Book thread

[MrSaigon]

Michael Lewis really likes the word 'quixotic.' I've read two books and am reading 'Panic' (which is a collection of stuff by a bunch of writers glued together by him) in the expletiver, and I've seen that word 8 or 9 times.

He tells a great story, he does, I really enjoy his work. But that sort of takes away from the experience for me.

Read 'Cloud Atlas' over the last few days. Really ambitious, really good. That's not really the kind of story I like to see in film, but if it will finally bring the Wachowskis and Hugh Grant together (and let's be honest those comets have been on a collision course since 'Nine Months' and 'Matrix' and there's no denying it) then I guess I'll give it a shot.

[IMADreamer]

I wish I had discovered this thread a long time ago, because I read page 20 and found people reading two books I've already read:

IMADreamer: Stop now. I found literally 2 pieces of information in the entire book interesting, and one was that a certain personality was married to another personality.

For the folks reading 11/22/1963: My quick review on it (without spoilers). He spent entirely too much time on a certain aspect of the book, and entirely too little time on a certain aspect of the book (when you're finished, let's talk). This was the first King book I ever read (big JFK conspiracy theorist fan, was interested to see what was in the book), and while I enjoyed it, and am looking at starting other King books, my previous criticism still remains.

Yeah, I'm finding that myself now. I haven't even touched it in a few days. It just kind of drones on and on.

[Radbird]

Just started Stephen King's "Bag of Bones." Found a hardback copy in perfect condition for $1 at Goodwill.

If that's the one about the writer at the lake house, you'll enjoy it.

[Freed Roger]

I agree with both of your posts, JS and Donnie.

[SHOW]

I did like the description of living in a bygone era, which is part of the reason I liked the first part of the book so much. As far as dragging in the middle, I agree that it was due to too much time spent stalking Oswald. And rushing to get to the School Book Depository left that part kind of anti-climactic; I agree more suspense could have been built up to the day or two leading up to the shooting.

Another thing I wondered. Jake said all of the time and effort spent spying on Oswald was to ensure that he had, indeed, acted alone, because if he hadn't, then taking him out wouldn't stop Kennedy's eventual assassination. Since he thought (as Al told him) that every trip back in time was a complete reset, why not find and kill him immediately upon arriving in 1958, then zip back to 2011 and see how everything turned out? If it worked out, great; if not, go back and do a quick reset. Kill who you have to kill if it was a simple conspiracy (i.e. de Mohrenschildt) or just leave the past alone if it was too big to mess with or changed the future unfavorably. But then I guess we wouldn't have had a novel.

Yeah, I'm going to agree with your guy's posts as well. Glad I finished the book, finally. It was dragging.

On to this and it's a good one.

Daniel Woodrell, author of Winter's Bone. Outlaw Album is a collection of short stories about [expletive] ups centered in rural Ozarks. Sinister little tales for sure. Not lyrical as Cormac McCarthy, but just as hellish, and with some odd twists on justice.

SW Mo is proud of Woodrell, with Winter's Bone - even with depicting the backwoods people down there as miserable wretches. It gives us Missourians something to be proud of

[cpebbles]

Don't suppose anyone has read Nothing to Envy? I've been morbidly fascinated by the situation in North Korea, and it was one of the first recent sources I've seen referenced. The excerpt on the website is interesting enough to get me intrigued.

[Freed Roger]

Commenced reading this because I saw Jon Krakuer's name associated with it. The book's author isn't the best writer - but the story is still surreal -even after reading Krakauer's related them "Under the Banner of Heaven" a few years back.

[cardinalkarp]

About to start reading the 6th installment of the Dexter books "Double Dexter"

[Maclowery]

Finished a re-read of Joe Abercrombie's superb First Law trilogy. High fantasy with characters that actually make sense in a brutal gritty medieval fantasy setting. Don't expect an honorable Aragorn or lovable Gandalf. So, so fun.

Next up, Daniel Abraham, another terrific writer in the genre whom I've somehow missed so far. Yay.

[TimeForGuinness]

I'm only about a third of the way through it but "Born To Run" is fascinating.

Reads like a long magazine article, but it's a fun theory nonetheless. Made me want to run an ultra. I didn't, but I was interested for the 2 weeks I read Born To Run.

I'm not sure about running an ultra, but I am giving a serious consideration to calling myself el Caballo Blanco.

I just finished "Born To Run"...the book is enlightening...I ran two marathons last year, and I'm running a half marathon this Spring, and the Chicago marathon this October. I plan on altering my training due to reading this book. Good thing I read it now, looks like I have plenty of time to put it into action.

[Hungary Jack]

I feel like I have read every mountaineering / outdoor adventure book published. I need something new. Someone suggested Mein Kampf, but I was hoping for something a bit more contemporary.