Author Topic: book recommendations (Read 234275 times)

ben ji · « **Reply #2000 on:** January 16, 2021, 05:11:08 PM »

Quote from: tdaver on January 14, 2021, 07:37:55 PM

I need something new. Fiction and purely for entertainment. In the last 2 years I’ve read the Expanse series (waiting on book 9), Red Rising series (waiting on book 6), Kingkiller series (waiting on book 3, not holding my breath), and Stormlight series (waiting on book 5). All were great. Any suggestions? Something completed might be nice.

I read the first 3 red rising books a couple of years ago but didnt know there were more, will have to check them out.

If you liked red rising I would check out the "Wool" series, very similar and pretty good.

CHONGS · « **Reply #2001 on:** January 16, 2021, 07:39:32 PM »

Quote from: ben ji on January 16, 2021, 05:11:08 PM

Quote from: tdaver on January 14, 2021, 07:37:55 PM
I need something new. Fiction and purely for entertainment. In the last 2 years I’ve read the Expanse series (waiting on book 9), Red Rising series (waiting on book 6), Kingkiller series (waiting on book 3, not holding my breath), and Stormlight series (waiting on book 5). All were great. Any suggestions? Something completed might be nice.

I read the first 3 red rising books a couple of years ago but didnt know there were more, will have to check them out.

If you liked red rising I would check out the "Wool" series, very similar and pretty good.

Can confirm. His Sand stuff is good too.

star seed 7 · « **Reply #2002 on:** January 16, 2021, 07:55:31 PM »

I will have to look into red rising, I really liked wool and sand was decent.

steve dave · « **Reply #2003 on:** January 16, 2021, 08:16:58 PM »

I read the first 4’ish wool short books and punted. Also the expanse. Read like the first 4 and then quit. Both seemed heavy handed politics but maybe I should have powered through.

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pissclams · « **Reply #2004 on:** January 17, 2021, 12:01:08 PM »

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B06XH2LZFN&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_4ShbGbTE729P5

CHONGS · « **Reply #2005 on:** January 29, 2021, 03:02:11 PM »

The Third Hotel

It's nice to read a book that is short, but still really good. She's a great writer, I got into her stuff from her short stories.

Sandstone Outcropping · « **Reply #2006 on:** January 29, 2021, 05:32:06 PM »

Has anyone read the Berlin Noir trilogy by Phillip Kerr? Very interesting historical detective fiction.

michigancat · « **Reply #2007 on:** February 15, 2021, 07:42:45 PM »

Quote from: chum1 on April 21, 2020, 01:13:22 PM

The only snobby book I read lately that I really loved is East of Eden. An all time favorite.

I had this on my library ebook list and just read it and I thought it sucked. The description of the salinas valley at the start was amazing and sucked me in and then I just kept waiting to care about anything that happened and nothing seemed to matter.

Oh well

chum1 · « **Reply #2008 on:** February 15, 2021, 08:12:02 PM »

Quote from: michigancat on February 15, 2021, 07:42:45 PM

Quote from: chum1 on April 21, 2020, 01:13:22 PM
The only snobby book I read lately that I really loved is East of Eden. An all time favorite.

I had this on my library ebook list and just read it and I thought it sucked. The description of the salinas valley at the start was amazing and sucked me in and then I just kept waiting to care about anything that happened and nothing seemed to matter.

Oh well

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure I cared about anything that happened in it either. And nothing seeming to matter is definitely a Steinbeck theme that I love.

michigancat · « **Reply #2009 on:** February 15, 2021, 08:21:16 PM »

Quote from: chum1 on February 15, 2021, 08:12:02 PM

Quote from: michigancat on February 15, 2021, 07:42:45 PM

Quote from: chum1 on April 21, 2020, 01:13:22 PM
The only snobby book I read lately that I really loved is East of Eden. An all time favorite.

I had this on my library ebook list and just read it and I thought it sucked. The description of the salinas valley at the start was amazing and sucked me in and then I just kept waiting to care about anything that happened and nothing seemed to matter.

Oh well

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure I cared about anything that happened in it either. And nothing seeming to matter is definitely a Steinbeck theme that I love.

And I think I could have handled it if it felt like the intro the whole time

Kat Kid · « **Reply #2010 on:** February 15, 2021, 08:44:58 PM »

Family of Secrets about the Bush family by Russ Baker has been a great read.

I am absolutely convinced Poppy Bush was a CIA agent.

steve dave · « **Reply #2011 on:** February 15, 2021, 08:46:05 PM »

lmao

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Spracne · « **Reply #2012 on:** February 15, 2021, 08:49:03 PM »

Quote from: chum1 on February 15, 2021, 08:12:02 PM

Quote from: michigancat on February 15, 2021, 07:42:45 PM

Quote from: chum1 on April 21, 2020, 01:13:22 PM
The only snobby book I read lately that I really loved is East of Eden. An all time favorite.

I had this on my library ebook list and just read it and I thought it sucked. The description of the salinas valley at the start was amazing and sucked me in and then I just kept waiting to care about anything that happened and nothing seemed to matter.

Oh well

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure I cared about anything that happened in it either. And nothing seeming to matter is definitely a Steinbeck theme that I love.

I made a Faulkner reference on this very blog today, and nothing...

chum1 · « **Reply #2013 on:** February 15, 2021, 09:02:15 PM »

Quote from: Spracne on February 15, 2021, 08:49:03 PM

Quote from: chum1 on February 15, 2021, 08:12:02 PM
Quote from: michigancat on February 15, 2021, 07:42:45 PM

Quote from: chum1 on April 21, 2020, 01:13:22 PM
The only snobby book I read lately that I really loved is East of Eden. An all time favorite.

I had this on my library ebook list and just read it and I thought it sucked. The description of the salinas valley at the start was amazing and sucked me in and then I just kept waiting to care about anything that happened and nothing seemed to matter.

Oh well

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure I cared about anything that happened in it either. And nothing seeming to matter is definitely a Steinbeck theme that I love.
I made a Faulkner reference on this very blog today, and nothing...

I've not read that short story. I'll check it out.

Spracne · « **Reply #2014 on:** February 15, 2021, 09:12:24 PM »

Quote from: chum1 on February 15, 2021, 09:02:15 PM

Quote from: Spracne on February 15, 2021, 08:49:03 PM
Quote from: chum1 on February 15, 2021, 08:12:02 PM
Quote from: michigancat on February 15, 2021, 07:42:45 PM

Quote from: chum1 on April 21, 2020, 01:13:22 PM
The only snobby book I read lately that I really loved is East of Eden. An all time favorite.

I had this on my library ebook list and just read it and I thought it sucked. The description of the salinas valley at the start was amazing and sucked me in and then I just kept waiting to care about anything that happened and nothing seemed to matter.

Oh well

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure I cared about anything that happened in it either. And nothing seeming to matter is definitely a Steinbeck theme that I love.
I made a Faulkner reference on this very blog today, and nothing...

I've not read that short story. I'll check it out.

It's a real barn burner. I find his overarching theme (the inescapable ghosts of Southern sins) to be depressing, myself, but it is enduring and important to this day. Cheers.

michigancat · « **Reply #2015 on:** February 15, 2021, 09:12:54 PM »

Yeah I think I've tried to read sound and the fury twice

(No thanks)

Cire · « **Reply #2016 on:** February 15, 2021, 09:29:08 PM »

Reading Frederick Douglass biography.
Pulitzer wine and it is fantastic

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chum1 · « **Reply #2017 on:** February 15, 2021, 09:34:35 PM »

The Sound and the Fury is really good. Almost as good as East of Eden.

Stupid Fitz · « **Reply #2018 on:** February 16, 2021, 08:42:05 AM »

Almost finished with Pappyland by Wright Thompson. Not a bourbon drinker but I like Thompson. Its a pretty cool story and more about people and "life" in general. I've really enjoyed it.

Also, if you have a young kid I highly recommend Way of the Warrior Kid by Jocko Willink. Read it with my kid and we really liked it.

Kat Kid · « **Reply #2019 on:** February 16, 2021, 08:49:04 AM »

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8manpick · « **Reply #2020 on:** February 16, 2021, 09:43:30 AM »

Quote from: Stupid Fitz on February 16, 2021, 08:42:05 AM

Almost finished with Pappyland by Wright Thompson. Not a bourbon drinker but I like Thompson. Its a pretty cool story and more about people and "life" in general. I've really enjoyed it.

I don’t remember if I posted about it ITT, but I loved this book. Read it over Thanksgiving, gave it to both my dad and brother for Christmas

Cire · « **Reply #2021 on:** February 16, 2021, 05:54:46 PM »

Frederick Douglass biography is outstanding if you like works about incredible people doing incredible things

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Sandstone Outcropping · « **Reply #2022 on:** February 17, 2021, 08:04:20 AM »

Quote from: Cire on February 16, 2021, 05:54:46 PM

Frederick Douglass biography is outstanding if you like works about incredible people doing incredible things

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Which biography?

I'm almost finished with Truman by David McCullough. Pretty fascinating life (for a person from Missouri).

pissclams · « **Reply #2023 on:** February 17, 2021, 09:06:31 AM »

Quote from: Sandstone Outcropping on February 17, 2021, 08:04:20 AM

Quote from: Cire on February 16, 2021, 05:54:46 PM
Frederick Douglass biography is outstanding if you like works about incredible people doing incredible things

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Which biography?

I'm almost finished with Truman by David McCullough. Pretty fascinating life (for a person from Missouri).

not sure which one cire is talking about but prophet of freedom is a good one

Sandstone Outcropping · « **Reply #2024 on:** February 17, 2021, 09:20:45 AM »

Quote from: pissclams on February 17, 2021, 09:06:31 AM

Quote from: Sandstone Outcropping on February 17, 2021, 08:04:20 AM
Quote from: Cire on February 16, 2021, 05:54:46 PM
Frederick Douglass biography is outstanding if you like works about incredible people doing incredible things

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Which biography?

I'm almost finished with Truman by David McCullough. Pretty fascinating life (for a person from Missouri).
not sure which one cire is talking about but prophet of freedom is a good one

Okay. Thanks. Looks like it won a Pulitzer Prize so it should be pretty good. I will have to put in on my list.

I was in the Dusty Bookshelf last week and they have this giant edition of The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin illustrated with huge photos of the civil rights movement. I read No Name in the Street last year. Baldwin is a genius, embarrassed to admit that I knew nothing about him until last year.