Wildguzzi.com

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: oldbike54 on February 19, 2021, 04:14:44 PM

Title: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: oldbike54 on February 19, 2021, 04:14:44 PM
 What books are your favorites , and what authors ?

 What books came recommended that were awful , same for authors ?

 Here , I'll start , one of my favorites was "The Drifters" by Michener

 Least favorite was that Sword of Shanara nonsense by Terry Brooks , nothing more than a weak Tolkien imitation .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: DaveJT on February 19, 2021, 04:22:28 PM
Breakfast of champions.  Lost Horizon.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: pebra on February 19, 2021, 04:27:14 PM
A couple of awful recommendations:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Just a little hardly anything at all?

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
I know "anything goes" in fiction, but come on - - - - It just got sillier and sillier and half way through I was..... through with it.

Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: AJ Huff on February 19, 2021, 04:28:09 PM
Waaaaay too many to list.

-AJ
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: pehayes on February 19, 2021, 04:30:35 PM
"Under the Banner of Heaven" by Krakauer.  Couldn't put it down.  Gave me the heebie-jeebies.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: oldbike54 on February 19, 2021, 04:34:43 PM
Waaaaay too many to list.

-AJ

 It isn't like we don't have the time ...

 Dusty
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: john fish on February 19, 2021, 04:35:04 PM
Hell, Dusty, I'm a reader.  How much time you got?   :)

A Norwegian friend clued me into this one:

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/HaieneNovel.jpg)

It's very good both as a sea adventure and in an allegorical sense.  The author had served on ships and knew his stuff.  I was fascinated to learn that sailing ships were still faster than steam ships in the early part of the 20th century.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: oldbike54 on February 19, 2021, 04:40:50 PM
Hell, Dusty, I'm a reader.  How much time you got?   :)

A Norwegian friend clued me into this one:

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/HaieneNovel.jpg)

It's very good both as a sea adventure and in an allegorical sense.  The author had served on ships and knew his stuff.  I was fascinated to learn that sailing ships were still faster than steam ships in the early part of the 20th century.

  Love tales of the sea, although I get seasick  :grin:

 Thanks John

 Dusty
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: fotoguzzi on February 19, 2021, 04:42:29 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/k9Wb96w/EBD21335-27-C4-4330-864-D-3-FFBCE6-B2-ACC.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k9Wb96w)

(https://i.ibb.co/F0h1JzZ/535-DEABC-D900-4-F85-8-E28-B44-F12-D98210.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F0h1JzZ)

Just two of the dozens of books I've read since -.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: wrbix on February 19, 2021, 04:44:32 PM
Cormac McCarthy’s border trilogy.
Anything by Loren Eiseley

Disliked Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mechanics.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: HarveyMushman on February 19, 2021, 04:56:06 PM
Cormac McCarthy’s border trilogy.

Good books.  Try Blood Meridian for the full psychopathy treatment.   :grin:



Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Shorty on February 19, 2021, 04:59:44 PM
"Aztec"    by Gary Jennings.   Kurt Vonnegut fan. I like some of Tom Robbins stuff. (Even Cowgirls get the Blues, Still Life with Woodpecker)  More recently, I like the "Serge" series of books by Tim Dorsey. Also a fan of Randy Wayne White (Doc Ford novels), and Carl Hiasson, (Skink) all 3  Floridacentric scribes. Michener, Hemingway are early favorites. I've read the complete Bible  a few times. Read some rather dreary Albert Pike (Morals and Dogma.) Lots more, but I like it light, not  too profound these days.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Ncdan on February 19, 2021, 05:04:36 PM
Other than THE BOOK, I probably enjoyed the original Mary Shelly version of Frankenstein. It took me several nights to complete it because there were many words, phrases and articles that are no longer used in our English/grammar. Many of the words which were necessary to understand due to being KEY WORDS needed to understand the meaning of the sentence. These words were not in the dictionary and I had to do some research to learn what the Old English word or term meant.
Read it, it’s an enjoyable challenge, kind of like owning a moto Guzzi:)
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: kirby1923 on February 19, 2021, 05:14:46 PM
Coming for the out back in W Texas there wasn't much water so..

What started me reading in earnest was the :

 C. S. Forester's ten novels of Horatio Hornblower, a Royal Navy officer. Taught me a lot about command.(came in handy).

After that I was given a small book titled A lifetimes must read reading list from which I read a bunch of those listed but most now lost in the fog of time.

For the past 5 year its been technical books and manuals mostly with a dime novel here and there that  usually has captured my attention from the cover or title..just rubbish but quick entertainment.

:-)
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: wrbix on February 19, 2021, 05:16:29 PM
Good books.  Try Blood Meridian for the full psychopathy treatment.   :grin:
Been there, done that. Memorable
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: LowRyter on February 19, 2021, 05:20:57 PM
I miss Kurt Vonnegut & Dr Hunter S Thompson ....  but I read more nonfiction now.  I've only read one of his books but George Packer was quite good, I should read some of his other books.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: arveno on February 19, 2021, 05:34:33 PM
Do not judge a book by it's cover , they say.

Well , I did it ( could not resist the pic of that bmw in the cover ) and i liked it

title: Shop class as soulcraft
Author :Matthew Crawford
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: pebra on February 19, 2021, 05:43:27 PM
"Aztec"    by Gary Jennings.   Kurt Vonnegut fan. I like some of Tom Robbins stuff. (Even Cowgirls get the Blues, Still Life with Woodpecker)  More recently, I like the "Serge" series of books by Tim Dorsey. Also a fan of Randy Wayne White (Doc Ford novels), and Carl Hiasson, (Skink) all 3  Floridacentric scribes. Michener, Hemingway are early favorites. I've read the complete Bible  a few times. Read some rather dreary Albert Pike (Morals and Dogma.) Lots more, but I like it light, not  too profound these days.

Oh yes, I remember enjoying Even Cowgirls Get The Blues enormously!   :shocked:
Have recently bought Still Life With Woodpecker, let's see if we agree on that one  - - - - -

And Hiaasen!  :thumb:
For a period I read all I could find of Hiaasen, Henning Mankell's Wallander books, and Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti books -
I think of them as writers with distinctly different writing styles, writing these crime books incorporating clear social commentary from very different cultures. They also have in common that they let the protagonist lament the way his world is changing.

Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Huzo on February 19, 2021, 06:15:17 PM
I did read “Chickenhawk” by some bloke.
About a young bloke who went through helicopter training for Vietnam. ‘Twas good.

Strangely enough, the Boorman Mc Gregor “Long Way” books were a good adjunct to the real thing.

For Aussies.. Boris Mihailovic’s “My Mother Warned Me About Blokes Like Me..” was a good rainy day one.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Demar on February 19, 2021, 06:35:52 PM
I like Larry McMurtry. Lonesome Dove was excellent. Also Louis L'Amour.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: fotoguzzi on February 19, 2021, 06:44:42 PM
A true iron man,

(https://i.ibb.co/ZYzqMgB/F273-B630-E6-A8-4-DA6-A327-A6-B1-B9019-E08.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZYzqMgB)
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Gliderjohn on February 19, 2021, 06:46:32 PM
From Huzo:
Quote
I did read “Chickenhawk” by some bloke.
About a young bloke who went through helicopter training for Vietnam. ‘Twas good.
Agree, a good Vietnam era book.
GliderJohn
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on February 19, 2021, 06:50:29 PM
Anything by Nick Adams.  :azn:
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Gliderjohn on February 19, 2021, 06:51:02 PM
Some may discount Louis L'Amour but I consider his book "The Haunted Mesa" as of my top reads.
GliderJohn
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: GeorgiaGuzzi on February 19, 2021, 06:51:30 PM
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Looks prophetic today.

The Dying of the trees by Charles Little. Non-fiction. I’m quite the tree hugger and I saw with my own eyes what the author detailed.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas. Absolutely love it!

Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams. The passage with the whale and the flower still cracks me up!

Anything by Louis La’mour, Patrick McManus, and Tolkien’s LOTR. Also partial to Nick Adam’s writing style.

Honorable mention Their eyes were watching god by Zora Neal Hurston. Again a required reading, but one I appreciated immensely.

Books I didn’t like.

The Great Gatsby. I don’t think I’ve quite forgiven my English teacher for making that required reading.

The later hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. It felt forced, like the author was trying to recapture what he had in the first 3 books.

There was one of Falkners books that I just never could get into. I can’t remember which. Probably a defense mechanism.

Anything by Clive Cussler. Most of Tom Clancy’s books, they got extremely formulaic.

The Silmarlion(?) by Tolkien. Just couldn’t read it.

Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: GeorgiaGuzzi on February 19, 2021, 06:55:51 PM
Some may discount Louis L'Amour but I consider his book "The Haunted Mesa" as of my top reads.
GliderJohn

👍🏼 I have read all his works I believe. I was a voracious reader (still am) growing up and I searched high and low to get his works.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: fotoguzzi on February 19, 2021, 06:56:55 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/dWd66Nb/FF594-CBB-CCF7-4189-B02-E-655-D4-C2-AB91-C.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dWd66Nb)
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: DougG on February 19, 2021, 07:03:09 PM
WARNING...SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION...


(https://i.ibb.co/7277svR/RAW-DATA-FINAL-DIGITAL-BOOK-THUMBNAIL.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7277svR)


Hi all,                                                                                               2-19-21

I wrote this book a few years ago.  It is available on Amazon and Kindle.  It is about 400 pages in length and will come out as an audio book in about 4-5 months.   The plotline deals with a health insurance company that seeks to increase its profits by eliminating the most costly (chronically ill), policy holders...in a most insidious way.  If the description on Amazon does not interest you, please do not purchase.  If it tickles your interest, try it. 

Click on the thumbnail for a more complete image.

Be well, stay well,
DougG
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: JC85 on February 19, 2021, 07:18:13 PM
I'm a fantasy nerd. Was given a copy of "The Hobbit" for Xmas when I was 12, and never turned back. Fantasy is 99.9% of my leisure reading.

My newest favorite series is "The Stormlight Archive" by Brandon Sanderson. The man is an absolute master at building entirely unique worlds, races, cultures, magic systems, etc. The best since Tolkien, imo. I got turned onto him when he was brought in to finish "The Wheel of Time" series, when the original author, Robert Jordan, died when it was still two books away from being finished. Fair warning: he's not a light read; all 4 of the first books in " The Stormlight Archive" series have broken 1000 pages. Totally worth it, though, imo.

For lighter, funnier, and more enjoyable fantasy, I recommend Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files." Been keeping up with that series for 14 years, now. It's sort of a cross between fantasy and noir mystery. The main character is a wizard who lives and works as a private detective in modern day Chicago. The series is long and still going, but each book is a short, fun, easy read. Each individual book is its own self contained mystery novel, but at the same time, there's an amazing overarching plot that connects and develops through the whole series. There was a really horrible SyFy channel tv series that only lasted for 1 season, because it was so bad. If you've seen it, don't pass up the books, because of it. The show was a dumpster fire, but the books are wonderful.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on February 19, 2021, 07:22:52 PM
The Last Grain Race is a 1956 book by Eric Newby
a travel writer, about his time spent on the four-masted steel barque Moshulu during the vessel's last voyage in the Australian grain trade.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: AJ Huff on February 19, 2021, 07:44:53 PM
(https://i.ibb.co/847B4hs/FB-IMG-1613784789280.jpg)

I've read a few Tolkien books. :laugh: Silmarillion might be my all time favorite book. I can't count how many times I've read it.

I love all of Trevanian's books though the last one I read was probably 20 years ago.

The Odessa File maybe has impacted my life more than any other book with the depiction of a Nazi concentration camp.

I read one book electronically and one book in paper at the same time. For the past five years or so the e-book I read is a download from Project Gutenberg. I pick end of the 19th century, turn of the 20th century best sellers. Also the earliest gothic or fantasy books I can find. I have an extreme dislike for horror but am working my way through the complete works of HP Lovecraft on my tablet. I think I have 4 more stories left. My current in print book is The Watchmen. Current e-book is Sons and Lovers.

Usually I alternate fiction, with non-fiction. My grandmother was a librarian as well as my aunt. My mother-in-law retired as an English teacher. We have an unhealthy reverence for books in our families. Like my grandmother, I have a record of every book I've ever read since high school.

-AJ
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: delrod on February 19, 2021, 07:47:12 PM
Children of the Lion series by Peter Danielson. Almost certainly not in print still they were old in the 80's .Have read most of the series twice 20 years apart. Good fictionalized historic stuff following the bloodline of Cain and Abel through several generations
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: kingoffleece on February 19, 2021, 07:47:54 PM
Gorky Park.  Martin Cruz Smith.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: leroysch on February 19, 2021, 07:59:00 PM
One metric for how good a book is how disappointing the movie is. Can't recommend more strongly for:
1. Shogun-James Clavell
2. The Stand (long or short edition)-Stephen King
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: LowRyter on February 19, 2021, 08:04:03 PM
WARNING...SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION...


(https://i.ibb.co/7277svR/RAW-DATA-FINAL-DIGITAL-BOOK-THUMBNAIL.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7277svR)


Hi all,                                                                                               2-19-21

I wrote this book a few years ago.  It is available on Amazon and Kindle.  It is about 400 pages in length and will come out as an audio book in about 4-5 months.   The plotline deals with a health insurance company that seeks to increase its profits by eliminating the most costly (chronically ill), policy holders...in a most insidious way.  If the description on Amazon does not interest you, please do not purchase.  If it tickles your interest, try it. 

Click on the thumbnail for a more complete image.

Be well, stay well,
DougG

This almost sounds like Hitchcock...meets.. .perhaps Soylent Green & Money Ball ?

You need to give us a link, not just a picture.  I looked and couldn't Google you or your book.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: delrod on February 19, 2021, 08:07:25 PM
Currently rereading (for the third time) The Oregon Desert Good account of ranch life in the Oregon Desert .  I kinda enjoy rereads . Another good one was Kon Tiki 1st & 2nd reading separated by 35-40 years
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Gliderjohn on February 19, 2021, 08:09:22 PM
Another interesting author from Emporia, KS no less is Don Goldsmith. He wrote a historically based but a fictional series of books on the plains Indians from the Indians point of view. It is something like 22 books starting with the first meetings of the Spanish explorers to the late 18 hundreds. The first book is titled the "The Trail of the Spanish Bit."
GliderJohn
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: John A on February 19, 2021, 08:17:08 PM
I recommend “Escape from Eden” by Paul Wallice  and ”Stage of Time” by Matthew LaCroix.
They are both about mans ancient beginnings . Solid works if you’re interested in that. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/escaping-from-eden-paul-wallis/1132436663
https://thestageoftime.com
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Tom on February 19, 2021, 08:18:59 PM
Rascals in Paradise.  James Michener.
Hope for the Highway.....New Testament.
Great Expectations.  Charles Dickens.
Sojurners & Settlers.  Glick.
Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things.  Panati.
Guzziology.  1st Edition when it came out.
The Bounty Trilogy.  Different authors.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: JC85 on February 19, 2021, 08:31:01 PM
Ah, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my all time favorite non fantasy book: "The Monkey Wrench Gang." Who's read it, and for those who have, who is your favorite character? I'm a Seldom Seen Smith man, myself.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Gliderjohn on February 19, 2021, 08:32:44 PM
I have always been an avid reader and have an MS degree but... my father born in 1904 with and 8th grade education could go toe to toe with me on historical and classical literature. Our own Dusty here is one of the most self educated persons I have ever known. Formal education is rarely time wasted but with an open mind and some self-motivation one can become very educated.
GliderJohn
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Ncdan on February 19, 2021, 08:33:04 PM
A true iron man,

(https://i.ibb.co/ZYzqMgB/F273-B630-E6-A8-4-DA6-A327-A6-B1-B9019-E08.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZYzqMgB)

👍 on Lonesome Dove. I didn’t read that series but I read the 3 after that.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: JC85 on February 19, 2021, 08:34:37 PM
One metric for how good a book is how disappointing the movie is. Can't recommend more strongly for:

My favorite example of this is "I am Legend." Discovered the book in high school, and it's an excellent, totally original take on the vampire theme. Then came this Will Smith POS with some kind of weird zombie things and a completely different plotline that doesn't even resemble the book. I kid you not, the ONLY thing that the book and movie have in common is the name of the main character and the fact that there's a dog involved.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: JC85 on February 19, 2021, 08:39:07 PM
One metric for how good a book is how disappointing the movie is. Can't recommend more strongly for:

Just thought of another example: Interview With a Vampire vs Queen of the Damned. The film adaptation of Interview with a Vampire was excellent and spot on from the book. Why? Because Anne Rice, the author of the book, WROTE the screenplay, and was involved in production. Then came Queen of the Damned, one of the other adaptations from that books series. Anne Rice wasn't involved in any capacity, and lo and behold, it was absolute trash on every level. Ok, I'm done complaining. Back to discussing good books!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: JC85 on February 19, 2021, 08:40:56 PM
Currently rereading (for the third time) The Oregon Desert Good account of ranch life in the Oregon Desert .  I kinda enjoy rereads . Another good one was Kon Tiki 1st & 2nd reading separated by 35-40 years

I'm also a rereader. I have one book that I reread every single winter, and a couple of others that I reread at least once, every few years.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: DonT on February 19, 2021, 08:53:56 PM
Ever since newspapers disappeared, I've doubled up on books; especially reading over breakfast.  A similar thread a few years back was great. 
My wife works in the town library and brings home whatever she thinks I'd like. 
Most recently EDUCATED, by Tara Westover   
No one will regret reading this
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Siamese on February 19, 2021, 09:04:45 PM
From Huzo:Agree, a good Vietnam era book.
GliderJohn

Yeah...Chickenhawk.  Awesome book.  If you pay attention at all, you walk away with a good understanding of how a helicopter works, and how they're flown. 
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: V7Record on February 19, 2021, 09:23:24 PM
I'm not sure I could name a favorite but like a few others I enjoy rereads. 
Some of my favorite rereads would be LOTR or almost anything by Heinlein or Edgar Rice Burroughs.

For the past couple years I've been signed up with bookbub.  They send daily emails with deals, usually free to a couple bucks, on ebooks from Amazon/B&N/etc.  Some of these are new authors, many are 1st in a series where they hope to suck you in.  I tend towards the freebies but have also bought quite a few.  While bookbub is free I've found myself reading a lot more variety since signing up.  They have you indicate genre's etc that interest you so you mostly see titles that have a chance of interesting you.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Siamese on February 19, 2021, 09:32:11 PM
I was annoyed that the OP opened this thread, but then realized...these are Guzzi riders!  I'll bet they read good books. 

I'll second Gary Jenning's Aztec.  His other books are good, too. 

I suspect Aztec is based on The Egyptian, by Mika Waltari.  Highly recommend The Egyptian. 

Oh, and pretty much every Nelson Demille book.  A good one to start with might be The Gatehouse. 

I resisted Michener, because I thought his books were written to become TV mini-series.  Until I read one.  And then read all of them. 

Can also recommend The Frontiersmen by Alan Eckerts.  Great true adventure story about frontiersman, Simon Kenton and Tecumseh. 

Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
Another book about the American frontier. 

And, anything by Bernard.  Historical fiction.  He has series of novels on the American Civil War, English bowmen, King Arthur, and more.  Always fun to read, and he wrote a lot of books.  I was sad when I realized I had finally read them all. 

Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals, if you like good historical fiction.  This one's about the American Civil War, and focuses on Gettysburg.  His father Michael also writes novels about the American Civil War, and The Killer Angels is good. 
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Siamese on February 19, 2021, 09:39:12 PM
Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana

Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: oldbike54 on February 19, 2021, 09:41:50 PM
 Bill Bryson writes some really enjoyable travel books , and his treatise on the English language is nonpareil . Humor combined with scholarship is an amazing way to tell a story .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: John Croucher on February 19, 2021, 10:03:38 PM
I never considered myself a reader.   But, actually I have always been a reader and researcher. 

Recently I heard a big crash two floors down from bed.  Didn't smell smoke and rolled over.

Next day hit office door and 5 rolls 16 ft lg of library was on the floor.  Plastic  shelves suck.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: oldbike54 on February 19, 2021, 10:54:50 PM
I never considered myself a reader.   But, actually I have always been a reader and researcher. 

Recently I heard a big crash two floors down from bed.  Didn't smell smoke and rolled over.

Next day hit office door and 5 rolls 16 ft lg of library was on the floor.  Plastic  shelves suck.

  :laugh:

 Dusty
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Tom on February 19, 2021, 10:58:07 PM
Same for garage shelves if you have stuff on them like engine, parts etc.  Wood is good but steel is for real. 
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: DougG on February 20, 2021, 07:17:27 AM
Hi All,                                                                                 2-20-21

Since I was asked...

This is the link to my book on Amazon.  It's easiest if you have a Kindle reader.  Enjoy!

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=raw+data...fixing+the+numbers&rh=n%3A154606011&ref=nb_sb_noss




(https://i.ibb.co/7277svR/RAW-DATA-FINAL-DIGITAL-BOOK-THUMBNAIL.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7277svR)



Be well, stay well,
DougG
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Rough Edge racing on February 20, 2021, 07:53:11 AM
 I like military history.......Super fortress, the story of the B29 in action by General Curtiss Lemay, Flyboys, accounts of US flyer Pow's, Unroken, another Pow powerful story. Blitzed, very interesting accounts of Nazi drug use...And like him or not, Bill  O' Reilly's series of "the killing of Lincoln, Kennedy etc are well written and free from political opinion.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: skippy on February 20, 2021, 08:49:29 AM
Someone already mentioned a good read being destroyed when made into a movie and that is certainly true with Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. This was the first book of Heinlein that read when I was 15 and I have devoured everything Heinlein has written since. In fact I keep copies of all of his work because they are all worth rereads. I will say that Starship Troopers was very controversial when it was written and Heinlein's publisher refused to publish. Heinlein took it to an other publisher and it became a smash hit.

Also on my shelf as worthy rereads is of course C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Bradbury, Orwell, Golding, Fleming. I have to specifically mention Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Brilliant!

I am not sure where to end. There are just simply to many great Reads out there and the more I think about it the harder it is for me to make up my mind. Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Patton is a good read. Dick Gregory has had a couple of good reads as well (I won't type the title to his first book, some of you will know why.)

Everything Harry Potter was fun. Can't wait for my daughter to be a little bit older so I can start chapter book reading at bedtime instead of the stuff we have now. (Still fun, but...)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy by Stieg Larsson was published posthumously and was then carried on with another series by David Lagercrantz. Again, Hollywood changed the story a bit so don't base your opinion of it on the Danial Craig movie. The Swedish film trilogy is much better and worth a watch though.

I better stop now. I just keep coming up with great reads!

I almost forgot to mention for those fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide To the Universe crowd, check out Red Dwarf by Grant Naylor (Rob Grant, Doug Naylor).

Skippy   
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Gliderjohn on February 20, 2021, 09:16:40 AM
From Rough Edge Racing:
Quote
I like military history.......Super fortress, the story of the B29 in action by General Curtiss Lemay, Flyboys, accounts of US flyer Pow's, Unroken, another Pow powerful story. Blitzed, very interesting accounts of Nazi drug use...And like him or not, Bill  O' Reilly's series of "the killing of Lincoln, Kennedy etc are well written and free from political opinion.
Flyboys is very good, but a tough, tough read. I cannot begin to imagine being in those POW's situation. Horrible.
GliderJohn
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: JC85 on February 20, 2021, 09:43:01 AM
Everything Harry Potter was fun. Can't wait for my daughter to be a little bit older so I can start chapter book reading at bedtime instead of the stuff we have now. (Still fun, but...)

Skippy

My daughter and I made our way through the Harry Potter books one chapter at a time during bedtime over the course of a couple of years. She has a lot of fond memories of laying there in rapt attention while I did every voice. She's 17 now, and I sure do miss those days.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: DaveJT on February 20, 2021, 10:05:36 AM
Ah, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my all time favorite non fantasy book: "The Monkey Wrench Gang." Who's read it, and for those who have, who is your favorite character? I'm a Seldom Seen Smith man, myself.

I think I’ve got the paperwork.  Kinda of a Ken Kesey bunch thing?
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Seventy One on February 20, 2021, 10:36:11 AM
My all-time favorite book is 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac. I intend to read the rest of his books after reading this one.

Other favorites include 'Jupiters Travels' by Ted Simon, 'Mondo Enduro' by Austin Vince and 'Two Wheels Through Terror' by Glen Heggstad.

In the awful list is just one book: 'Lone Rider' by Elsbeth Beard. To date it remains the only book I ever regretted reading. Absolutely awful. Just because you rode a motorcycle around the world doesn't mean your book will be fun, interesting or even worth reading. My God this book was terrible!

I wasn't able to get into 'Brave New Word' (Huxley). One day I'll finish it. I suspect some books are considered to be good just for being first, ground breaking or controversial and not for their writing. 'On the Road' was well written. This book (what little of it I've read), is not.

Once I finish 'Heart of Darkness' (Conrad) I'll get started on 'Crime and Punishment' (Dostoevsky) and the 'Gulag Archipelago' (Solzhenitsyn). Since I like Russian watches, firearms and movies I figure I should give their books a shake.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: john fish on February 20, 2021, 10:51:10 AM
My girlfriend asked me if I've ever read James Joyce's Ulysses.  I told her, "Honey, nobody's read Ulysses."

So, anyone read it?
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: giusto on February 20, 2021, 11:18:20 AM
Uhg...Ulysses and it's parallel the Odyssey...That obscene and somewhat insane tale of Mr.Blooms jaunt through Ireland at the turn of the century...made it through every page but I'm sure it was way above my feebleness...I believe some of it needed to be translated  :bike-037: :popcorn:
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: kingoffleece on February 20, 2021, 11:23:18 AM
My other favs, Not to start a debate, mind, were Zen (you know-and it's a philosophy book, not a bike book), and Papillion, the story of a French criminal.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Bulldog9 on February 20, 2021, 11:34:27 AM
Great Topic.  Don't really have a favorite author, but many. I read a lot of History, mostly military or presidential related, and Sci Fi of all types.

If I had to pick a favorite book based on how many times I've gone back to it, it would be Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'. Usually read annually.  For History, it would be HW Crocker's "Don't Tread On Me"

Favorite authors Fiction in no order, ANY is a good read: Tolkien, Asimov, Scalzi, Lovecraft, Scott-Card, King, Burroughs, Twain, HG Wells, Arthur C Clarke, Heinlein.
 
Favorite authors History: HW Crocker, McCullough, Metaxas, Millard, Atkinson

I just finished Sir Shackleton's "South", an amazing story, and started "Path Between the Seas by McCullough. I'm also reading a very interesting look at Lincoln called "They Knew Lincoln" by John E Washington that focuses on where Lincoln really stood on the issues of slaves and slavery. He was a child living in Washington DC during the Lincoln assassination, and was raised by those who knew him well. It is filled with first hand interviews, and very interesting so far.   
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: cloudbase on February 20, 2021, 11:37:45 AM
I've yet to find an author who could convey the nuances of the human condition like Steinbeck could.  The Wayward Bus really stands out (for me) among his works.  A. J. Liebling had the same gift.
Right now, just about finished with Chernow's biography of U. S. Grant.  Next in the queue is The Greatest Beer Run Ever.

I tend to favor historical stuff, as what passes for history courses in high school and college (for non-history majors) is just glossing over the high points.  Well researched history subjects
really open up to making connections to other events.  I live for those "aha!" moments.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: giusto on February 20, 2021, 12:04:07 PM
Opps I forgot to mention the question at hand....too many favorite authors...but I'll mention the last few years I've been reading biographies and autobiographies mostly from musicians, as I've been one all my life

George Harrison I me mine
BB King  Blues all Around me
Phil Lesh Searching for the Sound
Paul McCartney The Life.......also The Love We Make
Bruce Springsteen Born to Run ......Long Walk Home
Rory Block Prove It On Me
Warren Zevon Nothing's Bad Luck
Eric Clapton The Auto Biography
Robbie Robertson Once Were Brothers
Les Paul In His Own Words
Jerry Garcia Jerry on Jerry
Frank Sinatra, All or Nothing at All......His way

etc...
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Shorty on February 20, 2021, 01:27:47 PM
Charles Sasser is an Okie writer  with a pretty big portfolio. Historic fiction and other non fiction titles, Some of his books are required reading in some military academies. https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/28221.Charles_W_Sasser (https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344401162l/913317.jpg)  (https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347688447l/154427.jpg) 

"Bio
 


Charles W. Sasser

Charles W. Sasser has been a full-time freelance writer/journalist/photographer since 1979. He is a veteran of both the U.S. Navy (journalist) and U.S. Army (Special Forces, the Green Berets), a combat veteran and former combat correspondent wounded in action. He also served fourteen years as a police officer (in Miami, Florida, and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was a homicide detective). He has taught at universities, lectured nationwide, and traveled extensively throughout the world. He has published over 3000 articles and short stories in magazines ranging from Guideposts, Parents and Christian Life to Soldier of Fortune, True West, and Writer’s Digest. He is author, co-author or contributing author of more than 50 books and novels.

As an adventurer, Sasser has, at various times: solo-canoed across the Yukon; sailed the Caribbean; motorbiked across the continent; rode camels in the Egyptian desert; floated the Amazon River; dived for pirate treasure; rode horses across Alaska; motorcycled Europe; climbed Mount Rainier; ran with the bulls in Spain; chased wild mustangs…

 

He has been a professional rodeo clown and bronc rider; professional kickboxer; sky diver and SCUBA diver; college professor; newspaperman; archaeologist/anthropologist…

Sasser now lives on a ranch in Chouteau, Oklahoma with wife Donna where he is a writer, rancher, and businessman who trains horses and team ropes. He also has a private pilot’s license and is an ultralite aircraft Certified Flight Instructor. "      I have read 3 or 4 of his books and enjoyed them.   
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: maquette on February 20, 2021, 01:43:49 PM
Anything by Clayton Lindemuth, beginning with "My Brother's Destroyer".

Cormac McCarthy anytime.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Moparnut72 on February 20, 2021, 01:45:55 PM
I read all the time. My wife says I will read anything including cereal boxes if there is nothing else available. I have read too many books that I really liked that I couldn't start to recall to include here. Like others Michener is near the top. One that had me laughing out loud so hard several times that I had tears running down my cheeks was The Milagro Bean Field Wars. Motorcycle subject, The Worlds Fastest Indian, the movie was an insult to this excellent book. One of the best and unfortunately I can't remember the title or author and I have tried to look it up so I could read it again but I have been unable to find it. It about a guy who bought a coal fired ship in Europe brought it to the US and turned it into a salvage recovery vessel, went through all kinds of trials, tribulations and turned that investment into the largest maritime salvage company in the world.
kk
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: oldbike54 on February 20, 2021, 02:00:45 PM
 The Shipping News by Annie Proulx . Hell , even the movie was good .


 Dusty
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: JC85 on February 20, 2021, 02:05:58 PM
I think I’ve got the paperwork.  Kinda of a Ken Kesey bunch thing?

I'm not familiar with him, so I can't really say. It's about a group of 4 characters, varied in backgrounds and personality, who team up to commit acts of industrial sabotage to slow the destruction of natural wonders and resources in the 60s or 70s. Excellent book.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: ozarquebus on February 20, 2021, 02:20:34 PM
Historical Biography:
Two Years Before The Mast : Dana
Sailing Around The World: Slocum
Around The World Singlehanded: Pigeon
Tschiffley's Ride: Tschiffley
Richard Francis Burton Biography: Farwell
Marine! Chesty Puller Bio: Davis
Thud Ridge: Broughton
The March Up Country: Xenophon Anabaxis
Noel Wien, Alaska Pioneer Bush Pilot: Harvey
The Man Who Walked Through Time: Colin Fletcher


Historical Fiction:
Aztec: Jennings
Tortilla Flats: Steinbeck
 Tobacco Road: " "
East of Eden:  "  "
Ken Keasey

Fiction:
Deadeye Dick: Vonnegut

Sci Fi Series:
Riverworld: Farmer
Casca: King
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: nick949 on February 20, 2021, 02:27:53 PM
For motorcycle reading and truly mad adventurous spirit, it's hard to beat Des Molloy's two books:

"No one said it would be easy https://www.amazon.com/No-One-Said-Would-Easy-ebook/dp/B07YX1Q629 (https://www.amazon.com/No-One-Said-Would-Easy-ebook/dp/B07YX1Q629)  and

"The Last Hurrah" https://www.amazon.com/Last-Hurrah-Beijing-Arnhem-2005/dp/0954791258 (https://www.amazon.com/Last-Hurrah-Beijing-Arnhem-2005/dp/0954791258) for pure mad, hair-brained adventures on old Panthers, Noron and a pre-war BSA.

Of course, I quality literature is what you're after  :evil:, you won't go far wrong with my latest masterpiece:

"The Ghosts of Holleford Lake" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TYVDG1H (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TYVDG1H)
available in whichever format turns your crank.

Nick


(https://i.ibb.co/v3vYkwn/ghost-book-cover-audio2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v3vYkwn)
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: giusto on February 20, 2021, 04:04:33 PM
Opps I forgot to mention the question at hand....too many favorite authors...but I'll mention the last few years I've been reading biographies and autobiographies mostly from musicians, as I've been one all my life

George Harrison I me mine
BB King  Blues all Around me
Phil Lesh Searching for the Sound
Paul McCartney The Life.......also The Love We Make
Bruce Springsteen Born to Run ......Long Walk Home
Rory Block Prove It On Me
Warren Zevon Nothing's Bad Luck
Eric Clapton The Auto Biography
Robbie Robertson Once Were Brothers
Les Paul In His Own Words
Jerry Garcia Jerry on Jerry
Frank Sinatra, All or Nothing at All......His way

etc...



Then there's the mountaineering biographies and autobiographies  :)
Ricardo Cassin,
Giusto Gervesutti.....my WGC namesake
Henry Barber
Yvonne Chouinard (btw....net worth 1.5 billion...not bad for a blacksmith rock climber)
Jong Long
Jeff Lowe
Shackelton's Endurance
Rick Ridgway
Gaston Rebuffat
Phillipe Benuzzi
Jon Krakaurer
Walter Bonnatti
Sir Edmund Hilary
Reinhold Messner

Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: kirkemon on February 20, 2021, 04:12:23 PM
Jack London; The Call of the Wild, Seawolf, The Art of Hawaiian Surfing.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: pebra on February 20, 2021, 05:02:15 PM
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx . Hell , even the movie was good .

 Dusty

Yes, that's a great book, by a great author - didn't see the movie.
I remember thinking the first 50-100 pages of the book were just supreme fiction writing - breathtaking.

Many of her short stories from Wyoming are wonderful, too. Most notably Brokeback Mountain, also a great movie.


Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: normzone on February 20, 2021, 10:14:01 PM
Ah, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my all time favorite non fantasy book: "The Monkey Wrench Gang." Who's read it, and for those who have, who is your favorite character? I'm a Seldom Seen Smith man, myself.

It has been said that having interest in that book can get your name put on a list - that's probably old news though.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: JC85 on February 21, 2021, 12:18:06 AM
It has been said that having interest in that book can get your name put on a list - that's probably old news though.

That was absolutely a thing. On the other hand, even if it's still true, we're all probably on one list or another because of some random thing, at this point.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Texas Turnip on February 21, 2021, 05:13:51 AM
Dusty said not to tell anyone that his favorite author is Danielle Steele'

Tex
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: slowmover on February 21, 2021, 09:47:02 AM
Anything by Cormac McCarthy but Suttree is at the top.
The Sicilian by Mario Puzo
Everyman ,Exit Ghost ,and Indignation by Philip Roth
American Meteor by Norman Lock
The Son and American Rust by Philipp Meyer
The Sisters Brothers and French Exit which is a new movie by Patrick deWitt
ANYTHING by E.L. Doctorow - Homer & Langely ,The March , Billy Bathgate ect.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Bulldog9 on February 21, 2021, 01:18:03 PM
This is great, picked up two new authors to explore.

Charles Sasser - Patton (along with Lee) is one of my favorite figures in recent/modern history
Brandon Sanderson - I've wrung out most of my favorite Science Fiction authors. Discovered John Scalzi a few years ago and the "Old Mans War" series of books, look forward to seeing if Sanderson is up to snuff.

When young, I loved the classics, Steinbeck, Hemingway, etc. "The Old man and the sea" was one of my favorites. May need to revisit some of those.

Great topic, thanks Dusty.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: jared p on February 26, 2021, 05:16:44 PM
Favorites include The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky, the Dune series by Frank Herbert including the follow ups by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Anderson and Michael A. Stackpole wrote a buncha Star Wars books I was a fan of. Also Nimitz Class series by Patrick Robinson. Robert Jordans series The Wheel of Time. Brian Jacques Redwall series. Robert Ludlum's Bourne trilogy is great, but his other works not so much. David Hackworth's About Face is fantastic. Right now reading Jordan Petersons 12 Rules which fantastic so far.

A decade or so ago, I had a set of the Great Books of the Western World and read that through. There's nothing you can go wrong with in there.

I tend to read about history, military, or old old stuff.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: V7Record on February 26, 2021, 06:38:11 PM
I liked the Redwall series too and forgot all about them, might be time to dig them out and reread them!  (Wonder if they're still buried on the bookshelves somewhere...)  :undecided:
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: oldbike54 on February 26, 2021, 06:42:10 PM
 Slightly surprised that Normzone hasn't mentioned "The Well of Souls" series by Jack Chalker .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Mr Pootle on February 27, 2021, 05:15:41 PM
A loud shout for the Terry Pratchett Discworld novels. Set in a world supported on the backs of four elephants standing on a turtle, and populated by wizards, witches, dwarves, trolls and other species. It tips its hat to Shakespeare and Tolkien while being wholly original.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: lad on February 27, 2021, 05:30:45 PM
My newest favorite series is "The Stormlight Archive" by Brandon Sanderson.

Bridge Four!
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Guzzidad on February 27, 2021, 05:38:17 PM
   About 15 years ago, while sitting around a campfire at a Guzzi ralley, I mentioned to the guy next to me that I wished I would have chosen a different career path. I was working as a maintenance technician in a corrugated box factory. He suggested I read "Shop Class As Soulcraft" by  Matthew B. Crawford. That book greatly lifted my spirits and got me through the last ten years of my employment until I retired.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: lad on February 27, 2021, 05:55:30 PM
last read: apex hides the hurt-colson whitehead,
currently: prisoners of geography- tim marshall
next:...hmm...have one on bird migration, or sanderson's mist born, or the making of poetry. hard to tell
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Tiny Tim on February 27, 2021, 06:24:58 PM
https://www.nickadamswriting.com/

Some of you guy's I'm sure know of Nick Adams adventures I'm sure. He is a die hard Moto Guzzi guy and a great writer. Check out his website for motorcycling stories and more. I also enjoy his YouTube channel.   :thumb: 
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: fotoguzzi on February 27, 2021, 06:40:07 PM
Opps I forgot to mention the question at hand....too many favorite authors...but I'll mention the last few years I've been reading biographies and autobiographies mostly from musicians, as I've been one all my life

George Harrison I me mine
BB King  Blues all Around me
Phil Lesh Searching for the Sound
Paul McCartney The Life.......also The Love We Make
Bruce Springsteen Born to Run ......Long Walk Home
Rory Block Prove It On Me
Warren Zevon Nothing's Bad Luck
Eric Clapton The Auto Biography
Robbie Robertson Once Were Brothers
Les Paul In His Own Words
Jerry Garcia Jerry on Jerry
Frank Sinatra, All or Nothing at All......His way

etc...
I'm sure you'd like this,

(https://i.ibb.co/F8nw7g2/1-DB4-E459-BB90-4-F2-C-B51-C-4-CB793-C0836-D.png) (https://ibb.co/F8nw7g2)

Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: larrys on February 27, 2021, 07:48:17 PM
I read to decompress from my daily stress. I go through a couple of sci-fi paperbacks a week. There is a used book store near me that has shelves and shelves of old and new sci-fi paperbacks. Cost to buy is $1. They will buy them back for $.25 store credit.
Just finished an H Beam Piper and an Orson Scott Card. Reading a compilation by Pournelle of early (1950's) short stories.
Larry 
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: mobiker on February 27, 2021, 08:00:39 PM
I mostly read fiction. Some authors I like are: Michael Connelly; Karin Slaughter; Bernard Cornwell; J.D. Robb; Elmore Leonard; John Sandford; Dexter Colin; Elizabeth George, etc.

Two of the best books I ever read are The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk. If you like historical fiction these are fantastic.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: SIR REAL ED on March 01, 2021, 07:58:10 AM
The Tiger by John Valliant.

It would take me days to write a review that would do the book justice.  991 ratings at the link below.

Lets just say read it.  Animals, human nature, tales of hardship, failure and triumph, philosophy, history, economics, this book has it all.

https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Vengeance-Survival-Vintage-Departures/dp/0307389049/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&hvadid=77721782327906&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=the+tiger+book&qid=1614606778&sr=8-1

Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Don G on March 02, 2021, 04:35:09 PM
A couple of Canadian authors come to mind, Farley Mowat and W.O.Mitchell, their work is outstanding. DonG
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: jbell on March 03, 2021, 09:34:07 AM
Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana

 :thumb: :thumb:
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: larrys on March 03, 2021, 09:42:54 AM
A couple of Canadian authors come to mind, Farley Mowat and W.O.Mitchell, their work is outstanding. DonG

I read Never Cry Wolf in high school. Was a fascinating tale. I still remember the part about overloading the plane with beer.
Larry
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Don G on March 03, 2021, 12:08:29 PM
Got to have beer! :thumb:  DonG
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: kirby1923 on March 09, 2021, 05:57:06 PM
Just finished,

ZERO, by C Seife
The biography of a dangerous idea...

 I found it a fascinating bit of history.

:-)
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: LowRyter on March 09, 2021, 06:09:11 PM
Anything by Cormac McCarthy but Suttree is at the top.
The Sicilian by Mario Puzo
Everyman ,Exit Ghost ,and Indignation by Philip Roth
American Meteor by Norman Lock
The Son and American Rust by Philipp Meyer
The Sisters Brothers and French Exit which is a new movie by Patrick deWitt
ANYTHING by E.L. Doctorow - Homer & Langely ,The March , Billy Bathgate ect.

"Ragtime"  fantastic. 

I'm also a big on the Gore Vidal Narratives of Empire (US History) series.  Seven books, from "Burr" - "Golden Age" (none written chronologically). 

"Lincoln" much of it was written from view of the Surratt family and "Empire" set at the turn of the 20th Century were my two favorites.  Lincoln had very little of the fictional Burr family lineage.  Gore also portrays a sympathetic view of Burr shooting Hamilton. 
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: normzone on October 18, 2021, 03:35:42 PM
I'm back, and just finished going through this thread looking for spy/detective author recommendations.

I like modern spy more than WWII/Cold war stuff.

Which leads me to my latest enthusiastic recommendation - Mick Herron, and the Slough House/Slow Horses series.

MI5 veterans and wannabes who it's impolitic to fire for their various misdeeds get sent to an old house in Slough, a London suburb.

The stories of these well intentioned unfortunate souls make for great reading - They work for Jackson Lamb, a slow horse in his own right. We learn their back stories eventually, and the author does not hesitate to kill them off and substitute for them as soon as you've gotten used to loving them. I now own the set and yearn for the next one.

Any fresh recommendations in a similar vein appreciated.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: berniebee on October 18, 2021, 09:39:15 PM
For fun I like Michael Crichton's novels: There are so many, but I remember Airframe, Andromeda Strain, and of course Jurassic Park. At the time I worked with DNA analysis Instrumentation, so Jurassic Park really peaked my interest. I still remember a few fantastically suspenseful scenes in the book which I was disappointed to find were completely absent from the movie.

My most recent read was an odd one, at least for me: I discovered "How to change your mind". (Michael Pollan)  at a friend's cottage this summer.  In part it's about how modern day scientists have revived the study of psychedelics like LSD and the Psilocybin mushroom in the search for effective treatments for depression and alcoholism. Apparently psychedelics were seen to have huge potential in the mid twentieth century and were unknown outside academic circles until they escaped into the public in the late 1950's. Whereupon they were promoted by some strange people, became a counter culture drug and as a result the whole field of study was shut down for decades. And then it went underground. I was astounded at how much progress we have made in understanding the brain's function since 2001 using fMRI and other tech.  The eye opening theories of "self" from different scientific and cultural viewpoints, and the compelling people (Timothy Leary too, but he's far from the most interesting.)  make for a page turner. 
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: krglorioso on October 18, 2021, 10:07:35 PM
"The Blue Nowhere" by Jeffrey Deaver.  Computer whiz tries to track computer hacker serial killer.  Could not put it down (really).

Ralph
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: John A on October 18, 2021, 10:12:16 PM
I'm back, and just finished going through this thread looking for spy/detective author recommendations.

I like modern spy more than WWII/Cold war stuff.

Which leads me to my latest enthusiastic recommendation - Mick Herron, and the Slough House/Slow Horses series.

MI5 veterans and wannabes who it's impolitic to fire for their various misdeeds get sent to an old house in Slough, a London suburb.

The stories of these well intentioned unfortunate souls make for great reading - They work for Jackson Lamb, a slow horse in his own right. We learn their back stories eventually, and the author does not hesitate to kill them off and substitute for them as soon as you've gotten used to loving them. I now own the set and yearn for the next one.

Any fresh recommendations in a similar vein appreciated.






Welcome back.
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: normzone on October 19, 2021, 01:11:41 AM
Thank you John, that's very kind of you. I'll be riding and reading this weekend - not at the same time, of course.

Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: bad Chad on October 19, 2021, 06:54:22 AM
Some of the best, most riveting fiction I’ve yet read:
The Stand by Stephen King

The Dark Tower series, Stephen King
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: Stretch on October 19, 2021, 07:08:58 AM
Wow. Lots of familiar authors in the threads above.

I liked Stieg Larsson's books very much, too.

And I, too,  like almost anything by Louis L'Amour.
"The Serpent's Coil" by Farley Mowatt is a great read.

The Kurt Wallander series by the late Henning Mankell is also good.
"The White Lion" might be my favorite.

"The Dogs of War" by Frederick Forsyth
"The Day of the Jackal" by Frederick Forsyth - brilliant novel, and movie is pretty good, too.
"The Eye of the Needle" by Ken Follett
"Hornet Moth" by Ken Follett

I love short stories: (Short attention span?!   :shocked: )
"No Comebacks" by Frederick Forsyth
"Ford County Stories" by John Grisham
"Lord Peter" by Dorothy L. Sayers

Rudyard Kipling - "Complete Verse"
Rudyard Kipling - "The Jungle Books"
Any of the Spencer novels by the late Robert B. Parker

Anything by the Australian author Morris West. What a talent!
I'm surprised he wasn't more popular in the US....

"Feast of Bones" Daniel Bolger

Tony Hillerman, Jack Higgins, and the late Dick Francis are some other authors who've kept
me amused.

And more and better besides.

Some great suggestions above, too.

                                                                -Stretch
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: drw916 on October 19, 2021, 10:42:03 AM
I am a chronic rereader.  I read very fast with minimal retention so I can read books many times.  I favor series and my all time favorite is the Jack Aubrey series by Patrick O’Brian.  22 books based on an English captain’s life during the  turn of the 19th century.  Other favorites:

Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell
Hornblower series by CS Forester
Saxon series by Bernard Cornwell

Enough books to get me through most of the winter
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: ScepticalScotty on October 19, 2021, 12:30:25 PM
Huge Orwell fan - have all the novels apart from "Burmese days" and also have the 4 volumes of collected essays, letters, reviews, articles. Oh and Homage to Catalonia, Down and Out In Paris and London, The Road To Wigan Pier.

I thought "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason was superb. For a unique view of a different conflict "Troop Leader" by Bill Bellamy is excellent (British tank commander in Cromwells and Chaffee, retired from service in the Centurion).

I just read a lot, as does Jill. My current books are "Three Men and a Boat" by Jerome K Jerome, "A World of My Own" by Robin Knox-Johnson (first person to sail around the world non-stop) and err.....The Great Tank Scandal by David Fletcher (of Bovington fame).
Title: Re: Books , authors , let's discuss
Post by: larrys on October 19, 2021, 02:01:21 PM
I don't have much interest in non-fiction but recently read Inside the Third Reich by Albert Speer. Talk about an insider's view! He wrote the manuscript in secret while imprisoned in Spandau.
Larry