What book're ya readin'?

[jus_the_facts]

.....last week I read The DaVinci Code in less than two days...couldn't put it down...'twas an extraordinary read....yesterday I started 'Robots and Murder' by Isaac Asimov...which is a 3-1 collection of 'The Caves of Steel'...'The Naked Sun' and 'Robots of Dawn'.

So...what're you readin'???

[swinney]

1. Fraud Fraud

Paul Waldman

Every D should keep this handy and re-read it.

Tax cuts and all.Great facts here.

[elfwitch]

2. In the last month...

I read books 1-6 of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and I am currently reading "Stupid White Men" because it just came out in paperback.

[XNASA]

3. '1984'

It's the third or forth time I've read it but it's been about 10 years since the last time.

And I'll tell you what, comrade.....it's freakin' me out!!

[jus_the_facts]

8. I got 1984 in the mail the other day.....

.....and I KNOW it's gonna freak me out again too so I decided to read it at a later time m'self.

[XNASA]

11. It's 'doubleplusgood', comrade.

War is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.

God is Power.
2 + 2 = 5.

[yardwork]

64. Read "Animal Farm" next.

"Some animals are more equal than others" has never been more true than in BushCo's America.

[jus_the_facts]

79. Yep...another good'n.....

....read it in high school too...and it IS relevant to our current times indeed!

[Kathleen04]

95. Me too..

Just started it today. I've kept making it half way through then becoming too busy and starting over again..but I've just started it again today and I'll make it all the way through this time.

I'm also reading John Kerry's book "A Call to Service" and started James Carville's newest book.

[terrya]

4. I picked up David Brock's new book this past weekend...

"The Republican Noise Machine". Looking forward to starting it today.

[arcane1]

5. Working on "Against All Enemies" now...

but I'll be trying to find something lighter-hearted for next week's travelling...

not quite sure what though

[jus_the_facts]

12. Ahhh travelin' are ya......

....and what route will ya be takin' if I may inquire?!

[arcane1]

34. going to Virginia for 2 whole weeks

starting Monday

trying to get together with some DUers while I'm there but so far nothing has materialized...

[jus_the_facts]

38. Well....if ya haven't read The DaVinci Code yet......

....I recommend it HIGHLY....would be an interestin' subject to approach the family fundies with while yer there too!

Are ya flyin' or drivin to ol'Virginny?

[arcane1]

39. flying high

so to speak

[jus_the_facts]

43. ahh ha......if I was flyin' I'd HAVE to be high....

.....like gimme a 'LUDE man!! I've never been on a plane before and would need to be drugged to the gills to even get on one I'm afraid.

[arcane1]

46. same here

I get a little scared sometimes too.. right now I'm just paranoid that they will flag me as a yellow threat and not even let me on the plane!

[jus_the_facts]

50. LOL.......

.....you pinko commie...get over here and lemme give ya a friskin' and cavity search!

[arcane1]

51. hmmm

is that a threat or a promise?

[jus_the_facts]

52. however ya wanna take it.....

....and as far as well!

[jpgray]

6. Tedlock's translation of the Popol Vuh (nt)

[wryter2000]

24. I have that

I haven't read it all. It's a translation from the Spanish translation from the Mayan, isn't it?

[jpgray]

35. I think it's taken from the heiroglyph version

The book they mention does have a missionary's Spanish translation next to the copy of what the Quiche put down, but I think it was based on a rendering of the heiroglyph version into the Roman alphabet.

[demnan]

7. Plan of Attack

I've read about 3 books by Woodward and he's still boring.

[shaolinmonkey]

9. Fahrenheit 451

also creepy. Huge T.V.s, uninformed public, 48 hour wars...sound familiar?

[1gobluedem]

10. Bushwhacked! n/t

[pagerbear]

D.H. Lawrence: Sons and Lovers

[StaggerLee]

13. Crime and Punishment

My brother is turning me on to Dostoevsky. Not hard to do considering how brilliant this guy was.

[Merrick]

77. your brother's wise

Dostoevsky doesnt fuck around. Besides his expert, intricate storytelling, I think he's funny as hell. He has a dry wit that's common to many Russian writers. Check out Gogol (Dead Souls and his short stories are really good), and also Bulgakov (Master and Margarita).

[Guy_Montag]

14. Just finished "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

Well I enjoyed it anyway.

[Susang]

15. The Noonday Demon:An Atlas of Depression

Quite an amazing book. It certainly deserved the National Book Award that it won.

[rogerashton]

16. Artemis

British sailors Tom Kydd and his particular friend Nicholas Renzi are transferred to the Frigate Artemis during the French Revolution. Historical action-adventure.

Also -- Beyond Profit and Self-Interest, by Robert Scott Gassler. I have promised to write a book review of that one.

[trackfan]

17. Hodgkin's History of Italy and Her Invaders, or

The Barbarian Invasions of the Roman Empire

[FarLeftRage]

18. Paul Krugman's The Great Unraveling...

about losing our way in the new American century...

All about b*sh and the gop's mistakes.

[jus_the_facts]

21. Hey you....

.....I've had my fill o'those mistakes and it's sure unravelin' isn't it?! I like to read fiction...so as to take m'mind away from the present darkness of the illusions that're our reality these days *SIGHS*

[FarLeftRage]

27. Well....

Fiction is once in a blue moon for me...
I'll be reading some tech manuals (job-related) after I'm done....

Hopefully, these days if darkness will end soon.

[jus_the_facts]

36. Yeah....

...I DO hope so...but...

....the fiction helps me to escape into another world...my collection is primarily horror and sci/fi...mostly King...Heinlein...A.C.Clarke...Asimov...Greg Bear...Michael Crichton...Frank Herbert.

[felonious thunk]

57. I'm reading one of his older books Peddling Prosperity

in which he essentially predicted exactly what happened as a result of supply side economic policies and junk economics.

[NewHampshireDem]

89. Great book ...

it was scary how accurate his analysis of many situations turned out to be. My only complaint was that it got a little redundant at times ... he could have edited some of the columns to avoid that, but I see why he didn't.

[NewHampshireDem]

90. Finished "Fanatics and Fools" ...

which was kind of light-weight, though I enjoyed her last section on her vision for America.

I'm also reading "The Golden Age" by John C. Wright and "A Region Not Home" by James Allen McPherson.

[terrya]

19. What a literate group we are! Not a Jackie Collins potboiler in the bunch!

[jus_the_facts]

25. LMAO.....

....so far so good!!

[wryter2000]

26. Hey, I write potboilers

I love a good potboiler.

Waitangi Nights by Alice Gaines
Taming Angelica by Alice Chambers
Always a Princess by Alice Chambers
Moon of the Jaguar by Alice Gaines

Also, various erotic novellas as Alice Gaines. Don't be putting down potboilers, now.

[terrya]

32. What's the difference between potboilers and product, in your opinion?

First of all, I wouldn't put down your books.

But I use the word "potboilers" to describe books that are so formuliac, so utterly lacking in any kind of content. That's what Jackie Collins' books are all about. Just something that seems to come off an assembly line.

I don't mind escapist books at all. But, lord there are books and authors out there that can cause you to lose IQ points...

[wryter2000]

37. I decided to use your term

Actually, I write romances. They're highly structured plots that are love stories and have a happy ending. If people want to call them potboilers, I'm not going to get all huffy. Other pot boilers are Galaxy Quest, Space Jam, and The Taming of the Shrew.

Thing is there are good potboilers and bad ones, just as there are good TV shows and bad ones. The Collins sisters write bad ones, or so I understand. I've never read them. Same with Danielle Steele.

If you want to read something glorious in the genre, read Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale.

[terrya]

41. Thank you for the recommendation.

And I'm amused at the idea of Shakespeare writing a potboiler. But you're right.

I've read, ugh, the Collins sisters. Just plain drivel. Failed actresses who decided to turn to writing, because, well, why not? That certainly doesn't mean they have talent.

I hope you didn't take offense at my term. It's just that I have a jaded view of writing these days. The publishing world seems, sadly, like the film business. Books that sell, get published. The publishing companies don't seem to want to take risks anymore. John Grisham can write a book that you can read on an airplane, but you forget about it immediately afterwards. That's why one of my favorite authors is Margaret Atwood. A truly memorable writer.

[wryter2000]

55. You're very right about that

One of the nice things about romance is, although the industry as a whole makes mega-$$$, no one book or author accounts for most of it. (Although Nora Roberts does pretty well ) The publishers really can't package us like toothpaste, as much as they'd like to. So, you end up with a lot of underpaid authors and underpaid editors who do what they do because they love good stories. Believe it or not, within the framework of love-story/happy-ending, we have a great deal of freedom.

There are lot of truly bad romance novels, and I won't try to excuse those.

[FunBobbyMucha]

20. Never Mind the Pollacks

Neal Pollack's Forrest Gump-ish trot thru rock history. Funny as hell. He was describing the protag waking up, looking at the dessicated face of horror, etc, etc, then "...but wait, he was just looking at an Iggy Pop poster."

[bedtimeforbonzo]

22. Speaking of Asimov's robot books

That new movie looks like a steaming pile of shit.

[jus_the_facts]

28. I Robot.....I hope it'll be good....

....haven't seen enough about it yet...but I hope they'll do it justice?!

[bedtimeforbonzo]

31. I saw the previews the other day. Looks bad

looks like they even changed the laws of robotics.

[jus_the_facts]

42. humm....well that'll definitely change it then.....

....sure wish they'd not do that....that's gonna f'k it all up for sure.

[wryter2000]

23. David Cay Johnston

Perfectly Legal about how our tax laws favor the super-rich.

[devilgrrl]

29. The Seasons of Rome by Paul Hofmann

I'm prepping for my trip to Italy in September.

[Commendatori]

30. German: How to Speak and Write It by by Joseph Rosenberg

I've always wanted to know German, I'm finally doing something about it.

[TrogL]

33. Three Spong books at the same time

I'd call it comparative religion, but he's so far away from traditional Christianity that he's dabbling in agnosticism or mysticism. His concept of the Christian scriptures being derived from Jewish holy days is rife with logical fallacy.

[HuckleB]

40. "Artificial Respiration" by Ricardo Piglia

Incredible.

[ScreamingMeemie]

44. The Lovely Bones...as a mother of a 14 year old daughter (who also

has a little brother) this was a gutwrenching read. But an interesting plot, if you can get past the horridness of the first chapter. I wasn't going to read it, but it was a pretty good book.

Laura

[skippysmom]

48. I just finished the Lovely Bones

Really beautifully written. Sad but hopeful at the same time.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

85. I loved that book!

[ScreamingMeemie]

87. It is a good book, but heartbreaking for me to read.

[Zuni]

45. The Burning Tigris

About the Armenian genocide of 1915.

[Ksec]

47. Just finished Al Frankens "Liars" book

It was great. I learned and was entertained. I was surprised his writing abilities were so good.

[m-jean03]

49. The Global Soul, by Pico Iyer

It's pretty good, too. It's about globalization, and travel and immigration, and the effects of these things on culture and individuals.

I read "Abandon" -- as far as I know his only work of fiction -- this winter, and I enjoyed that, so I am starting to read his other books. I am so lucky to have an English instructor and book junkie for a neighbor, John always has good stuff for me to read!

[Misunderestimator]

53. Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood

Also rereading Interview with the Vampire, and I haven't yet finished Woodward's book.

[Kellanved]

54. Neal Stephenson: "The Confusion"

And waiting for me are Douglas R. Hofstadter: "Gödel, Escher, Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid" and Dan Brown: "the DaVinci Code".

[southpaw]

56. Jann Arden...

[truizm]

58. The Brothers Karamazov

[Atlanticist]

76. Awesome novel

Best book I've EVER read - have you read anything more powerful than the Rebellion chapter ? - don't read this book if you are a Christian!!!

Just gave up on The Magic Mountain - made it to page 358 before deciding life was too short to spend it reading a book I'm not enjoying. I'm told it's a masterpiece, but apart from some fairly clever observations on the nature of time, I'm not convinced.

Read Reefer Madness over the weekend - very good on the insanity of current US drug policy, now reading Since Yesterday, a contemporary history of the 1930's by Frederick Lewis Allen, possibly the most elegantly written journalism I've read - this gives you a flavour :

"Early in June 1932, the Republican held a dull convention with their Old Guard in full control, wrote a dull and verbose platform, and nominated Herbert Hoover for re-election because they had to. Considering what was going on in the world, the general aspect of the Republican deliberations was ichthyosaurian"

Great stuff - sound familiar ?

[truizm]

98. Dostoevsky was a Christian...

[Atlanticist]

107. Hmm, he certainly professed to be one,

but he had a huge amount of trouble with God - read Rebellion and you'll see he gave the Devil all the good tunes. Alyosha can't possibly compete with Ivan, and it's obvious who D thinks has the stronger argument. Biographers reckon this is why D was such a disturbed soul - he was an ardent Christian who's best, most insightful writing refuted much of Christianity. This is why I suggest Christians will have an uncomfortable time reading it.

[texas1928]

59. Reading this book, is my second time to read it.

[kaiden]

60. They Marched Into Sunlight

by David Maraniss.

[adriennel]

61. The I Hate George W. Bush Reader

just picked it up yesterday. quite entertaining

[northzax]

62. A Short History of Wine

by Rod Phiilips.

yes, I'm a geek like that.

[Indiana_Dem]

63. Richard Heinberg: The Party's Over.....

I am inching my way through because I've been so busy. As I read each page, I want to buy it and give it to everyone I know! It is a great history lesson revolving around resources! I think every high schooler ought to have to read this. I grew up during Nixon, Carter, Reagan up to high school. I remember many of the things that happened and this book has allowed me to see a big picture of what has happened since I've grown up. It puts it all into perspective.

Between this book and Noam Chomsky, I've learned quite a bit so far!

[dryan]

65. Re-reading

Citizen Perot...then want to start on Politics of Truth

[Bossy Monkey]

66. To The Finland Station, finally n/t

[Beaverhausen]

67. Secret Life of Bees

actually I'm about to start it. It's the next pick for the book club I'm in.

[LWolf]

102. Great book!

I read that one last summer, and it's one of the top 10 I read for 2003. Enjoy.

[Servo300]

68. "Gone to Texas" by Randolph B. Campbell

[rogerashton]

86. Tell me more --

is it placed in the 1840's, by any chance?

If so, it sounds like the book my dad wanted to write. But never did, of course.

[Servo300]

99. It's a history of the state of Texas

Starting from when the earliest indigenous people reached the state, up to the present time.

I'm currently just past the civil war & reconstruction period.

[rogerashton]

106. Ah.

The family story is that folks in Alabama in the 1840's would post a sign "GTT" and it was understood to mean "gone to Texas." I reckon that might be the source of the title. My family never quite got there, though.

[sbj405]

69. Scurvy

Intersting history of the age of sail and the discovery of scurvy and the cures.

[sus]

70. Oryx and Crake

by Margaret Atwood

[GreenPartyVoter]

71. No pleasure reading this week. Evaluating unfinished manuscripts instead.

[wysimdnwyg]

72. "The Art of Happiness"

By HH The Dalai Lama

Just finished "Brave New World".

[blindpig]

73. The Malay Archipelago

by Alfred Russell Wallace. Also rereading Return to Neveryon(sp!) by Samuel Delaney

[bikebloke]

74. The Importance of Being Famous

by Maureen Orth.
Just cracked it open. Not sure I fancy it, so I'll give another hour this evening. Otherwise, back to the library it shall go.

[jonnyblitz]

75. just started "angels and demons" by the same author as Da

Vinci Code and I will start the Joe Wilson book "the politics of truth" soon as I always have two books going at once. Also, from the library waiting to be read, is "the politics of disposession" by Edward Said.

[Merrick]

78. For Whom the Bell Tolls

[rinsd]

80. "The Five People You Meet In Heaven" Mitch Albom

He also wrote Tuesdays with Morrie.

I'll probably start it tonite.

[Emboldened Chimp]

81. Just finished "Sexus" by Henry Miller last night...

Will crack open "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco once I finish reading the script to "Adaptation".

[Mojambo]

82. Three right now,

1. "Mother Night" by Kurt Vonnegut (because that damn quiz told me that if I were a book I would be Mother Night)

2. "Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation" by Merril Peterson

3. "Red Mars" by Kim Stanley Robinson.

[curse10]

83. What Kind of Nation by Simon

it's an account of the "relationship" between John Marshall and Thomas Jefferson

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

84. Just finished "American Dynasty"

and am now working on "The Clinton Wars" because I never got to it when it first came out. After becoming even more enraged than usual, I decided I had to put it aside for a while. Last night in bed I read Gore Vidal's "Lincoln." I don't much care for fiction, but historical fiction is a different story (no pun intended).

I'm afraid this too shall have to be set aside for a while, as today I picked up half of the writing competition submissions and will get the other half tomorrow. I have until August 1st to read approximately 150 papers on the Ten Commandments and the Establishment Clause and with my co-topics editor make decisions about to whom we want to offer membership on our journal. FUN!!! I can't complain; I asked for it! I'm just afraid I'll be sickened by how much better these people write than I do!

[BBradley]

88. A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

Best fantasy series ever.

[buddhamama]

91. The Exception to the Rulers

Amy and David Goodman- exposing the oily politicians and the media who love them. (Amy Goodman of Democracy Now)

in the past two weeks i have read
The Mists of Avalon-exceptionally written, enchanting- recommended
First three books of the Alvin Maker series, Orson Scott Card
Hart's Hope also by Orson Scott Card

[Don_G]

92. "The Bear And The Dragon" Again

I found new respect for Tom Clancy when Hannity got confused in an interview on national TV because he didn't read ANY book by the RW author.

"Read my lips" or "Read my book"; it's all the same to the Regan faithful if they care to think.

[Padraig18]

93. 'Eaters of the Dead', by Michael Crichton.

[Unperson 309]

94. Death Comes For The Archbishop

by willa Cather.
I just finished rereading a childhood favborite "...And Now Miguel"
and am planning to find the Da Vinci Code next!

309

[marigold20]

96. Just starting House of Sand and Fog

nt

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

97. collected works of Georg Buchner.

In english.

There are not too many (he died young), so....

[daligirrl]

100. "My Blue Diaries"

by Liane de Pougy, the diary of the great French whore of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fascinating.

[PittPoliSci]

101. People's History of the United States

by Howard Zinn.

I love it, I'm only 30 pages in, and its great.

[Room101]

103. Gore Vidal "Julian" /nt

.

[Lou_C]

104. Nickeled and Dimmed

If you haven't read it I would suggest that you go to the Library and check a copy of it out.

[jeffrey_X]

105. Hope Dies Last by Studs Terkel

great book.