It was a long time ago, but I think I probably more or less agree. Crime and Punishment for the win.
What are You Reading Now?
- Thread starter jpmcwjr
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I've been a Tom Robbins fan for decades. Haven't read this one in many years and decided to give it another go. Fun read from my college years.
Cujo by Stephen King.
Will read Stephen King’s newest short story collection with a sequel to cujo in it next.
Will read Stephen King’s newest short story collection with a sequel to cujo in it next.
Been on a Melville kick; read some of his short stories (strongly recommend the quick read: Bartleby, the Scrivener) and am now enjoying Redburn with my evening smokes.
I just finished reading "The Heavens On Earth" by Aubin, Bigg, and Sibum. I bought it because the description said that it was about 19th century observatories, but instead of what I was expecting,,, descriptions of observatories, telescopes and other equipment, astronomers, etc, it was more about the sociological impact of various observatories in different countries, mapping, etc. An interesting take, each chapter written by different sociologists. Interesting, and worth reading, but some chapters were rather difficult sledding. Many sociologists seem to write more to impress other sociologists instead of writing for clarity.
OK, that's my personal opinion, but still worth reading.
(I put the layer of cardboard on my swinging chair because I'm dealing with a rather nasty bout of sciatica.)
OK, that's my personal opinion, but still worth reading.
(I put the layer of cardboard on my swinging chair because I'm dealing with a rather nasty bout of sciatica.)
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I'm currently reading.......um........a........brain fart........
I believe it's called "Blood and Thunder".
It is an amazing "non-fiction" book mainly about the exploits of Kit Carson and a few other absolute badasses from the 1800s.
They don't make guys like these anymore.
I knew a lot of badasses when I was in the Army deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Guys like Kit Carson make my fellow Rangers look like school girls.
I'm kidding.......sort of.
I believe it's called "Blood and Thunder".
It is an amazing "non-fiction" book mainly about the exploits of Kit Carson and a few other absolute badasses from the 1800s.
They don't make guys like these anymore.
I knew a lot of badasses when I was in the Army deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Guys like Kit Carson make my fellow Rangers look like school girls.
I'm kidding.......sort of.
"Kit Carson Leads the Way" doesn't have the same ring to it.Guys like Kit Carson make my fellow Rangers look like school girls.
I'm kidding.......sort of.
I read the second of Lillian Jackson Braun's delightful series title "The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern". Not as good as the first book it was a pretty good read.
3/5
3/5
I am reading the "Murder at the Dolphin Hotel", Set in 1933 it involves the murder of a gentleman down at a distinguished hotel. Kitty Underhays the owner of the hotel is bound and determined to figure out who did it.
4/5
4/5
I am a big sucker for military books. You might want to check out Skunk Works if you haven’t already; it details the development of some cool planes.
Working my way through some Melville; collection of short stories, Redburn and now I begin Moby-Dick.
Crap! I'm now hooked on WFB's Oakes series. I generally disdain fiction but, every now and then I run into something captivating. So I'm reading the second in the series.
I just finished "The Life and Correspondence of Abraham Sharp" by William Cudworth, 1889. I'd held back on reading this old thing for awhile, because it looked a little daunting, maybe partly because of the simple physical size of the thing. As it turned out, it was an extremely enjoyable book, full of old letters and historical detail. A perfect pipe smoking book. A few times I had to check up on English history from the 16 and 17 hundreds to understand the background.
Abraham Sharp was the first assistant of John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal. He only worked for him for a couple years, but they remained lifelong friends and kept up a correspondence... So the book is almost as much about Flamsteed as it is about Sharp. Full of interactions, between legendary astronomers and mathematicians, sometimes adversarial but always formally "polite," as was the custom among the educated class of the day. I'd never personally known it, but the sainted Isaac Newton could be a back-stabbing, egotistical, asshole. Flamsteed also said that Edmund Halley talked, swore, and drank brandy like a ship captain. Fascinating stuff.
Abraham Sharp was the first assistant of John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal. He only worked for him for a couple years, but they remained lifelong friends and kept up a correspondence... So the book is almost as much about Flamsteed as it is about Sharp. Full of interactions, between legendary astronomers and mathematicians, sometimes adversarial but always formally "polite," as was the custom among the educated class of the day. I'd never personally known it, but the sainted Isaac Newton could be a back-stabbing, egotistical, asshole. Flamsteed also said that Edmund Halley talked, swore, and drank brandy like a ship captain. Fascinating stuff.
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Here are (some of) the ones I am currently working through. I am surprised at how much I am enjoying the poetry as I don't normally enjoy it (a personal shortcoming as I see it). 