What are you reading?
Kelly Humphries
> (and make sure to re-start that thread just in case)
Following my own advice:
http://www.barbaraehrenreich.com/dancinginthestreets.htm
http://www.barbaraehrenreich.com/dancing_excerpt.htm
and my go-to book when I want to know what my mind is doing to me:
http://www.randomhouse.com/kvpa/gilbert/
Daniel Gilbert is the sort of Harvard psych prof who makes me want to get
accepted to Harvard just so I can take his classes (which he probably
leaves to his grad student TAs to teach, but that's a separate issue).
Ain't nothin' wrong with grad student TA's, that's all....
J.C. Martin
<everybody's.d...@that.rag.com> wrote:
> seeing and meeting that fun group (RIP Joey, Dee Dee, Johnny):
>
> "On the Road With the Ramones," by Monte A. Melnick (memoir and
> interviews their road manager);
>
> "I Slept With Joey Ramone," by Mickey Leigh and Legs McNeil (memoir by
> Joey's brother, Mickey -- publisher's uncorrected proof as it hasn't
> been released yet, but I can tell you it's very worth the read,
> especially given punk author Legs' literary involvement);
>
> still in a punk vein: "Please Kill Me," by Legs McNeil (seminal memoir
> done in interview style with heavy focus on birth and development of
> NYC punk scene);
>
> and finally, and all concurrently: "Tokyo Vice," by Jake Adelstein
> (autobiography of an American reporter's experiences working the yakuza
> crime beat for big Japanese newspaper -- publisher's uncorrected proof,
> as it just came out).
> --
> Peace,
> Steve
Microeconomics - Theory and Policy by B. Modjtahedi.
Snore.
-JC
John Doherty
& "The Discomfort Zone" (ditto) by Jonathan Franzen
I love Chabon's fiction (Wonder Boys, Amazing Adventures of Kavalier &
Klay, The Yiddish Policeman's Union, etc.) & I loved Franzen's "The
Corrections". It's intersting to read their nonfiction as well.
SplinteredSunlight
"Rumor of War" by Phil Caputo
RandyStoner
To the Gates of Stalingrad Vol. 1 ot 3 David Glantz
Book of Genesis w/ R. Crumb Illustrations
Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Composition Michael Miller
3jane.
> > (autobiography of an American reporter's experiences working the yakuza
> > crime beat for big Japanese newspaper -- publisher's uncorrected proof,
> > as it just came out).
>
>
> http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/255708/mon-november-16-2009...
I just read "Bangkok Hauntings" by John Burdett, an expat from BKK.
This is the 3rd in a series about a reckless wasted Buddhist half
caste detective in Bangkok and they all just fucking rock. This is
the best but you should read the other ones first, in order. Just
sayin'
Ray
Osama, and at about a quarter of the way through (it's a long book) so
far Osama's been a very minor character. No disappointment here though
- as one reviewer at Amazon put it the book answers questions I didn't
know I had. A crazy and fascinating family; to understand their story
you need to understand the Saudi royals story too so the book goes
into depth about that as well. Very well written; recommended.
Another recent book that I recommend is "Jesus, Interrupted" by
Biblical scholar (and former christian fundi) Bart Ehrman. The book
examines contradictions in the New Testament, who really wrote the
Gospels (to the extant that we know anyway), and who selected the
canonical gospels that formed the New Testament (again to the extent
that we know). Interesting stuff if you're into that sort of thing.
mr.rapidan
Walter Karmazyn
> "The Bin Ladens" - fascinating book. I bought it to learn more about
> Osama, and at about a quarter of the way through (it's a long book) so
> far Osama's been a very minor character. No disappointment here though
> - as one reviewer at Amazon put it the book answers questions I didn't
> know I had. A crazy and fascinating family; to understand their story
> you need to understand the Saudi royals story too so the book goes
> into depth about that as well. Very well written; recommended.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Bin-Ladens-Arabian-American-Century/dp/0143114816/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258513969&sr=8-1
By Steve Coll. On my list, should get around to it over the hoildays.
Another excellent book you might enjoy is his Pulitzer-winning "Ghost
Wars: The secret history of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from
the Soviet invasion to Sept. 10, 2001".
Currently I'm reading "A woman Among Warlords", the autobiography of
Malalai Joya, who spoke on campus here last week. Ms Joya is a member
of the Afghan Parliament currently under suspension because of openly
criticizing some of her fellow members. While she's only 31, she was
born 3 days before the Soviet backed coup the led to the 3 decades of
war they've had there since. She spent much of her childhood in refuge
camps in Iran and Pakistan, where she was able to get an education.
After the Taliban came to power, she returned to Afghanistan where she
taught girls to read, write and a bit of other stuff in an underground
school, not the safest thing to be doing those years. Post Taliban, she
was one of the 114 women (out of 502 total people) to be part of the
Loya Jirga that approved the Afghan Constitution, where she became
famous for denouncing many of the warlords present as criminals. For
that she was eventually elected to the Parliament. It has also earned
her numerous death threats and 4 assassination attempts. She gives a
good look at another side of the Afghan conflict that many aren't aware
of. Some of the profits from this book go to helping pay for her
security, the rest goes to humanitarian work in Afghanistan.
http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Among-Warlords-Extraordinary-Afghan/dp/143910946X
On the lighter side, I've never met a Neil Gaiman book I didn't like, so
I'm tomorrow picking up "The Graveyard Book" that Ted mentioned for some
lighter reading.
W
SplinteredSunlight
A great film, an even better book (so far).
Joker
An excellent book. One of the best on the Vietnam war from a personal
perspective. And as long as we're talking about Vietnam war books (and
now we are) the two best novels of the American war in Vietnam are
(imho):
Fields of Fire, by James Webb. (Web served in Vietnam as an enlisted
marine. He became the highest ranking non-commissioned officer to
serve there, iirc.) Quite an intense novel of the combat experiences
of one company.
Going After Cacciato, by Tim O'Brian. A madly surreal novel of an army
platoon in Vietnam that chases a deserter (Cacciato) across SE Asia
into the Middle East, Iran and eventually to Paris.
Did I say two? Let me add "One to Count Cadence", by James Crumley.
Crumly is the greatest American noir writer of the late 20th century.
But his first novel was an extraordinary book written about and during
the early years of the escalating American involvement. It's
wonderfully written and a bit prescient as far as intimating that the
war would be a deep and costly quagmire for America. It revolves
around one soldiers experiences in The Phillipines and Vietnam leading
up to one of the first major battles between US and Vietcong/NVA
forces, with the larger issues laid between the lines. Hard to find,
but worth the search. And very different from everything else he
wrote.
Oh, and right now I'm reading Hawaii, by James Michner.
marcman
> What are you reading?
RMGD
SplinteredSunlight
> On Nov 16, 7:00 am, SplinteredSunlight
>
> <SkyYellowSunUSBl...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > "Rumor of War" by Phil Caputo
>
> An excellent book. One of the best on the Vietnam war from a personal
> perspective. And as long as we're talking about Vietnam war books (and
> now we are) the two best novels of the American war in Vietnam are
> (imho):
>
> Fields of Fire, by James Webb. (Web served in Vietnam as an enlisted
> marine. He became the highest ranking non-commissioned officer to
> serve there, iirc.) Quite an intense novel of the combat experiences
> of one company.
>
> Going After Cacciato, by Tim O'Brian. A madly surreal novel of an army
> platoon in Vietnam that chases a deserter (Cacciato) across SE Asia
> into the Middle East, Iran and eventually to Paris.
Dont forget "Dispatches" by Michael Herr and "Nam" by Mark Baker. Both
are really good oral histories.
Oh yeah, "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien is quality too.
John Doherty
> Another recent book that I recommend is "Jesus, Interrupted" by
> Biblical scholar (and former christian fundi) Bart Ehrman. The book
> examines contradictions in the New Testament, who really wrote the
> Gospels (to the extant that we know anyway), and who selected the
> canonical gospels that formed the New Testament (again to the extent
> that we know). Interesting stuff if you're into that sort of thing.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Interrupted-Revealing-Hidden-Contradictio...
I enjoyed hearing Ehrman on Fresh Air discussing the book.
I also read Elaine Pagels' "Beyond Belief" a few years back, which
covers some of the Thomas Gospel (believed to be written about the
time that John was, about 90 years AD). She approaches this from a
similar perspective.
Part of Pagels' take is that the message of Thomas is that you don't
particularly need a church to get with God, and how this was not seen
as in the interests of the Church hierarchy; John may have been
written as a response to Thomas.
human_be_in
I hear George's voice while reading... "
▪ Shit
>>> ▪ Piss
>>> ▪ Fuck
>>> ▪ Cunt
>>> ▪ Cocksucker
>>> ▪ Motherfucker
>>> ▪ Tits
Kelly Humphries
> To the Gates of Stalingrad Vol. 1 ot 3 David Glantz
Is that a WWII story? I know A Boy who might be interested if it is...
3jane.
> RandyStoner <rangysto...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > To the Gates of Stalingrad Vol. 1 ot 3 David Glantz
>
> Is that a WWII story? I know A Boy who might be interested if it is...
Here's one you all might be interested in:
"China Hands" by JR Lilley and JB Lilley, my pa and bro. The part at
the end about Tienanmun is pretty interesting.
RandyStoner
> RandyStoner <rangysto...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > To the Gates of Stalingrad Vol. 1 ot 3 David Glantz
>
> Is that a WWII story? I know A Boy who might be interested if it is...
It's is part of a three volume history of Soviet-German Combat
Operations around Stalingrad published by the University Press of
Kansas. Maybe not the best as a starter book on Stalingrad -- a good
book for that is Enemy at the Gates by William Craig. The movie of
the same name was based on about two pages of the book. That said,
for someone with a special interest in World War II combat operations
To the Gates of Stalingrad is, so far, a well written discussion of
the campaign that led up to the siege of Stalingrad. Vol. 2 covers
the begining of the siege and Vol. 3 covers the break out and
encirclement of the German 6th Army.
3jane.
Enemy at the Gates is an excellent book and the movie was pretty damn
good too.
ML
I am early into "Don't Stop The Carnival"
by Herman Wouk.
Thanks to Garry for sending it to me.
Also, the mention of "Last Words",
I strongly desire reading this book.
I'm so backed up....
Still have not read "Skydog" although it has
been looking me in the face
for quite awhile since my pal JA sent it to me,
and Duane's birthday was yesterday, I believe?
Edwin Hurwitz
since August 17th. I'm reeling.), I've been looking at To The Life Of
The Silver Harbor by Reuel Wilson about his parents, Edmund Wilson and
Mary McCarthy and their lives in Wellfleet, MA. My grandparents and mom
figure in the book, so it's interesting to see a different perspective
of the times I heard about and experienced the very end of as a small
child.
Edwin
--
If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your
enemies.
-Moshe Dayan
Edwin Hurwitz
band beyond description <everybody's.d...@that.rag.com> wrote:
> On 2009-11-21 20:28:29 +0900, Edwin Hurwitz <ed...@indra.com> said:
>
> > When I've been slacking from school reading (something like 2500 pages
> > since August 17th. I'm reeling.), I've been looking at To The Life Of
> > The Silver Harbor by Reuel Wilson about his parents, Edmund Wilson and
> > Mary McCarthy and their lives in Wellfleet, MA. My grandparents and mom
> > figure in the book, so it's interesting to see a different perspective
> > of the times I heard about and experienced the very end of as a small
> > child.
> >
> > Edwin
>
>
> saw the Amazon page for the book; that sounds interesting, to learn of
> a true leftist artists' community and sensibility of the time...
The remnants are still there. My folks and their friends are the last of
the second generation of this scene. Sadly, my generation can't afford
what it takes to live this way, or rather, it's not possible to do it on
the cheap as it was in the past. As a child, I could sense the
intellectual intensity around me, but was really too young to be able to
get much practical from it. It wasn't until long after it was over that
I realized what it was.
Walter Karmazyn
I found a copy of "China Hands" at one of the local used book stores
last night, cost me about half the cover price. While it goes to the
bottom of my to be read stack, I did leaf through it, I think I'll enjoy
it when it gets to the top. Seems to me your Dad wasn't the only
interesting person in your family, your Granddad sounds like he could've
told a story or 2, just from reading the first few pages. Likewise your
bro. He he still connected with that democracy building project in
Kyrgyzstan? Anyway it looks like it could be informative and it
doesn't seem to be written in a dry manner from my initial browse.
W
3jane.
The best part is the stuff about Tienanmen at the end, except for me
kicking Winston Lord's ass in basketball in Korea. Brother was a
journalist, now monitors elctions in Afghanistan and other vacation
destinations.
Kelly Humphries
Funny you should mention it. We've seen "Enemy at the Gates" and he's
read the book. He thinks "The Great Raid" is the best movie ever made in
like, forever (and he's seen "2001: A Space Odyssey" at the Cinerama).
Clearly, I have a lot of work ahead of me. Thanks for the
recommendations!
RandyStoner
> When I've been slacking from school reading (something like 2500 pages
> since August 17th. I'm reeling.), I've been looking at To The Life Of
> The Silver Harbor by Reuel Wilson about his parents, Edmund Wilson and
> Mary McCarthy and their lives in Wellfleet, MA.
Damn! I miss law school.
RandyStoner
>
> - Show quoted text -
Two additional movies he might be interested in. "Cross of Iron" with
Lee Marvin and the German film "Stalingrad." Both depict the
Stalingrad campaign from a German perspective. Given that the main
characters lose, they are each kind of depressing, but they seem to be
a good representation of how horrible WWII was. Almost as depressing
is the fact that Cross of Iron does not seem to have been released in
letter-box.
3jane.
My favorite German war movie hands down is Das Boot. Also the best
sub warfare movie ever made IMO, nobody does grim desperation like the
Krauts. Cross of Iron is excellent, I'll have to track down
Stalingrad.