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What are you reading in 2014?

Benjamin Grimm Jan 01 2014 05:21 AM

I'll keep the 2013 thread open in case anyone else still wants to post a list of books that they read last year, but please post all 2014 entries in this thread. Me, I'm starting the year with this biography of Ulysses S. Grant, by H.W. Brands: This is the fourth book I've read by this author, and he always does a good job.

Fman99 Jan 01 2014 06:40 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I'll keep the 2013 thread open in case anyone else still wants to post a list of books that they read last year, but please post all 2014 entries in this thread. Me, I'm starting the year with this biography of Ulysses S. Grant, by H.W. Brands: This is the fourth book I've read by this author, and he always does a good job. That's interesting, I seem to enjoy history more based on the author than the subject, all of which are generally interesting enough if the story is well told. I will check out one of his books. I am about 1/3 of the way through this and enjoying it, so far.

Frayed Knot Jan 01 2014 09:07 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 01 2014 10:13 AM

Starting off the year with more porn for map geeks [fimg=260:y23woayr]https://d3hgnfpzeohxco.cloudfront.net/images/ar/97815924/9781592407798/0/0/plain/on-the-map-a-mind-expanding-exploration-of-the-way-the-world-looks.jpg[/fimg:y23woayr] Then it'll be on to last year's bio of Eisenhower [fimg=225:y23woayr]http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/content/2012/22112-review.jpg/11803290-2-eng-US/22112-review.jpg_full_600.jpg[/fimg:y23woayr]

TransMonk Jan 01 2014 09:42 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Slowly making my way through another TR book.

Frayed Knot Jan 01 2014 10:15 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Fman99 wrote: I seem to enjoy history more based on the author than the subject, all of which are generally interesting enough if the story is well told. I will check out one of his books. Same here. And while I wasn't aware of this guy either, looking through some lists it looks like he's cranked out a bunch of stuff.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 01 2014 10:22 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

In addition to his biography of U. S. Grant, I've also read his biographies of Ben Franklin and Andrew Jackson, and his book on the California Gold Rush.

Fman99 Jan 01 2014 05:51 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

TransMonk wrote: Slowly making my way through another TR book. Finished it recently. It's a tome. Enjoyed it, overall, though I felt it got less compelling as it got further away from the Muckraker stuff and more into Taft's presidency.

Edgy MD Jan 02 2014 08:01 AM Turn the Page: What I'm Reading in 2014

Sandy Tolan's Me and Hank was laying on a shelf upstairs at work. It has become my new baffroom reader. Unfortunately, I don't get this sweet slipcover.

metsmarathon Jan 02 2014 10:50 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Frayed Knot wrote: Starting off the year with more porn for map geeks [fimg=260]https://d3hgnfpzeohxco.cloudfront.net/images/ar/97815924/9781592407798/0/0/plain/on-the-map-a-mind-expanding-exploration-of-the-way-the-world-looks.jpg[/fimg] that looks good. i'm thinking that might just be my next book. i love maps and geography. in the meantime, i've started reading this one, city of ambition, on my nook.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 02 2014 11:24 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

That phrase "Making of Modern New York" seemed like a familiar subtitle. I quickly found three books: City of Ambition: FDR, LaGuardia, and the Making of Modern New York by Mason B. Williams Fiorello H. La Guardia and the Making of Modern New York by Thomas Kessner The Skyscraper and the City: The Woolworth Building and the Making of Modern New York by Gail Fenske I read the middle book, by Kessner, in 1995.

RealityChuck Jan 02 2014 11:35 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Finishing up:

batmagadanleadoff Jan 02 2014 11:48 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I'm not reading anything at the moment. I truly look forward to reading all the "Books I Read This Year" posts. sharpie always amazes me. He's practically on a one plus book a week pace that he's maintained at least since I've been a member of this forum. And that ain't all light reading he's reading, either. He must have lotsa space for bookshelfs (bookshelves) I always skim the year end lists out of interest, but also for suggestions on what to read next. I might pick up that Tulipmania book on Grimm's list. Anyone have a recommendation for a good book on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth?

seawolf17 Jan 02 2014 11:51 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I can go through a book or two a week when I'm really cranking. I'll grab four or five from the library at a time; I'll read the first chapter or two or three and sometimes I'll just throw them right in the bag to go back. Don't know if I have the energy to maintain that kind of list, though.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 02 2014 11:53 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

seawolf17 wrote: I can go through a book or two a week when I'm really cranking ... Me too. But not for several years running.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 02 2014 12:08 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I read fiction quicker than I do non-fiction. When most of my books were novels, I was able to read more books per year than I do now. Each year I set a Goodreads goal of 40 books, but I always fall short by three to five books. In 2013 I read 37. There's always a big fat book or two that derails me. (In 2013 it was Les Miserables.)

Edgy MD Jan 02 2014 12:12 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I guess that's my problem: too many big fat books. I could read a book a week for a year. I'll just read The Bridges of Madison County 52 times.

Frayed Knot Jan 02 2014 12:21 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ... Anyone have a recommendation for a good book on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth? James Swanson's MANHUNT from a couple of years back was a good one.

sharpie Jan 02 2014 12:38 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I've pretty much maintained a book a week pace for many years now. I commute by subway which gives me a good 45 minutes plus I tend to read a lot on vacations and during the offseason. I don't read magazines, I don't do social media, I don't watch much TV. I work for a publishing company and get most of my books for free. Also, mrs. sharpie is a voracious reader and will press books on me as well. I don't read fiction particularly faster than non-fiction. Depends on the book.

Fman99 Jan 02 2014 04:41 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Frayed Knot wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: ... Anyone have a recommendation for a good book on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth? James Swanson's MANHUNT from a couple of years back was a good one. Seconded. Enjoyed that one as well.

Rockin' Doc Jan 02 2014 08:21 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Fman99 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: ... Anyone have a recommendation for a good book on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth? James Swanson's MANHUNT from a couple of years back was a good one. Seconded. Enjoyed that one as well. Manhunt was the book that immediately came to mind when I saw batmag's inquiry.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 03 2014 01:51 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Okay then, Manhunt it is. Thanks. I've got three books on the way thanks to your suggestions and year-end lists. This should keep me busy for the next month plus. [fimg=333]http://www.mikedash.com/assets/images/Tulipomania-l.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=316]http://cdn.wwnorton.com/cms/books/9780393088694_300.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=322]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_coTJOhF1XDM/TB_S1Zrt1DI/AAAAAAAABdQ/jGjtwyo92SM/s1600/Manhunt.jpg[/fimg]

RealityChuck Jan 07 2014 09:35 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Liked his The Professor and the Madman, so this got to the top of my pile.

Fman99 Jan 07 2014 10:31 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Just finished "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay," which I enjoyed immensely. Haven't picked out my next book yet though I have 8-10 free samples on my Nook to try.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 07 2014 01:07 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I found lots of interesting stuff in this book, although how much is new to you I suppose depends. I spent a lot of energy actively ignoring the BeeGees over the years and so was especially impressionable when I finally gave in. What can I say, they are interesting: Pop geniuses who can't read music; always on or close to the edge of what's massively popular but at the same time numbingly naive and ridiculous; they come off as maybe the gayest group of all-time but in reality are about as bad-assed as any coke-snorting rock star you can name. The writer practically delights in pointing out whenever their music sucks or when Barry Gibb acts like a total asshole (lots of that) but there's also an admiration for their perseverance and Barry's uncanny skill as a song crafter. In the end even the most ignorant Bee Gee "disco suxxx!!!!!!!11" Haters should be convinced of their importance and unique place in pop history. I accompanied the read by streaming (nearly) their entire backcatalog which revealed they were a group that even at the worst gave you a few solid songs on every release and were awesome more often than awful, IMO.

Edgy MD Jan 07 2014 01:42 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I have to say, it's a really strange turn their career took when the anti-disco backlash hit them square in the face and then went from being the biggest act on the planet to the biggest joke in a year and a half/two years. If you're a preening no-talent --- Gerardo, say --- you realize your act doesn't have the legs, you be happy had your moment, and you move on with a little money in your pocket. But these guys were hemorrhaging songs; they were pouring out of them. So with their brand tarnished, they put their names aside, and made an impressive number of hit songs from 1978 to 1983 that were BeeGees records in every way but the lead vocal --- written and produced and performed and sung by the BeeGees, but at seemingly the last stage, the lead vocal would be wiped, and it would become a Kenny Rogers record, an Andy Gibb record, a Conway Twitty record, a Dionne Warwick record, a Barbara Streisand record. Rock fans thought their backlash had consigned this band to history when in fact they were all over the charts enjoying unfathomable stealth success. Hard to believe that such a savvy but ego-sacrificing move could have been pulled off by such a reputedly massive ego as Barry Gibb. For years, I've made up my own lyrics to BeeGees songs that I couldn't understand, only to find out years later with the Google wha they were actually singing up there an octave above me. Who knew "Nights on Broadway" was such a massive stalker song. [list:r231y93z]Here we are in the room full of strangers, Standing in the dark where your eyes couldn't see me Well, I have to FOLLOW YOU! Though you didn't WANT ME TO! But that won't stop my LOVIN' YOU! I can't stay AWAY!!!![/list:u:r231y93z] Sting called, guys. He says you need to get a grip.

Zvon Jan 07 2014 02:27 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I'm re-reading The Black House by Steven King and Peter Straub. Right before this I re-read The Talisman of which The Black House was, well, not a sequel, but a story involving the same main character, Jack Sawyer. I remembered the entire Talisman tale but this one I don't recall the end. I don't recall much of it at all. I know I've read it because I own the book and remember thinking damn that was good when I finished it but I don't remember anything other then another main character, the blind Henry Leyden. About mid-way through and there have been a number of connections to Kings TOWER series, and being a big Dark Tower fan I am amazed that I don't even recall these details, and they seem new to me now. So, long story short, I'm reading a book I really liked and hope I'm going to really like again.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 07 2014 02:32 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Edgy MD wrote: I have to say, it's a really strange turn their career took when the anti-disco backlash hit them square in the face and then went from being the biggest act on the planet to the biggest joke in a year and a half/two years. If you're a preening no-talent --- Gerardo, say --- you realize your act doesn't have the legs, you be happy had your moment, and you move on with a little money in your pocket. But these guys were hemorrhaging songs; they were pouring out of them. So with their brand tarnished, they put their names aside, and made an impressive number of hit songs from 1978 to 1983 that were BeeGees records in every way but the lead vocal --- written and produced and performed and sung by the BeeGees, but at seemingly the last stage, the lead vocal would be wiped, and it would become a Kenny Rogers record, an Andy Gibb record, a Conway Twitty record, a Dionne Warwick record, a Barbara Streisand record. Rock fans thought their backlash had consigned this band to history when in fact they were all over the charts enjoying unfathomable stealth success. Hard to believe that such a savvy but ego-sacrificing move could have been pulled off by such a reputedly massive ego as Barry Gibb. For years, I've made up my own lyrics to BeeGees songs that I couldn't understand, only to find out years later with the Google wha they were actually singing up there an octave above me. Who knew "Nights on Broadway" was such a massive stalker song? [list]Here we are in the room full of strangers, Standing in the dark where your eyes couldn't see me Well, I have to FOLLOW YOU! Though you didn't WANT ME TO! But that won't stop my LOVIN' YOU! I can't stay AWAY!!!![/list:u] Sting called, guys. He says you need to get a grip. Well, part of the reason they went into stealth mode then was that the brothers had had enough of one another, had more money than God, and were busy using drugs and stuff. But Barry was a hit machine then, that's for sure and his big ego was satiated by making No. 1's for anyone. "Islands in the Stream" is a song I've always liked. Kenny Rogers apparently was a hack who could barely sing it and was flushing the song down the toilet before Barry suggested it be a duet with Dolly Parton. Boom. I've read some criticisms that this book contained enough dumb factual errors to cast doubt on some of its bigger conclusions but like I said I was the wrong person to notice that kind of thing.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 07 2014 05:24 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Don't ask Eric Clapton about The Bee Gees. According to God, Robert Stigwood ran The Cream ragged all over the world, having them gig non-stop forever, so that he could cash in on their fame and raise the funds he'd need to promote that unknown band from Australia. Was there a bigger rock act from that era that was a no-show at both Monterey and Woodstock? Besides the Beatles. And the Stones.

Edgy MD Jan 07 2014 05:35 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Zeppelin. Simon & Garfunkle. Hmm... Sabbath? Aretha? Stevie Wonder? Anybody front Motown, really. Your point is strong, though. And with Monterey showcasing Pete Townsend and Jimi Hendrix, it would have been a desirable for Eric Clapton to perhaps get his act in there also.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 07 2014 05:58 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

There was no Zep during the Summer of Love. The Doors were big no-shows. Was Sabbath big in '67?

Fman99 Jan 08 2014 10:57 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: There was no Zep during the Summer of Love. The Doors were big no-shows. Was Sabbath big in '67? No, their first record didn't come out until 1970.

Edgy MD Jan 08 2014 11:03 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

We're talking 1968, though. Not '67.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 08 2014 11:11 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

The Monterey Music Festival (you know which Monterey Festival I'm talkin' about -- the one where Mama Cass's jaw dropped in reaction to Janis Joplin's jaw-dropping performance of Ball and Chain) happened in 1967. It was the documentary film, Monterey Pop, that was released in 1968. [fimg=333]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSYgKDf5D7WL4O0i9237hJRRHfLsy1KeZX6WiDH8hbl444IR7nb[/fimg] Zeppelin was formed in 1969, debuted in 1969, and released their first album in 1969. Their second album was also released in 1969. Black Sabbath was formed in 1968, and released their debut album in 1970.

sharpie Jan 08 2014 12:14 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

About the non-atendees (from Wikipedia): Several acts were also notable for their non-appearance. The Beach Boys, who had been involved in the conception of the event[17] and were at one point scheduled to headline and close the show, failed to perform. This resulted from a number of issues plaguing the group. Carl Wilson was in a feud with officials for his refusal to be drafted into military service during the Vietnam War. The group's new, radical album Smile had recently been aborted, with band leader Brian Wilson in a depressed state and unwilling to perform (he hadn't performed live with the group since late 1964, although he would do so in Honolulu, Hawaii in August 1967). Since Smile had not been released, the group felt their older material would not go over well. The cancellation permanently damaged their reputation and popularity in the US, which would contribute to their replacement album Smiley Smile charting lower than any other of their previous album releases. The Beatles were rumored to appear because of the involvement of their press officer Derek Taylor, but they declined, since their music had become too complex to be performed live. Instead, at the instigation of Paul McCartney, the festival booked The Who and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The Kinks were invited but could not get a work visa to enter the US because of a dispute with the American Federation of Musicians. Donovan was refused a visa to enter the United States because of a 1966 drug bust.[17] Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band was also invited to appear but, according to the liner notes for the CD reissue of their album Safe As Milk, the band turned the offer down at the insistence of guitarist Ry Cooder, who felt the group was not ready. Dionne Warwick and The Impressions were advertised on some of the early posters for the event, but Warwick dropped out because of a conflict in booking that weekend. She was booked at the Fairmont Hotel; the hotel was reluctant to release her and it was thought that cancelling that appearance would negatively affect her career. Even though the logo for the band Kaleidoscope is seen in the film as a pink sign just below the stage, the band did not perform at the Monterey Festival. Although The Rolling Stones did not play, guitarist and founder Brian Jones attended and appeared on stage to introduce Hendrix. The group was on the short list of invitees, but was unable to get work visas because of the drug arrests of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It was long rumored that Love had declined an invitation to Woodstock, but Mojo Magazine later confirmed that it was the Monterey Festival they had rejected. The promoters also invited several Motown artists to perform and even were going to give the label's artists their own slot. However, Berry Gordy refused to let any of his acts appear, even though Smokey Robinson was on the board of directors. The Doors did not appear because the coordinators forgot to invite them. Drummer John Densmore, in his book Riders on the Storm, expressed his belief that the band was not invited because its music didn't express the "peace and love" ideals of the time. The Monkees were the biggest-selling musical act in the United States in 1967 and were seriously considered to play, but after weeks of deliberation, John Phillips and Lou Adler decided not to invite them. However, group members Micky Dolenz (in full American Indian buckskins and headdress) and Peter Tork attended the festival and mingled with musicians backstage. Tork was asked to introduce Buffalo Springfield, his favorite group, for their set. According to Eric Clapton, Cream did not perform because the band's manager wanted to make a bigger splash for their American debut. However, it has since been revealed that the band were not considered by the festival organizers.

Edgy MD Jan 08 2014 01:01 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: The Monterey Music Festival (you know which Monterey Festival I'm talkin' about -- the one where Mama Cass's jaw dropped in reaction to Janis Joplin's jaw-dropping performance of Ball and Chain) happened in 1967. It was the documentary film, Monterey Pop, that was released in 1968. [fimg=333]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSYgKDf5D7WL4O0i9237hJRRHfLsy1KeZX6WiDH8hbl444IR7nb[/fimg] Zeppelin was formed in 1969, debuted in 1969, and released their first album in 1969. Their second album was also released in 1969. Black Sabbath was formed in 1968, and released their debut album in 1970. Well, I'll be historically corrected. Yeah, i was gonna say Beach Boys, but I didn't know how "top" an act they were at that point.

Mets – Willets Point Jan 08 2014 01:27 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

A little light reading about cosmology.

seawolf17 Jan 08 2014 01:45 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

My thought on that book immediately turns to the Doctor.

Mets – Willets Point Jan 09 2014 08:11 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

It does look like a "Crack in the Universe" on the cover.

Fman99 Feb 08 2014 07:38 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

So, luckily for me, a big pile of Pulizter Prize Fiction winners happened to fall off of the back of a digital truck and land on my Nook, about 60 works in total. Just finished this one, which I enjoyed greatly. I predict I'll be reading far more fiction in 2014.

RealityChuck Feb 09 2014 02:41 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

The inspiration -- hell, the entire book -- for the musical Chicago I had known that the musical was based on Belva Gartner ("Velma") and Beulah Annan ("Roxie"), but I hadn't realized so many of the details (especially Roxie's) were taken from real life.

sharpie Feb 11 2014 01:14 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Too lazy to grab the cover but am reading Jonathan Lethem's DISSIDENT GARDENS which has a fair amount of Met-related material, including having Bill Shea as a character.

Frayed Knot Mar 10 2014 06:58 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

This book was a gift which resulted in a rare divergence into fiction for me. Not sure I would have found it otherwise. Astronaut gets stranded on Mars, needs not only to survive but also convince the folks back on earth that he’s not already dead. … hi jinx ensues. The debut novel by a computer programmer who has "studied orbital mechanics, astronomy, and the history of manned spaceflight" (according to book jacket stuff) with the intent on making the adventures of the half Crusoe/half McGyver main character at least plausible. IOW, put an emphasis on the Sci part of Sci-Fi but also a surprising amount of laughs. A lot of fun. In less than two years this work went from self-published and free on the author's website, to being offered as an e-book at 99 cents via Amazon, to being picked up by a NY publisher (Crown), to the NY Times best-seller list, to being optioned as a movie.

TheOldMole Mar 12 2014 08:36 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

These are books I've recently given 5 stars to on Goodreads:

sharpie Mar 12 2014 09:04 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 12 2014 09:23 AM

Read all three of those. The Reader. Well done but I thought a bit gimmicky The Namesake. Her first two books of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies and Unaccustomed Earth, are so wonderful that The Namesake looks weak in comparison. Not that it isn't a strong book, it is, but if you want to read Jhumpa Lahiri, and everyone should, they should go with the other two titles. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. Read it recently, while in Jamaica. Loved it. Merits its five star Old Mole rating.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 12 2014 09:12 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

My only five-star book so far this year is David Robinson's 1985 biography of Charlie Chaplin, titled Chaplin: His Life and Art.

TheOldMole Mar 12 2014 05:17 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

My big surprise this year...I've been reading the Charlie Chan novels, and loving them.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 18 2014 08:07 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Interesting and well-written. Persuasive but not preachy. Effective.

Ceetar Mar 19 2014 07:16 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Interesting and well-written. Persuasive but not preachy. Effective. Should write a sequel "How Craft Beer will save it"

themetfairy Apr 09 2014 03:32 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

A Whole New Ballgame is an enjoyable, quick read about a young woman's discovery of baseball fandom during the 2006 season. Many of you already know Caryn Rose (a/k/a metsgrrl), and there are a lot of references that will cause CPF'ers to grin. It's a really good summer read (assuming that we ever see warm weather again....).

Rockin' Doc Apr 09 2014 07:53 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I have always liked Mookie. I'll have to check this one out (once it is released) for some light reading.

Fman99 Apr 09 2014 08:04 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Just finished Interpreter of Maladies while on vacation. Enjoyed it greatly. Also read the Pandora's Lunchbox title a year or two ago. Interesting stuff. Currently enjoying some non fiction.

A Boy Named Seo Apr 29 2014 04:19 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I just went on a little military kick. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk as recommended here. Fictional account of a young Army grunt and his brothers from Bravo squad. It's the Thanksgiving Day Cowboys game, and Billy and the Bravos are being paraded around Texas Stadium as heroes from a famous firefight in Iraq. Billy contemplates his role in the whole damn thing and wonders what's in it for the big wigs around him. Really dug it. Disclaimer: leans lefty. Followed that up with the real-life version of an Army grunt contemplating his role in the whole damn thing and wondering what was in it for the big wigs around him - John Krakauer's account of Pat Tillman's service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wonderfully done, and I was surprised at the depth of character in Tillman. Highly recommend. Gonna put A Constellation of Vital Phenomena in the queue next...

RealityChuck Apr 29 2014 09:24 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Finally starting on Albion's Seed I had it for years (and thought I may have gotten rid of it) when someone called it the best history book in the past 20 years. It deals with how four groups of settlers, from particular areas in the UK, have created American culture (so much so that latter immigrant groups accepted the culture they set down). Very long, but there are a lot of footnotes so the adjusted page count is about 2/3rds of the actual one.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 29 2014 09:46 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I've been intrigued by that book for years. I'll be interested to read what you think about it once you're done.

Edgy MD Apr 29 2014 10:01 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I'm alternating, as usual between baseball and rock 'n' rollio. [fimg=250:1wb20cv5]http://www.booknoise.net/openingday/src/opening-day-revised.jpg[/fimg:1wb20cv5] [fimg=250:1wb20cv5]http://chrisledrew.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/scott.jpg[/fimg:1wb20cv5] I did not know, but probably should have, that there's a strong argument that the famed Pee Wee Reese embrace didn't really happen. Or perhaps happened very differently from the general description.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 05 2014 02:17 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

His Topps baseball card might be the most valuable and sought after among all Mets cards. And he was traded for one of the greatest figures in Mets franchise history. So why shouldn't he get his own book deal? I haven't read a new Mets book in about a year and a half, until I picked up Denehy's book. And boy oh boy does Denehy have rage issues. I also now know why the book title is placed over Denehy's eyes on the cover.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 05 2014 02:28 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

What's he so angry about?

batmagadanleadoff Jun 05 2014 02:45 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Benjamin Grimm wrote: What's he so angry about? Everything. Though I suspect that his story is one of redemption. But I'm only about 20% in. Denehy's also blind, now ... baseball related .. from, Denehy claims, receiving almost 60 cortisone shots throughout his MLB career ... Denehy claims that a person shouldn't receive more than about 10 cortisone shots in a lifetime, otherwise, the cortisone will damage corneas and vision. I haven't Googled this to learn if this is a valid or controversial claim.

RealityChuck Jun 08 2014 09:43 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I decided to try to read more Jack Vance: he's extremely well regarded, but I only read one of his many novels (Emphyrio, which I read just before taking my English regents. I wrote about it in my essay, enjoying the fact I was talking about a novel my teacher had never read (nor had any of the Regents)). The latest was The Anomie Vance was the unsurpassed on creating rich and varied future societies, but so far his plots are no more than serviceable, with the main character setting a task and then doing it with little interference and plenty of fortuitous help (and deus ex machina -- not in this book, but in others).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 08 2014 08:41 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I just picked this one off the shelf based on the cover, but its a powerful and sorrowful story of a loner high school track runner and a friend set in 1968 in upstate Brewster. Good stuff, pretty heavy!

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 08 2014 09:19 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

A bunch of futbol stuff in the lead-up to WC 2014, including: The recently-deceased Joe McGinniss explains how a tiny, tiny Italian soccer team drove him slowly, slowly nuts over the course of a season while he watched their season from up close. So, so, SO good at explaining why soccer fans love this shit, and fantastically entertaining. The best, BEST national-soccer-style-reflects-the-culture essay ever. Fluid, freewheeling, and fun as the '70s Johan Cruyff teams... and good for non-initiates, too. Supercomprehensive, wide-ranging, and informative... but a little short on play-diagramming and how-this-works-so-well explanation. Still, invaluable for those who want a look into how strategy has evolved over time. Most recently, though, I've been paging through this 'un... Didja know that AIDS' origins/spread had, like, a lot less to do with "Patient Zero?" Whole lotta freaky, freaky fascinating stuff.

Frayed Knot Jun 20 2014 06:12 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: A bunch of futbol stuff in the lead-up to WC 2014, I'm getting a quick recap on recent cups via this new one from longtime NYY columnist and fan of int'l soccer Vescey [fimg=250]http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_371w/Boston/2011-2020/2014/06/05/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/EightWorldCups.jpg[/fimg]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 20 2014 08:48 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Vecsey's been on public radio a lot during the last couple of weeks, mostly promoting that one. Pretty good stuff?

Frayed Knot Jun 20 2014 09:06 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Vecsey's been on public radio a lot during the last couple of weeks, mostly promoting that one. Pretty good stuff? Yeah, not quite done yet, but I'm enjoying it and it's giving me a better perspective on the WC as a whole. That said, I've always liked reading Vescey (this one anyway - never been enough of a hoops head to bother following Peter) and you need to keep in mind that the book one is very much about his experience in the eight WCs he's covered to date -- not at this one AFAIK now that he's at least semi-retired. So it's good for me as it gives me a lot of the semi-recent history of the drama, players, teams, FIFA, etc., that I missed or never knew while barely following the sport. Bigger soccer/WC fans might find it a bit more familiar/superficial but I can't imagine you'd think it was bad.

TransMonk Jun 20 2014 09:23 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I lost my current copy of Keith Hernandez's If At First this morning to basement flooding. I had a box of older books that probably should not have been left on the basement floor. Oops. Time to order another used copy. I've bought this book several times over the years.

Edgy MD Jun 20 2014 09:40 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I have, also. Typically, they smell like beer and cigarettes. Grab one off the shelf in your local used book store, smell it, and tell me I'm wrong. Those books have some lowlife provenance.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 20 2014 09:49 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

You couldn't pay me to sniff Nails.

TransMonk Jun 20 2014 11:31 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Edgy MD wrote: I have, also. Typically, they smell like beer and cigarettes. Grab one off the shelf in your local used book store, smell it, and tell me I'm wrong. Those books have some lowlife provenance. Very true...my last two copies have come from thrift stores and they do have a distinct odor that goes along with the subject of the book. Every time I visit one, I look for Keith's book specifically. I see Amazon has used copies available...but no comments on how they smell.

Frayed Knot Jun 20 2014 12:32 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Frayed Knot wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Vecsey's been on public radio a lot during the last couple of weeks, mostly promoting that one. Pretty good stuff? Yeah, not quite done yet, but I'm enjoying it and it's giving me a better perspective on the WC as a whole. That said, I've always liked reading Vescey (this one anyway - never been enough of a hoops head to bother following Peter) and you need to keep in mind that the book one is very much about his experience in the eight WCs he's covered to date -- not at this one AFAIK now that he's at least semi-retired. So it's good for me as it gives me a lot of the semi-recent history of the drama, players, teams, FIFA, etc., that I missed or never knew while barely following the sport. Bigger soccer/WC fans might find it a bit more familiar/superficial but I can't imagine you'd think it was bad. In one passage I read during lunch today that you might get a kick out of, Vescey writes about Cristiano Ronaldo's marvelous combination of talent and narcissism before adding; 'come to think of it, has anyone ever seen him and ARod together'?

Ashie62 Jun 20 2014 03:35 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Ray Davies "Americana" Plenty here for any Kinks Kultist...

themetfairy Jul 08 2014 10:53 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Rockin' Doc wrote: I have always liked Mookie. I'll have to check this one out (once it is released) for some light reading. I just finished Mookie - it was enjoyable and insightful. Mookie has his issues with the organization, but doesn't have the chip on his shoulder that Piazza exhibited in Long Shot. His theories about the organization distancing itself from the '86 team are sobering.

Ceetar Aug 13 2014 07:28 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

just read Huckleberry Finn (via audiobook) and started in on the Brothers Grimm discovered this site, which is great. crowd-sourced public domain audiobooks, which is great for car-listening. [url]https://librivox.org/

Frayed Knot Aug 26 2014 07:57 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I’ll read just about anything from this author, previously HELLHOUND ON HIS TRAIL (the search for James Earl Ray), BLOOD AND THUNDER (profile of “Indian fighter” Kit Carson), GHOST SOLDIERS (US POWs in WWII Phillipines), and for those of you who are into those historical/adventure type of tales, here he tackles the story of an incredibly daring 1879 polar expedition. In the midst of the age of exploration and the industrial revolution, the United States was recovering from the Civil War and wanted in on the action. One of the big prizes was ‘filling in’ the blank spots on the map, in this case the one at the top of the world. What’s amazing is the gap between what was still unknown about the globe at that time and what even the most educated people of the time THOUGHT they knew about it. Needless to say, said gap got a lot of people into a lot of trouble.

TransMonk Aug 27 2014 07:59 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Edgy MD Aug 27 2014 08:22 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Reading American Ground: Unbuilding the World Trade Center, by William Langewiesche --- the first edition. I think there was some qualification and clarification in subsequent editions. I've really enjoyed his writing in The New Yorker --- he's a pilot himself who somehow finds sociological and anthropological meaning in our physics and technology. He's taken a lot of public hits for silly reasons: [list][*]He reported that some apparently stolen jeans were found in the cab of a fire truck in the World Trade Center wreckage. He did due diligence and got verification from multiple sources, so why wouldn't he report it as such?[/*:m] [*]He reported that the US Airways Flight 1549 landing on the Hudson wasn't a miracle, but the happy confluence of a very rare emergency happening to a really good plane with a well-trained, experienced pilot.[/*:m][/list:u] Both seem to be goofy things for folks to get worked up over, but his profile has since fallen, I think. I want to catch up on his work. He most recently wrote a book about the Chilean mine disaster.

Frayed Knot Aug 27 2014 02:59 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

TransMonk wrote: That one's next.

Mets – Willets Point Aug 27 2014 03:22 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

TransMonk wrote: Jazz hands, everyone, jazz hands!!!

TransMonk Aug 27 2014 06:10 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I'm about halfway through it and enjoying it very much. It's fairly biased to the left, but the author does a great job of painting the cultural picture of the 1970s in parallel with the government of the time.

Mets – Willets Point Aug 27 2014 07:18 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I recently read this book about the history of the Boston and New York City subways. Metly connection: The brothers Williams Collin Whitney and Henry Melville Whitney feature prominently in the story, and are also the grandfather and great uncle of Joan Whitney Payson.

Rockin' Doc Aug 29 2014 01:15 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Frayed Knot wrote: I’ll read just about anything from this author, previously HELLHOUND ON HIS TRAIL (the search for James Earl Ray), BLOOD AND THUNDER (profile of “Indian fighter” Kit Carson), GHOST SOLDIERS (US POWs in WWII Phillipines), and for those of you who are into those historical/adventure type of tales, here he tackles the story of an incredibly daring 1879 polar expedition. In the midst of the age of exploration and the industrial revolution, the United States was recovering from the Civil War and wanted in on the action. One of the big prizes was ‘filling in’ the blank spots on the map, in this case the one at the top of the world. What’s amazing is the gap between what was still unknown about the globe at that time and what even the most educated people of the time THOUGHT they knew about it. Needless to say, said gap got a lot of people into a lot of trouble. In the Kingdom of Ice is definitely on my reading list for the near future. I have read and greatly enjoyed Hellhound on His Trail, Blood and Thunder, and Ghost Soldiers in recent years. Hampton Sides is one of a select few authors that I will purchase without hesitation any book they write. Each of his books have captured and held my interest from start to finish.

TransMonk Oct 04 2014 10:45 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Zvon Oct 04 2014 01:58 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I recently read this book about the history of the Boston and New York City subways. Metly connection: The brothers Williams Collin Whitney and Henry Melville Whitney feature prominently in the story, and are also the grandfather and great uncle of Joan Whitney Payson. [youtube]tiRUOzJ-FrE[/youtube]

Benjamin Grimm Dec 28 2014 05:40 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

My end-of-year reading list for 2014: [table:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]1[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Man Who Saved the Union, The: Ulysses Grant in War and Peace[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]H. W. Brands[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]2[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation: A History of the Most Controversial Motion Picture of All Time[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Melvyn Stokes[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]3[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Goldwyn[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]A. Scott Berg[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]4[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Biograph Girl, The[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]William J. Mann[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]5[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Jeffrey Vance[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]6[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Lulu in Hollywood[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Louise Brooks[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]7[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Chaplin: His Life and Art[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]David Robinson[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]8[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Mary Pickford: America's Sweetheart[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Scott Eyman[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]9[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Victor Fleming: An American Movie Master[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Michael Sragow[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]10[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Dean King[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]11[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Sun Also Rises, The[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Ernest Hemingway[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]12[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Lawrence Anthony[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]13[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Storm of Swords, A[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]George R. R. Martin[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]14[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Fawn M. Brodie[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]15[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Jake Adelstein[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]16[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]World of Trouble, A: The White House and the Middle East: From the Cold War to the War on Terror[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Patrick Tyler[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]17[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer, the Evolution Debates, and the African Adventure That Took the Victorian World by Storm[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Monte Reel[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]18[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Greed[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Erich Von Stroheim[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]19[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Titian: His Life[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Sheila Hale[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]20[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Infidel[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Ayaan Hirsi Ali[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]21[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Good Rain, The: Across Time and Terrain in the Pacific Northwest[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Timothy Egan[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]22[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Peter Stark[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]23[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Karen Abbott[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]24[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Exodus[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Leon Uris[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]25[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Detroit: An American Autopsy[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Charlie LeDuff[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]26[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]My Story[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Ingrid Bergman, Alan Burgess[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]27[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Scar Boys, The[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Len Vlahos[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]28[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Last Train from Hiroshima, The: The Survivors Look Back[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Charles R. Pellegrino[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]29[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]In Cold Blood[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Truman Capote[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]30[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Charles C. Mann[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]31[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]War[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Sebastian Junger[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]32[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Savage City, The[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]T.J. English[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]33[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Jon Lee Anderson[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]34[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Bossypants[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Tina Fey[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]35[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Sea of Thunder: Four Commanders and the Last Great Naval Campaign 1941-1945[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Evan Thomas[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]36[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Gorillas in the Mist[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Dian Fossey[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]37[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Autobiography of Errol Flynn[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Errol Flynn[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]38[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]On the Rez[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Ian Frazier[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]39[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Chang and Eng[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Darin Strauss[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]40[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Movie Love in the Fifties[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]James Harvey[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]41[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Nelson Johnson[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][tr:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]42[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Bogie: A Celebration of the Life and Films of Humphrey Bogart[/td:xhyk36bx][td:xhyk36bx]Richard Schickel, George Perry[/td:xhyk36bx][/tr:xhyk36bx][/table:xhyk36bx]

sharpie Dec 28 2014 11:20 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Seems wrong to do this on December 28. I am anticipating finishing the last one, it's 1,050 pages and only have about 150 pages to go. 56 in total. No overlap with Ben's list although I have read a few of his in the past (The Sun Also Rises, In Cold Blood, 1491, Gorillas in the Mist, On the Rez, Chang and Eng). TREE OF SMOKE – Denis Johnson THE SOUND OF THINGS FALLING – Juan Gabriel Vasquez THE UNWINDING – George Packer A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA – Anthony Marra WONDER – R.J. Palacio WORLDS FAIR – E.L. Doctorow THE TRAGEDY OF ARTHUR – Arthur Phillips DEATH AND THE PENGUIN – Andre Y. Kurov DISSIDENT GARDENS -- Jonathan Lethem BEFORE THE FROST – Henning Mankell A WORLD UNDONE – G.J. Meyer WILD TALES – Graham Nash THE TURKISH GAMBIT – Boris Akunin HONEYMOON – Kevin Canty BEL AMI – Guy de Maupassant PARIS TO THE MOON – Adam Gopnik SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING – Alan Sillitoe KARNAK CAFÉ – Naguib Mahfouz SWEET TOOTH – Ian McEwan ZAZIE IN THE METRO – Raymond Queneau THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST – Mohsin Hamid BURMESE DAYS – George Orwell RIPLEY’S GAME – Patricia Highsmith LIFE AFTER LIFE – Kate Atkinson THE END OF COUNTRY – Seamus McGraw THE BLACK COUNT – Tom Reis THE SAME RIVER TWICE – Ted Mooney THE SUBMISSION – Amy Waldman BEGINNERS – Raymond Carver AMERICANAH – Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie IN XANADU -- William Dalrymple & SONS – David Gilbert HALF OF A YELLOW SUN – Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie WHITE NOISE – Don DeLillo THE WHOLE FROMAGE – Kathe Lison HOTTENTOT VENUS – Barbara Chase Riboud GOING CLEAR – Lawrence Wright COLD SPRING HARBOR – Richard Yates TUNE IN – Mark Lewisohn PRAGUE – Arthur Phillips ZEALOT – Reza Aslan THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS – Isabel Wilkerson THE GREAT MAN – Kate Christensen CROSSING TO SAFETY – Wallace Stegner A GOOD FALL – Ha Jin MASTERING THE ART OF SOVIET COOKING – Anya Von Bremzen THE LOWLAND – Jhumpa Lahiri THEN THEY CAME FOR ME -- Maziar Bahari and Aimee Molloy THE CATCH – Kim Wozencraft BIRDS WITHOUT WINGS – Louis de Bernieres MOTH SMOKE – Mohsin Hamid LIONEL ASBO – Martin Amis WAGING HEAVY PEACE – Neil Young MY STRUGGLE: BOOK ONE – Karl Ove Knausgaard THE CITY – Joel Kotkin WHAT IT TAKES - Richard Ben Cramer

Benjamin Grimm Dec 28 2014 11:38 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

And from Sharpie's list, I have previously read What It Takes, Paris to the Moon, and Worlds Fair.

Ceetar Dec 28 2014 12:04 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

[table:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Valley of Fear (Sherlock Holmes, #7)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Doyle, Arthur Conan[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]His Last Bow (Sherlock Holmes, #8)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Doyle, Arthur Conan[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Doyle, Arthur Conan[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes, #2)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Doyle, Arthur Conan[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes, #4)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Doyle, Arthur Conan[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes, #3)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Doyle, Arthur Conan[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]2BR02B[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Vonnegut, Kurt[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Twain, Mark[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Grimms' Fairy Tales[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Grimm, Brothers[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Solo: A James Bond Novel[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Boyd, William[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Enchanters' End Game (The Belgariad, #5)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Eddings, David[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Castle of Wizardry (The Belgariad, #4)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Eddings, David[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Magician's Gambit (The Belgariad, #3)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Eddings, David[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Steelheart (Reckoners, #1)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Sanderson, Brandon *[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Queen of Sorcery (The Belgariad, #2)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Eddings, David[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad, #1)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Eddings, David[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Butcher, Jim *[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Dexter's Final Cut (Dexter, #7)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Lindsay, Jeff[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Polgara the Sorceress[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Eddings, David[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Belgarath the Sorcerer[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Eddings, David[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Alloy of Law (Mistborn, #4)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Sanderson, Brandon *[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Sanderson, Brandon *[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Sanderson, Brandon *[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Sanderson, Brandon *[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Foer, Joshua *[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][tr:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]The Widow File (Dani Britton, #1)[/td:3eq70xxd][td:3eq70xxd]Redling, S.G. *[/td:3eq70xxd][/tr:3eq70xxd][/table:3eq70xxd] A good portion of these are via audio book while commuting. Not on this list because I forgot to click 'finished' in Goodreads: Sharp Objects , by Gillian Flynn and reading: Amateur Night at the Bubblegum Kittikat by Victoria Fedden

Mets – Willets Point Dec 28 2014 03:40 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Looks like Grimm was studying the early film industry for a while there. Looks like everyone has read some fascinating stuff. Hope to have another book finished before the year is done, and then I'll post my list.

Frayed Knot Dec 28 2014 05:04 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 31 2014 12:15 PM

Well seeing as how I’m not going to finish (or probably start for that matter) any other books between now and NYD, here’s my complete 2014 reading list, divided into broad categories and including very brief ratings and reviews. HISTORY/BIO *** EISENHOWER: In War and Peace — Jean Edward Smith (2013) A generally positive, though certainly objective in intent, look at Ike both as General and President. **** ISLAND AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan, the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America — Russell Shorto (2005) Excellent history of early Manhattan that goes beyond just the snapshot-in-time aspect and makes the case that, while the Dutch period may have been brief and is largely ignored today, the particulars of their administration had a lasting impact on the unique way both NYC and, by extension, America itself developed. *** THE BULLY PULPIT: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism — Doris Kearns Goodwin (2013) Not a bad book, but I wasn’t always gripped by it. Too many details at times over trivial things (I sound like the Emperor in ‘Amadeus’ complaining about “too many notes”) took away from the meatier personal stories and clash of personalities IMO. **** THE GREAT DELUGE: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast — Douglas Brinkley (2007) This is one I had been meaning to get around to for a while as Brinkley is both a top-notch historian and knows the area. Focusing almost exclusively within New Orleans, he details the total clusterfuck (local, state, federal, personal) of the week after the storm where just about everything that could have gone wrong did … and it STILL could have been worse. ** HUMAN GAME: The True Story of the ‘Great Escape’ Murders and the Hunt for the Gestapo Gunmen — Simon Read (2012) Takes up where the original GREAT ESCAPE left off with British officers tracking down those responsible for executing 50 of the 76 recaptured escapees. Nice to see a follow-up to a story I knew so well (read the original multiple times) but, ultimately, tedious detective work in ravaged post-war Germany is just not as interesting a tale as that of the escape itself and this book doesn’t really add much, beyond some details, to what the final chapter of the original gave you. So go read ‘Great Escape’ instead in case you haven’t already. And if you have then go read it again. **** EMPIRE OF THE SUMMER MOON: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History — S. C. Gwynne (2010) Nice piece of history both about the Comanches and early Texas that steers the ground between the good guys/bad guys stereotypes many of us learned as kids and more recent revisionist stuff that, in many cases, reversed those roles. *** THE AGE OF GOLD: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream — H. W. Brands (2002) The discovery of gold in northern California and everything that came along with it, after it, and because of it. *** THE MEN WHO UNITED THE STATES: America’s Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation — Simon Winchester (2014) The history of the U.S. as channeled through a handful of pioneers in various fields: transportation, telegraphs, radio, etc., whose work helped connect a large and largely empty country into one (somewhat) more cohesive unit. ***** IN THE KINGDOM OF ICE: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette — Hampton Sides (2014) In the drive to get to the north pole in the mid/late 19th century, getting there by boat was the preferred method since many of the learned minds of the time had somehow convinced themselves (and the world) that the polar region was going to prove to be a warm water oasis with plenty of flora, fauna, and maybe even human inhabitants. Ummm, yeah … about that. *** MOON SHOT: The Inside Story of America’s Race to the Moon — Alan Shepard, Deke Slayton, Jay Barbree, Howard Benedict (1994) A 20 year old book I stumbled across where two astronauts, with the help of a pair of science writers, give an insider’s view of the space program from the Mercury through Apollo missions. It lacks the drama of THE RIGHT STUFF and much of it is quite Shepard/Slayton-centric as the two buddies from the original group of seven go through lengthy periods of being grounded due to medical issues, but there’s still some good history here. *** ASTORIA: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson’s Lost Pacific Empire — Peter Stark (2014) Just a few years after the Lewis & Clark expedition, N.Y. magnate Astor saw the new territory as both a source of furs for him to dominate the market and as a hub for a coming global trading empire (to be run by him of course) that would connect America with Europe and China. But even with his resources such a project turned out to be easier imagined than done. SPORTS *** SEVEN DEADLY SINS: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong — David Walsh (2013) Irish sports journalist details his long quest (crusade? … obsession?) to confirm his early suspicions of Armstrong’s PED use. **** CYCLE OF LIES: The Fall of Lance Armstrong — Juliet Macur (2014) New York Times reporter Macur doesn’t have the history of cycling coverage as compared to Walsh (above) but rather takes a less personal and more detailed approach to the arc of the Armstrong saga. ** WHERE NOBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME: Life in the Minor Leagues of Baseball — John Feinstein (2014) Typical Feinstein book where he follows a sport for a year and mines a bunch of mini-stories along the way. Here he tackles the world of minor league baseball in 2012 concentrating not on future stars but more on the organizational strugglers, vets hanging on, managers, coaches, and even aspiring umps and announcers. The oft-moved (by the Mets that year) Chris Schwinden is among those featured. **** PETE ROSE: An American Dilemma — Kostya Kennedy (2014) Well done look at the drive, the triumphs, and the sins that combine to make up the bundle of energy and contradictions that is Pete Rose *** A NICE LITTLE PLACE ON THE NORTH SIDE: Wrigley Field at One Hundred — George F. Will (2014) More a look at the relationship between the Cubs and their fans during the Wrigley era than it is a detailed history of the now century-old park itself. **** THE BOYS IN THE BOAT: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics — Daniel James Brown (2014) Very well written tale of … well you kind of get the idea from the subtitle. Mostly focusing on just one of the members of the Univ of Washington eight-man rowing team, there’s nothing particularly heroic or unique about this group (U.S. squads had won rowing golds before & since) but it’s still a good story well-told about a time and place very unlike present day America. *** EIGHT WORLD CUPS: My Journey Through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer — George Vescey (2014) Long time soccer fan Vescey examines the sites, the sounds, the players, the drama, the good, the bad, and the FIFA of the WCs he’s covered since 1986. Also tracks the progress (or lack thereof) of American soccer during that time. **** BLOOD SPORT: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis, and the Quest to End Baseball’s Steroid Era — Tim Elfrink & Gus Garcia-Roberts (2014) ARod is but a piece of the story here as the scope of BioGensis involved lots of cloak and dagger stuff reaching beyond the obvious parties to include high-profile player agents, college coaches, career criminals, all sorts of low-level hustlers of the Florida tanning salon variety, and some pretty shady private investigators. No one here, including MLB, comes out smelling all that good in the end. This book completed my reading this year about a trio of mega-talented athletes (ARod, Rose, Armstrong) who managed to combine their incredible gifts and fierce drive to reach the top of their sports and become complete and utter assholes in the process!!!, all while maintaining the idea that the status of being THEM can trump any problem that comes along, including the self-inflicted ones. SCIENCE/TECH *** FIVE BILLION YEARS OF SOLITUDE: The Search for Life Among the Stars — Lee Billings (2013) The past, the present, and the potential future of our planet, along with the chances of finding one like it out there somewhere. Reasonably easy to read and digest despite the technical topics and mind-numbing gov’t acronyms. *** URANIUM: War, Energy, and the Rock that Shaped the World — Tom Zoellner (2009) The discovery and uses, in both war & peace, of this funny yellow rock that ushered in the atomic age. *** THE IMPROBABILITY PRINCIPLE: Why Coincidences, Miracles and Rare Events Happen Every Day — D. J. Hand (2014) An insight, for the average reader, into a better understanding of the world of probability. **** THE SPORTS GENE: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance — David Epstein (2013) Informative and at times fascinating look from an SI writer at how genes affect athletic performances at the individual level and also on ethnic and regional basis. ** A TROUBLESOME INHERITANCE: Genes, Race, and Human History — Nicholas Wade (2014) Labeled as ‘controversial’ (as just about any writing that even mentions the word ‘race’ is going to be) I wasn’t always sure what this guy was getting to and his points were as much theoretical than anything. Raises some interesting points but then seems to stray. *** THE INVISIBLE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE: How DNA and History Shape Our Identities and Our Futures — Christine Kenneally (2014) More a social history of genetics as compared to the more scientific ones above (SPORTS GENE, TROUBLESOME INHERITANCE) * MATHLETICS: A Scientist Explains 100 Amazing Things About the World of Sports — John Barrow (2012) I read this consecutively with the SPORTS GENE book (above) because I thought it would be a good sports/science follow-up. I was wrong. *** STUFF MATTERS: Exploring the Marvelous Materials that Shape Our Man-Made World — Mark Miodownik (2014) British scientist dives into the science & history behind a variety of man-made things that are taken for granted in modern life from steel, concrete and paper, to plastics and even chocolate. *** HERE’S LOOKING AT EUCLID: A Surprising Excursion Through the Astonishing World of Math — Alex Bellos (2010) Getting my inner geek on *** MARS UP CLOSE: Inside the Curiosity Mission — Marc Kaufman (2014) A big, atlas-sized, lots-o-pictures National Geographic production about the ongoing progress of the latest and most ambitious Mars rover mission. Be prepared for lots of talk about geology. GENERAL/MISCELLANEOUS *** ON THE MAP: A Mind Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks — Simon Garfield (2013) Basically porn for map geeks - highlights of mapmaking and usage from the European explorers through to the era of Google Earth. ?** THAT’S NOT FUNNY, THAT’S SICK: The National Lampoon and the Comedy Insurgents Who Captured the Mainstream — Ellin Stein (2013) The story of the NL magazine plus some of their contemporaries and spin-offs in satiric humor [Lemmings, SCTV, SNL, Animal House, ‘Vacation’ movies]. I found it somewhat scattered, plus I guess I went in looking for something more concentrated on the glory days of the magazine itself. **** TRAIN: Riding the Rails that Created the Modern World — Tom Zoellner (2014) Trainophile author visits England, India, Russia, South America & Spain to check in on the past, present, and future of both passenger and freight rail systems. Same author as ‘Uranium’ book (see: Science section) **** LIFE IS A WHEEL: Love, Death, etc., and a Bike Ride Across America — Bruce Weber (2014) 57 y/o NY Times obit writer pedals across the country and ponders all sorts of stuff along the way. It wasn’t until after I picked this up and was reading the jacket notes that I realized this is the guy who wrote the book on ML umpires a few years back. Both were good, but of course I’m kind of ripe for the subject matter in each. ** THE BABY BOOM: How it Got that Way and it Wasn’t My Fault and I’ll Never Do it Again — P. J. O’Rourke (2014) Author takes a (sometimes) humorous look at his generation. ** BUSTED: A Tale of Corruption and Betrayal in the City of Brotherly Love — Wendy Ruderman, Barbara Laker (2014) The story of how a couple of scrappy chicks at a scrappy (and broke) tabloid won a Pulitzer prize for exposing out of control cops in Philadelphia — a tale which would have worked better had the authors not spent most of it telling you how they were a couple of scrappy chicks at a scrappy tabloid … blah, blah. It would be as if Woodward & Bernstein made AtPM 80% about themselves while only occasionally mentioning Nixon, Liddy, et al. *** THE PRICE OF SILENCE: The Duke Lacrosse Scandal, the Power of the Elite, and the Corruption of Our Great Universities — William Cohan (2014) Extremely detailed look, and with more legalese than most non-lawyers would prefer, at the highly publicized 2006 case where crime, sex, race, money, privilege, athletics, academia, and media all collided into a fireball. ** THERE GOES GRAVITY: A Life in Rock and Roll — Lisa Robinson (2014) Hanging with Mick & Keith, or Robert & Jimmy, and right up to Kanye & Gaga, a long time R&R writer empties years worth of her journals & tapes into a result which falls somewhat north of gossip although well short of journalism. **** WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE METRIC SYSTEM?: How America Kept its Feet — John Marciano (2014) I initially assumed this was going to be about the failed 1970s-era gov’t program to turn this country metric, but it was more about the long road leading up to that, a road that ran through our founding fathers and the French Revolution and was linked to such things as efforts to establish a universal language and monetary unit. ** EMINENT HIPSTERS — Donald Fagen (2013) Stumbled across this thin little book in a library and picked it up on a whim. From the vocal half of STEELY DAN comes writing about growing up a geeky New Jersey oddball, various influences over the years (Jazz, Ray Charles, Jean Shepard), and his cranky observations of life on tour as an older man. Nothing wrong with the writing itself but the overall product didn’t much speak to me. FICTION **** THE MARTIAN — Andy Weir (2014) An astronaut gets stranded on Mars where, before even considering how to tackle the problems of survival and rescue, he first has to figure out how to show the folks back on earth that he’s not already dead. Sci-fi with an emphasis on the Sci, plus a surprising amount of chuckles. Soon (Nov ’15) to be a major motion picture with Matt Damon as the lead. *** I AM CHARLOTTE SIMMONS — Tom Wolfe (2004) After reading the book on the Duke lacrosse case [The Price of Silence - see above], I thought I’d give the fictional version a try. Actually Wolfe’s social critique of life at a (fictional) elite university preceded the Duke case by several years, but many of the same themes (and, not-coincidentally, Wolfe standards) of race, privilege, image, status, etc., are foreshadowed here. * SEVEN WONDERS — Ben Mezrich (2014) Gave this one a try as I read several of this guy’s non-fiction books, ones that he usually centers around young mavericks pushing the envelope on one side of the law or the other (Facebook founders, card counters, etc.). In this one he invents fictional young mavericks who push the envelope in an utterly preposterous search for hidden clues connecting the seven wonders of the ancient and modern worlds. His real life tales are better stories and they’re more believable. ** THE BETRAYERS — David Bezmozgis (2014) To escape a personal scandal, an Israeli activist/politician returns to his roots in Ukraine and, by chance, runs into an old adversary from his ‘Refusenik’ days. Much examination of history, morals, and consciences ensue.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 28 2014 06:13 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Looks like Grimm was studying the early film industry for a while there. You're right. When it comes to reading, movies are my new baseball. I read 13 movie-related books in 2014, and will probably read a similar amount in 2015, though probably not in a bunch like I did at the beginning of this year.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 28 2014 06:15 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

**** ISLAND AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan, the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America — Russell Shorto (2005) Excellent history of early Manhattan that goes beyond just the snapshot-in-time aspect and makes the case that, while the Dutch period may have been brief and is largely ignored today, the particulars of their administration had a lasting impact on the unique way both NYC and, by extension, America itself developed. I read this one in 2013, and I really liked it a lot.

Frayed Knot Dec 28 2014 08:01 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I think I may have learned of that title off of one of your past lists. One of the things I like about these end of year lists is to use them as suggestions for possible future readings (I might check out 'On the Rez' from your current crop) and the idea that others might do the same from mine is the reason I decided to include a brief rating and comment section this year.

sharpie Dec 28 2014 09:58 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

I have nothing in common with either Ceeter or Frayed Knot's list, although I have read Huckleberry Finn from Ceetar's (as well as many Sherlock Holmes stories many years ago but I couldn't tell you which). I agree, these end-of-the-year lists are great to pore over. I did finish What It Takes, longest book I read this year. Although My Struggle: Volume One and Tune In were also both doorstoppers.

Mets – Willets Point Dec 30 2014 10:38 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

My list. (A) is for Audiobook. Fables: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham - **1/2 Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (A) - ***** Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins (A) - ****1/2 Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins (A) - ****1/2 The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri (A) - *** A Tear at the Edge of Creation by Marcelo Gleiser - ***1/2 Every Day by David Levithan (A) - **** Fables 3: Storybook Love by Bill Willingham - ** Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins (A) - **** Fables 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers by Bill Willingham - *** Gregor and the Code of the Claw by Suzanne Collins (A) - **** The Monster in the Mist by Andrew Mayne - *** An Abundance of Katherines by John Greene (A) - *** Eden on the Charles: The Making of Boston by Michael Rawson - **** The Walking Dead: What Comes After (v0l 18) by Robert Kirkman - ** The Walking Dead: March To War (vol. 19) by Robert Kirkman -** Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell (A) - **** A wicked war : Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. invasion of Mexico by Amy S. Greenburg - **** Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan - **** "Guns" by Stephen King - *** Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler (A) - ***1/2 The Walking Dead: All Out War (vol. 20) by Robert Kirkman -** The Information by James Gleick (A) - *** Doing Germany by Agnieszka Paletta - **1/2 American Heretics: Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and the History of Religious Intolerance by Peter Gottschalk - **1/2 Reign of error by Diane Ravitch - ****1/2 Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Keating (A) - *** Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler (A) - ***1/2 Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (A) - *** An astronaut's guide to life on earth by Chris Hadfield - **** Strivers Row by Kevin Baker (A) - *** All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior (A) - *** Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh - **** Drinking Boston : a history of the city and its spirits by Stephanie Schorow - *** The Race Underground by Doug Most (A) - **** The Man of Feeling by Javier Marías - ** Life Form by Amélie Nothomb - ***1/2 Cousin K by Yasmina Khadra - **1/2 Book of ages : the life and opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore - ****1/2 One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (A) -***1/2 One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson (A) - **** The Invisible Mountain by Carolina de Robertis (A) - **** Baba Yaga Laid an Egg by Dubravka Ugreši? - ***1/2 Senselessness by Horacio Castellanos Moya - *1/2 Pity the Billionaire by Thomas Frank (A) - ***1/2 Be there now : travel stories from around the world - ** The Castle of Whispers by Carole Martinez - ***1/2 The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis (A) - *** Jerusalem by Gonçalo Tavares - *** The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty by Dan Ariely (A) - *** The Angel's Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery by Justin Richards (A) - *1/2 Eight World Cups by George Vecsey - **** Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (A) - **1/2 Dalek I Loved You by Nick Griffiths - **1/2 Unruly Places by Alastair Bonnett (A) - ***1/2 The Happiest People in the World by Brock Clarke - ** A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (A) - *** Closed at Dark by Rob Blackwell - *** Marbles : mania, depression, Michelangelo, and me by Ellen Forney - ***1/2 Mary Ann in Autumn by Armistead Maupin (A) - ***

metsmarathon Dec 31 2014 08:06 AM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

i have not read a single book, that i can think of, that was aimed at a reader who would be expected to be at least in high school. i have read a ton of books for readers who might be in the first half of their elementary school career, and have had many of these same books read to me. so many berenstain bears! i think that the books i've read that were at the highest reading level are the lego star wars visual dictionary, and lego star wars - the dark side - both aimed at audiences up to 12 years old! - though perhaps i mostly looked a the visual dictionary, without really reading it. as minimm's reading level advances, i'm hoping to be able to experience even more good books. and fewer of those saccharine bears. i did read the island at the center of the world - last year i think, or possibly previously. being able to say that makes me feel somewhat like i'm still a grownup.

Rockin' Doc Jan 01 2015 02:07 PM Re: What are you reading in 2014?

George Washington’s Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded by Simon Winchester The Imperial Cruise by James Bradley One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre The Monuments Men: Alied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsell A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy by Thomas Buerganthal Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan Rogue Warrior by Richard Marcinko Out of My League by Dirk Hayhurst The Man Who Saved the Union: Ulysses Grant in War and Peace by H.W. Brands Thank You For Your Service by David Finkel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain and Oliver Wyman Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale and Stan Redding Stock Market Investing for Beginners by Tycho Press The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in the Jazz Age by Deborah Blum Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich by Mark Keigel Astoria by Peter Stark Empire of Blue Water by Stephan Talty If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name by Heather Lende Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff The Great Mystery by Travis Slone The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown Naked In Da Nang by Mike Jackson & Tara Dixon-Engel Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig by Jonathon Eig Wesley the Owl by Stacy Bryant The Telling Room: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, Revenge, & the World’s Greatest Cheese by Michael Paterniti First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen 1969: The Year Everything Changed by Rob Kirkpatrick Lost In the Jungle by Yossi Ghinsberg Ship of Ghosts by James D. Hornfischer In The Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick The Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the OK Corral by Jeff Guinn Son of a Gun by Justin St. Germain Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916 by Michael Capuzzo Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun by Paul M. Barrett Wild by Cheryl Strayed In a Manger by Max Lucado The books I found most interesting are highlighted in bold. I read mostly non-fiction (biographies, memoirs, and history). I am planning to intersperse my reading with a few of the classics of literature in 2015.