What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Nicolas
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by Nicolas »

Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah (2016). I enjoyed this book! It’s the interesting account of the trials, tribulations, joys, and sorrows, of growing up as mixed-race under apartheid, and afterward under democracy with the repeal of apartheid, in South Africa. Being of mixed race his parents’ union was illegal, thus the title. I recommend this book.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by Fallible »

Two books I highly recommend:

_The Confidence Game, by Maria Konnikova. One of the best I’ve read on the subject. Explains stages of the con (the put-up, the play, the rope, the tale, etc.) and why so many of us make it easy for cons: “the basic, irresistible, universal human need to believe in something that gives life meaning, something that reaffirms our view of ourselves, the world, and our place in it.” Includes an almost hilarious but ultimately sad example of investors continuing to invest with (if they can find them) cons after they disappear, even after they are caught, charged, jailed, and confess.

_Less Medicine, More Health: 7 Assumptions That Drive Too Much Medical Care, by Dr. H. Gilbert Welch. The “Assumptions” include: “All Risks Can Be Lowered,” “It’s Always Better to Fix The Problem,” and “Action is always Better Than Inaction.” The last one was a pleasant surprise when it referred to Jack Bogle’s famous quote: “Don’t just do something. Sit there.”
"Yes, investing is simple. But it is not easy, for it requires discipline, patience, steadfastness, and that most uncommon of all gifts, common sense." ~Jack Bogle
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ruralavalon
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by ruralavalon »

The Living Great Lakes by Jerry Dennis.

The author tells of his life and travels on the Great Lakes, and includes stories from the history of the lakes. I enjoyed this book.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by jginseattle »

I just finished two new ones from a couple of my favorite authors.

Dark Sacred Night, by Michael Connelly, and Past Tense, by Lee Child.

Both are good.
MP173
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by MP173 »

I am currently reading "A Hard Rain" by Frye Gaillard. It is subtitled "America in the 1960s, Our Decade of Hope, Possibility, and Innocence Lost".

This is a series of 72 essays, or short examinations of issues which are in chronological order (beginning in 1960 and progressing thru the decade). It is a pretty heavy look at the decade. I am finding it very informative and educational.

Not surprisingly, the book evolves around key issues of the decade - civil rights, Viet Nam, Kennedys, Martin Luther King,LBJ (not Labron) womens rights, etc. But there are cultural glimpses, such as a chapter on two female singers - Janis Joplin and Linda Ronstadt or a chapter on Normal Rockwell. Typically a chapter will feature an issue or person, but then slide into an adjacent issue or person.

This is a very good book. The author leans to the left with a adoration of both John and Robert Kennedy and an obvious dislike of Ronald Reagan, but the book reads well and is informative. I grew up in the 60s, yet we didnt have nearly the communication or news network of today. Many of the names are familiar, but their stories and lives are that familiar to me. This books helps.

Ed
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quantAndHold
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by quantAndHold »

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde.

Besides being a classic story, Wilde’s writing is amazing. His descriptions of the people are alive and vibrant. I can’t believe I waited so long to read this one.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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The Odyssey, by Homer, Fagles translation.

I’ve been trying to read this book since the 6th grade, when the powers that be forced me into a Great Books reading group. The Great Books reading group ultimately failed, because my 6th grade self and 6th grade friends didn’t have the maturity to persist through what I now know was a pretty bad translation. Similarly, my adult self was never able to get more than about 50 pages through the book because I had neither the background knowledge or the reading ability to understand what I was reading.

The combination of the Fagles translation, in well written modern English, and the Kindle’s ability to look up names and words with a single click have made all the difference. It’s a classic adventure story.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by dewey »

"Professor at Large" by John Cleese. A smart and witty work. Interesting storyline of how he was invited to teach at Cornell. Great read.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by CarpeDiem22 »

Read two books over the last week:

1. How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes, by Peter Schiff and Andrew Schiff - a cartoon book explaining basics of economic growth. Anti-Keynesian.
2. Fiat Money Inflation in France, by Andrew Dickson White - a short book written in 1933 drawing lessons for US from the hyperinflation in France just after the French Revolution.

Both have a critical view of fiat currencies, and the first book goes on to assert that fiat monetary system is bound to fail someday. Also helped put in perspective inflation during 1970s. Got me wondering if I should finally buy a house (a real asset), and not exposure myself to only nominal financial assets.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by MJW »

After recent discussion here about “The Firm” by John Grisham, I was inspired to reread the book. I think I have a paperback copy buried in a box in my garage but I opted to spare myself the hassle and checked out a copy from the library, which is a short walk from my house. The story is every bit as good as I remembered and I think I’m enjoying it even more this time around knowing what to expect.

I’m still early into the book and am relishing all the little details about the law firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by jumbopapa »

Currently reading Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. I finished The Way of Kings in September and it was great. I'm normally not a fan of fantasy, but these books are fantastic.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by moshe »

Just finished "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee.

It is a novel about a multi-generational Korean family trying to survive in Japan during the 20th century. Although it read a bit like a soap opera at times I was drawn to the immigrant struggle in a society that was not always very welcoming to "foreigners". At about 500 pages it might seem a bit daunting at first but because of the well written prose i could not put it down.
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quantAndHold
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card

A future where children are bred to go to war against an alien species. Ender is the best and the brightest and gets pushed to his limits. It’s an intense book. By the end, I just wanted it to be over so I could get it out of my head. Sometimes the measure of a book is how much you think about it afterwards. By that measure it’s a raging success. I can’t get the themes from the book out of my head. But I have no desire to read the next book in the series. At least not yet.
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Earl Lemongrab
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Nightflyers, by George R. R. Martin.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=146455&p=4226283#p4226283
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heartwood
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by heartwood »

I just finished the 3rd book in the Red Sparrow series by Jason Matthews. https://www.amazon.com/Red-Sparrow-Nove ... 1476706131

The first book was made into a movie with Jennifer Lawrence earlier this year. I haven't seen it.

The books are easy reading, with much violence and many graphic sex scenes, not surprising since sparrows are Russian women trained to seduce their targets. Across the three books there's interaction between the Russians and the CIA. The author is a retired CIA employee.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by MP173 »

Pray for Rain by Dennis LeHane.

One of my favorite authors, this one was penned in 1999 after "Gone Girl" and wasnt quite up to his standards....which made it a pretty good book, but it was a bit unbelievable.

Ed
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by nisiprius »

Walden; or, Life in the Woods, by Henry David Thoreau. Truth be told, I probably won't finish it, but I'm giving it a good shot.

The Tiger in the Smoke, by Margery Allingham.

Muy, muy lentemente, me costa mucho leer español: Una Semana en Lugano, de Francisco Hinojosa. Un libro gracioso, un libro para niños.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by Yukon »

nisiprius wrote: Sat Nov 24, 2018 4:40 pm Walden; or, Life in the Woods, by Henry David Thoreau. Truth be told, I probably won't finish it, but I'm giving it a good shot.
I've started the "classic" 3 times and have yet to finish it in it's entirety. Sure feels like drudgery to me!
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Maine Woods. Also by Thoreau. You may like it better.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by black cat fortunate »

moshe wrote: Thu Nov 22, 2018 12:15 pm Just finished "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee.

It is a novel about a multi-generational Korean family trying to survive in Japan during the 20th century. Although it read a bit like a soap opera at times I was drawn to the immigrant struggle in a society that was not always very welcoming to "foreigners". At about 500 pages it might seem a bit daunting at first but because of the well written prose i could not put it down.
Wonderful book! -- I read that, and afterward her first one, "Free Food for Millionaires."
That one is set in 90's New York, it has some finance and b-school backdrop as well.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Finridge wrote: Sun Aug 26, 2018 2:39 am
jebmke wrote: Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:13 pm
denismurf wrote: Sat Aug 25, 2018 4:19 pm but already understand that Harari is speculating
I stopped reading his first book about 2/3 of the way through. It was filled with a lot of speculation.
I'm only about 15% into this book and not impressed so far. Like you say, it has a lot of speculation. It's not bad--just not up to the expectations that I had formed for it after reading his first book, Sapiens. Sapiens is very worth reading. I give it my highest recommendation.
Update: I finished this book. I take back what I said... It was well worth reading. I then read Harari's new book: "21 Lessons for the 21st Century." Also well worth reading.

I recommend reading all three of his books, reading them in the order he wrote them: (1) "Sapiens", (2) "Homo Deus", and (3) "21 Lessons."
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by ruralavalon »

A Journey Through Texas, by Frederick Law Olmsted.

This book chronicles the author's 1856 trip on horseback through Texas, describing the land and people there.
"Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein | Wiki article link: Bogleheads® investment philosophy
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by Augustus »

jumbopapa wrote: Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:16 am Currently reading Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. I finished The Way of Kings in September and it was great. I'm normally not a fan of fantasy, but these books are fantastic.
I'm listening to The Way of Kings now with a company other than Audible: Graphic Audio. The level of detail, acting, and sound effects are pretty incredible.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Mataxas

Greatly detailed and sourced book on German Christian Dietrich Bonhoeffer whose faith and strong will were central in his and other Germans' acts in subversive actions against the National Socialists (NAZIs), including the infamous "Valkyrie" and "Operation 7" operations.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Just finished Michael Pollan's "An Omnivore's Dillema" which is changing the way I source my meat and produce.

Starting to read "Molokai" by Alan Brennert.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Just finished Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything".

Starting to read Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air"
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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XtremeSki2001 wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:15 pm Just finished Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything".

Starting to read Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air"
I climbed with Scott Fischer in the Wind River Range of WY in 1974. (His future wife was with the group as well.)

Tragedy of epic proportions when he was lost on Everest.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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just finished "How it Happened" by Michael Koryta.

starting "The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found" by Mary Beard
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by SGM »

Hampton Sides On Desperate Ground. This is an excellent non-fiction story about the greatest battle of the Korean War. I never realized what General MacArthur was really like. Sides brings this story to life and has done a great deal of research. It is a riveting read. The U.S. Marines first division is pitted against the Chinese, North Koreans, a horrible winter, mountainous terrain and MacArthur's poor leadership. General Oliver Prince Smith the Marine division leader is put in an awful position. I am a third through the book but I have learned so much about the war, Korean and Chinese culture and history, and mistakes that were made.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Curtain: Poirot's Last Case, by Agatha Christie.

Poirot and Hastings return to Styles, to try to prevent a murder.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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XtremeSki2001 wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:15 pm Starting to read Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air"
When I read this book the first time, I started it around 8 in the evening. I finally put it down at around 2 or so in the morning only because it was finished. I found it one of the tightest books ever written as far as keeping ones interest going.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by rgardne70 »

The Browns of California by Miriam Pawel.

Tis the story of the four generations of the Brown family. The cover says of the Brown family, two of whom served as Governor of California, "the family dynasty transformed a state and shaped a nation".

Tis obvious that the author is totally infatuated with both Pat Brown, who served 8 years as governor, and his Jerry Brown, who is the outgoing governor of California, having served four four-year terms as governor. In my opinion, the book is not objective in any respect. Considering that, the book is still an interesting read. Just take all of the effusive praise of Jerry Brown (especially) and Pat Brown (to a lesser extent) with a grain of salt. Would have been much better written were it more even handed.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by XtremeSki2001 »

Blues wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:35 pm
XtremeSki2001 wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:15 pm Just finished Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything".

Starting to read Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air"
I climbed with Scott Fischer in the Wind River Range of WY in 1974. (His future wife was with the group as well.)

Tragedy of epic proportions when he was lost on Everest.
Remarkable. Right after your post, if I recall correctly, the author said Fischer was one of five that had climbed all the mountains classified as 'Eight-thousander'.
lthenderson wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 8:02 am
XtremeSki2001 wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:15 pm Starting to read Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air"
When I read this book the first time, I started it around 8 in the evening. I finally put it down at around 2 or so in the morning only because it was finished. I found it one of the tightest books ever written as far as keeping ones interest going.
I'm halfway through. I "listen" via Audbile on runs ... hearing what these folks went through certainly makes me 430am runs when it's <20F seem like a walk in the park.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by Blues »

XtremeSki2001 wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 12:18 pm Remarkable. Right after your post, if I recall correctly, the author said Fischer was one of five that had climbed all the mountains classified as 'Eight-thousander'.
I forget what year it was when he started Mountain Madness and wrote to me asking me to join him on expeditions he'd lead to the Himalayas, but it was never to be and my mountaineering career was a middling affair conducted in the lower 48 as well as Alaska.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by Broken Man 1999 »

Currently reading Mr. Bogle's latest book, Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution.

I have previously read much of the history of Vanguard, and while the general story of Vanguard has been well publicized, Stay the Course offers a more in-depth look, IMHO.

The details sometimes are dry, but overall very informative.

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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by nisiprius »

I just received my copy of Stay the Course, but haven't begun it.

I'm reading What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, by Randall Munroe, author of the XKCD webcomic. It currently on sale as an Amazon Kindle ebook for $2.99. However, my copy cost me $7.99 because I'm actually reading ¿Qué pasaría si...?: Respuestas serias y científicas a todo tipo de preguntas absurdas. It is great exercise for seeing many examples of the conditional, the past subjunctive, and the future tense in actual use.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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Finished my re-read of The Firm (Grisham) and am now re-reading The Rainmaker.

As much as I enjoyed The Firm each time I've read it, I think I'm actually enjoying The Rainmaker a little more this time around. I like the first-person narrative and the pacing. It's been years since I had read either book.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

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"Exorcising Hitler: The Occupation And DeNazification Of Germany", by Frederick Taylor (Bloomsbury Press 2011).

So, Allies....Congratulations! After a long, brutal, exhausting World War in which you saved Western Civilization from the Nazi menace, you are now in total possession of the country from which the Hitlerian nightmare had sprung forth and flourished. Time for lots of boozy celebrations and trading of exaggerated military adventures over cigars and spaetzle? Not so much. You are now responsible for a mostly destroyed Fatherland to manage, not the least because your bombs had pulverized much of the important infrastructure. Along with all of these very hungry and diseased mouths to feed and to shelter and to medically treat: 5 million POW's from the Wehrmacht, 11 million Displaced Persons (DP's) that had been slave labor or survivors of concentration camps, and another 11 million German citizens fleeing from the terror of the Russian Zone. Meanwhile, most of your country's citizens and politicians want to punish severely the surviving German populace, not to rehabilitate and to nurture them.

Taylor does an excellent job of presenting lots of pertinent statistics - interspersed with illuminating anecdotes - to convey the daunting challenges facing the Allies in avoiding a humanitarian disaster in the first 3 years after the War ended. The story he relates contains an abundance of farcical elements, such that I found myself laughing (very) guiltily at times. When you finish this book, the fact that Germany has somehow progressed from the nadir of May 1945 to today's prosperous and united Federal Republic will seem like a absolute miracle.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by mancich »

"Titan" by Ron Chernow. Great biography about John D. Rockefeller Sr. Very interesting read.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by Dantes »

"Seven Brief Lessons on Physics" by Carlo Rovelli. I enjoyed this book - which really is brief - and will look for his other books. Begins with Einstein, ends with some consoling words about how humanity will likely deal with the collapse of civilization, if not extinction.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by MJW »

mancich wrote: Sat Dec 08, 2018 6:00 am "Titan" by Ron Chernow. Great biography about John D. Rockefeller Sr. Very interesting read.
That one is sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.

Have you read Chernow's biography on Hamilton?
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by jdb »

Memoirs of a Fighting Captain by Admiral Lord Cochrane, originally published in two volumes of memoirs in 1859 and 1860. Found this Folio Society like new edition at a book fair. After reading all the Patrick O’Brian historical fiction novels of Jack Aubrey now I know the real British Post Captain during the Napoleonic Wars on whom Aubrey was modeled, as well as Horatio Hornblower novels. And fact can be stranger than fiction, the real Captain Cochrane’s true life naval adventures as good or better than the later novels based on his exploits. Highly recommend for fans of Patrick O’Brian, especially if can find the Folio Society edition.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by mancich »

MJW wrote: Sun Dec 09, 2018 1:01 am
mancich wrote: Sat Dec 08, 2018 6:00 am "Titan" by Ron Chernow. Great biography about John D. Rockefeller Sr. Very interesting read.
That one is sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.

Have you read Chernow's biography on Hamilton?
I haven't yet, but that is also on my list, as well as Teddy Roosevelt trilogy by Edmond Morris :beer
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by Elsebet »

Almost done with Middlemarch, 900 packed pages. It was slow at first but Lydgate really drew me in and I am glad I kept at it.
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Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Post by sfchris »

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. It is the sequel to the Shining. I recently saw the Shining movie again and heard that they are going to make Doctor Sleep into a movie and I wanted to check it out. (I also stayed at the old Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite recently where the set designers got the designs of the hotel lobby and elevator. :shock: )It enjoyable and I've been able to read about a third of the book so far for free using Google Play Books. I'm not sure if that's because it is my first time using Google Play Books or if they do that with all books.
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