# read any good books lately **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 19, 2000, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030 "2000-02-19T03:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dansir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@dansir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dansir)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/21 "2000-02-19T17:22:00Z")
My all time favorite novel was WUTHERING HEIGHTS. But I forgot about another book that read last year, THIS MUCH IS TRUE, it was good. ---
**Author:** ![xekul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/838e76/32.png) [@xekul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xekul)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/22 "2000-02-19T17:28:00Z")
Hi. Okay. I went to look for the page I mentioned earlier but I got a 404. Google has it [cached](http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.evergreenreview.com/losdiary/lo-flirt.html). * * * ``Beware of elaborate telescopic meat; it will find its way back to the forest.’’ – William S. Burroughs, Tom Waits ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/23 "2000-02-19T19:26:00Z")
I just read Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton. I saw The 13th Warrior,which the book is fashioned after and had to know the rest of the story. I liked it and breezed past the scary parts ( which their weren’t alot.) * * * I have never let schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain ---
**Author:** ![Wolf\_of\_Were](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/59ef9b/32.png) [@Wolf\_of\_Were](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf_of_Were)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/24 "2000-02-19T19:48:00Z")
A Small Dark Place, by Martin Schenk. Excellent storyline, this writer is extremely good with adjectives, keeps you guessing. You keep wondering through the whole novel. I highly recommend it. There are some funny points, as well, to break the tenseness at key intervals. One of the best I ever read… * * * ./^\_/^\ \< o | o \> .\<\_ | \_\> …\U/ ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/25 "2000-02-19T20:11:00Z")
Ditto beefymeg’s recommendation of _A Prayer for Owen Meany_. It will definitely move you in ways you’d never imagine. I’d also suggest the original _Phantom of the Opera_ by Gaston Leroux. You can even read it online at Project Gutenberg. Click here Another one of my all time favorites is _Kane and Abel_ by Jeffrey Archer. I’ve read a lot of modern best-selling novels, but I’ve recently committed myself to reading some of the classics that I managed to miss growing up. Right now I’m reading _Anna Karenina_, which so far is really great. I have _The Grapes of Wrath, Mutiny on the Bounty_ and _Little Women_ waiting in line when I’m done with this one. * * * “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank ---
**Author:** ![Nightingale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@Nightingale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightingale)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/26 "2000-02-19T20:18:00Z")
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams is a really good read, as are it’s two companion novels, Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower. ---
**Author:** ![melanietarrant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@melanietarrant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melanietarrant)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/27 "2000-02-19T22:00:00Z")
wow, you guy’s are really helpful. let’s see, an average 400 page book takes me one day(two or three if i’m distracted) you have me set for about a year. the greatest luxury i have is soaking in a steaming hot bubble bath with a pitcher of iced tea and an entertaining novel. non fiction is for bed time, so i can fall asleep while my little subconcious mind absorbs the big important stuff. i have plenty of non fiction stacked up waiting for me. ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/28 "2000-02-20T04:57:00Z")
Just finished _Gods And Generals_ by Jeff Shaara, the follow-up to his father’s book on the Battle of Gettysburg, _The Killer Angels_. Now working on Michener’s _Iberia_. I lived in Spain for three years. Also finished Dr. Seuss’ classic _Go Dog Go_ for the three billionth time. I have a two-year old. * * * _…send lawyers, guns, and money…_ ``` Warren Zevon ``` ---
**Author:** ![Rosethorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Rosethorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rosethorn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/29 "2000-02-20T05:25:00Z")
I really really liked A Bloodsmor Romance…you could say it is the dark side of Little Women. Also, China Men was great too. * * * When life throws me a curve ball, my first reaction is to throw it back. And then I realize, “Hey, I caught it!” ~ Jack Handey ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/30 "2000-02-20T21:20:00Z")
I just finished _The Shipping News_ by E. Annie Proulx. It won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award a few years back, which is when I got it as a gift, and I finally got around to reading it. It is great, full of nuanced characters and lyrical, descriptive writing. * * * “You should tell the truth, expose the lies and live in the moment.” - Bill Hicks ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/31 "2000-02-20T21:46:00Z")
I like most stuff by Heinlein, if you don’t mind listening to some dirty old man talk about politics. * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmundex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Sigmundex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmundex)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/32 "2000-02-21T03:10:00Z")
Let’s see, first I’ll second the Owen Meany accolades. That was a great book, and I’d recommend it. I also love ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’, that one cracks me up. As of right now I’m reading a couple non-fictions, the Jared Diamond book I heard about first in the Dope message boards - ‘Guns, Germs and Steel’, and I’m also reading ‘Quantum Theory’, which I find fascinating. And many times a day now I’m reading ‘The Kitten Who Couldn’t Purr’, ‘The Bear In the Bathtub’ and ‘Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree’. ---
**Author:** ![Rincewind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Rincewind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rincewind)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/33 "2000-02-21T03:12:00Z")
The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie. It’s as if P. G. Wodehouse scripted a Graham Greene plot. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_ME](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2bfe46/32.png) [@Who\_ME](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_ME)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/34 "2000-02-21T03:46:00Z")
Andrew Vachss, Choice of Evil, Anything by Vachss is worth reading. [VACHSS](http://www.vachss,com) Read them in order starting with Flood. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Who\_ME](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2bfe46/32.png) [@Who\_ME](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_ME)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/35 "2000-02-21T03:54:00Z")
Lets try that again. [VACHSS](http://www.vachss.com/) [Choice of Evil](http://www.choiceofevil.com) Hope that works. ---
**Author:** ![Ursa\_Major](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@Ursa\_Major](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ursa_Major)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/36 "2000-02-21T03:56:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Also finished Dr. Seuss’ classic _Go Dog Go_ for the three billionth time. _Go dog Go_ was the first book I ever read, cover to cover, so it holds a special place in my childhood memories. Let’s give credit where credit is due. Dr. Suess didn’t write _Go Dog Go_, Philip D. Eastman did. I’ve been reading a lot of Jim Thompson’s old novels lately. I particularly recommend _Pop. 1280_ and _South of Heaven_. Truely a rare combination of great writing and trashy tough guy anti-hero fiction. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/37 "2000-02-21T04:40:00Z")
Who! Me? – I ordered one of his books just the other day, solely based on his relationship with Joe Lansdale. (Hey, any friend of Joe’s and all that.) I didn’t know Vachss was an attorney though. It’s funny – lawyers are stereotyped as responsible for convoluted writing, but many of them write excellent prose. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_ME](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2bfe46/32.png) [@Who\_ME](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_ME)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/38 "2000-02-21T04:51:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by AuntiePam: > \*\*Who! Me? – I ordered one of his books just the other day, solely based on his relationship with Joe Lansdale. (Hey, any friend of Joe’s and all that.) > > I didn’t know Vachss was an attorney though. It’s funny – lawyers are stereotyped as responsible for convoluted writing, but many of them write excellent prose. \*\* Joe Lansdail is cool, I like his lenard and hap books. What book did you order? If it from thr Burk series, you must start with Food. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_ME](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2bfe46/32.png) [@Who\_ME](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_ME)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/39 "2000-02-21T04:54:00Z")
Boy! I must learn how to type betttttter. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_ME](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2bfe46/32.png) [@Who\_ME](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_ME)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030/40 "2000-02-21T05:18:00Z")
That would be , FLOOD, Good book, a must for Vachss fans [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-any-good-books-lately/14030.md?page=3)