Books: What Are You Reading?

Subject: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:43 PM

Just wondering what you folks are reading these days. I'm reading two very different books at the moment. My oungest son recommended The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier And Klay by Michael Chabon, which won a Pulitzer Prize. It's a grand book which has been compared to Ragtime in that it includes historical and fictional characters and several story lines. I'm about half way through it and haven't enjoyed a book so much in a long time. It also has a feel of Call It Sleep... another favorite of mine.

Today, I picked up a book by Harold Kushner.. a Rabbi best know for writing a classic book When Bad Things Happen To Good People. That's a book I've shared with friends over the years who were going through particularly hard times in their lives. He just recently wrote a book on the 23rd Psalm.. "Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," which I've just started to read. It's much like his other books... very straightforward without an excess of theological exposition. Very little, as a matter of fact. I can see I'm going to get a lot out of the book.

So, what you folks reading these days? I'll be looking for something new in a couple of weeks...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:45 PM

Midnights Children (again) and The House at Pooh Corner (again) :0)

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Cluin
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:48 PM

Just finished "The Road to McCarthy" by Pete McCarthy.

On my way to the library tomorrow to find my next read. In the meantime, the new Analog magazine came a couple of days ago. I always read that one cover-to-cover.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:53 PM

Here's the obituary from the Guardian of Pete McCarthy, who died last month - only 52. A good man.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Cluin
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:59 PM

Aw shit! Bad news. I had no idea. That book was hilarious; need to read McCarthy's Bar now too.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Cluin
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:07 PM

Pete McCarthy's Website.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: mg
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:10 PM

If you have not read Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington, that is my #1 recommendation. Wonderful advice, and very well, poetically written. I advise reading it in a non-historical and non-racial way, as advice for every person, which is how I was introduced to it. It is the bible for vocational educators. I was stunned when I was in graduate school in education and found there were different opinions about it, (as in highly negative) when taken in historical context. So I would say read it as though it were universal, which it is. It is the first book I would give to the people of Afghanistan, to the barely surviving people throughout the world. And to every person in America. It is the book that is the cornerstone of my library, which also includes the poems of Rudyard Kipling and the Betty Crocker cookbook.   mg

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 03:22 AM

"The Cryptonomicon." Lots of fun! I also just read "The Manchurian Candidate"--I hadn't realized that it was such an interesting and well-written book. What a change from most of today's popular novels. I bet many people will be frustrated and disappointed when they buy it, before or after seeing the remake of the movie, since it's a book you actually have to sit down and read, and it isn't always easy to follow.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 03:34 AM

I've started Cryptonomicon 4 or 6 times now, and I just can't get through it... donno why... hopefully one day I will...

Spurred on by a recent viewing of the movie adaptation, I'm currently reading Leonard Cohen's "The Favorite Game"

What a fantastic book!

After that I think a reread of my Clive Barker collection might be in order....

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 03:35 AM

Thanks to JenEllen, I just finished a remarkable book called "Icy Sparks" which is the name of an extraordinary girl in rural Kentucky in the 1950's with undiagnosed Turette's Syndrome. A most excellent and uplifting book!

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 04:45 AM

Reading a silly Robert Ludlum The Road to Omaha, too densely written, and difficult to follow, I get the feeling I may not finish it.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 04:51 AM

Garth Nix's 'Old Kingdom' Trilogy. Started in the middle and am working outwards!:-)

I would recomend it to anyone on the strength of 'Lirael'.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:18 AM

"The Subtle Knife", second volume of the Phillip Pullman "Dark Materials" trilogy. It's very very good, but I am a little disappointed as I had been led to believe it was great. Rivetting stuff, anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:27 AM

Northern Lights (or the Golden Compass in America!) was definitely the best. I thought it went a bit downhill from there but certainly riveting, Greg. Well worth keeping going:-)

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Gervase
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:36 AM

Leisure reading? Ah, that dim and distant memory. Currently on the bedside table are the Haynes Guide to the Land Rover Defender, Building with Lime, the Care and Restoration of Stone Buildings, a pamphlet on poultry diseases and a farm machinery catalogue (Now that's sexy!).
One day soon I'm going to read a real book again.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:50 AM

Re some previous posts, anybody who hasnt read McCarthy's Bar should rop everything they are doing and read it right now. The best travel book ever. We bought six copies to give to friends,(we're Anglo-Welsh) and then met an Irish friend who had bought a dozen copies for the same purpose. It's that good! And interesting that it is so acceptable to an English and irish audience. Ihad a particular interest in that I know West Cork very well, and a lot of the book is about the area, but I think the humour is pretty universal...and his comments are very perceptive :"what oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed" could have been written about McCarthy's witticisms..

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:53 AM

I am reading this thread.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:11 AM

Waiting to read the next book in Alexander McCall Smith's "The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency", with Mma Precious Ramotswe.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:22 AM

I'm not reading nowt, I can't read.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:33 AM

I won't tell you the ending then, MTed.

My son tried to read Cryptonomicon after he finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and got so irritated with it that he stopped reading it... something he rarely does... guess it's not a book for everyone, although I believe it won a Pulitzer Prise.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 08:04 AM

Fleshmarket Close by Ian Rankin,English Music by Peter Ackroyd , The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester, Too Close To The Falls by Catherine Gildiner (A Great Book),Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King, Oryx and Krake by Margaret Atwood...and huge stack on my bedside table.I love threads like this as they always give me ideas of things to read.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Janie
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 08:25 AM

"The Battle for God" by Karen Armstrong, a scholarly work on the rise of fundamentalism in monotheistic religions, and a biography of Alexander Hamilton, can't think of the author right now. 'Course, most reading gets put on hold for me this time of year, with the business of the Holiday season.

Johnny's Selected Seeds 2005 commercial growers catalog.

"Help Wanted" ads.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Davetnova
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 08:40 AM

Reasons to be Cheerful - Mark Steel,reasonable.
I agree McCArthy's Bar was great, sorry to hear he's gone.
I enjoyed the first two Pullman books but gave up half way through the third(not something I do often).
Starting The Cull by Mark Frankland tonight(bankrupt farms,drug addiction and revenge). He's a local author but the book has been very highly spoken of

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 09:28 AM

Being a TOTAL Philistine I am in the midst of Pratchett's monstrous Regiment .

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: jimmyt
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 09:50 AM

I am reading Holy Blood Holy Grail, slowly. Also reading The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco.

Have read recently several TC Boyle works, Drop City being the one that I think Mudcatters would enjoy. He is a very good writer. I also have a Dickens in process, Nicolas Nickleby. I read a Dickens every year during the bleak rainy months, as I think Dickens is a wintertime read. I manage to keep all this stuff in process. It drives my wife crazy as she is a read one book at a time sort.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 10:31 AM

If greg stephens says that so adamantly, I will take his advice immediately. I took one of his book recommendations before and was very glad of it. I just finsihed Peace Like a River and enjoyed it immensely. Just my kind of book, I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Flash Company
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 10:37 AM

Jonathon Strange & Mr Norrell, the use of the English language is magical. When I finish that it will probably be Bruce Alexander's The Price of Murder.
Before, it was Pratchett's Going Postal. I get around!

FC

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: *Laura*
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 10:56 AM

I've just read The Great Gatsby for my A-level english - a book I wouldn't otherwise have read. I think it's brilliant!

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Wesley S
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 11:07 AM

Currently - The Gates of the Alamo. But I'm thinking of starting the Godfather.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 11:08 AM

Just finished Fleshmarket Close and am well into The Daughters of Cain by Colin Dexter. Morse y'know.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 11:09 AM

New book by Ursula Le Guin, called "Gifts". Just read it while sitting on a couch at Books Etc. Couldn't put it down!

There's a really nifty book I saw there as well, and am going to save my pennies to buy..called "Ideas that changed the world" by Felipe Fernandez Armesto.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 11:16 AM

Bash Shell Scripting . Somebody has to be boring.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 11:19 AM

I read Kavalier & Clay about a year ago -- very excellent.

Still meaning to read Pete McCarthy's sequel, the "Road To..." Reading "McCarthy's Bar" was a memorable experience for me, only in part because I was introduced to it during my first visit to Ireland, just over a year ago. My family and I were able to find our own "McCarthy's Bar" -- a pub identified by our last name, a considerably less common Irish name thatn McCarthy -- in Westport, Co. Mayo.

Right now, I've just begun Roddy Doyle's "Oh Play That Thing," the sequel to his excellent "A Star Named Henry." Henry has fled Ireland as a marked man thanks to his role as a gunman in the Irish fight for independence and in the subsequent Civil War. He arrives in New York and begins his adventures in America; according to the flyleaf notes (I haven't actually read this far yet), his troubles with local crimes bosses cause him to leave NY for Chicago, where he will befriend Louis Armstrong and serve as his bodyguard.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest over the holiday weekend. This book relates to two of my greatest interests -- Irishness and American roots music. I think there are a lot of Mudcatters out there with similar tastes, who should be alerted to the existence of this book.

If you haven't already read "Star Named Henry," however, I'd recommend reading both novels, in order.

Re: T.C. Boyle, another favorite of mine. His latest, entitled (I think) "The Inner Circle" (or something similar) is the story of one of Professor Kinsey's research assistants -- Kinsey the famous sex researcher, that is. I saw the new movie "Kinsey" (w/ Liam Neeson, Laura Linney) at a preview last week, and was surprised to see how closely the movie mirrored Boyle's book. If Boyle is credited at all, it's in very fine print -- no mention of his book in the film's reviews, publicity, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Midchuck
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 02:14 PM

Please check my post in "...Garth Nix fans..." thread for current thoughts.

Reading "Cryptonomicon" (Pssst....It's all right to skip over the math) is important because it sets the stage for reading "Quicksilver"/"The Confusion"/"The System of the World," even though they take place 300 years prior to Cryptonomicon. And you have to read them. 2500+ pages total, or not.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 04:46 PM

Currently reading Silverlock by John Myers Myers and Bill Bryson's Notes From A Small Island.

I'm so sad to hear McCarthy has died - I loved McCarthy's Bar. I felt that way when I heard that James Clavell had died - you know that there will be no more 'goodies' from that particular genius.

I read the Pullman trilogy in three days when recovering from a hysterectomy and they were a great way of occupying the time.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: emjay
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 05:04 PM

The Riverkeepers by John Cronin and Robert Kennedy, jr. about the efforts to clean up the Hudson, Pete Seeger is in it several times, of course. The book sat on my shelves for more than a year before I got into it, sorry I waited so long. It's an excellent book on many levels. Honest to Jesus by Robert Funk, a lot about how the present day Christian Bible came to be, with historical references, translators work. I just finished the Pullman trilogy. I really got bogged down in the third book, and alglad to read others saying the same thing. I doubt I'll ever read them again. And am now in the third book of Alexander McCall Smith's books about that detective agency. They are delightful. The first two in this list I am reading fairly slowly, the last just as fast as I can.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 05:20 PM

At this time, The Cartoon Guide To Physics by Larry Gonick, his Cartoon Guide to Statistics, Harry M. Hyatt's Folk-Lore of Adams County, Illinois ('cause I was born and raised there), B. A. Botkin's Tales, Stories and Folklore of the Civil War, and a couple of others which I disremember at the moment. I'll probably be reading Tony Hillerman's new Skelton Man pretty soon.

Nothing earth-shaking or socially significant, I'm afraid.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 05:21 PM

That last was me.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: kendall
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:02 PM

Currently, THE DA VINCI CODE.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: GUEST,Cretinous Yahoo
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:05 PM

Stories told in the kitchen by Kendall Morse. Very funny.

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:08 PM

Glad to hear there's a new Tony Hillerman on the way!

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: GUEST,Bobert
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:21 PM

Most recently: "What Are You Reading"

Awww, jus' funnin'...

Lexdexia don't make fir avid readers so other than the Bible and piccure books, I don't read books... I do read the newspaper and read posts (and many links) here and at Tweeds...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:03 PM

Dracula.. Bram Stoker.

Frank Muir's treasury of Christmas - all about Christmas traditions and how we got them.

Good Housekeeping Cookery Book, circa 1952 - making the Christmas pudding. It's a great book, specially written for those who had to fend for themselves after the war had taken away all their servants and cooks... tells you how to boil water and in what pan, right down to jugging a hare!

'The Dark is Rising' sequence by Susan Cooper...I read it every year at this time. Starts with 'Over sea, under stone' and goes through 4 more books. It's brilliant.

I must rethink my medication though, because I was toying with the idea of reading 'Uncle Silas' yesterday....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:04 PM

Warrior Race-A history of the British at War

New Shanghai-Rise of Shanghai as a power base in China

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Amos
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:27 PM

Guns, Germs and Steel -- a study of factors affecting the migrations of mankind over millenia.

Plus some potboilers of the most worthless sort.


A

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 08:24 PM

Ah yes... and there is nary a day goes by that I don't re-read the vollected comic strip, Get Fuzzy. Calvin and Hobbes was my favorite for many, many years, and Peanuts before that. But, nothing is as hysterical to me as Get Fuzzy. I bought books for both of my sons... neither of whom have discovered it yet.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: open mike
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 09:12 PM

yes! also looking forward to the new tony hillerman!
I also read books about the female counterpart...
Ella Clah...who, like Jin Chee and JOe Leaphorn,
investigate crimes in the Navaho/Hopi/Zuni land.

also came upon another murder mystery...set in
Amish (PennsyLvania Dutch) country...and it
included recipes....definately a book by for and about women..

adn today arrived the "new" book i just ordered..
New World Utopia...I am researching historic
communal living "experiements" for an article i plan
to write for communities magazine...Fellowship for Intentional Communities

I also try to read periodicals as they come in..
Mother Earth News....therE is a mudcat on tHE editorial board!
Dirty Linen...Sing Out!....No Depression, ALL MUSIC MAGAZINES..
Home Power, about genertaiing electricity ..off the grid....

also reading maps and proposed Timber Harvest Plans for a
logging operation slated to occur in the water shed above
the community here....portions of 8 sections of land are
included in the proposed cut. a section consists of 660
acres...take that time 8...well it is extensive, and has
the possibility of major impact on water quality, siltation,
run off, habitat loss, etc. ( i am very concern about it)

also have recently enjoyed Kat's Wyoming wind words book!!

also reading this forum, and my e-mail....glad i CAN read
i do a fair amount of it every day!!

also reading the label of Marion's tape, and loving her trilogies!!

and cook books in preparation for tomorrow's feast..

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 09:17 PM

Beryl Markham's WEST WITH THE NIGHT

Art

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: Margaret V
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 09:33 PM

I just read "The Preservationist" by my friend David Maine. It's a startlingly convincing, funny, beautifully written imagining of the story of Noah and his family and, you know, that big adventure with the flood. I love his writing style--it's spare, yet still very expressive. And he has a neat narrative framework in which he alternates chapters told in the first person by various family members with chapters in the third person focusing on Noah's perspective. It was a great read; I'm typically quite a slow reader and I just breezed through this because of the lovely, clear prose and the suspense. I know "suspense" sounds strange since we all pretty much know what happens in the end of the Noah story, but it really was a page-turner. Naturally I'm proud of Dave because he's my pal and I'd be happy he got published in any case, but I'm even happier that I like the book so much! Margaret

Subject: RE: BS: What Are You Reading?
From: MAG
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 09:42 PM

A book thread! how wonderful! I get to do this at work, too.

Last week I finished the Birkin book on J.M. Barrie in anticipation of having to answer a lot of questions at work about the movie. I was a great read. (and Barrie knew Arthur Ll Davies quite well for 10 years, and there were 5 boys, not 4 ...)

Then I gulped down LeGuin's *The Telling;* my storytelling friends told me I just had to read it, and they were right.

I have a book checked out now on the New Science of Dreams, but meantime I finally got hold of the book on Larry Gorman, and can't wait to dive into it. I did think it had all his lyrics. (I actaully got it from Canada by way of Abebooks. and no, Max, Amazon could not get it.) I just reread the Poe's Raven parody from *Antic Muse,* which I must reread every year, and am about to reread *Child's Christmas in Wales,* which I also must do every year. I'll probably take it to dinner tomorrow and make everyone listen to it.