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What are you reading Chapter 4
- Thread starter slobake
- Start date
That's a similar idea to my current not-so-serious read "The Right To Arm Bears", which basically deals with a human interacting with space bears on their low-tech world. Yes, it's sci-fi by definition, but almost no gadgets. It's more sociology, and even has a sociologist as a main plot point. And the same could be said about Orson Scott Card's "Wyrms" from what I recall (it's been a bit). Though I think that one had a few instances of technology, but still mostly sociological in nature. I'm not saying that either of my reads are "classics" by any stretch, as they're definitely not, but they're enjoyable enough pulp stuff. And it was interesting for me as a fan of some of Card's other series to see what amounted to early drafts of some of his ideas he'd flesh out better in the other series of his I prefer. Both of these books seem almost "fantasy" in nature, as they deal less with technology and more with primitive worlds.
Zero Day - David Baldacci
This might make me sound a little snobbish or elitist but Baldacci is one of very few "airport bookstore" type authors I'll give a chance, and that's for two main reasons. First, I read one of his books back in high school as assigned reading and if memory serves, it didn't suck. Second, in most cases, his name is not larger that the book's title on the cover. Zero Day is only my second Baldacci book and it's... not great. I'm interested enough in how the mystery plays out that I'll finish it, but he's making it hard for me to care. According to some reviews, this is basically a Jack Reacher clone (which I don't have much interest in for previously mentioned reasons, among others), and is a low point in Baldacci's writing. So I won't judge him too harshly yet and give him another try or two. But I won't be revisiting this particular series of his.
This might make me sound a little snobbish or elitist but Baldacci is one of very few "airport bookstore" type authors I'll give a chance, and that's for two main reasons. First, I read one of his books back in high school as assigned reading and if memory serves, it didn't suck. Second, in most cases, his name is not larger that the book's title on the cover. Zero Day is only my second Baldacci book and it's... not great. I'm interested enough in how the mystery plays out that I'll finish it, but he's making it hard for me to care. According to some reviews, this is basically a Jack Reacher clone (which I don't have much interest in for previously mentioned reasons, among others), and is a low point in Baldacci's writing. So I won't judge him too harshly yet and give him another try or two. But I won't be revisiting this particular series of his.
Looking for a recommendation - a scholarly analysis of the religious/spiritual beliefs of the founders. Thanks!
Annihilation - Jeff Vandermeer
I see this is a book 1 of a trilogy. Don't think I'll be reading the others.
It's an OK read as far as the writing. The story line left me wanting.
I don't read much science fiction, nor want to delve into weird fiction.
On another note:
Rest in Peace Tom Robbins 9FEB25. A splendid and generous man, and a helluva lot of fun. Thank you for all the GREAT reads and opening minds with wisdom, wit, and hilarity. You did really, really well. Rest easy, friend, after a good long run.
"Our individuality is all, ALL, that we have. There are those who barter it for security, those who repress it for what they believe is is the betterment of the whole society, but blessed in the twinkle of the morning star is the one who nurtures it and rides it, in grace and love and wit, from peculiar station to peculiar station along life's bittersweet route."
- Tom Robbins - "Jitterbug Perfume"
I see this is a book 1 of a trilogy. Don't think I'll be reading the others.
It's an OK read as far as the writing. The story line left me wanting.
I don't read much science fiction, nor want to delve into weird fiction.
On another note:
Rest in Peace Tom Robbins 9FEB25. A splendid and generous man, and a helluva lot of fun. Thank you for all the GREAT reads and opening minds with wisdom, wit, and hilarity. You did really, really well. Rest easy, friend, after a good long run.
"Our individuality is all, ALL, that we have. There are those who barter it for security, those who repress it for what they believe is is the betterment of the whole society, but blessed in the twinkle of the morning star is the one who nurtures it and rides it, in grace and love and wit, from peculiar station to peculiar station along life's bittersweet route."
- Tom Robbins - "Jitterbug Perfume"
Ha, funny! Dropping back in to report that I'm just about finished with the Harvard Seven Shelf collection of western literature.
I'm currently reading Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving. It's a pretty good story, even though it's kind of archaic/dated style.
I believe I am just about done with the whole collection. Some of it was quite a slog and I only gave up on one title ... Gertude Stein's The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas. It was pretty much an unreadable stream of consciousness gibberish.
read on my brothers!
I'm currently reading Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving. It's a pretty good story, even though it's kind of archaic/dated style.
I believe I am just about done with the whole collection. Some of it was quite a slog and I only gave up on one title ... Gertude Stein's The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas. It was pretty much an unreadable stream of consciousness gibberish.
read on my brothers!
West Like Lightning - the story of the Pony Express. This turned out to be a rather fascinatilng tour across the country which not only tells the Express story, but also has great stories about every part of the west where the Express traveled.
I promise that if you read this, it will be a great read and you'll learn a lot. He's a great story-teller.
I promise that if you read this, it will be a great read and you'll learn a lot. He's a great story-teller.
I just went to the library yesterday and picked up some books I requested. Currently reading "Her Majesty's Royal Coven" by Juno Dawson. Sort of alternate universe urban fantasy, with a mostly hidden parallel magic world that is known, sanctioned, and utilized by governments, with a lot of internal cultural politics. I'm really enjoying it so far and I know there's plot twists I haven't gotten to yet.
My daughter was very excited to find the next book in the series she's been reading, but was disappointed to find out the author took an indefinite hiatus from writing any more entries back in 2019 and there haven't been any updates since. She was musing over the idea of writing fanfic to continue the story and I encouraged her.
My daughter was very excited to find the next book in the series she's been reading, but was disappointed to find out the author took an indefinite hiatus from writing any more entries back in 2019 and there haven't been any updates since. She was musing over the idea of writing fanfic to continue the story and I encouraged her.
A collection of the president's tweets from 2009 to 2019, presented as visual poetry and sorted by subject and style. Funny stuff.
The Qianlong Emperor was a very prolific poemist®.
Here is a Bi (disc) with one of his poems on it.
Read a handful of books lately, two by Jose Saramago (The Elephant's Journey and The History Of The Siege of Lisbon) and just finished Spider Robinson's Telempath. But what most intrigues me is the ad section in the back of and publication info in the front of Telempath. The ad lists Card's Speaker For The Dead as being for sale, but the publication info in the front lists this as a 1983 edition of Telempath. Card hadn't even released Ender's Game by 1983 (it was published in 1985), let alone its sequel. Speaker For The Dead was published in 1986... It seems I have a mystery here! Anybody have any ideas as to what could be happening here?
