currently reading....

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

I started reading Next by Michael Crichton, but put it down halfway through for In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

First time I've read any Crichton, but I'm not overly impressed thus far.

I'd have to agree with you. He's popular but he's a hack.

[Sevensins]

The Three-Pound Enigma: The Human Brain and the Quest to Unlock Its Mysteries

[R00k]

I started reading Next by Michael Crichton, but put it down halfway through for In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

First time I've read any Crichton, but I'm not overly impressed thus far.

I'd have to agree with you. He's popular but he's a hack.

The way it skips around might work if he knew how to develop the characters. But none of them are memorable in the slightest, and since they're all in the same industry or business it's hard to remember which story line you're even following. The book seems like a good concept, but he's not pulling it off very well.

If his other stuff is more of the same I probably won't bother with any of it - although I've heard Timeline is supposed to be worth reading.

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

If his other stuff is more of the same I probably won't bother with any of it - although I've heard Timeline is supposed to be worth reading.

Timeline is the book of his that I read. I had the same impression as you. His characters are undeveloped, unsympathetic and unmemorable. It's a good concept and there's lots of action but it's pretty crap overall.

[R00k]

Thanks, I'll probably leave it alone.

[Dr_Watson]

resurrecting this thread from the grave because i just finished Alan Weisman's "The world without us".
Fucking fantastic book.
One of the few i've encountered recently that have the ability to fundamentally change your outlook on the environment and humanity.
it's like reading the selfish gene for the first time.
highly recommended.

[7zark7]

The football factory, John King.

( 3rd reading )

Still waiting for his new one...

[Mat Linnett]

Just last week finished Rant by Chuck Palahniuk and have now moved on to yet another zombie novel, this one a set of four stories by different authors called "Headshot Quartet".
The first story, "Million Dollar Money Shot" is typically pulpy and occasionally sloppy but wins points for managing to squeeze Cthulhu into an otherwise run-of-the-mill zombie romp.

Rant was typically brilliant, although I'm not sure whether I liked the sci-fi aspect of the book.
Chuck's at his most unsettling when he makes me believe his situations could happen to me or are happening all around me every day without my knowledge.
The sci-fi element wasn't convincing enough, although it did make for some mind-bending thoughts after I had finished.
I kinda felt the same way with Lullaby and his exploration of the spiritual and witchcraft.

[7zark7]

I liked RANT... I really fell into the documentary talking heads feel with the oral biography idea...
It wasnt his best...but I liked the ideas..

" never trust a historian"

[Wabbit]

The Story of Archaeology in 50 Great Discoveries - Justin Pollard
XXX: 30 Porn-Star portraits - Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

[Captain]

I need to try and grab a copy of Brian Fagan's "The Great Warming".

[Plan B]

That Bill Bryson's 'Short history of nearly everything'.

It's OK, but not very well written, IMO.
He drops a name, takes a page or two to describe the scientist and moves onto the next name.
Don't exactly know what I was expecting, but I miss a stronger context.
It all seems a bit chaotic, and doesn't make things more clear for me.

Only just started, so it may get better.

[Underpants?]

I went a little crazy at the bookstore today:
...
Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army - Jeremy Scahill
....

what did you think?
great read, imhobbles
private, religio-right-wing special forces? scared?(tm), 2000-2008 fuckcakes mcdishwasher

[Ryoki]

If you liked Blackwater, also read Licenced To Kill by Robert Young Pelton for a different perspective of the same subject. Where Scahill explores the inner workings of blackwater, Pelton dives into the recent history of mercenaries employed by western goverments and spends time with blackwater guys in iraq and afghanistan. Scahill refers to Pelton a few times in his book, iirc.

[Underpants?]

libraried !

[R00k]

Cormac McCarthy. Anyone ever read his stuff?

I just found out the other night that he wrote No Country For Old Men, which is supposed to be a great read (how could it not be?).

But he also wrote The Border Trilogy and a book called The Road, all of which are supposed to be pretty good.

Anybody here had any experience with his stuff and have anything to say about it?

[R00k]

Also, I've now read all of the Hannibal books by Thomas Harris, except for Hannibal. He also wrote a book called Black Sunday, which Tom Clancy seems to have borrowed from in Sum of All Fears.

Anybody know if it's worth reading? It sounds like it may be a little lacking in the character development department.

[Grudge]

Cormac McCarthy. Anyone ever read his stuff?

I just bought The Road, haven't started on it yet though. It came strongly recommended though, so I'm looking forward to it.

[R00k]

I'm going to the bookstore tonight, and was thinking about picking it up.

But I'm considering starting from the begging and getting The Orchard Keeper. All of his books seem to be very highly acclaimed.

[tnf]

Just got the new Lee Child book (the Jack Reacher author). Good simple read, I need a break from all the serious shit I've been going through.

Have a long list for the summer though.

[zeeko]

man the road is fantastic.. it's an easy read; i think i did it in two sittings. start.it.now.

I'm reading a heartbreaking work of staggering genius atm. it's real swell.

[R00k]

Thanks, I think I will. Have you looked at any of his other works by chance?

I'm assuming you were being sarcastic about the last book you mentioned - what is it?

[Nocturno]

Caesar - Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy

[menkent]

funny, i just finished "First Man in Rome" about Caesar's uncle Gaius Marius. before that was the Dark Materials trilogy, which i rather liked after being pretty disappointed by the ending of Golden Compas.

now reading Mailer's "Advertisements for Myself" (fucking yawn- narcissistic wankery) and then Ostrowski's "How the Steel was Tempered" (a Soviet classic, supposed to be quite good).

[zeeko]

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers is actually a real book :-) it's good.