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Post by chadgumbo on Nov 28, 2005 0:27:37 GMT -5
There's some really great discussion going on in the "Films" thread right now regarding the books we've read (either recently or in the past), so I thought it 'd be fun to start a "books" thread. It might even become something of a book club. Hey, if Oprah can tell us what she suggests we read - why can't Feat fans?  So what am I reading right now? You have to go back 25 years or so to answer that. I had really enjoyed "The Lord of the Rings" as I was entering college, and looked for more fantasy type books after having read it. I came across a series of books by Stephen Donaldson "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant." Parts 1 and 2 consist of a total of 6 books, and the last of the 6 was published around 1983 or so. I read them all and thought that was the last of it. Then last year he (Donaldson) picked up on the story again, and is writing another 4 book series called "The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant". I've just about wrapped up the first book "The Runes of the Earth". What are my favorite books? I'll need to give that a little thought and put that into another post. Goosfraba  |
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Post by jashley on Dec 7, 2005 1:45:13 GMT -5
Chad,
I recently read a book by Walter Mosley, who wrote the E Z Rawlins detective books. I think the title was "The Man in the Basement" (you know how bad I am with titles). Not a detective story but an examination of good and evil. Best book I've read this year.
I'll have to put some thought into a favorite books list and post it. Good idea to start this thread as we have talked about books in other threads on this forum but it will be good to have a designated place for the "Book Club".
Peace
j
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Post by Scott Hays on Dec 7, 2005 20:27:10 GMT -5
I am almost finished with Terry Pratchet's "Darwin's Watch: The Science of Discworld, Volume 3". If you don't know the Discworld Series, then look at the next paragraph and I'll briefly describe it for you. This book is co-written with a mathematician and a popular science writer. Pratchet tells the story, but the alternating chapters are the math and science content that is raised by each chapter in the story. The story is (typically) absurd ... Wizards from the Unseen University whiled away some spare time by creating a universe to study, and have become somewhat attached to their creation. They keep it in a sealed jar, but visit it every once in a while to check on progress. Because they know both past and future of this galaxy, they know that the human inhabitants of a planet called Earth might might become technologically savvy enough to escape the planet before a world-ending ice age wipes them off the face of it. However, that is but one possible outcome in a multiverse replete with alternate realities. They decide to intercede when they realize that in only one alternate version of history does a young Englishman named Charles Darwin write a book entitled the Origin of Species which, in turn, accelerates the scientific development of humans on a pace allowing them to master space travel before the ice age descends. In many other realities, he writes the Theology of Species, while in most he dies without having done much of anything. The story is full of bizarre twists and turns, as messing with Time is no easy task (even for Wizards), and the science and math is mind boggling.
Other Pratchet books are also worth reading. There is the 28ish long Discworld Series ... a flat planet filled with magic that rides around on the back of four elephants carried by a massive turtle with stories that make fun of everything. Think Douglas Adams on steroids. Three recent titles, not of the Discworld Series, should also be examined. They are the Bromeliad Trilogy (Diggers, Truckers, and Flyers), about gnomes who coexist on earth but live at 10 times the speed of we humans; Good Omens (the story of the coming of the anti-Christ, except he gets mixed up at birth and given to the wrong parents while an archangel and a demon have decided the time is not right for Armegeddon and team up to thwart the Second Coming); and The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (the story of an alley cat who grew up outside the Unseen University and ate the rodents who lived in the refuse pile created by the magical waste of the Wizards who lived inside, and now has a "plan" which involves using the rats and a piper boy to extract money from unsuspecting country bumpkins whose towns are mysteriously and suddenly invaded by rats ... until they meet up with a girl who knows how stories really work!].
Before starting this book, I read Guns, Germs, and Steel -- which is why I needed something a little lighter -- which explains why the world is the way it is today when everyone is just as smart as everyone else, just not blessed with "guns, germs and steel".
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Post by paulgind on Dec 7, 2005 21:40:04 GMT -5
Read A Pirate Looks at 50 by our good buddy Jimmy Buffett.
As I sit here with download 1 on my new cd player.
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mg
Full Member
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Post by mg on Dec 8, 2005 21:03:44 GMT -5
These are not favorites, just the most recent...I am happy to see y'alls suggestions and will look for these at the library this weekend. I just read Steven Saylor, whose last book is "A Twist at the End". This is a factual treatment of shocking turn of the century murders in Austin, probably the first serial murders in the U.S. He manages to touch on politics, race and domestic situations as he uses O. Henry's viewpoint. Also reading Chuck Colson's book "The Good Life", subtitled "Seeking purpose, meaning, and truth in your life". I guess Watergate and that era still catch my attention . I admit to visiting the Nixon Birthplace, out of curiosity---- Plus, admitting this will get me uninvited to Mustang Mike's house (LOL)!
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Post by Mike on Dec 9, 2005 14:18:00 GMT -5
I admit to visiting the Nixon Birthplace, out of curiosity---- Plus, admitting this will get me uninvited to Mustang Mike's house (LOL)! No way...we do not discriminate here at Patton's Party Palace. Heck, one time I held my nose and drove right through Rush Limbaugh's hometown of Cape Girardeau, MO. Had to..it was between me and "Graceland". ;D |
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Post by Rollin' Mark on Dec 9, 2005 20:32:06 GMT -5
No way...we do not discriminate here at Patton's Party Palace. I can vouch for that! |
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Post by chadgumbo on Dec 19, 2005 19:28:34 GMT -5
Chad, I recently read a book by Walter Mosley, who wrote the E Z Rawlins detective books. I think the title was "The Man in the Basement j J - I know this has nothing to do with the(se) book(s), but that title reminded of the short little schizo poem... "Yesterday upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there - I met him there again today, How I wish he would go away" ;D Anyway, the real purpose of this post is that my son and I are having a bit of disagreement regarding The Lord of the Rings. With regard to the The Return of the King, towards the end of the story Sam accompanys Frodo and Gandalf off to the ship that is going to take them away from Middle Earth forever. I said "Oh, you mean the part where Frodo and Gandalf die." "They didn't die" was my son's response. Well, okay not literally, but it was a symbolic death. After all, they're leaving forever, Frodo's whining about his old injuries and Gandalf is lamenting his advanced age, and they're going to live with the elves who just happen to be immortal. I say it's a symbolic death. Ben (my son) likens it to retirees headed to Florida. What do you say out there in Featdom? |
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Post by Scott Hays on Dec 20, 2005 0:30:08 GMT -5
Valhalla ... the longer boats are coming to take us ... Nirvana ...
We all die. Some folks (Tolkien included) want to make more of it than there is. The spirit lives on in every one we contact and touch.
That's it.
Not that that's bad. It IS imortality, after all.
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Post by featphoto on Dec 20, 2005 7:41:31 GMT -5
Valhalla ... the longer boats are coming to take us ... Nirvana ... We all die. Some folks (Tolkien included) want to make more of it than there is. The spirit lives on in every one we contact and touch. That's it. Not that that's bad. It IS imortality, after all. that's pretty much the way I see it as well. my wife has a more traditional view (with afterlife and all) but there's no friction 'cause we'll all find out sooner or later ... hopefully later ... |
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BillL
Full Member
RIGHT ON !!!!
Posts: 172
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Post by BillL on Dec 20, 2005 10:22:15 GMT -5
that's pretty much the way I see it as well. my wife has a more traditional view (with afterlife and all) but there's no friction 'cause we'll all find out sooner or later ... hopefully later ...
I'll bring the Cucumber Sauce.
And, for the record as a fan of the books, I never really even questioned it. Now that I think of it, the retirees to Florida is a good one but because I always understood it as a fantasy I just didn't ever think to expend my energy on it. I mean, it's his world and not mine. It really doesn't matter if I think it makes sense, does it? Besides I can see Gandalf with his white/grey plaid bermuda shorts, knee high black socks and sandals getting up a 4 am for breakfast, catching the early bird 3:30 dinners and back in bed immediately following the 6:00 news. Come to think of it, if he falls asleep during jeopardy, that could almost be my father.
Bill L
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Post by chadgumbo on Dec 20, 2005 10:45:51 GMT -5
From Hank: - agreed! From BillL: and don't forget the tee time. Frodo and Bilbo will need to get their daily round of 18 holes in. Of course that damned Gandalf would probably tag along and eagle every hole. What fun would that be?  |
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BillL
Full Member
RIGHT ON !!!!
Posts: 172
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Post by BillL on Dec 20, 2005 11:17:15 GMT -5
and don't forget the tee time.
Well, I guess I always thought of them as being too old and hurt (nevermind short and stumpy) to play golf. But then again, I'm too old and hurt (not to mention short and stumpy) to play hockey but I do. So I guess anything's possible. And I bet Gandalf would have laugh with his staff. What that has to do with golf, I don't know, but there, I said it.
Bill L
(anyone seen any extra commas? I may need a few up there)
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Post by Rollin' Mark on Dec 20, 2005 11:24:42 GMT -5
Never been a fan of the trilogy so I can't comment on the above. However, in case there is someone here who has never seen this, I will post this link: www.tolkiencollector.com/bilbo5.movYou need quicktime plugin for it to work. Bill L wrote: I'm too old and hurt (not to mention short and stumpy) to play hockey but I do.This would explain the sixpack or so consumed before you get on the ice. |
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BillL
Full Member
RIGHT ON !!!!
Posts: 172
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Post by BillL on Dec 20, 2005 11:45:28 GMT -5
This would explain the sixpack or so consumed before you get on the ice.
Well, like a stage actor or writer, I must find my muse and inspiration. And my muse is a cold glass of Sam Adams Winter Lager and my inspiration is the next one. At least until the next seasonal beer comes out.
Bill L
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