jazzbo Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 I couldn't bear not having that Chandler "voice" so I started re-re-re-re-reading "The Long Goodbye." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 In the midst of reading: "Manias, Panics and Crashes: A History of Financial Crises" (by Charles P. Kindleberger) - highly recommended. I only wish I had read this 18, 12 or even 3 months ago. "Essays on the Great Depression" (by Ben Bernanke) - Only started, but it's quite interesting. Probably too dry and academic for casual readers, but those with a solid grounding in economics may find it useful. I'd be interested in any recommendations for a more generalist but economically-literate history book on the Great Depression. "War and Peace" - about 2/3 of the way through. I don't know about the grounding in economics, but you could check out David Kennedy's Freedom from Fear, which is part of the Oxford History of the US. Also, if you are going for the epic, you might be interested in Vasily Grossman's Life and Fate, which is about the Battle of Stalingrad. I just finished Oscar Wao and was really disappointed in the ending, which while foretold early in the book, seemed so utterly pointless. That's probably all I can say without giving too much away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sal Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Im taking yet another break from my 1000+ page book on Middle Eastern history and picking up a couple books I can bring with me to South Carolina this Thanksgiving. "Welcome to the Monkey House" - Kurt Vonnegut "Last Night at the Lobster - "Stewart O'Nan" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 All the Martin Cruz Smith/Arkady Renko novels after "Gorky Park." Am in the middle of "Wolves Eat Dogs."So far, I like "Red Square" the best. As a friend said, at the end it's almost as good as Stendhal. Too bad (for me) that there's only one left after this one. Start writing, Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Also, if you are going for the epic, you might be interested in Vasily Grossman's Life and Fate, which is about the Battle of Stalingrad. A great book. And it's about more than Stalingrad, though that portion of the book is almost beyond belief; at one point, Grossman even takes us inside a gas chamber at Treblinka -- an impossible scene to render, one might think, but he does it. Grossman, BTW, was, I believe, the first journalist (he was in the front line, with the troops) to write an account of the death camps, in 1944. Also, just about the whole story of the Soviet intelligentsia during this period is here, plus the Battle of Kursk, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elissa Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Alan Furst's The Polish Officer. Awfully good, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Zadie Smith : On Beauty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 I've been working my way through David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest." Until I began reading it, I had no idea that it is largely set in a near-future version of the Boston neighborhood I live in: Allston, MA. Pretty amazing so far, though I've had to spell it with other, shorter books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 I'd be interested in any recommendations for a more generalist but economically-literate history book on the Great Depression. Try Galbraith's "The great crash". Very witty. Of course, it comes with an agenda, but you know that. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Frederik Pohl, Platinum Pohl: Collected Best Stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sal Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 I read Franz Kafka's story "The Metamorphosis" yesterday. It was a really sad story, not only because of the main character and his attempts to hang onto his humanity, but also how easily he was discarded by his family once they realized they really didn't need him anymore. A pretty bleak view on life, yet captivating at the same time. I think I'm going to check out more of Kafka's work. Next up, "Confessions of a Crap Artist" by Philip K Dick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 I've been working my way through David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest." Until I began reading it, I had no idea that it is largely set in a near-future version of the Boston neighborhood I live in: Allston, MA. Wha? Frederik Pohl, Platinum Pohl: Collected Best Stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 George L. Mosse - German Jews beyond Judaism A most fascinating and insight-ful book, one of the best I've read - and highly enlightening lecture for anyone interested in German culture (particularly literature) during the years of the Weimar republic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serioza Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Patrick O'Brian- The Reverse of the Medal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Starwell by Alexei Panshin. I've read Rite of Passage before, of course, but never anything else by this author. It's a breezy book, sort of a 'comedy of manners' approach, at least so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Starwell by Alexei Panshin. I've read Rite of Passage before, of course, but never anything else by this author. It's a breezy book, sort of a 'comedy of manners' approach, at least so far. Frankly I wasn't aware that Panshin had written anything other than Rite of Passage and Heinlein In Dimension. Learn somethin' every day, ya do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 I was surprised as well. It's the first in a series of three books, followed by The Thurb Revolution and Masque World featuring the character Anthony Villiers, and of course, Torve the Trog. Now, if I could only find a similar surprise with Sterling Lanier. I'd love to read more by him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Isn't he the one who wrote Hiero's Journey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Yeah. I really enjoyed that book, far more than most 'post-holocaust SF'. Maybe it was the morse... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I recall really enjoying Edgar Pangborn's Davy. Haven't reread it since, so it's hard to say how good it really is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I recall really enjoying Edgar Pangborn's Davy. Haven't reread it since, so it's hard to say how good it really is. That one's on my list of 'never read SF classics to watch for', but haven't run across it in the local stores yet. Yeah, I'm sure it's on Amazon or some such, but half the fun of old books is finding them in a local used book store... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I recall really enjoying Edgar Pangborn's Davy. Haven't reread it since, so it's hard to say how good it really is. Reread his "Judgment of Eve" lately which was fun; I need to dig out Davy et al. Still savoring the delicious mood of Chandler. (The Long Goodbye, currently). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serioza Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I recall really enjoying Edgar Pangborn's Davy. Haven't reread it since, so it's hard to say how good it really is. That one's on my list of 'never read SF classics to watch for', but haven't run across it in the local stores yet. Yeah, I'm sure it's on Amazon or some such, but half the fun of old books is finding them in a local used book store... I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blajay Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 George L. Mosse - German Jews beyond Judaism A most fascinating and insight-ful book, one of the best I've read - and highly enlightening lecture for anyone interested in German culture (particularly literature) during the years of the Weimar republic. Great. His work on fascism and sexuality is essential. I actually had a college professor that had a close romantic relationship with Mosse when Mosse was his professor/advisor many years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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