OT: Books

[Slimpikins]

I usually read the Bible when I'm not too busy working with neglected kids and women who were abused in their relationship.

That is when I'm not taking care of orphaned children from war ravaged areas around the World.

Horse shit.

 

[naslundfan19]

My favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. Also, can't go wrong with Calvin & Hobbes!

 

[ritari330]

My favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. Also, can't go wrong with Calvin & Hobbes!

I really liked that book, but the movie made me mad

 

[ritari330]

At the moment I am reading Schindler's list as I mentioned a few days ago in a thread...

 

[BostonAJ]

I'm a big reader and understand the hatred for the pretentious bullshit. Jump to "Women" by Charles Bukowski. It'll instantly elevate your coolness by 100%. Here's my favorite piece by him, as a warm up...

How to be a good writer

you've got to fuck a great many women
beautiful women
and write a few decent love poems.

and don't worry about age
and/or freshly-arrived talents.

just drink more beer
more and more beer

and attend the racetrack at least once a

week

and win
if possible

learning to win is hard —
any slob can be a good loser.

and don't forget your Brahms
and your Bach and your
beer.

don't overexercise.

sleep until noon.

avoid paying credit cards
or paying for anything on
time.

remember that there isn't a piece of ass
in this world over $50
(in 1977).

and if you have the ability to love
love yourself first
but always be aware of the possibility of
total defeat
whether the reason for that defeat
seems right or wrong —

an early taste of death is not necessarily
a bad thing.

stay out of churches and bars and museums,
and like the spider be
patient —
time is everybody's cross,
plus
exile
defeat
treachery

all that dross.

stay with the beer.

beer is continuous blood.

a continuous lover.

get a large typewriter
and as the footsteps go up and down
outside your window

hit that thing
hit it hard

make it a heavyweight fight

make it the bull when he first charges in

and remember the old dogs
who fought so well:
Hemingway, Celine, Dostoevsky, Hamsun.

If you think they didn't go crazy
in tiny rooms
just like you're doing now

without women
without food
without hope

then you're not ready.

drink more beer.
there's time.
and if there's not
that's all right
too

 

[filosofy29]

The Story of B (written by Daniel Quinn)

 

[Comeds]

I read all the time. Having no kids, being married to a former librarian, and being a night owl all help me keep reading.

I recently read two I really liked.

The Lost City Of Z. The true story of the search for a large city in the Amazon basin in the 1910s and 1920s. During one a famous explorer and his team disappeared never to be heard from again (I have always been intrigued by true vanishing stories). The book details the searches for him the years after, and the author trying to retrace his steps a few years ago. Very interesting.

This Is Where I Leave You. A novel about a fathers last wish that his family sit shiva for him after he dies. Being that the family doesnt get along that of course is a problem. At times laugh out loud funny other times sweet and at times very sad, I thought this was a great book. I only heard of it because it was in Entertainment Weekly's best of issue for 2009 and I am glad I did. I have since begun going through the authors other works.

other thoughts:
Loved Harry Potter - well liked the first few but really liked the last few.
Shutter Island, liked it a lot but not as much as Lehane's Kenzie-Gennaro series.
A Confederacy of Dunces - hilarious. "Mr. I. Ableman, Mongoloid, Esq" makes me laugh years later.
Really liked "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" and its sequel. Looking forward to the 3rd. Another sad case of the writer dying before his work was published. Was he murdered?

 

[GagneFire12]

I read all the time. Having no kids, being married to a former librarian, and being a night owl all help me keep reading.

I recently read two I really liked.

The Lost City Of Z. The true story of the search for a large city in the Amazon basin in the 1910s and 1920s. During one a famous explorer and his team disappeared never to be heard from again (I have always been intrigued by true vanishing stories). The book details the searches for him the years after, and the author trying to retrace his steps a few years ago. Very interesting.

This Is Where I Leave You. A novel about a fathers last wish that his family sit shiva for him after he dies. Being that the family doesnt get along that of course is a problem. At times laugh out loud funny other times sweet and at times very sad, I thought this was a great book. I only heard of it because it was in Entertainment Weekly's best of issue for 2009 and I am glad I did. I have since begun going through the authors other works.

other thoughts:
Loved Harry Potter - well liked the first few but really liked the last few.
Shutter Island, liked it a lot but not as much as Lehane's Kenzie-Gennaro series.
A Confederacy of Dunces - hilarious. "Mr. I. Ableman, Mongoloid, Esq" makes me laugh years later.
Really liked "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" and its sequel. Looking forward to the 3rd. Another sad case of the writer dying before his work was published. Was he murdered?

He died of a heart attack I believe.

 

[beantownmaniac]

My favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. Also, can't go wrong with Calvin & Hobbes!

I love reading them, lol. Most of the books I read are sorts related books, historical and such. Last book I read is a Red Sox book called "Game Day".

 

[SuperFlyer13]

Currently reading "Fool" by Christopher Moore. It's a parody of King Lear, and it is bloody hilarious. Also, reading "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. Very good novel thus far.

In terms of series, I would highly recommend A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin. It is a fantasy series, but it kind of hits on all realms. HBO is adapting it into a series - set to air either in the Fall or Winter. Apparently, they knocked it out of the park. Sean Bean, Mark Addy, and Peter Dinklage all play big parts.

The Girl with a Dragon Tatoo is also a very good novel - recently turned movie.

Are you kidding me? Figured no one on here would've heard this series. Glad Book five is finally out!

Other good ones are

Ender's game- by Orson Scott Card
Ilium- by Dan Simmons

I have probably read over 1500 books(no shit) So I could sit here and name a ton. I would much rather read than Watch tv. Unless it's sports!

 

[SuperFlyer13]

I love reading them, lol. Most of the books I read are sorts related books, historical and such. Last book I read is a Red Sox book called "Game Day".

Gee I figured it would have been "the Girl who loved Tom Gordon" by Stephen King!

 

[GagneFire12]

Are you kidding me? Figured no one on here would've heard this series. Glad Book five is finally out!

Other good ones are

Ender's game- by Orson Scott Card
Ilium- by Dan Simmons

I have probably read over 1500 books(no shit) So I could sit here and name a ton. I would much rather read than Watch tv. Unless it's sports!

It's probably my favorite series! So, so good. Ender's Game is a classic, as well.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I read books about real shit. Not much of a fiction man myself. Same way I watch TV, no reality BS or dancing with the stars crap.

I like the History ch or RealTV, and the Discovery ch. TLC is also on top of my list.

Sorry to break up the thread but JMO.

 

[Comeds]

He died of a heart attack I believe.

He did, but there are plenty of people who think he was murdered because of some investigations he was doing. Enough people that it has been written about in main stream publications.

I think its silly, but fun.

 

[Destroydacre]

Show off. :p

Hey, I can't help it if it's true. I can add more.


I think the reason that I really don't like novels is all the shit they made us read in high school. All the 'classics.' Whoever labeled these books as classics was fucking moron. A Farewell to Arms, The Great Gatsby, Lord of the Flies, Crime and Punishment and many more that I can't recall at the moment and every single one of those works is complete shit. The only book I ever read in High School that didn't bore me to death was Farenheit 451. That was the only one that was alright.

 

[Comeds]

Hey, I can't help it if it's true. I can add more.


I think the reason that I really don't like novels is all the shit they made us read in high school. All the 'classics.' Whoever labeled these books as classics was fucking moron. A Farewell to Arms, The Great Gatsby, Lord of the Flies, Crime and Punishment and many more that I can't recall at the moment and every single one of those works is complete shit. The only book I ever read in High School that didn't bore me to death was Farenheit 451. That was the only one that was alright.

Ethan Frome was the worst book I ever had to read in school.

I cant help but read, I always have something going. I guess I am about 60/40 with fiction and non-fiction. Depends on what I am in the mood for. I even keep a goofy list of everything I have read.

GagneFire12, the Mrs is a big Christopher Moore fan. I read The Stupidest Angel and enjoyed it.

 

[GagneFire12]

Ethan Frome was the worst book I ever had to read in school.

I cant help but read, I always have something going. I guess I am about 60/40 with fiction and non-fiction. Depends on what I am in the mood for. I even keep a goofy list of everything I have read.

GagneFire12, the Mrs is a big Christopher Moore fan. I read The Stupidest Angel and enjoyed it.

He definitely has an enjoyable writing style. If you've ever read, or been forced to read, any Shakespeare - pick up the book Fool. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments. Highly entertaining.

 

[GagneFire12]

Hey, I can't help it if it's true. I can add more.


I think the reason that I really don't like novels is all the shit they made us read in high school. All the 'classics.' Whoever labeled these books as classics was fucking moron. A Farewell to Arms, The Great Gatsby, Lord of the Flies, Crime and Punishment and many more that I can't recall at the moment and every single one of those works is complete shit. The only book I ever read in High School that didn't bore me to death was Farenheit 451. That was the only one that was alright.

Pick up A Game of Thrones. DO IT. Farenheit 451 is a classic, but I agree, High School encouraged me NOT to read. We read Ender's Game and The Hobbit, but outside of that it was all rubbish.

 

[GagneFire12]

He did, but there are plenty of people who think he was murdered because of some investigations he was doing. Enough people that it has been written about in main stream publications.

I think its silly, but fun.

Wow, I must have completely missed that story. Definitely makes for interesting news.

 

[esls79]

The Big Short by Michael Lewis. Nonfiction about those who saw the housing bubble for what it was about to become and made hundreds of millions of dollars off it. After reading it, you'll understand why financial reform is needed.