What do you read? Review Authors You Like!

[Greg B]

Hi All,

Just finished reading Dan Brown's 'Digital Fortress' and did not really think much of it when compared to 'Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels and Demons'. I mean the TANKODA vs NDAKOTA reference stumped the best Crypto people in the world (I think not). Little old me worked it out as soon as I saw it. I think he was really reaching with this novel.
Just started 'Deception Point' yesterday and I hope it is a good read (seems OK so far). Roxane thought I was a slow reader .

I'll need to go out with the list I have made from this thread and buy some new books. My library is filling fast. Thanks everyone for the great references.

Greg B

 

[David Hartman]

I enjoy many genre's when it comes to literature. My latest is a step back to my childhood favorites of Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour. But I have been into Sci-Fi, the whole Clancy genre (including Dale Brown, Clancy, and many others), and I love Biographies (some of my favorites include that of a former Massad agent, that of the assassine known as "the Jackal", that of Henry Ford, and one on J. Paul Getty). My favorite author though would have to be Robert Ludlum (who sadly passed away a couple of years ago).

 

[Bill Pflanz]

I read the Hobbit and then LOTR to them OUT LOUD (management committment). It took 4 years because I had to pry their own books out of their hands.

Right now I'm reading some of the [English] classics like Grapes of Wrath, Uncle Tom's Cabin, anything by Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain).

I have read most of the classics in high school since they actually required a lot of reading back then. If you want to read to your kids until they get out of college, I recommend the unabridged version of Don Quixote. It took me months to read it one summer (a long time ago) just because of its size.

Recently, I commented on Don Quixote and referenced to fighting windmills to a colleague who was younger than me. I got a blank look and then compounded the problem by asking if he remembered the musical version Man of La Mancha. After the second blank look I gave up. For some of our younger Covers who still have vivid memories of high school, how much literature is required in high school now? Neither one of my children were pressed very hard.

Bill Pflanz

 

[ralphsulser]

Ah yes, "Tilting windmills", we in quality are familiar with that.
You are correct to question what is being taught in high schools today. In 1996 I asked a high school senior about Gen.Grant(later president) and got a blank stare. Was tempted to ask "Who's buried in Grant's tomb" but decided to forgo that question since it was moot.

 

[nicoleirvin]

For Sci Fi - Orson Scott Card is one of my favorites - Ender's Game of course. But I also very much enjoyed his series - The Seventh Son.

 

[Rachel]

For some of our younger Covers who still have vivid memories of high school, how much literature is required in high school now? Neither one of my children were pressed very hard.

Can't speak for the US school system - or for the other provincial school systems, for that matter - but our English classes typically covered three books per term - names that come to mind are Shakespeare (duh), Robertson Davies, F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Orwell, Mordecai Richler, Charles Dickens...and so on and so on. Fair amount of Canadian content.

One thing, though - the fact that we don't read the same books that our elders read doesn't imply that we're braindead youth that aren't learning at all. There are a lot of fantastic authors out there that are still cranking out great material...if that's what we're given to read, or what we choose to read, so be it.

 

[Bill Pflanz]

One thing, though - the fact that we don't read the same books that our elders read doesn't imply that we're braindead youth that aren't learning at all. There are a lot of fantastic authors out there that are still cranking out great material...if that's what we're given to read, or what we choose to read, so be it.

Good point, Rachel. We had a renegade in my senior English class who picked a current book for literature study rather than a classic much to the chagrin of the teacher. The author was Bernard Malamud who's best known book is The Natural , 1952. The book my classmate read was The Fixer, 1966. That may sound like ancient history now but at that time it was a "4 year old classic". I recommend both books. The Natural does not have the same ending as the Robert Redford movie and is a much darker story.

I plan on finding some books by Davies and Richler and reading them. Thanks for the recommendations.

Bill Pflanz

 

[Al Dyer]

Just started a new one today that has been on the shelf for quite awhile;

World Mythology by- Rosenberg, Third Edition

It's not so usual as it goes by the tales from ancient empires and countries, not the usual mythology stories we learned as children, (no jack and jill or the big bad wolf)

I needed some thing a little lighter than my usual fare. So far so good!!!

Al...

If any are interested I will look for the website.

 

[jaimezepeda]

I have been reading Flight by Chris Kraft. This is an account of how NASA was begun as told by its first Flight Director. There are lots of anecdotes about the start of the space program and the space race with the Soviet Union.

Thre is much insight in this book regarding project management and the aerospace industry.

 

[Cari Spears]

I too read from many genres, but mystery and detective is my absolute favorite. Whether it's medical stuff like Robin Cook - or legal thriller stuff like Lisa Scotoline. I tend to become addicted to the main character rather than the author - I love everything from Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone to Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot.

For those who like the Harry Potter series (love them!), you may be interested in another series I've just gotten into (my daughter asked for them for her birthday). The author is Eoin Colfer - an elementary school teacher from Ireland (or maybe Scotland - I'll check and verify) his works have recently been published in America. The series is based on a character named Artemus Fowl; a twelve year old evil genius and there is a whole "fairy world" that Artemus keeps getting tangled up with. There are three out so far - I love them! Right now I'm in the middle of another book by Eoin Colfer that is not part of the Artemus Fowl series, or any series. It is called The Wish List. My mom bought it for my daughter, but after she read it she thought I might want to read it before giving it to my 12 year old daughter. It is about a 14 year old girl who dies and must return to the physical world in order to help a man that she wronged while she was alive.

Jstain - my mom just loaned me Eragon but I haven't started it yet. I read the jacket - Christopher Paoline was 19 years old when he wrote that - amazing. I'm starting that book next.

little cee - I had a few dozen Zane Grey books, they were my Grandfather's. He was by far Gramp's favorite author. I just could not get into them - I donated them to our public library.

RosieA - you recommended The #1 Ladies Detective Agency and The Skull Mantra to me a while back. I need to make a bookstore run.