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

[\_==o IxxI]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Well, never been much of a reader, but I guess you have to start somewhere.

Hehe.........

 

[Rob2716]

Too many books to remember since my last post, but I went to the library yesterday and picked up Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'm only about 50 pages in, but the reviews on amazon.com indicated that it was pretty much as engrossing as DaVinci Code.

 

[Winsomemore]

Here's the last three I read:

Witch Hunt by Ian Rankin.
Grade: B+
Espionage.

Sandstorm by James Rollins.
Grade: B+.
Science fiction.

The Broker by John Grisham.
Grade: B+.
Espionage.

 

[chaingunsofdoom]

I'm currently enjoying the latest Star Wars paperback trilogy ("Dark Nest") by Troy Denning. It is way down the SW timeline, 5-6 years post NJO series. Book 1 "Joiner King" was passibly OK. I'm almost done Book 2 "Unseen Queen" (much better than the first one), and number 3 hits around Christmas.

 

[Winsomemore]

Codex by Lev Grossman
Grade = B+

Another "Da Vinci Code" clone, "literary history thriller", but very well written.

 

[Rob2716]

Too many books to remember since my last post, but I went to the library yesterday and picked up Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'm only about 50 pages in, but the reviews on amazon.com indicated that it was pretty much as engrossing as DaVinci Code.

So I finished reading Brimstone, and I immediately looked for the follow-up book, Dance of Death. I've always wondered how two writers could collaborate on a book when you'd think that the writer's styles / opinions / imaginations would conflict. Preston and Child do a hell of a job, because not only have I already finished Dance of Death, but I've moved on to their very first book, Relic.

The books center around a federal agent, Aloysius Pendergast, who I can only describe as a very sophisticated badass. I became engrossed with Brimstone and read it quickly. I thought Dance of Death was even better.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/044653143X/?tag=robitaille-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446576972/?tag=robitaille-20

Brimstone dealt with the investigation of very strange deaths. Spontaneous combustion? Work of the devil? Very interesting story, and I thought the authors did a good job of character development even though they main players were already in other novels, including their first, Relic. Brimstone also sets up the storyline for Dance of Death. Agent Pendergast receives a note from his brother, Diogenes, who is crazy, but even smarter than his brother. The note gives a date which signifies the conclusion of his perfect crime, which will involve destroying his brother. Dance of Death is about the search and effort to stop Diogenes from completing his mission. As much as I liked Brimstone, Dance of Death was even better. Definitely recommend these books, although you might want to check out Relic first, since that's the introduction to Pendergast and his friend and (sort of) partner, Vincent D'Agosta.

 

[Blueline]

Just finished Dark Watch, part of the Oregon Files collecton by Cussler, too busy lately to start somethng new, so I'll probably be bookless tll after the New Year.

 

[Damien C]

For school, I have to read "Crimes of the Century". It details 5 crimes; Leopold & Loeb, Alger Hiss, the Scottsboro Boys, the Lindbergh trial, and OJ. I haven't gotten to the OJ trial yet, it's the last one discussed, but the other 4 all happened before my time and it's really cool to see the details and learn about these huge crimes and their shortcomings (which is what the book is really about, social injustice) that I would probably not know about had I not been forced to read this book. I don't know if forced is the right word, because it's actually a very entertaining read and I'd recommend it.

 

[Winsomemore]

1. Four Blind Mice ~ James Patterson.
Nice murder mystery.
Grade: B

2. Necroscope
3. Necroscope II: Vamphyri!
4. Necroscope III: The Source
All by English writer Brian Lumley.
Above average horror tale.
Grade: B+.

 

[Liceroni]

I'm thinking either this

or this

 

[adgy-san]

Thanks to Hatter, I am currently three chapters into this.

And it's actually got me taking notes!! I'm going to be buying so many frickin movies because of this book.

 

[Winston Smith]

For school, I have to read "Crimes of the Century". It details 5 crimes; Leopold & Loeb, Alger Hiss, the Scottsboro Boys, the Lindbergh trial, and OJ. I haven't gotten to the OJ trial yet, it's the last one discussed, but the other 4 all happened before my time and it's really cool to see the details and learn about these huge crimes and their shortcomings (which is what the book is really about, social injustice) that I would probably not know about had I not been forced to read this book. I don't know if forced is the right word, because it's actually a very entertaining read and I'd recommend it.

I was assigned this book for my initial Criminology class a few years back, but got lazy and didn't read anything but the section on Leopold and Loeb. I agree that it's actually pretty interesting (well, the one chapter, anyway)...

 

[hockeywench22]

A collection of HP Lovecraft's short stories. I have't read any Lovecraft before. Very interesting stuff. I love authors who create whole worlds (or universes)...

If you love Lovecraft, try reading Clark Ashton Smith as well. He is a California author from Auburn completely self educated & an amazing writer. He died in the early 60's, but he & Lovecraft were friends & correspondents before Lovecraft died. CAS created whole worlds as well. The City of the Singing Flame is one of his best.

 

[johnmac44]

Angels and Demons - friend just gave it to me.

 

[chu gar]

I usually read a fiction and a non-fiction book together (I'll get bored of one, then switch to the other, and vice versa...I actually read books faster this way)

So I just finished:

Hunger by Knut Hamsun (EXCELLENT BOOK!)

and

Atheism: The Case Against God (Skeptic's Bookshelf) by George H. Smith

If you're an Atheist, or a Theist I recommend you read this book to help strengthen or question your beliefs

Images from www.amazon.com

 

[irisher]

I'm just about finished with "California: A History" by Kevin Starr. Great book for anyone interested in knowing the geographic, cultural, religious, political, economic, scientific and artistic history of our state. It's fairly expansive but not overly academic; it clocks in at around 350 pages and is an easy read.

I know history bores the hell out of some people, well, a LOT of people, but I enjoy it. And being someone who was born and bred in California, it's interesting to read about all that history has recorded since Spaniards first landed here. (For those of you who know me mostly from the politics forum, don't worry, Starr is Mr. Middle-of-the-road Even-Handed Historian. His guiding principle here is summary, not analysis. Some facts are certainly left out; very few, however, are spun)

 

[Hipcheck]

Nice Post Irisher.

Right now Im about finished with my second reading of the Finca Viglia edition of the Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. If you want an idea of the overall body of work Hemingway ran through this is it. Its got everything from Bullfighting, to the Spanish Civil War, Fishing, and boozing. I love it.

After this I got to get my hands on some more Mirukami books....his stuff is great.

 

[Hoya]

Reading Levitt's "Freakanomics" and Klosterman's "Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" right now.

"A Million Little Pieces" is next.

 

[Winsomemore]

I am really hooked on the Necroscope series by Brian Lumley.

Just finished:
Necroscope IV: Deadspeak
Necroscope V: Deadspawn

Curently reading:
Necroscope: The Lost Years

If you like vampire novels this stuff is for you. link> http://www.brianlumley.com/

 

[adgy-san]

I'm currently 125 pages into Ryu Murakami's Coin Locker Babies, and it KICKS ASS.

There's a movie coming out of it soon starring Val Kilmer, Tadanobu Asano, Liv Tyler, Asia Argento, Vincent Gallo, and Sean Lennon. They better not **** it up.