Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Moderators: Shirley, Sabo, brian, rass, DaveInSeattle
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I found myself wanting to like Sex on the Moon more than I actually did like it. It's a cool story - I love a good heist story - but as others mentioned, the facts didn't all add up. Honestly, the story should have been good enough on its own. It didn't need to pretend that everyone involved was a genius intellect who looked like a model and loved to party.
Totally Kafkaesque
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I am not sure a single book has had greater impact on my life than this one. Maybe Ball Four as a kid. Yeah, baseball and food; I'm a pretty simple man.The Sybian wrote:Finally got around to listening to Swamp Favorite Omnivore's Dilemma. Fucking cheap corn bringing down the Empire. Mother fucker.
Who knows? Maybe, you were kidnapped, tied up, taken away and held for ransom.
Those days are gone forever
Over a long time ago
Oh yeah…
Those days are gone forever
Over a long time ago
Oh yeah…
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
There's a thread just waiting to happen.howard wrote:I am not sure a single book has had greater impact on my life than this one.
Your own personal AR-15 wielding Jesus
- Pruitt
- The Dude
- Posts: 18105
- Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
- Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Wild book. A bit too much about the author, but mind blowing.
Any Michiganders read this? Thoughts?
Any Michiganders read this? Thoughts?
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
The Fifth Wave was really good. Just started this:
Worldwide Frivologist and International Juke Artist
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
This book kept showing up on lists of great soccer/football reads. So I grabbed it from the library. 70 pages in and enjoying it.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
The Interestings was excellent. Based on rush's recommendation I started this today:
Worldwide Frivologist and International Juke Artist
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
The first guy mentioned in the book is from Blackpool. It's an instant classic right away (even though said Blackpudlian is a Man U fan).wlu_lax6 wrote:This book kept showing up on lists of great soccer/football reads. So I grabbed it from the library. 70 pages in and enjoying it.
THERE’S NOWT WRONG WITH GALA LUNCHEONS, LAD!
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
The Book of the Thousand and One Nights (Harvard Classics)
Never read it before. Should have. It's loaded with bits other writers borrowed or riffed on. Just one of those great cornerstones that I never sat down and devoured before.
There's an abridged eBook version here: http://www.bartleby.com/16/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Never read it before. Should have. It's loaded with bits other writers borrowed or riffed on. Just one of those great cornerstones that I never sat down and devoured before.
There's an abridged eBook version here: http://www.bartleby.com/16/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Your own personal AR-15 wielding Jesus
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I want to say this is the first book I read that was recommended by Swampers.Sabo wrote:The first guy mentioned in the book is from Blackpool. It's an instant classic right away (even though said Blackpudlian is a Man U fan).wlu_lax6 wrote:This book kept showing up on lists of great soccer/football reads. So I grabbed it from the library. 70 pages in and enjoying it.
Just finished that Drink book someone mentioned earlier. Took a while to get going, but really started enjoying it the more it moved through history. Reading The Humanity Project by Jean Thompson now.
well this is gonna be someone's new signature - bronto
- A_B
- The Dude
- Posts: 23591
- Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:36 am
- Location: Getting them boards like a wolf in the chicken pen.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Started Double Feature yesterday.Bensell wrote:[
I liked that bio quite a bit. I'm halfway through this novel:
Another really well written book with main characters I hate
Hold on, I'm trying to see if Jack London ever gets this fire built or not.
- Pruitt
- The Dude
- Posts: 18105
- Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
- Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Just finished this comprehensive and fairly interesting history of Spanish Soccer.
Recommended, but not ver enthusiastically.
Recommended, but not ver enthusiastically.
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
- govmentchedda
- The Dude
- Posts: 12867
- Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:36 pm
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
If you're interested in a good Spanish soccer book, check out Morbo by Phil Ball.Pruitt wrote:Just finished this comprehensive and fairly interesting history of Spanish Soccer.
Recommended, but not ver enthusiastically.
Until everything is less insane, I'm mixing weed with wine.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Interesting, but written by a type of person I would hate if I met him in real life.
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
- Pruitt
- The Dude
- Posts: 18105
- Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
- Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
That I will - thanks for the recommendation.govmentchedda wrote: If you're interested in a good Spanish soccer book, check out Morbo by Phil Ball.
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
- DaveInSeattle
- The Dude
- Posts: 8580
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:51 am
- Location: Seattle, WA
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I've just started reading this:
So far its ok....I'm not really a fan of the guys writing style, but its interesting.
One thing I have learned is that back in '68, you could bring your own booze into Tiger Stadium, as long as you kept it in a paper bag. Mickey Lolich (who was serving in the Michigan National Guard at the time) said people didn't need basic training, that playing the outfield in Tiger Stadium would be enough.
So far its ok....I'm not really a fan of the guys writing style, but its interesting.
One thing I have learned is that back in '68, you could bring your own booze into Tiger Stadium, as long as you kept it in a paper bag. Mickey Lolich (who was serving in the Michigan National Guard at the time) said people didn't need basic training, that playing the outfield in Tiger Stadium would be enough.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Saw that in my Kindle and almost went with it AD. Chose "Brainiac" by Ken Jennings instead.
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
- A_B
- The Dude
- Posts: 23591
- Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:36 am
- Location: Getting them boards like a wolf in the chicken pen.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Finished Double Feature. Really enjoyed it. Thought it was the best book I have read this year.
Finally found The Devil in the White City at the library. Great so far. Structured beautifully.
Have an audiobook of Our Kind of Traitor for travel this week. That is if I don't listen to the Dave Barry one I got first.
Finally found The Devil in the White City at the library. Great so far. Structured beautifully.
Have an audiobook of Our Kind of Traitor for travel this week. That is if I don't listen to the Dave Barry one I got first.
Hold on, I'm trying to see if Jack London ever gets this fire built or not.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
This book was great - finished it in one day:
Started this last night and liking the first 50 or so pages:
Started this last night and liking the first 50 or so pages:
Worldwide Frivologist and International Juke Artist
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I missed that you posted this. The author is actually my cousin so I read it right after it came out. Sadly, it's all too true.Pruitt wrote:Wild book. A bit too much about the author, but mind blowing.
Any Michiganders read this? Thoughts?
Bandwagon fan of the 2023 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!
- Pruitt
- The Dude
- Posts: 18105
- Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
- Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Appalling. This book could have been written about a city in Africa or a poorer Asian country.brian wrote:I missed that you posted this. The author is actually my cousin so I read it right after it came out. Sadly, it's all too true.Pruitt wrote:Wild book. A bit too much about the author, but mind blowing.
Any Michiganders read this? Thoughts?
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Inasmuch as I really like Charlie, he can be kind of a drama queen though. I'd recommend this book for a much more nuanced look at the state of Detroit right now.
Bandwagon fan of the 2023 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!
- A_B
- The Dude
- Posts: 23591
- Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:36 am
- Location: Getting them boards like a wolf in the chicken pen.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Listened to a Dave Barry book, I'll mature when i'm dead.
Solid, if unspectacular, Dave Barry. His twilight satire was phenomenal, though.
Solid, if unspectacular, Dave Barry. His twilight satire was phenomenal, though.
Hold on, I'm trying to see if Jack London ever gets this fire built or not.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Finishing this one up today. It's really sad how little I knew about all of that.Steve of phpBB wrote:I read that after getting it for Christmas.Bensell wrote:Reading these two:
Quite interesting. It's a part of history that doesn't get much play, including the ethnic cleansing of Germans from Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia right after the war.
well this is gonna be someone's new signature - bronto
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My 12 year old and I read this together so we could discuss it. This was assigned reading across all grades of his middle school. A great book if you want to have a wide range of interesting discussions with your 5-12th graders. This book hits on lots of issues that they face as they hit this age range. My reading now is almost exclusively books that he reads so I can make sure he is doing the reading and it gives him someone to talk books with.
So if you have any questions about Percy Jackson or The Kane Chronicles, feel free to ask away.
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
- A_B
- The Dude
- Posts: 23591
- Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:36 am
- Location: Getting them boards like a wolf in the chicken pen.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Devil in the White City was superb. What does it say about me that two of my favorite Non-Fiction books(The Professor and the Madman being the other) both were tales about the building of something gargantuan, with a man on one side of each story who was clearly insane?
Very well researched. I liked TPATM a bit better, but this was very well done. Structured beautifully.
Very well researched. I liked TPATM a bit better, but this was very well done. Structured beautifully.
Hold on, I'm trying to see if Jack London ever gets this fire built or not.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I have this book on my list to pick up sometime soon. I'm very interested in reading it.Pruitt wrote:Appalling. This book could have been written about a city in Africa or a poorer Asian country.brian wrote:I missed that you posted this. The author is actually my cousin so I read it right after it came out. Sadly, it's all too true.Pruitt wrote:Wild book. A bit too much about the author, but mind blowing.
Any Michiganders read this? Thoughts?
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Set in Hong Kong between the 1930s and 1990s. Good summer reading.
Last edited by DC47 on Tue Aug 06, 2013 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Pruitt
- The Dude
- Posts: 18105
- Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
- Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Georges Simenon is probably my favourite author of all time. And considering the fact that he wrote 400 novels (giove or take), it is nice to know that I can keep discovering new books that he wrote.
This one is really good:
This one is really good:
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Amazing, a one-month old child has not really slowed reading down, have plowed through these the last month:
Quick thoughts:
Millennium - a complete slog, interesting and enlightening in parts but really hard going
A Delicate Truth - among the best post-Smiley books by Le Carre, even if he does write dialogue in a way that people never have and never would speak
Levels of Life - heartbreaking and touching, but surprisingly forgettable
Brief History of Time - might need another read, it's obviously pretty expansive - still, well worth the effort
On to:
Quick thoughts:
Millennium - a complete slog, interesting and enlightening in parts but really hard going
A Delicate Truth - among the best post-Smiley books by Le Carre, even if he does write dialogue in a way that people never have and never would speak
Levels of Life - heartbreaking and touching, but surprisingly forgettable
Brief History of Time - might need another read, it's obviously pretty expansive - still, well worth the effort
On to:
- A_B
- The Dude
- Posts: 23591
- Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:36 am
- Location: Getting them boards like a wolf in the chicken pen.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I read Night in the past 20 hours or so. Chilling and powerful. Should be required high-school reading before the likes of any fiction.
Hold on, I'm trying to see if Jack London ever gets this fire built or not.
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
The Cardinal bias may turn you off :DBensell wrote:The Interestings was excellent. Based on rush's recommendation I started this today:
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Just wait a few months...BTTG wrote:Amazing, a one-month old child has not really slowed reading down
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Currently
Then on to
and
Then on to
and
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
- The Sybian
- The Dude
- Posts: 19108
- Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 10:36 am
- Location: Working in the Crap Part of Jersey
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I can't make it through half of a Matthew Berry column. I can't imagine attempting his book.
An honest to God cult of personality - formed around a failed steak salesman.
-Pruitt
-Pruitt
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
It's not all that bad, it's fluff, so started last night and will probably finish at lunch today.
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
- The Sybian
- The Dude
- Posts: 19108
- Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 10:36 am
- Location: Working in the Crap Part of Jersey
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
I just find him painfully unfunny and annoying. I just read his column to do the exact opposite of what he advises.Rush2112 wrote:It's not all that bad, it's fluff, so started last night and will probably finish at lunch today.
An honest to God cult of personality - formed around a failed steak salesman.
-Pruitt
-Pruitt
- Pruitt
- The Dude
- Posts: 18105
- Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
- Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
As do I.The Sybian wrote:I just find him painfully unfunny and annoying. I just read his column to do the exact opposite of what he advises.Rush2112 wrote:It's not all that bad, it's fluff, so started last night and will probably finish at lunch today.
The guy has the easiest gig in sports media - being a fantasy football "expert." Recommend seven QBs and hey, presto! one of them will have a big week.
This book is a riot.
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
- The Sybian
- The Dude
- Posts: 19108
- Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 10:36 am
- Location: Working in the Crap Part of Jersey
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Pruitt wrote:As do I.The Sybian wrote:I just find him painfully unfunny and annoying. I just read his column to do the exact opposite of what he advises.Rush2112 wrote:It's not all that bad, it's fluff, so started last night and will probably finish at lunch today.
The guy has the easiest gig in sports media - being a fantasy football "expert." Recommend seven QBs and hey, presto! one of them will have a big week.
This book is a riot.
Cool, I had no idea Mary Roach had a new book out. I read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Cadavers and have two of her other books downloaded. I think she would be a fascinating person to hang out with. Stiff is a phenomenal read. Tells some amazing and disgusting and shocking uses for cadavers that are donated "for science." Some of the military experiments were awesome, but i have a feeling the families of the deceased wouldn't be happy to know that is where their loved one's body ended up, exploded on an artillery range or shot the fuck up.
An honest to God cult of personality - formed around a failed steak salesman.
-Pruitt
-Pruitt
Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread
Started reading Born To Run finally. I'm about a third of the way in and I like it a lot.
Overall, I have this knack for owning books and never actually bothering to read them. It's like I think I'll get to them through osmosis or something. It's funny when people look at my bookcase they make this weird face and can only go "Wow...what a wild set of books you have. There's no particular genre and they all seem pretty cool." Then I say "I have yet to read most of these, so I'll let you know....eventually." For a moment I feel smart and then I'm too much of an honest person to keep the lie afloat.
Overall, I have this knack for owning books and never actually bothering to read them. It's like I think I'll get to them through osmosis or something. It's funny when people look at my bookcase they make this weird face and can only go "Wow...what a wild set of books you have. There's no particular genre and they all seem pretty cool." Then I say "I have yet to read most of these, so I'll let you know....eventually." For a moment I feel smart and then I'm too much of an honest person to keep the lie afloat.
mister d wrote:Couldn't have pegged me better.
EnochRoot wrote:I mean, whatever. Johnnie's all hot cuz I ride him.