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Agreed, the Brotherhood of War series was excellent, and entertaining to the max!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronin13
Would it be redundant to mention Band of Borthers? As is the case 99.999% of the time- even with how good the HBO production was- the book was 1000X better.
You're lucky, my best friend got me hooked when only 3 were out, and they were coming out 2-4 years apart. Had to reread all previous books every time the next one (or two) came out. I'm on my 5th time through because I gave up, and just bought without reading the last 4. (Though my wife assures me they are excellent, and likes Sanderson's style a little better, but admits it took some getting used to. Also, she is pissed I haven't read them so she can't talk to me about them.) I'm just starting Winter's Heart again. Think this is the first one that it is only my second time through.Quote:
Originally Posted by Monky
Totally worth it.
Well, I read two books during last term; Becker's World of the Cell and Advanced Topics in Forensic DNA Typing by Butler. Both great books, but not for everyone.[pick-me]
Since then, I've read the first three Jack Reacher books by Lee Childs. After reading a few, I just want to vomit they chose that little douchebag Tom Cruise for the movie.
Into Thin Air and Into The Wild are both excellent books. Though by the same author, the style is markedly different for both, and each is really appropriate for the subject matter. Before reading Into Thin Air, as an avid climber and hiker, I had only a small glimmer of desire to ever climb Everest. After reading, well, that glimmer has been taken, crushed, stomped on, extinguished, and then pissed on. But, it is an amazing book.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinelement
Carnage and Culture. A fascinating look at why Western armies typically kick the bejesus out of everyone else. The conclusions make it extremely relevant reading. (It's freedom and capitalism that are cited)
http://www.amazon.com/Carnage-Cultur.../dp/0385720386
http://images.indiebound.com/874/601/9780312601874.jpg
Very interesting so far. This topic has always interested me for a while now.
Ever since getting this Kindle Fire I've been reading about 2 novels a week or so - mostly the <$5 books.
Right now I'm about halfway through "The Martian" by Andy Weir. It's a pretty good story about a guy stranded on Mars, his survival, and NASAs attemp to rescue him. I like that it's pretty heavy on the technical side of things.
After 23 years I am finally reading the last book in the wheel of time series a memory of light
I just finished Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. I know it was mentioned already but it was awesome! I highly suggest it.
Working on "The Panther" by Nelson DeMille. One of my favorite authors.
For those of you who like military thrillers check out Jack Murphy. He has two books out now and they are entertaining reads.
http://reflexivefire.com/
I finished "Life of Pi". It wss good, not great. I guess I expected more because of the hype due to the movie release.
Buy it used or get it from the library.
Just finished rereading the hobbit for the 5th time. I love Tolkien books.
The Outpost- Jake Tapper
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations
http://www.amazon.com/Do-Hard-Things.../dp/1601421125
I try to read things before putting them in front of my kids who are 22, 20, and 14. Our current society just as a hard time accepting that there is no such thing as adolescence. You are a child or you are an adult. Pick one, act like it and be treated accordingly.
Just finished Alloy of Law, which is a kind of sequel to Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. **Side question: Have any of your Robert Jordan fans read any of Sanderson's stuff besides his Wheel of Time books?**
Now I'm most of the way through George R.R. Martin's Fevre Dream. It is basically his version of Interview With A Vampire.
I too recently got a Nook and even though I'm only on my second book, it seems like I'll be flying through books now. Buying e-books is so easy! I'm probably going to finish the Interview With a Vampire series, the modern wizard series I can't remember the name of, maybe start Wheel of Time, etc.
The Twilight War - The Secret History of America's Thirty Year Conflict with Iran by David Crist.
I'd give it 4 of 5 stars but it is worth it It is good to get all this info in one place. Iran is a place it is worth knowing about. He's a Marine who ended up in government but works with both parties. The military side is real strong from all sides, Iran, US, Iraq, Lebanon and such. He has an interesting understated style when he thinks someone screwed the pooch. Little opinion, just the damning facts organized to show how it was a screwup.
The political starts out great. I tend to agree that the US went hardass when it didn't help and pussied out when it was time to get tough. He is obviously well connected. As a result of that the Bush the 2nd and Obama parts are weak. He doesn't want to burn these connections. Still it assembles it all in one place.
I got a Nook this summer and a Kindle Fire for Christmas. Love the e-book access. Being on a tight budget I also can get books from the library for no cost-same terms as going with a card.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
About of three quarters of the way through The Road by Cormac McCarthy. If anyone wants to see the bleak side of survival, this will show it to you.
I've read Patriots, One Second After, Lights Out, etc. and The Road has me more stressed out about the PAW than any of them.
For some light reading I would recommend "The Looming Tower" by Lawrence Wright. It may take you a bit of time but is time well spent.
The movie was pretty bleak and I have heard the book is worse. I need to read that as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by blacklabel
Soft Target
Stephen Hunter
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois Bujold. Another in her extended vorkosigan series, and a damn fine read.
It's been more than 20 years since I've read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, but I watched the John Ford movie starring Henry Fonda the other night. For those who haven't seen it in a while and/or haven't read the book, the story begins with the devastation suffered by Americans in the Dust Bowl. My wife just finished a book a few months ago: The Worst Hard Time http://www.amazon.com/The-Worst-Hard.../dp/0618773479 this book also focused on the hardship suffered by Americans in the Dust Bowl.
While watching this movie with my 14 year old daughter, I realized how out of touch she is with fairly recent suffering on a large scale by so many Americans. The Dust Bowl covered large portions of Colorado as well as much of the mid-west. The effects of the top soil being blown across the country were felt throughout the country. While the movie focused on the plight of the Joad family, thousands of families were torn apart and thousands died.
Many of us here worry about SHTF and the pending destruction of American civilization as we know it. We ponder the many possible scenarios of what may happen, how can we prepare, and what will we do to survive. The Dust Bowl reminds me that we don't really need to look too far back in history, or stretch our imagination to see just how a chain of events can affect everything we believe in and value.
I think about Ma Joad, whose number one priority is keeping her family together, and Tom Joad who grows into the head of his family despite all of the baggage he is carrying.
I plan on rereading the book when I get some time (maybe my next trip). Steinbeck is clearly left of center on much of his social perspective, but his narrative descriptions do real justice to independent, hard working Americans who are in varying degrees of success (or failure) in their struggle to survive a tough patch of American history during the 20th century.
All of the Bob Lee Swagger books are good reads. Casting for the movie (Wahlberg) was such a let down. Now I'm hooked on all the Jack Reacher books and Hollywood botched it again with Tom CruizeQuote:
Originally Posted by Mazin
Angle of Repose
Wallace Stegner
Going through Atlas Shrugged. Slow going long book but good.
"A Place Called Armageddon" by C.C. Humphreys.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Stand...Stand+on+Earth
The most relevant book that is this close > < to the reality of what is happening Right Now. I started @ 11:30 last night and finished @ 01:18. If you buy it and don't like it i'll cover 1/2 your cost.
I just finished reading Hunters "Soft Target" last month and finished listening to the book on CD "Patriots" on the drive between houses from Colorado to Arizona. The books on CD are great for the long drives. We got the series and started in reverse order. Started listening to "Founder" after I read the book "Patriot". Then bought the CD "Survivors" and finally just finished listening to "Patriots" CD.
Game of Thrones series. Excellent so far and I am on the second book.
I hope George R.R. Martin lives long enough to write the last two books. I feel like he is a distracted writer usually, and this show is not helping his focus.
Thanks Jim-started reading today. Great so far.Quote:
Originally Posted by jim
I will spend the rest of my life learning how to raise the dead, so I can fucking kill him if he doesnt finish the series.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
I'm a big fan of the Honorverse series by David Weber. Must be 20 books by now. I wish the US Navy had been more like the Royal Manticoran Navy!
I've really enjoyed the Jack Coughlin books.
The Two Towers
Just finished up all 5. The Hobbit,LOTR, and the Sillmarillion.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikedubs
Now that the wheel of time is finished i'm restarting that one. I just hope the end is worth it.
I just finished reading the Western Front series by Archer Garrett. Solid series.
I always recommend "How to make friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie. Great book about understanding how people think and act and how to use that as a 'tool' for better relationships with all people you interact with. Pretty easy read as well.