Pretty good so far, but the guy had issues and was mostly an ass because of them.
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What are you reading Chapter 4
- Thread starter slobake
- Start date
Pretty good so far, but the guy had issues and was mostly an ass because of them.
Still winding through Ender's Game stuff, but have been (re)reading some comic books lately. I know they are often frowned upon as "literature", and I often agree, but some are phenomenal stories. Watchmen is great! I've been reading Bendis's Daredevil again as well as Fraction/Brubaker's Immortal Iron Fist and they're both great. Bendis's DD is some of the best fiction I've ever read, period. Recommended highly, if it's your thing.
+1 for comic books,graphic novels and ...by Odin`s beard! Who dares frown ,speak mortal!
WATCHMEN is good....hrmmh *Rorschach voice* KINGDOM COME was amazing! Need I even mention Miller`s TDKR? The original runs of Busiak`s ASTRO CITY were damn good.
*Zippy the Pinhead voice* "Are we nerds yet?"
Listening to RUNNING WITH SCISSORS audiobook again...
WATCHMEN is good....hrmmh *Rorschach voice* KINGDOM COME was amazing! Need I even mention Miller`s TDKR? The original runs of Busiak`s ASTRO CITY were damn good.
*Zippy the Pinhead voice* "Are we nerds yet?"
Listening to RUNNING WITH SCISSORS audiobook again...
Ive been reading the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Entertaining reads for me, I like the references to Star Wars and Tolkien and the like. I don't know why it had to be another wizard named Harry but hey its been a fun ride so far. I'm almost done with Ghost Story.
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
Wow! Longest book I've ever read. Took almost a month @ about 3+ hours a day. Only book that took longer was The Bible NV which took five weeks.
Lots of words, and would be a real slog except the guy is a really good writer. Goes into long, long diatribes about almost every nuance of life and great detail about every scene - and I'll admit to kind of fast reading through some of these - but every word is a gem - precise.
About a poor working class guy, Jean Valjean, who goes to prison for stealing bread for his starving family. Turns wicked in prison and is released. Going to rob a Bishop but doesn't because the Bishop is so understanding and forgiving. leaves Bishop and commits another crime of theft. Should go to jail, but escapes and starts a renewed better life. Changes name and starts a very successful business in a small, poor town. Spends most of the profits on the betterment of the town = hospitals, schools, pensions, good pay. Gets found out that he was a convict, so has to escape. Is quarried and tailed by a French police Detective named Javert, who is strictly a "by the book", duty conscience law man. Meets poor woman named Fantine - her life story starts well and just gets worse and worse and worse into absolute hell and, well, misery. She passes but leaves a daughter who she has left in the care of some inn keepers who are theives and persons of the worst character. So after her death Jean Valjean keeps a promise made to Fantine and goes to take care of her daughters well being. This is basically the Vol 1 beginning of the story and the rest of the book is the completetion of Valjean and the daughters relationship that winds down with her marrying a good guy named Marius.
This book is long, but it's a worthwhile read. It is an undertaking. Written about the time between the end of Napolean at Waterloo - GREAT description of war, that battle in particular, and fighting tactics of the day including the historic battle groud historical scenes at Waterloo. Goes forward maybe fifteen years 'til the the reign of "Gentleman" King Phillip.Takes place in France - mostly Paris. Great detail of social order, life in general, rich people down to the peasants, and includes a small revolution where the peasants revolt in the streets of Paris. Like I said, really descriptive. I should mention it's a love story, too.
**NOTE** With the reading of this book ends a program I've been on to read classic fiction. Someone posted on teh FaceBook the partial BBC Big Read. 100 books of fiction one "should" read. The real Big Read is 200 books, I believe.
I've always been a non-fiction reader. Always wanted to read more fiction because every one is always talking about great books and making reference to them, so have alsways been curious. once I saw an actual list to go by decided what the hell. Took three and a half years. And there was three or four books listed that were actually part of triligies, so of course I read the trilogies which my friends have always been talking about forever = mostly Dune and Hobbit + 3. Was supposed to read the Harry Potter 1, but didn't - don't even want to read those - so substituted TH White's "Once and Future King." Subbed some books - didn't want to read 5 Dickens, read 3. Subbed Hawthorne. Didn't want to read 4 Jane Austin, read 2 and subbed two Aynn Rands. If the library didn't have a book by an author, I would sub another great title he/she wrote. Some titles came in collections and I'd wind up reading two or three. Lots of old classics, but some newer good bestsellers were on the list. A LOT of old European writers, mostlt Brits, as it IS a BBC list. lol
Still like non-fiction a lot better (LOVE Tim Egan and William Dietriech, muic books, some history, and UFOs), but now am going to continue to read great fiction classics because these guys just write SO WELL! I'm getting kind of old, so glad I did this. Would encourage younger peeps to read some classics. Really opens up a cool realm! peace! -Ryco
Wow! Longest book I've ever read. Took almost a month @ about 3+ hours a day. Only book that took longer was The Bible NV which took five weeks.
Lots of words, and would be a real slog except the guy is a really good writer. Goes into long, long diatribes about almost every nuance of life and great detail about every scene - and I'll admit to kind of fast reading through some of these - but every word is a gem - precise.
About a poor working class guy, Jean Valjean, who goes to prison for stealing bread for his starving family. Turns wicked in prison and is released. Going to rob a Bishop but doesn't because the Bishop is so understanding and forgiving. leaves Bishop and commits another crime of theft. Should go to jail, but escapes and starts a renewed better life. Changes name and starts a very successful business in a small, poor town. Spends most of the profits on the betterment of the town = hospitals, schools, pensions, good pay. Gets found out that he was a convict, so has to escape. Is quarried and tailed by a French police Detective named Javert, who is strictly a "by the book", duty conscience law man. Meets poor woman named Fantine - her life story starts well and just gets worse and worse and worse into absolute hell and, well, misery. She passes but leaves a daughter who she has left in the care of some inn keepers who are theives and persons of the worst character. So after her death Jean Valjean keeps a promise made to Fantine and goes to take care of her daughters well being. This is basically the Vol 1 beginning of the story and the rest of the book is the completetion of Valjean and the daughters relationship that winds down with her marrying a good guy named Marius.
This book is long, but it's a worthwhile read. It is an undertaking. Written about the time between the end of Napolean at Waterloo - GREAT description of war, that battle in particular, and fighting tactics of the day including the historic battle groud historical scenes at Waterloo. Goes forward maybe fifteen years 'til the the reign of "Gentleman" King Phillip.Takes place in France - mostly Paris. Great detail of social order, life in general, rich people down to the peasants, and includes a small revolution where the peasants revolt in the streets of Paris. Like I said, really descriptive. I should mention it's a love story, too.
**NOTE** With the reading of this book ends a program I've been on to read classic fiction. Someone posted on teh FaceBook the partial BBC Big Read. 100 books of fiction one "should" read. The real Big Read is 200 books, I believe.
I've always been a non-fiction reader. Always wanted to read more fiction because every one is always talking about great books and making reference to them, so have alsways been curious. once I saw an actual list to go by decided what the hell. Took three and a half years. And there was three or four books listed that were actually part of triligies, so of course I read the trilogies which my friends have always been talking about forever = mostly Dune and Hobbit + 3. Was supposed to read the Harry Potter 1, but didn't - don't even want to read those - so substituted TH White's "Once and Future King." Subbed some books - didn't want to read 5 Dickens, read 3. Subbed Hawthorne. Didn't want to read 4 Jane Austin, read 2 and subbed two Aynn Rands. If the library didn't have a book by an author, I would sub another great title he/she wrote. Some titles came in collections and I'd wind up reading two or three. Lots of old classics, but some newer good bestsellers were on the list. A LOT of old European writers, mostlt Brits, as it IS a BBC list. lol
Still like non-fiction a lot better (LOVE Tim Egan and William Dietriech, muic books, some history, and UFOs), but now am going to continue to read great fiction classics because these guys just write SO WELL! I'm getting kind of old, so glad I did this. Would encourage younger peeps to read some classics. Really opens up a cool realm! peace! -Ryco
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Pretty brutal. Not only on the natives, but on the environment as well. "And now.... the rest of the story....."
My mom's side of the family is Native American from along the Columbia River.
Just finished reading "The Children's Thread" and "D Day 70 Years on." Doesn't get much more entertaining that this!
Currently reading a lot of case law, which are serving as data for the content analysis I'm doing as I try to move past the vast wasteland of being ABD and getting my degree.
However, I am trying to constantly read something "fun." Currently, I'm working my way through some critical theory (which is probably not what most people would consider fun, light reading).
I have a Johnny Cash biography that one of my officemates lent me that I will try to tackle afterwards.
However, I am trying to constantly read something "fun." Currently, I'm working my way through some critical theory (which is probably not what most people would consider fun, light reading).
I have a Johnny Cash biography that one of my officemates lent me that I will try to tackle afterwards.
Johnny Cash: The Life - Robert Hilburn
Wasn't thinking I was going to like this book. Starts of kind of dry and dull; "He did this....... and went over there and did that", because his early years and story have been so well documented in other bios as well as his own autobiography "Man in Black". How he started off a poor country boy, escaped to go to war, came home, left the farm for a singing carrer, pestered Sam Phillips of Sun Records everyday, joined the MIllion Dollar stable with Elvis. Orbison, and Jerry Lee.
Then through the 60s & 70s with drug abuse problems and not really recording much interesting stuff. This is what I remember - after Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, and Folsom Prison just putting out novelty country stuff. And country just wasn't all that popular then.
In the 80s the country resurgence with Willie, Waylon, and the "Outlaw" guys, and the movie "Urban Cowboy" started interest again, but Cash was considered old school and had paretty much started putting out Spiritual stuff. Then the New Country kicked in late 80s. So all of this stuff has been pretty well documented. Johnny was just playing standard country shows, putting out mediocre albums and was surrounded by a huge dysfunctional family and a huge expensive entourage.
The beauty of this book is the end where he hooks up with Rubin and has a resurgence at the end of his life and career. The book blossoms out to tell about recording and Cash coming to terms with life and loss and getting excited about putting out good music again. The author's dryness turns into a realistic look about Johnny feeling relevent again as a singer/musician/songwriter. I haven't cried at the end of a book in my adult life, but I did this one.
Wasn't thinking I was going to like this book. Starts of kind of dry and dull; "He did this....... and went over there and did that", because his early years and story have been so well documented in other bios as well as his own autobiography "Man in Black". How he started off a poor country boy, escaped to go to war, came home, left the farm for a singing carrer, pestered Sam Phillips of Sun Records everyday, joined the MIllion Dollar stable with Elvis. Orbison, and Jerry Lee.
Then through the 60s & 70s with drug abuse problems and not really recording much interesting stuff. This is what I remember - after Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, and Folsom Prison just putting out novelty country stuff. And country just wasn't all that popular then.
In the 80s the country resurgence with Willie, Waylon, and the "Outlaw" guys, and the movie "Urban Cowboy" started interest again, but Cash was considered old school and had paretty much started putting out Spiritual stuff. Then the New Country kicked in late 80s. So all of this stuff has been pretty well documented. Johnny was just playing standard country shows, putting out mediocre albums and was surrounded by a huge dysfunctional family and a huge expensive entourage.
The beauty of this book is the end where he hooks up with Rubin and has a resurgence at the end of his life and career. The book blossoms out to tell about recording and Cash coming to terms with life and loss and getting excited about putting out good music again. The author's dryness turns into a realistic look about Johnny feeling relevent again as a singer/musician/songwriter. I haven't cried at the end of a book in my adult life, but I did this one.
Just read the Giver. Read the whole thing in one sitting thanks to insomnia, only took about 2 1/2 hours, it's a pretty short book. Overall, I liked it fairly well, not my favorite utopian/dystopian book by any means, but a good read that I'd certainly pick up again.
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Decoding Your Dog - American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Saw this in the "New" section of the local library. Grew up with dogs - then didn't have any in my life for awhile. But since being married to a GSD enthusiast for 30+ years have lived with lots of good dogs. Now my boy dog has hit the 12 year mark and is getting pretty white in the face, this book just jumped out. Want his last years to be happy, healthy, and comfortable as possible. So far so good! Romps on the beach well, but I've cut down his walks to about a mile.
Dry book. Not very well written, but very informative. Like all books of this nature argures and rebukes ideology of old. This book believes in zero punishment, but LOTS of discipline and really stresses awareness in the owner as far as really paying attention to your dog's behaviors and changes therein. Offers some good solutions to common dog issues.
I took exception to the zero choke collar policy. Not the prong corrective collar, which I also would never use. But a quick yank and quick release of a choke collar has always been a good corrective device.
Saw this in the "New" section of the local library. Grew up with dogs - then didn't have any in my life for awhile. But since being married to a GSD enthusiast for 30+ years have lived with lots of good dogs. Now my boy dog has hit the 12 year mark and is getting pretty white in the face, this book just jumped out. Want his last years to be happy, healthy, and comfortable as possible. So far so good! Romps on the beach well, but I've cut down his walks to about a mile.
Dry book. Not very well written, but very informative. Like all books of this nature argures and rebukes ideology of old. This book believes in zero punishment, but LOTS of discipline and really stresses awareness in the owner as far as really paying attention to your dog's behaviors and changes therein. Offers some good solutions to common dog issues.
I took exception to the zero choke collar policy. Not the prong corrective collar, which I also would never use. But a quick yank and quick release of a choke collar has always been a good corrective device.
Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
American ambulance driver serving for the Italians in the First World War. Meets an American nurse. Falls in love. Is wounded in the war.
So a book about love and war.
Very sparse writer, as far as not a lot of descriptive scene writing, but still has a lot of passion. Lots of action.
American ambulance driver serving for the Italians in the First World War. Meets an American nurse. Falls in love. Is wounded in the war.
So a book about love and war.
Very sparse writer, as far as not a lot of descriptive scene writing, but still has a lot of passion. Lots of action.
