2006 Summer Reading List

[biological warrior]

Okay guys I noticed that CHEM has not posted his annual summer reading list so I am taking the initiative to create one. This summer I have been reading the following books -some for summer school, some for pleasure- here goes:

HucKs Raft by Mintz: Is about the history of American children and youth. Its a scholarly look on how the modern idea of childhood was invented in the US as a result of childsaavers, consumerism and legislations etc. I find it fascinating because history of children really isnt covered much with the resurgent of popular history books.

The Americans at Normandy by J.C. McManus: A mix of popular and military history chronicling the Normandy campaign from D+1 to the Closure of the Falaise Pocket. A real informative book on the Hedgerow fighting, air combat and the planning involved in the Normandy campaign. The book combines After Action Reports with Oral histories from the combat veterans who participated in the fighting.

I am about to start on Frmkins A peace to end all peace. About the remaking and redrawing of the Mid East by Euro powers post WW I as a result of the Treaty of Versailles.

[Lorena]

Bump

I'm gonna start reading "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber.

[Northwood_DK]

"Gold Coast" by Nelson DeMille was a blast

[Antmeister]

I will read:

"PHP and MySQL Web Development" by Luke Welling and Laura Thomson
"Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects - Volume 1: The Essentials" by Trish and Chris Meyer

[biological warrior]

Dont know if its nation wide but Borders is doing their buy 2 get another book for free deal with paperbacks. The selection is limited though. Just picked up:
The last stand of the tin can sailors
The greatest Generation
and Battle cry of freedom

If only I can find time to read them.....

[Greyroofoo]

I think I'm gonna try reading The Wheel of Time series

[terpkristin]

I think I'm gonna try reading The Wheel of Time series

Good luck with that. I read books 1-7, finding some of them insanely tough to get through, and got sick of reading book 8, enough that I never read 9 or 10, even though I own both, and never bothered to pick up 11.

That said, I've been listening to the series on audio book from Audible, and it's been much more enjoyable that way. I'm almost to the end of book 6, though unfortunately books 7 and 8 aren't available right now...

My summer reading list includes:
Beyond the Highland Mist (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0440234808/sr=8-5/qid=1151247430/ref=pd_bbs_5/104-6551577-4859150?ie=UTF8) by Karen Marie Moning, a romance novel of sorts with some fantasy elements. I'm not sure what to expect with this one, I'm not really into romance books, but a friend recommended it (it's the first in a series), so I'm giving it a shot.

The King's Buccaneer (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553563734/qid=1151247595/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-6551577-4859150?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) by Raymond Feist. It's the 5th book in the Riftwar series, considered the 2nd of the 2 books related to "Krondor's Sons," the first being Prince of the Blood, which I finished about a month ago. After finishing this, I'll likely move onto the Serpentwar Saga.

All the President's Men (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671894412/sr=8-2/qid=1151247826/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-6551577-4859150?ie=UTF8), which I've wanted to read for a long time, and finally picked up at Barnes & Noble last week for $4.

A Short History of Nearly Everything (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767923227/qid=1151247899/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/104-6551577-4859150?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) by Bill Bryson. I've heard good things about this, and picked up the "Special Illustrated Edition" awhile ago, so hopefully I'll delve into that this summer.

I also have the first 2 books in Piers Anthony's Xanth series on ebook (for my PDA). Somehow I never read them as a kid, so I might get to those. I also want to read Terry Pratchett's books, but I don't know which to "start" with.

I guess I have a pretty long reading list. And the silly World Cup is getting in my way. ;)

/tk

[Lorena]

Bump

I'm gonna start reading "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber.

I read this in 2 days! Did I learn anything? Yup, it's all about feelings. Listen and acknowledge your kid's feelings, "Oh honey, that must have been so frustrating" etc. Also, communicating with your children on how THEIR actions make YOU feel, "I feel frustrated when things get taken out of my room without permission". Overall good book, but it'll be a challenge since most of the scenarios describing what not to do or say describe me.

Anyhow, my next book will be "Cheaper By The Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. I saw the original movie (1950) and thoroughly enjoyed it. So much that as soon as the movie was over, I checked Amazon to see if any books were written about this extraordinary family and I'm glad there were a few.

[Yellow5]

One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0882405136/ref=ase_davidleporedo-20/104-7024094-1883951?s=books&v=glance&n=283155&tagActionCode=davidleporedo-20) - The story of Richard Proenneke, a man who dreamed of living in the wilderness and made it happen. This story is his account of the day-to-day activities and explorations, from supplying his own food and building his own cabin. Takes place at Twin Lakes in Lake Clark National Park.

Here is the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proenneke) entry about Richard Proenneke with more info.

---

Just finished reading Be Prepared : A Practical Handbook for New Dads (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743251547/104-7024094-1883951?n=283155) because we are expecting a baby boy in October and this will be my first time dealing with a baby. This is an awesome book and should be required reading for new dads. Advice on how to change a diaper at a ballgame, to making an emergency diaper out of duct tape and other household items are included. :)

[rowech]

A short History of Nearly Everything is a fantastic book.

[Scoobz0202]

Just finished Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island. Started reading it a couple days back, never really had time to sit down and read it. Around 1:30 AM tonight I was on page 60. Finished it about an hour ago. Absolutely fantastic novel. Wow..

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=038073186X&itm=1

[FrogMan]

I had never realized there was some sort of traditional Summer reading list but I got a Summer reading tradition of my own I could share here. Almost every year for the last 3 or 4 years, around the middle of June, I feel the urge to browse and search through my favorite online bargain book outlet, BookCloseouts (http://www.bookcloseouts.com) and I end up ordering about $35, or just enough to use a $5 coupon. Yeah, usually $5 wouldn't buy you much, nor would $35 for that matter, but What's nice about Bookcloseouts is that they sell out of print books, usually at the bargain table prices of $5 or so each. This means that for $40, I usually get 8 hardcover books. :)

Since I'm not a very fast reader, I'll probably get through four of those over Summer vacations and the other 4 will last me until Christmas or so. Simply doing the browsing and searching is half the fun. Here is what my order looks like this Summer...

Cyberterror (http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Default.asp?R=0765303930B) by R.J. Pineiro
Computers increase the flow of natural gas to the San Antonio, Texas distribution center increasing the pressure, triggering multiple leaks which result in massive explosions. The death toll is in the thousands, ten times the number of injured and homeless. Tom Graham has spent twenty years as America's top counterterrorist operative. But this attack was something neither Graham nor America were prepared for. An attack via computer, and suddenly a new word enters the American mainstream, cyberterror. Enlisting the aid of the FBI's Karen Frost, a special agent who has never played by the rules, and Michael Patrick Ryan, Stanford computer whiz, Graham tracks one of the hackers to an address in Florida. The new government Agency, the Counter Cyberterrorism Team, kicks in the door, only to find the booby-trapped corpse of a computer science professor. The explosion takes out two CCT agents. Meanwhile, a mysterious terrorist, Kulzak, is on to his next target in America. But the apparently random strikes are just a cover to divert attention from his true mission.

Company Man (http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Default.asp?R=0312319169B) by Joseph Finder
Nick Conover is the CEO of a major corporation, a local boy made good, and was once the most admired man in a company town. But that was before the layoffs. When a faceless stalker menaces his family, Nick, a single father of two since the recent death of his wife, finds that the gated community they live in is no protection at all. He decides to take action, a tragedy ensues, and immediately his life spirals out of control. At work, Nick begins to uncover a conspiracy against him involving some of his closest colleagues. He doesn't know if there's anyone he can trust - including the brilliant, troubled new woman in his life. Meanwhile, his actions are being probed by a homicide detective named Audrey Rhimes, a relentless investigator with a strong sense of morality - and her own, very personal, reason for pursuing Nick Conover.

Dervish Is Digital (http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Default.asp?R=0312853777B) by Pat Cadigan
As the head investigator for Techno-Crime, AR Division, Detective Lieutenant Dor Konstantin spends her time chasing criminals in Artificial Reality. When she receives a request to track down an online stalker, she becomes involved with the elusive and deadly person known as Dervish, and the lines between reality and virtual existence threaten to disappear. Cadigan returns to the cyber-noir world of Tea from an Empty Cup with her second installment of a series featuring a quick-thinking, savvy female detective trying to make a difference in an uncaring world.

Secret Justice (http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Default.asp?R=0060008377B) by James W. Huston
James W. Huston takes the hottest issue of our time - the War on Terrorism - and explores it with a compelling, stay-up-late thriller filled with high-stakes courtroom drama, white-knuckle in-the-cockpit flying, and the shadowy world of American Special Forces operations.

The Contrarians (http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Default.asp?R=0805067787B) by Gary Sernovitz
Chris Kelch is at the top of his game, one of Freshler Feld's rising stars. At only twenty-eight, he's one of the highest-rated equity research analysts in his sector; last year, he pulled down nearly half a million dollars. His personal life is also on a roll: his girlfriend, the comely Kersten Henry, couldn't be more supportive. Kelch's small-town, single-parent, Midwestern roots seem far behind. But when a thinly veiled profile of Kelch runs in a prominent magazine, things start to go downhill. Not only does the piece reveal company secrets and cast Freshler Feld in a bad light, it also makes him feel like a dupe: the author tricked him into giving an interview. And it reveals far more about Kelch's conflicted feelings about his past and his job than he has admitted even to himself. Then a stock Kelch handpicked falters, and things go from bad to worse as he is forced to examine just about every assumption, decision, and mistake he's ever made. With suspense and style, The Contrarians not only creates one of the most memorable "money men" in recent American fiction, it also examines, as no novel has done before, the rise - and the seeds of the fall - of late-nineties Wall Street.

Balance of Power (http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Default.asp?R=0345450175S) by Richard North Patterson
President Kerry Kilcannon and his fiancée, television journalist Lara Costello, have at last decided to marry. But their wedding is followed by a massacre of innocents in a lethal burst of gunfire, challenging their marriage and his presidency in ways so shattering and indelibly personal that Kilcannon vows to eradicate gun violence and crush the most powerful lobby in Washington - the Sons of the Second Amendment (SSA). Allied with the President's most determined rival, the resourceful and relentless Senate Majority Leader Frank Fasano, the SSA declares all-out war on Kerry Kilcannon, deploying its arsenal of money, intimidation, and secret dealings to eviscerate Kilcannon's crusade - and, it hopes, destroy his presidency. This ignites a high-stakes game of politics and legal maneuvering in the Senate, the courtroom, and across the country, which the charismatic but untested young President is determined to win at any cost. But in the incendiary clash over gun violence and gun rights, the cost to both Kilcannons may be even higher than he imagined.

The Face of Justice (http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?R=0451408039B) by Bill Blum
In the midst of a custody battle against his wife for his daughter, a lawyer is confronted by a terror from his past. A ruthless killer - the lawyer's ex-client - escapes prison and kidnaps the judge who sentenced him. Contacted by the FBI, the lawyer becomes involved in the hunt for the killer, who taunts the search team with videos of the judge and late night phone calls. Still bound by the attorney-client privilege with his former client, the lawyer embarks on his own investigation based on suspicions he can't share with law enforcement officials...and discovers a strange connection between his wife and the kidnapping case!

Shadow Account (http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Default.asp?R=0345457587B) by Stephen Frey
Conner Ashby took a job as an investment banker with Phenix Capital because its founder and president, the now elderly Gavin Smith, is a wonderful mentor and an up-by-his-own-bootstraps man, like Conner himself. So it's no surprise that Conner turns to Gavin for help after a series of events that seems to defy explanation. During a tryst with Liz, a wealthy heiress engaged to someone else, Conner hears a beep from his computer, signifying the arrival of e-mail. The message alludes to an apparent conspiracy to rip off investors with the bank. Later, returning home after running an errand, he finds his apartment ransacked, Liz dead, the intruder still on the premises. Conner evades the thug, summons the police, and returns to his apartment to find everything in pristine condition--including the spot where Liz's dead body once lay. Finding the connection between that e-mail message and the disappearance of Liz becomes Conner's obsession, despite Gavin's advice to forget the incident and move on. Staying true to the formula that has made his financial thrillers successful, Frey throws his financial-wizard hero into a situation in which he can trust no one and forces him to risk his life while uncovering a bizarre web of corruption and deceit. There are no real surprises here, but Frey does what he does skillfully, and he's found a large and receptive audience.

Yeah, many of these are formulaic and will be super predictable to many of you, but heh, I'm easily entertained and reading in English is good to build my vocabulary ;) I like legal courtroom battles among other things so I usually get a couple of these, the likes of John Grisham and Scott Turrow, Bill Blum falls into that category. I also sometimes like some financial twists, like books from Stephen Frey and Joseph Finder, and I also like some cyber stuff set in some sort of current reality.

Sometimes I discover new authors I've never read before, but I also often go back to authors I've read in the past, as is the case with Patterson, Blum, Frey, Finder, and Huston. Most of them, I discovered and adopted after one of these yearly spending spree.

I also added one for me and Matthew to look at together, titled "my first big book of numbers" ;)

Anyway, I'm in no way connected with BookCloseouts but if anybody want to use them, here are a couple coupons for you:
$5 off a purchase of $35 or more, coupon is ultimatecoupons-5, password is bookcloseouts.com
$10 off a purchase of $60 or more, coupon is ultimatecoupons-10, password is bookcloseouts.com

Hopefully they can be of use to somebody out there. Shipping is also reasonable. Cost me something like 8.75 for 9 books. Average price of a book, shipping included, came to about $5.30... And they ship from one of their two warehouses, in New York or Ontario, depending where you live, so no custom fees for us Canadians.

They're usually quick at shipping orders. They are currently retrieving mine from the warehouse and I'd expect to get it around Friday, about the time when I'll be done with The Da Vinci Code, which I receive as a Father's Day gift.

I know this sounded like a big infomercial but I really like buying from them and thought my fellow FOFC friends might appreciate the chance to get some bargain books.

FM

[Airhog]

I also have the first 2 books in Piers Anthony's Xanth series on ebook (for my PDA). Somehow I never read them as a kid, so I might get to those. I also want to read Terry Pratchett's books, but I don't know which to "start" with.

I guess I have a pretty long reading list. And the silly World Cup is getting in my way. ;)

/tk


check this out

http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-colour-1-25.gif

This will give you a good idea of where to start. Discworld has several story arcs going on. there is the rincewind/magic arc. The is the Granny weatherwax/witches arc, there is the arc of books about death, or I should say the grim reaper. and last but not least is the Captin Vimes/City watch arc.

Personally, I liked the books that focus on the City watch to be my favorites, but all of the arcs are quite good.

[bbor]

Just finished Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island. Started reading it a couple days back, never really had time to sit down and read it. Around 1:30 AM tonight I was on page 60. Finished it about an hour ago. Absolutely fantastic novel. Wow..

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=038073186X&itm=1

I really enjoyed this book too.I read it last summer along with a few of his other books.Good stuff.

[bbor]

Just finished this one.Originially written in German.The Swarm by Frank Schazing is fantastic.

For more than two years, one book has taken over Germany's hardcover and paperback bestseller lists, reaching number one in Der Spiegel and setting off a frenzy in bookstores: The Swarm.

Whales begin sinking ships. Toxic, eyeless crabs poison Long Island's water supply. The North Sea shelf collapses, killing thousands in Europe. Around the world, countries are beginning to feel the effects of the ocean's revenge as the seas and their inhabi-tants begin a violent revolution against mankind. In this riveting novel, full of twists, turns, and cliffhangers, a team of scientists discovers a strange, intelligent life force called the Yrr that takes form in marine animals, using them to wreak havoc on humanity for our ecological abuses. Soon a struggle between good and evil is in full swing, with both human and suboceanic forces battling for control of the waters. At stake is the survival of the Earth's fragile ecology -- and ultimately, the survival of the human race itself.

The apocalyptic catastrophes of The Day After Tomorrow meet the watery menace of The Abyss in this gripping, scientifically realistic, and utterly imaginative thriller. With 1.5 million copies sold in Germany -- where it has been on the bestseller list without fail since its debut -- and the author's skillfully executed blend of compelling story, vivid characters, and eerie locales, Frank Schatzing's The Swarm will keep you in tense anticipation until the last suspenseful page is turned.

[ISiddiqui]

I just finished "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380813815/sr=8-1/qid=1152031743/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7352160-1136803?ie=UTF8

Awesome stuff! It was hilarious and yet was NOT bashing of Jesus, in fact it seemed to be very much pro Jesus. I'd recommend to anyone, religious or not, Christian or not (well except those who were offended by "Life of Brien" ;)). Just a fabulous book :D.

Now I'm finishing "Baseball Between the Numbers"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465005969/qid=1152031905/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-7352160-1136803?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Which is recommended to any baseball fan, stat hound or not. It'll make you rethink the game and is really compelling.

I also have on the shelf, "Salt: A History", "Cat's Cradle" by Vonnegut, and "A Long Way Down" by Nick Hornby.

[Lorena]

I just finished reading Cheaper By The Dozen (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006008460X/sr=8-4/qid=1153184459/ref=pd_bbs_4/103-8568572-6821429?ie=UTF8) and I must admit, I kinda struggled through it. It's not that it's a bad book because it's actually very entertaining; but I thought the authors would go more in depth about "motion study" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_and_motion_study) which was what I was going after.

The original Cheaper By The Dozen (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00013RCAM/qid=1153184137/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/103-8568572-6821429?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=130) movie is closer to the book than the remake in 2003 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001EFTH4/qid=1153184137/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-8568572-6821429?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=130) with Steve Martin. That one doesn't even come close to the book; very dissapointing.

So anyway, next is Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0891093117/sr=8-2/qid=1153184738/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-8568572-6821429?ie=UTF8) by Foster Cline and Jim Fay where the authors advocate raising kids by responsibility and learning from their mistakes.

[Poli]

I just finished reading Cheaper By The Dozen (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006008460X/sr=8-4/qid=1153184459/ref=pd_bbs_4/103-8568572-6821429?ie=UTF8) and I must admit, I kinda struggled through it. It's not that it's a bad book because it's actually very entertaining; but I thought the authors would go more in depth about "motion study" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_and_motion_study) which was what I was going after.


You and me both. I had to write a paper about Gilbreth (and other business men types) before I came out here for one of my classes. I picked up the book, read it for a few pages, and realized it wasn't what I was after.

Good book, just not what I was after.

I have read three Koontz novels...books...whatever.
Forever Odd
Velocity
and...shoot, can't remember the title of the last one.

I also read a book by Tim Green. Note to self: don't do that again.

[SackAttack]

I picked up a Koontz novel off the bookshelf earlier today. I can't remember the title, but I'll throw it in here when I get home from jury duty tomorrow (as the book will probably be finished by then as well).

[biological warrior]

Im thinking about re reading Gates of Fire, its been a while since I've read this gem.

[21C]

I just got back from a week's vacation. The house we rented had a couple of shelves of books that you could read while you were there. Since I didn't bring anything with me and I was getting bored at night, I looked over the range but couldn't find anything remotely interesting at first. I ultimately found something that looked OK and it was the best read I've had for ages.

The book was Mr Commitment (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767906543/sr=8-5/qid=1153213756/ref=pd_bbs_5/002-9797627-4424033?ie=UTF8) by Mike Gayle. It was a light and easy book which matched the mood I was in but it had some seriously laugh at loud parts. I hadn't done that for ages with a book. I enjoyed it so much that I've looked up his other books and will be starting those soon.

The book was like a movie that you go and see and not expecting to like but find that you enjoyed it in the end.

[Draft Dodger]

I just finished Baldacci's "Camel Club", and hope to pick up Scott Smith's "The Ruins" when it's available at the library.

[Poli]

I remember the title now. "Life Expectancy".

[SackAttack]

I remember the title now. "Life Expectancy".

Life Expectancy was good.

The Odd Thomas novels are easily my favorites of his work.

The one I was reading during jury downtime today was "The Bad Place."

[cubboyroy1826]

Read so far this summer:

Built to Win by John Shuerholz - Not a bad read but not as much about baseball as i would have liked.

Fantasyland by Sam Walker - One mans quest to win one of the most prestigious fantasy baseball leagues. Very quick read with a behind the scenes look at how Sam Walker tried to win the Tout Wars Rotisserie League using his inside contacts as a sports columnist for the Wall Street Journal.

Next Man Up by John Feinstein - Follows the Baltimore Ravens through the 2004 season. Not a bad book.

The Broker by John Grisham - Interesting Grisham book since i havent read any of his books for the last 3-4 years. Didnt dwell too much on the legal side of things.

Split Second by David Baldacci - Good Baldacci book with an interesting who done it. Very fast read for me with enough twists to keep you guessing who the mastermind behind the killing and kidnaping of two presidential candidates.

The Camel Club by David Baldacci - Just started this one but so far it is a little slower than i am used to for Baldacci.

[Poli]

Life Expectancy was good.

The Odd Thomas novels are easily my favorites of his work.

The one I was reading during jury downtime today was "The Bad Place."

There's more than one Odd Thomas novel?

[SackAttack]

There's more than one Odd Thomas novel?

Yup. The sequel, Forever Odd, came out earlier this year.

I prefer the original - which was supposed to be a one-off, but the fans clamored, I guess - but they're both excellent.

Especially if you listen to the David Aaron Baker readings from Audible. He's got Odd's voice and personality down cold.

[Poli]

Yup. The sequel, Forever Odd, came out earlier this year.

I prefer the original - which was supposed to be a one-off, but the fans clamored, I guess - but they're both excellent.

Especially if you listen to the David Aaron Baker readings from Audible. He's got Odd's voice and personality down cold.

Guess I got a hold of the sequel.

[SackAttack]

Guess I got a hold of the sequel.

Still a good book, and Koontz does a good job of not leaving his readers behind who haven't read the first one, but there is some pretty significant stuff you miss if you haven't read the original.

[MikeVic]

I'm going to try and get through The DaVinci Code this summer... on chapter 6 of 100-something... :)

[Poli]

I'm going to try and get through The DaVinci Code this summer... on chapter 6 of 100-something... :)I wish I would have waited to read that until I got out here. That would have been a great time spender.

[Bonegavel]

Picked up in the last month

The Color of Magic ( 9/10ths done )
The Big Sleep ( 2/3s done )
Cryptonomicon ( can't get started on this one )
Clockwork Orange
Mary Shelly's Frankenstein
A Stainless Steel Rat (the trilogy compilation)

[terpkristin]

Cryptonomicon ( can't get started on this one )
Bummer you can't get into it, it's one of my favorite Stephenson books. Well, I guess I liked the entire Baroque Cycle set, and though Cryptonomicon isn't technically a part of it, it's tangentially related and is a great read before getting into the Baroque books.

I vaguely remember the beginning being a little slow, but I encourage you to try to stick with it, it's a great book.

Clockwork Orange
Good one. :)

Mary Shelly's Frankenstein
This book bored me to tears. Maybe it was because I had to read it for a class as a part of our series on "modern mythology" but I really had to drag myself to read it...

/tk

[Bonegavel]

Bummer you can't get into it, it's one of my favorite Stephenson books. Well, I guess I liked the entire Baroque Cycle set, and though Cryptonomicon isn't technically a part of it, it's tangentially related and is a great read before getting into the Baroque books.

I vaguely remember the beginning being a little slow, but I encourage you to try to stick with it, it's a great book.

/tk

I'm really trying but so far it is soooo tedious.

[Travis]

So far this summer it's been a reread of Shogun (usually go through that once a year or every two years), books 5 and 6 of the Darktower/Gunslinger saga, Da Vinci Code as well as Angels & Demons (I think that's what it was called), reread of the Stand (another favorite) and finished off the 1000 Orc trilogy for Drizzt. I still need to get the newest Wheel of Time book as well as the most recent Game of Thrones. Might start rereading those series just to keep busy until they're out on paperback along with the final book of the Gunslinger.

I've enjoyed them all in their own way, but I can't recommend the Stand or Shogun enough to those that haven't read them yet.

[Lorena]

Da Vinci Code as well as Angels & Demons (I think that's what it was called)

Yup, it's Angels & Demons. That's what I'll be re-reading as soon as I finish the remainding 3 library books.

[KWhit]

Reading:
The World is Flat (Thomas L. Friedman) - Very enlightening and easy to digest.
1776 (David McCullough) - Pretty dry, but interesting.

Listening to (Audible):
Lonesome Dove (Laryy McMurtry) - Outstanding so far.

Other books I've listened to this summer:
Ringworld (Larry Niven) - Quite good sci-fi.
Brief History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson) - Excellent, but brief as it says. Makes you want to go out and read about 100 other science books to understand the details.
State of Fear (Michael Crichton) - Worst book I've ever completed. Horrible, horrible, horrible.
Eragon (Christopher Paolini) - Good book, I'll read the sequel.

[mrsimperless]

I travel back and forth to Bangkok a lot for work, so I have plenty of time to read. Most recently I read:

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer) - Really enjoyed this one. I plan on picking up his first book as soon as I run across it.
Lord of the Flies (William Golding) - Somehow I had never read this before. Glad that I finally did.
Swan Song (Robert R. McCammon) - Pretty good, but not great. I love the "end of the world / societly rebuilds anew" type of stories. There are better ones to be had however.

[Samdari]

I'm really trying but so far it is soooo tedious.

I found the first few chapters to be really interesting, but by the middle reading it had become a chore, rather than something I looked forward to. And then the end was really anticlamactic as well.

[KWhit]

I love the "end of the world / societly rebuilds anew" type of stories. There are better ones to be had however.

I enjoy those kind of books as well. Which ones would you recommend?

I really enjoyed Lucifer's Hammer and The Last Ship. If you haven't read those, you need to.

[bosshogg23]

I just picked up License to Deal: A Season on the Run with a Maverick Baseball Agent by Jerry Crasnick.
(http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=1594860246&itm=1)

[cubboyroy1826]

I just picked up License to Deal: A Season on the Run with a Maverick Baseball Agent by Jerry Crasnick.


I read this one also it was a pretty quick read and a decent inside look into the sports agent business.

[biological warrior]

I enjoy those kind of books as well. Which ones would you recommend?

I really enjoyed Lucifer's Hammer and The Last Ship. If you haven't read those, you need to.
Alas, Babylon. Is a gem, but a rare find.

[MikeVic]

Question about The DaVinci Code... not really a spoiler... but is a lot of the information in the book correct? I'm not very far in, but found the explanation of Venus and pagan symbols to be interesting... is any of this true?

[Jonathan Ezarik]

I've had a lot of free time this summer, and since I don't have any kind of social life, all my free time (even when I'm playing FM) goes towards reading. So, I've read quite a bit in the last few weeks.

The Fencing Master - Arturo Perez-Reverte. An decent mystery set in 1860's Madrid filled with fencing, intrigue, and all that good stuff.

Clemente - David Maraniss. This is an excellent biography.

The Russian Debutante's Handbook - Gary Shteyngart. I enjoyed this one also. If you like Jonathan Safran Foer, give Shteyngart a try.

The Natural - Barnard Malamud. I, like probably everyone else in the world, love the film version of this book, and I know that there are always changes when a book translates into film, but man, are there some pretty major differences here. The general plot is the same, but the character of Roy Hobbs comes across completely different. I definitely recommend this one. This is just a great book.

Gone South - Robert R. McCammon. Not as good as Boy's Life (then again, what is?), but still an enjoyable read of a man on the run from the law and a girl searching for a dream.

One Shot - Lee Child. My first Child book and I've got to say that I wasn't that impressed. I just don't care for his writing style.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour - Carrie Vaughn. Looking back at most of the books I've read the past couple of weeks and this book stands out as not one I would normally read. I like fantasy, but I tend to stay away from werewolf books. However, Carrie is a fellow Odfellow (graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop), so I gave it a go. And I've got to tell you, I really enjoyed this. It was fun. The sequel just came out and I plan on picking it up in the next few days.

The Stolen Child - Keith Donohue. Interesting first novel about a boy who is kidnapped and replaced by hobgoblins. The novel follows both the boy as he grows up with the hobgoblins and the changeling that replaced him. I recommend this one as well.

The Plot Against America - Philip Roth. Alternate history where Charles Lindbergh defeats FDR in the 1940 elections. I've always enjoyed Roth's books and this one is no exception.

Dark Star - Alan Furst. I've heard a lot of good things about Furst from several different people, so I thought I would give him a try. I'm glad I did. Really good World War II era espionage.

The Final Detail and Darkest Fear - Harlan Coben. Like Furst, I've had friends try to get me to read Coben for quite some time and I finally got around to it. He's not bad. It's not the best stuff I've ever read, but it is fun to read.

The Gunslinger - Stephen King. I usually avoid King like the plague, but I figured I would give this a shot and if I liked it enough to try the rest of the Dark Tower series. And while this was a bit uneven at first, by the end it did pique my interest enough that I will give the series a go.

The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien. I can't believe I just turned thirty and I've never read this book. However, having read it, I wasn't impressed. I really enjoyed The Lord of the Rings when I read it years ago, but this story just seemed bland. It felt like the only purpose it had was to introduce how the ring got to the Shire.

And I just finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. If you haven't read this yet, rush out right now and do so. This is an excellent book.

Coming up:

Kitty Goes to Washington - Carrie Vaughn
The Singer's Crown - Elaine Isaak (another Odfellow)
Coyote - Allen Steele
I Am Legend - Richard Matheson
Ubik - Philip K. Dick
The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco
The Warrior Prophet - R. Scott Bakker
And if I can ever work up the courage to do so, Leeds United: Trials and Tribulations by Phil Rostron. I don't know if my heart can take it, though.

Looking back at this list, I think it's pretty safe to say that I need to find a woman, and fast. Or a fast woman. Whatever, I'm not picky.

[Jonathan Ezarik]

Alas, Babylon. Is a gem, but a rare find.

It shouldn't be. Just go into any Barnes & Noble, check out the summer reading table for teens, and it should be there. At least it was when I was working for them last summer.

[Lorena]

Question about The DaVinci Code... not really a spoiler... but is a lot of the information in the book correct? I'm not very far in, but found the explanation of Venus and pagan symbols to be interesting... is any of this true?

Hmm... not sure on the pagan symbols or the explanation of Venus. The thing about the DaVinci Code is that it contains enough facts to keep the reader guessing. That's what makes the book so appealing... exactly, how much of it is actually true? It's up to one's interpretation.

If you're reading the DaVinci Code, I highly recommend Angels & Demons (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671027360/sr=1-1/qid=1153451000/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8568572-6821429?ie=UTF8&s=books). It introduces Robert Langdon and it's much more of a page turner than the DaVinci Code.

[Jonathan Ezarik]

Question about The DaVinci Code... not really a spoiler... but is a lot of the information in the book correct? I'm not very far in, but found the explanation of Venus and pagan symbols to be interesting... is any of this true?

It's been some time since I've read this (and thoroughly hated it), but I recall several times when I just shook my head at how weak his "facts" were. It always makes me laugh when I read reviews by people talking about how impressed they are with the amount of research Brown did for his book. Um, I think he pretty much just read Holy Blood, Holy Grail and that was it.

For one instance of his supposed research, (if I remember correctly) he makes some kind of point about the title of the Mona Lisa and how it was a message from Da Vinci. The only problem is that Da Vinci didn't call that painting the Mona Lisa. That title didn't come around until after his death.

[Lorena]

So anyway, next is Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0891093117/sr=8-2/qid=1153184738/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-8568572-6821429?ie=UTF8) by Foster Cline and Jim Fay where the authors advocate raising kids by responsibility and learning from their mistakes.

Finished this book and will now be reading The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811825558/sr=8-1/qid=1153609822/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8568572-6821429?ie=UTF8) We have the game version of this book and we play it on a regular basis.