(Late) Summer Reading List

Okay . . . let's try this again.

Moderators: Shirley, Sabo, brian, rass, DaveInSeattle

Post Reply
User avatar
Pruitt
The Dude
Posts: 18105
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario

(Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Pruitt »

I've been trying to find a good thriller for a while, and so far (halfway through), this one is filling the bill. It's been a while since I just had to red one more chapter, then another and another before dropping the Kobo.

(It helps that the chapters are all pretty short)

Image
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
User avatar
DaveInSeattle
The Dude
Posts: 8395
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:51 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by DaveInSeattle »

I'm almost done with this:

Image

I picked up since I've liked the magazine/non-fiction stuff the author has done, and the book has received glowing reviews, but I'm not so sure about it. Might be because I can relate a bit too much to the parts about the post-divorce dating world.
User avatar
brian
The Dude
Posts: 27744
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:52 am
Location: Downtown Las Vegas

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by brian »

I really liked it (just finished it this week myself), but that could be because I'm not living that.
Bandwagon fan of the 2023 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!
User avatar
Rush2112
The Dude
Posts: 7281
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:35 pm
Location: Cyrus X-1
Contact:

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Rush2112 »

Image
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
User avatar
Rams Fanny
Bunny Lebowski
Posts: 623
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 5:32 pm
Location: Henderson, NV

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Rams Fanny »

Just finished Volker Ullrich's "Hitler: ascent 1889-1939" (sorry guys, the whole img thing frustrates the hell out of me). It's the fourth Hitler bio I've read (Bullock, Toland, Kershaw) and takes a slightly different approach. The common image of Hitler is that of raving lunatic and while he could be that, Ullrich goes to great lengths to show how very calculated he was even with his ranting. Ullrich goes into detail about daily routines, his awkward romances, the fact he loved kids and dogs etc. He portrays a man not molded by his time as some have put forward but a very methodical (and occasionally fantastically lucky) demagogue who put himself in the position he eventually found himself. The importance of this approach is to emphasize that while we look back now and ask 'how could they not have known?', to the vast majority of Germans he was an "everyman" who seemed to immediately release the German people from both the Depression and the restrictive Treaty of Versailles. He truly made Germany Great Again and even though many were uncomfortable with his racist policies, the average life was improved and worth looking past what they didn't agree with.

Is this the "best" Hitler bio? For me Bullock was best capturing man and movement but this is quite good especially if your first. Let me also stress that Hitler is humanized without sympathy. The author rightly depicts the monster he was. The book is on the dry side but it's tough to bring forward that much info in a breezy manner. This was also translated from the German and has many repeated phrases for which I blame the translator. The German language is dynamic enough I doubt the author used "paladins" as much as written here. The book is 758pp before notes but a worthy slog if interested in 20thC history.
"Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back." -Al Swearengen
User avatar
DaveInSeattle
The Dude
Posts: 8395
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:51 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by DaveInSeattle »

DaveInSeattle wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 5:38 pm I'm almost done with this:

Image

I picked up since I've liked the magazine/non-fiction stuff the author has done, and the book has received glowing reviews, but I'm not so sure about it. Might be because I can relate a bit too much to the parts about the post-divorce dating world.
Finished this last week. And I HATED the ending.

Moved onto this:

Image

Bit dry so far...
User avatar
Pruitt
The Dude
Posts: 18105
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Pruitt »

DaveInSeattle wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:33 pm
DaveInSeattle wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 5:38 pm I'm almost done with this:

Image

I picked up since I've liked the magazine/non-fiction stuff the author has done, and the book has received glowing reviews, but I'm not so sure about it. Might be because I can relate a bit too much to the parts about the post-divorce dating world.
Finished this last week. And I HATED the ending.

Moved onto this:

Image

Bit dry so far...
But at least you know how that one ends.

I pretty much gave up on the thriller I cited above. It became a real slog, so the hell with it.

Nathan Englander is a really good writer, but without a knowledge of Judaism, his books would probably be fairly incomprehensible. (He was raised ultra-Orthodox)

This one has got me riveted - Image

Halfway through and it is funny and sad and full of incredible observations about filial responsibility and guilt. And did I mention that it's kind of funny too?
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
User avatar
sancarlos
The Dude
Posts: 18066
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 1:46 pm
Location: NorCal via Colorado

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by sancarlos »

Keeping with my recent fascination with the 14th century.

Image

Also, finally got around to reading this:

Image
"What a bunch of pedantic pricks." - sybian
User avatar
Rush2112
The Dude
Posts: 7281
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:35 pm
Location: Cyrus X-1
Contact:

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Rush2112 »

SC you've read A Distant Mirror, yes?

Image
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
User avatar
sancarlos
The Dude
Posts: 18066
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 1:46 pm
Location: NorCal via Colorado

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by sancarlos »

No, I haven't. But if you're recommending it, I'll pick it up to read on my upcoming trip. Lots of plane and train time.

ETA: They have it at my local library, so I'll make it so. Thanks.
"What a bunch of pedantic pricks." - sybian
User avatar
bfj
Walter Sobchak
Posts: 3960
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2013 11:08 pm

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by bfj »

Image

Just started listening to this. Good story of the 21 day barnstorming tour Ruth and Gehrig did after he hit his 60th HR in 1927. So far pretty enjoyable.

Pruitt, I'm going to put that kaddish.com book in my queue.
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
User avatar
Rush2112
The Dude
Posts: 7281
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:35 pm
Location: Cyrus X-1
Contact:

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Rush2112 »

sancarlos wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 1:09 pm No, I haven't. But if you're recommending it, I'll pick it up to read on my upcoming trip. Lots of plane and train time.

ETA: They have it at my local library, so I'll make it so. Thanks.
Enjoy!

I actually have to reread it, haven't read it for 20 years!
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
User avatar
Pruitt
The Dude
Posts: 18105
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Pruitt »

bfj wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 1:24 pm
Pruitt, I'm going to put that kaddish.com book in my queue.
A very satisfying ending as well.
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
User avatar
Pruitt
The Dude
Posts: 18105
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Pruitt »

It is very rare for me to be so riveted to a book that I stay up really late reading.

This one is incredible - I had never heard of this robbery and the aftermath. It is hard to put down...

Image
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
User avatar
wlu_lax6
The Dude
Posts: 10404
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:16 am

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by wlu_lax6 »

Image
User avatar
Rush2112
The Dude
Posts: 7281
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:35 pm
Location: Cyrus X-1
Contact:

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Rush2112 »

Just finished

Image

working my way through

Image
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
User avatar
A_B
The Dude
Posts: 23323
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:36 am
Location: Getting them boards like a wolf in the chicken pen.

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by A_B »

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. She is flat out hilarious.
You know what you need? A lyrical sucker punch to the face.
User avatar
DaveInSeattle
The Dude
Posts: 8395
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:51 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by DaveInSeattle »

I just finished 'Three Women' by Lisa Taddeo. I don't know...it was really well written, but I felt kinda creepy reading it. And felt really bad for 2 of the 3 women in it (Sloane, the woman having 3somes for her husband's enjoyment knew what she was getting into)...

Just started Colson Whitehead's 'Nickel Boys'...
User avatar
Pruitt
The Dude
Posts: 18105
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am
Location: North Shore of Lake Ontario

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Pruitt »

Holy shit this is great.

Image

A "novel" in name only, but linked stories on the theme of masculinity and how it changes with age. Very rare for a book to hook me from the first page...
"beautiful, with an exotic-yet-familiar facial structure and an arresting gaze."
User avatar
Giff
The Dude
Posts: 10804
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:26 pm

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Giff »

Just got caught up on the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher. For something not my cup of tea at all, it's maybe my favorite series ever.
well this is gonna be someone's new signature - bronto
User avatar
Rush2112
The Dude
Posts: 7281
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:35 pm
Location: Cyrus X-1
Contact:

Re: (Late) Summer Reading List

Post by Rush2112 »

I'm reading the Harry Potter series, for the first time.
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
Post Reply