Read any good books lately?
12-10-15, 03:44 AM
#526
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
@gaucho777, you must finish the Deptford Trilogy! It's all great. Yes, Fifth Business is the first volume, but they are not placed in a clear order. Doesn't matter which you read next. You really can't go wrong with Robertson Davies. His other trilogies, the Salterton Trilogy and the Cornish Trilogy, are also required reading. I think I liked the Cornish Trilogy best... .
Speaking of magic, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susannah Clarke, is great. Like the Harry Potter series she imagines a world where most people don't believe in magic, but some know better... but it is completely different in every other way.
Oh, and Tony Hadland has his fingers in Mike Burrows' book as well, as co-author or something. Guy gets around (by bike, I assume).
Speaking of magic, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susannah Clarke, is great. Like the Harry Potter series she imagines a world where most people don't believe in magic, but some know better... but it is completely different in every other way.
Oh, and Tony Hadland has his fingers in Mike Burrows' book as well, as co-author or something. Guy gets around (by bike, I assume).
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
12-10-15, 05:52 AM
#527
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,410 Times
in
910 Posts
Survivors, by James Wesley, Rawles. Not all that good, but has food for thought about where we're going with deficit spending and entitlements. There is more wisdom in the quotes at the beginning of each chapter than anything I've ever read by any president. Quotes by Alan Greenspan, Ayn Rand, Ted Nugent, Larry Niven, Robert Heinlein, Adam Smith, G. Edward Griffin, Albert Jay Nock, and Ludwig von Mises:
"There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of wealth; this is the economic means. The other is the uncompensated appropriation of wealth produced by others; this is the political means." (1935)
"A nation is more prosperous today the less it has tried to put obstacles in way of the spirit of free enterprise and private initiative. The people of the United States are more prosperous than the inhabitants of all other countries because their government embarked later than other governments of the world upon the policy of obstructing business." (1972)
I also just re-read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Just as good the 2nd time around.
Looking for my copy of The Voyage by Philip Caputo.
Feel-good book? Freckles, by Gene Stratton Porter. I've read it about 4 times in 50 years.
Great sketches, great story.
Would make a great movie.
"There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of wealth; this is the economic means. The other is the uncompensated appropriation of wealth produced by others; this is the political means." (1935)
"A nation is more prosperous today the less it has tried to put obstacles in way of the spirit of free enterprise and private initiative. The people of the United States are more prosperous than the inhabitants of all other countries because their government embarked later than other governments of the world upon the policy of obstructing business." (1972)
I also just re-read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Just as good the 2nd time around.
Looking for my copy of The Voyage by Philip Caputo.
Feel-good book? Freckles, by Gene Stratton Porter. I've read it about 4 times in 50 years.
Great sketches, great story.
Would make a great movie.
Last edited by RobbieTunes; 12-10-15 at 06:16 AM.
12-10-15, 06:05 AM
#528
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,410 Times
in
910 Posts
and Political Correctness.....using economic and judicial violence instead. Which can lead to little but the real thing.
Last edited by RobbieTunes; 12-10-15 at 06:14 AM.
12-10-15, 06:56 AM
#529
Cisalpinist
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Holland
Posts: 5,557
Bikes: blue ones.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
11 Posts
Finished my reading of the entire oeuvre of William Gibson. Don't know how that happened, but what a trip. Amazing writer that defies all categories.
12-10-15, 07:02 AM
#530
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
In what I suppose must be a similar vein, I just read David Mitchell's The Bone Clocks. I like his writing, but just couldn't get into this one much.
The metaphysical/fantasy/future thing is lost on me.
The metaphysical/fantasy/future thing is lost on me.
12-10-15, 07:31 AM
#531
Heck on Wheels
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: USA Midwest
Posts: 1,055
Bikes: In Signature
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Bumping this thread to add a +1 to ROAD TO VALOR by Ali and Andres McConnor, which I, too, very much enjoyed. I knew very little about Gino Bartali before picking up this well-researched and engaging book, and came away with a great amount of admiration for the man and others of his era. I learned a lot about not only bike racing during the 30s and 40s, but also the war experience of Italian Jews; Italian politics leading up to, during and following WWII; and the role of sport in politics during this period in history.
Next up, The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien. I'll report back...
Next up, The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien. I'll report back...
Trailer on YouTube.
I'm at work and can't post a link to the stream.
My Italian Secret: The Forgotten Heroes
Gino Bartali was a famed Italian Tour de France champion (1938 and 1948) whose true heroism wasn’t recognized until after his death in 2000. During World War II, he hid a Jewish family in his cellar and used his bike training as a cover while he transported anti-Nazi messages to the Italian Resistance. He also risked his life to literally cycle Jewish refugees to safety in a secret-hatched wagon pulled behind his bicycle. This 2014 documentary tells his incredible story.
Gino Bartali was a famed Italian Tour de France champion (1938 and 1948) whose true heroism wasn’t recognized until after his death in 2000. During World War II, he hid a Jewish family in his cellar and used his bike training as a cover while he transported anti-Nazi messages to the Italian Resistance. He also risked his life to literally cycle Jewish refugees to safety in a secret-hatched wagon pulled behind his bicycle. This 2014 documentary tells his incredible story.
__________________
"I had a great ride this morning, except for that part about winding up at work."
Bikes so far: 2011 Felt Z85, 80's Raleigh Sovereign (USA), 91 Bianchi Peregrine, 91 Austro-Daimler Pathfinder, 90's Trek 730 Multitrack, STOLEN: 80 Schwinn Voyageur (Japan)
"I had a great ride this morning, except for that part about winding up at work."
Bikes so far: 2011 Felt Z85, 80's Raleigh Sovereign (USA), 91 Bianchi Peregrine, 91 Austro-Daimler Pathfinder, 90's Trek 730 Multitrack, STOLEN: 80 Schwinn Voyageur (Japan)
12-10-15, 07:52 AM
#532
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,499
Bikes: '88 Bianchi, '94ish Trek
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1085 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times
in
58 Posts
I've got about 4 books going at the moment, but the one I carry around in my purse at the moment is The Incas: The Royal Commentaries of the Incas by Garcilaso Inca de la Vega. He was one of the last princes of the royal house and he wrote his people's history up until the Spanish conquest. The translation is rough but it's very interesting to read about this time in history from such a unique perspective.
12-10-15, 08:21 AM
#533
Abuse Magnet
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,870
Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 151 Post(s)
Liked 175 Times
in
89 Posts
Food of the Gods, by Terence McKenna.
12-10-15, 11:52 AM
#536
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
It's a conundrum of sorts. I find it hard to empathize with many of McGuane's characters, finding myself asking, "why would I care about this person?"
But the guy writes such amazing, jaw-dropping sentences, I buy everything he writes just to read them.
12-10-15, 12:05 PM
#537
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,543 Posts
London Falling by Paul Cornell.....mix classic british police procedural with magic/witches the author has written a fair number of Dr. Who episodes also Paul Cornell (Author of London Falling)
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
12-10-15, 01:31 PM
#538
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 948
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 377 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
10 Posts
I enjoyed The Great Leader. But haven't bought the second one. But I thought the English Major and his novella collection The Farmer's Daughter were mediocre at best. I enjoyed his older stuff, but in recent years Harrison seems to have devolved into imbuing many too-autobiagraphical traits to his characters. Namely, good quality wine, birds, food and women's bottoms. Not that there is anything wrong with those, of course. I like all of them too. But it gets old. Still, I like his writing.
It's a conundrum of sorts. I find it hard to empathize with many of McGuane's characters, finding myself asking, "why would I care about this person?"
But the guy writes such amazing, jaw-dropping sentences, I buy everything he writes just to read them.
It's a conundrum of sorts. I find it hard to empathize with many of McGuane's characters, finding myself asking, "why would I care about this person?"
But the guy writes such amazing, jaw-dropping sentences, I buy everything he writes just to read them.
I once helped a contractor dig post holes for a fence in McGuane's son's backyard in Bozeman, MT.
12-10-15, 05:51 PM
#539
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
Semi brush with fame, eh? Tom junior is a talented knife maker.
Well, I'm a fan of women's bottoms too. But he seems a little obsessed.
However, when he asks us to believe a 17 year old girl who grew up on a remote, small time ranch in Montana knows the finer points of a 62 Montrachet, I say....ummmm....OK. But it doesn't ring true, to me.
Well, I'm a fan of women's bottoms too. But he seems a little obsessed.
However, when he asks us to believe a 17 year old girl who grew up on a remote, small time ranch in Montana knows the finer points of a 62 Montrachet, I say....ummmm....OK. But it doesn't ring true, to me.
Last edited by rootboy; 12-10-15 at 05:57 PM.
12-10-15, 06:26 PM
#540
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 948
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 377 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
10 Posts
Semi brush with fame, eh? Tom junior is a talented knife maker.
Well, I'm a fan of women's bottoms too. But he seems a little obsessed.
However, when he asks us to believe a 17 year old girl who grew up on a remote, small time ranch in Montana knows the finer points of a 62 Montrachet, I say....ummmm....OK. But it doesn't ring true, to me.
Well, I'm a fan of women's bottoms too. But he seems a little obsessed.
However, when he asks us to believe a 17 year old girl who grew up on a remote, small time ranch in Montana knows the finer points of a 62 Montrachet, I say....ummmm....OK. But it doesn't ring true, to me.
Earlier you mentioned McGuane's non fiction; I'm not aquatinted with that but will have to become so.
Jim Harrison is definitely obsessed with bottoms. Funny you mention the writing from the perspective of a young girl/teenager; I was just telling my wife a week or two ago that I thought he did a rather decent job of that.
Last edited by Pemetic2006; 12-10-15 at 06:32 PM.
12-10-15, 06:56 PM
#541
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,543 Posts
you would be surprised at how well educated many small ranchers in Montana are. School, world and then return.
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
12-10-15, 08:31 PM
#542
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Posts: 60
Bikes: 1981 Eddy Merckx Professional, 2015 Salsa Fargo, 2001 Gunnar Crosshairs, 2008 Le Mond Buenos Aires
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck. Retracing the Oregon trail from Missouri to the Pacific coast in a covered wagon with a team of mules
04-15-16, 09:01 PM
#543
Banned.
Join Date: May 2011
Location: on the beach
Posts: 4,816
Bikes: '73 falcon sr, '76 grand record, '84 davidson
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times
in
17 Posts
read any good books lately..?
but there's a 2014 film i'm halfway through on watchtcm (available through 4/21), titled, 'from caligari to hitler: german cinema in the age of the masses.'
lang, murnau, et al ... brilliant.
the title is from the '47 book of the same name.
images
Last edited by eschlwc; 04-17-16 at 07:46 PM.
04-18-16, 12:04 PM
#544
Port
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 6,656
Bikes: 2022 Soma Fog Cutter, 2021 Calfee Draqonfly 44, 1984 Peter Mooney, 2017 Soma Stanyan, 1990 Fuji Ace, 1990 Bridgestone RB-1, 1995 Independent Fabrications Track, 2003 Calfee Dragonfly Pro
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 986 Post(s)
Liked 1,870 Times
in
1,065 Posts
Just finished this. Fun read. Especially if you like Brit/X-Files/Harry Potter/Dresden....
__________________
https://rowdml.tripod.com/panmass
https://rowdml.tripod.com/panmass
04-19-16, 12:29 PM
#545
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 948
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 377 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
10 Posts
I re-read "True North" and am now re-reading "Returning to Earth" by the late (passed away March 26), great Jim Harrison. In my opinion one of the finest writers I've had the pleasure of reading.
04-19-16, 01:27 PM
#546
Senior Member
Hedley's Folly ... oops, that's Hedy's Folly, about the movie star's life and significant inventions.
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. Maybe I recommended it earlier, but I'm rereading (sic) it again, so... It's some fine writing....
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. Maybe I recommended it earlier, but I'm rereading (sic) it again, so... It's some fine writing....
Last edited by philbob57; 04-19-16 at 01:28 PM. Reason: correct mis-spelling
04-19-16, 04:17 PM
#547
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
Indeed. Most recently finished books - Andy Weir's The Martian and Joe Kurmaski's Metal Cowboy.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
04-19-16, 06:10 PM
#548
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STP
Posts: 14,491
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 821 Post(s)
Liked 255 Times
in
142 Posts
Just finished Chasing Rumor, a Season Fly Fishing in Patagonia.
By Cameron Chambers.
It was outstanding. Yet another place to visit.
By Cameron Chambers.
It was outstanding. Yet another place to visit.
04-20-16, 10:01 PM
#549
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 744
Bikes: Too many to list, all titanium or steel.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
I just finished reading "Ready Player One" and found it very entertaining. Another that I recently re-read was "The Power of One" by Bryce Courtenay, a great book about a boy raised in South Africa in the early 20th century.
04-21-16, 12:07 AM
#550
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 7,247
Bikes: '72 Cilo Pacer, '72 Gitane Gran Tourisme, '72 Peugeot PX10, '73 Speedwell Ti, '74 Peugeot UE-8, '75 Peugeot PR-10L, '80 Colnago Super, '85 De Rosa Pro, '86 Look Equipe 753, '86 Look KG86, '89 Parkpre Team, '90 Parkpre Team MTB, '90 Merlin
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 835 Post(s)
Liked 2,135 Times
in
558 Posts
The Pynchon short story collection does lack the polish and depth of his later works, but worth reading if you are a Pynchon fan.
I'm midway through The Third Policeman and very much enjoying it. Similar to the wonderful A Confederacy of Dunces, the work was originally rejected, then published posthumously to critical acclaim. Completed in 1940, it was eventually published in 1967 a year after O'Brien's death. Bicycles feature prominently.