifi addict, I always have at least 2 or three books going at the same time.
My all time favorite author would be Robert A Heinlein and my favorite book of his would be Time enough for Love.
I have read all the Dune books (well most of them) including some of the new ones by his son that are pretty good.
 
I noticed Atlas shrugged brought up a few times, I've read most of Ayn Rand and liked the Fountainhead the best. Her philosophy has merit.

I am currently reading the Master and Commander series by Patrick O'Brien an awesome series of books and well worth the read but you will be at it for a while.
I also like reading the Florida authors like Carl Hiaasen, he works as a reporter in Miami and takes his books directly out of the headlines and weaves them into story. Tourist Season is a prime example where an Ecology minded terrorist declares war on tourists.

My favorite book of all time is by Herman Wouk who wrote many very serious books such as The Caine Mutiny and War and remembrance but my favorite is called Don't stop the Carnival about a Newyork publicist who buys a resort in the Caribbean and then tries to run it. One of the few books that just gets me laughing out loud and one of few books that I've read 3 or 4 times.

Peter
   

[rhos1355]

American Literature. That's my favourite. Have recently read Grapes of Wrath and Cannery Row by Steinbeck. Wonderful writing, such expression. Such a descriptive turn of phrase. Held me enthralled to the end of both books. I see East of Eden has been given good reviews on this thread, so that's gonna be my next book.

Two other books I greatly enjoyed this year were The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by the Afghan writer Khaled Hosseini.

[BlindJoe]

Just got the John Adams biography by David McCullough for Christmas  , you guys get any new books for Christmas?

[Peterbylt]

Just got the John Adams biography by David McCullough for Christmas  , you guys get any new books for Christmas?

I read the John Adams biography by David McCullough, I really enjoyed reading it. I grew up in the town of Braintree mass. The Adams Houses and the Peacefield Mansion and a lot of the things shown and talked about still exsist. The HBO series was based on this book.

Peter 

[MCRider]

Just got the John Adams biography by David McCullough for Christmas  , you guys get any new books for Christmas?

I got "1776" by DM for Xmas.

[firecracker]

Used to get (and read) a book every Christmas.  Now with kids, my wife doesn't "encourage" me to dissapear for hours at a time...   


If we can talk just "pop" fiction.  I loved The Shining.  Thought the movie was great.  Then I read the book.  Wow.  Kept me looking over my shoulder for a week.

[Caaveman82]

My all time favorite author would be Robert A Heinlein and my favorite book of his would be Time enough for Love.

I am currently reading the Master and Commander series by Patrick O'Brien an awesome series of books and well worth the read but you will be at it for a while.

I am not big on fiction but Heinlein is such a damn good author. 'The Cat Who Walks Through Walls' , 'Red Planet', 'Stranger in a Strange Land' and 'Have Spacesuit Will Travel' are my favorites!

I finished the Master and Commander series about a year ago, that is well worth the read... if you like them you should check out the book about Captain Cook, made Sir Frances Drake look like a Nancy boy!

I got a cool book for Christmas, Paul Simon's lyrics from 64 - 08. Not really something to read, but it's cool to be able to just read the lyrics without the music. He is a good writer.

[alltherightpills]

I got a crap load of books for xmas.  I have all of the tools that I need/have room for (blaspheme, I know) so I asked for books instead. 

She - H. Rider Haggard
A bunch of Sherlock Holmes books
Greenmantle - John Buchan
Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne
Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
The Exploits and Adventures of Brigadier Gerard - Arthur Conan Doyle
Holidays on Ice - David Sedaris
The Man Who Was Thursday - G.K. Chesterton
The Riddle of the Sands - Erskine Childers

Those should keep me busy for a while.

[super pasty white guy]

I'm still in the swamp trying to finish my master's program, so most of my reading time is spoken for.

Current reading on the side when I'm procrastinating includes
   -Anathem by Neal Stephenson (I'll read anything that man puts to paper)
   -Jacquard's Web by James Essinger
   -Superorganism by Bert Hölldobler and Edward O. Wilson
   -Collapse by Jared Diamond-  Can't get into it, his writing style bores me.

Recently completed include Checkpoint by Nicholsom Baker, and Isaac Newton by James Gleick, Spook Country by William Gibson, and a couple of Diskworld novels by Terry Pratchett.

As an aside, does anyone else use a ebook (Sony Reader or Kindle, etc)?  I've got the reader and there's nothing better for having a bunch of reading choices with you at any given time.

spwg

[firecracker]

If you're looking for some reading material, here's a list:

http://www.reason.com/news/show/130716.html

[ryder60]

I once did a swap with a couple of young English ladies.  I had to read Greenmantle for them and they had to read Faulkner's 'The Bear' for me.  I found the thing an adventure story full of action and daring feats and reported back that the guy was a bit of super-hero.  They didn't like The Bear because "nothing happened".  Next we all had to read Chekov.  I said that I liked him and they accused me of diss-ing Shakespeare.  Everyone to his own, I guess.

Chesterton was a very large man and on an occasion, at some sort of social gathering, GB Shaw walked up to him, tapped him on the stomach a couple of times and asked "What are you going to call it?"  Chesterton immediately said " If it's a girl I'll call it Elizabeth, that's my wife's name and I've always loved it.  If it's a boy, well I'll settle for Gilbert Keith.  But if it only turns out to be hot air I'll call it George Bernard Shaw."

I received 'St. Lawrence Blues' - Marie Claire Blais

[ieism]

I read this book recently, were the main character has a little trouble deciding to fall in love or not. He's a pretty selfish and stubborn guy, not an idiot when it comes to women either, and a little over 30 years old.
He hooks up with an ex-gilfriend to go to the park, shortly after ending his relationship with another lady that he'd been living with for 5 years. At first, he's just glad he's not heartbroken or lonenly, but after a few more dates he realizes he comes home after his dates, and is still think about her. The girl he's courting is called May in the book, and his name is Caspar...
So Casper and May were already a couple when they were teens, but they broke up and got together more times than they can remember. May remembers a bit more of it as Caspar was always a bit of a serial dater, and never stopped to think about who he was seeing that much. May tells him one night while on a date, after a few glasses of wine too many, that the last time Caspar broke up with her, she spend 4 months crying, and nearly went crazy. She's the emotional kinda woman. She also notes that it might be better if Casper would stop flirting with her, because she's too scared for that to happen again. If they can just go on dates "as friends" from now on.
Caspar is a little surprised at her honesty, but agrees that's fine. After all, he's not totally in love with her anyhow.
But as time goes on, they somehow find reasons to keep seeing eachother, and notices it's hard for May to keep a distance. She has that look in her eye, plus she hugs/kisses/touches him every opertunity she gets.Mixed signals.
Now, our hero is not easily impressed so he decides to stick to his gentlement agreement for now. Besides, he's a little scared that this relationship might end in drama anyway, because May is just a dramatic kinda person. Better go with a simpler girls after beeing single for the first time in years, he thinks.
Still, when he's alone at home, he can't help but think about her and smile.
Then the phone rings, it's her!
May is usually pretty good at saying what she thinks, but now she can't find the words. She's been thinking a lot, and to her own depair realized she's never stopped loving Casper the last 15 years. Even when Casper left her for another woman years ago, and she was very angry with him. Casper knows she's not making it up, because he sees it her eyes. Plus, she crying on the phone, so it must not be a joke.
Moral dillema's overflow Caspars head.. He doesn't know if he's in love with the girl, or in love with the fact that she so much love for him. Their relationship is special, no doubt, there is a strong passionate vibe when they are together. But at the same time he doesn't want to see her get hurt again, and know their expectations of this thing are very different.
Do you go for this insane loveride that makes your heart pound just thinking about it, or play it safe and wait for an easier relationship without the history and burden of expectations?

Great book:) how do you think it should end?

(Sorry for the long post, I couls have started a new topic, but was afraid Terry would replie with a story about sheep.I'm pretty sure he doesn't read this tread so...)

[firecracker]

I say stay single.

The occasional whore is a lot chepaer than the permanent virgin wife.


Note:  I'm happily married with two great kids, but deep down I have a selfish, hedonistic misogynist living inside my head.   

[Terry in Australia]

I read this book recently, were the main character has a little trouble deciding to fall in love or not. He's a pretty selfish and stubborn guy, not an idiot when it comes to women either, and a little over 30 years old.
He hooks up with an ex-gilfriend to go to the park, shortly after ending his relationship with another lady that he'd been living with for 5 years. At first, he's just glad he's not heartbroken or lonenly, but after a few more dates he realizes he comes home after his dates, and is still think about her. The girl he's courting is called May in the book, and his name is Caspar...
So Casper and May were already a couple when they were teens, but they broke up and got together more times than they can remember. May remembers a bit more of it as Caspar was always a bit of a serial dater, and never stopped to think about who he was seeing that much. May tells him one night while on a date, after a few glasses of wine too many, that the last time Caspar broke up with her, she spend 4 months crying, and nearly went crazy. She's the emotional kinda woman. She also notes that it might be better if Casper would stop flirting with her, because she's too scared for that to happen again. If they can just go on dates "as friends" from now on.
Caspar is a little surprised at her honesty, but agrees that's fine. After all, he's not totally in love with her anyhow.
But as time goes on, they somehow find reasons to keep seeing eachother, and notices it's hard for May to keep a distance. She has that look in her eye, plus she hugs/kisses/touches him every opertunity she gets.Mixed signals.
Now, our hero is not easily impressed so he decides to stick to his gentlement agreement for now. Besides, he's a little scared that this relationship might end in drama anyway, because May is just a dramatic kinda person. Better go with a simpler girls after beeing single for the first time in years, he thinks.
Still, when he's alone at home, he can't help but think about her and smile.
Then the phone rings, it's her!
May is usually pretty good at saying what she thinks, but now she can't find the words. She's been thinking a lot, and to her own depair realized she's never stopped loving Casper the last 15 years. Even when Casper left her for another woman years ago, and she was very angry with him. Casper knows she's not making it up, because he sees it her eyes. Plus, she crying on the phone, so it must not be a joke.
Moral dillema's overflow Caspars head.. He doesn't know if he's in love with the girl, or in love with the fact that she so much love for him. Their relationship is special, no doubt, there is a strong passionate vibe when they are together. But at the same time he doesn't want to see her get hurt again, and know their expectations of this thing are very different.
Do you go for this insane loveride that makes your heart pound just thinking about it, or play it safe and wait for an easier relationship without the history and burden of expectations?

Great book:) how do you think it should end?

(Sorry for the long post, I couls have started a new topic, but was afraid Terry would replie with a story about sheep.I'm pretty sure he doesn't read this tread so...)

Mate, I read your broken English and I'll forgive you as you probably speak several languages and I don't speak anything BUT English, (poorly) but as much as I try, I just can't forgive you for posting such a gay reply...........

I mean, who cares about that sort of faggy stuff? A real Man's book would be about a bloke who rides a hot K1, a "scruffy" K0 and a couple of wicked Suzuki GS1000's, and has been building a twin engined bicycle for a land speed record attempt in 2009, drinks "Makers Mark" Bourbon like water, and whose farts could kill a black dog at 100 metres.

Women? Who cares? The hero of my story can take them or leave them, experience has taught him that they are far less reliable than any motorcycle that even the Italians or British could build, they only have a finite "useful" life-span, and if they didn't have certain appendages, they'd be stacked ten high at the garbage dump, and real men would throw rocks at them............       

[boatsdickson]

My latest about to start - The Cherokee Nation, A History by Robert Conley.

[rhos1355]

Terry, I'll say amen to that.
What a load of poofter's pantings!

[ieism]

He found it! Aren't books gay too Terry?

So I should just ride bikes and forget about real love.

But it's much colder where I live...I don't get to ride the bike nearly as often....what do I do in the meantime?

(Sorry about the broken English, i'm typing this on a phone so spellcheck doesn't work either)

[ieism]

Oh, and while you're here....what's you favorite book, and why?

[DammitDan]

Terry really likes Dr. Seuss books.

Oh, and the Twilight series.

I saw him buy them!  I swear it I did! 

[benly- ben]

I'm reading "long way round" by Ewan mcgregor and Charley boorman. its about their trip of a lifetime going around the world on the BMW gs. they also did long way down, i recommend you buy them both!!!!!!!
Ben

[Terry in Australia]

Oh, and while you're here....what's you favorite book, and why?

Ha ha, you're typing it on a phone? Bloody hell, I can barely use one just to make phone calls, so well done!

Books I like? Hmmmnnn............ I spent several years in Special Forces around the time of the first Gulf War so I read "Bravo Two Zero" by Andy McNabb, at the time Britain's most highly decorated soldier, about the SAS patrol who were "bumped" in Iraq, and the subsequent chase and capture by the Iraqi's, and the torture and deprivation that followed.

It was of particular interest to me, as one of the members of Andy's patrol, was an ex-member of my unit. Andy has written several other books, all of which I find fascinating, because technically, and militarily, they're correct, using current SF doctrine, as opposed to the rubbish that those uninformed space cadets, Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy, throw at an unsuspecting, but obviously gullible, public.

Having said that, I'm no military buff, and I prefer fiction to just about anything else, John Sandford, (the "Prey" series) Graham Masterton's horror stories (so vividly descriptive you'll feel sick, but you won't put the book down until it's over) Thomas Harris, (Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, etc) Bernard Cornwell's magnificent "Sharpe" series, which tells the story of the Peninsula wars between Napoleon and Wellington, thru the eyes of the fictional hero, Richard Sharpe, have me on the edge of my seat.

I could go on, but I've got to get out and finish my twin engined bicycle, and drink some more "Makers Mark", ha ha! Cheers, Terry.    

 

[seaweb11]

and Terrys' Book Club begins

[alltherightpills]

What all did you guys read in 2008? 

Here's my list:
1. The Moviegoer – Walker Percy
2. Stiff – Mary Roach
3. Blue Highways – William Least Heat Moon
4. The Great Railway Bazaar – Paul Theroux
5. In Cold Blood – Truman Capote
6. The English Patient – Michael Ondaantje
7. In the Heart of the Sea – Nathanial Philbrook
8. South – Ernest Shakleton
9. Mother Tongue – Bill Bryson
10. Assassination Vacation – Sarah Vowell
11. Coraline – Neil Gaiman
12. From Hell – Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
13. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh – Michael Chabon
14. The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
15. Then We Came to the End – Joshua Ferris
16. In Patagonia – Bruce Chatwin
17. Nursery Crimes – Ayelet Waldman
18. The City of Ember – Jeanne DuPrau
19. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler – E. L. Konigsberg
20. The Big Nap – Ayelet Waldman
21. The Polysyllabic Spree – Nick Hornby
22. Song of Solomon – Toni Morrison
23. Watchmen – Alan Moore
24. V for Vendetta – Alan Moore
25. The Wind-up Bird Chronicle – Haruki Murakami
26. Under the Black Flag – David Cordingly
27. Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson
28. The Adventures of Huck Finn – Mark Twain
29. Isaac’s Storm – Erik Larson
30. Nightmare Town – Daschiell Hammett
31. Barrel Fever – David Sedaris
32. Interpreter of Maladies – Jhumpa Lahiri
33. Gentleman of the Road – Michael Chabon
34. When You are Engulfed in Flames – David Sedaris
35. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman – Haruki Murakami
36. All The Pretty Horses – Cormac McCarthy
37. Doctor No – Ian Fleming
38. You Only Live Twice – Ian Fleming
39. The Spy Who Loved Me – Ian Fleming
40. Casino Royale – Ian Fleming
41. Moonraker – Ian Fleming
42. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – Ian Fleming
43. The Man With the Golden Gun – Ian Fleming
44. Righting the Mother Tongue – David Wolman

I also discovered this website:  www.librarything.com  where you can upload all of your books and keep track of them (which is great when you have a big collection and are borderline OCD when it comes to your library and keeping track of all of the DATA!!!)  I just signed up for it and have some of my books added (maybe 1/4 of them.)  Here is my library so far: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/alltherightpills

[Bob Wessner]

All,

If you enjoyed "Blue Highways," consider "Travels with Charlie" also.