Felix
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Post by Felix on Jan 2, 2009 21:53:46 GMT -5
Just finished Jon Meacham's book on Andrew Jackson's presidency, American Lion. Many parallels with this past year's political and economic events. Evil banks vs. defenders of the average man, elitist presidential candidate against "populist" incumbent - only the parties are reversed. Sort of.
Now reading One More Sunday by John D. McDonald, the Prince of Pulp Fiction (along with Raymond Carver and Charles Bukowski.) Unsparing story of low jinks in a megachurch of the Televangelist sort.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2009 1:12:18 GMT -5
To those people who contributed to this thread - thank you.
Because of recommendations here, I'm having a ball reading Wambaugh.
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Post by Tsavodiner on Jan 3, 2009 4:07:45 GMT -5
Don't forget James Ellroy's other classics besides "LA Confidential".
"Killer on the Road": Chronicle of a serial killer in the first person will chill your blood.
"White Jazz": Staccato style is riveting and will drive you nuts.
"Suicide Hill": LA crazy detective becomes what he seeks to destroy.
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RuneDeer
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I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated.
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Post by RuneDeer on Jan 4, 2009 8:01:56 GMT -5
Rumspringa by Tom Shachtman - describes the Amish custom of letting teenagers "run around" and experience the world outside their religion before they are baptized into the church. It came out a couple of years ago and I read some reviews. The book sounded fairly salacious, based on that, but I found it in the library yesterday and it's really a well-written and informative book. It covers every aspect of Amish culture, so it's not "Witness" and it's not "Amish Girls Gone Wild."
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RuneDeer
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I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated.
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Post by RuneDeer on Jan 14, 2009 6:10:14 GMT -5
Thomas L. Friedman's The World is Flat.
If you've ever (and who hasn't?) made fun of outsourced call centers in India, the first chapter gives you a detailed insider look at the entire process. It's really fascinating. This book was a groundbreaking bestseller for a reason.
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Post by el Gusano on Jan 17, 2009 12:19:24 GMT -5
Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics. Should be required reading before being permitted to vote.
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thb
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Post by thb on Jan 17, 2009 18:28:23 GMT -5
I went to Grumpy's today and picked up a bunch of mysteries. I've got to decide which one to start reading. I did see an interesting book advertised on the Rachel Ray show. The author was a doctor and the title was "How Not to Die". IF anyone has read it let me know what you thought.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Jan 18, 2009 13:02:54 GMT -5
"Irish Tales of Terror"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2009 21:24:49 GMT -5
Just finished Wambaugh's 2008 sequel(?) to Hollywood Station called Hollywood Crows.
I think it's his best. Great humor in the beginning (imagine that), great tragedy at the end.
Available for free (Hi, Gus) from the library.
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Post by el Gusano on Feb 2, 2009 9:16:10 GMT -5
It's not free. Everyone's paying for it for you. Thank them.
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Post by peachesnflutes on Feb 2, 2009 13:07:46 GMT -5
I'm reading Jim Butcher's Calderon series. The fifth book was just recently released.
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tnponder
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Post by tnponder on Feb 2, 2009 13:14:31 GMT -5
I read at least a book a day. Some days up to 5. Tonights selection has already been chosen. It will be "Go Dogs, Go" for the third straight night. (sigh)
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Post by el Gusano on Feb 2, 2009 13:37:50 GMT -5
"Salvation of the Soul" by Watchman Nee. Interesting fellow. He was converted by missionaries back in the earlier part of the 1900's, and he obtained a stronger grasp of the Scriptures than most pastors of megachurches do to today.
Interestingly, China had a lot of religious freedom back then. More than the USA does today. Then the communists came in, imprisoned him for speaking in the 50's, and he died in prison in the 70's. His last published work was written the day he died. He wrote 62 books that I know of.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Feb 2, 2009 20:40:27 GMT -5
Just starting "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled hosseini.
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Post by el Gusano on Feb 5, 2009 21:01:19 GMT -5
Another classic: "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 22:55:34 GMT -5
> It's not free. Everyone's paying for it for you.
At last. After all these years, I've finally achieved the Great American Dream.
I'm on welfare.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Feb 6, 2009 0:38:39 GMT -5
John Updike is one of my favorites. This weeks's New York Times has some wonderful excerbs from his works. The Rabbit Rests.
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Tookie
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Post by Tookie on Feb 6, 2009 12:52:38 GMT -5
I enjoyed reading all the chaos in the Rabbit series.
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Police Moderator
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Post by Police Moderator on Feb 16, 2009 4:58:13 GMT -5
Here is what I have read in the last couple months... - "The Company" by Robert Littell.
- "Hollywood Crows" by Joseph Wambaugh.
- "American Spy" by E. Howard Hunt.
- "Extreme Measures" by Vince Flynn.
- "The Venetian Betrayal" by Steve Barry.
- "The Messenger" by Daniel Silva.
- "False Impression" by Jeffrey Archer.
- "The Lie" by Michael Weaver.
- "Black Wind" by Clive Cussler.
- "Phantom Prey" and "Heat Lightning*" by John Sanford.
Marvell?*I rented this one ($2.00 per week) from the Library, does that mean I'm not on the welfare?
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Felix
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Happy Morning
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Post by Felix on Feb 16, 2009 7:23:01 GMT -5
My, you have been busy. I am way behind on reading time. Moving is about to kill me, and in addition packing all my books has shown me how many I have never read. Takes more time to read them than to buy them.
I have always liked Wambaugh, how was Hollywood Crows?
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Tookie
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Post by Tookie on Feb 28, 2009 16:23:46 GMT -5
Black Widow - Randy Wayne White
I always enjoy Doc Ford and his escapades.
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RuneDeer
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I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated.
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Post by RuneDeer on Mar 16, 2009 21:44:09 GMT -5
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
This is not necessarily a recommendation, more a statement of having gotten through read it. I loved I Know This Much is True, but this one is like a rollercoaster ride that forgets to stop. There are over half a dozen separate but related story lines in this novel; it has cameo appearances by everyone from Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla. It spans 6 generations, and neither of the two protagonists is especially likable. Lamb needs to write more novels; he seems to save up his ideas and try to dump them all into one book.
I mean, even Atlas Shrugged doesn't require the reader to take notes...
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missy
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Post by missy on Apr 10, 2009 4:29:14 GMT -5
Reading, Wilmer Hall the novel (wilmerhallthenovel.com) by Author: Richard Barrow ... my father;) A great book, especially for school-aged children/teenagers. Regardless of the years 50's 60's 70's ect... the book still has its same issues with todays trials and family issues.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Apr 20, 2009 5:59:48 GMT -5
The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton. One of the best and funniest books I have ever read. We heard him read some segments from the at the Conference for Southern Literature. I laughed untill I cried!
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Post by LimitedRecourse on May 6, 2009 16:29:49 GMT -5
"The Last Jihad" by Joel C. Rosenberg
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Post by doughlady on May 17, 2009 22:21:06 GMT -5
"The Help," first novel by Kathryn Stockett.
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dvc
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Post by dvc on May 18, 2009 17:36:17 GMT -5
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy......Yawn.No Country for Old Men and The Road were much better.Looking forward to the movie version of The Road this fall.
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Post by daworm on May 19, 2009 15:56:40 GMT -5
The Baroque Cycle - Three books in (well, volume one of the hardback consolidated edition) and I still don't know what its about, but I am enjoying it anyway.
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goomba
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Post by goomba on May 19, 2009 18:32:09 GMT -5
to ride, shoot straight and speak the truth, By Col. Jeff Cooper
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Milk
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Post by Milk on Jun 3, 2009 9:20:00 GMT -5
Currently on book 5 of the Gunslinger Series by Stephen King. "The Wolves of Calla."
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