Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
couchmaster
climber
pdx
|
|
|
Aug 14, 2009 - 11:24pm PT
|
Mortenson book is on the list, I'll get there. Loved Shogun.
Here's some cross posted on Cascadeclimbers.com. I have 3/4 I'll toss out to all which I really enjoyed.
The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1936 - 1945(Hardcover) by John Toland
http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Sun-Decline-Japanese-Empire/dp/B000GKVNSM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250175481&sr=1-1
It's a 2 book set, you can get both hardcovers for a pittance, but make sure you get both. World War 2 from a Japanese Perspective. If you thought that The Guns of August was a great book, this is the ww2 equivalent.
Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Wars-Afghanistan-Invasion-September/dp/B001RNI20E/ref=pd_sim_b_1
I loved this book until the very end. Its an in depth look of how America projects (or doesn't project) our power into the far corners of the world and the multitude of players and how they play in Afghanistan. It ends much like a car hitting a brick wall though....suddenly and predictably, basically this great work just hits the end of the timeline and the author stops talking....
The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, & Power
by Daniel Yergin
The oil bonanza and Americas economic rise are detailed.
Starting on Lenin's Tomb - The Last Days of the Soviet Empire and it looks to be as good as these.
http://www.amazon.com/Lenins-Tomb-Last-Soviet-Empire/dp/0670852368/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250176127&sr=1-3 The NKVD/KGB files got popped open when Gorbachav took office and the world was flipped upside down for the old Soviet Union. The true version of Orwells 1984...the horror was real and deep. If you've read One Live in the Day of Ivan Denisovitch by Solzhenitsyn, this is the companion work of how that actually occurred. I'm 2 chapters in and it's very very well written.
|
|
Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
|
|
|
Aug 14, 2009 - 11:30pm PT
|
"Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" by Haruki Murakami - very original strange semi-science fiction
Yeah, I'd vote for that. Or pretty much anything by Murakami.
|
|
Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 12:42am PT
|
Just scrolled through the list-lots of great books you all have read.
Shantaram, Shogun, Fine Balance, all those are good reads.
Shantaram is interesting in that it is a blend of fiction and truth. Something to do with royalties and profit from crime...that was one of the "rules" when he wrote the book apparently. So says my buddy that knows the author. In fact I could tell you which parts...but na, it would ruin it:>)
Also, there is suppose to be a sequel and prequel coming out...don't know when but keep your eyes out for it if you liked the 1st.
The last Season to read-worthy for sure. Judy Morgenson was my wife's ceramics teacher WBITD and suggested it to us.
Wilbur Smith is fine in the same story telling vane as Clavell for those that like his books. Fairly Epic novels.
I'll just add these two:
The Music Lesson (A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music) by Victor L. Wooten (bass player for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and Grammy Award winner) really an outstanding read for any musicians or non-musicians. Absolutely brilliant.
Also, The Worst of Times by Timothy Egan. This is the story of the Great Dust Bowl. It is a National Book Award winner, and the author is a Pulitzer Prize winner and writer for the NYT. I was truly "blown" away by this story.
Here are two reviews if interested;
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_21_51/ai_56899767/
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/books/review/25royte.html
Both are worth the time.
Thanks to all for the recommendations!
Cheers,
DD
|
|
powderrush
Mountain climber
Back of My Truck, CA
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 12:45am PT
|
Anything by Christopher Moore if you want to laugh...a lot, a good first one is Lamb, but his new books are hilarious too!
Ron Currie Jr. A new author with a very cool writing style
Neil Gaiman if you're looking for crazy out there fantasy
Terry Pratchett, funny ridiculous sci fi/fantasy but is parodying real life...
A good old read that takes up tons of time...Pillars of the Earth by...I can't remember...
Support you're local bookstore!
|
|
Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 12:54am PT
|
Pillars of Earth= Ken Follett
The sequel is World Without End also a good read.
Any of Jeff Shaara's books if you like historical fiction.
Cheers,
DD
|
|
Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 15, 2009 - 01:08am PT
|
Surprised to see this bump...
Unfortunately, in the 2 years since I started the thread, I can't think of a single mind-blowing new read that I've read, although that's as much of a statement about my lack of reading as it is about what I've read.
The best think I've read has probably been There Eyes Were Watching God although I actually listened to it and it's only new if you're from Greece.
I pretty much worked my way through the oevre of Barbara Kingsolver. I loved The Bean Trees and liked the rest.
I liked the Kite Runner and 1000 Splendid Suns, but no one really needs a recommendation to be aware of those.
I listened to a few books by Louise Erdrich that were OK.
Shantaram was at once awesome and the sort of audiobook where I felt like I could leave out a cassette or two without taking much away from the story. It was a grand tale, to be sure, but it might have benefited from some aggressive editing. In any case, if you buy this one, you'll get a lot of bang for your buck.
For audiobooks (the way I read the most these days), This American Life and David Sedaris never disappoint.
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 06:00am PT
|
hey there melissa... say,
check out buying this series:
THE JAKE SMITH RANCH SERIES...
http://stores.lulu.com/neebeeshaabookwayreadjakeanddonate
very different... bet you will be glad you took the challenge..
say, if in doubt, try the INTRODUCING... book, first...
it is short stories, based on the four fiction novels...
all done by:
me... :)
|
|
Dickbob
climber
Colorado
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 08:01am PT
|
South of Broad by Pat Conroy. Just out and well written as always.
Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey. His work of fiction about L.A. I liked Million Little Pieces and My Friend Lenard a lot and never did approve of how Opra handled that whole situation. Frey is a good writer.
The Dark Tower Series by King. Over 4000 pages and not for every one but genius for the genre. Even named my dog "Oy" over 12 years ago.
|
|
MisterE
Trad climber
Canoga Porn, CA
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 10:34am PT
|
The English and Dutch were brutal BITD, a great read for any naval history buffs:
|
|
seamus mcshane
climber
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 10:50am PT
|
"Why We Suck" by Dr. Denis Leary.
ROTFLMAO
|
|
Shrug
Trad climber
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 10:50am PT
|
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
|
|
mrtropy
Trad climber
Nor Cal
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 08:39pm PT
|
Mister E thanks- looks like a great read.
|
|
seth kovar
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2009 - 10:03pm PT
|
If you are into fantasy, The Name of the Wind. Best book I have read in awhile, fantasy wise.
|
|
Fletcher
Trad climber
Shivasana
|
|
|
Aug 16, 2009 - 02:18am PT
|
Lot's of good recommendations here. I need to pick up a copy of The Last Season myself.
I'd recommend Beautiful Boy by David Sheff. Never would have given it a second glance but my wife, who reads about 10 pages of most books before losing interest, read it non-stop over a couple of days. I did much the same. Very engaging and forthright story about a father's struggle with his son's meth addiction.
And you can't go wrong with Three Cups of Tea. It will inspire you to do something!
Happy reading!
Eric
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!