Have you read any good books lately?

[quote author="Soylent Green Is People" date=1243923913]There's always "Still Life With A Woodpecker" by Tom Robbins. Odd, but not as odd as Hitchhiker's Guide.



"The Martian Chronicles" is another classic book suggestion.



I can't watch Mystic River without wanting to shoot the villains, so in order to preserve my Plasma, I turn the channel.</blockquote>


I was in HS during that period of time and these days I have a lot less patience than I did then. I have to say that I could never abide by the issues around the "mystic river" incidents. If for no other reason than because as the family of the girl that that happened to There is no excusable way to talk or remark on that woman's death.
 
I just finished Raymond Chandler's <em>The Long Goodbye</em>. It is generally considered his best book. I can believe it. This book was so enjoyable. This is one of those books where you imagine Bogart playing the PI. If you like this genre at all, you must read it.
 
[quote author="badcandy" date=1251169920]Yay for Iain Banks fans! Complicity typically makes my recommended books list. I tore through most of the Culture series (including Matter, the newest one) a couple of months ago. Made me rethink whether or not Brave New World should retain its title as my personal utopia. ;)



I usually suggest



Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson (Diamond Age is also quite engaging)

Shibumi - Trevanian (very slow start but so worth it)

Stranger in a Strange Land - Heinlein (because everyone should learn what grok means)





I'm currently reading <em>Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution</em> and <em>Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters</em>, and though required reading for a philosophy class I'm taking, if you're even vaguely interested in the subject matter, they're well done. Genome is great for bridging the gap between the science and day to day life, and Posthuman Future recognizes the trends toward Huxley's dystopia in our society.



I'm going to pick up a copy of The Road, thanks for the suggestion. :)</blockquote>


Check out:



Broken Angels - Richard Morgan

Old Mans War - John Scalzi

Anything by Peter Hamilton/Alastair Reynolds

Enders Game - Orson Scott Card

Deaths Head - David Gunn

Spin - Robert Charles Wilson
 
Anyone read Lost Symbol yet? I picked it up the day it was released and still haven't finished it, mostly because it's really failed to draw my interest. Enjoyed almost every other Dan Brown except for Deception Point.
 
[quote author="acpme" date=1255145762]Anyone read Lost Symbol yet? I picked it up the day it was released and still haven't finished it, mostly because it's really failed to draw my interest. Enjoyed almost every other Dan Brown except for Deception Point.</blockquote>


Its boring. Dont bother. I read it, and then looked at it again recently thinking "hey!" Oh. Ive read it, what was it about again? bleh.
 
I'm on a history kick, and am in the middle of "From Colony to Superpower: US Foreign Relations since 1776." by George C. Herring. It is gripping. One thing it provides unique insight on is the origins of executive privilege. Recent examples with the previous administration are nothing compared to some of the shenanigans of past Presidents.
 
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341">'The Help' by KathrynStockett</a>. Great book about black/white relations in Mississippi in the 60's. Black women were asked to cook, clean and raise the babies of their white employers, but still considered them "unclean" and made them use a separate garage bathroom! Great ending - you will love this book.
 
[quote author="GraceOMalley" date=1255158896][quote author="acpme" date=1255145762]Anyone read Lost Symbol yet? I picked it up the day it was released and still haven't finished it, mostly because it's really failed to draw my interest. Enjoyed almost every other Dan Brown except for Deception Point.</blockquote>


Its boring. Dont bother. I read it, and then looked at it again recently thinking "hey!" Oh. Ive read it, what was it about again? bleh.</blockquote>


seriously... i still enjoyed some of the books but every one of his books - including the ones where Robert Langdon isn't the protagonist - can be summarized as following. just switch the variables as needed.



Robert Langdon is called to famous location X for reasons he doesn't know.

Oh no, a prominent person is dead!

Robert Langdon must solve the mystery, which appears to involve Secret Society.

But Director So-in-So in charge of the investigation is skeptical and appears to be undermining. So-in-So can't be trusted?

Let us seek the assistance of Helpful Friend then...

Wait it wasn't Secret Society after all and Helpful Friend was behind it all along!
 
[quote author="acpme" date=1255576705][quote author="GraceOMalley" date=1255158896][quote author="acpme" date=1255145762]Anyone read Lost Symbol yet? I picked it up the day it was released and still haven't finished it, mostly because it's really failed to draw my interest. Enjoyed almost every other Dan Brown except for Deception Point.</blockquote>


Its boring. Dont bother. I read it, and then looked at it again recently thinking "hey!" Oh. Ive read it, what was it about again? bleh.</blockquote>


seriously... i still enjoyed some of the books but every one of his books - including the ones where Robert Langdon isn't the protagonist - can be summarized as following. just switch the variables as needed.



Robert Langdon is called to famous location X for reasons he doesn't know.

Oh no, a prominent person is dead!

Robert Langdon must solve the mystery, which appears to involve Secret Society.

But Director So-in-So in charge of the investigation is skeptical and appears to be undermining. So-in-So can't be trusted?

Let us seek the assistance of Helpful Friend then...

Wait it wasn't Secret Society after all and Helpful Friend was behind it all along!</blockquote>


You forgot the part about the much younger, attractive, female companion. Oh, and the zealot trying to derail his effort.
 
The White Tiger by Arvind Adiga.

(Fiction) Starts in rural India, weaves the atrocities farmers and the people of low caste face in a story that ends in Banglore.



Enough: Why the world's poorest starve in the age of plenty.

(Non-fiction) A very informative book about poverty in Africa, and of course about Norman Borlaug's miracles that helped Asia.



Tried reading Kamila Shamsie's "Burnt Shadows" but got bored.
 
<strong>If you haven't found any good Books lately you've probably been going to the....</strong>





<img src="http://www.uploadandgo.com/images/!cid_000d01ca582f$60b3be20$6401a8c0@ownerdmpgmcwrh.jpg" alt="" />
 
Peter knows this because that's where he learned how to read and write!



Prof, back me up!



[quote author="PeterUK" date=1256904639]<strong>If you haven't found any good Books lately you've probably been going to the....</strong>





<img src="http://www.uploadandgo.com/images/!cid_000d01ca582f$60b3be20$6401a8c0@ownerdmpgmcwrh.jpg" alt="" /></blockquote>
 
Interestingly, Peter seems to have gotten an incomplete education as he is unable

to read the bill when the waiter brings it to the table. :p
 
[quote author="profette" date=1257131448]Interestingly, Peter seems to have gotten an incomplete education as he is unable

to read the bill when the waiter brings it to the table. :p</blockquote>


That's because I'm trying to get you in a Headlock so you can't escape :)
 
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