finished--the magnificient ambersons, booth tarkington

reading now--plot against america, philip roth


queued up--the name of the rose, umberto eco

queued up--middlesex, jeffrey eugenides

Philip Roth is pretty intense. How's it going?

"How To Live Well Without A Car" -- Chris Balish. Great stuff.

"Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life" -- Larry Winget. Some good things here and there.

"Gener@tion Debt" -- Carmen Wong Ulrich. If you want to stay broke and in debt, read this book. No thanks.

In between books; wrote up my thoughts on Korea (http://www.neilfein.com/2007/10/irish-island.html) by Simon Winchester. Looking to pick up Halting State by Charles Stross to read next.

In the last month I have finished the following unabridged audio books while bike commuting.
Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke

Death in Vienna by Dan Silva

Moon of the Red Ponies by James Lee Burke

Body Scissors by Michael Simon

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt

Will finish tomorrow Bitterroot by James Lee Burke

Will be on travel for a week or so and am taking along the books Hombre by Elmore Leonard and Black Cherry Blues by James Lee Burke.

[QUOTE=I-Like-To-Bike;5457273]Freakonomics by Steven Levitt[QUOTE]

How was that? I enjoyed The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, and I hear that Freakonomics is the anti-gladwell.

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt

How was that? I enjoyed The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, and I hear that Freakonomics is the anti-gladwell.

It was interesting but redundent. The short Freakonomics articles by Levitt, occasionally found in the Sunday New York Times Magazine get to the point just as well in a few paragraphs rather than chapters.

I haven't read/listened to The Tipping Point yet but intend to listen to it as well as Blink by the same author while driving to and from the East Coast in the next week. I've already loaded them on to my mp3 player. I have read Gladwell articles in the New Yorker and have always found them thought provoking.

My real 5 star recommendation from recent listening though is Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky. An excellent period piece of France-1940/41 written by someone who was living it at the time, until ended in a death camp in 1942.

I just read You Suck, A Love Story by Christopher Moore. It's yet another funny story from Moore, I LOL all the way through. It's about a young couple in San Francisco who are vampires, and need to hire someone to take care of things for them when they sleep all day. The 16 yo goth girl they hire is quite a character. As in all of Moore's books, characters appear from his other novels, so there is always a familiar face in the crowd, in this book they come from his book A Dirty Job, also a fun book.

A friend recently introduced me to the books of Sue Henry and I'm reading through the Alex Jensen series. Jensen is an Alaskan cop who, in some of the books, works with the RCMP. It's a cozy mystery series with a beautiful vista that Henry paints well.

"Dark of the Moon" by John Sandford was another read this month that I really enjoyed. Haven't read anything by the author that's really dragged or been uninteresting.....just gotta love the really good bad guys and Sandford does them well. "Dark of the Moon" is sort of a Prey (Lucas Davenport series for which Sandford is probably best know) branch off. Virgil Flowers is a good character and it was just a good read.

Also recently read JA Konrath's Jack Daniels series. Lots of fun but with that gritty edge that can be so interesting. Jacqueline (Jack) Daniels is a Chicago detective who chases some super serious bad guys. The most recent book in the series is the best. I've heard, but haven't been there, that you can download Konrath's first two Jack books at his My Space site - I got them from the library.

I haven't read all the way through this thread *hanging head* and don't know the protocal for recommendation but for those who like Douglas Adams, Jasper Fforde's books might be a really good consideration. He has two series - Thursday Next and Jack Spratt. Thursdays books are kind of set in a parrallel universe in which people deal in faked manuscripts and characters escape books and race over the countryside in cars never available in their book eras. Funny, tongue in cheek and just brillant.

The Jack Spratt series kind of branches off from that - though the Next series is never mentioned. Jack Spratt is a detective in the nursery crimes division who doesn't realize he's a nursery rhyme character himself - despite his first wife's intolerance for anything not containing fat. He must solve the case of Humpty Dumpty's fall. This may sound ridiculous, but it's so not. It's really a gritty crime drama laced with ridiculousness but in a way where one of the three bears is an informant and the competition made famous in detective magazines is gunning for Spratt.

Love Over Scotland - Alexander McCall Smith

Great book, I am reading/have read three of his series - finished one and I'm in the middle of the other two.

Speaking of books does anyone know if it is possible to download books in MP3 format to listen to on an ipod? I am training for a long distance ride on the trainer tonight and dont have a TV. Staring at the wall just isnt doing it for me tonight either.

Speaking of books does anyone know if it is possible to download books in MP3 format to listen to on an ipod? I am training for a long distance ride on the trainer tonight and dont have a TV. Staring at the wall just isnt doing it for me tonight either.


I think our library has books on their site in MP3 format. Tiny, tiny library system so I'm guessing the larger systems would as well. I've never used this site before so am not endorsing it or anything but below is a link where Ipod audio books are sold.

http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/LandingPages/yahooHome.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&pskw

Speaking of books does anyone know if it is possible to download books in MP3 format to listen to on an ipod? I am training for a long distance ride on the trainer tonight and dont have a TV. Staring at the wall just isnt doing it for me tonight either.
This site has loads of books to download, small fee, well worth what you pay.
http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/LandingPages/googleHome.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&pskw=true

Great minds think alike Lex!!:D

My recently / highly recommended list:

Water For Elephants

Stumbling on Happiness ( similar to Freakonomics and of course Freakonomics )

Anything Koontz

Kiterunner / His other is just OK, but this one is a must read.

Fleet of Worlds, by Larry Niven and Edward Lerner. Very good so far, the best "Known Space" book in years.

Fleet of Worlds, by Larry Niven and Edward Lerner. Very good so far, the best "Known Space" book in years.

I have to get this one, love the known space series.

still reading The Death of Marco Pantani . good book but I just can't tear through it
just finished "Saucer full of Secrets" about Pink Floyd. very interesting read
No Safe Harbour, about the sinking of the Peter Hughes boat during hurricane Irene (gilbert? Emily, Agnes?)
in Belize. As a diver I find this stuff fascinating (and scary).
have a new David Weber book on the table (forget title).

Marty

For the john I'm reading Da Brudderhood of Zeeba Zeeba Eata, a Pearls Before Swine collection.

By my easy chair I have The Hole to China by Gary Kaschak. Yes, it is about a kid digging a hole to China. a light fun read, with a lesson or two along the way. :)

Fleet of Worlds, by Larry Niven and Edward Lerner. I have to get this one, love the known space series.

I'm 9 pages from the end (fell asleep reading last night) and I gotta warn you, it'll leave you infuriated that (1) the book doesn't keep going, and (2) Juggler of Worlds isn't out until... well, they've finished writing it, havdn't seen a release date. My guess is late 2008.

Running With the Demon...Terry Brooks

Merle: story about a dog, nonfiction. If you know of Temple Grandin's work, you will love this story.

audiobook biography about Steve Wozniak (founder of Apple computer). Very good if you are a computer geek/ engineer/ or know any of them well. Well narrated.

Fatal Revenant, Stephen R. Donaldson.

The Politics of Ecstasy, Timothy Leary.

The Rider, Tim Krabbe.

The Rider, Tim Krabbe.

:beer:
.

If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino

The Terror by Dan Simmons.

Tons of good podcasts in iTunes for free.

Some of the ones I've listened to are:

1. University of Arizona 7 podcasts on climate change (very good, things you won't hear from the media, & cutting edge research on it).

2. Fortress Draconis (Eragon type book read by the author).

3. Lots of "How To" books:
Mr Manners Quick & Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life
Learn Spanish - Survival Guide

4. Astronomy a Go Go (monthly podcast on the Heavens)

Discovery channel, National Geographic, History channel, New York Times, the Weather Channel, etc all have free podcasts.

From the Search in iTunes type in a genre you are interested in, ie: cycling. You will get a list of all things regarding it. Then choose "Podcasts" from the top menu & you will get all the podcasts on Cycling.

Audible.com also has audiobooks on iTunes, but I found audible.com to be VERY expensive (& unnecessary with all the good podcasts now).

HTH :)

The Terror by Dan Simmons.

Any good? I enjoyed the Hyperion and Olympos books, and The Crook Factory. How does his horror stack up?

Any good? I enjoyed the Hyperion and Olympos books, and The Crook Factory. How does his horror stack up?

I'm only at 184 of 766 pages (big ol' door stopper of a novel), but so far it is quite good. I don't often read horror, but the supernatural is something that looms large over the plot to this point, but in reality doesn't seem as dangerous as human hubris. Simmons seems to have a knack for making sympathies to certain characters shift depending on the third person narration in a given chapter, which is a good indicator for me. And this book has made me dread the waning sunlight and sub-zero temps of winter, or at least appreciate being able to crawl inside to the warmth of central heating.

This is the first Simmons I have read, but it's enough to get me to check out Hyperion or Ilium at some point.

The Winter of Frankie Machine by Don Winslow
Double Play by Robert Parker
The Deal Maker: How William C. Durant Made General Motors by Axel Madsen

Basically? This thread.

I just finished the rather lengthy read The Death of Marco Pantani by Matt Rendell.

So sad.

Now maybe I can get back to or start over What If I Had Never Done It, by Valentino Rossi. I've started and stopped a couple of times already. Time to finish it.

The End of America by Naomi Wolf.

Listening to Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson.

Reading The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke; just finished Black Cherry Blues by same author.

Recently finished The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs by Irvine Welsh. (Fiction!)

I like all his stuff, so I wasn't let down by this one. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence, all set in Scotland. :) (He wrote Trainspotting, for those who remember.)

Almost through with The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise by Michael Grunwald.

Growing up in Miami, I can say that we certainly don't deserve something as special as the Everglades. Ugh. Depressing.

Up next is The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot by Naomi Wolf, as mentioned by cyclezealot.

I'm going to need something really, really uplifting after.

Pastoralia - George Saunders (short stories)

Very twisted and funny stuff. Kind of Vonnegut-esque but more minimalist.

I just finished the rather lengthy read The Death of Marco Pantani by Matt Rendell.

So sad.


I finished this a little bit ago. It bummed me out too.

Philip Roth is pretty intense. How's it going?

hey, I really liked it. my first Roth novel, but I'll probably check out some of his other stuff in the future. the "historical fiction" backdrop is why I chose it, but the characters/family story could stand on their own. it took a bit getting used to Roth's writing style, he tends to use very long sentences and iirc not many commas--kinda "run on", but not really. got me thinking to read some more contemporary stuff I've had in queue for awhile like Chabon, Eugenides, Foer and Pynchon.

I finished up The Gunslinger yesterday. Drawing of the Three is next.

Basically? This thread.

Meh...I skipped to the end. Spoiler alert: Merton did it!


Anyway, I'm about 1/3 of the way through The Three Musketeers. Fun stuff. As promised, very romantic, in the classical sense, not the sappy sense.

Still reading the Vale Rossi Bio. I need to go to the bathroom more often.

World Without End - Ken Follett

Just finished Time for the Stars (http://www.neilfein.com/2007/12/hey-i-cant-talk-right-now-ill-call-you.html) by Heinlein. Typical Heinlein juvie, which means typical Heinlein, where typical = very good.

Just finished Time for the Stars (http://www.neilfein.com/2007/12/hey-i-cant-talk-right-now-ill-call-you.html) by Heinlein. Typical Heinlein juvie, which means typical Heinlein, where typical = very good.
I haven't read that in years! It was one of my favorite books too! :D

Just finished up "Better to Beg Forgiveness, by Micheal Z Williamson yesterday. Excellent MilSF

I haven't read that in years! It was one of my favorite books too! :D

Just finished up "Better to Beg Forgiveness, by Micheal Z Williamson yesterday. Excellent MilSF

My fave Heinlein juvies are probably Citizen of the Galaxy and Starship Troopers. We need a BF sci-fi forum. :o

I;m on Stephen King's The Drawing of the Three.

reclaiming the game. great book on the trends in collegiate athletics.

Meh...I skipped to the end. Spoiler alert: Merton did it!


Anyway, I'm about 1/3 of the way through The Three Musketeers. Fun stuff. As promised, very romantic, in the classical sense, not the sappy sense.

I rather enjoyed the book. I found it interesting how Mdm. de Winter is treated differently in the book than any of the films. Also how the book plays out so differently at the end, what happens regarding the carte blanche and just who ends up being d'Artingeons(sp) friend in the end.

I haven't read that in years! It was one of my favorite books too! :D

Just finished up "Better to Beg Forgiveness, by Micheal Z Williamson yesterday. Excellent MilSF

It is so difficult picking a favorite from Heinlein.

Putting on computer hat - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Putting on unPC hat - Farnhams Freehold
Putting on I know something you don't - Friday
Cynical B@stard - Magic Inc. (Think of just who they meet in Hell and why)
Kinky B@stard - All You Zombies (Hmm guess it si not physically impossible).

I could probably come up with more for more reasons, but I'll end with 'The Long Watch' cuz it has 2 things. It is a great example of what I (and I'm pretty sure Heinlein) thinks a true hero is. Not a John Wayne, not someone looking for glory. Just a guy with guts who when push comes to shove knew what was most important. And because Heinlein proved you can write a good story with no 'surprises' or even much of a chance. When it opens with something like 'Nine ships took off from moon abse and eight of them formed a globe aroung the ninth, which held the flag of an admiral though there where nothing alive on board, just a lead lined coffin and a geiger counter that was never quiet.' Only a fool would fail to realize the hero stopos the bad guys and dies in the process. Yet ending blown it is still a good story.

I used to be able to give the citation on Roger Young from Starship Troopers verbatium. Sad that someone watching the film would neither know of Roger nor what a drop was.

Just finished 2 Drangonlance books. Black Talon and The secret of Pax Tharkas.
Half way through Lone Survivor which is a great read and sad story of Navl SEAL Team 10.
Then waiting in the wings is the last book in Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series " Confessor" which is book #11.
To much snow on the ground for riding so it's a great time to catch up on the reading.