What are you reading? What was the last book you enjoyed?

Winsomemore said:
Can't speak highly enough about Dan Brown. Finished all four of his books and wasn't disappointed at all.


Just because I'm curious, how would you (and anyone else who has read all four Brown books) rank the four novels?

Mine:
1. Angels & Demons (by a hair)
2. Da Vinci Code
3. Deception Point
4. Digital Fortress

Oh... and in keeping with the topic of this thread, I'm currently reading Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul. Why?? Hell, I don't know why. I had nothing to do at lunch time, went next door to the library and that's what I came up with. It's actually okay. It's a collection of short stories, almost all of which are just a couple pages long. It's pretty convenient since I don't have time to sit down and read a full novel right now. I think I have "Along Came A Spider" by James Patterson at home and am hoping to start that once the holidays start winding down. It will be the first Patterson book I read, so if I would be better off starting with another title, please share the info.
 
Rob2716 said:
Just because I'm curious, how would you (and anyone else who has read all four Brown books) rank the four novels?

Mine:
1. Angels & Demons (by a hair)
2. Da Vinci Code
3. Deception Point
4. Digital Fortress

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being his best:

1. Angels & Demons 10
2. Da Vinci Code 9.9
3. Deception Point 9.8
4. Digital Fortress 9.6

I agree with your rankings Rob. He hasn't written a bad book yet imho.
 
Follow up: Highly recommend "The Firefly" by P.T. Deutermann. Finished it tonight. If you like Tom Clancy and Dan Brown this book should be a good read.
 
Euchrid said:
Just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick. Very quick read, only took two days. The book is the basis for Blade Runner, but VERY loosely. The two have very little in common, and the book is much more along the lines of Brave New World or 1984 and not nearly as violent as the movie. Good book.


I find it interesting that Dick's works are good ideas for movies, but don't translate directly to the screen. Minority Report the book just seems like a treatment for the movie.

I just started
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So far I've like most of Crichton's work except for Congo and The Lost World (which was a sequel to JP the movie, not JP the book).
 
Fooferah said:
The stories are fun, but I think Dan Brown's writing style sucks... particularly in A&D. Either it improved by DVC, or I got used to it enough not to notice.

I'm reading this:

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I'm reading that now. If you like the Hitchhiker's Guide, you may like this as well, although some may find offernse in the subject matter.
 
I just finished

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which was a lot of fun, especially looking at all of the "high-tech" stuff of the late sixties.

So now I though I'd read his next book...

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I just finished The Devil in the White City -- very interesting for those who favor true crime or historical fiction. It's non-fiction, telling parallel stories of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and a serial killer who uses the fair to his advantage. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I found it well-written, chilling, and full of fascinating historical facts.
 
luvzig said:
I just finished The Devil in the White City -- very interesting for those who favor true crime or historical fiction. It's non-fiction, telling parallel stories of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and a serial killer who uses the fair to his advantage. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I found it well-written, chilling, and full of fascinating historical facts.

Sounds interesting, I'll give it a try.
 
Over halfway Through "The Teeth of the Tiger" by Tom Clancy, next will be The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson followed by London Bridges. I also have to catch up on my Clive Cussler.
 
Ok I broke down and bought The Fellowship of the Ring and Two Towers at a used book store. I want to re-read the trilogy that I read in high school. I am twenty pages in and it is as good as I remember (Bilbo/Frodo's birthday party is about to start).

The cool thing is the used book store that I went to had the Two Towers in an edition that was printed in 1965. I am looking for old copies, either paperback or hard, but the key is older editions. I am looking for some of the old drawings (in lieu of the new pictures from the movie) that accompanied the books at that time. If anyone has a good used book store to recommend I am willing to listen.

Thanks. Oh and "FRODO LIVES."
 
roenick said:
Ok I broke down and bought The Fellowship of the Ring and Two Towers at a used book store. I want to re-read the trilogy that I read in high school. I am twenty pages in and it is as good as I remember (Bilbo/Frodo's birthday party is about to start).

The cool thing is the used book store that I went to had the Two Towers in an edition that was printed in 1965. I am looking for old copies, either paperback or hard, but the key is older editions. I am looking for some of the old drawings (in lieu of the new pictures from the movie) that accompanied the books at that time. If anyone has a good used book store to recommend I am willing to listen.

Thanks. Oh and "FRODO LIVES."

How much were they asking for those old paperback editions?
 
DougW8 said:
I'm reading that now. If you like the Hitchhiker's Guide, you may like this as well, although some may find offernse in the subject matter.

I can't remember if it's actually somewhere in the back of the book, or if I saw it on his website, but Moore explains how he went through great pains to minimize any aspect of the story that would be most offensive, and concentrated on events that wouldn't really conflict with things in the Bible. He said he tried to stick to anything not covered, and in such a way that did not try to alter standard perceptions too much. I guess some people are definitely offended by anything though.

I think it is not so much a story about Jesus, as it is about Biff. It's about the lesser of two friends, trying to live up to the other's standards and accomplishments, and dealing with always being the one in the shadow. I would think it is something anyone with older siblings or friends who have been very successful would relate to.

It seemed to me that all through the story, if anyone did anything objectionable, it was Biff, and it made "Josh" seem that much better by comparison, especially in the way that he resisted becoming too like friends of questionable influence.

I actually think Moore handled the challenges inherent in the premise quite well.
 
I always see this in the bookstore:

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So I finally picked it up. Pretty good, though I'm not too far into it yet. But I just keep thinking how much funnier it would have been if Jen Sincero had written it.
 
Fooferah said:
How much were they asking for those old paperback editions?

The 1965 edition of Two Towers (with a very cool pencil drawing of Fangor Forest by Mr. Tolkien on the cover) was $1.65! The only uncool thing about it was a slight tear on the cover :k-crying:

The Fellowship was a new one with Frodo looking at Sting from the movie. It was in great shape (not that I will keep it) but it was $3.25.

I asked the guys at the counter if they had any hard backs and they said no and added that they are not seeing very many copies changing hands now. I just had to have that old edition. I am going to keep looking around and see what I can find.

I guess Tolkien made drawings of all the various places, significant landmarks, etc. that were originally used with the printings of the novels. They are kind of cool.
 
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