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The BOOK Thread

If you like it that much, you should read some of his other books. Stephenson is probably my favorite author, but Snow Crash is my least favorite of his books.

I just finished reading The Martian by Andy Weir. Absolutely incredible. Hilarious, technical, nerdy, and gripping. Loved every page.

Just picked up The Satanic Bible after hearing about it on Californication, it's actually a really interesting read if you're willing to read it with an open mind.

Most people were giving me the :wtf look when they saw me reading it...not sure what the big deal is:flame
 
Just finished Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Now moving on to The Anansi Boys.

Really enjoy his style of prose. Super easy to read, and almost lyrical sometimes. For me he seems to create rich visuals without being too wordy like some other decent fantasy / fiction writers.
 
Just finished Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Now moving on to The Anansi Boys.

Really enjoy his style of prose. Super easy to read, and almost lyrical sometimes. For me he seems to create rich visuals without being too wordy like some other decent fantasy / fiction writers.

his background in comics is exactly why,. ,script writing for comics involves explaining a scene to an artists and hwo to draw it, but obviously without creating scripts that take too long to read
 
maybe we should alert newbies that barf has a literary geek contingent...
that rocks.

Just found this Forum while poking around. :)
Me Likey!
 
I am currently reading "@ War". Interesting.
 
I just finished "Spam Nation" by Brian Krebs. Important stuff.

Warns you about stuff like:

"Subject: Somet hing t hat u ’d li ke t o see is here

For accepting the reaction of the wary positively with the impossibility of repaying it, by this submissiveness and the sloop of this gavel, rebel will repulse at last, as it were, to a secretive document of that chronological satellite before they scorned in life, to pointing like its latest combat.

ůοṟḳê+ḁȁƙąӑ?еῃṙ

But readily, deeply, and why all this had spited, he could not tell."

I just found that in my inbox and needed to share it somewhere.
 
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A friend recently published an e-book

On Grief, Hope, and Motorcycles

She writes very well. Though short-ish, I think it's well worth reading.
A collection of journal entries and ride reports.

Here's the thread on PNWRriders where she introduced it.

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All,

I apologize for raking up this old post, but I had to say how right Pieter was about "The River of Doubt". It is very well written and I enjoyed it much more than some others that I've read recently.

John

I've just bought her second book and am looking forward to it as well.

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
Categories: Non-fiction, history, adventure/exploration, bibliography
Published December 15, 2009
Author: Candice Millard

I purchased this book over Valentine's weekend when out on our date night my wife and I found ourselves yet again at a bookstore. I finally started reading this shortly before I left for my business trip last week, and I had it finished within a few days. Entirely too soon in terms of trip, and leaving me wanting more from the same writer (thankfully I was satisfied there upon my return to the states).

Candice Millard is a former writer and editor for the National Geographic magazine, and combines detailed research with the type of story telling that has you immersed while actually learning some really interesting history along the way. Not only does she provide excellent, detailed context for the main narrative, but she manages to pull us into the key relationships that will decide the fate of this epic adventure when the fecal matter starts to hit the oscillator.

Things start out grandiose in Brazil, with much pomp and circumstance, as Roosevelt is warmly received (in most places) and goes on a small speaking tour in Brazil before commencing on a voyage into the Amazon. The Bull Moose had always been an avid naturalist and hunter, and looking for a new challenge (following his failed bid for an unprecedented third term in the White House) he agrees to lead an expedition of naturalists, sponsored by the Smithsonian museum, down a known tributary of the Amazon in search and collection of new and rare specimens for the museum.

The best laid plans of mice and men however, in conjunction with a last minute change in itinerary, turn what should have been a mildly risky naturalists' gathering expedition into a descent down an un-mapped tributary so rife with incessant peril that it soon becomes clear that successfully navigating this unknown river has become a one way journey in which hangs the balance of life and death. Gripping stuff, I couldn't put it down, and highly recommend it. Very manly reading.

A+



I've picked up and started reading her only other published book: Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President. This one is about President Garfield, and only shortly into the book Millard has vividly set the stage describing Garfield's stroll through the Centennial Fair, where the anthems of all 49 nations in attendance were played (except that of the US, which wouldn't have one for another 50 years), and where young Alexander Graham Bell makes an appearance.

In a few short paragraphs she also describes enough of Chicago, the wooden buildings, wooden sidewalks, wooden-planked streets, the 100 days of drought, and late autumn setting that saw much of city stocked and ready for the winter with plenty of additional wood, hay, and kerosene, to leave little to the imagination of what kind of inferno consumed the city shortly after a small barn fire started on the west side. It had been less than 10 years since Custer and his men had been butchered, and less than that since President Andrew Jackson signed the bill forcing all Native Americans onto reservations. It was particularly striking to realize his bust still adorns the $20 dollar bill to this day, while the plight of many Native Americans continues to worsen.

Not too far into this book yet, but thoroughly enjoying another very entertaining glimpse at a piece of history.
 
Just finished Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Now moving on to The Anansi Boys.

Gaiman is a fantastic storyteller. American Gods is one of my favorites, and his short stories are wonderful.

So many books, so little time. Here are a few authors from the past couple years that made an impression.

-All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. Not exactly happy, but not so bleak as his other books.

-Richard Russo. Empire Falls, Straight Man, Bridge of Sighs, hard to go wrong

-Wallace Stegner. Crossing to Safety is a good one to start with

-Marilyn Robinson. Gilead is wonderful. One of my favorite books, I buy used copies to give away.

-Jennifer Egan. A Visit from the Goon Squad is fantastic. Knocks the wind out of you, it's so well done. The Keep is also a great read.

I don't read as much fantasy anymore, but here are a few I've liked:

-The Demon cycle books by Peter V Brett.

-Brandon Sanderson is quite good. Mistborn and Elantris series are fun. If you're into epic fantasy cycles, the Stormlight Archive is so far so good. Actually it's better than good.

-Jim Butcher's stuff is fun. Detective novels with wizards thrown in, or classic boy makes good fantasy. Guy knows how to keep it moving.

For you non-fiction fans, here are a few more.

-A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Funny, informative, gives you a sense for the fierce competition in the world of scientific discovery.

-The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean. The most interesting book about the Periodic table I've read.

-Longitude by David Sobel. Interesting read on the solving of 'The Longitude Problem'.
 
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Going to check out the Bill Bryson book as it seems intriguing to me as a science geek
 
Anyone read a good non fiction book lately?

Born To Run, I finished a month ago.

If you are a WWII history buff like me, I've read these recently:

"Inferno - The World at War, 1939-1945" Max Hastings. This is as complete a history that I've seen and is fantastic. Long at over 600 pages but is a magnificent reference book.

"A Higher Call" Adam Makos. Stunning book, hard to put down.

"Dead Wake - the last crossing of the Lusitania" Erik Larson. Excellent read and a very sad tale.

Dan
 
Just finished this Nexus by Ramaz Naam. Great Sci-Fi read, fascinating thoughs on trans/post-humanism. Eager to read the second and third in the series.

RN_rebrand_NEXUS_03-tiny-233x400.jpg


Now starting down the path of Stephenson's new book, Seveneves. Already hooked. See you all in a while.
 
read the books from Tom Clancy.
start at the beginning with hunt for red October
about 18 books in all.

story's about real things, and posable real outcomes.

.
 
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All,

I apologize for raking up this old post, but I had to say how right Pieter was about "The River of Doubt". It is very well written and I enjoyed it much more than some others that I've read recently.

John

I've just bought her second book and am looking forward to it as well.

I liked the content. I thought the writing style was ponderous and unappealing.
 
Sad times. Bay Book & Tobacco (now just called Bay Book) lost their lease in Strawflower village in half moon bay. Everything must go by Wednesday. Still tons of books left.
 
Anyone read a good non fiction book lately?

Born To Run, I finished a month ago.

A friend lent me Undaunted Courage and that was good. The story of the Lewis and Clark expedition / Lewis' biography.
 
There's a lot of hoopla about Harper Lee's new book, Go Set A Watchman. I read To Kill Mockingbird in school. I need a refresher.
 
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