Official Book Discussion and Last Book You Read Thread

[Tannhauser]

Originally Posted by T-Bone

I was surprised I've only read 36 out of the 100. Many of the modern works have escaped me. I don't read much modern literature.
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Cool. Me too. I read mainly pre 1950s.

I keep meaning to try 'The Brothers Karamazov'. I read Dostoyesky's 'The Idiot' (which I like to think was originally going to be titled 'The F**king Idiot'), but it left me a bit cold.

A very eclectic list you have there...lots of British/European titles.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Tannhauser

'Greatest' lists like that are endlessly debatable. I would have on there:

Joseph Heller 'Something Happened',
Anthony Burgess 'Earthly Powers'
T.H. White 'The Once and Future King'
John Updike 'Rabbit' series
L.P. Hartley 'The Go-Between'

...and so on.

Think I would have placed The Hobbit on there as well.
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

Each of these 3 books had something exciting about them for me which transcended the book itself.

[Tannhauser]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Good call.

Just finished Nathaniel Hawthorne's Tanglewood Tales (1853). It's the Greek Myths rewritten for children - with all the violence, rape, bloodshed and so on taken out. I'm not big on children's books, but this was so beautifully illustrated I had to get it. The writing is wonderful, as might be expected. Interesting too, to see the vocabulary and sentence construction nineteenth century kids could cope with.

Next: Sir Walter Scott's Rob Roy.

[Tannhauser]

Hello All.

Not training at the moment because of work, btut still reading. Just finished:

Race of a Lifetime by Halperin and Heineman:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Race-Lifetime-Obama-White-House/dp/014104067X

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Race-Lifetime-Obama-White-House/dp/014104067X

It covers the run-up to the 2008 election, focusing on Hillary Clinton, Obama, and John McCain. It's a fast-paced, funny and fascinating glimpse inside the campaigns. The principals emerge as complex blends of idealism and cynicism. They're all wedded to the notion of public service and yet blisteringly ambitious. The bit where the aides are trying to get Sarah Palin up to speed with, er, everything, is hilarious and sad in equal measure.

Well worth a look for anyone with an interest in US politics.

[SCStrong]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

I love reading and writing children's fiction.

I also love reading and writing adult horror, so it gives me a good balance.

The Hobbit is one of my favorite books of all time. King's Gunslinger is in my top 10 as well.

Roland Rules!!! I love the Gunslinger series. I wish they would hurry up and make the movie(s).
" You'll wear out a thousand pair of boots on your way to Hell, Gunslinger"
Classic!

[SCStrong]

I just finished - The Animal Factory by Edward Bunker- Takes place in San Quentin Prison- A place where the author had actually been locked up. It was made into a movie, with William Dafoe (sic)? But I have not seen it. Has any one? Is it any good? The book was very good.

[SCStrong]

Just struggled through a reading of the "The Ginger Man"...... I was disappointed.

[BendtheBar]

Currently reading The Drop by Michael Connelly.