“The Grass Crown” - Colleen McCullough; the second in a series of books (the first is “The First Man in Rome”) that are meant to represent a fictional re-creation of Rome at the tail-end of the Republic and the beginning of the emperors (the next volume is “Caesar”). For the author of “the Thorn Birds”, surprisingly good - and obviously based on meticulous research; as someone who likes fictional histories (e.g., the Alienist, An Instance of the Fingerpost, Name of the Rose) it is satisfying…
October, 1964 - David Halberstam; Great book about the decline of the Yankees dynasty (including the last years of Mantle’s career) and the emergence of a new, mixed-race, different type of baseball, as represented by the Cardinals of Brock, Gibson and McCarver. Really well done.
I just (this morning) finished a reread of Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers. This is my favorite of her books, because both Lord Peter and Harriet are at their absolute best. My only complaint is that it doesn’t have enough Bunter.
I’m also currently reading Black House, the newest from Stephen King/Peter Straub, and I have about 200 pages left, but I always like to finish a King book in one sitting, to enhance the suspense, and I haven’t had an uninterrupted hour in over a week. Maybe tonight! I haven’t opened the Black House thread in this forum yet, but I’m looking forward to discussing it as soon as I finish.
My god, MikeG, you & I sound like we have the same great taste! I just finished Smoke & Mirrors by Neil Gaiman and finished rereading Harry Potter #4 for the umpteenth time. The Dark is Rising is one of my absolute favorite series of all time. Have you read the Boggart series by Cooper? Not even a tenth as good as DIR, but King of Shadows (her latest) is fairly good.
Interesting thing about “Murder Mysteries” (a story in the Gaiman book)—I’m pretty sure it pops up again in Neverwhere—not just the characters, but the whole thing, word for word. Don’t know if I’ve read an author that recycles his short stories like that!
I just finished reading “The Return of The Shadow,” which is part 1 of the “History of The Lord of the Rings” books. I’ve been on a major Tolkien kick lately, spurred in part by the upcoming movies of TLOTR. Anyone who is interested in seeing those flicks might want to check out the “History” series; it’s interesting to know not just the story, but all that went into writing it, and how the tale evolved in the telling. (It’s also somewhat inspirational if you’re a writer, to see how much revision and struggle went into the writing of the work; it’s comforting to know that you’re not the only one who feels his work will never be finished [or read, for that matter; Prof. Tolkien had bigtime doubts about TLOTR].)
I’m also reading (on and off) “Walden” by Thoreau (interesting, and a must read for any curmudgeon) and “Leaves of Grass” by Whitman.
Have you seen the Bill Murray movie of The Razor’s Edge? I thought it captured the essence of the book while stripping out a lot of the distance caused by having a relatively neutral narrator figure in the book. Not a great film, but not bad at all.
Me, I just finished A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe, which was better than I expected, and Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland, which was worse than I expected.
Plus I just reread The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel, and was startled to note (having forgotten it from the original reading) that in the first chapter someone attempts to blow up Gotham’s Twin Towers. Eerie.
At the moment I’m reading a book on “Imagist” poetry, mostly because it’s short and someone gave it to me. It’s okay.
For a novel, I’ve just finished Arthur Hailey’s Hotel.
As for reading non-fiction works, a client has asked me to do some research into certain alcoholic beverages, so I’m working my way through Alec Gold’s Wines and Spirits of the World and Lorraine Brown’s The Story of Canadian Whisky.
It’s not as exciting as it sounds. I’m ghosting an article for the client, so practical research–and the resulting gibberish that would come from doing too much practical research–isn’t really an option. I have to concentrate more on history, distilling techniques, and the like; rather than taste and effects.
I put the finishing touches on “A Tale of Two Cities” about two nights ago. Do yourself a favor and get a copy and read the first paragraph - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” It resonates today with real strength.
I’m in the middle of a biography of Catherine the Great and after that I’m going to read “Gentleman Boss - The Life of Chester Alan Arthur.”
booklover, I am getting on a plane tonight to go to Germany, I am looking for Smoke and Mirrors this afternoon to read on the flight (and the 3.5 hour mandatory wait in the airport before the bloody flight leaves:mad:!
Any other suggestions?
Oh, I am thinking about getting Herodotus’ Histories to see what is in there- it is mentioned in American GOds a few times.
Mike G—there is another Gaiman book, Stardust, which I haven’t read. I HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy of The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror, edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling. The 14th Year’s Best just came out, so that one and the past few year’s should be in any major bookstore. Also, dunno if you’re into historical, time-traveler stuff but Connie Willis is a favorite of mine, with Doomsday Book and Passage (her latest) being my top two picks. Year’s Best is definitely an addiction and a must-have, though. Sorry about the long wait in the airport, but hope you have a safe trip!
I have just recently read The Wolf King by Alice Borchadt, the first three Sandman GNs, two Preacher GNs and reread Pilot’s Choice by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.
Currently rereading Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz.
Great list. It’s interesting to see just what people are reading.
I just finished blazing through “The Cases That Haunt Us,” and dipped into some of the books on the JonBenet Ramsey murder case. I didn’t follow the news that much when it all occurred, and looking through these books, realized why. Sad, sad case all around.
Just finished “Ode to a Banker” by Lindsey Davis; detective mystery set in ancient Rome. Disappointing.
Also just finished “Burning Down the House,” a mystery by Lev Raphael. Most excellent. His amateur detective’s been growing and changing, in a large part as a result of the murders he found himself in the middle of.
I just finished “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (woohoo! go Harry!). I have a complete stories and poems of Poe that I’m about 10 pages into, but Stephen King’s “Black House” just arrived for me at the library, so I’ll probably let the Poe rest while I attack that.
My book club just read “The House of Sand and Fog” and I found it so depressing I could hardly discuss it.
Since then I’ve been reading “Gone for Soldiers,” Jeffrey Shaara’s book about the U.S war against Mexico which eventually netted us Texas and all the stuff west of it. It was slow going at first, but now I am into it.
The next book I read, damnit, is going to have little conflict and no death. I wish Maeve Binchy would get off her ass and write another one.
re: the title of the thread… (It seems sort of forgivable, given the subject of the thread) I think what you meant to say is “What have you read lately?” Or “What is the book you read most recently?”
As the question is written, it seems to be asking “Of all the books you have read, which one was published most recently?” (the “latest” book)
In any case, my answer to either question is the same, I believe: “The Liars Club”. Good book. Not great.
I finished Great Expectations (Dickens) and A Clockwork Orange (Anthony Burgess) not too long ago. Great books, both of them. Plus I’m currently 700 pages into Don Quixote, and I’m working on Siege of Eternity by Frederick Pohl while I’m at it.
I read that series a while ago. Its great fun. I forget to mention, I am sorta currently read Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa. I say Im sorta reading it because I stopped about halfway through to read several other books and I was about to continue reading but I lost the page .I have to find my page again and its a 944 page book!
.I have to find my page again and its a 944 page book!