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davidji
Social climber
CA
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James,
Those aren't current. Disgrace was good, but not what I look for in inflight reading*. Everyone has different taste though. The other one is much older. Looks good though. Might read it.
Melissa,
Let us know what you went with, and what you thought.
* I don't look for "current" either for travel, since current usually means hard cover. Last time I looked for inflight reading I grabbed the latest paperback from Christopher Moore. Just in case anyone had the illusion that I have sophisticated taste. It was very funny of course.
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Risk
Mountain climber
Minkler, CA
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I too found "The Last Season" (Eric Blehm) very difficult to put down, and a book that stays with your heart for a long, long time. This story is truly a timeless masterpiece for every Sierra backcountry aficionado or seasonal ranger. At the very top of my list.
Also on my recent list, but hardly recent, are "Nicholas and Alexandra" (Robert K. Massie), and "The Gulag Archipelago" (Aleksander I. Solzhenitsyn). Since it seems prudent to really gear-up for what appears current in the present day situation with our fine “administration,” I have moved on to "Stalin" (Edvard Radzinsky).
Overall, my introduction to Russian history in the 20th century has too many parallels to the present day to cite here, so I may choose to re visit them on other posts at ST when appropriate.
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James
climber
A tent in the redwoods
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David
Modern literature includes stories from the Victorian. Writing in the later half of the last century is certainly "current," and much better than "The Road" or whatever crap Opera's producers want her to hawk.
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Ouch!
climber
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The only modern book I've read lately is the phone book.
Two of my favorites are Monte Walsh by Jack Schaeffer and The Source by Michener.
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cjain
Mountain climber
Lake Forest, CA
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I also recommend "The Last Season." If found it to be mesmerizing.
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LuckyPink
climber
the last bivy
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I just finished Arlene Blum's latest book "Breaking Trail" autobiographical and very open about her climbing life , personal and professional experiences as a scientist who really had an impact on our modern world. She lives right near you, Melissa, and started that Berekely Himalayan Festival also. She's a woman who has done it all, climber, scientist, world traveler, humanitarian, and mother in the face of sexism, anti-semitism and an unsupportive family.
for a powerful story there is Jill Fredston's "Rowing to Latitude" not only her chronicle of an extreme wilderness experience of rowing 20 thousand miles (true!)of the Arctic waters, but a love story as well between herself and her husband. Her "Snowstruck" is a gripping description of her professional life in avalanche management and rescue in Alaska.
none of this is fiction, though.
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DavisGunkie
Trad climber
Davis, CA
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if you are looking for lighter rreading. i really enjoy Jasper Fforde. he writtes some really good stories based off literature etc. quite a good writer, its a little weird at first, but i would give it a chance
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there.... hmmmm, well, it WILL be current soon, in august, perhaps by the near-end??? (and i HAVE read it, as i wrote it) BUT you will have to ask and check at Barnes and Noble, or Amazon.com---in mid august:
the book, is by me, neebeeshaabookway, it is fiction, and it is a collection of short stories that introduce my four "yet-unpublished" novels (and three volumes of short stories based on them)...
here is the name, and description:
"INTRODUCING..."
short stories of insight as to facing head injury and seizures, and tongue-loss, and overcoming them with the loyal help of good buddies--and a twin sister.... jake smith, mute as to speech, is a modern-day rancher... stories give others insight into walking a hard-trail... could you walk it?... do you know any hidden heroes that face head injury or seizures and yet press-on in life...perhaps you will be inspired to encourage them after reading this?
the stories are done in an easy-going setting, touching a variety of subjects and situations--also dealing with speech loss and sign language and how one deals with the public when is suddenly: "different" ...there is a small intro to the ranch series so you will know who these characters are so the stories will make sense...
http://jj-ns.read-jake-and-donate.com
all proceeds go to LOVE INC. of michigan... hopefull some day, if the novels sell, there will be many funds for those with head injury, etc, that have needs, statewide...
hope you will give it a try---sorry to say, it is is self-published, with a very cheap set-up from my meager income tax return, and my have a few slight type-o's...
*jake smith and his twin sister's love, will touch your heart forever...
"INTRODUCING..." BY NEEBEESHAABOOKWAY !
*if i knew how to post a picture, i would post the cover... but you can look at the website... it is nearly the same... book has larger title and smaller circle-brand....
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Festus
Mountain climber
San Diego
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If you haven't read it and it's good, it's current.
Any Vonnegut or Graham Greene novel you haven't read is worth the time. A younger author? Try William Boyd. Brazzaville Beach and An Ice Cream War would both be great plane reads.
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jrenee
Trad climber
All over the States
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I just read a book by Jodi Picoult, "my sister's keeper"
It was phenomenal. I couldnt put it down, it was gripping from the first page to the last. I read a lot, so can discern between trash and treasure. I just finished it two days ago and just picked it up again to re-read certain parts.
I also recommend John Irving.
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MikeL
climber
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Shogun, by Clavell. It's longer than the phone book (1100+ pages), but hugely engrossing. Skip the mini-series. Clavell's best book is a much shorter one: King Rat, which was a good movie.
I had speed-reading friends who stayed up all night to finish Shogun.
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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I really like everything I have read by Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of the Senses, A Natural History of Love, and especially for the crowd here, Deep Play. Right now I am reading her latest, An Alchemy of Mind.
Peter
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davidji
Social climber
CA
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d-know: the wasp factory was twisted alright. I liked his book Walking on Glass more. Niether of them are new, but I guess as long as someone hasn't read 'em before...
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don'thaveone
climber
bishop
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Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Great book I just finished,about a man in the circus during the depression.
Also read Beach Road, this summer which was good too.
Glad to her Kite Runner is good just bought it today.
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onyourleft
Social climber
SmogAngeles
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"Forever On The Mountain" by James Tabor.
It's an in-depth analysis of one of the worst tragedies in North American mountaineering, the July, 1967 Wilcox-McKinley expedition. Seven people died in a horrendous "perfect" Alaskan storm on the east side of Denali. The story has been told from two different viewpoints already, "The Hall Of The Mountain King" by participant Howard Snyder, and "White Winds" by trip leader Joe Wilcox. This new book chronicles the deadly convergence of all the elements of the disaster: acrimony beween party members, national park service bureacracy, the storm and its consequences. The book portrays the heroics and the frustrations of Wayne Merry, the Wonder lake climbing ranger. Wayne was one of Harding's many partners on the FA of the Nose. It skewers Brad Washburn and some petty squabbles between he and Wilcox which may have contributed to park service reluctance to call out a rescue. It also calls into question some bizarre choices made by the late Don Sheldon, one of the foremost glacier pilots on Denali. In some ways, the book helps to vindicate Joe Wilcox, who's borne the burden of blame in this tradgedy for forty years. An excellent read.
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Gunks Guy
Trad climber
Rhinebeck, NY
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My two latest reads. These were some serious Mo Fo adventurers.
The Magellan book was good but a bit slow at times.
Lindburgh's book was AMAZING. Truly a great writer and one of the all time best adventure/achievement stories.
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d-know
Trad climber
electric lady land
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going off the suggestion of m.tea,
whom i know to be an upstanding
feller, i picked up a copy of
Shantaram and can not put it down.
thanx bro.
dino.
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 8, 2007 - 10:01pm PT
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My pics for the trip:
"The Wall" by Jeff Long b/c I was already halfway through it. Guarunteed to win a Booker Prize. Guarunteed. (It was good schlocky fun although a little more schlocky than fun.)
"The Virgin Blue" on the iPOD b/c it was the ONLY fiction on CD at the local library branch. OK...nowhere near as good as "Girl w/ a Pearl Earring."
"Suite Francaise" by Irene Nermovsky. I just got this as a gift from my mom and am only a few pages in. The provenance of the book is fascinating though. Probably worth reading just for that. (The already celebrated author wrote the book in occupied france before being sent to Auchwitz where she was killed. Her daughter had the book for 60 years thinking they were just notebooks.)
I also got a Border's card from my brother, so I'm going to get Shantaram next.
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davidji
Social climber
CA
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"I also got a Border's card from my brother, so I'm going to get Shantaram next. "
Gave that one as a gift last xmas, but still haven't read it. People really seem to enjoy it.
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