one of my favorite books of all time. amazing read. that and narcissus and goldmund by hesse are top tier for me
Just got the Kindle a little under a month ago and love it. It is extremely light and unlike a computer screen it isn't backlit, so it doesn't strain the eyes. Read The Crossing by McCarthy on it and now reading The Dark Tower Series by King. Also have Game of Thornes on there.
Thank you very much. Are there any other good sources for more recent audio book libraries for download?
Probably some more specialized sites out there but I konw thepiratebay.org has some audiobook torrance (along with pretty much any other type of content you would want to pirate)
Anyone read the Fall of Berlin by Antony Beevor? One of my professors went on about how awesome it is, probably read it over the summer.
A little help from my fellow bookfags? I remember hearing about a book about a year ago... It was set in Victorian London and was about a criminal forensics / criminal mind investigator, kind of a "CSI meets Jack The Ripper." The title was the guys profession (I think), like "The Mentalist" or "The Bloodwatcher" or something like that (one word). All thanks.
Started the Dark Tower on a recomendation from some of the guys in this thread. Really enjoyed the Stand and decided to keep it going.. Its going to pick up, right?
I love weird shit, and I normally like King... but these books made me want to claw my eyes out with a hammer. The hammerer end, not the claw end.
Has anyone read "The Information" by James Gleick? Never heard of him but it seems like he's written a bunch of non-fiction stuff. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+information&x=0&y=0
Are you thinking of "The Alienist"? If so, it's set in turn of the century NYC and is about a serial killer who kills underage male prostitutes in gruesome fashion. Incredible novel. One of my favorites.
I've read his first book Chaos, which is like the bible of the development of chaos theory. I haven't read The Information, but it's probably worthwhile to read.
I read the first two in the last two weeks. The first two are really different. The first one takes place almost entirely in the Gunslinger's world. The second one takes place almost entirely in the modern world. I liked the second one better and the first part of the second book was really good and the second half was pretty good. Not close to my favorite books of all time, but have enjoyed reading them so far.
Skimmed through this thread quick and didn't see these two non-fiction books mentioned so I figured I'd throw them out there. Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Taleb I read this book back around the time of the poker boom to get some insight into variance and its impact on the psyche. I guess there's been some attention/controversy surrounding Taleb in the last few years but I haven't really followed it. Either way, I enjoyed the book. http://www.amazon.com/Fooled-Randomness-Hidden-Chance-Markets/dp/1400067936/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303913977&sr=1-1 Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Weatherford I'm kind of surprised I don't see this book mentioned more. It's a pretty good look at Khan's life and the positive contributions he made to society despite the fact that he's always vilified. Pretty easy read. http://www.amazon.com/Genghis-Khan-Making-Modern-World/dp/0609809644/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303914300&sr=1-1
Reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell right now, about 150 pages in and it is incredible. He changes genres at an instant, moves through different time periods with several different characters that all intertwine. Masterful use of colloquialisms and nuance in the language of each period. highly recommend.
Yes. The whole first book you're just kind of wondering what the fuck is going on, but it's kind of cool and atmospheric. Within 50 pages of the second book you're reading about smuggling heroin and having badass gunfights with the mob and shit.
Love that book. His latest book, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is also very good. A film adaptation by the Wachowski brothers is expected to be out next year. Tom Hanks, Hugo Weaving, and Halle Berry are part of the cast at this point.
Pretty good description. First book I was sort of like this is pretty meh and confusing, but it was short so no big deal, but the next book is completely different and way cooler until the half-way point when a new character is introduced who isn't as good and the book dips for a hundred of so pages before picking up at the end. Starting #3 tonight. Hope it is more in the vein of #2 than #1.
You will love 3. Probably the best overall book in the series. Starts out exciting, keeps it up and ends on an awesome cliffhanger. The first time I read it part 4 wasn't out yet and I had to wait like a year or two to find out what happened :nebraskafans: The third book will remind you a lot of a fucked up ass version of Wizard of Oz.
Try waiting 7 fucking years. I was pissed. I literally had to re-read the first 3 when the 4th came out. The 4th was easily my favorite even though it has the least to do with the story itself. The character Cuthbert Allgood was one of my favorite characters from the entire series. The only part about the Gunslinger series I didn't like was the ending but I'm not sure I could think of a better one. Anyone that likes the Gunslinger series will enjoy The Talisman as well.
Agree on the Talisman. And on Cuthbert. What he should have done, and never did, was go back and write a book that fills in the years between the end of the story he tells in 4 and the grizzled old man we meet in 1. Aka when he was in his badass gunslinging prime. Roland, Cuthbert and Alain riding on motherfuckers
Really enjoyed the trio as well. I think it's a guy thing. It's the only part of the series my wife said she didn't like. He's got another Gunslinger book coming out next year but I believe I heard it takes place between 4 and 5.
Same to you heel. Moved in January and haven't had a computer really so I've been mainly mobile in the Hawkeyes thread and lurking here and there.
Just bought, Enders Game, Ghost War, The Hot Zone, and Demon in the Freezer off of Amazon, looking forward to reading some in the near future.
Currently reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Almost done with it. Pretty good read. Going to start either The Count of Monte Cristo or 1984 afterwards.
Summer of Don DeLillo for me. Going to re-read as much as I can and finish with Point Omega, which I never got around to (school). Going to start with Underworld so the rest is downhill
About halfway thru "Game of Thrones" right now. Figured I'd start reading it after all the hype of the show/book series
anyone read any Dave Zirin books? he writes about sports & politics just did a segment on Carson Daly and seemed pretty fascinating, may pick up one of his books soon
Eh. He's good to read and everyone should absolutely do so, but take his writing with a grain of salt. He has an agenda just like everyone else. Read "A Patriot's History of The United States of America" as well. Find the median. The truth is somewhere in between.
Have heard of "A Patriot's" but haven't read it. Is it really good? I understand Zinn has a leftist viewpoint but that's also a fucking awesome book. My impression of Patriot's is that it was some Glen Beck-tier writing. If it's really good though I'd check it out. Also Zinn's account was supposed to be contrary to what was already written before. It's not like there was no alternative before the Patriot book. Example: most American histories start with the Columbus story and it's all happiness and unicorns and awesome new open land. Zinn starts off with Columbus and his bros landing on some outlying islands for some good old raping and enslaving of naive natives
It's definitely more of the pro-America/we do nothing wrong/etc type of a book and I believe was written in response to Zinn's book. It's worth a read, iyam, but again, take it with a grain of salt. It's been a long time since I read it though, and to be perfectly honest, I don't remember it all that well. I'm just a proponent of reading several viewpoints on a subject; somewhere in the middle is the truth.
Basically, it's a history of social structure and political order in society. Goes into to detail about how people subject themselves to be governed, regardless of the political system and it's implications on society. Very good. Extremely informative.
Anyone ever read Shantaram? One of my buddies told me it was the best book he'd ever read... http://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Gregory-David-Roberts/dp/0312330537
I ordered Lone Survivor based on posts in this thread and got it on Monday. Finished it last night. Incredible what this guy and his teammates did and what he lived through. Would definitely recommend as others have itt. Also got the 4 books that Game of Thrones show is based on. Starting book 1 tonight. Going to try and not read past what the show shows each week. I'm thinking of getting the rise of theodore roosevelt next to read. And, has anyone read any of the books by Michio Kaku? Physics of the impossible or physics of the future specifically; I find this kind of stuff fascinating but I do not have much of a science or physics related background... Great thread btw
Demon in the Freezer came on Wednesday, I'll probably finish it tonight. Really interesting read. Ghost wars is next.