What book(s) are you reading?

[Bishop2b5]

I just finished Eric Rutherfurd's Dublin saga: The Princes Of Ireland and The Rebels Of Ireland. They cover the history of Ireland from about 400 AD through the early 1900's through the eyes of several families and their descendants over the centuries. Very good look at the country's history, culture, etc. Good novels that are very historically accurate.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I just finished Eric Rutherfurd's Dublin saga: The Princes Of Ireland and The Rebels Of Ireland. They cover the history of Ireland from about 400 AD through the early 1900's through the eyes of several families and their descendants over the centuries. Very good look at the country's history, culture, etc. Good novels that are very historically accurate.

Thanks Bishop, I have to read this now. I'm a German-Irish mutt and it's time for me to learn more about the Irish part of my heritage.

 

[#1rish]

The League of Denial

About a quarter through it and it's pretty scary and eye-opening. The beginning of the book has mainly focused on the life and decline of Mike Webster, NFL HOF center for the Steelers. Incredibly sad. Also talked about concussions affecting Merrill Hoge and Steve Young.

 

[ozzman]

Anyone ever read this book? If so, how is it?
Take Your Eye Off the Ball: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look: Pat Kirwan, David Seigerman, Pete Carroll, Bill Cowher: 9781600783913: Amazon.com: Books

 

[IrishLion]

I just finished Eric Rutherfurd's Dublin saga: The Princes Of Ireland and The Rebels Of Ireland. They cover the history of Ireland from about 400 AD through the early 1900's through the eyes of several families and their descendants over the centuries. Very good look at the country's history, culture, etc. Good novels that are very historically accurate.

Thanks Bishop, I have to read this now. I'm a German-Irish mutt and it's time for me to learn more about the Irish part of my heritage.

These kind of sound like the "historical novels" by Dan Jones, The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England and The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors. They are basically history books, written like novels. I read half of the first book a couple of years ago and loved it, but I had to stop as I was taking 4 English classes at the time and had plenty of assigned reading to do. I'd like to pick them back up.

 

[BGIF]

I just finished Eric Rutherfurd's Dublin saga: The Princes Of Ireland and The Rebels Of Ireland. They cover the history of Ireland from about 400 AD through the early 1900's through the eyes of several families and their descendants over the centuries. Very good look at the country's history, culture, etc. Good novels that are very historically accurate.

Sounds like a Michener novel. I've enjoyed everything of his that I've read.

 

[woolybug25]

My wife suggested to me The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It's a character piece about a young boy that is abandoned by his father, then loses his mother when they both experience a bombing at an art museum. He then goes and lives with rich family on 5th avenue and it follows him through adulthood. Tartt is an incredible author that emphasizes on character development and dialogue. I really like her writing style. I know there are no dragons or wizards in this type of book, but if you are into character pieces, this one is a must read.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Thanks Bishop, I have to read this now. I'm a German-Irish mutt and it's time for me to learn more about the Irish part of my heritage.

These kind of sound like the "historical novels" by Dan Jones, The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England and The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors. They are basically history books, written like novels. I read half of the first book a couple of years ago and loved it, but I had to stop as I was taking 4 English classes at the time and had plenty of assigned reading to do. I'd like to pick them back up.

Sounds like a Michener novel. I've enjoyed everything of his that I've read.

If you have any Irish ancestry and are interested in your history, this is a must-read. Really good insight into what being Irish means and what shaped the people of that land. Rutherfurd gives a balanced look at the English/Irish conflict over the centuries and does his best to present the good and the bad from both sides.

I haven't read any of Dan Jones' work, but Rutherford's work is very much in the vein of Michener. I've read all his novels on Ireland, New York, London, Russia, and England, and they all use the same format of following multiple generations of the same families to show the life of a place through the eyes of regular people caught up in the key moments of that place's history. Good stuff.

 

[ACamp1900]

Picked up 'We, The Drowned' last night, so far it's intertaining and quite funny...

Anyone read it yet?

It took me a while but it was very good... highly recommend for anyone into historical fiction...

Now I'm reading "The Shack" by Paul Young... very difficult read thus far, meaning the subject matter wise, I've had to put it down and walk away a number of times to gather my thoughts and not burst into tears... should be done with it within a few days, it's only 200 plus pages.

On deck i have "Gods of the Nowhere" and "Dark Harvest"... getting some reading in for the Halloween season.

 

[Emcee77]

Picked up 'We, The Drowned' last night, so far it's intertaining and quite funny...

Anyone read it yet?

Been wanting to read this one for some time. I hope it was as good as advertised.

My wife suggested to me The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It's a character piece about a young boy that is abandoned by his father, then loses his mother when they both experience a bombing at an art museum. He then goes and lives with rich family on 5th avenue and it follows him through adulthood. Tartt is an incredible author that emphasizes on character development and dialogue. I really like her writing style. I know there are no dragons or wizards in this type of book, but if you are into character pieces, this one is a must read.

I usually wait a few years after the book clubs get through with these literary fiction sensations and then, if people are still talking about them, read them then. This one seems like it might have staying power.


I'm currently about 2/3 of the way through "Fortress of Solitude" by Jonathan Lethem, about a guy who grew up as one of the only white kids in his Brooklyn neighborhood, among other things. Came out more than 10 years ago, I think, but somebody recommended it to me. Really enjoying it.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Brideshead Revisited

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Brideshead Revisited

A very close friend of mine bought the blue ray for me. I've made it through about half, you really have to be in the right mindset to focus on it.

I noticed it's in italics, is it not considered a "manly" book?

 

[irishfanjho15]

I'm reading school books and articles, and my sh!t thesis draft. I cannot wait until I graduate. But then I'll just start my PhD, no rest. I cannot even read for pleasure, which is the worst.

I mean, what is five more years? Yah!!!!

 

[zelezo vlk]

A very close friend of mine bought the blue ray for me. I've made it through about half, you really have to be in the right mindset to focus on it.

I noticed it's in italics, is it not considered a "manly" book?

What? No! I forgot that I didn't use it in a sentence. I'm used to italicizing books etc. when I write.

I very much enjoy it so far. I've only been able to read it for two days after work and I just can't seem to put it down. If I can keep my current pace, I'll finish it within the next two days and come back for a more detailed recap.

 

[Black Irish]

I dug out my hardbound edition of "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." It's good stuff, but mostly I'm reading it to feel superior to other mere mortals who read about bondage sex and talking computers and shit like that. It pains me to admit that I started paying closer attention when Gibbons covered the reign of Commodus. You know, the guy that Joachim Phoenix played in "Gladiator." I'm such a fucking philistine.

 

[pkt77242]

Taking a break from Erikson's "Forge of Darkness" and picked up "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell." Interesting novel about magic returning to London. I read it for class in college a few years ago, and a television adaptation just premiered on BBC, so I'm giving it another go.

What did you think of Forge of Darkness? The in-laws got me a $50 gift card to amazon for my birthday and I am thinking of picking up a few books for my kindle.


Also has anyone read any of the Ian Esselmont books? If so what did you think of them?

 

[pkt77242]

Also, Whiskeyjack, did you ever read the Name of the Wind?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I was out of town for work and I went on a book buying spree.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami has me interested, I'm about 170ish pages in and it's created a story that has me thinking while I'm not reading it.

I purchased a boatload of other books but I won't list them until I begin reading them. But one I did purchase was Brideshead Revisited (for Zelezo VLK). I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts after I crack that one open.

 

[IrishLion]

What did you think of Forge of Darkness? The in-laws got me a $50 gift card to amazon for my birthday and I am thinking of picking up a few books for my kindle.


Also has anyone read any of the Ian Esselmont books? If so what did you think of them?

Well, I only got through about 50% of Forge of Darkness, but I loved what I did read. I was just suffering from Malazan fatigue, as I had blown through the last 4 books of the main series in rapid succession. I picked up Forge of Darkness almost immediately, but at about the halfway point, I wanted to something I could just take in without thinking too much lol. It's a standard Erikson book that is keeping you in the dark about things, making you piece together the over-arching plot on your own, while you also try to keep track of all the little details it IS giving you.

Haven't read any of the I.C.E. books, but I have them waiting in my Alibris cart (if you are particular about which "edition" of books you like, Alibris is amazing. I prefer trade paperback, and it is very hard to distinguish trade from mass-market through Amazon and big retailer websites, but not so with Alibris). I'll go back to Forge of Darkness right before Fall of Light comes out, and then grab that. After that, maybe I'll get into the I.C.E. books.

I'm currently on book 7 of the Dark Tower series, so I need to finish this before I start getting ahead of myself lol. This thread is a problem.

 

[Johannes]

I was out of town for work and I went on a book buying spree.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami has me interested, I'm about 170ish pages in and it's created a story that has me thinking while I'm not reading it.

I purchased a boatload of other books but I won't list them until I begin reading them. But one I did purchase was Brideshead Revisited (for Zelezo VLK). I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts after I crack that one open.

I picked up 1Q84 a few years ago, but haven't delved into it yet. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I've only read his short stories to this point.

As a lapsed Catholic (is that term still used?), Brideshead holds a place near and dear to my heart. I identify with its crisis of faith theme and its use of Chesterton's "twitch upon the thread." There are many passages that come to mind in my day to day thoughts. I would say that it has had a profound effect on my relationship to the Church.

Some buddies and I have started a fledgling sci-fi "book club." So far we've read The Martian (meh) and Neuromancer (fantastic; a must read). Our next book is A Fire Upon the Deep, which was my pick. I wanted to choose something that I would never read on my own. So far it has really sucked me in with interesting alien species and a uniquely structured universe. If anyone else has good sci-fi recommendations, I'd be like to hear them. I love anything like Gene Wolfe, Bradbury, or PKD.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I was out of town for work and I went on a book buying spree.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami has me interested, I'm about 170ish pages in and it's created a story that has me thinking while I'm not reading it.

I purchased a boatload of other books but I won't list them until I begin reading them. But one I did purchase was Brideshead Revisited (for Zelezo VLK). I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts after I crack that one open.

I look forward to your thoughts on Brideshead.

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[zelezo vlk]

I received a few books in the mail today. I'm starting off with The Day the Renaissance Was Saved. I do love me some Italian Renaissance art and history.

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[BobbyMac]

I received a few books in the mail today. I'm starting off with The Day the Renaissance Was Saved. I do love me some Italian Renaissance art and history.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Shocking right?

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[BobbyMac]

Shocking right?

Out of curiosity... What kind of ear buds do you think Dante has on in your profile pic? He doesn't strike me as a Diddybeats kinda guy.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Out of curiosity... What kind of ear buds do you think Dante has on in your profile pic? He doesn't strike me as a Diddybeats kinda guy.

Probably some super high end Apple buds.

 

[IrishLion]

Picked up "The Wind Through the Keyhole" and "Night of Knives" while I was at Barnes and Noble tonight.

Got "Wind" because it's a Dark Tower add-on, and I should be finished with the main series by tomorrow or Monday, and I really enjoy King's take on Fantasy.

Got "Night of Knives" by Ian C. Esselmont because PKT brought it up, and the mass-market book was only $6 with my membership.

So, I'll finish The Dark Tower Series. And then I'll read "The Wind Through the Keyhole" to supplement the material. And then I'll read "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," which I bought in Europe on my honeymoon but never got around to reading. Then I'll read "Night of Knives" to see if I want to read the ICE Malazan series before I read "Forge of Darkness."

The list is always growing...

 

[ozzman]

Picked up "The Wind Through the Keyhole" and "Night of Knives" while I was at Barnes and Noble tonight.

Got "Wind" because it's a Dark Tower add-on, and I should be finished with the main series by tomorrow or Monday, and I really enjoy King's take on Fantasy.

Got "Night of Knives" by Ian C. Esselmont because PKT brought it up, and the mass-market book was only $6 with my membership.

So, I'll finish The Dark Tower Series. And then I'll read "The Wind Through the Keyhole" to supplement the material. And then I'll read "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," which I bought in Europe on my honeymoon but never got around to reading. Then I'll read "Night of Knives" to see if I want to read the ICE Malazan series before I read "Forge of Darkness."

The list is always growing...

First time through dark tower? Such a great series. Can't wait for the movies/tv shows.

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[IrishLion]

First time through dark tower? Such a great series. Can't wait for the movies/tv shows.

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First time all the way through. I read the first four books years ago, but the end of Wizard and Glass crushed me, so I moved on to other things. I kind of resented King for young Roland's pain lol.

(And then I read Game of Thrones. I knew nothing of character heartache.)

 

[pkt77242]

Went on a spending spree and bought:
Night of Knives by Ian Esselmont
Forge of Darkness by Steven Erickson
The Red Knight by Miles Cameron
The Axe and the Throne by M.D. Cameron
D-Day by Antony Beever

Now I just need to find time to read them.

ETA: I also added Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence to that list as well.