Robots of Dawn and Naked Sun (Asimov)
Re-reading the book that inspired my name change - Thief of Time.
Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, Volume 3: Caesar and Christ.
Harold Bloom (ed.), The Best Poems of the English Language.
Thomas O. White, LSAT Success.
Richard Chizmar and Robert Morrish (eds.), October Dreams: A Celebration of Halloween.
You know, I’m just shocked that I haven’t heard more buzz about this book (maybe I’m just not clued in?). I thought it was fantastic, especially (only?) for American males born between 1968 - 1978 (of which I am certainly an example). But for those in that cohort, it feels like the book was written not just about us, but specifically FOR us; I felt as I was reading it that the book was almost written directly to me. So many of the anecdotes, attitudes, etc. struck a chord.
Hey Walloon, I’m reading Caesar and Christ too! (Well, it’s kind of on hiatus at the moment, I got distracted. But I’ll get to it again after Tuesday.)
Currently I’m reading way too many things. I’m doing a presentation on religious books at church Tuesday evening, so I have all these piles of books everywhere and keep opening them up. But for reals, reading all the way through:
Traveling Mercies, by Anne Lamott. Or I was, last night, until it disappeared. I can’t find it anywhere, argh! It’s pretty great.
The Pilgrim’s Progress, as the current item in my classics reading project.
The Bookman’s Promise, a bookdealer murder mystery.
Have you read Constantine’s Sword by James Carrol? Subtitled “The Church and the Jews – A History”, it weaves a thorough accounting of this complex history with a very personal story of the author’s own thoughts and experiences. Quite a read.
On a completely different note, I also just read a couple of Ruth Reichl’s memoirs (Tender at the Bone and Comfort me with Apples – she led an incredible life and she combines a rich eye for detail with an evocative storytelling approach.
And of course – as per my last post – if you are around 30ish American male, you MUST read Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs but otherwise you might find it bewildering and pointless.
Quicksilver: Neal Stephenson – hi Carcosa – been reading this for over a week now, not as fast as I usually get through books but well worth it all the same.
I’m reading Dhalgren by Samuel Delany because there were so many conflicts of opinion about it in the 100 Sci-Fi Books thread.
I thought I’d be in the “hates it” camp, but I’m entertained. Haven’t finished it yet, though, and apparantly that’s the hard part.
ZJ
For school, I’m reading the play Fefu And Her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes. I will finish it tonight, along with Mud and Sarita. Class isn’t until Thursday night, but I prefer to get the reading done on weekends so I don’t have to worry about doing homework during the week. Luckily, these are short plays. 
For fun, I’m reading Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. I’ve read most of her stuff, and was pleased to see a “new” paperback of hers at the store last week. Next up is Split Second by David Baldacci, another author I read regularly. I’m a sucker for thrillers. 
Heh…I found The Face to be one of his better recent novels, and I finished it pretty quickly. Go figure.
Do you have, or plan to get the other two? I find Persian Boy exceedingly poignant. No more comments, spoilers, ya know.
Really? I like Lindsay Davis, but haven’t found any other ancient Rome-set novels that turned me on. OTOH, I haven’t tried McCullough.
I just reread Poul Anderson’s Operation Chaos, and am now close to finishing Operation Luna (the many years later written sequel). Then I’ll go back to reading Islamic history for a while.
I actually looked this up on amazon after seeing Wordman’s description and so I picked it up earlier today and just came on to say how much I’m enjoying it so far. It really hits the spot right now too. I’m very lonely for my generation.
I’ve been reading the (Star Trek) Deep Space Nine Companion off and on for the past couple weeks. It’s an episode by episode guide to the series with lots of behind the scenes information and interviews with cast, crew, and guest stars. Great book.
I quit Masters of Rome with Fortune’s Favorites. I just got tired of them abruptly. Right now I’m re-reading some of my favorite comfort books, like O Jerusalem from Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series. Once I stifle my Sherlock Holmes canon side, I enjoy these books immensely.
I’m rereading The Saskiad by Brian Hall, because I recently nabbed a used copy and foolishly read the first few pages and couldn’t put it down. It’s a hardbound book, and I refuse to lug them around, so it’s my at-home book.
I’m “supposed” to be reading The Big Time by Fritz Leiber because I’m working my way though the Hugo Award novels. Bleh. Snoresville. But it’s a slim paperback that fits in my purse, so it’s my out-and-about book. I’m sticking with it because I wasn’t too thrilled with the beginning of The Demolished Man, but that really took off about halfway through. My fingers are crossed.
Next, A Case of Conscience by Blish, and after that I’m quite eager to get to Canticle for Leibowitz, Nightwatch!
I enjoy King’s work and have O Jerusalem in the queue. They are not fantastic, but they aren’t bad. You might try Some Danger Involved for a Holmesian feel. It was not bad. I am going to try The Night Calls, which promises to also have a nice Holmesian feel, but have decided that I will let Mom buy it for me for Xmas.
I’m just starting The System of the World, the last book in Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle. It will be in bookstores the end of the month.
Great book. Have you read any other of the Manawaka series? If not, get thee to a book store and find The Diviners.
I picked up Rohinton Mistry’s Such a Long Journey today, and am also re-working my way through Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King, which I last read in grade eleven.
I’ll check the library, Khadaji.
Right now I’m in yet another rereading of Brave New World, in lieu of a number of other books begun and not finished:
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Gormenghast trilogy
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Instead of getting back to started reading (well maybe I’ll start up with Tipping Point again), I’m thinking of taking Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter with me to a two-week training/orientation session in a week.
I’m working my way through all 8 volumes of The Bandy Papers by Donald Jack. They are the fictional memoirs of a Canadian pilot, in which he flies with the RAF in WWI, fights communists in the Soviet Union, becomes a Hollywood actor and a Member of Parliament, forms an Air Force for the Indian state of Jamjarh, and joins the RCAF in WWII. The entire series is hilarious.
Thanks, I’ll be sure to look for it. I’d heard a lot about it, especially here in these “Whatcha Reading?” threads that I just had to get it.