Book thread

[Freed Roger]

An enjoyable and easy read for non-fiction "One Summer America 1927" by Bill Bryson

http://www.amazon.com/One-Summer-Americ ... one+summer

Bryson is a witty writer - and good story-teller -not afraid to go on a good tangent when it's interesting. He let's readers get to know Ruth, and Charles Lindbergh without having to read a full-blown biography on them.

He gives a pretty interesting description of 1920s baseball too. Mentions the MLB rule banning the spitball - but some pitchers were grandfathered in on it (Burleigh Grimes). According to the people in that time - it made a dramatic difference in the game -and was a factor in the end of the deadball era.

[Maclowery]

Nerd on:

Just finished the most recent book from one of my very favorite gritty fantasy authors, Scott Lynch's third novel of his Gentleman Bastard series. The first novel, for non-geeks, was Lies of Locke Lamora, which is absolutely one of my favorite novels of all time - it's a Robin Hood / Oliver Twist / Lord of the Rings hybrid only much more, well, brutal - that is tremendous fun. His third novel, though, Republic of Thieves, is just lame. None of the complex fantasy caper with lots of violence and sarcastic wit sort of charm. In this case, it was about 40 pages of that and 500 of boring side plots and an awful romance story.

I'm really sad, as I'd been waiting for this book for years.

Now back to a re-read of Joe Abercrombie, who anyone who jumped on the Game of Thrones bandwagon needs to really just read his books. Much less unsatisfying backstabbing and general disappointment about plot resolutions, and lots more gore, cursing, and sex. And awesomely unique characters who will never, ever, forever, become a mainstream HBO character.

[Freed Roger]

I'm juggling John Kennedy Tooles' 'A Confederacy of Dunces'
(one of the funniest books ever written)

I talked the library into extra renewal on this- I just can't give it up. Finally closing on the end (too tired a reader).

Hilarious.

I usually cringe when I see a letter from/between characters in a story - but the ones in here with that minx Myrna are awesome.

[go birds]

I'm juggling John Kennedy Tooles' 'A Confederacy of Dunces'
(one of the funniest books ever written)

I talked the library into extra renewal on this- I just can't give it up. Finally closing on the end (too tired a reader).

Hilarious.

I usually cringe when I see a letter from/between characters in a story - but the ones in here with that minx Myrna are awesome.

finna start Confederacy of Dunces

Better start eating hot dogs in prep.

I hit a wall while reading this book and havent been back since. i think i need to plow right through it and finish the damn thing.

[Freed Roger]

I'm juggling John Kennedy Tooles' 'A Confederacy of Dunces'
(one of the funniest books ever written)

I talked the library into extra renewal on this- I just can't give it up. Finally closing on the end (too tired a reader).
Hilarious.
I usually cringe when I see a letter from/between characters in a story - but the ones in here with that minx Myrna are awesome.

finna start Confederacy of Dunces

Better start eating hot dogs in prep.

I hit a wall while reading this book and havent been back since. i think i need to plow right through it and finish the damn thing.

I can relate. I'm not nearly the reader I used to be - internet is making me ADD. And old - too tired to stay it out at night. Confederacy of Dunces, bounces around not a cliff-hanger sort that compels you to finish. Though I am now curious what happens with this hot dog stand and the revolution.

[StatmanCrothers]

Mostly I'm still working on novel length projects, and though this is Not a book, just a very short story, it's my first professional sale as a writer.

* The picture doesn't have anything to do with the story, all stories that month have the same image.

http://dailysciencefiction.com/science- ... the-father

First published 4/29/2013

[Freed Roger]

Well done Stat. I enjoyed it.

[StatmanCrothers]

Well done Stat. I enjoyed it.

Thanks

[heyzeus]

I read your story too, and I want those glasses. As long as they work for removing clothes, too.

[ghostrunner]

I hesitate to note an audiobook in this thread, but since I drive a lot I decided to download the Hunger Games audiobooks from the library. Wasn't sure I really wanted to commit to reading them, as I wasn't expecting that much. The first 2 are interesting and it's compelling to hear the story from Katniss' perspective (1st person) vs the movies. It strikes me that they'd be good reading for just about any kid whose used to taking things for granted. It goes into detail about the hardship in the book's world, and even though it's brought about by fictional and perhaps far-fetched circumstances, is similar enough to what some go through in our own world. It's refreshing how flawed the main character is, and how unsure of herself she is. So there's a lot to recommend them, though both of them are more or less an action-adventure. You find yourself getting caught up in it, and there's these reminders along the way that you're somewhat guilty of the same thing the government and spectators are. And you want the character to win, be a hero, etc...

But I finished Mockingjay, and maybe it's the stuff in Ukraine and Venezuela factoring in, but I was emotionally knocked off my ass. It completely switches gears, and becomes more about war and loss and cruelty. Was unusually depressed last night and after finishing it today, I was in tears. I mention that because it's rare. And not due to the fate of any one character but the totality of it. It seems ridiculous from listening to a YA audiobook, but there you have it. Apparently there's a lot of hate for it, and my guess would be that's because almost everything you want to happen doesn't happen. It's brutal.