Son of "What are You Reading" Thread

[Lord Avalon]

Finished:
Across the Nightingale Floor
Rogue Warrior: Dictator's Ransom

Reading:
Grass for His Pillow, Tales of the Otori Book 2, by Lian Hearn

[ColdWizard]

"Rogue Warrior" (the 1st book) was autobiographical, interestingly enough, but the rest are fiction, so as not to get in trouble for some things he might reveal, I suppose.

I like the earlier ones better than the recent ones. John Weisman was the other author of those. At some point in the middle of the series, they weren't quite as good, though I kept going, hoping they'd get better.

I suppose a lot depends on how you like Marcinko's bombastic Rogue Warrior schtick. It might get old. But it can be fun when he goes and kicks ass despite the obstacles bureaucrats and diplomats put in his way. Early on, when he was still in the Navy, one of his favorite things was the UNODIR (unless otherwise directed) memo, which outlined his plans, which his CO wouldn't like, and which would hit his CO's desk after he left the office.

I have acquired much of the series for my dad but haven't read them. I am pondering whether it would be worth it to read some of them before shipping them out.

Finished:
Various Conan short stories - Robert E. Howard
Beyond the Blue Event Horizon - that guy whose name I don't recall

Reading:
Queen of the Black Coast - Robert E. Howard
Heechee Rendezvous - Frederik Pohl (I looked it up).

[CrONoS]

I don't read a lot of books this summer, but I read the entire comedies of Aristophanes earlier in June. Some of them were very inspiring, particularly " The Cloud" and "The Wasp". One thing I like of Aristophane, it's how high were his standard of "common good" and "justice". I also like how he could severely criticize someone even if this person was very powerful. (like Cleon in The Wasp).

Last but not least, I was surprised how Aristophanes judge Socrates as a sophist in “The Cloud”. Which is surprising when you think how Socrates fought the Sophist. Also, in Plato “Banquet”, Aristophane seems to be friend with Socrates. I think when Aristophane wrote “The Cloud” (20 years before the event related in the banquet) he merely know Socrates, except by reputation. It is possible that he decided to take Socrates as the symbols of sophism. But many years after, when he knew Socrates better, he became friend with him. (As related in the Banquet).

I'm presently reading a small book from an author that I like:
Simone Weil : Réflexions sur les causes de la liberté et de l'oppression sociale (Reflection on the cause of freedom and oppression) - Wrote around 1937

[Tuberski]

I have acquired much of the series for my dad but haven't read them. I am pondering whether it would be worth it to read some of them before shipping them out.

Finished:
Various Conan short stories - Robert E. Howard
Beyond the Blue Event Horizon - that guy whose name I don't recall

Reading:
Queen of the Black Coast - Robert E. Howard
Heechee Rendezvous - Frederik Pohl (I looked it up).

The first one, like Lord Avalon said, is autobiographical and a pretty good read. The second book is semi-autobiographical and decent. The rest, I didn't care for.

ACK!

[Tuberski]

I'm reading Contact with Chaos by Michael Z. Williamson.

ACK!

[Lord Avalon]

Finished:
Grass for His Pillow, Tales of the Otori Book 2

Reading:
Brilliance of the Moon, Tales of the Otori Book 3, by Lian Hearn
Sweet Silver Blues, Garrett P.I. #1, by Glen Cook
Football Outsiders Almanac 2010, by Aaron Schatz, et al.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

Just finished the james patterson alex cross " cross country"

Now reading book tuber got for me.. "Red hot tequila" no clue about The author apparently he is from san antone and i can relate to landmarks he cites in the story lol

[Guynemer]

The Domino Men by Jonathan Barnes. Just finished The Somnambulist, and it was quite good.

[Lord Avalon]

Finished:
Brilliance of the Moon
Sweet Silver Blues

Reading:
Harsh Cry of the Heron, The Last Tale of the Otori, by Lian Hearn
Bitter Gold Hearts, Garrett, P.I. #2, by Glen Cook

[Lord Avalon]

Finished:
Bitter Gold Hearts

Reading:
The Martian Race, by Gregory Benford

[Lord Avalon]

Finished:
The Martian Race

Reading:
Cold Copper Tears, Garrett, P.I. #3, by Glen Cook

[Arrian]

Finished:

The Guns of August
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Red Seas Under Red Skies (sequel to LoLL)
Sacred Hunger

Currently Reading:

Nada. Back to work now, not much time. I would like to read more of the Lamora stuff, but it's forthcoming. Grr.

-Arrian

[ColdWizard]

Finished:
Kull/Conan - Robert E. Howard

Current:
Berzerker Throne - Fred Saberhagen

[BeBMan]

It has been ages since I read my last thriller, but last weekend I came across Tom Rob Smith's "Child 44" and found it a very strong debut. Read it completely in two days. It's about a serial killer, set in the USSR of 1953 before and shortly after Stalin's death, with a prelude going back to the great famine in the Ukraine of the 1930ies (actually the killer stuff takes elements of a real case in the USSR of the 1970/80ies).

TRS uses the thriller theme to explore how life has been in Stalinist society. Esp. intense are the parts that describe how people, even those who are loyal 'believers', can get into trouble with the 'system' and how they all react differently when facing the choice to betray others or their own views to avoid bad consequences for themselves.....overall a very good read.

[N35t0r]

Duma Key, by Stephen King