Summer Reading

[Ski Diva]

So what's everyone reading this summer?

I just finished Coal Black Horse by Robert Olmstead. Good, but very dark. About a young boy sent to find his father during the Civil War.

Also highly recommend: Finn by Jon Clinch. The story of Huckelberry Finn's father (though you don't have to have read Twain's work to enjoy this. It's very different and stands entirely on its own). Also very dark, but beautifully written and very entertaining.

 

[MRGisevil]

Re-reading "Me Talk Pretty Some Day" - David Sedaris. He has a very unique tone to his writing. Witty, satirical, but also a bit controversial in places.

 

[Marc]

I'd like to pick up Atlas Shrugged at some point, but don't know if I'll have the time.

 

[ctenidae]

I'd like to pick up Atlas Shrugged at some point, but don't know if I'll have the time.

If you do, and manage to get through the Galt speech, I'll be impressed. I've never met anyone who has actually read the whole 56 pages.

I've started reading Terry Pratchet's Discworld books. Entertaining, and his use of English is great- sort of Douglas Adams-y. After spending 16 months reading nothing but MBA course material, I need some fluff.

 

[Sky]

I've been hitting some historical stuff lately.

Winston Groom (author of Forest Gump) wrote 1942, The Year That Tried Men's Souls". Fabulous book. If you didn't "know" the allies won WWII...you'd be very curious about how it would end up after 1942. Hated to finish that book. Great stuff.

I have a 1-hr commute, so I just picked up another Jeff Shaara book on CD (author is famous for Historical Fiction...Killer Angels). This one is "To the Last Man". It's about WWI. 26 CDs. I'm almost done (disc 23).

As for "fluff"...I haven't tried any lately....but thoroughly enjoyed Still Life with Woodpecker by what's his name. Laughed out loud several times. Followed up with "Another Raod Side Attraction" by the same guy....I'm apparently not worldly-wise enough to "get" it. So it's on the shelf permanently.

Before that, I read Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut (who died last month). Apparently Player Piano was his first book......which reminds me.

*I knew I had read some other history stuff*

"The Longest Winter" is a WWII history story about the most decorated platoon of the war. They were responsible for delaying the Battle of the Bulge long enough for the allies to regroup. The book is mostly about their eventual capture. The platoon ended up at the same stalag as Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut's experience became "Slaughterhouse Five".

*end*

 

[ctenidae]

Love the Vonnegut (RIP).

Sky- you might enjoy "Guns, Germs, adn Steel"- actually, recommended reading for everyone. It's a look at why some cultures have taken over the world while others never even invented the wheel. Worthwhile reading. Also "Confessions of an Economic Hitman"- the guy may be a kook, but his theories make some sense.

 

[andyzee]

Vonnegut was great, loved all his books. Me, I'm reading old copies of Ski magazine, guess I've become one dimensional in my old age

 

[Paul]

Love the Vonnegut (RIP).

Sky- you might enjoy "Guns, Germs, adn Steel"- actually, recommended reading for everyone. It's a look at why some cultures have taken over the world while others never even invented the wheel. Worthwhile reading. Also "Confessions of an Economic Hitman"- the guy may be a kook, but his theories make some sense.

Along those lines, "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn in an interesting read as well...

I'll be sticking with the fluff, mostly some Hiaasen (just read Stormy Weather, starting on Tourist Season) and, **NERD ALERT** I'll be reading the last Harry Potter book

kthxbye

 

[trtaylor]

Heavy - Six Days of War by Oren

Light - Boy Meets Grill by Flay

 

[bigbog]

books.......

Re-reading:

Thrill of the Paddle (Mason/Scriver)

Ski the Whole Mountain (the DesLauriers)

the parts of Anyone Can Be an Expert Skier #2 (Harald Harb Inc.)...that I have read slightly different ideas by PSIA.... *WOW, Is this interesting or what!

Steve

 

[drjeff]

Definately light reading, but I just finished "Shanks for Nothing by Rick Reilly (the humorous sports writer who Sports Illustrated gives that back cover column to each week.

A really fun golfing comedy book, had me laughing out loud a few times!

 

[bigbog]

...Yep!.....

light!....better believe it doctor!;-)

 

[Marc]

If you do, and manage to get through the Galt speech, I'll be impressed. I've never met anyone who has actually read the whole 56 pages.

I've started reading Terry Pratchet's Discworld books. Entertaining, and his use of English is great- sort of Douglas Adams-y. After spending 16 months reading nothing but MBA course material, I need some fluff.

If I can get through the introduction to the Scarlet Letter, I can get through anything.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

I'm reading Star Trek Memories by Bill Shatner. A very amusing read.

I'm also reading Downhill Slide: Why the Corporate Ski Industry Is Bad for Skiing, Ski Towns, and the Environment. Interesting for sure.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Two books I'm currently reading:

Fiction: Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
Non: Assault on Reason by Al. Gore (Take it as a candid response to a great thread, let's not comment on the politics of it)

Suggestions:

1) The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay: Michael Chabon (Just go out and by it) (Fiction)

2) Filth: Irvine Welsh (Sex, Drugs, Corruption. Easily the most disturbing book that I have read) (That one's for the Scottish Fiction lover in TB) (Fiction)

3) Running With Scissors: Augustin Burroghs (Unbelievable Memoir) (Non- Fiction)

4) The Alienist: Caleb Carr (Historical Fiction: (Teddy Roosevelt's race to catch NYC's first Serial Killer when he was the NYPD Commisioner)

5) God's Grace: Bernard Malmud (Second most disturbing book I've ever read) (Fiction)

6) Hell's Angels: Hunter S. Thompson (HST lived with the Hell's Angels in the 60's to write the book) (Non-Fiction)

7) Waiting: Ha Jin (Nice love story) (Fiction)

8 ) Devil in the White City: Erik Larson (Historical Fiction: 1876 Chicago Worlds Fair...Did you know that the Ferris Wheel was created as a response to outshine the Eiffel Tower which was the centerpiece of Paris' Worlds fair years earlier?)

 

[Sky]

Beano...great list! I saw the movie "Running with scissors". Excellent!

re: disturbing books, there's a true story about a pathological liar/killer in the Boston area...mid 80's I think. "Counterpoint" That was the name of his sail boat. The author had written about the story in the newspaper and followed the trial etc. I'm sure it's in the category of historical fiction since it seems I recall dialogue.

The lies this guy told...the creepiness...the fact that he almost got away with murder...great book.

CT...thanks for the recommendation. I've been meaning to read that one. I read an interesting "What If" history book last year. Makes you think. My fav story...what if the US lost the Battle of Midway in June of 42? E-Gad!

I read a similar book to GG and S...."Carnage and Culture". It discussed seven differnet battles in depth and how the (more) Western Culture seemed to have the advantage. Interesting selection of historical battles.

"In the wake of the plague" was an interesting read. Gets into the politics and religious...and legal backlashes to the plague and post-plague years. Should make a good prerequisite to GG and S.