Anyone have some good book recommendations? I'm open to all genres, looking for books published in the few years. I'm ordering a book every week or so during quarantine and I figured it may be easier to start a thread than do research every time. Any suggestions welcome and appreciated!
Books I've read so far that I've enjoyed:
The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead
The World Doesn't Require You - Rion Amilcar Scott
The Victory Machine - Ethan Strauss
Good Talk - Mira Jacob
Long Road to Mercy - David Baldacci
A Minute to Midnight - David Baldacci
All The Pieces Matter - David Simon
Tom Crean: Setting the Tone for a Successful Season by Tom Crean
My two favorite books I read in the past year:
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. Uses the family of a disappeared woman as the jumping off point to write about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Won several awards.
They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib. He's a music writer that I'm a big fan of. This is a collection of essays that gradually transitions from music to race and other social issues. It's from 2017. Last year he wrote Go Ahead in the Rain about A Tribe Called Quest, which I also recommend if you're at all into hip-hop. But I liked Kill Us more.
50 Shades of Gray, hey?
One thing this pandemic has showed is that my excuse for not reading more, "because I don't have the time," is a load of crap.
Quote from: drewm88 on April 23, 2020, 01:38:05 PM
My two favorite books I read in the past year:
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. Uses the family of a disappeared woman as the jumping off point to write about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Won several awards.
They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib. He's a music writer that I'm a big fan of. This is a collection of essays that gradually transitions from music to race and other social issues. It's from 2017. Last year he wrote Go Ahead in the Rain about A Tribe Called Quest, which I also recommend if you're at all into hip-hop. But I liked Kill Us more.
I'll check these out, thanks.
I just ordered The Topeka School by Ben Lerner and Lot by Bryan Washington. Will probably order two of your suggestions afterwards.
Quote from: Fluffy Blue Monster on April 23, 2020, 01:56:07 PM
One thing this pandemic has showed is that my excuse for not reading more, "because I don't have the time," is a load of crap.
I stopped reading for five years with the same excuse and only started up again because reading for an hour before bed greatly increased my quality of sleep. Now I'm hooked.
Quote from: Fluffy Blue Monster on April 23, 2020, 01:56:07 PM
One thing this pandemic has showed is that my excuse for not reading more, "because I don't have the time," is a load of crap.
It's a struggle to keep my reading up during this. My commute was my most consistent time to read -- regular books on CTA, audiobooks if I'm driving or biking. Plus I'm now doing more work at night to make up for work time lost to childcare (Fear not, Scoop time during work remains consistent.)
Quote from: BM1090 on April 23, 2020, 02:04:07 PM
I'll check these out, thanks.
I just ordered The Topeka School by Ben Lerner and Lot by Bryan Washington. Will probably order two of your suggestions afterwards.
Topeka's on my list. Will have to look into Lot as well.
Quote from: BM1090 on April 22, 2020, 10:36:30 PM
Anyone have some good book recommendations? I'm open to all genres, looking for books published in the few years. I'm ordering a book every week or so during quarantine and I figured it may be easier to start a thread than do research every time. Any suggestions welcome and appreciated!
Books I've read so far that I've enjoyed:
The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead
The World Doesn't Require You - Rion Amilcar Scott
The Victory Machine - Ethan Strauss
Good Talk - Mira Jacob
Long Road to Mercy - David Baldacci
A Minute to Midnight - David Baldacci
All The Pieces Matter - David Simon
Lincoln's Last Trial by Dan Abrams. About the murder trial that really vaulted Lincoln into the national spotlight and set him on the road to the Presidency.
The Baseball Codes by Jason Turbow. Great book about the "unwritten" rules of baseball (when it's okay to throw a beanball, players policing the game, etc.)
Both quick and easy reads.
"Playing With Fire" by Lawrence O'Donnell about the 1968 election. I expected a partisan hack job but it was very insightful and a great look at early Roger Ailes
"Heirs of the Founders" by H.W. Brands about Daniel Webster, Henry Clay and John Calhoun
"Ron Wolf and the Green Bay Packers" by Michael Bauman - great look back at what Wolf inherited and the path to Super Bowl 31
I have about 40 or 50 unread books on my shelf, and I finally have an opportunity to start in on it.
Some of my recommendations (and I promise that none of it is Chick Lit):
Anything by Marquette alum Steve Rushin
James Martin, S.J. brings some interesting and humorous perspectives on religion and the modern world.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Yes, it's the book that inspired the musical, and it is fascinating. Maybe 5% of it actually made it into the show.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
For those planning a little post-virus travel: 1000 Places to Visit in the U.S. and Canada Before You Die.
I am a big fan of Paperback Swap to get books.
Not recent, but a few I have read/reread lately:
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
Quote from: warriorchick on April 23, 2020, 06:13:08 PM
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Yes, it's the book that inspired the musical, and it is fascinating. Maybe 5% of it actually made it into the show.
I read that and thought it was a great book. Really impressive life that you also go "WTF were you thinking!"
I just finished John Adams by David McCullough (who also spoke at my graduation). That one was a great read. He's one of the easiest authors to read for history in my opinion.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on April 23, 2020, 06:15:05 PM
Not recent, but a few I have read/reread lately:
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
I've read some of the Didion and Krakauer books because my wife was such a big fan.
Into Thin Air and Under the Banner of Heaven were great Krakauer books.
And every sports fan should read Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman. Pat was not the man that he was made out to be after he gave up the NFL to enlist after 9/11. This book is bases on Pat's journals that he started writing when he was a kid.
I have to get back to my Ron Chernow Grant book before the History Channel runs the 3-part mini series.
They keep listing it as coming soon.
Paco' Story
Fr. Joe
The Boys in the Boat
The Liberator
Guns at Last Light
I Heard You Paint Houses
Quote from: vogue65 on April 24, 2020, 09:58:31 AM
Paco' Story
Fr. Joe
The Boys in the Boat
The Liberator
Guns at Last Light
I Heard You Paint Houses
Glad to see you're doing OK vogue.
Quote from: Fluffy Blue Monster on April 24, 2020, 10:02:44 AM
Glad to see you're doing OK vogue.
Yes, but, NYC and Newark are a desaster. NYC Transit (bus drivers) has been decimated.
FDNY and NYPD the same.
V.A. hospitals have been opened to civilans, don't tell anyone.
I live rural, but think urban.
TG for NOOK.
Truman by David McCullough
The Age of Eisenhower by William Hitchcock
Lords of the Realm by John Heylar
President Carter by Stuart Eizenstat
Strong Inside by Andrew Maraniss
Little bit of background. I'm a political junkie who will read political books about almost anyone. McCullough's is a classic and Hitchcock's book about Eisenhower is an especially good peek into the 1950s and the Eisenhower Presidency. The Eizenstat book about President Carter is brand new and probably did more to illuminate the good President Carter did as president than anything I've read to date. It's a great read. Full disclosure: I rather admire President Carter and I think his work as President was lost in the fog of two ayatollahs -- Khomeini and Volcker.
Two sports books I really like: The first is Lords of the Realm. It's the best synopsis of baseball's business history ever. It takes one from the beginning of baseball through free agency and the first strikes. It's a great companion to The Game, by John Pessah, who picks up where Heylar left off and runs baseball into the modern era.
The second is Strong Inside. This book is an incredible book about an incredible man, Perry Wallace. Mr. Wallace played for Vanderbilt, which is not extraordinary, except for one thing. Mr. Wallace was African-American. Up until 1967, no African American ever before played basketball in the Southeastern Conference. The part of the book about Mr. Wallace's critical frankness about his time at Vanderbilt, the largely forgotten legacy he left Vandy and then the university's redemption of its legacy with Mr. Wallace was incredible.
Quote from: dgies9156 on April 25, 2020, 04:53:45 PM
Truman by David McCullough
The Age of Eisenhower by William Hitchcock
Lords of the Realm by John Heylar
President Carter by Stuart Eizenstat
Strong Inside by Andrew Maraniss
Little bit of background. I'm a political junkie who will read political books about almost anyone. McCullough's is a classic and Hitchcock's book about Eisenhower is an especially good peek into the 1950s and the Eisenhower Presidency. The Eizenstat book about President Carter is brand new and probably did more to illuminate the good President Carter did as president than anything I've read to date. It's a great read. Full disclosure: I rather admire President Carter and I think his work as President was lost in the fog of two ayatollahs -- Khomeini and Volcker.
Two sports books I really like: The first is Lords of the Realm. It's the best synopsis of baseball's business history ever. It takes one from the beginning of baseball through free agency and the first strikes. It's a great companion to The Game, by John Pessah, who picks up where Heylar left off and runs baseball into the modern era.
The second is Strong Inside. This book is an incredible book about an incredible man, Perry Wallace. Mr. Wallace played for Vanderbilt, which is not extraordinary, except for one thing. Mr. Wallace was African-American. Up until 1967, no African American ever before played basketball in the Southeastern Conference. The part of the book about Mr. Wallace's critical frankness about his time at Vanderbilt, the largely forgotten legacy he left Vandy and then the university's redemption of its legacy with Mr. Wallace was incredible.
Had a chief 30 years ago recommend Truman. Finally in retirement I read it, amazing information. I could not put it down. For me balance is the key; politics, history, spirituality, sports, mystery, music, science, philosophy, as we say, balance/finding God in all things.
Rereading some of my favorites. So far:
The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien
The four "Frank Bascombe" novels by Richard Ford - The Sportswriter, Independence Day, The Lay of the Land and Let Me Be Frank With You.
Been reading and enjoying each of these as I tend to read a few at a time
In the Galway Silence- Ken Bruen latest in the Jack Taylor series. Pure poetry in staccato sentences
begin with The Guards to get the flavor and cadence of his wit
A Great and Terrible King- Morris story of Edward I
The Girl with all the Gifts- Carey if you tend for the unique and offbeat
House of Lies - Le Carre another superb spy novel
Quote from: dgies9156 on April 25, 2020, 04:53:45 PM
Truman by David McCullough
The Age of Eisenhower by William Hitchcock
Lords of the Realm by John Heylar
President Carter by Stuart Eizenstat
Strong Inside by Andrew Maraniss
Little bit of background. I'm a political junkie who will read political books about almost anyone. McCullough's is a classic and Hitchcock's book about Eisenhower is an especially good peek into the 1950s and the Eisenhower Presidency. The Eizenstat book about President Carter is brand new and probably did more to illuminate the good President Carter did as president than anything I've read to date. It's a great read. Full disclosure: I rather admire President Carter and I think his work as President was lost in the fog of two ayatollahs -- Khomeini and Volcker.
Two sports books I really like: The first is Lords of the Realm. It's the best synopsis of baseball's business history ever. It takes one from the beginning of baseball through free agency and the first strikes. It's a great companion to The Game, by John Pessah, who picks up where Heylar left off and runs baseball into the modern era.
The second is Strong Inside. This book is an incredible book about an incredible man, Perry Wallace. Mr. Wallace played for Vanderbilt, which is not extraordinary, except for one thing. Mr. Wallace was African-American. Up until 1967, no African American ever before played basketball in the Southeastern Conference. The part of the book about Mr. Wallace's critical frankness about his time at Vanderbilt, the largely forgotten legacy he left Vandy and then the university's redemption of its legacy with Mr. Wallace was incredible.
Lords of the Realm is one of the best sports books ever written
Quote from: warriorchick on April 23, 2020, 06:13:08 PM
I have about 40 or 50 unread books on my shelf, and I finally have an opportunity to start in on it.
Some of my recommendations (and I promise that none of it is Chick Lit):
Anything by Marquette alum Steve Rushin
James Martin, S.J. brings some interesting and humorous perspectives on religion and the modern world.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Yes, it's the book that inspired the musical, and it is fascinating. Maybe 5% of it actually made it into the show.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
For those planning a little post-virus travel: 1000 Places to Visit in the U.S. and Canada Before You Die.
I am a big fan of Paperback Swap to get books.
ALL OF THESE; esp recommend the Rushin memoirs if you are an MU grad from the 80's
Just finished The Subterranean Railway by Christian Wolmar. History of the London Underground.
https://youtu.be/amLnpe3F__8
Solid reedin'. Gonna get da udder 4 volumes, hey?
Quote from: warriorchick on April 23, 2020, 06:13:08 PM
Anything by Marquette alum Steve Rushin
I just got done reading Nights in White Castle on my Kindle app (had to wait a bit to get it from the digital library but can't beat that price) and really enjoyed it. He's a little older than me but it was fun to read about his experiences at Marquette - there were still a lot of familiar things there. I've always gotten a kick out of the story about how he met his wife Rebecca Lobo which was touched upon in the book also of course.
Currently reading The Creators by Daniel Boorstin. It is dense, but very interesting.
Bulwark recommended The Splended and The Vile, so much to read, so little time.
My favorite author Michael Connelly is coming out with a new book called Fair Warning on May 26th. I wasn't very good about checking his website for info about his next new book so I'm kind of low on some library waiting lists to get the book (regular and digital library) but I'll get it eventually...
I just tried out Audm based on a recommendation. It is a nice way to consume long-form journalism. Essentially book on tape for recent articles.
Quote from: Frenns Liquor Depot on May 15, 2020, 01:00:33 PM
I just tried out Audm based on a recommendation. It is a nice way to consume long-form journalism. Essentially book on tape for recent articles.
Looks interesting. My only concern is that the list of magazines covered is still relatively limited, with only a couple (Atlantic, New Yorker, maybe Outside) being publications I'd likely listen to. If they ever add the Economist and/or maybe some more science or nature stuff (Smithsonian, Scientific American, etc), I would be on board in a New York Minute.
Once We Were Brothers
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 16, 2020, 05:48:49 PM
Looks interesting. My only concern is that the list of magazines covered is still relatively limited, with only a couple (Atlantic, New Yorker, maybe Outside) being publications I'd likely listen to. If they ever add the Economist and/or maybe some more science or nature stuff (Smithsonian, Scientific American, etc), I would be on board in a New York Minute.
I actually asked them about adding the economist. I will let you know their response.
I learned that NY times bought them earlier this year. So that may impact broadening the platform.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 16, 2020, 05:48:49 PM
Looks interesting. My only concern is that the list of magazines covered is still relatively limited, with only a couple (Atlantic, New Yorker, maybe Outside) being publications I'd likely listen to. If they ever add the Economist and/or maybe some more science or nature stuff (Smithsonian, Scientific American, etc), I would be on board in a New York Minute.
Apparently economist is going to another platform.
Quote from: Frenns Liquor Depot on May 17, 2020, 08:25:25 PM
Apparently economist is going to another platform.
Thanks for the update. Might still give it a shot...especially if they add the NYTimes.
The Art of the Deal.
Quote from: Keithtisbarf on May 17, 2020, 11:34:07 PM
The Art of the Deal.
Now that's funny, best line of the day.
Quote from: vogue65 on May 18, 2020, 01:51:29 PM
Now that's funny, best line of the day.
It's the funniest book I ever read.
Some fiction I've liked recently:
The Art of Fielding - Chad Harbach
The entire Three Body Problem trilogy - just amazing
If you like King, The Institute is one of his better ones in awhile.
Reading John M. Barry's, "The Great Influenza".
Fascinating history of the 1918 pandemic and of American medical history from about 1870-1920. Less fascinating history of the bureaucracy because it rings true in 2020.
Quote from: warriorchick on April 23, 2020, 06:13:08 PM
I have about 40 or 50 unread books on my shelf, and I finally have an opportunity to start in on it.
Some of my recommendations (and I promise that none of it is Chick Lit):
Anything by Marquette alum Steve Rushin
James Martin, S.J. brings some interesting and humorous perspectives on religion and the modern world.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Yes, it's the book that inspired the musical, and it is fascinating. Maybe 5% of it actually made it into the show.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
For those planning a little post-virus travel: 1000 Places to Visit in the U.S. and Canada Before You Die.
I am a big fan of Paperback Swap to get books.
Never heard of this before but looks really intriguing. Legit service I assume. Quick explanation on how it works?
Quote from: Stronghold on June 02, 2020, 08:08:33 PM
Never heard of this before but looks really intriguing. Legit service I assume. Quick explanation on how it works?
I have been doing Paperback Swap for years. If you are willing to wait for the books you want to read, it's great.
You sign up and add all of the books you are willing to trade by entering the ISBN number. When someone requests one of your books, you mail it and pay the postage, but then you get a credit to get a book from someone else, who will mail it to you for free. I believe they give you two credits to start out with when you sign up.
Quote from: warriorchick on June 02, 2020, 08:31:16 PM
I have been doing Paperback Swap for years. If you are willing to wait for the books you want to read, it's great.
You sign up and add all of the books you are willing to trade by entering the ISBN number. When someone requests one of your books, you mail it and pay the postage, but then you get a credit to get a book from someone else, who will mail it to you for free. I believe they give you two credits to start out with when you sign up.
So its like the reserve shelf at the the library, but you pay for it?
How's the selection?
Quote from: ZiggysFryBoy on June 02, 2020, 09:20:52 PM
So its like the reserve shelf at the the library, but you pay for it?
How's the selection?
A library with extra steps.
Quote from: ZiggysFryBoy on June 02, 2020, 09:20:52 PM
So its like the reserve shelf at the the library, but you pay for it?
How's the selection?
I guess it depends on what you want.
Take a look for yourself
https://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php
Quote from: warriorchick on June 02, 2020, 09:45:01 PM
I guess it depends on what you want.
Take a look for yourself
https://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php
I was hoping you could transfer my goodreads "to read" list, you know, retirement and stuff. :D
Quote from: ZiggysFryBoy on June 02, 2020, 09:51:51 PM
I was hoping you could transfer my goodreads "to read" list, you know, retirement and stuff. :D
The whole point of retiring is so that I can do the stuff that
I want to do.
I read mostly SF/F these days. I highly recommend at least two series by NK Jemison.
The Broken Earth Trilogy. Each book in the series won the Hugo award in its respective year (2016, 17, 18).
The Inheritance Trilogy. I'm halfway through the last book and it has been a great series as well.
(have not read her newest book yet)
Almost done with third volume of Hilary Mantel's fictional trilogy which is structured around Cromwell's rise as a counselor to Henry VIII (I. Wolf Hall- downfall of Thomas More; II. Bring Up the Bodies- the fate of Anne Boleyn; and III. The Mirror and the Light - Thomas Cromwell's undoing). It is as good as the first two; she has a remarkable ability to place the reader in the room. It takes a while to get used to how she identifies Cromwell's thoughts and dialogue, and there is a fair amount of archaic language and unfamiliar (to most of us) people and places, but I have enjoyed learning about those. It was especially easy using a digital reader (which I did for the first two volumes) where I could click on unfamiliar terms and have them defined or link to a website to give me more history on certain topics. I've been reading an old fashioned book for Vol. III, though I have my phone handy for quick look-ups.
It will be a new (and, shall we say, more balanced) treatment of St. Thomas More for most Catholics or anyone whose understanding of him is based on the book and/or film A Man for All Seasons.
Also read the first volume of a 5 volume history of Illinois (let the jokes commence) written by a shirt-tail relative and published in 1933. BinL gave it to me for my birthday-beautiful leather bound books - first edition bc God know there were no more editions published! That ended with Lincoln Douglas debates. It will take a lot to muscle through the next 4...
Not an uplifting tale, but I'm about halfway through "Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism" by case and deaton.
It is data driven and very interesting.
Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman
Just finished Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli.
Quote from: Ellenson Family Reunion on June 07, 2020, 03:28:01 PM
Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman
Speaking of Thomas More (see two posts above)...
Read Ezra Klein on "Why We're Polarized." Good analysis. If you lean right of center, you may not love it because of his politics, but I also think his assessment of why we are polarized is well done.
Halfway through "Say Nothing", non fiction on a kidnapping murder mystery during the Troubles. Very well written and researched. It brings back my vague memories as a 5 to 10 year old of seeing what was happening in Belfast on the news.
Listened to Erik Larsen's The Splended and the Vile on a road trip last week. I've read a lot on Churchill, but this was a fresh take for me in that it focused on one year during the war - his first year as PM, dealing mostly with the German bombing of London. A flawed man, but a great Leader during that time.
" The Decameron" would be an appropriate read about now
One of the books I have been rereading as of late is a 2016 book called Making the Unequal Metropolis: School Desegregation and Its Limits. It was written by Ansley T. Erickson about my former hometown, Nashville, TN, and the era during the time I lived there (1960s and 1970s). Had I not been educated in Nashville's Catholic School System (which also produced the lovely and talented Chick), I would have been in the middle of it. Many of my friends were.
Ms. Erickson is an education history scholar at Columbia. She is not a native Nashvillian and it shows at times in her occasional lack of understanding of the city and infrequent factual mistakes. Yet she captures the tenor of times from an African American's perspective. The Caucasian perspective on School Desegregation in Metro Nashville long ago was over-covered. The African-American perspective far less so. Given the re-emergence of a protest movement and concerns above acceptance by African-Americans into the broader community, the book is an eye-opener.
Ironically, it also explained more than a few bizarre trends that went on in Metro education from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Quote from: dgies9156 on July 07, 2020, 04:52:53 PM
One of the books I have been rereading as of late is a 2016 book called Making the Unequal Metropolis: School Desegregation and Its Limits. It was written by Ansley T. Erickson about my former hometown, Nashville, TN, and the era during the time I lived there (1960s and 1970s). Had I not been educated in Nashville's Catholic School System (which also produced the lovely and talented Chick), I would have been in the middle of it. Many of my friends were.
Ms. Erickson is an education history scholar at Columbia. She is not a native Nashvillian and it shows at times in her occasional lack of understanding of the city and infrequent factual mistakes. Yet she captures the tenor of times from an African American's perspective. The Caucasian perspective on School Desegregation in Metro Nashville long ago was over-covered. The African-American perspective far less so. Given the re-emergence of a protest movement and concerns above acceptance by African-Americans into the broader community, the book is an eye-opener.
Ironically, it also explained more than a few bizarre trends that went on in Metro education from the 1950s to the 1970s.
My family moved to Nashville from downstate Illinois in the summer of 1972. That fall, I was one of six new kids in my Catholic School class (one would normally expect one or two). I found out later that it was the first year of integration in Nashville.
I just finished "Killers of the Flower Moon" and it was fantastic. It's about the Osage tribe murders and the FBI. Interesting read based on current times of how white people treated minorities only 100 years ago.
Quick read that read a bit like a Law & Order episode.
Been rereading the Hunger Games series as we got the prequel and I wanted to refresh myself on the world first.
Took a detour to read Trevor Noah's excellent autobiography Born A Crime. Also started with audiobooks for the first time, listening to The Hate U Give. Also had no idea there was a new Robert Langdon book from Dan Brown out, just waiting on that audiobook to become available. I'm listening on the Libby app, which allows me to get audiobooks from the Milwaukee Public Library. Nice function and feature.
Quote from: LloydsLegs on June 04, 2020, 11:28:04 AM
Almost done with third volume of Hilary Mantel's fictional trilogy which is structured around Cromwell's rise as a counselor to Henry VIII (I. Wolf Hall- downfall of Thomas More; II. Bring Up the Bodies- the fate of Anne Boleyn; and III. The Mirror and the Light - Thomas Cromwell's undoing). It is as good as the first two; she has a remarkable ability to place the reader in the room. It takes a while to get used to how she identifies Cromwell's thoughts and dialogue, and there is a fair amount of archaic language and unfamiliar (to most of us) people and places, but I have enjoyed learning about those.
Did you see the mini-series on Netflix based on the 1st two books? Very well done.
Quote from: Jockey on July 16, 2020, 05:32:20 PM
Did you see the mini-series on Netflix based on the 1st two books? Very well done.
Yes and agreed. Mark Rylance is remarkable and I can't watch Billions without thinking of Damian Lewis as Henry VIII.
Quote from: brewcity77 on July 16, 2020, 03:58:28 PM
Been rereading the Hunger Games series as we got the prequel and I wanted to refresh myself on the world first.
Took a detour to read Trevor Noah's excellent autobiography Born A Crime. Also started with audiobooks for the first time, listening to The Hate U Give. Also had no idea there was a new Robert Langdon book from Dan Brown out, just waiting on that audiobook to become available. I'm listening on the Libby app, which allows me to get audiobooks from the Milwaukee Public Library. Nice function and feature.
You got me excited to read more shítty fiction by dan brown, but then realized you were talking about his book from 2017. ;D ;D
Quote from: ZiggysFryBoy on August 13, 2020, 06:37:34 PM
You got me excited to read more shítty fiction by dan brown, but then realized you were talking about his book from 2017. ;D ;D
Somehow I totally missed that one. Honestly, it was probably the most predictable one I've read by him. Had the ending figured out about 2/3 of the way through.
Just finished
The Good Neighbor, which is a biography of Fred Rogers. Really endearing book, brought back a lot of fond memories of the show and the simple lessons he made so clear to me as a youngster.
Quote from: ZiggysFryBoy on August 13, 2020, 06:37:34 PM
You got me excited to read more shítty fiction by dan brown, but then realized you were talking about his book from 2017. ;D ;D
Never got the whole Dan Brown thing. Lots of better "sh!tty fiction" out there if that's what you're looking for.
Jockitch has a pre-order on the graphic novel version of Michael Cohen's book.
Quote from: ZiggysFryBoy on August 13, 2020, 10:10:25 PM
Jockitch has a pre-order on the graphic novel version of Michael Cohen's book.
LOL
Just finished Mary Trump's book. I don't really recommend it. Not much there we don't already know. The first half was mostly about her grandfather (Fred Trump) and her dad (Freddy, Don's oldest brother), and it was pretty boring.
A much better read was "Commander In Cheat," by Rick Reilly. Far funnier and more revealing. Rick Wilson's book is also much better.
Agree with brewski about Trevor Noah's book. A real eye-opener.
And just for kicks I re-read one of my all-time faves, The World According to Garp.
It's an old one...but I just finished The Cider House Rules by John Irving. Outstanding read if you haven't already done it. IMHO, much better than The World According to Garp (which I thought was good, but not great).
Next on my list is Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski.
1/3 the way through The Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins, great so far
I read "A Burning" during vacation. Was written in a way that is really engaging and lived up to the hype.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on August 19, 2020, 05:24:04 PM
It's an old one...but I just finished The Cider House Rules by John Irving. Outstanding read if you haven't already done it. IMHO, much better than The World According to Garp (which I thought was good, but not great).
Next on my list is Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski.
Obviously, since I just got through saying Garp was a fave, I disagree that Cider House was better. But I liked it. Irving's Hotel New Hampshire and Owen Meany also excellent reads.
Quote from: MU82 on August 21, 2020, 01:28:11 PM
Obviously, since I just got through saying Garp was a fave, I disagree that Cider House was better. But I liked it. Irving's Hotel New Hampshire and Owen Meany also excellent reads.
Funny - I read your comment about Mary Trump and Rick Wilson's books, and somehow skimmed right over your comment on Garp when I posted.
In any event, Garp and Cider House are both worth reading, and I can see how someone could pick either as his or her fave.
Just starting the Bukowski book now, but I might grab the other Irving books you mentioned - both have been on my 'someday' list for a long time.
Asymmetry - Lisa Halladay.
Just started The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai.
Looking forward to taking some suggestions from earlier and reading Say Nothing and They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on August 21, 2020, 03:51:23 PM
Funny - I read your comment about Mary Trump and Rick Wilson's books, and somehow skimmed right over your comment on Garp when I posted.
In any event, Garp and Cider House are both worth reading, and I can see how someone could pick either as his or her fave.
Just starting the Bukowski book now, but I might grab the other Irving books you mentioned - both have been on my 'someday' list for a long time.
Everybody in my family loved Owen Meany. Reading it, you can "hear" Owen's incredibly distinctive voice.
Quote from: MU82 on August 21, 2020, 01:28:11 PM
Obviously, since I just got through saying Garp was a fave, I disagree that Cider House was better. But I liked it. Irving's Hotel New Hampshire and Owen Meany also excellent reads.
The World According to Garp was Irving's masterpiece - absolutely loved it. A Prayer for Owen Meany had parts that were brilliant. Other books by him ranged from OK to good IMO.
Quote from: cheebs09 on July 16, 2020, 10:59:02 AM
I just finished "Killers of the Flower Moon" and it was fantastic. It's about the Osage tribe murders and the FBI. Interesting read based on current times of how white people treated minorities only 100 years ago.
Quick read that read a bit like a Law & Order episode.
A close friend just read it and he recommends it also.
In retirement, I finally found the courage to read LAST STAND at KHE SANH.
My O.C.S. class is all over the book.
My Khe Sanh friend who has a service dog is in the book.
I can read it until my eyes water up.
Quote from: MU82 on August 21, 2020, 01:28:11 PM
Obviously, since I just got through saying Garp was a fave, I disagree that Cider House was better. But I liked it. Irving's Hotel New Hampshire and Owen Meany also excellent reads.
I made the Irving rounds around 25 years ago. Owen meany (I still have Owen meany's wrecked and ALL CAPS voice in my head ) and Garp were my favorites. Good collection of short stories too. Love his characters, and the narrative, although his bringing all plot points together was a bit facile, if humorous
Yes! See my comment above Still can't get him screeching about the armadillo out of my head.
The Owen Meany movie was pretty good too. Didn't have the star power of Garp (Robin Williams, Glenn Close, John Lithgow), but still entertaining. Hotel New Hampshire (the movie) was a dumpster fire.
Edit: For clarification, the movie based on Irving's "A Prayer For Owen Meany" was called "Simon Birch."
Quote from: MU82 on August 26, 2020, 07:36:27 PM
The Owen Meany movie was pretty good too. Didn't have the star power of Garp (Robin Williams, Glenn Close, John Lithgow), but still entertaining. Hotel New Hampshire (the movie) was a dumpster fire.
Eh, it just disturbed you that you found yourself attracted to Rob Lowe dressed in drag.
Quote from: warriorchick on August 26, 2020, 08:05:34 PM
Eh, it just disturbed you that you found yourself attracted to Rob Lowe dressed in drag.
Not at all. He had the legs for it. (Unlike Lithgow in Garp!)
I rarely watch movie adaptations of books I've read, because when I did in the past they were always a disappointment. One notable exception was Hidden Figures - the book was better, but the movie still held its own.
Quote from: BM1090 on August 21, 2020, 07:02:46 PM
Asymmetry - Lisa Halladay.
Just started The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai.
Looking forward to taking some suggestions from earlier and reading Say Nothing and They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us.
The Great Believers is the best book I've read in a couple of years. Strongly recommend.
Just finished Owen Meany. Remarkable book; probably my new favorite by John Irving.
Next up is Straight Man by Richard Russo. I enjoyed his writing in Empire Falls, so I decided I would try another of his books.
Finishing Black echo, the first Bosch novel. (Michael Connelly)
Having watched and enjoyed the series, the book is different yet equally good.
Just finished Not Wanted on the Voyage by Timothy Findley.
Highly recommended.
Just finished the Woodward book on the outgoing president.
Not going to make this a political discussion, just saying that I felt it was a good read, mostly centered around the 17 conversations Woodward had with Trump. Also interesting stuff from conversations Woodward had with Jared, Mattis and numerous others. It's not often that the American public gets this deep a look into the inner workings of both a president's mind and an administration. Woodward remains one of the most influential journalists in history.
The Mary Trump book was amateur hour in comparison.
For those who like something maybe a little less heavy, both Rick Wilson's book and Rick Reilly's book are easy reads that are quite funny while offering unique insight into the man. Especially Reilly's, which focuses mostly on Trump's behavior/attitude as it relates to golf.
I just finished "Say Nothing" about a famous kidnapping and murder in Northern Ireland during the troubles. It was on President Obama's must-read list from 2019. In addition to the murder, it focuses on two sisters who became famous IRA members, the hunger strikers at the Maze Prison (Bobby Sands), the inner workings of the IRA, and what a weasel Gerry Adams has turned out to be. I've read a ton about NI and studied in Belfast for a while and I really enjoyed this.
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on November 12, 2020, 02:28:05 PM
I just finished "Say Nothing" about a famous kidnapping and murder in Northern Ireland during the troubles. It was on President Obama's must-read list from 2019. In addition to the murder, it focuses on two sisters who became famous IRA members, the hunger strikers at the Maze Prison (Bobby Sanda), the inner workings of the IRA, and what a weasel Gerry Adams has turned out to be. I've read a ton about NI and studied in Belfast for a while and I really enjoyed this.
I read this as well recently and agree it was a very interesting read.
Quote from: Frenns Liquor Depot on November 12, 2020, 02:32:47 PM
I read this as well recently and agree it was a very interesting read.
the Price sisters. Damn. The level of crazy there to be that dedicated to the cause is high.
I just finished Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
Sci-fi/fantasy with an Orwellian-level dystopia. I generally don't dip into the sci-fi/fantasy genre, but Atwood is such a phenomenal writer and the book is excellent. It is the first in the MaddAddam trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the last two.
I was waiting for a new book order to arrive, so I picked up 1984 from my bookshelf. It was assigned my freshman year ('80-'81) at MU, since we were gonna be the class of 1984. This was my first time re-reading it since back in the fall of '80.
It was so much better than I remembered it. Maybe something about it being assigned reading then and voluntary now, or maybe just the passage of time, but it was so ominous and overwhelming. And of course we now have all the technology to make it possible.....
Finally finished Say Nothing. My knowledge of Irish History and the IRA was embarrassingly low before reading, so the first 75 pages were rough. Once I was able to obtain some familiarity with the era and the people I thoroughly enjoyed it. Brilliantly written. Highly recommend.
Now reading A Burning by Megha Majumdar and it is intriguing. Definitely a lighter read.
Leave The World Behind - Rumaan Alam.
Quote from: vogue65 on August 23, 2020, 09:38:16 AM
A close friend just read it and he recommends it also.
Also recommended by a friend, sad to say, not yet in my library, two suggestions, 3 suggestions should be enough.
Lately I have not been very intellectual.
Just finished Ice Brothers, again.
Twilight of Democracy, by Anne Applebaum, short and sweet. Just showed me how little I know about a lot.
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on November 12, 2020, 02:28:05 PM
I just finished "Say Nothing" about a famous kidnapping and murder in Northern Ireland during the troubles. It was on President Obama's must-read list from 2019. In addition to the murder, it focuses on two sisters who became famous IRA members, the hunger strikers at the Maze Prison (Bobby Sands), the inner workings of the IRA, and what a weasel Gerry Adams has turned out to be. I've read a ton about NI and studied in Belfast for a while and I really enjoyed this.
Loved it -- enjoyable for the narrative and the recent history aspect. Pair it with Derry Girls and you have a classic.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on November 13, 2020, 09:02:57 PM
I just finished Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
Sci-fi/fantasy with an Orwellian-level dystopia. I generally don't dip into the sci-fi/fantasy genre, but Atwood is such a phenomenal writer and the book is excellent. It is the first in the MaddAddam trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the last two.
Atwood is amazing- I get lost in the worlds she creates
Quote from: GooooMarquette on September 08, 2020, 04:05:04 PM
Just finished Owen Meany. Remarkable book; probably my new favorite by John Irving.
Next up is Straight Man by Richard Russo. I enjoyed his writing in Empire Falls, so I decided I would try another of his books.
Goooo- did you read Straight Man and do you recommend? I loved Empire Falls--one of those family epics that just worked.
Finished Hilbilly Elegy (it was fine) and Yaa Gyasi's Transcendent Kingdom (excellent) over the past few weeks.
Quote from: LloydsLegs on January 12, 2021, 02:17:26 PM
Goooo- did you read Straight Man and do you recommend? I loved Empire Falls--one of those family epics that just worked.
Yes. If you liked Empire Falls, you will probably like Straight Man as well. Both are very good reads.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on January 12, 2021, 04:47:19 PM
Yes. If you liked Empire Falls, you will probably like Straight Man as well. Both are very good reads.
Thanks
One more thing. For those of you from the Chicago area, especially if you grew up in the 60's to 80's, and/or in a "mob influenced" area (so think River Forest, not Lake Forest; Chinatown, not Andersonville), I highly recommend Family Secrets. It is a history of the Chicago mob from the 60's on told through the lens of the 2007 Family Secrets trial.
Every page brings back memories, and it will have you reading the names of Joey "the Clown" Lombardo or Paul "the Indian" Schirro in your best Bulldog Drummond or Chuck Gowdy voice. Highly entertaining read. Jeff Coen is the author.
Quote from: ZiggysFryBoy on September 08, 2020, 04:23:19 PM
Finishing Black echo, the first Bosch novel. (Michael Connelly)
Having watched and enjoyed the series, the book is different yet equally good.
Michael Connelly is my favorite author. I just finished his newest book The Law Of Innocence around Christmas time and as usual I finished it pretty quickly - I really enjoy his books.