What ya reading? Version 425108

[habernac]

always had a fascination with Che Guevara, so I'm reading "Che" by Jon Lee Anderson. It's a dictionary sized tome, so it'll take me awhile. Pretty good so far, lots of research has been done by this author. (http://www.amazon.ca/Che-Guevara-Rev...03142&sr=1-133)

Jiri, I've always been interested in Hell's Angel's stuff as well, let me know if that's any good.

[PowerPlayoffs06]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I'm reading "The Children of Men" because I heard it was such a good movie. This is a boring book. There are only a hundred pages left and it doesn't seem like it's even started.

I thought it was a terrible movie and was assuming the book must have been good because the story and plot had lots of potential, but the way they did it on film was just piss poor in my opinion. Apparently it's a good thing I didn't bother with the book then.

Im re-reading Robert Jordans Wheel of Time series for like, the fourth time

I have a hard time finding new authors because not many people I know read my genres (fantasy and horror), and the little story synopsis on the backs of books never tell me enough. Im compulsive about finishing books I've started before beginning another, no matter how bad they are, so I fear starting a crappy book because it usually winds up taking me a few months to finish it because I have no desire to read it.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by habernac

always had a fascination with Che Guevara, so I'm reading "Che" by Jon Lee Anderson. It's a dictionary sized tome, so it'll take me awhile. Pretty good so far, lots of research has been done by this author. (http://www.amazon.ca/Che-Guevara-Rev...03142&sr=1-133)

Jiri, I've always been interested in Hell's Angel's stuff as well, let me know if that's any good.

Ever been to Cuba?

Che is the man. When I was there I expected to see lots of Castro, but instead there was very little but Che was plastered everywhere.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

I picked up "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins last week and am more than halfway through it. I like it and would recommend it to others.

What are you reading?

I've always enjoyed biographies myself, and have read Michael J. Fox's as well as Bill Clinton's (enjoyed both). Any recommendations on a good biography for my next read?

Dawkins is easily one of my favourite popular science authors. The Selfish Gene and The Extended Phenotype are mind-blowing. This guy has taught me a lot I know about evolutionary biology, game theory, but this guy has an incredibly bad habit of straying out of his chosen field.

His gibberish on memetics is mostly an apologetic footnote, trying to excuse his political socialist beliefs. His stuff on religion is being trashed by almost every single (serious) theologian. I've heard good things about The God Delusion and I intend to pick it up, but I'm definitely going to be reading it with an open mind.

Right now, I'm reading a lot about Global Warming and Canadian Arctic Sovereignty, ahhhh paper writing season.

I've been plugging through Guns, Germs and Steel as well.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by PowerPlayoffs06

I thought it was a terrible movie and was assuming the book must have been good because the story and plot had lots of potential, but the way they did it on film was just piss poor in my opinion. Apparently it's a good thing I didn't bother with the book then.

Im re-reading Robert Jordans Wheel of Time series for like, the fourth time

I have a hard time finding new authors because not many people I know read my genres (fantasy and horror), and the little story synopsis on the backs of books never tell me enough. Im compulsive about finishing books I've started before beginning another, no matter how bad they are, so I fear starting a crappy book because it usually winds up taking me a few months to finish it because I have no desire to read it.

Lots of fantasy fans here.

I already mentioned "Songs of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin. "Malazan Book of the Fallen" by Stephen Ericson is also good. I really like everything by Guy Gavriel Kay. (And I assume you already have read Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean)

[troutman]

Best SF and Fan of 2006:

http://www.sfsite.com/columns/best07.htm

http://www.sfsite.com/columns/best07b.htm

[The Unabomber]

Originally Posted by PowerPlayoffs06

I thought it was a terrible movie and was assuming the book must have been good because the story and plot had lots of potential, but the way they did it on film was just piss poor in my opinion. Apparently it's a good thing I didn't bother with the book then.

Im re-reading Robert Jordans Wheel of Time series for like, the fourth time

I have a hard time finding new authors because not many people I know read my genres (fantasy and horror), and the little story synopsis on the backs of books never tell me enough. Im compulsive about finishing books I've started before beginning another, no matter how bad they are, so I fear starting a crappy book because it usually winds up taking me a few months to finish it because I have no desire to read it.

I'm normally the same way with always finishing a book before i start another, had trouble reading Zen and The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenence though, got halfway through and it just lost me. Might try it again at another time.

If anyone is looking for a great book (in my opinion) that i recommend to everyone that reads is Tom Robbins Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, i can read that over and over and not grow tired of it.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I really like everything by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Read Ysabel yet? It's a doozie. Other news on the Kay front... they're turning Lions of Al-Rassan into a movie.

Right now I'm reading:
Naked by David Sedaris
The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
and From Ink Lake by Michael Ondaatje

fantastic, all of them.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by driveway

Read Ysabel yet? It's a doozie. Other news on the Kay front... they're turning Lions of Al-Rassan into a movie.

Right now I'm reading:
Naked by David Sedaris
The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
and From Ink Lake by Michael Ondaatje

fantastic, all of them.

No, I haven't.

Crap.

I have about 5 books on my "think I really want to read next" list, and I think you just added another.

An Al-Rassan movie! Good choice, that shouldn't be too difficult to film but has a great story to it. The more I think about it, I think it should translate onto the screen very well.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Ever been to Cuba?

Che is the man. When I was there I expected to see lots of Castro, but instead there was very little but Che was plastered everywhere.

that's another reason why I'm reading this one. He's either a hero or the devil depending on who you talk to. I have a friend who is a Cuban defector and he thinks he's absolutely the root of all evil. But hey, that's a discussion for another thread...

[lifer]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I'm just finishing of A Storm of Swords (for the second time) then will read A Feast For Crows.

Although last night I was reading Skeptic magazine. The article debunking 9/11 conspiracy theories was interesting.

I have a bunch of books that I have picked up over the last few months.

I've just finished "A Game of Throwns" and wasn't supurbly impressed until about page 600, then I got really into it. Now I'm starting a "Clash of Kings". I get roped into these long series' too easily.
Have you ever read the "A Dream of Eagles" series by Jack Whyte (it's called the Camulod Chronicles in the USA)? It's a realistic portrayal of the King Arthur legend set at the time when Rome was leaving Britain. IF you like what you're reading now you will love that series by Jack Whyte.

[Sparks]

Posted by The Unibomber:
...had trouble reading Zen and The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenence though, got halfway through and it just lost me.

That's funny - man, I'm the same way. I start reading it, and eventually get bored/forget about it, only to pick it up again months later. Over and over.

Tom Robbins Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates

Sitting on my shelf as we speak! I picked it up from a reccommendation and never got around to reading it. Guess that's next on the list.

At the moment, I'm reading Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven, which is a non-fiction book about Mormons (especially fundamentalist Mormons). It's a bit disturbing and definitely an easy read, but not as interesting as I'd hoped - at least so far. Blah blah blah they're crazy blah blah blah.

Looks like a lot of us are reading religion-themed books right now.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by peter12

Dawkins is easily one of my favourite popular science authors. The Selfish Gene and The Extended Phenotype are mind-blowing. This guy has taught me a lot I know about evolutionary biology, game theory, but this guy has an incredibly bad habit of straying out of his chosen field.

His gibberish on memetics is mostly an apologetic footnote, trying to excuse his political socialist beliefs. His stuff on religion is being trashed by almost every single (serious) theologian. I've heard good things about The God Delusion and I intend to pick it up, but I'm definitely going to be reading it with an open mind.

Right now, I'm reading a lot about Global Warming and Canadian Arctic Sovereignty, ahhhh paper writing season.

I've been plugging through Guns, Germs and Steel as well.

yep...a degree in theology means a lot...LOL...so much more than any science degree.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I'm just finishing of A Storm of Swords (for the second time) then will read A Feast For Crows.

Although last night I was reading Skeptic magazine. The article debunking 9/11 conspiracy theories was interesting.

I have a bunch of books that I have picked up over the last few months.

Loved Storm of Swords, I just finished reading that a while ago.

Right now I'm reading the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, on the 3rd Book, "The Dragon Reborn". Always heard the hype surrounding it, but never actually sat down and read it until now. Pretty good so far, but I gotta say it isn't quite as good as A Song of Ice and fire.

[PsYcNeT]

Ideas: A History Of Thought And Invention, From Fire To Freud

A brilliant book in almost every respect, takes ages to read (1152 pages, and unbelievably dense writing), but Peter Watson manages to weave an intricate tapestry of history approached from unseen angles that make this book nothing short of revolutionary.

I would seriously not be surprised if there are University courses taught around this book in the future.

[octothorp]

I'm reading Independent People by Haldor Laxness, an early 20th century Icelandic writer. The book is largely about a sheep farmer and his desire to be free from obligation to everyone, and it's just the sort of book I like, dense and heavy, a bit like Jose Saramago. I'm pretty sure that by the time I'm finished, it will rank among my favorite novels.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Loved Storm of Swords, I just finished reading that a while ago.

Right now I'm reading the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, on the 3rd Book, "The Dragon Reborn". Always heard the hype surrounding it, but never actually sat down and read it until now. Pretty good so far, but I gotta say it isn't quite as good as A Song of Ice and fire.

I started reading that when there were only 3 books. I thought it was a complete trilogy. About 100 pages from the end of the 3rd book I started thinking "He's really going to have to speed up his storytelling if he is going to wrap it up." Now 11 books in (and the 12th is still being written), I've kind of lost interest. I loved the first bunch, but the last few books haven't lived up to the earlier ones.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Cheese

yep...a degree in theology means a lot...LOL...so much more than any science degree.

Yep, because they are clearly the same thing. The human life is expressed through narratives. Religious texts are probably the most important narratives in existence. I'd trust someone who spent their lives studying them over an atheist with a chip on his shoulder .

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by lifer

I've just finished "A Game of Throwns" and wasn't supurbly impressed until about page 600, then I got really into it. Now I'm starting a "Clash of Kings". I get roped into these long series' too easily.
Have you ever read the "A Dream of Eagles" series by Jack Whyte (it's called the Camulod Chronicles in the USA)? It's a realistic portrayal of the King Arthur legend set at the time when Rome was leaving Britain. IF you like what you're reading now you will love that series by Jack Whyte.

I have been toying with getting those books every time I stop at Chapters. I may have to finally pick those up.

I am still on my same "read every Xanth book published" kick that I was just starting when the last What are you reading? thread was running. Up to book 14. The nice thing about Xanth is that it is so light, I tend to read two books a week without spending a ton of time reading.

[Knut]

Just picked up Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson based on Troutmans recommendation.. just about to start into that.

Also a few chapters into Guns, germs and Steel by Jared Diamond.

Finishing up THe Best SF of 2005 compilation.... short stories/novellas... some are good, some are real bad.