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What are you reading right NOW?!?! 2007

Rockin' Doc Jan 04 2007 09:19 PM

I have always heard of Zane Gray and his writing, but I had never read any of his work. My father-n-law and a friend of mine are both fans of his work, so I decided to read one of his books. My buddy loaned me Riders of the Purple Sage from his library.

Frayed Knot Jan 04 2007 09:47 PM

Just started this one which I was given for Xmas It's a collection where various writers create short stories based on the Springsteen song 'Meeting Across the River' Interesting project in that the song - well enough known since it's from a gazillion selling album but hardly a well-worn radio hit - has a plot that leaves much more unsaid as said. There's obviously a crime involved but it's not clear what kind; a few names are mentioned (Eddie & Cherry) but no background provided; and the narrator/singer is some kind of low-life but the lack of details gives tons of room for fleshing out both him and the plot. Hey, Eddie, can you lend me a few bucks And tonight can you get us a ride Gotta make it through the tunnel Got a meeting with a man on the other side Hey Eddie, this guy, he's the real thing So if you want to come along You gotta promise you won't say anything 'Cause this guy don't dance And the word's been passed this is our last chance We gotta stay cool tonight, Eddie 'Cause man, we got ourselves out on that line And if we blow this one They ain't gonna be looking for just me this time And all we gotta do is hold up our end Here stuff this in your pocket It'll look like you're carrying a friend And remember, just don't smile Change your shirt, 'cause tonight we got style Well Cherry says she's gonna walk 'Cause she found out I took her radio and hocked it But Eddie, man, she don't understand That two grand's practically sitting here in my pocket And tonight's gonna be everything that I said And when I walk through that door I'm just gonna throw that money on the bed She'll see this time I wasn't just talking Then I'm gonna go out walking

cooby Jan 17 2007 07:50 PM

Christmas present, along with and

Edgy DC Jan 17 2007 08:54 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 19 2007 09:58 PM

Just finished: Someone to Watch over Me. Brendan Moon investigates alleged miracles. His job is to disprove them and his assignement takes him to a northern English town where a gunman has killed nine children, followed by an explosion, and parchments raining out of the sky with Hebrew verses on them, seemingly to comfort the town. It seems cheap and has a title used for about a hundred other books but it's really delicately told existential story, switching perspectives and time, working its way backwards. I still haven't figured out the ending. Now I'm reading Homeland Lewis Miner is a loser. He gets sick of the winners from his high school having their successes forced upon him in the alumni newsletter, so he begins writing long updates on his loser life and it's many depradations. Lurid and cruel, at times, but it included this exchange when he goes to visit his dad to sort out the trouble between them. We agreed to meet at the Moonbeam to work out the details of our détente. I took the bus over there because I don't drive these days. It's a boring story, but the version whose sole asset is brevity is this: I can't deal with cars anymore. I even went down to the DMV to surrender my license. "I don't understand," said the clerk. "I can't deal," I said. "Please, just take the damn thing. You don't want me on the road. You don't know what erratic is until you've seen me." "Your record looks clean here," said the clerk, clicking, mousing. "They can't believe it, the cops. They're too stunned to stop me. They think it's a dream." With Charlene I'm reading I Know You're out There. The editor of the personals section at a metropolitan paper tells all about his pathetic clients. Sweet, so far, with a Sedaris-like voice, though less misanthropic. More like Daniel Drennan, but I'm saying Sedaris because fewer folk know Drennan. Read some freakin' Drennan.

Rockin' Doc Jan 19 2007 09:44 PM

Fourth book in the ongoing series by the auther of the "Left Behind" series.

Rockin' Doc Jan 27 2007 08:22 PM

This memoir picks up a few years after his childhood memoir, Running With Scissors, left off. It is a no holds bar look at an unconventional life on the edge. It is amazing that Burroughs ever survived his twisted childhood, but as a successful advertising executive living in Manhattan he is still fighting the demons from his upbringing.

Frayed Knot Jan 30 2007 09:23 PM

Something in the Air: Radio, Rock, and the Revolution that Shaped a Generation -- Mark Fisher A history of pop/rock radio and the changes it has undergone from the birth of Top-40 style radio in the '40s, through the transistor portability of the '50s, the 'birth' of FM and free-form in the '60s, into the 'consultant' age of niche radio and corporate ownership right up until the satellite present. It's by no means a comprehensive history. Rather the author picks out various characters and industry people as examples of those who helped shape their era or a particular style. So while late-night oddities like Jean Shepard and Bob Fass, for instance, get entire chapters, the likes of Wolfman Jack and Howard Stern get just brief mentions. But you do get a good overview of the role radio has played at various times and how it's survived and even thrived despite being declared dead on numerous occasions.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 31 2007 09:42 AM

In case you were wondering, (and I'm sure you were) here are the 26 books I read in 2006. Twelve of them were vacation related: Numbers 10, 12, 13, and 15 for Alaska and numbers 16 through 23 for Japan. Also five baseball books, which is about four more than I tend to read in a typical year. 1. Kiss it Goodbye! The Frank Thomas Story Frank Thomas 2. How Israel Lost Richard Ben Cramer 3. A History of Britain: At the Edge of the World? 3000BC to AD1603 Simon Schama 4. A Prayer for the City Buzz Bissinger 5. Baghdad Without a Map Tony Horwitz 6. Pedro, Carlos, and Omar Adam Rubin 7. The Making of the President: 1964 T. H. White 8. Running With Scissors Augusten Burroughs 9. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Dee Brown 10. Going to Extremes Joe McGinniss 11. The Long Season Jim Brosnan 12. Coming into the Country John McPhee 13. Ordinary Wolves Seth Kantner 14. Game of Shadows Mark Fainaru-Wada, Lance Williams 15. Looking for Alaska Peter Jenkins 16. Target Tokyo Gordon W. Prange 17. You Gotta Have Wa Robert Whiting 18. The Last Samurai Mark Ravina 19. The Lady and the Monk Pico Iyer 20. The Chrysanthemum and the Sword Ruth Benedict 21. The Roads to Sata: A 2000-Mile Walk Through Japan Alan Booth 22. Hiroshima John Hersey 23. Sayonara James A. Michener 24. Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 Hunter S. Thompson 25. The Perfect Storm Sebastian Junger 26. Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship Jon Meacham

cooby Jan 31 2007 05:25 PM

You keep track? Wow. I also read #6 and #14 last year and started #25.

Vic Sage Feb 02 2007 12:57 PM

- The Making of the President: 1964 T. H. White - read this in college. Fascinating. - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Dee Brown - ditto. moving and disturbing. - The Last Samurai Mark Ravina - didn't read it, but i loved the movie. - Sayonara James A. Michener - is this the basis of the Brando movie? - Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 Hunter S. Thompson - read it in high school, after reading F&LiLasVegas. I love his work. - The Perfect Storm Sebastian Junger - didn't read it, and i didn't like the movie.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 02 2007 01:05 PM

Last Samurai shares a title with the movie, but nothing else. And yes, Michener's Sayonara is the book that inspired the Marlon Brando/Red Buttons movie.

Edgy DC Feb 02 2007 01:07 PM

There's another fine book (fiction) by Helen DeWitt called Last Samurai.

Frayed Knot Feb 02 2007 02:10 PM

Currently tackling: The American Southwest in the 1840's-'50s where the newly independant (from Spain) Mexicans and various Indian tribes are increasingly being joined by westward-bound Americans as the concept of 'Manifest Destiny' starts to take hold. The book centers on Kit Carson who would go on become celebrated in highly fictionalized novels as the symbol of an American hero in that era: trapper, horseman, adventurer, Indian fighter. Except, of course, to many in the Indian community where he's regarded as a bloody killer. Most likely, both sides have elements of the truth.

SteveJRogers Feb 02 2007 07:55 PM

Read a few things recently, mostly around my St Maarteens trip Very informative and comprehensive. Just about everyone was interviewed that could be except for Eddie Murphy. And it was even handed with it's praise and critique, spanning all eras (well right up untill 2002-2004 ish as it came out then) and highly recomended. Going to a different place on the TV entertainment spectrum Warm and funny autobio of Everybody Loves Raymond's show runner. More about him and the process of making the program than it is about the show, so don't read it thinking it's all about Raymond. Oh there is a good chunk in there, but mostly it reads like a general version of the show's plot lines, ect. Good for a "fly on the wall" glimpse at the creative side of a TV program though.

sharpie Feb 05 2007 07:52 AM

From Yancy's list I have read Baghdad Without a Map, Running With Scissors and Fear and Loathing On the Campaign Trail. The latter about 30 years ago.

Vic Sage Feb 07 2007 09:34 PM

i worked with Phil Rosenthal before he was "Phil Rosenthal"... at a film company in the mid-1980s. 1983, i think. Nice guy, but no better than the 3rd funniest guy in the room. but i'm not bitter.

Rockin' Doc Feb 08 2007 07:26 PM

A fascinating read. A maverick ecomonmist takes a quirky look at the world in which we live and produces an unconventional sociological study of how economic incentives act to shape the actions and behavior of seemingly disparate socioeconomic groups.

cooby Feb 11 2007 06:26 PM

It does sound depressing. Does anybody else live, Seo? A lady at work gave me a bag of books, this was the first one I've read; it's very good and I will be looking for more of his work...

OlerudOwned Feb 11 2007 10:02 PM

="A Boy Named Seo"]It is depressing. Damn thing made me cry even, and it's hanging with me now, too. There are other humans that survived, but in their desperate and starved conditions, none are trustworthy. The boy calls them "the bad guys" and clings to hope that there are other "good guys" out there somewhere. He's empathetic and hopeful, and it kills the father that their circumstances may crush that from him. It's so good. Agreed, I loved it. And "fucking depressing" summed it up pretty nicely. Starting Craig Clevenger's The Contortionist's Handbook tomorrow. I've heard praise for it saying that it's better than Chuck Palahniuk's work (which I haven't actually read), some of it coming from Palahniuk himself. ]From Publishers Weekly Clevenger's debut novel is a well-crafted but underplotted character study of a brilliant, damaged man who struggles with mental illness and substance abuse as he bounces in and out of prison and a series of hospitals around Los Angeles. Most of the novel takes place in the latter setting; some tense early scenes pit protagonist John Dolan Vincent against a psychiatrist known as "The Evaluator," who probes Vincent's psyche to see if his recent overdose of muscle relaxants was really a botched attempt to cure his migraine, as Vincent claims, or a suicide attempt. The twist is that Vincent has checked into the hospital under an assumed name; after each of his previous overdoses he has changed his identity to avoid being placed in a mental hospital. The psychiatric interview provides a decent vehicle for telling the story of Vincent's difficult family life and his decision to use his mathematical talent to assist a murky criminal network. The trouble is that Clevenger has little to offer to push his story forward besides Vincent's efforts to protect Keadra, the woman he falls in love with during a hospital stint, from the thugs who are trying to track him down. Clevenger is a solid writer who does some good work when it comes to creating a noirish atmosphere and smart, compelling characters, but the pace is uneven at best. The quality of the writing warrants a follow-up effort; hopefully, Clevenger will know what to do with his characters the next time around. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edgy DC Feb 12 2007 09:20 AM

I'm all for re-conceptualizing this thread and more typically starting new threads for interesting books. Permission to break off the McCarthy threadlet?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 12 2007 09:28 AM

I think that's a good idea.

Willets Point Feb 12 2007 10:00 AM

I think one book per thread would be nice ala the film review forum.

Rockin' Doc Mar 06 2007 08:31 PM

I liked both Tuesdays With Morrie and Five People You Meet In Heaven, so I figured I should give his latest book a shot. An easy, fun read that asks the question, what would you do if you were granted one last opportunity to spend the day with a lost loved one? Reading this book has caused me to reflect upon childhood memories while examining my relationship with those I most care about.

DocTee Mar 06 2007 09:35 PM

Michael Pollan. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. (I'd show the jacket cover, but I'm technologically inept.) A look at the culinary habits of Americans-- expertly written by a regular contributor to the NY Times magazine. http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Meals/dp/1594200823

DocTee Mar 06 2007 09:39 PM

Cornealia Read. A Field of Darkness. The debut of a student's sister. Not bad through 40 pages-- I suspect Soupcan or someone else who spent time in Syracuse will appreciate the setting. A murder mystery (not usually my cup o' tea) but not bad for a ride on the subway (or ferry). http://www.amazon.com/Field-Darkness-Cornelia-Read/dp/089296023X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3079050-0965645?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173242298&sr=1-1

sharpie Mar 09 2007 08:21 AM

I read the Omnivore's Dilemma at the end of last year. I liked it but grew tired of it in its last third as the author gushes over the meal he makes from things he either hunts, picks or gathers himself. The stuff about how evil corn has taken over the world is fascinating.

SteveJRogers Mar 11 2007 04:09 PM

Listened to this on iTunes, seems like a quick "read" as the progam was about 6 hours. Mostly just a primer on baseball history, good to give to someone just getting into the game and wants to know the basics. About to read this large tome Been meaning to read this for a while, and naturally it's about 20 years out of date, but Smith has done an "update" of sorts which I'll probably get to next called "Voices Of Summer" which provides rankings of announcers. I'll probably throw his thoughts on those with Met connections on the main page.

Centerfield Mar 13 2007 02:30 PM

="Frayed Knot"]Not sure if Jon Krakauer's 'Into the Wild' is on your Alaska book list. It's not exactly a book about Alaska, but the 49th state is the backdrop for a very interesting story. Krakauer - who later became famous via 'Into Thin Air', his book about an ill-fated Everest expedition - traces the story of a kid/young man who chucks it all to live among the wilds of Alaska. Been a handful of years since I read it but it was good stuff as I recall. I just started Into Thin Air today. Thoughts to come upon conclusion. I finished Missing Links this past weekend. It's a silly little golf novel by Rick Reilly. It won't win any awards but it was entertaining and funny.

seawolf17 Mar 13 2007 05:33 PM

Curt Smith is a blowhard. I took a class with him in college, and it was dreadful. That said, he's not a bad writer.

SteveJRogers Mar 13 2007 06:37 PM

seawolf17 wrote: Curt Smith is a blowhard. I took a class with him in college, and it was dreadful. That said, he's not a bad writer. Yeah, he does tend to be quite pedantic, and over the top with his praise. Not the best detailer so far, kind of a flowing over-view of events (including mention of current events from the passing years) rather than any kind of intrigue. A little more who, what, when, where and why and not so much detail about how ingrained a broadcaster became with the community he broadcasted in. I want to know why Arch McDonald failed in New York, and why Lee MacPhail thought bringing Red Barber into New York would actually work. I want to know why Graham McNamee was considered controversial, I want to know more about the first handfull of players that became broadcasters, were they the same as those in modern times? Did they try to act more like polished journalists? Or were they all butchers like Dizzy Dean was? I don't need several pages about the relationship between McDonald and Washington, Ty Tyson and Detroit, or Fred Hoey and Boston. Oh sure a paragraph or two, but thats the reason biographies and profiles are for, not histories of a specific occupation.

GYC Mar 25 2007 08:09 PM

I'm going to start this on the plane Wednesday:

Johnny Dickshot Mar 25 2007 08:35 PM

First half: Enjoyable if flawed. Second half: Garbage.

Rockin' Doc Mar 26 2007 09:12 PM

A humorous look at the author's ill conceived plan to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. A novice hiker battles both nature and himself as he traverses the famed Appalachian Trail.

metirish Mar 27 2007 02:07 PM

That Golenbock book was my introduction to Mets history,knowing what I know now I'd agree with JD.

sharpie Mar 28 2007 10:33 AM

That Bryson book was very funny.

Edgy DC Mar 28 2007 10:58 AM

Rockin' Doc wrote: A novice hiker battles both nature and himself as he traverses the famed Appalachian Trail. And Katz!

cooby Mar 28 2007 04:01 PM

Rockin' Doc, what year was this book written?

Edgy DC Mar 28 2007 09:06 PM

The hardcover came out in 1998.

OlerudOwned Mar 28 2007 09:15 PM

He's a funny guy.

cooby Mar 29 2007 04:22 AM

Edgy DC wrote: The hardcover came out in 1998. That's not the one I tried to read once then, from the 70's. It was bad.

seawolf17 Mar 29 2007 05:33 AM

The next person to reference the Bryson book has to post an even bigger picture.

sharpie Mar 29 2007 09:22 AM

That separate thread for The Road by Cormac McCarthy went away too early. It's the new Oprah Book and a surprising one. Most of the other of her choices have been domestic dramas often written from a female perspective. This book has no significant female characters and is relentlessly downbeat.

Edgy DC Mar 29 2007 09:26 AM

I've got to agree. Particularly at the rate I read. We've got to archive different sub-fora at different rates. Any forum that doesn't go to page two should be laid off of, unless there's a 30-page thread or something.

GYC Apr 01 2007 04:00 PM

I didn't even get to start the history of the Mets book because I saw Game of Shadows and picked it up. Pretty good so far.

sharpie Apr 16 2007 02:59 PM

The Road wins the Pulitzer Prize.

Rockin' Doc Apr 21 2007 08:43 PM

Ancient Mayan prophesies and many of the leading scientist in the world today believe that a cataclysmic event that will radically change the planet earth will likely occur in Decmber 2012. Citing the data and projections from world renowned seismologists, volcanologists, paleontologists, geologists, meteorologists, physicists, and astronomers the author builds the case for the apocolyptic event that many believe will take place in the near future. The scientific data and the people predicting our demise are quite impessive, but I personally take solace that modern science seems to have difficulty reliably predicting the weather a week in advance.

Edgy DC Apr 21 2007 08:53 PM

You're pretty ambiguous about what this event will be.

Rockin' Doc Apr 22 2007 05:55 PM

The book lays out a several various scenarios. One scenario is of a major valcanic eruption that spews out enough toxic gas and debris to choke out a large portion of the plant and animal life. Then by virtue of the dense resultant atmospheric haze, plunges earth into another ice age. Another scenario is of a significant comet (or asteroid) collision with earth that would set off a cataclysmic chain of earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and floods throughout most of the world. The last ice age, 65 million years ago is believed to have been the result of a massive comet striking what is now the Yucatan pinninsula of Mexico. Others point to enlarging cracks in Earth's magnetic field, increased flareups of sunspot activity and resultant increases in solar radiation and global warming that ignites the severe weather mentioned above. Still others believe that the solar system is moving into a highly charged energy cloud. At this point, scientist have numerous theories of how the end of the world as we currently know it may occur. However, a significant number of renowned scientist worldwide believe that we are rapidly approaching that inevitable date with destiny.

Edgy DC Apr 22 2007 06:00 PM

I'm dubious that we haven't pinpointed the source of this worldwide humanity-threatening catastrophe, but we do know the date.

Rockin' Doc Apr 22 2007 06:35 PM

I too am rather dubious, but there is some very thought provoking data and research cited with each hypothesis and theory. It is nonetheless a pretty thought provoking and interesting read for anyone that is into science.

Willets Point Apr 25 2007 02:58 PM

Currently reading: Preparing for America's 400th celebration in May.

sharpie Apr 25 2007 03:02 PM

Reading both David Mitchell's Number9dream and Gore Vidal's Empire but I do want to say that I am sad that the separate book forum is no more. Not that there was ever a lot of activity but I hate to see it go just like I hate to see local video and music stores go.

Edgy DC Apr 25 2007 05:14 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 10 2007 01:15 PM

I think, if you like a book, make a thread of it. Post on it every few chapters. If a thread or two works out, a sub-forum will be justified. Part of what we glean is that maybe the multi-forum setup can be intimidating to the new. We can always bump the book place back up.

Centerfield May 11 2007 12:51 PM

Just started:

Benjamin Grimm May 11 2007 12:56 PM

I just finished that one a couple of weeks ago, CF. Not a bad book, but I've read better books by McCullough and better books about the American Revolution.

cooby Jun 10 2007 12:15 PM

Just finished this, Scarlet loaned it to me. A fictional account of Jackie Robinson's first days in Major League Baseball. It's pretty good and a fast read. Surprisingly, they mention Lock Haven in it.

Rockin' Doc Jun 27 2007 08:06 PM

I recently enjoyed reading these two vastly different books. A collection of stories from the author's twisted childhood and bizarre life as an adult trying to fit in with polite society. History comes to life as McCullough delves into the daily lives of the patriot soldiers and their intrepid leader, General George Washington, during a year that helped to change the course of history.

SteveJRogers Jul 10 2007 03:21 PM

Trying to make it through this without puking Not as over-the-top gushy as one would think though. So far a good read. Have some other enemy books, mostly Braves including one written by Tom Glavine following the 1995 season, for my trip to Chi-Town (plane ride really) and other summer sojourns. Also have this in the queue as well

cooby Jul 10 2007 06:13 PM

Another one on loan from Scarlet; I saved this for last because of my admiration for Gehrig. Worth picking up just to look at the pictures. Also, metirish, in a few spots his story reminds me a bit of Frank McCourt's books. Early boyhood in turn of the century NYC rather than Ireland but still a lot of similarities. Just started it today so I can't give much of a review, but so far it's terrific. Can anybody tell me (I know I could look it up) if Angels in the Outfield is based on him?

DocTee Jul 10 2007 07:23 PM

I grew up on the same block as "Columbia Lou" There is now a plaque to mark the spot (of his childhood, not mine)...for many years it was not at all acknowledged.

Johnny Dickshot Jul 10 2007 07:52 PM

Funny stuff, plus he lives my fantasy of quitting his job over and over....

Edgy DC Jul 10 2007 08:06 PM

Is he a catcher?

Centerfield Jul 11 2007 08:40 AM

Just started The Natural. I've never read the book or seen the movie.

Willets Point Jul 11 2007 08:50 AM

I'm down with that.

cooby Jul 19 2007 06:24 PM

Wow. If you like baseball, please read this book.

Rockin' Doc Jul 19 2007 06:53 PM

My daughter gave me this for Father's Day. Quick, easy read of words of wisdom from Mr. Rogers.

OlerudOwned Jul 19 2007 06:56 PM

Head trip. The one bad part about all the wigged out adventures in footnotes and bizzare text layout is that it can overshadow what really is a legitimately creepy narrative.

Vic Sage Jul 20 2007 09:16 AM

="Centerfield"]Just started The Natural. I've never read the book or seen the movie. did you finish it yet, CF? I loved both, though they are very different from each other. As for me, i just finished "Fantasyland", and in depth look at the highest echelons of fantasy baseball fanaticism by Wall St Journal writer Sam Walker. Its hilarious and absolutely dead on: http://www.amazon.com/Fantasyland-Season-Baseballs-Lunatic-Fringe/dp/B000GUJH7G/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0459717-5760961?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184944397&sr=1-1 I've since proceeded to Neil Gaiman's GOOD OMENS, one of his first novels. So far, so good.

metirish Jul 20 2007 09:28 AM

Just picked this up,can't wait to read it.... [url=http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/1594480001/ref=s9_asin_image_1/002-9897751-8260045?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0RW2ZYVDBBWZ2Q9SRV9C&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=288448401&pf_rd_i=507846]Read about it here[/url]

Centerfield Jul 20 2007 10:13 AM

="Vic Sage"] ="Centerfield"]Just started The Natural. I've never read the book or seen the movie. did you finish it yet, CF? I loved both, though they are very different from each other. I did. I loved it. For years I've been avoiding watching the movie because I wanted to read it first. I can't believe it took me this long to get around to it. I've been told by many, to treat the movie as if it is a different story altogether. Just started Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm.

Vic Sage Jul 20 2007 11:10 AM

] I did. I loved it. For years I've been avoiding watching the movie because I wanted to read it first. I can't believe it took me this long to get around to it. I've been told by many, to treat the movie as if it is a different story altogether. while the novel is about our heroes having feet of clay, and the absence of redemption, the movie is about mythology and the power of heroes to be redeemed... pretty much a 180 from the book. That offends certain afficianados of the novel, but if you look at the movie as its own thiing, you can appreciate its craft.. the music, the cinematography, the solemn reverential tone, the iconic imagery, and the baseball, too, are all impeccably rendered.

Nymr83 Jul 20 2007 11:14 AM

]Just started Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm. i havent read the book but thats gotta be in my top 5 worst movies that i've seen.

Iubitul Jul 22 2007 07:33 PM

I just finished this: and now I'm reading this:

DocTee Jul 22 2007 08:10 PM

Holy shit--didn't that book just come out like 36 hours ago?

Iubitul Jul 22 2007 11:36 PM

Yes - I bought it at the local Barnes & Noble at Midnight Friday night.

seawolf17 Jul 23 2007 06:08 PM

Just finished HP7 as well today. A little slodgy at times, but brilliantly done.

Nymr83 Jul 23 2007 06:21 PM

is "game of shadows" worth reading? anyone?

Benjamin Grimm Jul 23 2007 06:27 PM

I found it interesting. I haven't been following the story closely at all in the press, so much of it was new to me. If you HAVE been following closely, perhaps you'll find it less interesting. I really can't say.

Frayed Knot Jul 23 2007 08:21 PM

Nymr83 wrote: is "game of shadows" worth reading? anyone? Yes, if for no other reason than you'll know what's known about Bonds and steroids (and others, though it's mostly about Bonds) as opposed to what all manner of sportswriters & talkers say they know about him. It's basically just a good piece of investigative journalism.

Iubitul Jul 26 2007 06:42 PM

I'm sort of on a roll:

RealityChuck Jul 27 2007 07:38 AM

Incredible book.

Willets Point Jul 27 2007 07:44 AM

I attended a book talk by the author Jasper Fforde last night and now I'm about five chapters in.

Rockin' Doc Aug 09 2007 06:21 PM

I really enjoyed 1776 so I decided to give another David McCullough book a shot. He brings history to life and makes it enjoyable.

Rockin' Doc Sep 18 2007 08:49 PM

A writer follows a Qschool survivor through a season (1998) on the PGA Tour. He has the perfect subject in Esteban Toledo, a self taught golfer who has toiled at his craft for 12 years in hopes of getting his shot at the big time Now he has his chance to finally escpe the poverty of his childhood by proving he belongs on the PGA Tour. A behind the scenes look at what it's like to be a "grinder" on the PGA Tour and an inspiring tale of overcoming great odds in pursuit of one's dreams.

Rockin' Doc Oct 08 2007 05:35 AM

Almost half way through this facinating study of the political genius that was Abraham Lincoln. From his days as a little known frontier lawyer, to his surprising victory over three widely acclaimed statesman for the presidential nomination of the fledgling Republican party. A look into the inner workings of the man who presided as president during the United States most turbulent period as a nation. If only history had been nearly this fun in school.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 08 2007 09:05 AM

Looks like a bunch of CPFers have read Team of Rivals. I too didn't learn to appreciate history until long after I was out of school. Now history is the subject I read far more than any other. I don't know why it had to be so dry in school. Hopefully that's no longer the case, but I suspect it still is. As for what I'm reading RIGHT NOW, it's a book called The Race Beat about the reporters who covered the civil rights movement.

Rockin' Doc Oct 31 2007 07:35 PM

This seemed like the perfect follow up to the tremendous Team Of Rivals. Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer picks up in the spring of 1865 as Lincoln and his Cabinet see the Civil War drawing to a close and begin preparing for the arduous task of reconstruction. Unfortunately, Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth, refuses to give up the fight and decides to take matters into his own hands in order to "avenge the south". In a style reminiscent of Team of Rivals, this book follows Booth and his conspirators as they plot, execute, and flee their infamous crimes. A fascinating read thus far.

cooby Nov 01 2007 07:31 PM

Doc and I are on Lincoln kicks. Lincoln was a really sad guy.

SteveJRogers Nov 01 2007 08:53 PM

Speaking of Presidents Just finished listening to this off of iTunes. Great tome, the man was as much a witness to history as he was a history maker himself. Probably thats why its this book that is being made into an HBO miniseries due out in the spring.

Fman99 Nov 02 2007 02:44 PM

="Rockin' Doc"] I really enjoyed 1776 so I decided to give another David McCullough book a shot. He brings history to life and makes it enjoyable. I'll have to look for that one. I've enjoyed several of McCullough's books, especially Truman and John Adams.

Fman99 Nov 02 2007 02:45 PM

Rockin' Doc wrote: Almost half way through this facinating study of the political genius that was Abraham Lincoln. From his days as a little known frontier lawyer, to his surprising victory over three widely acclaimed statesman for the presidential nomination of the fledgling Republican party. A look into the inner workings of the man who presided as president during the United States most turbulent period as a nation. If only history had been nearly this fun in school. Great read. Loaned it to my dad who agreed.

Fman99 Nov 06 2007 08:31 PM

Just ordered "Wait Till Next Year" by Doris Kearns Goodwin from Amazon.

Centerfield Dec 12 2007 12:49 PM

Just finished this: Fascinating topic. The writing is a bit clumsy at times, but he keeps it together enough that it's not distracting. Some incredible stories in there. Just started Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck. It's one of those books I've always meant to get around to reading and am embarrassed over not having read already.

Rockin' Doc Dec 12 2007 09:46 PM

Fman99 - "Just ordered "Wait Till Next Year" by Doris Kearns Goodwin from Amazon." That's one of the books I requested for Christmas. If it is half as good as Team of Rivals it will still be an enjoyable read. CF, I got on a John Steinbeck kick last fall. I read several of his books, including Of Mice and Men. I enjoy his work, but I still haven't tackled The Grapes of Wrath yet. I hope to read several of the literary classics, that I have never gotten around to, in 2008.

Nymr83 Dec 12 2007 09:56 PM

]Looks like a bunch of CPFers have read Team of Rivals. add me to that list. very very well-written book. i always liked civil-war era stuff and this one was full of stuff i just didn't know beforehand. other stuff i've read lately? a few star trek books that you guys wouldn't be interested in. i've also re-read a few things from college and i reccommend each of these: [url=http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Honor-Law-Reconstruction-Depression/dp/0813922089] Murder, Honor, and Law [/url] really good book but heavy reading, i had the author as a prof. in college. [url=http://www.amazon.com/Six-Days-War-Making-Modern/dp/0345461924/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197522165&sr=1-1] Michael Oren's Six Days of War [/url] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Cry-Freedom-Oxford-History/dp/019516895X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197522304&sr=1-1]James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom [/url] a great civil war history all these books are dirt cheap (under $5) used on amazon right now, likely a result of college students selling them at the end of the semester.

Edgy DC Dec 12 2007 10:14 PM

Wait 'Til Next Year isn't national history, but personal. It's about Goodwin growing up in the suburbs, but still reflecting her father's Brooklyn mindset. What makes it cool is that she grew up in my suburb, Rockville Centre. What makes it scary is that Goodwin's RVC resembles mine a lot more than the contemporary one does. Yeep.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 18 2008 02:26 PM

Here's the list of books that I read in 2007. A few less than in previous years. I've been keeping track of my reading since 1982, and this is the first year in which I didn't read at least one baseball book. I'll probably remedy that in 2008. 1 Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly Anthony Bourdain 2 His Excellency: George Washington Joseph J. Ellis 3 On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon Alan Tennant 4 Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln Doris Kearns Goodwin 5 Picasso: A Biography Patrick O'Brian 6 Kite Runner, The Khaled Hosseini 7 Worst Hard Time, The Timothy Egan 8 1776 David McCullough 9 No Turning Back: The Life and Death of Animal Species Richard Ellis 10 Road, The Cormac McCarthy 11 Guests of the Ayatollah Mark Bowden 12 Southern California: An Island on the Land Carey McWilliams 13 Hollywood Gore Vidal 14 Death Valley in '49 William L. Manly 15 Science of Jurassic Park and The Lost World, The Rob DeSalle, David Lindley 16 Age of Gold, The H. W. Brands 17 Bring on the Empty Horses David Niven 18 I Know This Much is True Wally Lamb 19 Race Beat, The Gene Roberts, Hank Kilbaroff 20 Mao Jung Chang, Jon Halliday 21 Sin Killer Larry McMurtry 22 Over the Edge of the World Laurence Bergreen 23 Bogie Joe Hyams Among my favorites this year were The Worst Hard Time, Team of Rivals, and Guests of the Ayatollah. Death Valley in '49 was one of a few books I read in preparation for our summer vacation in California. I usually do pre-vacation reading, and this book really helped me appreciate the history of Death Valley once I got there. Not a great book, but a great pre-trip selection.

Nymr83 Jan 18 2008 02:40 PM

freakin' hysterical:

Willets Point Jan 18 2008 03:18 PM

Since Ben G has listed all the books he read last year, I'll follow suit. I've been keeping a list since around 1990. I should also note that right now I'm reading The Worst Hard Time which Ben lists as one of his favorites and I can definitely see why. 1. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham 2. Subway Style: 100 Years of Architecture & Design in the New York City Subway by the New York Transit Museum 3. Heaven’s Command: An Imperial Progress by James Morris 4. Thumbs, Toes, and Tears by Chip Walter 5. The Winner of the National Book Award by Jincy Willet 6. Spain 2007 by Rick Steves 7. The Holy Thief by Ellis Peters 8. Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled by Dorothy Gilman 9. Brother Cadfael’s Penance by Ellis Peters 10. Europe Through The Back Door 2007 by Rick Steves 11. Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi 12. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See 13. Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton 14. Living Vatican II by Gerald O’Collins, S.J. 15. The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day 16. Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer 17. Bound to Forgive by Lawrence Martin Jenco, O.S.M 18. Confessions by Augustine 19. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks 20. The Secret Family by David Bodanis 21. Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead 22. Jamestown, the Buried Truth by Bill Kelso 23. Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations 24. A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley 25. A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby 26. Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born by Tina Cassidy 27. Scientist in the Crib: What Early Learning Tells Us about the Mind by Alison Gopnik, Andrew N. Meltzoff, & Patricia K. Kuhl 28. The Remarkable World of Professor Phineas B. Fuddle by Boaz Yakin, Erez Yakin and Angus McKie 29. The Five Fists of Science by Matt Fraction and Steven Sanders 30. Practicing History: Selected Essays by Barbara W. Tuchman 31. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel 32. White Teeth by Zadie Smith 33. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin 34. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson 35. Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach 36. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi 37. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling 38. Cry of the Wild by Jack London 39. First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde 40. Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin 41. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi 42. 1776 by David McCullough 43. Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton 44. Severance by Robert Olen Butler 45. Acadia Revealed by Jay Kaiser 46. Foul Ball by Jim Bouton 47. The Global Soul by Pico Iyer 48. The Time it Takes to Fall by Margaret Lazarus Dean 49. Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson 50. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell 51. King of the Vagabonds by Neal Stephenson 52. Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe 53. Jamaica Plain by Anthony Mitchell Sammarco 54. Jamaica Plain: Then & Now by Anthony Mitchell Sammarco 55. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 56. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 57. Children of God by Mary Doria Russell 58. Hypnobirthing by Marie F. Mongan 59. The World Without Us by Alan Weisman 60. Outside Lies Magic by John R. Stilgoe 61. Clara’s Grand Tour by Glynis Ridley 62. Odalisque by Neal Stephenson 63. The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, M.D. 64. Local Attachments by Alexander Von Hoffman 65. Emergence by Steven Johnson 66. Lincoln’s Dreams by Connie Willis 67. Sync by Steven Strogatz 68. Ernie’s War by Ernie Pyle edited with a biographical essay by David Nichols 69. Language Visible by David Sacks 70. Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World’s Most Revered and Reviled Bird by Andrew Blechman 71. Catapult: Harry and I Build a Siege Weapon by Jim Paul

DocTee Jan 18 2008 03:28 PM

38. Cry of the Wild by Jack London Huh?

Willets Point Jan 18 2008 03:33 PM

DocTee wrote: 38. Cry of the Wild by Jack London Huh? Yeah, that should be Call of the Wild.

TheOldMole Jan 18 2008 06:15 PM

Just finished The Auden Generation, by Samuel Hymes, a look at leftist poets in England between the World Wars, and more interesting than perhaps that sounds. A real examination of how politics and art interact, not always to the benefit of art.

Rockin' Doc Jan 18 2008 06:38 PM

I was reading along this afternoon when suddenly the book made no sense to me. My new book is missing pages 162-170. I can't recall having this occur before, but it is very annoying. The book was a Christmas gif, so I can't take it back to exchange for a new one with all the pages intact. I don't want to spend the time it would likely take dealing with the publishers trying to get the missing pages so I think I'll head over to the local library (or bookstores if needed) and read the missing pages there.

themetfairy Jan 18 2008 07:14 PM

="Nymr83"]freakin' hysterical: Agreed!

metsmarathon Jan 18 2008 07:30 PM

just finished world war Z, by max brooks, a thrilling account of humanity's survival of a near-apocalyptic outbreak of zombie virus, as told by its survivors. very well written, enough so that as you read, it actually sounds like a real threat!

Centerfield Jan 18 2008 07:53 PM

Holy crap Willets Point. I don't know that I've read 71 books in my life.

TheOldMole Jan 18 2008 08:25 PM

I'm also just finishing The Deerslayer, in which I've discovered that the reason why he's called Deerslayer is not because he slays deer, but because -- at least at the beginning of the book -- he hasn't slain anything except deer.

sharpie Jan 18 2008 09:44 PM

Books on Willets' list that I've read: Winner of the National Book Award by Jincy Willet The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou I've been keeping such a list since 1985. I had 50-something this year. Next year I'll post mine.

Fman99 Jan 19 2008 11:12 AM

I am reading this fantastic piece of historical fiction.

sharpie Jan 19 2008 02:25 PM

I read Cloudsplitter. I liked it. Long, but I liked it.

Willets Point Jan 19 2008 08:09 PM

Centerfield wrote: Holy crap Willets Point. I don't know that I've read 71 books in my life. [sheepish]I actually read fewer books last year than I usually do.[/sheepish]

SwitchHitter Jan 19 2008 10:31 PM

I'm reading Tom Seaver's "The Art of Pitching" which made me thin of y'all. I received it as a holiday gift from my friend John. He also bought me a book by Bob Feller saying that I needed the perspective of both a lefty and a righty. So for the reading is dense. It's easy reading but the signal to noise ratio is very high and he's got some kind of compression going or something.

AG/DC Jan 19 2008 10:46 PM

Nice to see you, Annie.

smg58 Jan 19 2008 11:06 PM

I just finished Breaker Boys by ESPN's David Fleming. It's a book about the 1925 Pottsvile Maroons, a team from the embryonic NFL who won what was considered the championship game, then gave the league legitimacy by beating a group of Notre Dame alumni, then had the championship taken away because the Notre Dame game violated an unwritten league rule. Well worth reading if you're interested in the early history of the NFL -- and really well worth reading if Pottsville PA happens to be your mother's hometown. I'm trying to figure out how, after all the time I've spent in Pottsville with family from there, that I had never heard anything about the Maroons until last month.

Frayed Knot Jan 20 2008 12:53 PM

SwitchHitter wrote: I'm reading Tom Seaver's "The Art of Pitching" which made me thin of y'all. I received it as a holiday gift from my friend John. He also bought me a book by Bob Feller saying that I needed the perspective of both a lefty and a righty. Both Seaver & Feller were righthanders.

sharpie Jan 24 2008 02:04 PM

Here's what Art Garfunkel's been reading for the last 40 years: http://www.artgarfunkel.com/library.html

Nymr83 Jan 24 2008 02:07 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: ="SwitchHitter"]I'm reading Tom Seaver's "The Art of Pitching" which made me thin of y'all. I received it as a holiday gift from my friend John. He also bought me a book by Bob Feller saying that I needed the perspective of both a lefty and a righty. Both Seaver & Feller were righthanders. you must immediately find the autobiography of Dennis Cook.

cooby Jan 24 2008 06:39 PM

I am reading "Bleak House" and my friend Ed gave me this to read next:

Frayed Knot Jan 28 2008 08:01 PM

Those games would, of course, be the 1936 Olympics in Berlin (and also the winter version held months earlier in the Bavarian Alps) along with a brief history of the Olympics itself both leading up to and succeeding "Hitler's games". A good mixture of sports and history and politics by an American (at least I think he is) professor/modern Germany scholar.

Fman99 Jan 28 2008 08:27 PM

="Frayed Knot"] Those games would, of course, be the 1936 Olympics in Berlin (and also the winter version held months earlier in the Bavarian Alps) along with a brief history of the Olympics itself both leading up to and succeeding "Hitler's games". A good mixture of sports and history and politics by an American (at least I think he is) professor/modern Germany scholar. That one looks good... adding it to my list. Thanks.

cooby Feb 02 2008 08:26 PM

Finally finished "Bleak House" (the house wasn't bleak) and have started reading "naked". I have laughed so hard the tears were rolling down my cheeks at least twice.

Rockin' Doc Feb 02 2008 09:37 PM

Quite a change from her most recent bestseller, Team of Rivals, but her talent shines through in this memoir of her childhood as a Dodger fan growing up in the shadow of New York City during the 1950's.

Fman99 Feb 16 2008 09:03 PM

Back to the historical non-fiction. So far so good.

DocTee Feb 16 2008 09:08 PM

Philbrick is great. I loved this book, but not as much as hie earlier two (In the heart of the Sea and Sea of Glory). I've met him on a few ocassions-- nice guy-- very down to earth.

Rockin' Doc Feb 16 2008 10:36 PM

My wife gave me Mayflower as a present last year, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Frayed Knot Feb 17 2008 07:33 AM

This thread needs a 2008 split-off.