I pretty much only read non-fiction. Reading this right now.
Anyone read any good books lately?
- Thread starter BrianNole777
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Into Thin Air - John Krakauer
Left for Dead - Beck Weathers
Dark Summit - Nick Heil
Currently reading Death in Yellowstone - Lee Whittlesey
Apparently the shift to the old man phase that only reads nonfiction is in full swing.
Left for Dead - Beck Weathers
Dark Summit - Nick Heil
Currently reading Death in Yellowstone - Lee Whittlesey
Apparently the shift to the old man phase that only reads nonfiction is in full swing.
Mid-September beach trip, tropical storm season permitting, will entail:
- N. Gorsuch, "Overruled..."
- G. Pell, "Prison Journals"
But while we're on the subject...a few months back, a buddy got me a couple of books for my birthday, including volume 1 of Karl Ove Knausgaard's "My Struggle." I started it, but it was so tedious I just couldn't do it. So Mrs. Aardvark started, said it was brutally tedious, but then about 50 pages into it became so hooked she's now on volume 2. Has anyone read this? Is it worth making a committed second effort?
- N. Gorsuch, "Overruled..."
- G. Pell, "Prison Journals"
But while we're on the subject...a few months back, a buddy got me a couple of books for my birthday, including volume 1 of Karl Ove Knausgaard's "My Struggle." I started it, but it was so tedious I just couldn't do it. So Mrs. Aardvark started, said it was brutally tedious, but then about 50 pages into it became so hooked she's now on volume 2. Has anyone read this? Is it worth making a committed second effort?
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This was one of my favorite books I read last year.
As for my current read it's The Axeman's Carnival by Catherine Chidgey. Trying to explain it will make it sound ridiculous but the narrator is a Magpie who was rescued as a chick by a woman in an abusive relationship with her husband who is a struggling sheep farmer and becomes viral because of the pictures and videos she posts online of it.
I told you it sounds ridiculous but it actually is a pretty good, fast read.
I was on a "adventure" theme earlier this year. Sailing adventures, Ernest Shackleton, Lost City of Z, those sorts, as well as Into Thin Air. I thought it was excellent, binged some Everest/alpine climbing videos on Youtube.
What did you think of "Left for Dead"?
"The Climb" by one of the guides Anatoli Boukreev is still on the list as well.
Welp, I finally got my turn, just started, I am in Ch 2: Pontius Pilate. So far so good!
I really like Left for Dead. It's not nearly as well written as Krakauer's book, but that's to be expected. The focus on Beck's personal struggles before, during and after were a really interesting perspective on the 96 disaster.
I liked The Climb by Anitoli Boukreev as well for the different perspective on the events. I don't really go in for the controversy that some do around Into Thin Air and didn't feel it was particularly unfair to anyone.
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Don't know if it is listed elsewhere in this thread but "The Wager" by David Grann (Killers of the Flower Moon, Lost City of Z) is a really good book and definitely qualifies as a "sailing adventure." Just finished it yesterday. Will be recommending often.
i could read shackleton accounts over and over.
Yep, read that last year when it came out. I like Grann, but haven't yet read Killers of the Flower Moon.
Me neither. I'm not all that jazzed to be depressed.
Do you have any recommendations? I have only read Endurance by Alfred Lansing which I assume is the most prominent, and The White Darkness by Grann but Shackleton is not really the main event.
Also recently read the newish book by the devil in the white city author, about the leadup to Ft. Sumter. Very good job describing the core underlying 'chivalric' culture of the slaveowning south and the kibuki of the diplomatic relations, and sort of sad as a slow moving tragedy, though that was a war that was going to be fought eventually.
"South" is also great. They just don't make 'em like that anymore.
If I want to be depressed I'll read Twitter.
So as i walked over to my library to check some titles, a couple other offerings I'd suggest, some of which are a little off the beaten path:
1. I think i've said it before, but Steve Martin's "Born Standing Up" is a great memoir - probably my favorite - about how difficult comedy really is.
2. For those who are willing to invest some time in Russian/Soviet stuff, a couple of works by Vladimir Voinovich, who I once played beer pong with and was a truly great and funny satirist:
a. The Ivankiad, a novella about his frustration battling against a soviet apparatchik author when he was trying to get a larger apartment for his family.
b. Moscow 2042, a frighteningly 'it came true' futuristic satire about the natural ends of state communism, a lot of which ended up a lot like today's Russia under putin. First book i laughed out loud to for years, after covid.
3. For those interested in the world of pharma, two 'real time observer' accounts of Vertex Pharmceuticals:
a. The Billion Dollar Molecule, which is something of a meditation on the merits of academic v. corporate research; and
b. The Antidote, which does a fantastic job showing just how hard it is to turn a molecule into a marketable drug from a scientific perspective, and the really hard business choices that have to be made along the way.
1. I think i've said it before, but Steve Martin's "Born Standing Up" is a great memoir - probably my favorite - about how difficult comedy really is.
2. For those who are willing to invest some time in Russian/Soviet stuff, a couple of works by Vladimir Voinovich, who I once played beer pong with and was a truly great and funny satirist:
a. The Ivankiad, a novella about his frustration battling against a soviet apparatchik author when he was trying to get a larger apartment for his family.
b. Moscow 2042, a frighteningly 'it came true' futuristic satire about the natural ends of state communism, a lot of which ended up a lot like today's Russia under putin. First book i laughed out loud to for years, after covid.
3. For those interested in the world of pharma, two 'real time observer' accounts of Vertex Pharmceuticals:
a. The Billion Dollar Molecule, which is something of a meditation on the merits of academic v. corporate research; and
b. The Antidote, which does a fantastic job showing just how hard it is to turn a molecule into a marketable drug from a scientific perspective, and the really hard business choices that have to be made along the way.
Will definitely check out Voinovich.
Amor Towles latest "Table for Two" (short stories) has a solid Soviet short story amongst the rest.
One of my favorite Soviet books is a historical fiction called "Red Plenty" by Francis Spufford. Loved it.
You ain't lyin'.........that sounds f*cked up, haha
BUT sometimes those are the best ones!
***did you know what you were getting into with North Woods or were you kind of blindsided? I loved how it mixed the stories, characters, timelines, little easter egg/nuggets between stories and ultimately the type of story (narration vs. letters vs. case notes vs. real estate listing etc. etc.) I thought it was fantastic. One of my favorite books I have read (listened to) in a long time.
I knew it was intertwined stories of the residents of the house so I didn't walk in completely blind but the ghosts/magical realism surprised me. Some stories were good and some were great. I especially loved the chapters with the sisters and with Teale and Nash
Just started Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, fiction story and sort of a fun read break from non fiction stuff. But, 843 pages, and what the hell was I thinking. lol
One of my favorites. For as long as it is, I never felt like it was a slog. The pacing is second to none. At least to me, it was the perfect blend of slow introspection, banal conversation and action to make me feel like I was riding along with them .
Definitely one of my favorites. It's kind of slow for the first 150 or so pages as they introduce characters but once they start on the drive it picks up. I guarantee you will love and hate some characters in this book.
It honestly could have gone on another 200 pages and I wouldn't have been upset
I just finished Throne of Grace, nonfiction, which was about the most early mountain men that explored the country west of St Louis to the Pacific. Fascinating. Currently reading The Clowns of God. It's fiction. I also just reread The DaVinci Code and then read Angels and Demons. Both by Dan Brown. Kind of like the historical fiction lately.
The interwebs say Lonesome Dove is vastly superior to all the other books in the series and should (and could) be read just as its own stand alone story.
I usually am a "read all the books in the series because I am that guy" guy, but don't want to dive into that time commitment, especially if Lonesome Dove is so much better.
Thoughts?
I've only read Lonesome Dove. I'm sort of afraid Comanche Moon or Streets of Laredo may tarnish Lonesome Dove in my mind. I'm sure they're not terrible so I may dive into them at some point
But yeah I would at least read Lonesome Dove. It is in my mind one of the great American novels
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I would just start with Lonesome Dove. If you love it and the characters you can check out the others even if they aren't as superb or are out of chronological order.
The interwebs said that if you do indeed decide to read all of them, go with publication order and not chronological and the prequels ruin some parts of Lonesome Dove.
I think Lonesome Dove will be my next book. (currently listening to The Women by Kristin Hannah at the request of Mrs. OV and I must say I am not disappointed so far)
Per internet:
McMurtry wrote the series in this order:
- Lonesome Dove (1985)
- Streets of Laredo (1993)
- Dead Man's Walk (1995)
- Comanche Moon (1997)
- Dead Man's Walk – set in the early 1840s
- Comanche Moon – set in the 1850–60s
- Lonesome Dove – set in mid-to-late 1870s
- Streets of Laredo – set in the early 1890s
Yeah, just start with LD. I had seen the mini-series probably five times before ever reading it, and it was still a very enjoyable read, despite knowing the story. I read Dead Man's Walk and thought it was good too, but it made sense to me why it didn't have the same reception as LD.
Haven't touched Streets of Laredo or Comanche Moon yet, but might eventually.
It's good to read them in the series order. I have counted at least 40 books he's written, so probably more.
I've just finished The Master & Margarita. I really liked it. I was delighted! A few thoughts:
- Great story, great storytelling style/narration, great dialog, thought provoking
- Accordingly, great translation
- It was an effort to keep track of the Russian names
- I loved the humor. Especially from Behemoth. Reminded me of the humor from Confederacy of Dunces.
- The footnotes were crucial to provide context and understand references, which made it read a little differently than most novels
- I can't help but wonder what references/jokes/wit/etc that I missed due to my own ignorance, which if noticed would have had me appreciate the work even more
- On a similar note, I'll have to reread it eventually, I'm sure I'll notice things I hadn't the first time through
- Great story, great storytelling style/narration, great dialog, thought provoking
- Accordingly, great translation
- It was an effort to keep track of the Russian names
- I loved the humor. Especially from Behemoth. Reminded me of the humor from Confederacy of Dunces.
- The footnotes were crucial to provide context and understand references, which made it read a little differently than most novels
- I can't help but wonder what references/jokes/wit/etc that I missed due to my own ignorance, which if noticed would have had me appreciate the work even more
- On a similar note, I'll have to reread it eventually, I'm sure I'll notice things I hadn't the first time through
“The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump.”
Author: Clay Cane - SiriusXM radio hostThe book tells me the history of black republicans since Frederick Douglas.
Just started Chain Gang All-stars by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah. A dystopian future where gladiators have returned as prisoners to the death hoping to win their freedom.
So per an earlier post, I knocked out gorsuch’s book while stranded at the nc beach the last couple of days while we got 21 inches of rain in 2 days, which was something to behold. Ferry service resumes today but many roads on mainland are closed or under repair. .
A high level review:
- this is a great little civics book which uses the stories behind the cases to reacquaint the reader with some of our core constitutional structural principles, and to illustrate why they remain important.
- some of the themes include federalism, separation of powers, fourth branch/administrative state
- also an interesting critique illustrating how bureaucratic invocation of efficiency and expertise often produces results counterintuitive to more fundamental values like equality
- more importantly, perhaps, illustrates how modern anomie, cynicism, and bipolarism are linked to “too much” unknowable law.
- sourcing is good though certainly reflecting traditionalists more than nontrafitionslists
- easy to read as befitting gorsuchs fantastic writing style - ultimately this is not a heavy lift for legal or political audiences; it’s much more populist.
Turning to Pell next.
A high level review:
- this is a great little civics book which uses the stories behind the cases to reacquaint the reader with some of our core constitutional structural principles, and to illustrate why they remain important.
- some of the themes include federalism, separation of powers, fourth branch/administrative state
- also an interesting critique illustrating how bureaucratic invocation of efficiency and expertise often produces results counterintuitive to more fundamental values like equality
- more importantly, perhaps, illustrates how modern anomie, cynicism, and bipolarism are linked to “too much” unknowable law.
- sourcing is good though certainly reflecting traditionalists more than nontrafitionslists
- easy to read as befitting gorsuchs fantastic writing style - ultimately this is not a heavy lift for legal or political audiences; it’s much more populist.
Turning to Pell next.
Just finished City of Thieves that had been mentioned in this thread. I really enjoyed it, so thank you as it was not on my radar. Really clever story and terrific dialogue and wit. Certainly one that I'll be comfortable recommending, even to those who are not frequent readers.
Just need to pick the next one now.
Just need to pick the next one now.
So a while back I listened to Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake as I always loved the movie and wanted to see how the book differed.
I really liked the book and really for the first half or so, the movie is almost identical as far as plot, but there are a few things that are different in the book, including the ending, which is kind of left up in the air a bit if you will....
Then I realized there is actually a sequel by Michal Blake called "The Holy Road" which I just finished. Again, its a good book by definition, but man is it sad. In short its set 11 years after Dances with Wolves and is basically the final squashing out of the Native Americans by the incoming whites, which we all know that story, but it was just made worse because it was with all the characters from Dances with Wolves that you had come to love, but that was the point I think, just to show the sadness and reality of that situation in history.
Now I am onto "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks at the suggestion of my aunt and so far, 2 chapters in I am liking it. Summary indicates an intertwining story of people and timelines so I usually like those.
Any one read "Horse" yet?
I really liked the book and really for the first half or so, the movie is almost identical as far as plot, but there are a few things that are different in the book, including the ending, which is kind of left up in the air a bit if you will....
Then I realized there is actually a sequel by Michal Blake called "The Holy Road" which I just finished. Again, its a good book by definition, but man is it sad. In short its set 11 years after Dances with Wolves and is basically the final squashing out of the Native Americans by the incoming whites, which we all know that story, but it was just made worse because it was with all the characters from Dances with Wolves that you had come to love, but that was the point I think, just to show the sadness and reality of that situation in history.
Now I am onto "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks at the suggestion of my aunt and so far, 2 chapters in I am liking it. Summary indicates an intertwining story of people and timelines so I usually like those.
Any one read "Horse" yet?
