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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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  • George KG Offline
    George KG Offline
    George K
    wrote on last edited by
    #662

    Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 4.07.31 PM.png

    Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 4.07.44 PM.png

    Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 4.08.27 PM.png

    "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.

    Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply
    • George KG George K

      Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 4.07.31 PM.png

      Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 4.07.44 PM.png

      Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 4.08.27 PM.png

      Doctor PhibesD Online
      Doctor PhibesD Online
      Doctor Phibes
      wrote on last edited by
      #663

      @George-K that looks intriguing - is it good?

      I was only joking

      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
      • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

        @George-K that looks intriguing - is it good?

        George KG Offline
        George KG Offline
        George K
        wrote on last edited by
        #664

        @Doctor-Phibes said in What are you reading now?:

        @George-K that looks intriguing - is it good?

        Just started it.

        Halfway through the first chapter, and it's a bit...preachy.

        The author goes on about how it's important to "become the music."

        I'll reserve judgment for now.

        "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.

        Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply
        • George KG George K

          @Doctor-Phibes said in What are you reading now?:

          @George-K that looks intriguing - is it good?

          Just started it.

          Halfway through the first chapter, and it's a bit...preachy.

          The author goes on about how it's important to "become the music."

          I'll reserve judgment for now.

          Doctor PhibesD Online
          Doctor PhibesD Online
          Doctor Phibes
          wrote on last edited by Doctor Phibes
          #665

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

          The author goes on about how it's important to "become the music."

          Oh, blimey. It says the author is a jazz musician as well as an academic - I've never heard of him, but that doesn't say much. Presumably jazz musician is mostly a hobby.

          I was only joking

          1 Reply Last reply
          • Catseye3C Catseye3

            For whoever is the owl fan.

            Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior

            7b805e84-f892-45b3-bd16-d3031d5c9922-image.png

            Amazon: "An extensive, accessible guide to the owls of Canada and the United States, featuring beautiful photography.

            There is no group of birds more mysterious and fascinating than owls. The loudmouths of the raptor world, they peep, trill, toot, bark, growl, shriek, whistle, chittle, whoop, chuckle, boom, and buzz. Indeed, very few actually “hoot.” They have become the stuff of lore and legend?from the Roman myth that an owl foot could reveal secrets, to the First Nations belief that an owl feather could give a newborn better night vision. But the truth about owls is much more exciting.

            In this book, natural history writer and wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch reveals the secrets of these elusive species with stunning photographs, personal anecdotes, and accessible science. The photos alone are masterpieces. Unlike most published owl photos, which are portraits of birds in captivity, the vast majority of these were taken in the wild?a product of the author-photographer’s incredible knowledge and patience.

            Lynch complements the photos with a wealth of facts about anatomy, habitat, diet, and family life. For each of the nineteen species that inhabit Canada and the United States, he provides a range map and a brief discussion of its distribution, population size, and status. Lynch debunks myths about owls’ “supernatural” powers of sight and hearing, discusses courtship rituals, and offers personal tips for finding owls in the wild.

            From the great horned to the tiny elf owl, this amazing volume captures the beauty and mystery of these charismatic birds of prey.

            Named one of the Best Reference Books of 2007 by Library Journal"

            A buck-99.

            bachophileB Offline
            bachophileB Offline
            bachophile
            wrote on last edited by
            #666

            @Catseye3 said in What are you reading now?:

            For whoever is the owl fan.

            Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior

            7b805e84-f892-45b3-bd16-d3031d5c9922-image.png

            Amazon: "An extensive, accessible guide to the owls of Canada and the United States, featuring beautiful photography.

            There is no group of birds more mysterious and fascinating than owls. The loudmouths of the raptor world, they peep, trill, toot, bark, growl, shriek, whistle, chittle, whoop, chuckle, boom, and buzz. Indeed, very few actually “hoot.” They have become the stuff of lore and legend?from the Roman myth that an owl foot could reveal secrets, to the First Nations belief that an owl feather could give a newborn better night vision. But the truth about owls is much more exciting.

            In this book, natural history writer and wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch reveals the secrets of these elusive species with stunning photographs, personal anecdotes, and accessible science. The photos alone are masterpieces. Unlike most published owl photos, which are portraits of birds in captivity, the vast majority of these were taken in the wild?a product of the author-photographer’s incredible knowledge and patience.

            Lynch complements the photos with a wealth of facts about anatomy, habitat, diet, and family life. For each of the nineteen species that inhabit Canada and the United States, he provides a range map and a brief discussion of its distribution, population size, and status. Lynch debunks myths about owls’ “supernatural” powers of sight and hearing, discusses courtship rituals, and offers personal tips for finding owls in the wild.

            From the great horned to the tiny elf owl, this amazing volume captures the beauty and mystery of these charismatic birds of prey.

            Named one of the Best Reference Books of 2007 by Library Journal"

            A buck-99.

            351f9429-d2b6-4e6e-9637-cbe5eb5ed7b9-image.png

            The Expurgated Version of Olsen's Standard Book Of British Birds?!)
            The one without the gannet.
            (The-- ...one without the gannet?! They've all got the gannet--it's a standard British bird, the gannet's in all the books!)
            Well, I don't like them. They wet their nests.
            (Alright, I'll remove it! [tearing] Any other birds you don't like?)
            I don't like the robin.
            (The robin? Right, the robin! [tearing] There you are! Any others you don't like? Any others?)
            The nuthatch.
            (Right, the nuthatch, the nuthatch, they're not in here! [tearing] Any more? No gannets, no robins, no nuthatches, there's your book!)

            George KG 1 Reply Last reply
            • bachophileB bachophile

              @Catseye3 said in What are you reading now?:

              For whoever is the owl fan.

              Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior

              7b805e84-f892-45b3-bd16-d3031d5c9922-image.png

              Amazon: "An extensive, accessible guide to the owls of Canada and the United States, featuring beautiful photography.

              There is no group of birds more mysterious and fascinating than owls. The loudmouths of the raptor world, they peep, trill, toot, bark, growl, shriek, whistle, chittle, whoop, chuckle, boom, and buzz. Indeed, very few actually “hoot.” They have become the stuff of lore and legend?from the Roman myth that an owl foot could reveal secrets, to the First Nations belief that an owl feather could give a newborn better night vision. But the truth about owls is much more exciting.

              In this book, natural history writer and wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch reveals the secrets of these elusive species with stunning photographs, personal anecdotes, and accessible science. The photos alone are masterpieces. Unlike most published owl photos, which are portraits of birds in captivity, the vast majority of these were taken in the wild?a product of the author-photographer’s incredible knowledge and patience.

              Lynch complements the photos with a wealth of facts about anatomy, habitat, diet, and family life. For each of the nineteen species that inhabit Canada and the United States, he provides a range map and a brief discussion of its distribution, population size, and status. Lynch debunks myths about owls’ “supernatural” powers of sight and hearing, discusses courtship rituals, and offers personal tips for finding owls in the wild.

              From the great horned to the tiny elf owl, this amazing volume captures the beauty and mystery of these charismatic birds of prey.

              Named one of the Best Reference Books of 2007 by Library Journal"

              A buck-99.

              351f9429-d2b6-4e6e-9637-cbe5eb5ed7b9-image.png

              The Expurgated Version of Olsen's Standard Book Of British Birds?!)
              The one without the gannet.
              (The-- ...one without the gannet?! They've all got the gannet--it's a standard British bird, the gannet's in all the books!)
              Well, I don't like them. They wet their nests.
              (Alright, I'll remove it! [tearing] Any other birds you don't like?)
              I don't like the robin.
              (The robin? Right, the robin! [tearing] There you are! Any others you don't like? Any others?)
              The nuthatch.
              (Right, the nuthatch, the nuthatch, they're not in here! [tearing] Any more? No gannets, no robins, no nuthatches, there's your book!)

              George KG Offline
              George KG Offline
              George K
              wrote on last edited by
              #667

              @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

              The Expurgated Version of Olsen's Standard Book Of British Birds?!)
              The one without the gannet.
              (The-- ...one without the gannet?! They've all got the gannet--it's a standard British bird, the gannet's in all the books!)
              Well, I don't like them. They wet their nests.
              (Alright, I'll remove it! [tearing] Any other birds you don't like?)
              I don't like the robin.
              (The robin? Right, the robin! [tearing] There you are! Any others you don't like? Any others?)
              The nuthatch.
              (Right, the nuthatch, the nuthatch, they're not in here! [tearing] Any more? No gannets, no robins, no nuthatches, there's your book!)

              POTD

              "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
                #668

                Thought I’d take break from my usual fare of political and military histories. Has been awhile since I have dived into composer bios. This one has on my list since it hit the bookshelves nine years ago:

                812A5719-E1AD-4655-8A97-51AA59C73601.jpeg

                Elbows up!

                George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                • RenaudaR Renauda

                  Thought I’d take break from my usual fare of political and military histories. Has been awhile since I have dived into composer bios. This one has on my list since it hit the bookshelves nine years ago:

                  812A5719-E1AD-4655-8A97-51AA59C73601.jpeg

                  George KG Offline
                  George KG Offline
                  George K
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #669

                  @Renauda I read that years ago. Very good.

                  "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
                  • HoraceH Offline
                    HoraceH Offline
                    Horace
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #670

                    Swafford's bio of Brahms is one of my favorite books of all time.

                    Education is extremely important.

                    RenaudaR 1 Reply Last reply
                    • HoraceH Horace

                      Swafford's bio of Brahms is one of my favorite books of all time.

                      RenaudaR Offline
                      RenaudaR Offline
                      Renauda
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #671

                      @Horace

                      I agree his Brahms bio was very well researched and written and for that reason I was interested in his Beethoven biography.

                      Elbows up!

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • George KG Offline
                        George KG Offline
                        George K
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #672

                        Started this today. It's the first of a pair of books. We'll see how it goes. Kind of slow to get moving, but it's putting pieces into place that will come into play later (I hope).

                        image.jpeg

                        The Commonwealth Saga is a series of science fiction novels by British science fiction writer Peter F. Hamilton. This saga consists of the novels Pandora's Star (2004) and Judas Unchained (2005). Hamilton has also written several books set in the same literary universe. Misspent Youth (2002) takes place 340 years before the events of Pandora's Star. The Void Trilogy, consisting of The Dreaming Void (2008), The Temporal Void (2009), and The Evolutionary Void (2010), takes place 1,200 years after the events of Judas Unchained; several of the main characters from Judas Unchained and Pandora's Star also appear in the Void trilogy.

                        "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
                        • bachophileB Offline
                          bachophileB Offline
                          bachophile
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #673

                          68D51E59-84C0-45D7-8A9F-8F9267507B89.jpeg

                          Pretty decent spy yarn, realistic tradecraft, blah blah written by a CIA analyst.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • bachophileB Offline
                            bachophileB Offline
                            bachophile
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #674

                            Finished the above. Good spy tale. .

                            Now to one of my favorite genres, true maritime sea yarns. This has just been published and getting good reviews.

                            C63578C6-CAE9-4734-A2F8-664CB7DB4A94.jpeg

                            taiwan_girlT 1 Reply Last reply
                            • bachophileB bachophile

                              Finished the above. Good spy tale. .

                              Now to one of my favorite genres, true maritime sea yarns. This has just been published and getting good reviews.

                              C63578C6-CAE9-4734-A2F8-664CB7DB4A94.jpeg

                              taiwan_girlT Offline
                              taiwan_girlT Offline
                              taiwan_girl
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #675

                              @bachophile That looks interesting. I was looking at the book and saw that the Arthur wrote "Lost City of Z". I believe I read that a long time ago.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • taiwan_girlT Offline
                                taiwan_girlT Offline
                                taiwan_girl
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #676

                                Reading (actually listening to the audio book) called ""Say Nothing"

                                alt text

                                Really really good. Uses the kidnapping and killing of a Irish widow mother to explore the whole "Troubles", which were/are the "civil war" between the Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland.

                                I thought it was a very balanced book, does not take sides and shows that both sides did some very very bad thing. I did not know really much about this whole conflict, so very educational as well as a good read.

                                Highly recommended.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • HoraceH Offline
                                  HoraceH Offline
                                  Horace
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #677

                                  alt text

                                  This guy is reasonably likely to win a nobel someday for this work. Beautifully written book. The science aspect is about an algae with a gene which turns light into electrical pulses. His lab figured out a way to implant this gene into mouse brains, into very specific locations, which allows them to shine laser light into the brain through the eyes, and control the mouse in specific ways, causing both feelings and actions. It's a novel and useful way to study the human brain. I was introduced to this guy through podcasts, which can be found on youtube, for anybody who might be curious.

                                  Education is extremely important.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • George KG Offline
                                    George KG Offline
                                    George K
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #678

                                    Screenshot 2023-05-24 at 8.25.31 AM.png

                                    The story of Wool takes place on a post-apocalyptic Earth.[6] Humanity clings to survival in the Silo, a subterranean city extending 144 stories beneath the surface. The series initially follows the character of Holston, the sheriff of the Silo, with subsequent volumes focusing on the characters of Juliette, Jahns, and Marnes. An ongoing storyline of the series focuses on the mystery behind the Silo and its secrets. Shift encompasses books six through eight and comprises a prequel to the series. Book nine, Dust, pulls the storylines together.

                                    Several studies frame the story within the dystopian genre since Howey includes several of the main features of that type of literature, i.e., a totalitarian rule, a rebellion of the main characters, or a planned separation between human areas and wild natural spaces.

                                    4.5 stars out of 38,000 reviews.

                                    Apple TV+ just started this as a series. I thought I'd give it a read before diving into the series. I'm only a bit into it, but it's a fun read.

                                    That is if dystopian sci-fi is your idea of "fun."

                                    "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
                                    • bachophileB Offline
                                      bachophileB Offline
                                      bachophile
                                      wrote on last edited by bachophile
                                      #679

                                      d11ed03f-611f-4bd7-9f19-01b5d2f5944b-image.jpeg

                                      From one sea yarn to another

                                      I must have been a sailor in another lifetime

                                      taiwan_girlT 1 Reply Last reply
                                      • JollyJ Offline
                                        JollyJ Offline
                                        Jolly
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #680

                                        Latest edition of an old friend...

                                        alt text

                                        “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                                        Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • LuFins DadL Offline
                                          LuFins DadL Offline
                                          LuFins Dad
                                          wrote on last edited by LuFins Dad
                                          #681

                                          Had an Audible credit to burn and stumbled upon

                                          985AD8BA-1315-45AA-BB5D-0247362C0B6C.jpeg

                                          Meh, it’s okay, but it feels like Taylor can only write 50 slightly different versions of the same character. It works kind of well for Bobiverse not so much for a full ensemble.

                                          The Brad

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