Books you've read

[irishog77]

Never been a reader and always disliked reading in school, but now that I'm out I've given it a shot. In 2013, I read HP 1-7, the 3 Hunger Games, The Hobbit, and You Herd me.

All great books, HP, Hunger games were my favorite. You Herd Me is an excellent read as well.

Not sure what I'm going to read next. Feel free to share what you've read, what was good, and what to stay away from. I'd highly recommend it even if you don't like Cowerd (hell, I'm on record everywhere with my dislike for him and I loved it).

First of all, I don't think anybody on here is shocked to learn this. :smilewink

All the Kings Men
A Confederacy of Dunces
The Iliad
A Prayer for Owen Meany
Angela's Ashes
Those are a few of my all time favorites, off the top of my head.

I just read At Home by Bill Bryson and can't wait to read more of his stuff. I just started Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk and I really like it so far. I also read a book called "Room" not too long ago. I'm not really into fiction or modern writers all that much, but it was a pretty cool book-- interesting perspective of how the story is told for sure.

Rack Em told me 50 Shades of Grey is dynamite. And Wooly's favorite book is still Are You There God, It's Me Margaret.

 

[irishfanjho15]

One cannot go wrong with Kurt. "Could we have the night canopy, please?"

On a political note, Alexis deTocqueville's Democracy In America ain't half bad. Then there's On The Road, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Oh, and don't forget Catch 22.

Here's my point: Read, Read, Read and Keep Reading! Ban me from this thread if you must, but read on!!!

Crazy man. I have this book in my mailbox at work because someone just returned it as I loaned it to him. I had to read it in my first year Intro to American Politics 105 at Earlham with Bob Johnstone back in the fall of 2003. I kept the book from the class and have read it a few times since.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Last Full Measure is the third volume in the trilogy. For Keuhnj's information, they are a trilogy in which vol 1 (Killer Angels) was written by by Michael Shaara, and the other two were written by his son Jeff after Michael died.

I'd suggest the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, if you liked the Hobbit. Also:

Death Comes for the Archbishop -- Willa Cather
To Kill a Mockingbird -- Harper Lee
The Chronicles of Narnia -- CS Lewis (ostensibly a kid book, but worth reading)
The Mouse and His Child -- Hoban (also a kid book, but worth reading)

More recent stuff -- Underworld -- Dom Delillo; The Sportswriter -- Richard Ford; A Fan's Notes -- Frederick Exley

So many, and so little time

My Ántonia by Willa Cather is her quintessential masterpiece. I had to read it Junior year in high school and it's excellent. I would suggest it if you are tackling the American classics.

 

[Irish#1]

Last Full Measure is the third volume in the trilogy. For Keuhnj's information, they are a trilogy in which vol 1 (Killer Angels) was written by by Michael Shaara, and the other two were written by his son Jeff after Michael died.

I'd suggest the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, if you liked the Hobbit. Also:

Death Comes for the Archbishop -- Willa Cather
To Kill a Mockingbird -- Harper Lee
The Chronicles of Narnia -- CS Lewis (ostensibly a kid book, but worth reading)
The Mouse and His Child -- Hoban (also a kid book, but worth reading)

More recent stuff -- Underworld -- Dom Delillo; The Sportswriter -- Richard Ford; A Fan's Notes -- Frederick Exley

So many, and so little time

Thanks for posting that. I was too lazy to go upstairs and look at the book or even look it up on the interwebby thingy! lol I believe "Killer Angels" was written by both. Michael started it then passed away. His son Jeff then finished it as a tribute to his dad with Michael credited as the author. Both wrote so much alike you couldn't tell one from the other.

 

[woolybug25]

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Am I the only one that hates Cormac McCarthy? I think there is a reason it took so long for his books to become popular. No one knew who the dude was until "All The Pretty Horses", which along with "Blood Meridian" are the only two books of his I can stand. Terrible plots, terrible character development, and boring. I feel like it has become the "in thing" to say one love's McCarthy books, regardless if they are any good or not.

Let me spoil "the road" for everyone. It's post-apoclyspse and a dude walks around with his son until he dies... the end.


Read "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Some of my favorites from back in the day were Faulkner's A Light In August and Ellison's Invisible Man.

Some good ones I've read more recently are Boomerang by Michael Lewis and The Black Count by Tom Reiss. If you're a fan of history and liked The Count of Monte Cristo/The Three Musketeers, then The Black Count is an incredible true story about Alexandre Dumas' father.

 

[IrishLion]

1. The Count of Monte Cristo - I could read this book over and over and never get tired of it. The Count is the greatest badass in the history of literature.

2. A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones) - long reads but amazing. Truly intricate study of "power," and if you start now you may finish them in time for the new one to drop.

3. Eragon; Eldest; Brisingr; Inheritance - series like Lord of the Rings, but with more magic and a dragon or two. Also easier to read than Tolkien, though these books could've been much shorter IMO.

4. The Stand by Stephen King - It's the apocalypse and humans try to survive and end up "facing off" with the embodiment of evil. Huge book, usual Stephen King weirdness with a hint of sci-fi.

5. Dragon's Blood; Heart's Blood; A Coming of Dragons - Another series centered around a slave and a dragon that he steals from a dragon fighting pit. Never got much fanfare, but geared as "young adult" books which is right up the HP/Hunger Games alley.

6. Redwall - Talking mouse becomes a hero. Kids book, but surprisingly mature at times and turned into an epic series. If you can ignore the fact that they are small, soft animals, the action is quite amazing.

7. The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King - medieval tale by Stephen King about the drama surrounding a king and his household. The same embodiment of evil that's in "The Stand" is also the antagonist in this book, though the two books have no other connection.

 

[dublinirish]

I had to study Hamlet in high school english class and I loved it. Best big screen adaptation >>> Kenneth Brannagh, hands down!

 

[jerboski]

Am I the only one that hates Cormac McCarthy? I think there is a reason it took so long for his books to become popular. No one knew who the dude was until "All The Pretty Horses", which along with "Blood Meridian" are the only two books of his I can stand. Terrible plots, terrible character development, and boring. I feel like it has become the "in thing" to say one love's McCarthy books, regardless if they are any good or not.

Let me spoil "the road" for everyone. It's post-apoclyspse and a dude walks around with his son until he dies... the end.


Read "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac.

I cant speak for everyone or what the "IN" thing is now days, I have only ready one book by him which was obviously The Road. I thought the book had plenty of plot and character development, such as should the dad kill the boy and himself or trust he has taught him enough to survive on his own, amongst other things.

I always respect your posts and much of time agree with your premise however on this one we are going to have to disagree about The Road. The other books he has written I can't speak for although I did love No Country For Old Men and The Counselor as movies, which I believe he wrote both.

 

[Emcee77]

Am I the only one that hates Cormac McCarthy? I think there is a reason it took so long for his books to become popular. No one knew who the dude was until "All The Pretty Horses", which along with "Blood Meridian" are the only two books of his I can stand. Terrible plots, terrible character development, and boring. I feel like it has become the "in thing" to say one love's McCarthy books, regardless if they are any good or not.

Let me spoil "the road" for everyone. It's post-apoclyspse and a dude walks around with his son until he dies... the end.


Read "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac.

That's disappointing. Blood Meridian was freaking badass and I was looking forward to reading more of his stuff. I heard the Coen Bros. were trying to do a movie?

No question that it's fashionable to say you like McCarthy though. He's a favorite of the literati and people are making movies of his stuff. Critical approval + popular appeal = a writer you can safely praise at a dinner party.

 

[palinurus]

Am I the only one that hates Cormac McCarthy? I think there is a reason it took so long for his books to become popular. No one knew who the dude was until "All The Pretty Horses", which along with "Blood Meridian" are the only two books of his I can stand. Terrible plots, terrible character development, and boring. I feel like it has become the "in thing" to say one love's McCarthy books, regardless if they are any good or not.

Let me spoil "the road" for everyone. It's post-apoclyspse and a dude walks around with his son until he dies... the end.


Read "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac.

I probably wouldn't go this far on McCarthy, but I did think Blood Meridian was a little pretentious with its screwy punctuation. I found it irritating and I think such gimmicks are just a cheap way to try to be avant garde, but maybe I just don't understand. I didn't go to Notre Dame or anything.

 

[rikkitikki08]

My favorite book i recently read was Cinderella Man the life of James J Braddock. If anyone wants to complain about life today take a chance on this book.

Also anything by Cormac McCarthy is great, guy in my opinion is the best American writer living today

 

[ACamp1900]

Anyone ever read Ken Follett?? 'Pillars...' seems like some fiction I could get into... but I have never got around to picking it up.

 

[koonja]

Looking for a new book to read.

I've requested 'The Goldfinch' and Kevin Oleary's book 'Cold Hard Truth on money, business, and life' from my library, but it will be a long time before Golfinch is available, and a week or two until Kevin's book is available.

Anything lately peak anyone's interest?

 

[woolybug25]

The Hippie Guide To Climbing The Corporate Ladder and Other Mountains by Skip Yowell (founder of Jansport)

 

[koonja]

The Hippie Guide To Climbing The Corporate Ladder and Other Mountains by Skip Yowell (founder of Jansport)

I had to look that up to see if you were joking, lol. I don't think I'm a hippie, so IDK if I'd enjoy it.

 

[woolybug25]

I had to look that up to see if you were joking, lol. I don't think I'm a hippie, so IDK if I'd enjoy it.

You don't have to be a hippy to enjoy it. That's not the theme of the book. If you want a book on self improvent and business, it's one of my favorites.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

If you guys are in the mood for something different, try House of Leaves. It's the first book in a long time I literally could not put down, and really knocked my socks off.

 

[woolybug25]

If you guys are in the mood for something different, try House of Leaves. It's the first book in a long time I literally could not put down, and really knocked my socks off.

What's it about?

 

[koonja]

I'm thinking about getting into Game of Thrones. I haven't yet seen the DVDs.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

What's it about?

I could try to explain it, but you would be more confused afterwards. It is pretty out there, but really good. Most intriguing book I've ever read.

*its one of those books I beg my friends to read, because it is so interesting to talk about IMO

 

[Jackalope1977]

Am I the only one that hates Cormac McCarthy? I think there is a reason it took so long for his books to become popular. No one knew who the dude was until "All The Pretty Horses", which along with "Blood Meridian" are the only two books of his I can stand. Terrible plots, terrible character development, and boring. I feel like it has become the "in thing" to say one love's McCarthy books, regardless if they are any good or not.

Let me spoil "the road" for everyone. It's post-apoclyspse and a dude walks around with his son until he dies... the end.


Read "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac.

It wouldn't let me rep you but yes, I hated "The Road".

As some have stated Kurt Vonnegut is awesome. I also like Neil Gaiman quite a bit with "American Gods" and "Neverwhere" being favorites. Also Gregory Maguire for a new spin on old classics. And finally a guilty pleasure, Lee Child's Jack Reacher series is awesome if you like badass good guys. I have never seen the movie and I never will as Tom Cruise playing Jack is laughable at best.

 

[NDBoiler]

Just finished "Over The Edge of the World" by Bergreen. It's about Magellean's (although he didn't make it) circumnavigation of the globe. Very interesting and fast moving book.

I'm about 1/4 of the way through "The Liberator" by Kershaw. It is about a US Army soldier who fought through the battles in Italy, France, and Germany in an infantry unit in WWII. So far it's just ok for me, as I thought it would've been better. I'm a huge military history fan though, so I'm sure I'll make it through.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

All of them.

Favorite book ever written Ulysses, by James Joyce, naturally.

Favorite not fiction : Kabloona by Gontran de Piscine.

Most unusual and satisfying good book : Bend Sinister by Vladimir Nabokov

Best published short Novel ever : The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway, (approximately 127 packed pages!)

Most marvelous work of entirely external dialog and progenitor of a genera, while being a thoroughly entertaining crime novel : The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

Most influential book read in teenage years that I would still read : Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

First classic genera that I devoured beginning in grade school : the Nineteenth-Century Romanticists : Particularly Walter Scott; Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor. Alexander Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte de Bragelonne: Ten Years Later, and The Knight of Sainte-Hermine, also know as The Last Cavalier, are among the greatest, and just as good as any. Victor Hugo is also up their, anything by Hugo! Notre-Dame de Paris, or The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, is at a different level than almost anything published to that time and place.

ENOUGH!

 

[gkIrish]

There are other books besides Game of Thrones?

 

[koonja]

Just read Kevin Oleary's Cold Hard Truth on Men, Women, and Money.

It was awesome and I highly recommend it for anyone, but especially anyone who's young and making a decent living for the first time. It caters to everyone of any age or income level, but especially for young people in 20/30s. I thought of myself as extremely frugal before, but I'd be surprised if you read it and you don't change things about your lifestyle, spending, and savings.