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The New Coffee Room

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  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

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  • F Offline
    F Offline
    Friday
    wrote on last edited by
    #578

    I read Steinhauer's Tourist.

    I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    Easy enough to read despite all the plots within plots; would have preferred more action; really liked the spy stuff (especially the turf war within the US); but didn't care about the wife or kid.

    George KG 1 Reply Last reply
    • F Friday

      I read Steinhauer's Tourist.

      I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

      Easy enough to read despite all the plots within plots; would have preferred more action; really liked the spy stuff (especially the turf war within the US); but didn't care about the wife or kid.

      George KG Offline
      George KG Offline
      George K
      wrote on last edited by
      #579

      @Friday said in What are you reading now?:

      I read Steinhauer's Tourist.

      I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

      Easy enough to read despite all the plots within plots; would have preferred more action; really liked the spy stuff (especially the turf war within the US); but didn't care about the wife or kid.

      Thanks...I'm only about ¼ of the way through it, and I find the family stuff overbearing and irrelevant.

      This is the third Steinhauer book I've done. I gave up on "Bridge of Sighs" - too much talk and scene-setting without actually moving the story along. "All The Old Knives," as I said, was a better movie than book. If this doesn't grab me soon, I'll give up on this author.

      If I want popcorn, I'll read Connelly.

      If I want a thriller, I'll read Forsyth.

      If I want top-notch spy stuff, well, there's only LeCarre', right?

      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

      1 Reply Last reply
      • RenaudaR Offline
        RenaudaR Offline
        Renauda
        wrote on last edited by Renauda
        #580

        Just started

        bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

        Elbows up!

        George KG jon-nycJ CopperC 3 Replies Last reply
        • RenaudaR Renauda

          Just started

          bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

          George KG Offline
          George KG Offline
          George K
          wrote on last edited by
          #581

          @Renauda looks like this was published before Chernow's biography. I believe Chernow's is considered the best. I loved it.

          "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

          The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

          RenaudaR 1 Reply Last reply
          • George KG George K

            @Renauda looks like this was published before Chernow's biography. I believe Chernow's is considered the best. I loved it.

            RenaudaR Offline
            RenaudaR Offline
            Renauda
            wrote on last edited by Renauda
            #582

            @George-K

            I picked up a pristine hardcover copy of Chernow’s bio for a couple of dollars at a rummage sale in early summer. I have had this one for a couple of years - thought I would read it first then Chernow’s because the latter is considered the definitive bio of Grant.

            Elbows up!

            Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
            • RenaudaR Renauda

              @George-K

              I picked up a pristine hardcover copy of Chernow’s bio for a couple of dollars at a rummage sale in early summer. I have had this one for a couple of years - thought I would read it first then Chernow’s because the latter is considered the definitive bio of Grant.

              Catseye3C Offline
              Catseye3C Offline
              Catseye3
              wrote on last edited by
              #583

              @Renauda Do you know about this fellow?

              My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies
              https://bestpresidentialbios.com/about/

              Stephen Floyd writes, "Given my fascination with the presidency and love of great writing, in 2010 I began collecting the best biographies of each of the presidents. In late 2012 I embarked on a quest to read them all – beginning with George Washington.

              This site was initially created to log my journey and organize my thoughts. But 260 presidential biographies later it has evolved into something a bit larger…"

              Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

              RenaudaR 1 Reply Last reply
              • RenaudaR Renauda

                Just started

                bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

                jon-nycJ Offline
                jon-nycJ Offline
                jon-nyc
                wrote on last edited by
                #584

                @Renauda

                I read that some years ago. It was very good.

                Only non-witches get due process.

                • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                1 Reply Last reply
                • Catseye3C Catseye3

                  @Renauda Do you know about this fellow?

                  My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies
                  https://bestpresidentialbios.com/about/

                  Stephen Floyd writes, "Given my fascination with the presidency and love of great writing, in 2010 I began collecting the best biographies of each of the presidents. In late 2012 I embarked on a quest to read them all – beginning with George Washington.

                  This site was initially created to log my journey and organize my thoughts. But 260 presidential biographies later it has evolved into something a bit larger…"

                  RenaudaR Offline
                  RenaudaR Offline
                  Renauda
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #585

                  @Catseye3

                  I didn’t but I do now. Thanks for the link.

                  Elbows up!

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • RenaudaR Renauda

                    Just started

                    bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

                    CopperC Offline
                    CopperC Offline
                    Copper
                    wrote on last edited by Copper
                    #586

                    @Renauda said in What are you reading now?:

                    Just started

                    bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

                    click to show

                    Grant wins

                    RenaudaR jon-nycJ 2 Replies Last reply
                    • CopperC Copper

                      @Renauda said in What are you reading now?:

                      Just started

                      bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

                      click to show

                      Grant wins

                      RenaudaR Offline
                      RenaudaR Offline
                      Renauda
                      wrote on last edited by Renauda
                      #587

                      @Copper

                      It’s okay, I knew that already from my childhood collection of Civil War cards.

                      I know you and George would probably remember those.

                      Elbows up!

                      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                      • RenaudaR Renauda

                        @Copper

                        It’s okay, I knew that already from my childhood collection of Civil War cards.

                        I know you and George would probably remember those.

                        George KG Offline
                        George KG Offline
                        George K
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #588

                        @Renauda said in What are you reading now?:

                        I know you and George would probably remember those.

                        Harrumph.

                        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                        RenaudaR 1 Reply Last reply
                        • George KG George K

                          @Renauda said in What are you reading now?:

                          I know you and George would probably remember those.

                          Harrumph.

                          RenaudaR Offline
                          RenaudaR Offline
                          Renauda
                          wrote on last edited by Renauda
                          #589

                          @George-K

                          C’mon George, at least we were there when the cards came out. Seems to me I still had some of those Confederate dollars that were included with the cards and bubblegum stick in each pack, kicking around when was in high school. Don’t know what ever happened to them.

                          Elbows up!

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • CopperC Copper

                            @Renauda said in What are you reading now?:

                            Just started

                            bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

                            click to show

                            Grant wins

                            jon-nycJ Offline
                            jon-nycJ Offline
                            jon-nyc
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #590

                            @Copper said in What are you reading now?:

                            @Renauda said in What are you reading now?:

                            Just started

                            bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

                            click to show

                            Grant wins

                            Ha. I can tell you didn’t finish your reading.

                            click to show

                            Cancer wins

                            Only non-witches get due process.

                            • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                            George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                            • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

                              @Copper said in What are you reading now?:

                              @Renauda said in What are you reading now?:

                              Just started

                              bfe2cfe9-50be-4698-a346-b0a410d78dee-image.jpeg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41q3Og+QQgL.jpg

                              click to show

                              Grant wins

                              Ha. I can tell you didn’t finish your reading.

                              click to show

                              Cancer wins

                              George KG Offline
                              George KG Offline
                              George K
                              wrote on last edited by George K
                              #591

                              @jon-nyc perhaps....

                              click to show

                              The Cigars won.

                              "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                              The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • Catseye3C Offline
                                Catseye3C Offline
                                Catseye3
                                wrote on last edited by Catseye3
                                #592

                                576e28d9-9e9b-48a5-a861-16e95aeb5090-image.png

                                This book has me entirely enthralled. Life has ceased for me until I find out what happened.

                                It's not a chick book, but I kind of feel like it's better suited to women. Maybe it's the sort-of Austenish flavor; maybe it takes more patience to read than the pace of modern life. I don't know. But it's super!

                                Don't take my word for it. It has 4,294 stars at 4.0. And as you see from the cover, it's a Booker Prize nominee.
                                https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JMFFCYL/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

                                Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • George KG George K

                                  That was typical Connelly. Good story, and perhaps a bit more involved than his other tales.

                                  (This is not a "Bosch" book, by the way).

                                  Having read "All The Old Knives" and being disappointed by it, I really wanted to give Steinhauer another shot. He's written a series of books based on one character. So, I started this today.

                                  "Milo Weaver used to be a “tourist” for the CIA—an undercover agent with no home, no identity—but he’s since retired from the field to become a middle-level manager at the CIA’s New York headquarters. He’s acquired a wife, a daughter, and a brownstone in Brooklyn, and he’s tried to leave his old life of secrets and lies behind.

                                  But when the arrest of a long-sought-after assassin sets off an investigation into one of Milo’s oldest colleagues and exposes new layers of intrigue in his old cases, he has no choice but to go back undercover and find out who’s holding the strings once and for all."

                                  bigTouristcover.jpg

                                  George KG Offline
                                  George KG Offline
                                  George K
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #593

                                  @George-K said in What are you reading now?:

                                  bigTouristcover.jpg

                                  Though this was a "meh" book, I thought the concept and world that Steinhauer described was interesting. So, being curious, I thought I'd pick up the first of 3 sequels.

                                  image.jpeg

                                  About ¼ of the way through it, and so far, it's a much better book, and a much tighter story. The events of "The Tourist" set up the situation in "The Nearest Exit," but the story isn't really dependent upon it.

                                  "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                  The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                  George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • Catseye3C Offline
                                    Catseye3C Offline
                                    Catseye3
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #594

                                    34263b85-d32b-4f0b-8c3b-9be521a013ff-image.png

                                    Amazon: "But despite the odds, these underwater warriors accounted for almost 60 percent of Japanese shipping losses, and were a major factor in winning the war. 16 U.S. submarines - and one German U-Boat - that saw action during WWII are now open to the public. Most have been restored and authentically equipped.

                                    Final Patrol takes a fascinating look at these subs and the personal stories of the brave sailors who lived, fought, and often died in them. Now, visitors can climb into these cramped steel cylinders, peer through their torpedo tubes, and imagine diving under the sea - perhaps for the last time - to stalk a fanatical enemy who threatened our nation's freedom."

                                    4.5 stars, 68 ratings. $1.99.

                                    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IATDEM?_bbid=90553873&tag=bookbubemail1-20

                                    Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                                    RenaudaR 1 Reply Last reply
                                    • Catseye3C Catseye3

                                      34263b85-d32b-4f0b-8c3b-9be521a013ff-image.png

                                      Amazon: "But despite the odds, these underwater warriors accounted for almost 60 percent of Japanese shipping losses, and were a major factor in winning the war. 16 U.S. submarines - and one German U-Boat - that saw action during WWII are now open to the public. Most have been restored and authentically equipped.

                                      Final Patrol takes a fascinating look at these subs and the personal stories of the brave sailors who lived, fought, and often died in them. Now, visitors can climb into these cramped steel cylinders, peer through their torpedo tubes, and imagine diving under the sea - perhaps for the last time - to stalk a fanatical enemy who threatened our nation's freedom."

                                      4.5 stars, 68 ratings. $1.99.

                                      https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IATDEM?_bbid=90553873&tag=bookbubemail1-20

                                      RenaudaR Offline
                                      RenaudaR Offline
                                      Renauda
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #595

                                      @Catseye3

                                      Looks interesting. Submariners are a whole t’other breed of warrior.

                                      Elbows up!

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • Catseye3C Offline
                                        Catseye3C Offline
                                        Catseye3
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #596

                                        000e4ce1-3441-449d-be5f-c75bf4885676-image.png

                                        "From breaking wild horses in Colorado to fighting the Red Baron's squadrons in the skies over France, here in his own words is the true story of a forgotten American hero: the cowboy who became our first ace and the first pilot to fly the American colors over enemy lines."

                                        $1.99. 638 ratings at 4.5 stars.
                                        https://www.amazon.com/Horses-Dont-Fly-Memoir-Cowboy-ebook/dp/B01DRX7UNQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8YD4RP4DLZ36&keywords=Horses+don't+fly&qid=1666624938&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjkzIiwicXNhIjoiMS43MiIsInFzcCI6IjEuODAifQ%3D%3D&s=digital-text&sprefix=horses+don't+fly%2Cdigital-text%2C143&sr=1-1

                                        Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • George KG George K

                                          @George-K said in What are you reading now?:

                                          bigTouristcover.jpg

                                          Though this was a "meh" book, I thought the concept and world that Steinhauer described was interesting. So, being curious, I thought I'd pick up the first of 3 sequels.

                                          image.jpeg

                                          About ¼ of the way through it, and so far, it's a much better book, and a much tighter story. The events of "The Tourist" set up the situation in "The Nearest Exit," but the story isn't really dependent upon it.

                                          George KG Offline
                                          George KG Offline
                                          George K
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #597

                                          @George-K said in What are you reading now?:

                                          About ¼ of the way through it, and so far, it's a much better book, and a much tighter story. The events of "The Tourist" set up the situation in "The Nearest Exit," but the story isn't really dependent upon it.

                                          See, I'm the type of person who likes the whole goddamned story.

                                          "Nearest Exit" was a much better book than "The Tourist." More satisfying, less obscure, and the characters were really fleshed out well.

                                          The ending was good, but left enough threads in the air that I was hankering for more.

                                          So the other day, I started #3 in the "Milo Weaver" series. It's gotten so-so reviews because some found it confusing and difficult to follow.

                                          If you're going to find spy stories convoluted, stay away from Steinhauer (and LeCarre).

                                          Yeah, this is convoluted, and I find it difficult to keep track of all the Chinese names. But, the overall arc has been good, and Steinhauer's trying to tie up the loose ends of "The Nearest Exit."

                                          I find myself getting into a rhythm of his books, and I'll probably continue with the fourth, and final, book in the "Weaver" stories.

                                          image.jpeg

                                          "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                          The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

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