Spring Thaw Reading Thread

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 5:27 pm

I started both of these last night:

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:28 pm

This was fun.

If you're a Dante fan. Well, even if you don't touch the stuff. I first read this novel back in High School. So that was, what, when it first came out? Yeeeesh. Anyway, it's a good bit of fun. Don't worry, there's no Sci-Fi in it. But I picked it up for kicks because I was reading Pinsky's translation of Dante:

About to start in on this (which I'm very much looking forward to):

(Each image goes to the corresponding Amazon page)

howard · Post by **howard** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:34 pm

Just cracked this:

Since I am helping to found a technology company, might as well see how it is done.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:55 pm

If any of you are Kindle/eReader users and want some additions to your library send me a PM.

I've uploaded the majority of my library to a Google drive and am willing to share.

kranepool · Post by **kranepool** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 6:10 pm

Arriving at my door in less than 24 hours:

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 6:17 pm

Rush2112 wrote:If any of you are Kindle/eReader users and want some additions to your library send me a PM.

I've uploaded the majority of my library to a Google drive and am willing to share.

How does this work?

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 6:25 pm

govmentchedda wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:If any of you are Kindle/eReader users and want some additions to your library send me a PM.

I've uploaded the majority of my library to a Google drive and am willing to share.
How does this work?

Magnets.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 6:30 pm

I send a link to the files in the cloud, you peruse and DL what you want, then put them on your Kindle or whatever.

(they are all .Mobi files)

govmentchedda wrote:
How does this work?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 7:55 pm

govmentchedda wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:If any of you are Kindle/eReader users and want some additions to your library send me a PM.

I've uploaded the majority of my library to a Google drive and am willing to share.
How does this work?

It's called stealing. Welcome to the internet.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:33 pm

It's called sharing man. Welcome to the 60s.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:52 pm

Rush2112 wrote:It's called sharing man. Welcome to the 60s.

Ask the authors what they call it.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:03 pm

Publishers, not authors. It's the houses that make the $ not the authors.

cerrano · Post by **cerrano** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:08 pm

The Sybian wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:It's called sharing man. Welcome to the 60s.
Ask the authors what they call it.

It's called don't trust anybody over thirty, maaaaaannn!

Which means nobody can trust anybody on this site cause most all of us are over 30. And even if GPS isn't quite there, he's knocking on that do' sho 'nuff

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:17 pm

The Sybian wrote:Ask the authors what they call it.

A library.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 11:53 am

Might as well throw this out here. A buddy of mine from high school recently published his first novel. He quite his job and moved to Portland to do this. I was pretty skeptical of the whole idea, thinking it was poor planning and a pipe dream. However, he got it published with a fledgling company and I bought it to support him (basically as a way of saying "I'm proud you followed through"), and I've gotta say, I thought it was excellent. A very unique novel.

If you've got 20$ to blow on something one random guy on the internet told you was decent, try this one. I'd like to know what someone else thinks about it.

http://www.amazon.com/This-Recalibratio ... alibration

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:21 pm

BSF21 wrote:Might as well throw this out here. A buddy of mine from high school recently published his first novel. He quite his job and moved to Portland to do this. I was pretty skeptical of the whole idea, thinking it was poor planning and a pipe dream. However, he got it published with a fledgling company and I bought it to support him (basically as a way of saying "I'm proud you followed through"), and I've gotta say, I thought it was excellent. A very unique novel.

If you've got 20$ to blow on something one random guy on the internet told you was decent, try this one. I'd like to know what someone else thinks about it.

http://www.amazon.com/This-Recalibratio ... alibration

Meh, I'd rather wait to borrow it from Rush.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 6:35 am

Year's only half done, but right now, this is the best novel I've read this year. (One of the best in recent years actually).

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 3:24 pm

I loved The Sisters Brothers. I haven't posted in this thread for awhile, but I have been reading, as is generally the case when I travel for work. I read several by Bernard Cornwell, including 1356, Heretic, Vagabond, and Lords of the North. I also re-read a couple Bill Bryson books - A Walk in the Woods, and I'm a Stranger Here, Myself.

Now, I'm starting a memoir by Jay Farrar, founder-member of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 5:24 pm

Those you are borrowing from my library, Google evidently only lets you view 500 files. I've reorganized into sub folders so once it finishes syncing you'll be able to see all of them.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 6:50 pm

Rush2112 wrote:Those you are borrowing from my library, Google evidently only lets you view 500 files. I've reorganized into sub folders so once it finishes syncing you'll be able to see all of them.

Yeah, I didn't want to be greedy, but your list stopped near I, if I recall correctly.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:09 pm

I finished Devil in the White City. Not at all what I expected, but very interesting. I'd be more interested in reading about the exhibits at the fair, or what it was like from a patrons point of view. I can;t imagine how astounding it must have been seeing electric lights for the first time, and there are 10s of 1000s of bulbs lighting up all-white buildings on the grandest scale of anything ever built up to that point. Or the first Ferris Wheel ever, and it held 2,000 people? Hold F! People had to be crazy to get on that fucking thing! I feel like I need to read a book on Herman Webster Mudgett (aka Dr. HH Holmes), the serial killer. How have I not heard of him?!?

I tried listening to David Sedaris' Chipmunk Seeks Squirrel. I've listened to most of Sedaris' books and really enjoy listening to him and his crew reading them, but this one is just plain awful. He is just trying so hard to be cute, it's painful. And he is trying to be Aesop, and he ain't. I actually quit about halfway through.

Now listening to Last Jew Standing. Sure, the title and author name intrigued me. The description intrigued me, a homicide detective gets a late night visit from his estranged father on the run from the mafia with a 20 year old Russian hooker in tow. Then the father served time in Elmira State Prison, where my father worked out of, so I had to get it. Not the best writing, but it moves fast and is keeping me riveted and awake on the road and wanting more. It does seem to be the last of a 4 book series, but it doesn't really matter.

Scottie · Post by **Scottie** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:32 pm

The Sybian wrote:I finished Devil in the White City. Not at all what I expected, but very interesting. I'd be more interested in reading about the exhibits at the fair, or what it was like from a patrons point of view. I can;t imagine how astounding it must have been seeing electric lights for the first time, and there are 10s of 1000s of bulbs lighting up all-white buildings on the grandest scale of anything ever built up to that point. Or the first Ferris Wheel ever, and it held 2,000 people? Hold F! People had to be crazy to get on that fucking thing! I feel like I need to read a book on Herman Webster Mudgett (aka Dr. HH Holmes), the serial killer. How have I not heard of him?!?

Maybe I should apologize for that because I initially recommended it. (LINK) And I've had this ongoing email correspondence with Larson for about a year. Very odd. We discuss the strangest things. Mostly BC terrain.

But it is a great book, right? One of the few that I re-read upon reading. I thought it was that good. That intriguing.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:12 pm

Scottie wrote:
But it is a great book, right? One of the few that I re-read upon reading. I thought it was that good. That intriguing.

I really liked it, though I've set In The Garden Of Beasts down a number of times, just not as interesting a subject.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:16 am

Scottie wrote:
The Sybian wrote:Ask the authors what they call it.
A library.

Sure, as long as when Rush is done and transfers it to someone else he deletes it.

I tried to find Devil in the White City last night but it was checked out. Ended up with Salt and Absurdistan.

Finishing up Happy Happy Happy which was an impulse gift from my wife. Didn't care for the first few chapters but started liking it more when he got to how he built his company.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:38 am

Scottie wrote:
The Sybian wrote:I finished Devil in the White City. Not at all what I expected, but very interesting. I'd be more interested in reading about the exhibits at the fair, or what it was like from a patrons point of view. I can;t imagine how astounding it must have been seeing electric lights for the first time, and there are 10s of 1000s of bulbs lighting up all-white buildings on the grandest scale of anything ever built up to that point. Or the first Ferris Wheel ever, and it held 2,000 people? Hold F! People had to be crazy to get on that fucking thing! I feel like I need to read a book on Herman Webster Mudgett (aka Dr. HH Holmes), the serial killer. How have I not heard of him?!?
Maybe I should apologize for that because I initially recommended it. (LINK) And I've had this ongoing email correspondence with Larson for about a year. Very odd. We discuss the strangest things. Mostly BC terrain.

But it is a great book, right? One of the few that I re-read upon reading. I thought it was that good. That intriguing.

Very interesting. What threw me more than anything is that my father pushed the book so hard. As I mentioned, he gave me the book in hard cover probably 7 or 8 years ago, I just never got around to reading it. I based it on my father's typical read, which is historical fiction and crime thriller type books, so expected more of a thriller. While I did find it interesting having a behind the scenes look at the near-impossible task of the architects to get it done, I'd love to have a chapter or two from the patrons' perspective. That, or I should find an another book to supplement this one.

As far as Mudgett, I am shocked I didn't know his story, as I used to read a lot about serial killers, their psychology and the hunt for them. I mentioned it elsewhere, but in high school I took 2 forensics courses and in college I took a course on Criminal Psychology, in which I did a 20 page paper on profiling. My research included an interview with the profiler for the NYPD Homicide Unit. I was strongly considering criminal profiling as a career path until I read the autobiography of John Douglas, the father of the Investigative Support Unit of the FBI, which does their profiling. Realizing how much it fucks you up seeing all these crime scenes and devoting your life to the fucked up crimes was enough to put me off the dream. Great book, though:

cerrano · Post by **cerrano** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:14 pm

Rush2112 wrote:
Scottie wrote:
But it is a great book, right? One of the few that I re-read upon reading. I thought it was that good. That intriguing.

I really liked it, though I've set In The Garden Of Beasts down a number of times, just not as interesting a subject.

same with me. it's almost like devil raised my expectations for in the garden of beasts to an unreasonable level.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:32 pm

cerrano wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:
Scottie wrote:
But it is a great book, right? One of the few that I re-read upon reading. I thought it was that good. That intriguing.

I really liked it, though I've set In The Garden Of Beasts down a number of times, just not as interesting a subject.
same with me. it's almost like devil raised my expectations for in the garden of beasts to an unreasonable level.

Glad y'all told me, as I was just looking into Garden.

BTTG · Post by **BTTG** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:54 am

I did it so you don't have to:

You're welcome.

To make up for this transgression, I just started:

1861 is particularly good so far

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:57 am

Good - especially the section on the Tar Sands.

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:38 pm

I finished this last night:

It was decent, but not one of his best.

Next up are:

and for howard:

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:41 pm

I saw the Stockman book in the store last weekend. I need to take a break from economics, finance and crimes for a bit. Stockman is great, but I'll probably wait for the paperback. I bet it is really good; I await hearing your reaction.

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:46 pm

howard wrote:I saw the Stockman book in the store last weekend. I need to take a break from economics, finance and crimes for a bit. Stockman is great, but I'll probably wait for the paperback. I bet it is really good; I await hearing your reaction.

I have read section one while watching the Open today and it is really good. He totally exposes all of the lies that brought about TARP and now it is on to eviscerating supply side economics.

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:33 pm

Bensell wrote:…now it is on to eviscerating supply side economics.

He was for it, before he was against it?

(Naw, Stockman is a good man. Even though he was Reagan's budget director, he never bought into that bullshit. He actually fought tooth and nail for that administration to honor their low-deficit rhetoric, to no avail. Stockman actually wanted higher taxes. Eh, there was a cold war to fight, a MIC to feed.)

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 12:27 pm

BTTG wrote:I did it so you don't have to:

You're welcome.

To make up for this transgression, I just started:

1861 is particularly good so far

I really liked Beautiful Ruins

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:15 am

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:33 am

Have these waiting for me on the reserve shelf at the library. Not sure which I will pick up first.

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:00 am

This has been a nice alternative to the Stockman book when I get sick of economics:

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:01 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:Have these waiting for me on the reserve shelf at the library. Not sure which I will pick up first.

Sex on the moon is a fun read, but I had the sense that the NASA intern was completely full of shit. It's gotta be tough to write a true story when the main actor is a bullshit artist. Still, a fun read and an interesting insight into the NASA internship program. Who knew it was full of hot chicks looking to party? Oh, wait, the guy who told the story to the author is a complete pathological liar. Right. Let's add 30 pounds to the description of all the hot chicks and tone down the parties a couple dozen notches... That said, I really liked how the author told the story.

Finally got around to listening to Swamp Favorite Omnivore's Dilemma. Fucking cheap corn bringing down the Empire. Mother fucker.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:48 pm

The Sybian wrote:
wlu_lax6 wrote:Have these waiting for me on the reserve shelf at the library. Not sure which I will pick up first.

Sex on the moon is a fun read, but I had the sense that the NASA intern was completely full of shit. It's gotta be tough to write a true story when the main actor is a bullshit artist. Still, a fun read and an interesting insight into the NASA internship program. Who knew it was full of hot chicks looking to party? Oh, wait, the guy who told the story to the author is a complete pathological liar. Right. Let's add 30 pounds to the description of all the hot chicks and tone down the parties a couple dozen notches... That said, I really liked how the author told the story.

I treat his work as fiction. The intro to this book admits that he had added some color to the events and that it is based on conversations with a bs artist.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:50 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:
The Sybian wrote:
wlu_lax6 wrote:Have these waiting for me on the reserve shelf at the library. Not sure which I will pick up first.

Sex on the moon is a fun read, but I had the sense that the NASA intern was completely full of shit. It's gotta be tough to write a true story when the main actor is a bullshit artist. Still, a fun read and an interesting insight into the NASA internship program. Who knew it was full of hot chicks looking to party? Oh, wait, the guy who told the story to the author is a complete pathological liar. Right. Let's add 30 pounds to the description of all the hot chicks and tone down the parties a couple dozen notches... That said, I really liked how the author told the story.
I treat his work as fiction. The intro to this book admits that he had added some color to the events and that it is based on conversations with a bs artist.

In that case, it's a great read.