Books

[hammerexile]

For what it's worth, I'd definitely agree with the host of recommendations for 'Middlesex'. Really enjoyed it when i read it a couple of years ago. Kudos also to whoever suggested 'The Dante Club'.
 If you like your fiction to have a historical context, I would recommend Edward Rutherford's 'London: The Novel'. Basically it's a huge novel following a number of families down the ages from Roman times to present day against the back drop of the growth of London. He's also recently done the same sort of thing with Dublin in 'Princes of Ireland'.
 At the moment I'm reading 'Crytonomicon' by Neal Stephenson, which I'm really enjoying. Story flips between the activities of the code-breakers at Bletchley Park in WWII and the efforts of one of their decendents to set-up a data haven in South East Asia.
 
 Whatever you end up taking with you, have a safe journey and a great time.

[hammerexile]

Sorry, but I totally forgot about my favourite author, Christopher Brookmyre! If you like your humour pitch black and very British, he's well worth looking out for. He's got a great website (www.brookmyre.co.uk) where he's posted several short stories. He's been likened to a Scottish Carl Hiassen and for my money he's one of the funniest men writing at the moment.

[boweswana]

I just got back from the beach and loaded up on semi-brainless easy to understand when more than semi-intoxicated and sunstroked literature.
 
 London Bridge by James Patterson - Yet another chapter in the Alex Cross series.  400 pages leads up to a dumb ending that makes the whole thing seem pointless. C-  
 
 Hard Revolution by George Pelecanos - Set in D.C. around the time of the '68 riots about a black rookie cop and his drug addict brother.  Good read and a good insight into what prompted the riots if you don't know much about it. A-
 
 Soul Circus by George Pelecanos - Flash forward the rookie cop from Hard Revolution to modern day.  Good story about gangs, drugs and firearms in D.C.  References lots of bars and restraunts about town as well as gun shops in Virginia. B          
 
 The Hundredth Man by Jack Kerley - Maverick detective tracks down serial killer with wisecracking black partner in tow.  Terrible. F
 
 A Question of Blood by Ian Rankin - Embittered detective Jon Rebus smokes cigarettes and drinks beers while solving a multiple murder at a toney prep school in Scotland.  I like the whole Rebus series and this was a good one.  B
 
 Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen - Guy throws wife off a cruise ship to get rid of her, she survives and hooks up with crusty ex-cop to torment him and save the Everglades.  Very entertaining.  B
 
 Flashman by George Fraser - First in the incredibly awesome series of historical fiction books about a highly decorated and totally cowardly 19th century british soldier who whores and drinks his way inadvertently into every significant world event from 1845 - 1890.  Probably the 10th read for me.  A+

[Venerable Bede]

am reading this right now:
 
   <img src="http://a1204.g.akamai.net/7/1204/1401/04082615011/images.barnesandnoble.com/images/8170000/8176085.jpg" alt=" - " />
 
 would have been reading this if stupid UPS had bothered to try to actually deliver this to me on saturday:
 
   <img src="http://a1204.g.akamai.net/7/1204/1401/05030808011/images.barnesandnoble.com/images/9190000/9196145.jpg" alt=" - " />

[vansmack]

Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
 
 would have been reading this if stupid UPS had bothered to try to actually deliver this to me on saturday:
 
 

Samckette's arrived at 8 AM this morning, but she had already left for work.  Maybe I should hide it from her and say it hasn't arrived yet.....

[hammerexile]

Got my copy of HP6 from Safeway on Sat with my bacon and eggs. Finished it that night.
 
 It's an alright read, but I get the distinct impression it's just setting everything up for the final book.

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by vansmack:
   

Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
 
 would have been reading this if stupid UPS had bothered to try to actually deliver this to me on saturday:
 
 

Samckette's arrived at 8 AM this morning, but she had already left for work.  Maybe I should hide it from her and say it hasn't arrived yet..... [/b]

perhaps you should direct her  here, that might buy you some time.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
  perhaps you should direct her  here, that might buy you some time.

I'm going to edit that, and when they show Hermione growing up, I'm going to splice the Old Lindsay Lohan on SNL.  Then, and only then, will I go see the movie.

[kurosawa-b/w]

My Harry Potter didn't arrive on time, either. *annoyed*
 
 As for reading, lately I've been hooked on Arturo Perez-Reverte.

[hutch]

anybody have any thoughts on George Washington biographies? what is a good one? I'm not talking about a "rah rah rah he was the greatest man ever" type bio either..

[ggw]

anybody have any thoughts on George Washington biographies? what is a good one? I'm not talking about a "rah rah rah he was the greatest man ever" type bio either..

This one looks good for you.

[hutch]

anybody have any thoughts on George Washington biographies? what is a good one? I'm not talking about a "rah rah rah he was the greatest man ever" type bio either..

This one looks good for you.

umm no glen beck

and i am pretty sure that will be a ra ra one

i'm reading chernow's gw bio right now..its good but not a knockout like hamilton one (that is a must). i read ellis' last year...that is a good one... and short

i can't believe douglas freeman's 7 volume one is out of print... i have managed to acquire vol 3 of that one but not sure about tackling it

[Stillwater]

I just read Questlove's book and there is a story about Prince roller skating with Eddie Murphy, a hotel party with Tracy Morgan and a shout out the club in it.  It was entertaining-quick read.

Apparently, The Roots manager considers the best show the Roots ever played to be at the 9:30 Club and Questlove missed it for his sister's wedding.  Anyone remember seeing the Roots in the late 90s/early 2000s  at the club without him?

[i am gay and i like cats]

re reading the entire dark tower series.  so good.  got to the wolves of the calla years ago, and tried reading it recently but had totally forgotten the story of the books before it, so i decided to reread the entire series up to that point.  also reading the classic piece of literature, known as infinite jest.  good god.  brilliant.  love that book.  too bad the best artists kill themselves.  i think satan makes them do it, just because, he can.

[i am gay and i like cats]

the terror, by dan simmons.  great read abounding with wonderful descriptive characterizations of the inner turmoil of not knowing what is out amongst the unexplored . . . and everything you never thought you wanted to know about sailing through the artic ice in the late eighteen hundreds.