Anyone read these books (Some reviews and questions)...

Discussion in 'TMB Book Club' started by Gin Buckets, Aug 14, 2012.

  1. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Posted most of this on the Blue Board (247sports), because I can't get on TMB at work, but here's some recent books I've read, and some questions about potential next books....

    First off, I’ll start with the books I’ve recently read :

    Savages by Don Winslow:
    This book was fantastic. I love the way Winslow writes, and actually am about halfway through the prequel to this book Kings of Cool, which is far exceeding my expectations as I couldn’t see how a prequel would come close to Savages. I also, read this before I had any idea a movie was already out based after the book. Highly recommend.
    Question: Has anyone read any other Winslow books? If so, any reccos?

    Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell:
    Short read, and a true story about a Navy SEAL that was ambushed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was on a team of 4, and the only survivor. His recount of the events are crazy, and caused me to give even more respect to how tough Navy SEALS actually are.

    Power of One by Bryce Courtenay:
    Book about a South African orphan turned boxer, very good book, and a pretty easy read. I actually listened to this book, because it had the same reader as Shantaram.

    Unrboken by Laura Hildebrand:
    Another awesome true recount of an American Olympian track star turned Japanese POW.

    Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini:
    I didn’t even want to put this on the list, because everyone has seemingly read it, but it was a great story, and if you haven’t read it yet, you should.

    The Acacia Trilogy by David Anthony Durham:
    If you like fiction, and magic, and all that stuff you'll appreciate this trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books, and was satisfied with the conclusion.

    The Passage by Justin Cronin:
    Liked the book... It's going to be a trilogy, and I'll take the time to finish it. It's about a post apocalyptical world where a virus basically ruins the human race mixed with vampires.

    World War Z by Max Brooks:
    Everyone knows about this zombie book, so I'm not going to waste my time explaining it.

    Didn’t like as much: Soldier of the Great War (Too long, and often boring), Istanbul Passage (slow)

    Next on the list are as follows, my question is if anyone have read these and what they thought.
    “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini
    “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom - Actually reading now because I know I can finish it in 1 day.
    “12.21: A Novel” by Dustin Thomason
    “Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks and the Hidden Powers of the Mind by Alex Stone
    "The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett
    “11/22/63” by Stephen King
    “In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin” by Erik Larson
    “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein
    “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has ever Seen” by Christopher McDougall
    "Wool Omnibus Edition" by Hugh Howey - got some reccos for it on tBB, and the Amazon reviews are excellent, so it may jump to the front.
    "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline - see post above
     
  2. "The Passage" by Cronin is the best book I've read in years. I won't ruin anything by going into the plot other than to say its apocalyptic in nature.. The sequel "The Twelve" comes out in October and will be a must read for me..
     
  3. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I'll definitely be reading "The Twelve" as well. I meant finish the trilogy, not the book, but "The Passage" was recommended to me by a friend who said the same as you. I liked it a lot, and finished it pretty quickly (usually a sign of a good book for me), so I'd recommend it to anyone reading it as well.
    Anyone read any of the suggested books?
    Halfway through with "Tuesdays with Morrie" has taken some time to actually say anything important, but being a short read I'll finish it.
     
  4. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    So I started the book 12.21: A Novel by Dustin Thomason because it was recommended by Amazon, it's new, and I only have so much time before these books aren't as interesting. The beginning has been pretty interesting will write a short book report itt.

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0385341407
     
  5. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Finished "Tuesdays with Morrie" - Did not like it at all, but it was a quick read. Hoped to learn some valuable wise lessons from what seemed to be a wise old man. Not the case, I didn't really learn much at all, and just realized how shitty ALS is. Do not recommend.

    Also finished "12.21: A Novel" by Dustin Thomason - Solid book, kept my interest - I finished it in about 2.5 days if that tells you anything. The guy who wrote it was an MD so he had some clever writing in that aspect. Think contagion mixed in with some Mayan history and a little bit of predictable suspense. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for an entertaining read about 12.21 before it actually happens.

    Next on the list is "Finding Houdini" by Alex Stone - I'll make sure to write a review.

    and then "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett - This one should take a while as it's a long, epic, historical fiction novel.
     
  6. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Just finished Fooling Houdini. Easy read and pretty entertaining. I'd recommend especially of magic and magicians interest you.

    My one gripe is that I was expecting colorful characters kind of like the documentary "King of Kong: Fist full of quarters" and there is no one that unique in the story. It's also obvious the writer has some measure of affinity for many of these characters and wasn't ready to completely burn all his bridges like the reviews state he has.

    Glad I read it and would recommend to anyone interested in magic. (although I'm not, and still enjoyed it)

    Next on the list is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - this will take a while.
     
  7. I just got through reading the entire Mitch Rapp series. Overall a pretty good run of books about a guy who's an all American field hockey player that loses his fiancé to the Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie Scotland. He's so incensed with anger he comes to the notice of a recruiter looking for a black ops team who's job will be to go after any terrorist involved in a planned or executed attack against the US.

    Right before that I read "Swan Song" by Robert McCammon. It's another one of those post apopolyptic thriller. It about the US after a Nuclear war. One survivor is a young girl that has the gift of making plants grow under nearly any condition and the opposing forces looking to control of her. It was a very good read along the lines of Kings "The Stand".

    I'm going to read "The Walking Dead: Rise of The Govenor" next followed by "World War Z".
     
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  8. stexraider

    stexraider Fire Everybody
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    The Wool Omnibus is freaking amazing - it's a must read for fans of sci fi -
     
  9. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Is it? I'm going to have to check it out... Reading "Pillars of the Earth" now - it's long, but awesome so far. If a novel is well written, like this one, there's not much better reading imo.
     
  10. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Ok -- Pillars of the Earth was amazing. It's an awesome book, and definitely one of my favorites. Had an issue with the characters I guess - Follett's characters are good or bad, and don't really waiver.

    I am just finishing the sequel to Pillars - World Without End, and while it's pretty good, I don't think it can hold a candle to Pillars, and honestly wouldn't really recommend it. I wish I'd read "The Wool: Omnibus" instead, because now it's on the Cloud Atlas!
     
  11. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Ok -- Pillars of the Earth was amazing. It's an awesome book, and definitely one of my favorites. Had an issue with the characters I guess - Follett's characters are good or bad, and don't really waiver.

    I am just finishing the sequel to Pillars - World Without End, and while it's pretty good, I don't think it can hold a candle to Pillars, and honestly wouldn't really recommend it. I wish I'd read "The Wool: Omnibus" instead, because now it's on the Cloud Atlas!
     
  12. The Blackfish

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    My girlfriend's dad flew through 11/22/63 and has been recommending it to me ever since. I plan on reading it soon because he and I have very similar taste in books.
     
  13. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    After Cloud Atlas I already have it ready to go.

    After the Wool, what do you guys recommend? Ender's Shadow? Thousand Splendid Suns? Ready Player One? 11/22/63?! Decisions decisions.
     
  14. Ray McKigney

    Ray McKigney Feel my ubiquity
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    The Art of Racing the Rain is fantastic, especially if you are a dog person. My wife's family gave it to me a while back and I was very ::skepticalhippo:: but i gave it a shot and loved it.

    Highly recommend if you love dogs.
     
  15. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I'm sure I'll like it, hesitant to read a sad story though.
     
  16. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Caved and purchased "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and also "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons

    Anyone ever read Hyperion?
     
  17. Lorne Malvo

    Lorne Malvo Aces!
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    Love love loved 11/22/63. Hooked me right away. Had some slow parts, but I really enjoyed it. Probably read it again when I get some vacation time after Christmas.
     
  18. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Was going to get it today, but the damned audiobook was $45... Too many on my "to read" list to pay 2x as much as normal.
     
  19. Lorne Malvo

    Lorne Malvo Aces!
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    Downloaded illegally smug.
     
  20. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Read it :tebow:

    Don't read spoiler if you haven't read book:
    I'm a sucker and thought there was actually a chance Denny wasn't going to get custody, get nailed as a pedophile, and basically have a miserable life. If that had actually been the end of the book ending I would have recommended the hell out of it to all of my friends because misery loves company.
     
  21. Ray McKigney

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    Yeah, probably could have mentioned the man-cry factor of the book, but i didn't want to dissuade anyone from reading it.

    I chose to finish the last half of the book on the flight to my honeymoon. Im sure the wife was wondering why she chose to marry such a huge, gaping vagina after she most assuredly noticed bits of salty discharge falling from my ocular cavity.
     
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  22. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Just finished Black Cross by Greg Iles. Solid book. Anyone read?
     
  23. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    Gin Buckets did you ever read Ready Player One? Get it immediately if you ever liked video games, and especially if you were born in the 80s
     
  24. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Hell yes I did, and I loved every fucking minute of it. Awesome read. Loved that book.
     
  25. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    I haven't read anything else on your list except 11/22/63, which was very entertaining
     
  26. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I've read them all now except that one, In the Garden of Beasts, and Thousand Splendid Suns... Currently reading Born to Run.
     
  27. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    Pillars of the Earth is the tits. Probably in my top 15.