GregK Posted December 27, 2003 Report Posted December 27, 2003 Undaunted Courage, the story of Lewis & Clark by Ambrose. What a great read Quote
ghost of miles Posted December 27, 2003 Author Report Posted December 27, 2003 Also reading THE MUSICAL WORLD OF J.J. JOHNSON--I'm hoping to do a special about him for what would have been his 80th birthday this January. Any chance that fellow board members will be able to listen to this online? pryan, yeah, sure. I don't know yet whether it will be airing on our public radio station or our community radio station. I'd prefer to do it on the public one, but I don't know if we'll be able to squeeze it in or not. I'm trying to line up David Baker for an interview, but I don't know if it will happen or not--he's an extremely busy guy, but I know he'd like to do it if he can find the time. J.J. was sort of a mentor to him. In any case, it will probably air around his birthday, either Jan. 21 or 22, and I will post the link here. Just got ACROSS 110TH STREET in the mail yesterday, which will give me something to represent J.J.'s film/TV years. Started reading a Christmas present last night: SECRET AGENT X-9, a 1991 compendium of the 1934 comic strip that Dashiell Hammett authored. A fascinating moment in the career of the man who wrote THE MALTESE FALCON. Quote
alankin Posted December 27, 2003 Report Posted December 27, 2003 Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything Quote
street singer Posted December 27, 2003 Report Posted December 27, 2003 Finally getting around to reading Arthur C. Clarke's '2001: A Space Odyssey'. Recently picked up a hardcover edition of this book for $4.95 at Barnes & Noble. Quote
Chrome Posted January 8, 2004 Report Posted January 8, 2004 I recently finished two of the best fiction books I've read in a looooooooong time. The first one is called "Altered Carbon" by Richard K. Morgan. It' set in the future when people's minds/personalities/souls/whatever can be up- and downloaded digitally into new bodies. But the story itself is a hard-boiled murder mystery type thing. I wouldn't say it breaks any new ground, but it's a great example of the genre. The other was called "Ordinary Horror" by David Searcy, and this was about a guy who has pests in his rose garden ... he orders some mysterious plants that are supposed to naturally take care of the problem but, of course, cause some problems of their own. Or not. This is the kind of book one has to read for one's self; a plot synopsis doesn't give the full flavor. The writing was fantastic and even though nothing much happens, the book still scared me. Quote
BruceH Posted January 8, 2004 Report Posted January 8, 2004 Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything Good book! For some reason my son likes me to read it aloud. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 This is the kind of book one has to read for one's self; a plot synopsis doesn't give the full flavor. A requirement for a book to be top notch, as far as I'm concerned. I hate it when I finish a really good book and I'm telling the wife about it, and she asks "what's it about?" It used to drive me crazy! Take for example, a book mentioned in the baseball book thread: A False Spring by Pat Jordan. Is it about baseball? Well, yes, but only a totally simplistic skim would lead you to say "it's about baseball". It's about failure, dealing with failure, growing up, dreams and reality, all kinds of stuff. It's about life, as any good book is. But when I throw my hands up and tell my wife "it's about life", she just shakes her head, looks at me funny and whines "that's what you always say!" Quote
ghost of miles Posted January 17, 2004 Author Report Posted January 17, 2004 Finally getting around to this, which I've been anticipating for the past several months: Quote
street singer Posted January 17, 2004 Report Posted January 17, 2004 Just finished reading 'Time Out of Joint' by Philip K. Dick. Now starting 'Counter-Clock World' by the same author. Quote
Morganized Posted January 18, 2004 Report Posted January 18, 2004 Just finished Straight Life, the (auto)biography of Art Pepper. Actually written by Laurie Pepper, his fourth wife. Very interesting read. Recently began Raise Up Off Me, the biography of Hampton Hawes. This one is really funny. Makes me see Hampton in an entirely new light. Quote
chris Posted January 18, 2004 Report Posted January 18, 2004 I'm reading a biography of Bill Evans whose name escapes me at the moment, a pretty damn good translation of Thus Spake Zarathustra, and the letters of Flannery O'Connor... Quote
brownie Posted January 18, 2004 Report Posted January 18, 2004 I'm deep in 'Duke Ellington, Day By Day, Film By Film' a more than 700 pages book by Dr. Klaus Stratemann. This is a very detailed account of all the films and videos Duke Ellington was involved in. Plus a day-by-day account of the band activities. Thought it would be of little interest and kept away from it for a long time. Now that I finally got it, I find it totally fascinating. This whole Ellington business is like a labyrinth. And I love being sidetracked by all the information that is in the book. Quote
BruceH Posted January 18, 2004 Report Posted January 18, 2004 "Movie Love In the Fifties" by James Harvey---fun movie writing. Quote
Christiern Posted January 18, 2004 Report Posted January 18, 2004 You said it, Brownie, the Duke book is difficult to put down... Quote
jazzbo Posted January 18, 2004 Report Posted January 18, 2004 Whew! I better never pick it up then! I'm rereading Moby Dick. Quote
brownie Posted January 19, 2004 Report Posted January 19, 2004 Lon, the Duke Ellington book is Moby Dick size. And more fun reading Quote
jazzbo Posted January 19, 2004 Report Posted January 19, 2004 Yes, I'm familiar with the book as far as size etc. I have fun reading Melville though, but then I'm different. . . . Quote
Gary Posted January 19, 2004 Report Posted January 19, 2004 I'm reading a biography of Bill Evans whose name escapes me at the moment, a pretty damn good translation of Thus Spake Zarathustra, and the letters of Flannery O'Connor... Is it this one Chris ? I'm a couple of chapters in at the moment Quote
chris Posted January 19, 2004 Report Posted January 19, 2004 Is it this one Chris ? I'm a couple of chapters in at the moment That's the one-- I'm about 3/4 through. Not the most scintillating read, but interesting. The musical analysis is sometimes good, but often a little too gushing. And there are moments when I feel like I am reading some kind of gig-o-log just outlining one gig to the next... but still worthwhile because I find Evans' music so intriguing... Quote
The Mule Posted January 19, 2004 Report Posted January 19, 2004 Is it this one Chris ? I'm a couple of chapters in at the moment That's the one-- I'm about 3/4 through. Not the most scintillating read, but interesting. The musical analysis is sometimes good, but often a little too gushing. And there are moments when I feel like I am reading some kind of gig-o-log just outlining one gig to the next... but still worthwhile because I find Evans' music so intriguing... Totally agree. I found the book to be a little wearisome. As you say, it becomes one of those, "and then he played..." sort of books. Very disappointed in the biographical aspects of the book as I felt it shed very little light on Bill Evans the man. I'm currently reading this novel: Written by Leslie Epstein, the son of CASABLANCA co-screenwriter Philip G. Epstein. It's sort of an autobiographical fiction based on his own life. Wonderful writing. Quote
brownie Posted January 19, 2004 Report Posted January 19, 2004 I have fun reading Melville though, but then I'm different. . . . We all know that, Lon. And it's one of the reasons we like you as you are. Keep it that way Quote
ghost of miles Posted January 23, 2004 Author Report Posted January 23, 2004 BASEBALL'S PIVOTAL ERA, 1945-1951, by William Marshall. I just picked it up used last night--it focuses not only on Jackie Robinson and integration, but also on commissioner Happy Chandler. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted January 23, 2004 Report Posted January 23, 2004 I have fun reading Melville though, but then I'm different. . . . We all know that, Lon. And it's one of the reasons we like you as you are. Keep it that way Moby Dick is a great book and I will never tire of it. There are some slow sections in the middle dealing with whale minutae but the language is grand. Quote
ghost of miles Posted January 24, 2004 Author Report Posted January 24, 2004 Trying to sneak in a quick novel--William Maxwell, THE FOLDED LEAF. Quote
ghost of miles Posted January 27, 2004 Author Report Posted January 27, 2004 Spent most of Sunday reading and got through two novels--the above-mentioned FOLDED LEAF and my first Martin Amis, NIGHT TRAIN. Devastating--any other recommendations regarding Amis? I'm currently eyeing LONDON FIELDS and THE INFORMATION. Quote
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