Book talk

[transplantbillsfan]

I realized there were no book threads. Don't we have readers here? Where are we? What are we reading? I always look for new suggestions. The truth is, I am an English teacher and teach upper-level English students, so my liesure reading stuff ends up being "fluff."

 

So despite the fact that my favorite all-time book is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, I have been reading a ton of Stephen King lately. Right now I'm on book 3 of The Dark Tower series, but over the last few years I've also read his newest books The Outsider and The Institute and Sleeping Beauties along with some of his classics like The Shining and Salem's Lot, and The Stand... I loved all of them. I firmly believe King belongs in the Canon... he's the modern Hemingway.

 

I usually read one nonfiction book simultaneously with a fiction book. I guess that must be my ADD... so I've also read a good amount of nonfiction. I'm not bringing up all of the titles because some of them are political, but I also love reading surfing memoirs and different types of philosophy or logic books. I think my favorite recent non-fiction book is called Surfing with Sartre. It's a philosophy book that essentially connects surfing with academic philosophy.

 

I would love some suggestions... or just to hear what you guys are reading.

[US Egg]

Went wild reading Stephen King in the '80's. 'The Stand' was my favorite. Ironically, you mentioned Hemingway, just started 'A Farewell To Arms'.

 

Recently read 'The Grapes of Wrath', like all books, better than the movie. The ending mind blowing, to me.

 

My wife is in a book club, covid has tampered down their get togethers. She gets so mad that I scoff at what they read.

 

Like your idea, but guys sharing book readings and suggestions probably would drop like a rock in the threads. Hope I'm wrong.

 

Thank you for such a positive sound proposal. Seriously.

 

The Collected Works of Nathanael West was surreal for 1930's literature. 

 

 

Edited February 18, 2021 by I am the egg man

[Augie]

8 minutes ago, I am the egg man said:

Went wild reading Stephen King in the '80's. 'The Stand' was my favorite.

 

Ironically, you mentioned Hemingway, just started reading 'Farewell To Arms'.

 

Recently read 'The Grapes of Wrath', like all movies the book was better, by far, the ending mind blowing, to me.

 

My wife is in a book club, covid has tampered down their get togethers. She gets so mad that I scoff at what they read.

 

Like your idea, but guys sharing book readings and suggestions probably would drop like a rock in the threads.

 

Hope I'm wrong. Thank you for such a sound proposal.

 

Would she happen to be in Baker Mayfield’s book club? Is she the one who got voted out??? 

 

One of the highlights of my day is going to lunch and reading my current book. They recognize me when I come in and bring my Arnold Palmer.  Sometimes they tell me they have already put my order in....BEFORE I have ordered. I am a creature of habit. 

 

I don’t read anything too deep, for the most part. Just page turners. It’s getting late for me, so I’ll be back to push this thread back up down the road. 

[Gugny]

44 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

I realized there were no book threads. Don't we have readers here? Where are we? What are we reading? I always look for new suggestions. The truth is, I am an English teacher and teach upper-level English students, so my liesure reading stuff ends up being "fluff."

 

So despite the fact that my favorite all-time book is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, I have been reading a ton of Stephen King lately. Right now I'm on book 3 of The Dark Tower series, but over the last few years I've also read his newest books The Outsider and The Institute and Sleeping Beauties along with some of his classics like The Shining and Salem's Lot, and The Stand... I loved all of them. I firmly believe King belongs in the Canon... he's the modern Hemingway.

 

I usually read one nonfiction book simultaneously with a fiction book. I guess that must be my ADD... so I've also read a good amount of nonfiction. I'm not bringing up all of the titles because some of them are political, but I also love reading surfing memoirs and different types of philosophy or logic books. I think my favorite recent non-fiction book is called Surfing with Sartre. It's a philosophy book that essentially connects surfing with academic philosophy.

 

I would love some suggestions... or just to hear what you guys are reading.

 

When I was in the Navy, I hurt my back and was given 7 days of bed rest.  I read, "Needful Things," during those seven days.  Couldn't put it down.

 

I've also read a solid dozen of Dean Koonz's books.  Earlier the better.

 

For a nice easy read, I highly recommend anything by Mitch Albom.  Wonderfully written, thought-provoking, books.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 18, 2021 by Gugny

[BarleyNY]

8 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

I realized there were no book threads. Don't we have readers here? Where are we? What are we reading? I always look for new suggestions. The truth is, I am an English teacher and teach upper-level English students, so my liesure reading stuff ends up being "fluff."

 

So despite the fact that my favorite all-time book is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, I have been reading a ton of Stephen King lately. Right now I'm on book 3 of The Dark Tower series, but over the last few years I've also read his newest books The Outsider and The Institute and Sleeping Beauties along with some of his classics like The Shining and Salem's Lot, and The Stand... I loved all of them. I firmly believe King belongs in the Canon... he's the modern Hemingway.

 

I usually read one nonfiction book simultaneously with a fiction book. I guess that must be my ADD... so I've also read a good amount of nonfiction. I'm not bringing up all of the titles because some of them are political, but I also love reading surfing memoirs and different types of philosophy or logic books. I think my favorite recent non-fiction book is called Surfing with Sartre. It's a philosophy book that essentially connects surfing with academic philosophy.

 

I would love some suggestions... or just to hear what you guys are reading.

We have the same favorite book!  Did you ever read Pirsig’s follow up, Lila?  I loved that as well.  I am reading a ton of food and cooking books now - Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is quite good.  It Was All a Lie by Stuart Stevens is up next in non fiction. I usually gravitate to behavioral economics and the like for stimulating fun.  Levit and Dubner’s books like Freakonomics, just about any Malcolm Gladwell book, The Black Swan by Taleb, etc. are all great reads.  Id be that you’ve already read these, but you can’t go wrong with The Life of Pi or Kite Runner if you haven’t gotten to those fantastic reads yet. 

[Captain Hindsight]

My favorite book of all time is The Alchemist. I've read it a few times in my life and always have a new perspective after reading it.

 

I just finished the Martian. They made it into a movie with Matt Damon, but the book was better

[poblano]

Have you ever read latin american authors?

I'm mexican and not so good in english, 

that's why I don't read in english and most of my readings are of those authors, and classics, like  Dickens, Dostoyevsky, Balzac(😍) and recently i read east of eden  and grapes of wrath and want to read more of Steinbeck.

all this without being an avid reader.

 

 

 

 

 

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

13 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

Book talk

 

What's a book?

[Logic]

Good thread idea. 

Having been furloughed for about a year now, I've been doing an absurd amount of reading. As such:

Logic's Current Top Five Favorite Books of All Time (which might change by next week):

1. Be Here Now by Ram Dass
2. Grist for the Mill by Ram Dass
3. The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts

4. Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac 

5. The Cosmic Trigger by Robert Anton Wilson

I know, I know. You're absolutely shocked that a guy with a Grateful Dead avatar is into Ram Dass and Kerouac and Watts. 

 

[Nextmanup]

Stephen King has a very particular voice in his writing that I personally can't get past.  I just can't read his books, and I've tried a few of them.

 

In fiction, I'm currently reading "Pope Joan" by Donna Woolfolk Cross.  Great book and super interesting.  

 

In non-fiction, I'm reading "The First and the Last" by Adolf Galland. 

 

 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

15 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

I realized there were no book threads. Don't we have readers here? Where are we? What are we reading? I always look for new suggestions. The truth is, I am an English teacher and teach upper-level English students, so my liesure reading stuff ends up being "fluff."

 

So despite the fact that my favorite all-time book is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, I have been reading a ton of Stephen King lately. Right now I'm on book 3 of The Dark Tower series, but over the last few years I've also read his newest books The Outsider and The Institute and Sleeping Beauties along with some of his classics like The Shining and Salem's Lot, and The Stand... I loved all of them. I firmly believe King belongs in the Canon... he's the modern Hemingway.

 

I usually read one nonfiction book simultaneously with a fiction book. I guess that must be my ADD... so I've also read a good amount of nonfiction. I'm not bringing up all of the titles because some of them are political, but I also love reading surfing memoirs and different types of philosophy or logic books. I think my favorite recent non-fiction book is called Surfing with Sartre. It's a philosophy book that essentially connects surfing with academic philosophy.

 

I would love some suggestions... or just to hear what you guys are reading.

 

I don't like Stephen King, but I did read his book on writing--aptly titled "On Writing"-- and it was great. Great insight into his process as a writer. As an English teacher, I am sure you would enjoy it.

 

 

Here are a few recommendations-- both Fiction and Non-Fiction:

 

1) "Body & Soul" by Frank Conroy.  My all-time favorite fiction book-- coming of age story of a piano prodigy.  

2) I am a big fan of foreign-author fiction, and particularly like Ha Jin, and Jhumpa Lahiri.  Everything by them is great, but "Waiting" is Ha Jin's classic, and probably "Interpreter of Maladies" is Lahiri's best work (I think she won a pulitzer for it).

3) In terms of non-fiction, I am a big fan of some of Johnathon Haidt's recent stuff, including "Coddling of the American Mind" and "Righteous Mind."  Haidt is a liberal moral psych professor from UVA, but his work really resonates with liberals and conservatives. If you have kids in college or heading to college, Coddling is a must-read. 

 

[transplantbillsfan]

16 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

Went wild reading Stephen King in the '80's. 'The Stand' was my favorite.

 

Ironically, you mentioned Hemingway, just started reading 'A Farewell To Arms'.

 

Recently read 'The Grapes of Wrath', like all books, better than the movie. The ending mind blowing, to me.

 

My wife is in a book club, covid has tampered down their get togethers. She gets so mad that I scoff at what they read.

 

Like your idea, but guys sharing book readings and suggestions probably would drop like a rock in the threads.

 

Hope I'm wrong. Thank you for such a positive sound proposal.

 

Seriously.

 

Since I teach English, my "free reading" stuff at this point is generally just "fluff."  That said, I became an English teacher because I love literature.  I never really loved Steinbeck as an author.  Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, Catcher in the Rye, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest are probably my favorite books to teach because I actually love the books. King Lear is by far my favorite Shakespeare play and probably one of my 5 favorite works overall.  Ayn Rand is polarizing as a writer. The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged are page-turners at least, but I really get annoyed at how much she just bashes you over the head with her ideas and since her characters are really just symbolic representations of her ideas, it's impossible to connect with them.  I actually assign Atlas Shrugged to my AP Lit students for their Summer read just because of how polarizing it is and I find it an interesting way to start the year.

 

I'm honestly loving Stephen King.  I had read some of his books when I was younger like The Dark Half, but over the last few years I've just kinda decided to try to go through as many of his works as possible since I always seem to enjoy his books.... he puts you in the minds of the characters better than most writers... and I think that's often why movies adapted from his books in particular are never nearly as good.  One of his lesser known works is called Revival and it might be the scariest Stephen King book in terms of the way it ends... but the entirety of the book is really just character building, which I loved.

[Augie]

3 hours ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

 

What's a book?

 

It’s a cousin of the newspaper. The family reunions are a hoot! 

 

I think the three books I’ve intentionally read twice were Catch-22, The Winter of Our Discontent and Travels With Charlie. Two out of three are Steinbeck, so I guess I like him. 

 

My absolute favorite, however, is John Grisham. I think I’ve read everything he’s ever published, including the Theodore Boone kids books. Playing for Pizza was a great book and football related. Very different for Grisham and a great read with some humor. His latest (I believe) is A Time For Mercy which I recently finished. Same characters and setting in general as A Time To Kill and is supposed to be about 5 years later. It has some loose ends and clearly calls for a follow up which can’t come out soon enough. 

 

I generally read light stuff during lunch every day like Grisham, Baldacci, some Patterson (depending upon who the actual author was!), etc. I have my regular restaurants where I’m the strange man who walks in with his book and almost always order the same thing. They bring out my Arnold Palmer as I sit down and ask “the usual, again?” Yep! 

 

I’ll read more educational or semi-spiritual stuff around the house, but not daily like the lunch books. I had to read some books about near death experiences in high school at St Joes and I’ll still read those when I find one that looks interesting. I’m generally not trying to impress anyone with my subject matter or improve myself as a person (unlike my wife who constantly has a self improvement/motivational book on the night stand), I just enjoy reading regularly. 

 

We have too many books on the bookshelves so I box them up and take them to the library at the retirement home my mother lives at. Sitting on a shelf they do no good. I like to be able to share them as they are generally more current and of better quality than what they have available. Books are to be shared and enjoyed, not stored in a box or on a shelf.  

[GoBills808]

For nonfiction I'll read anything David Quammen puts out. Don't do much fiction anymore but McCarthy's Suttree is my favorite novel all time, best American writer for my money.

[T&C]

I've read a lot of books in my life so its hard to name a favorite. Always liked Bradbury's short stories compiled into book form... Golden Apples of the Sun, etc.

 

The Electric Kool-aid Acid Test is a pretty good read, as well as On The Road.

 

Anything by Hunter Thompson or Tolkien.

[transplantbillsfan]

16 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

When I was in the Navy, I hurt my back and was given 7 days of bed rest.  I read, "Needful Things," during those seven days.  Couldn't put it down.

 

I've also read a solid dozen of Dean Koonz's books.  Earlier the better.

 

For a nice easy read, I highly recommend anything by Mitch Albom.  Wonderfully written, thought-provoking, books.

 

 

 

 

 

Dean Koontz was my first favorite writer.  I've probably read more of his books overall than any other writer.  Loved Watchers, Whispers and The Taking... among others.  You're right about his earlier books being better.  I haven't liked the direction he's gone as a writer overall.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

42 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

It’s a cousin of the newspaper. The family reunions are a hoot! 

 

I think the three books I’ve intentionally read twice were Catch-22, The Winter of Our Discontent and Travels With Charlie. Two out of three are Steinbeck, so I guess I like him. 

 

My absolute favorite, however, is John Grisham. I think I’ve read everything he’s ever published, including the Theodore Boone kids books. Playing for Pizza was a great book and football related. Very different for Grisham and a great read with some humor. His latest (I believe) is A Time For Mercy which I recently finished. Same characters and setting in general as A Time To Kill and is supposed to be about 5 years later. It has some loose ends and clearly calls for a follow up which can’t come out soon enough. 

 

I generally read light stuff during lunch every day like Grisham, Baldacci, some Patterson (depending upon who the actual author was!), etc. I have my regular restaurants where I’m the strange man who walks in with his book and almost always order the same thing. They bring out my Arnold Palmer as I sit down and ask “the usual, again?” Yep! 

 

I’ll read more educational or semi-spiritual stuff around the house, but not daily like the lunch books. I had to read some books about near death experiences in high school at St Joes and I’ll still read those when I find one that looks interesting. I’m generally not trying to impress anyone with my subject matter or improve myself as a person (unlike my wife who constantly has a self improvement/motivational book on the night stand), I just enjoy reading regularly. 

 

We have too many books on the bookshelves so I box them up and take them to the library at the retirement home my mother lives at. Sitting on a shelf they do no good. I like to be able to share them as they are generally more current and of better quality than what they have available. Books are to be shared and enjoyed, not stored in a box or on a shelf.  

Re Grisham, I have read a handful of his books over the years, but my wife has read everyone. 
 

What I find interesting about Grisham is how he started off. He was a lawyer,  but wanted to be a novelist, and I think he said, “I am committing to write at least 1 page per day.” That’s what he did and how he wrote his first novel, A Time to Kill. As someone who has tried to write novels and have never had the discipline to finish, I always thought that was a really great Approach.

 

the other thing I like about Grisham is that he doesn’t take himself Too seriously. He knows he writes pretty formulaic legal books for beach reads etc, not high-brow literature. he knows what he is good at it and who is audience is, And I find that to be pretty refreshing. 

[transplantbillsfan]

16 hours ago, Limeaid said:

Most of my favorite authors are gone or are no longer writing.  I have tried books on line and find them too difficult for my vision despite me being on computer all day for work and other things.   Occasionally when I am on a long trip alone I'd borrow books on CD from library (only input my car has besides radio) and I'd aim for longer books which matched my expected travel time but these days I rarely travel alone long distances and with my wife driving not practical for they make her fall asleep.

 

 

I really need a print version of a book to read.  I have a tablet but would never be able to tolerate reading on one.  I think the only thing I would ever consider is the Kindle Paper-White because it seems easy on the eyes.  But there's something about having a print version of a book and just seeing your progress as you read.

[transplantbillsfan]

9 hours ago, BarleyNY said:

We have the same favorite book!  Did you ever read Pirsig’s follow up, Lila?  I loved that as well.  I am reading a ton of food and cooking books now - Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is quite good.  It Was All a Lie by Stuart Stevens is up next in non fiction. I usually gravitate to behavioral economics and the like for stimulating fun.  Levit and Dubner’s books like Freakonomics, just about any Malcolm Gladwell book, The Black Swan by Taleb, etc. are all great reads.  Id be that you’ve already read these, but you can’t go wrong with The Life of Pi or Kite Runner if you haven’t gotten to those fantastic reads yet. 

 

Sounds like we have similar tastes.

 

I haven't read Lila.  You say it's a follow up?  Same storyline?  Same philosophical meanderings?  As a surfer I've really liked surf books that have explored similar philosophical ideas.... that's why I mentioned Surfing with Sartre, but there's a book called Saltwater Buddha by Jaimal Yogis that really reminded me of Pirsig's book, though not nearly as academic in writing.  Yogis actually writes a non-fiction book called The Fear Project that's actually super interesting and not just about surfing but is more an exploration of our fear and how we deal with it.

 

I've been making my way through Gladwell's books, too.  Outliers was the best among them. I'm actually stalled right now in the middle of his book Blink because I've been devouring King's Dark Tower books, though.

[Augie]

4 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Re Grisham, I have read a handful of his books over the years, but my wife has read everyone. 
 

What I find interesting about Grisham is how he started off. He was a lawyer,  but wanted to be a novelist, and I think he said, “I am committing to write at least 1 page per day.” That’s what he did and how he wrote his first novel, A Time to Kill. As someone who has tried to write novels and have never had the discipline to finish, I always thought that was a really great Approach.

 

the other thing I like about Grisham is that he doesn’t take himself Too seriously. He knows he writes pretty formulaic legal books for beach reads etc, not high-brow literature. he knows what he is good at it and who is audience is, And I find that to be pretty refreshing. 

 

Exactly, when I say I like him it doesn’t sound like I’m bragging about my lofty literally standards. It’s just what I like, a nice easy and entertaining read. I’ve moved more and more away from Patterson as he’s clearly just a factory with all those other “co-authors”.  In an interview MANY years ago someone asked Patterson if he really made $65 million/year. He just smiled and said “that’s in the ballpark.”  He’s all about the money where I think Grisham still cares more about his product. 

 

On another note, on a recent drive to Florida we listened to Red Notice on audio. THAT is an incredible story which is supposedly factual about corruption, murder and Oligarchs in Russia. I usually can’t do audio books because my mind wanders and I lose track but NOT the case here. It is absolutely remarkable, mostly because it’s apparently fairly accurate. He gets bogged down in technical details a little, but it’s still an amazing and eye opening story about a horribly corrupt country. It also ties into factual American politics and why some things happened the way they did in our country. Shocking! Anyone else read this? 

[transplantbillsfan]

8 hours ago, Captain Hindsight said:

My favorite book of all time is The Alchemist. I've read it a few times in my life and always have a new perspective after reading it.

 

I just finished the Martian. They made it into a movie with Matt Damon, but the book was better

 

I teach The Alchemist to my Seniors 4th quarter.  They love it for exactly the reason you bring up.

2 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

 

I don't like Stephen King, but I did read his book on writing--aptly titled "On Writing"-- and it was great. Great insight into his process as a writer. As an English teacher, I am sure you would enjoy it.

 

 

That's on my "to-read" list and has actually just been sitting in my Amazon cart.  I just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

[transplantbillsfan]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

It’s a cousin of the newspaper. The family reunions are a hoot! 

 

I think the three books I’ve intentionally read twice were Catch-22, The Winter of Our Discontent and Travels With Charlie. Two out of three are Steinbeck, so I guess I like him. 

 

Oh man I LOVED Catch-22!  One of the few books I've ever read where I was cracking up out loud as I read.  Just a great book overall.

 

[RaoulDuke79]

10 hours ago, Captain Hindsight said:

My favorite book of all time is The Alchemist. I've read it a few times in my life and always have a new perspective after reading it.

 

I just finished the Martian. They made it into a movie with Matt Damon, but the book was better

Reading it right now, about 2/3 finished. Still hoping for an Ah ha moment. I hear about these books that get such rave reviews and maybe my expectations are too high. Came away disappointed with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and A Brave New World too.

[RaoulDuke79]

Obviously a big....Hunter S Thompson fan, so anything by him is worth a read. I'm a fan of true crime. Helter Skelter is probably one of the best books I've ever read. On the flipside of that genre A Confederacy of Dunces is a pretty good read. Finished Ministry: The Lost Gospels earlier this year. Al Jorgensen is a very interesting character. Used to love the Dragonlance series many years ago. 

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Sounds like we have similar tastes.

 

I haven't read Lila.  You say it's a follow up?  Same storyline?  Same philosophical meanderings?  As a surfer I've really liked surf books that have explored similar philosophical ideas.... that's why I mentioned Surfing with Sartre, but there's a book called Saltwater Buddha by Jaimal Yogis that really reminded me of Pirsig's book, though not nearly as academic in writing.  Yogis actually writes a non-fiction book called The Fear Project that's actually super interesting and not just about surfing but is more an exploration of our fear and how we deal with it.

 

I've been making my way through Gladwell's books, too.  Outliers was the best among them. I'm actually stalled right now in the middle of his book Blink because I've been devouring King's Dark Tower books, though.

Thanks for the recommendations.  We really do seem to have the same taste.  I think I’ll start with The Fear Project.  Don’t miss David and Goliath by Gladwell.  I liked that as well as I did Outliers.

 

Yes, Lila follows the same story line but starts later in his life after a lot has happened.  It’s a different experience though.  Zen was like an arduous journey of taking his first philosophical step while Lila flows a lot more freely in that regard.  Let me know what you think of it. 

[Punching Bag]

2 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

I really need a print version of a book to read.  I have a tablet but would never be able to tolerate reading on one.  I think the only thing I would ever consider is the Kindle Paper-White because it seems easy on the eyes.  But there's something about having a print version of a book and just seeing your progress as you read.

 

I would like a reverse video device,  The more the light I see the more difficult it is to read. 

I used to use TSW dark theme but often it did not work due to other things posters used including quotes of twitter.

[qwksilver]

Since this is a football board, I've read a few of Tim Green's (1st round Draft pick from Syracuse, Author, Lawyer and NFL Commentator) books. His 1st, Ruffians is a good football book as are a few others of his.

 

Back in early 90's I asked my boss at work how did that brokerage account get so large, his answer was to toss me a book. It was John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany". I think I finished it that weekend. It's one of my favorites.

 

I also enjoy most of Grisham's work as well. My favorite is "Runaway Jury" as it has a trading angle to it.

[T&C]

14 minutes ago, qwksilver said:

Since this is a football board, I've read a few of Tim Green's (1st round Draft pick from Syracuse, Author, Lawyer and NFL Commentator) books. His 1st, Ruffians is a good football book as are a few others of his.

 

Back in early 90's I asked my boss at work how did that brokerage account get so large, his answer was to toss me a book. It was John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany". I think I finished it that weekend. It's one of my favorites.

 

I also enjoy most of Grisham's work as well. My favorite is "Runaway Jury" as it has a trading angle to it.

Tim Russert's books are a very good read... I would recommend them to anyone, Bills fan or not. 

[transplantbillsfan]

2 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

The Stand is terrific. I recommend 11/22/63 by King. Another good read. Somewhat recent....think it was published in 2015?

 

The Stand was my favorite experience reading a book so far, honestly. I started reading it on a 10 hour plane ride from Hawaii to NY and couldn't put it down. And as I read I kept laughing in my head because this was the book I chose to read couped up on a plane with a few hundred people. I will say that my 2 or 3 favorite characters were the slightly unconventional protagonists and I wasn't happy with what happened to them, but oh well.

 

I haven't watched either the 90s or most recent series, though I admit I'm curious about them.

[transplantbillsfan]

6 hours ago, T&C said:

I've read a lot of books in my life so its hard to name a favorite. Always liked Bradbury's short stories compiled into book form... Golden Apples of the Sun, etc.

 

The Electric Kool-aid Acid Test is a pretty good read, as well as On The Road.

 

Anything by Hunter Thompson or Tolkien.

 

3 hours ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

Obviously a big....Hunter S Thompson fan, so anything by him is worth a read. I'm a fan of true crime. Helter Skelter is probably one of the best books I've ever read. On the flipside of that genre A Confederacy of Dunces is a pretty good read. Finished Ministry: The Lost Gospels earlier this year. Al Jorgensen is a very interesting character. Used to love the Dragonlance series many years ago. 

 

Okay I will go out on a limb to make 2 book suggestions for you:

 

Cosmic Bandidos & In Search of Captain Zero by Alan Weisbecker.

 

Cosmic Bandidos especially is a trip and a half.

6 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

For nonfiction I'll read anything David Quammen puts out. Don't do much fiction anymore but McCarthy's Suttree is my favorite novel all time, best American writer for my money.

 

Just started looking at Quammen's books... looks super interesting! Do you have a suggestion on which book to start with?

[US Egg]

16 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

  Brave New World

Fantastic read, which, again, led me to Nathanael West, particularly 'Day of The Locust', then his other works. Quick reads but engrossing.

13 hours ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

Obviously a big....Hunter S Thompson fan, so anything by him is worth a read. I'm a fan of true crime.

'Hells Angels' is my favorite H.S.T. book. He was right there in with them.

 

Read some great true Hollywood crime books. 'City of Nets', 'L.A. Noir' and 'Tinsletown'. Mickey Cohen involved in one,  they were particularly good.

Edited February 19, 2021 by I am the egg man

[GoBills808]

39 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

 

Okay I will go out on a limb to make 2 book suggestions for you:

 

Cosmic Bandidos & In Search of Captain Zero by Alan Weisbecker.

 

Cosmic Bandidos especially is a trip and a half.

 

Just started looking at Quammen's books... looks super interesting! Do you have a suggestion on which book to start with?

Yeah, go for Natural Acts. It’s a collection of shorter essays, probably my favorite...that and Song of the Dodo are so good

[Augie]

About a year ago I picked up Where the Crawdads Sing which was a little different for me. It was a pleasant surprise and tempted me to break my habit of my typical genres. I enjoyed it enough to recommend and offer it to others. 

[US Egg]

18 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Since I teach English, my "free reading" stuff at this point is generally just "fluff."  That said, I became an English teacher because I love literature. 

Ever consider 'All Quiet On The Western Front'?

 

Non American perspective on WWl, and a easy read that falls into a historical portrait.?

 

[thenorthremembers]

Was a big beat guy as a teenager.   Burroughs, Ginsberg, Kerouac etc.   Burroughs was by far my favorite though.  After that it was Chuck Palahniuk. 

 

Got into Herman Hesse big time in my mid twenties, love Demian.   Mid-blowing stuff.  But to this day nothing touches Fitzgerald.

I was an English Lit major in college, and worked at Borders while in so books were pretty much my life until recently.   Will Christopher Baer has a series called the Phineas Poe Trilogy for people who are into dark mysteries,  Kiss Me Judas, Hells Half Acre, and A Penny Dreadful. 

 

Also suggest Jonathan Tropper:  This is Where I Leave You, One Last Thing Before I Go

 

Havent read as much recently but here are a few I've really enjoyed over the last couple years.

 

Tell the Wolves I'm Home- Brunt, Carol Rifka

The Absolutist- Boyne, John

When Breath Becomes Air- Kalanithi, Paul

 

Just finished Mike Birbiglia's new book on being a first time father New One.  Not a bad fast read if you enjoy books by overly neurotic comics.

 

 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

52 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

 

 

Also suggest Jonathan Tropper:  This is Where I Leave You, One Last Thing Before I Go

 

 

 

 

I am/was a big Tropper fan, but don’t think he has written anything in a long time.  Same with Nick Hornby, who I would compare Tropper too. 

[transplantbillsfan]

2 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

Ever consider 'All Quiet On The Western Front'?

 

Non American perspective on WWl, and a easy read that falls into a historical portrait.?

 

 

I'll have to read it.  I loved The Longest Day.  Have you read that?  Any similarities in style?

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Great thread/topic OP!!

 

For "fluff" fiction reading I can't recommend anything from Clive Cussler enough. Also always enjoyed old English mysteries from Agatha Christie and of course the classic Holmes from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Wait long enough between re-reads and be surprised by the plot twists all over again!  Last but not least, the classics hold up because they are classics--for example, Jules Verne was a visionary before our time, whose 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth, among others, featured revolutionary tech/sci-fi unheard of during the Victorian era. Great stories!  

 

For non-fiction, I've always been a fan of 1st person WW2 memoirs from the soldiers who fought, as well as little known story gems highlighting the human condition, both good and bad from that same era. Adam Makos is great for the latter, and his books "A Higher Call" & most recently, "Spearhead," are page-turners in this regard. 

 

   

[thenorthremembers]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I am/was a big Tropper fan, but don’t think he has written anything in a long time.  Same with Nick Hornby, who I would compare Tropper too. 

Last I saw he was writing for TV and Movies only.   Had a deal with Cinemax.  Agree on the Hornby comparison, although I think Hornby's character development was a bit better, even if I didnt like the overall work more.   As much as I love Tropper, I think he was a bit of a one trick pony and the books got less exciting because you could kind of see where they were going having read his other titles.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

6 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

Last I saw he was writing for TV and Movies only.   Had a deal with Cinemax.  Agree on the Hornby comparison, although I think Hornby's character development was a bit better, even if I didnt like the overall work more.   As much as I love Tropper, I think he was a bit of a one trick pony and the books got less exciting because you could kind of see where they were going having read his other titles.

Regarding Tropper being a 1-trick pony, totally agree. All his books blend together in my mind. A few times I would read one of his books and about 50 Pages in, I wasn’t sure if I had read that one before. They all

mostly concern some middle-aged dude going through a crisis and sitting Shiva after someone died.

 

this reminds me of a similar author— Richard Russo. I really liked his books, but they all concern similar characters in similar locations doing mostly similar things.