Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Okay . . . let's try this again.

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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Shirley »

I recently finished the audio book of this one:
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It wasn't nearly as good as I'd hoped it would be. We're only two years apart, but some of his pop culture fascinations seemed way different than my friends' and mine.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Scottie »

Number one on that list (that Rush2112 posted) is The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson. Fascinating book. Highly recommended.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Rush2112 »

If anyone is an eBook reader I have a high percentage of these available in MOBI for anyone that wants them.
Scottie wrote:Number one on that list (that Rush2112 posted) is The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson. Fascinating book. Highly recommended.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

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Rush2112 wrote:I am. Helps me keep track of books I see here, at the library, or bookstore that I want to read and also makes recommendations based on what I've read/want to read. Also there are a imperial fuckton of user created/voted lists on all sorts of subjects that help me find books to read. This one on microhistories is awesome.
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Apparently Microhistories is one of my favorite genres. I have either read or have already downloaded at least half of the books on that list. Which is pretty funny, because they seem like the most random or boring books, but I am obsessed with them.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by The Sybian »

Shirley wrote:I recently finished the audio book of this one:
Image

It wasn't nearly as good as I'd hoped it would be. We're only two years apart, but some of his pop culture fascinations seemed way different than my friends' and mine.

I had the same experience. Listening to the book made it that much worse, as he comes off as an arrogant prick, while also seeming about as cool as the Comic Book guy on the Simpsons. I had an overwhelming urge to punch him in the face the entire time I listened to the book.

Scottie wrote:Number one on that list (that Rush2112 posted) is The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson. Fascinating book. Highly recommended.
My Dad's been pushing that book on me for close to 10 years now. I think he even gave me the hardcover copy. I just put in for the audiobook at the library. Thanks for the reminder, Scottie. That will probably be my next book.
Last edited by The Sybian on Thu May 02, 2013 9:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Rush2112 »

Have you read Salt?

That book friggin rules.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

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Rush2112 wrote:Have you read Salt?

That book friggin rules.
I haven't, but it is on my hard drive. I always avoid it, as it just seems so boring. I'll have to give it a go.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Rush2112 »

It seems boring, but is anything but. A fantastic baseline for the study of human history, as well as some great stories, like the story about how Tabasco sauce came about.

Plus you learn the recipe for garum!
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

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Image


ETA: If only to confuse people (and am reading two at once.)
Last edited by Rush2112 on Fri May 03, 2013 11:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Scottie »

So good you're reading it twice?
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Bensell »

Scottie wrote:So good you're reading it twice?
He does has a prescription...
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Rush2112 »

Prescription? It's legal man...


and I forgot I posted it yesterday. These Manhattan's are tasty.

Though I did learn today that the first beer to use Cascade hops, perhaps the hop flavor that drove the craft revolution..was coors. The second was Anchor's Liberty Ale, brewed to honour Paul Revere's ride.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Scottie »

I haven't got a copy yet but as a heads up . . . Khaled Hosseini has a new novel; And the Mountains Echoed is to be released on May 21st.

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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Scottie »

I was at a gigantic book sale today (a ginormous yearly event that takes up an entire 6-sheet curling rink). Didn't want to leave. Anyway . . . my wife found a very nice copy of Thomas Pynchon's Vineland. I didn't buy it (I already got one) but instinctively checked the Title Verso page to see if it was a first edition. I found this note inside.

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" . . . maybe to you, buddy."
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Bensell »

Just started this:

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The first 50 pages are great; love having no idea where the story is going.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by A_B »

Joe Hill Signing was fun. He is an engaging guy. However, the two+ hours I had to wait after he had his reading and answered questions was pretty ridiculous.


This was the lady directly in front of me:

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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by A_B »

Also, I finished A walk in the Woods.

Fun read. Thought it might be too preachy, but it's almost like Bryson was aware of that and each time it got close, he backed off.

Very well done. Makes me want to head out and go camping.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Johnnie »

Keg...you ever get that A Song Of Fire And Ice audio book downloaded yet?
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Keg »

Yes, I have them downloaded to my computer but not uploaded to the web. I'll upload the first book this evening when I get home.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

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Started Devil in the White City yesterday. Reminds me a bit of the Alienist, but a true story. Also struck me how much their firm sounded like a Tech firm with the handball court and all of the other office perks.

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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by BTTG »

Always liked this thread, kudos to the Doc for tipping me off that the Swamp was back:
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Sabo »

Welcome back, BTTG. Always good to have a long-time Swamper make a return.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Scottie »

The Sybian wrote:Started Devil in the White City yesterday. Reminds me a bit of the Alienist, but a true story. Also struck me how much their firm sounded like a Tech firm with the handball court and all of the other office perks.
Larson does an excellent job of highlighting Chicago's obsession with becoming a "world class" city, the height of modernity, and their self-consciousness about being "second" to New York; they'd embrace just about anything that sounded cutting edge.

If you look up "World's Columbian Exposition" or "1893 Chicago World's Fair", there is a veritable ton of photographs online that make great accompaniment to that book.

If you are interested in Thomas Pynchon at all, his 2006 novel Against the Day begins at the 1893 World's Fair, as well.

Speaking of Pynchon, he has a new novel (yay!) due out on September 17th of this year. I'm counting the days.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Steve of phpBB »

Scottie wrote:
The Sybian wrote:Started Devil in the White City yesterday. Reminds me a bit of the Alienist, but a true story. Also struck me how much their firm sounded like a Tech firm with the handball court and all of the other office perks.
Larson does an excellent job of highlighting Chicago's obsession with becoming a "world class" city, the height of modernity, and their self-consciousness about being "second" to New York; they'd embrace just about anything that sounded cutting edge.

If you look up "World's Columbian Exposition" or "1893 Chicago World's Fair", there is a veritable ton of photographs online that make great accompaniment to that book.

If you are interested in Thomas Pynchon at all, his 2006 novel Against the Day begins at the 1893 World's Fair, as well.

Speaking of Pynchon, he has a new novel (yay!) due out on September 17th of this year. I'm counting the days.
Someone I just met mentioned this book to me the other day when he found out I was from Chicago. I guess I will have to take a look.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

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BTTG wrote:Always liked this thread, kudos to the Doc for tipping me off that the Swamp was back:
We never stopped, MFer! How have you been? Leaving me as the only Arsenal fan here now!
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

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Johnnie wrote:Keg...you ever get that A Song Of Fire And Ice audio book downloaded yet?
I have uploaded the first audio book to my gdrive. Shoot me your gmail address and I'll share access to the folder (this offer goes out to all swampers).
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by BTTG »

The Sybian wrote:
BTTG wrote:Always liked this thread, kudos to the Doc for tipping me off that the Swamp was back:
We never stopped, MFer! How have you been? Leaving me as the only Arsenal fan here now!
Hah, not anymore! (he said, before not checking back in for another three years) All good, still living in the UK, got married (so that's living in the UK for good then), baby on the way, Gooner, about to buy a car and move to the suburbs, etc. All prettay prettay good...

On that note, keeping on topic, this is one I started the other day that only you might appreciate. Quick fun read and a mere $2 download to your Kindle:
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Scottie »

The Book of the Courtier by Baldassarre Castiglione

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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by DaveInSeattle »

I pre-ordered the third of Rick Atkinson's WWII books, "The Guns At Last Light" about D-Day and the war in western europe a few months ago, and it showed up on my Kindle today. Started reading it on the commute home. I've read a ton of books about D-Day, and WWII in general, but this guys other two books about the campaigns in North Africa and Italy made this a must.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

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AussieDave wrote:I pre-ordered the third of Rick Atkinson's WWII books, "The Guns At Last Light" about D-Day and the war in western europe a few months ago, and it showed up on my Kindle today. Started reading it on the commute home. I've read a ton of books about D-Day, and WWII in general, but this guys other two books about the campaigns in North Africa and Italy made this a must.
Thanks for posting this. I was wondering when the third book of his trilogy would be released. The first two books were fantastic, especially the one about the North Africa campaign. Operation Torch gets much less attention than it should.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by A_B »

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In addition to being halfway through NOS4A2
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Bensell »

AB_skin_test wrote:Image
I liked that bio quite a bit. I'm halfway through this novel:

Image

Another really well written book with main characters I hate
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by BuffloSoldier »

Bensell:

How was the Third Bullet?
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Shrew »

Been attending Quaker services in Providence. Just read this:
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Currently reading: The Piano Tuner
Very good so far.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Bensell »

BuffloSoldier wrote:Bensell:

How was the Third Bullet?
It was good, not great. A middle of the road book from Stephen Hunter.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Bensell »

Started this the other night:

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Another book where I'm loving the writing but hate the characters for the most part.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by BTTG »

Both of these are pretty enjoyable so far, though each is challenging in its own way:
ImageImage
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Bensell »

This has been a nice, fast and interesting read:

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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by Rush2112 »

Image

Interesting so far.
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Re: Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Post by howard »

Fuck, is Pollan writing a book a year? I'm falling behind.
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