What Are You Reading?
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My job requires me to fly most weeks- often times to two separate locations in one week. Sometimes it can truly blow and I really don't want to go out- other times it's not so bad. At any rate, I've been enjoying reading and look at all these times in transit as opportunities to read- sometimes to learn about history or current events.. other times to escape into a novel. What are you reading?
Books read in '19:
Current book: (seems especially relevant today)
Books on deck:
Couple quick thoughts/commentary:
- Masha Gessen is an AWESOME journalist from Russia. I love her writing style and am fascinated with the perspective she offers and her ability to articulate it. She has another book called The Man Without a Face that I plan to get into soon.
- Yuval Noah Harari is a great writer. Sapiens may be billed as a brief history but it's very thorough.
- Empire of Sin was a really cool look into New Orleans' sordid history.. learned so much. Definitely recommend to anyone.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
Just finished listening to
Just finished listening to the recently published books by Comey and McCabe ... both of which are narrated by the author & is definitely an instance where hearing it from the horses mouth might provide greater understanding / impact of content.
Otherwise, just started:
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House (Meacham)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
I just started on a friend's
I just started on a friend's recommendation "Florida Roadkill" - a black comedy crime novel by Tim Dorsey with lots of anecdotes about Florida history and culture. I usually stay away from fiction, but its an amusing and easy read.
Before that, it was a general history of Argentina from 1516 - 1987. History and rock and roll biographies make up about 98% of my recreational reading. Looking for something on either the Maroon Wars in Jamaica or Cuba's intervention in Angola, but if anyone has read a good rock n roll biography lately, let me know.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Utahjim
>>History and rock and roll
>>History and rock and roll biographies make up about 98% of my recreational reading.
Same with me. I finished the Keith Morris book recently. It was a good read if you like the bands he has been in. (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, OFF!)
"My Damage: The Story of a Punk Rock Survivor"
The Beastie Boys book is also good, although it is just a collection of stories.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: More Barn
Recently finished
Recently finished
The Crais thiller and A Gentleman In Moscow, both were great
Waiting for Sunday and the new Caleb Carr "Alienist" book, it's only been 25 years since the last :)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
The Funny Times
Funny Times
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Skitime
I am reading The Rise and
I am reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich on Weird Steve’s suggestion. Taking me a while but it’s got depth and detail.
In regard to rock and roll biographies, The Dirt from the guys in Motley Crue was a hell of a recent read.
I tend to buy books through Apple iBooks because they are available on all your devices and you can search, cross reference, look up unfamiliar words, etc.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: More Barn
two books by john doe about
two books by john doe about the l a punk scene
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MarkD
Listening to "Ball Four".
Listening to "Ball Four". Interesting but might be one of those books I"read" in pieces, sandwiched between other books.
Next up, Barry Eisler - "The Night Trade"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Fingers on the
The Monster of Florence by
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston.
The Power of Art by Simon Schama.
Revisiting all the Elmore Leonard books in the house for summertime light reading.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay
wngfan- I wrote that one down
wngfan- I wrote that one down when I saw you mention it before.. sounds like a good one.
In terms of Rock 'n Roll books, I want to check out Levon's book based on some recommendations!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay
>>>The Monster of Florence by
>>>The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston.
My buddy recommended that one to me.. I read Lost City of the Monkey God a few years back by Preston... THAT was some amazing stuff. LIDAR technology is cool AF. I often wonder if that remote spot in Honduras they went to has been blown up now from popularity.
Have you read Devil in the White City? Great true crime type book about HH Holmes and the World's Fair in 1892 in Chicago.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Fingers on the
Thanks for the suggestion,
Thanks for the suggestion, Jay. I will hunt that Devil in the White City down the next time I am at the library.
I was a fan of Preston and his Pendergast series when the Atlantic had an article he wrote about it.
I can't add the link from my phone, but if you search Douglas Preston+The Atlantic it will pop up if you want to try that to see if it grabs you. I can't believe the article is from July/August 2006.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay
Fretboard- Definitely check
Fretboard- Definitely check it out sometime! It's by this guy Erik Larson who meticulously researchers these historical events and writes the books so they read almost as a novel- minus the dialogue between characters as he's really making as close to an effort as possible to remain factually accurate. This book touches on cool architectural concepts, the history of Chicago, serial killing and a bunch of other topics. I couldn't put it down.
Aaaand- Martin Scorcese and Leonardo Dicaprio are teaming back up and currently producing Devil in the White City TV series for Hulu!
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/devil-in-the-white-city-series-hulu-leo...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
I read Lost City of the
I read Lost City of the Monkey God a few years back by Preston... THAT was some amazing stuff. <<<<
Tried reading this, but had to put it down about 1/4 way through ... I really liked the general underlying scene / themes / story, but it just got too bogged down its own style of one form or another that it "lost me"
Not exactly sure how Preston & Child work together precisely, but found one of their collaborative works in the free box "Thunderhead" and thought it was far more gripping ... although have to admit the backdrop was in my backyard (in the region) so was inherently interested.
https://www.prestonchild.com/books/thunderhead/
Other books by Child that got me hooked (in a scary movie sort of way):
Terminal Freeze
The Third Gate
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay
^ Different strokes I guess.
^ Different strokes I guess. I loved learning about archaelogy and the criminal underworld associated to it.. I kept thinking of Indianna Jones and stuff haha. I'll check out your recommendations.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
I loved learning about
I loved learning about archaelogy and the criminal underworld associated<<<
Yeah, I liked this aspect of it for sure ... it was more about the "rhythm" that left me wanting.
... although might give it another whirl.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Scarlet
The Four Agreements by Don
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay
>> it was more about the
>> it was more about the "rhythm"
I had a similar impression reading Putin's World. The author clearly knows her shit but it was just her writing style and the way it was presented that took me a bit to get into. I appreciate the suggestions and participation in the thread- keep it up, Zoners.