Books

[50 Mission Cap]

So what are you all reading now? I'm always looking for something new to read, and want to start a running dialogue here - ala the beer discussion.

I just finished the book I had mentioned on another thread about Alaska bush pilots. Starting McCullough's book on the brooklyn bridge right now. What about you?

[RepublicanSS]

"the thing about life is that one day you'll be dead", by david shields.

[poison idea]

just finished irvine welsh's, "the bedroom secrets of the the master chefs"
sort of a mashup of his previous works, the book af Job and the picture of Dorian Grey.
not bad. not great. adequate.

[Spalls]

Billy Collins' Nine Horses, Dave Barry's History of the Millennium, and finishing An Enormous Crime by Bill Hendon and Elizabeth Stewart. The first and the last are to lighten the load posed by the second.

[ironspoke]

I just finished the book I had mentioned on another thread about Alaska bush pilots.

Cap, there was a pretty good, lengthy article in Mens Journal a few issues back about bush pilots. I'll try and get it to you.

Right now I'm reading a biography on Andrew Carnegie. Man, were times different back then.

[RandomDood]

Doogie Adams Hitchers Guide 2nd time
Jack Londons Call of the Wild 3rd time
Tim O'Brians The Things They Carried 1st time
And sitting by my Head, is Spider Robinsons Off the Wall at Callahans. I may have read it 20 times.
I also recomend anything by Neal Stephenson, or his other pen name Stephen Berry

[FBX]

Currently reading:
- The Surrounded, by D'Arcy McNickle.
- The Arabian Nights, as translated by Hussain Haddawy.
- F. Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake.
- Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus.
- The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism
by Robert Kee. (On and off)

Finished reading Fools Crow, by James Welch earlier last week. An excellent, gritty and dark novel centering on the end of the traditional Pikuni (Montanan Blackfeet) lifestyle in the 1870s. I'd also suggest Haddawy's translation of the Arabian Nights, as it has a more mature "feel" than another translation I've read.

[LeeMcGough]

The Shock Doctrine, by Naomi Klein. Good so far.

[50 Mission Cap]

Cap, there was a pretty good, lengthy article in Mens Journal a few issues back about bush pilots. I'll try and get it to you.

Right now I'm reading a biography on Andrew Carnegie. Man, were times different back then.

Does it talk about how he really caused the Johnstown Flood? Interesting guy. Started w/ nothing, but was apparently a ruthless business man. Giving the bulk of his fortune away at the end of his life was pretty cool though. If you like gilded age stuff, you should read "Devil and the White City" by Eric Larson. Sweet book about the 1893 world's fair in chicago.

[ironspoke]

Cap,

I didnt get to that part yet and I'll be curious how this guy handles the matter. There is a pretty good DVD about the Flood with Richard Dreyfuse as the narrator.

I'll have to look for the book you mention.

[50 Mission Cap]

Doogie Adams Hitchers Guide 2nd time
Jack Londons Call of the Wild 3rd time
Tim O'Brians The Things They Carried 1st time
And sitting by my Head, is Spider Robinsons Off the Wall at Callahans. I may have read it 20 times.
I also recomend anything by Neal Stephenson, or his other pen name Stephen Berry


Love call of the wild. Such a great idea - to write from the dog's perspective. I've always wanted to read white fang also. Things they carried is great. I dig tim o'brien. I read going after cacciato also - not nearly as good as things. If you like vietnam books, check out "Black Virgin Mountain" by this guy Larry Heineman. He is a vet, and goes back to nam like 30 years later and bikes through a good part of the country.

[blu-haus]

Working on Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey right now. Just finished Merle's Door which is a pretty amazing memoir about this guy's dog/life in Jackson Hole.

[RandomDood]

Working on Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey right now. Just finished Merle's Door which is a pretty amazing memoir about this guy's dog/life in Jackson Hole.

Gotta love Heyduke. If you're going to drive drunk, drive fast. That way you are on the road for less time. :D

[dangerousdave]

Just finished The Golden Compass--- Pullman slaps the church across the cheek....
Just started "The Sublte Blade"... Pullman doesn't his miss opportunity to deliver a quick, startling backhand, after the first slap...
Almost completed "Darwins Dangerous Idea" Dennett. Delivers heavily on the goods.
and just started on "Collaspe" By Jared Diamond. I'm sure it'll be as brilliantly socially insightful as Guns Germs and Steel

and, got Thomas Paines biography waiting in the wings....

[Tman]

THE GREAT WAR by Studs Terkel. It was written in 81 and has fisrthand oaccounts of the wars from soldiers to housewives to kids to Eastern European slave laborers that survived the war. These folks were still relatively young and tell great tales!

[FeuerFrei]

i'm currently reading "think on these things" by J. Krishnamurti. Krishnamurti is a brilliant philosopher, this book really makes you think.

[real_ss_budgie]

never ever read a novel..but this was chumpy (http://http://www.dirtragmag.com/web/brainfart.php?ID=1)

[Tman]

Just finished MARINE! The life of Chesty Puller................one amazing soldier. Just started Baa Baa Black Sheep by Pappy Boyington, last read it in high school..........................and yes, I dug out a stash of old WWII books.

[Spatafore]

Currently reading 2 books. The Science of DaVinci, and a books on Huskies to help me with my new puppies. I started to read The Universe in a Nutshell at Borders last night but decided to wait until I finish on of the first 2 books before I go ahead and buy it.

[50 Mission Cap]

Currently reading 2 books. The Science of DaVinci, and a books on Huskies to help me with my new puppies. I started to read The Universe in a Nutshell at Borders last night but decided to wait until I finish on of the first 2 books before I go ahead and buy it.


Univeres in a Nutshell? The first paragraph totally blew my mind, so I stopped reading. Scary shit.

[ironspoke]

I'm not so certain why I havent discovered this until now, but better late than never.

I'm listening to David Mcculloughs (sp?) book on John Adams. I have a 40 minute to an hour commute with my new job and I just put this in and get immersed in 18th century New England. Amazing!!!!

So I have to ask...can you say you have actually read a book when in fact you are listening to a book???

[fudgedit]

I just finished reading Cloudsplitter by Russel Banks. It is a fictional memoir narrated by one of John Brown's sons. It is a very excellent, albeit lengthy, read. It goes into quite a bit of depth about Brown's thinking and his actions building up to his demise. The interesting part is the theme of the angst and struggle between a son and a domineering father. I highly recommend it.

I am currently reading Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson. Wow, I really like this book and am having a hard time getting around to having 30 minutes to sit and read. It is about a young CIA man stationed in Vietnam, yet not being allowed to actually participate in spook work via the interventions of his uncle who is another more experienced spook. There are several stories intertwined. For someone who was born early in the "conflict" years and remembers more of the aftermath than the happenings during the war it is a great read. I would place next to some of Tim O'Brien's Vietnam fiction.

Thinking I will be tackling Crime and Punishment next. It has been many years since I read any Russian literature. Of course, I will be reading The Outsiders with my students again. I love teaching that book. It is so tuff!:D

[mimbresman]

I've been reading Lonesome Dove for weeks now...10 minutes at a time for D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read). Its a great book. This is my second go round. The characters are so rich and vivid. I am almost there on the drive with Capt. Call, and Gus.

Also wrapping up All Quiet on the Western Front with my Lit class. Not ever have been in the military, it was hard to get my head around this one, but it gets better. We've been having discussion about the dehumanization that takes place in war. The students are coming along.
Lit is not really my area of expertise, but in a small school, you do whatever. I enjoy the class.

[ironspoke]

Mimbs,

I'm not sure if you have any input regarding the books you discuss, but if you do I would suggest "Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell. Its about the Spanish Civil War and it was first published in the late 1930s. As far as books about war are concerned, its right up there with anything.


I know its a classic, but I always thought "All Quiet..." was excruciatingly boring.

[rockhound]

Just finished MARINE! The life of Chesty Puller................one amazing soldier.

Not to nitpick, but Marines don't like to be called soldiers. ;)

I am still working on The Indian's New World, Catawbas and Their Neighbors From European Contact Through The Era of Removal by James H. Merrell.

[ironspoke]

I recently abandonded "Blood Meridian." I know, I know...lots of people think it is his best book. I just could never get going. It was just so plodding and violent and depressing. It reminded me of "The History of Rasselas" or "Candide" only without the humor and timing.

Maybe I'll give it another shot down the road, but its way down on the list of things to read at this point.

[mr jones]

Just finished a cool read, Riverhorse by William Least Heat-Moon. It's a narration of a cross country boat trip. Yup, a trip across the USA by water. Utilized rivers, canals, and lakes. Surprisingly small amout of portaging needed, just a nightmare of logistics. The trip went east to west and for like every one mile they went west, they actually travelled 3 miles due to the winding nature of waterways. Pretty sweet trip, the author is American Indian and does a good job of entertaining and weaving in some spirituality. Don't read it if you're a fan of the US Army Corps of Engineers, he really lets them have it for various dams and impediments a long the way.