What are you reading now?

[George K]

@horace said in What are you reading now?:

@george-k said in What are you reading now?:

That's one of my favorite books. Didn't care for the sequels though.

Thanks for the feedback!

Is this one of those "trilogy" books that doesn't finish the story? It really pisses me off when I "finish" a book, only to realize that I need to read another thousand pages to finish the story.

As I said, I've enjoyed the first bite of this book. Hopefully it'll end on a note in which I feel satisfied, but not driven to get the next one.

[jon-nyc]

@jon-nyc said in What are you reading now?:

Re-reading it, first read it maybe 25 years ago. Exceptional book, holds your attention for all 1250 pages.

Shirer was an American journalist assigned to Europe, lived in Paris and Berlin and Vienna. He became one of Edward R Morrow's guys.

So many casual first person references, not as the story itself, just as side notes. Two examples:

He was in Vienna during the Anschluss.

I had emerged from the subway at the Karlsplatz to find myself engulfed in a shouting, hysterical Nazi mob which was sweeping toward the Inner City. These contorted faces I had seen before, at the Nuremberg party rallies. They were yelling, “Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Heil Hitler! Heil Hitler! Hang Schuschnigg!

He was at Munich in September of 38, and describes Chamberlain and Hitler as their meeting ended:

The ice, however, had been broken, and as the meeting broke up at 1:30 A.M. the two men seemed, despite all that had happened, to be closer together personally than at any time since they had first met. I myself, from a vantage point twenty-five feet away in the porter’s booth, where I had set up a temporary broadcasting studio, watched them say their farewells near the door of the hotel. I was struck by their cordiality to each other. Schmidt took down the words which I could not hear: ...

And on and on. It's really gripping. You don't really notice the length, any more than you do in a series that's several seasons long. I mean, other than it takes a couple months to finish. lol

I just finished finished it today. 1711 pages. Though I did put it down for about a month right before September 1st, 1939.

Fantastic book. Definitely the kind you re-read every 10-15 years.

[George K]

@jon-nyc I read it when I was in high school.

More years ago than I would care to admit, but it was memorable.

I should revisit.

[jon-nyc]

Though next I need to pick up a lighter read.

Thinking of re-reading Bonfire of the Vanities.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in What are you reading now?:

Thinking of re-reading Bonfire of the Vanities.

Just don't stop at a questionable site in NYC these days, OK?

[Doctor Phibes]

@horace said in What are you reading now?:

@george-k said in What are you reading now?:

"OK, I've been tasked to join 6 other people on a ship to a backwater planet which might be invaded. One of them might be a spy.

But, before we arrive, each of us should tell us about his backstory."

A nice take on the Canturbury Tales.

Only about 10% into it, but it's engaging and fun.

That's one of my favorite books. Didn't care for the sequels though.

I loved that book, too. The sequel I started wasn't very good.

[jon-nyc]

@george-k Ha.

[George K]

@jon-nyc

I LOVED Bonfire of The Vanities.

[jon-nyc]

@george-k said in What are you reading now?:

@jon-nyc

I LOVED Bonfire of The Vanities.

Me too! I heard a discussion of it recently that talked about how relevant it all still is decades later. Made me want to read it again. I’m pretty sure I’ve read it twice already.

[Klaus]

@horace said in What are you reading now?:

The best full body cycling workout is when you "plank":

Link to video

Doing it downhill is one thing, but the best plankers do it uphill.

Carbon aero wheels on a fixie? Silly.

[kluurs]

@jon-nyc said in What are you reading now?:

@george-k said in What are you reading now?:

@jon-nyc

I LOVED Bonfire of The Vanities.

Me too! I heard a discussion of it recently that talked about how relevant it all still is decades later. Made me want to read it again. I’m pretty sure I’ve read it twice already.

Sounds like the TNCR Book Club's choice for July is Bonfire of the Vanities.

[bachophile]

Project Hail Mary.
Andy Weir

If you liked The Martian you should really like this.

Loving it. Great summer vacation read.

[Catseye3]

@bachophile Thanks, Bach. I've not redd The Martian; it's been on my semi-enthused reading list . . . the Look Inside looks great for this one. Love his lively style.

20,038 ratings, 4.5 average stars.

[kluurs]

Finished

Kind of uneven - plot is good, detail that is interspersed is good, but I thought the lead character was particularly not credible - but it was an engaging morality play.

[jon-nyc]

@kluurs

I’m 560 pages in. With Wolfe the plot is just the substrate on which he paints his insights on culture and psychology. You definitely read him for those insights.

[Doctor Phibes]

Are there any dirty bits?

[George K]

@doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

Are there any dirty bits?

You mean, "Does it have the 'Right Stuff'?"

[kluurs]

@george-k said in What are you reading now?:

@doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

Are there any dirty bits?

You mean, "Does it have the 'Right Stuff'?"

For Phibes, I think he's referencing the Right Stiff.

[kluurs]

Collection of essays

[jon-nyc]

Let me know what you think about that Ken. I respected his writing during the Iraq war years ago.