That about sums it up for le Carre. By the way the book has picked-up a bit since page 200 or so.
Waging Heavy Peace by Neil Young. Rambling, disjointed. Some fun stories. Enjoyable, all in all.
PH
PH
quote:Originally posted by Primordialsoup:
That about sums it up for le Carre. By the way the book has picked-up a bit since page 200 or so.
I have his latest, A Delicate Truth, coming from Amazon. He has struggled in the last decade or so (some would say since the end of the cold war), but he's always interesting. I hope you have watched the magnificent BBC production of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People.
Wine Spectator forums...
quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by Primordialsoup:
That about sums it up for le Carre. By the way the book has picked-up a bit since page 200 or so.
I have his latest, A Delicate Truth, coming from Amazon. He has struggled in the last decade or so (some would say since the end of the cold war), but he's always interesting. I hope you have watched the magnificent BBC production of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People.
I can't help seeing Alec Guinness as George Smiley in every le Carre story I read- and that is one reason I continue to pursue the books. What a great actor (and great performance).
quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:
I have his latest, A Delicate Truth, coming from Amazon. He has struggled in the last decade or so (some would say since the end of the cold war), but he's always interesting. I hope you have watched the magnificent BBC production of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People.
I got through only about 20 pages of Mission song and just put it down for good. Guess I didn't stay with him on that one, so I will miss any payoff.
A brief history of the Tudor age
Dear Life by Alice Monro. I love her writing, but am not a fan of the stories, so far.
PH
PH
I just started Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy.
Victim, Survivor or Navigator - Choosing a Response to Workplace Change
Wanted to find a quick and simple read for my management team to go through as we make some changes around the office and found a good one.
Wanted to find a quick and simple read for my management team to go through as we make some changes around the office and found a good one.
Killing Kennedy
The Alchemist
A Farewell to Arms
A Farewell to Arms
quote:Originally posted by Rothko:
The Alchemist
A Farewell to Arms
An interesting pair, Rothko. One is a book I love, the other a book I absolutely hated and am sorry I wasted the time to read. YMMV.
I'm curious as to which is which. I just finished The Alchemist, and started Farewell.
Ed Bowers
How did you like Killing Kennedy? I thought that it was excellent.
The Last Man by Vince Flynn - may have been his final book unless he had one in publishing before his death last year. I will miss Mitch Rapp.
How did you like Killing Kennedy? I thought that it was excellent.
The Last Man by Vince Flynn - may have been his final book unless he had one in publishing before his death last year. I will miss Mitch Rapp.
Just finished Debt of Honor and started Executive Orders
quote:Originally posted by scbeerman:
Ed Bowers
How did you like Killing Kennedy? I thought that it was excellent.
The Last Man by Vince Flynn - may have been his final book unless he had one in publishing before his death last year. I will miss Mitch Rapp.
2/3 way thru. Very interesting and has a lot f stuff I did not know [Like Lincoln]. Expect to finish up today. Once I get into it, it is hard to put down.
quote:Originally posted by scbeerman:
I will miss Mitch Rapp.
Huge +1.
In the Footsteps of the Group of Seven
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas- Hunter Thompson
Currently reading:
Guns, Germs and Steel - Jared Diamond
Heart of Darkness (and other short stories)- Joseph Conrad
Currently reading:
Guns, Germs and Steel - Jared Diamond
Heart of Darkness (and other short stories)- Joseph Conrad
The Angel Riots by Ibi Kaslik
quote:Heart of Darkness (and other short stories)- Joseph Conrad
Dunno which other short stories, but Heart of Darkness is just a "wow" for me. This isn't your first time with it, is it?
The Wolf of Wall Street
quote:Originally posted by ABryce:Currently reading:
Guns, Germs and Steel - Jared Diamond
Love it, be sure to watch Diamond's own two part video of this.
A Storm in Flanders by Winston Groom.
Always amazes me how little us Americans know about The Great War.
After writing Forrest Gump, Groom must have decided he wanted to do something with a little more scholarship.
Always amazes me how little us Americans know about The Great War.
After writing Forrest Gump, Groom must have decided he wanted to do something with a little more scholarship.
quote:Originally posted by winetarelli:quote:Heart of Darkness (and other short stories)- Joseph Conrad
Dunno which other short stories, but Heart of Darkness is just a "wow" for me. This isn't your first time with it, is it?
Yes it is, and while I thought it was good, it didn't have a profound effect on me. Perhaps I need to give it another read through. Can I get your thoughts on the book?
quote:Love it, be sure to watch Diamond's own two part video of this.
Will do, thanks!
Sycamore Row, the new Grisham book.
Typically good if you like Grisham. Spins a good yarn.
In one scene, after a hard day in Court, some lawyers go back to their office, and have a "light dinner", and then sip some "Barolos."
??
Typically good if you like Grisham. Spins a good yarn.
In one scene, after a hard day in Court, some lawyers go back to their office, and have a "light dinner", and then sip some "Barolos."
??
Got a new tablet and it's increased my reading - just so easy to download something rather than cart home a handful of books.
Currently reading "Neurogastronomy" by Gordon Shepherd and a translation of Livy's History of Rome.
On deck are a couple of other books on the science and physiology of taste and a book about the Spanish conquest.
Currently reading "Neurogastronomy" by Gordon Shepherd and a translation of Livy's History of Rome.
On deck are a couple of other books on the science and physiology of taste and a book about the Spanish conquest.
the giver
can anybody rec me any epic fantasy/sci fi books to read?
I just got a kindle and decided to pick up reading in earnest again and alot of the books recommended by amazon are all these teenie bopper vampire books
I just got a kindle and decided to pick up reading in earnest again and alot of the books recommended by amazon are all these teenie bopper vampire books
Gman, I will respond to this in greater length when I get the chance. In shot the kindle ( I'm on my 2nd or 3rd) is one of the greatest things ever for someone who enjoys reading. There has been so many times I've finished a $3 book that I couldn't put down in the sci-fi genre. At times it feels like all I'm reading would be loosely classified as junk, but hey they are enjoyable reads.
quote:Originally posted by snipes:
Gman, I will respond to this in greater length when I get the chance. In shot the kindle ( I'm on my 2nd or 3rd) is one of the greatest things ever for someone who enjoys reading. There has been so many times I've finished a $3 book that I couldn't put down in the sci-fi genre. At times it feels like all I'm reading would be loosely classified as junk, but hey they are enjoyable reads.
yea, problem is I finish them in like a day or two.
i tried a few of those short stories that get good reviews that were free, but so far, they're crap and i swear that people who are giving these high reviews were paid, never read a good story, don't understand how to hold a train of thought or infer any complexity
quote:Originally posted by g-man:
the giver
Loved it!
quote:can anybody rec me any epic fantasy/sci fi books to read?
I'll address both categories. For Sci-fi, nothing comes close for me to Ender's Saga. While I disagree with what Orson Scott Card has to say about same-sex marriage, the man knows how to craft a great tale. Ender's Saga and Shadow Saga are a serious set of books, which I think you'll have trouble putting down. His Pathfinder series is great too, but only 2 books in. More of a fantasy/scifi mix.
For fantasy: I would mention Rothfuss, but I think we discussed him earlier in the thread. I am anticipating his final book for the Kingkiller series.
The subtle knife trilogy by Philip Pullman is a great fantasy trilogy, and while I feel it was aimed at a slightly younger audience, the books have an exciting story line and at points left me pondering for a while afterwards.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen is a series written by Steven Erikson. This series is vast. I finished the first two books, and will probably continue to read the rest of the series after I finish reading some classics. Erikson has constructed quite a broad universe, and I quite like series with multiple story lines.
Check out Guy Gavriel Kay. Just read Ysabel rescently and loved it.
Usually when I am in need of books I visit Best Fantasy Series/Books and have a quick scroll through to see what people are reading and why.
Hope this helps, enjoy!
quote:Originally posted by g-man:
can anybody rec me any epic fantasy/sci fi books to read?
I just got a kindle and decided to pick up reading in earnest again and alot of the books recommended by amazon are all these teenie bopper vampire books
Have you read the classics? Dune, The Foundation Trilogy, Childhood's Eng, The Martian Chronicles, Rendezvous With Rama, I, Robot, etc. And anything by Philip K. Dick.
Nice list here: David Pringle's Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels. Includes such currently unknown gems like A Canticle for Leibowitz and Stand on Zanzibar.
quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by g-man:
can anybody rec me any epic fantasy/sci fi books to read?
I just got a kindle and decided to pick up reading in earnest again and alot of the books recommended by amazon are all these teenie bopper vampire books
Have you read the classics? Dune, The Foundation Trilogy, Childhood's Eng, The Martian Chronicles, Rendezvous With Rama, I, Robot, etc. And anything by Philip K. Dick.
Nice list here: David Pringle's Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels. Includes such currently unknown gems like A Canticle for Leibowitz and Stand on Zanzibar.
Good recs from The Old Man . . . Dune, and I Robot are particular favorites of mine.
For a newish book, I highly recommend "Ready, Player one" - the book from which I took my moniker. I would also recommend:
---The Mars series (Red Mars; Green Mars; Blue Mars)
--Enders Game (the "Harry Potter" of sci-fi but a great read)
--Hyperion
Just started reading "Who I Am" by Pete Townshend. The first 100 pages give a lot of insight into Pete's early influences, both bad and good.
One More Thing by B.J. Novak.
Very good. Recommended.
PH
Very good. Recommended.
PH
quote:Originally posted by Parcival:quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by g-man:
can anybody rec me any epic fantasy/sci fi books to read?
I just got a kindle and decided to pick up reading in earnest again and alot of the books recommended by amazon are all these teenie bopper vampire books
Have you read the classics? Dune, The Foundation Trilogy, Childhood's Eng, The Martian Chronicles, Rendezvous With Rama, I, Robot, etc. And anything by Philip K. Dick.
Nice list here: David Pringle's Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels. Includes such currently unknown gems like A Canticle for Leibowitz and Stand on Zanzibar.
Good recs from The Old Man . . . Dune, and I Robot are particular favorites of mine.
For a newish book, I highly recommend "Ready, Player one" - the book from which I took my moniker. I would also recommend:
---The Mars series (Red Mars; Green Mars; Blue Mars)
--Enders Game (the "Harry Potter" of sci-fi but a great read)
--Hyperion
yea i already read most of the classics
so was trying to hutn down some newer books.
One of the books that looks intriguing is Howl's moving castle. anybody read?
ender's game ... great first book, the rest of the series got all wonky.
quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by g-man:
can anybody rec me any epic fantasy/sci fi books to read?
I just got a kindle and decided to pick up reading in earnest again and alot of the books recommended by amazon are all these teenie bopper vampire books
Have you read the classics? Dune, The Foundation Trilogy, Childhood's Eng, The Martian Chronicles, Rendezvous With Rama, I, Robot, etc. And anything by Philip K. Dick.
Nice list here: David Pringle's Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels. Includes such currently unknown gems like A Canticle for Leibowitz and Stand on Zanzibar.
i would add the william gibson neuromancer trilogy
quote:Originally posted by vinoevelo:quote:Originally posted by The Old Man:quote:Originally posted by g-man:
can anybody rec me any epic fantasy/sci fi books to read?
I just got a kindle and decided to pick up reading in earnest again and alot of the books recommended by amazon are all these teenie bopper vampire books
Have you read the classics? Dune, The Foundation Trilogy, Childhood's Eng, The Martian Chronicles, Rendezvous With Rama, I, Robot, etc. And anything by Philip K. Dick.
Nice list here: Includes such currently unknown gems like A Canticle for Leibowitz and Stand on Zanzibar.
i would add the william gibson neuromancer trilogy
I could never get into him or the other cyberpunk writers. Though I do respect his contribution to the science fiction.