What book(s) are you reading?

[Some Irish Bloke]

Finally getting around to reading The Count of Monte Cristo, unabridged. It's a heavy lift at just under 1,200 pages, but the abridged version I read in high school is my favorite book of all time. Long overdue to get the whole story.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Finally getting around to reading The Count of Monte Cristo, unabridged. It's a heavy lift at just under 1,200 pages, but the abridged version I read in high school is my favorite book of all time. Long overdue to get the whole story.

It's great imo

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

It's great imo

The abridged version is still 500 pages or so, but it's incredible how much detail is left out. I'm really enjoying it so far, I'm at the part where Edmond is about to meet Abbe Faria

 

[zelezo vlk]

The abridged version is still 500 pages or so, but it's incredible how much detail is left out. I'm really enjoying it so far, I'm at the part where Edmond is about to meet Abbe Faria

One of my favorite parts of the book! After your post I googled to see the difference between abridged/unabridged and apparently the abridged effectively creates plot holes.

 

[IrishLion]

The abridged version is still 500 pages or so, but it's incredible how much detail is left out. I'm really enjoying it so far, I'm at the part where Edmond is about to meet Abbe Faria

I am currently reading an unabridged version on my Kindle that lists at ~800 pages. I hope there aren't multiple unabridged versions lol. I hate to feel like I'm missing out on anything based on what one editor decided over another.

Also... I literally finished the chapter where Edmond and the Abbe have their first convo just last night. Maybe we should just start an IE book club???

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I am currently reading an unabridged version on my Kindle that lists at ~800 pages. I hope there aren't multiple unabridged versions lol. I hate to feel like I'm missing out on anything based on what one editor decided over another.

Also... I literally finished the chapter where Edmond and the Abbe have their first convo just last night. Maybe we should just start an IE book club???

I highly doubt that's there's more than one unabridged; probably just a difference in the print size/page lengths. My Mom bought this for me years ago for Christmas because I lent her my abridged version and she knew I loved the story, it was a very thoughtful gift, honestly.

This is the version she got me, it's pretty neat; curved spine and high quality paper.

Set up the zoom call and I'm there! Haha

 

[Bluto]

Just finished reading the book Nomads by Anthony Sattin.

I recall there being a discussion of “greatest cultures” in the Culture thread awhile back. On its face it’s kind of a ridiculous question to ask.

After reading Sattin’s book I would say there is a strong argument that the Nomadic cultures that sprang from the steppes of Eurasia are right there at the top.

First and foremost in terms how the successive empires that sprung from those cultures connected east and west and how the ideas of freedom of movement and association which were fundamental to their cultures allowed for trade, migration and the exchange of ideas to flourish.

Also, the Sami of Northern Europe and the Aborigines of Australia. Those cultures stretch back thousands of years, have seen empires and “great civilizations” come and go and still persist. The key to their longevity?

As James Cook put it regarding the aborigines of Australia, “They live in a tranquillity which is not disturbed by the inequality of condition” and according to British historian Felipe Fernandez-Armesto “the reason for their success is no secret: they have survived because they have ‘lived with nature and within nature and haven’t tried to change it, haven’t tried to crush it, to rebuild it”.

Anyhow, very thought provoking read.

 

[Ian77]

Powering through the last three books of The Expanse series*. I read 1-6 before the Amazon series started (I saw the ads for the series and read the books to prep for it, same as when The LOTR Trilogy movies came out). The timeline shift kinda put me off, originally, but I've got back into the swing of it.

*The authors are assistants to GRRM, and unlike GRRM, they know how to release books on some kind of a schedule, even when there's a TV series involved.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[Valpodoc85]

The Maniac by Labatut
Quick really good book about von Neumann as seen thru the eyes of others. Some insights into the Manhattan Project and the aftermath

 

[lcaps20]

Finally started the Wheel of Time series, should be able to report back in the next 2-5 years.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Finally started the Wheel of Time series, should be able to report back in the next 2-5 years.

I took out the Dark Tower Series (including book 4.5, "Wind Through the Keyhole" and the short stories included in "Everything's Eventual") in just over 6 months, I have faith! $20 on the under. Lol

 

[Katzenboyer]

Finally getting around to reading The Count of Monte Cristo, unabridged. It's a heavy lift at just under 1,200 pages, but the abridged version I read in high school is my favorite book of all time. Long overdue to get the whole story.

My favorite book of all-time. Try to re-read it every 3-4 years.

Right now I'm reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Absolutely love it (although my wife is annoyed how late I stay up reading it while she's trying to sleep 😂).

 

[IrishLion]

Finally started the Wheel of Time series, should be able to report back in the next 2-5 years.

I took out the Dark Tower Series (including book 4.5, "Wind Through the Keyhole" and the short stories included in "Everything's Eventual") in just over 6 months, I have faith! $20 on the under. Lol

Dark Tower is a pretty easy read, all things considered.

I loved Wheel of Time... but it took me just over two years of pretty consistent reading to get through all 14 books. A few of the books went VERY quick. A few took some time, because there is a true slog towards the back-end of the series.

Totally worth it when you get to the last four books, though. Shit pops off!

 

[Ian77]

My favorite book of all-time. Try to re-read it every 3-4 years.

Right now I'm reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Absolutely love it (although my wife is annoyed how late I stay up reading it while she's trying to sleep 😂).

Weir's great. He does a (IMO) perfect blend of science and accessibility in his writing. Not so deep in the weeds like "hard sci-fi", but not totally hand waving it away like, say, Scalzi (who I do enjoy as well).

 

[GATTACA!]

My favorite book of all-time. Try to re-read it every 3-4 years.

Right now I'm reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Absolutely love it (although my wife is annoyed how late I stay up reading it while she's trying to sleep 😂).

They're making it into a movie with Ryan Gosling playing the protagonist. Should be great. Seems like Weir wrote that one with the big screen in mind.

 

[Katzenboyer]

They're making it into a movie with Ryan Gosling playing the protagonist. Should be great. Seems like Weir wrote that one with the big screen in mind.

It's actually quite funny because I knew they were making it into a movie before I started, and now that I'm halfway through, I keep saying to myself "how in the WORLD are they going to make this work on the big screen?"

Anyways, I'll circle back once I'm finished, but I love it so far.

 

[GATTACA!]

It's actually quite funny because I knew they were making it into a movie before I started, and now that I'm halfway through, I keep saying to myself "how in the WORLD are they going to make this work on the big screen?"

Anyways, I'll circle back once I'm finished, but I love it so far.

Let us know when you’re finished. I don’t want to risk spoiling anything.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Powering through the last three books of The Expanse series*. I read 1-6 before the Amazon series started (I saw the ads for the series and read the books to prep for it, same as when The LOTR Trilogy movies came out). The timeline shift kinda put me off, originally, but I've got back into the swing of it.

*The authors are assistants to GRRM, and unlike GRRM, they know how to release books on some kind of a schedule, even when there's a TV series involved.

Just finished the 2nd book. Love it so far. Watched the first episode of the Prime TV series which was on point except....James Holden - that Holden is not the one I envisioned when reading the books.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Every August I try to read a football related book or two. This year, I'm reading "Out of the Pocket" by Kirk Herbstreit with Gene Wojciechowski.

It's a memoir on Kirk and his career. I know not all do, but I really respect Kirk and think he's one of the best going in the sports analyst industry, and the book is honestly very well done. I'm officially beyond his playing years at OSU, and only just learned through the book that John Cooper, their coach at the time, accepted a transfer from Kent Graham from ND which kind of derailed Kirk's career a bit.

Anyways, I know not everyone is a big Kirk guy but if you like him, it's a great read.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Every August I try to read a football related book or two. This year, I'm reading "Out of the Pocket" by Kirk Herbstreit with Gene Wojciechowski.

It's a memoir on Kirk and his career. I know not all do, but I really respect Kirk and think he's one of the best going in the sports analyst industry, and the book is honestly very well done. I'm officially beyond his playing years at OSU, and only just learned through the book that John Cooper, their coach at the time, accepted a transfer from Kent Graham from ND which kind of derailed Kirk's career a bit.

Anyways, I know not everyone is a big Kirk guy but if you like him, it's a great read.

I Liked it a lot.

Reading about the history of PFF. Ironically, the first team to pay for their services: The Chicago Bears.

 

[ColoradoIrish]

Every August I try to read a football related book or two. This year, I'm reading "Out of the Pocket" by Kirk Herbstreit with Gene Wojciechowski.

It's a memoir on Kirk and his career. I know not all do, but I really respect Kirk and think he's one of the best going in the sports analyst industry, and the book is honestly very well done. I'm officially beyond his playing years at OSU, and only just learned through the book that John Cooper, their coach at the time, accepted a transfer from Kent Graham from ND which kind of derailed Kirk's career a bit.

Anyways, I know not everyone is a big Kirk guy but if you like him, it's a great read.

Kent Graham was one of my high school coaches and he had nothing but great things to say about Kirk, and I've been a big fan ever since. Kent was pretty disappointed to leave ND but he just wasn't a fit for Lou's offense

 

[zelezo vlk]

Back on my old shit reading some John le Carré, Little Drummer Girl and rereading A Perfect Spy. Totally see why the latter is considered his magnum opus, damn good stuff.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Kent Graham was one of my high school coaches and he had nothing but great things to say about Kirk, and I've been a big fan ever since. Kent was pretty disappointed to leave ND but he just wasn't a fit for Lou's offense

That's awesome, yeah ironically, it sounds like Graham was a more natural fit for Cooper's pro-style attack, and Kirk actually ran the triple option as a high school QB, so he probably would've flourished in Lou's offense, but he had his heart dead-set on playing at OSU to follow in his dad's footsteps. It really has been a fun read so far, you should check it out.

How was Graham as a coach? That had to be pretty fascinating to be coached by him, given your ND fandom.

 

[ColoradoIrish]

That's awesome, yeah ironically, it sounds like Graham was a more natural fit for Cooper's pro-style attack, and Kirk actually ran the triple option as a high school QB, so he probably would've flourished in Lou's offense, but he had his heart dead-set on playing at OSU to follow in his dad's footsteps. It really has been a fun read so far, you should check it out.

How was Graham as a coach? That had to be pretty fascinating to be coached by him, given your ND fandom.

Man he had so many great stories! It was very cool, he was our secondary coach at the time. He had and shared more stories from his time in the NFL. Could definitely tell he was a little salty about the way things ended at ND, he seemed to really love the university. he just wanted to play ball and lou made it clear it wasn't the offense for him anymore

 

[GATTACA!]

Director Christopher Miller Confirms: Project Hail Mary Wraps Filming

Filming for Project Hail Mary, featuring Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller, has officially wrapped, confirmed by co-director Christopher Miller. Stay updated on the latest news about this highly anticipated film!

maxblizz.com

I remember there being some discussion about this.

 

[T-Boone]

Just read the plot for Stephen Kings next book. Man it sounds awful.

King is like Mike Tyson. He was so legendary from the 80s/90s that all the disaster he has done since does not detract from that.

 

[Bluto]

Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman.

Should be required reading in high school history honestly give the amount of propaganda that surrounds the conflicts in the Middle East.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Just read the plot for Stephen Kings next book. Man it sounds awful.

King is like Mike Tyson. He was so legendary from the 80s/90s that all the disaster he has done since does not detract from that.

I haven't read Mr. Mercedes trilogy or Holly yet, but I thought his recent works of Billy Summers (not horror) and Outsider were actually pretty good.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

When Pride Mattered about the life of Vince Lombardi.