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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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  • B Offline
    B Offline
    bachophile
    wrote on 17 Sept 2021, 11:23 last edited by
    #351

    alt text

    just started this, its the story of an american british convoy to deliver matériel, to archangel in arctic russia, summer 1942. along the way, the c0mplex relationship between FDR, Churchill and Stalin.

    when it comes to history, im a sucker for all things maritime (yes i loved greyhound with tom hanks even though some panned it) and every time i think there cant be another angle about world war two that hasn't been covered, i discover this. Just started but I know from the first few pages it will be my kind of book.

    J 1 Reply Last reply 8 Oct 2021, 15:50
    • G Offline
      G Offline
      George K
      wrote on 19 Sept 2021, 12:44 last edited by
      #352

      Starting this tomorrow:

      Screen Shot 2021-09-19 at 7.43.06 AM.png

      Screen Shot 2021-09-19 at 7.43.48 AM.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.

      1 Reply Last reply
      • C Offline
        C Offline
        Copper
        wrote on 19 Sept 2021, 13:43 last edited by
        #353

        I'm reading Player Piano again.

        It's probably 50 years since I first read it and it still works.

        C 1 Reply Last reply 19 Sept 2021, 13:59
        • C Copper
          19 Sept 2021, 13:43

          I'm reading Player Piano again.

          It's probably 50 years since I first read it and it still works.

          C Offline
          C Offline
          Catseye3
          wrote on 19 Sept 2021, 13:59 last edited by
          #354

          @copper said in What are you reading now?:

          I'm reading Player Piano again.

          If I ever knew about this book, I've forgotten it. So I had to look it up. I would say it's an excellent choice for a re-read. 🙂

          Two things he wrote in it that stood out for me: "Democracy owed its life to knowhow", and "Those old enough to remember and too old to compete . . . "

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

          1 Reply Last reply
          • X Offline
            X Offline
            xenon
            wrote on 3 Oct 2021, 18:33 last edited by
            #355

            I haven't read good sci-fi in a while - Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

            I'm only about a third of the way through it. I can't put it down. Very fun book.

            G 2 Replies Last reply 3 Oct 2021, 18:47
            • X xenon
              3 Oct 2021, 18:33

              I haven't read good sci-fi in a while - Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

              I'm only about a third of the way through it. I can't put it down. Very fun book.

              G Offline
              G Offline
              George K
              wrote on 3 Oct 2021, 18:47 last edited by
              #356

              @xenon that’s next on my list. I was disappointed in his other book, Artemis. It was just Okay.

              "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.

              B 1 Reply Last reply 4 Oct 2021, 11:56
              • G George K
                3 Oct 2021, 18:47

                @xenon that’s next on my list. I was disappointed in his other book, Artemis. It was just Okay.

                B Offline
                B Offline
                bachophile
                wrote on 4 Oct 2021, 11:56 last edited by
                #357

                @george-k this is much better than Artemis

                As good as the Martian.

                1 Reply Last reply
                • X xenon
                  3 Oct 2021, 18:33

                  I haven't read good sci-fi in a while - Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

                  I'm only about a third of the way through it. I can't put it down. Very fun book.

                  G Offline
                  G Offline
                  George K
                  wrote on 4 Oct 2021, 17:27 last edited by
                  #358

                  @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                  Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

                  Started it. It's a fun read.

                  It's been years since I read The Martian, and I'd forgotten what fun it was (not at ALL like Artemis).

                  If you like that style of writing, you should look at some of John Scalzi's work. It's a bit "harder" sci-fi (spaceships, and all that), but it has the same sense of humor and wit.

                  Or, look at "The Dispatcher" for something a little darker. Great books.

                  "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.

                  X 2 Replies Last reply 4 Oct 2021, 17:51
                  • G George K
                    4 Oct 2021, 17:27

                    @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                    Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

                    Started it. It's a fun read.

                    It's been years since I read The Martian, and I'd forgotten what fun it was (not at ALL like Artemis).

                    If you like that style of writing, you should look at some of John Scalzi's work. It's a bit "harder" sci-fi (spaceships, and all that), but it has the same sense of humor and wit.

                    Or, look at "The Dispatcher" for something a little darker. Great books.

                    X Offline
                    X Offline
                    xenon
                    wrote on 4 Oct 2021, 17:51 last edited by
                    #359

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

                    @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                    Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

                    Started it. It's a fun read.

                    It's been years since I read The Martian, and I'd forgotten what fun it was (not at ALL like Artemis).

                    If you like that style of writing, you should look at some of John Scalzi's work. It's a bit "harder" sci-fi (spaceships, and all that), but it has the same sense of humor and wit.

                    Or, look at "The Dispatcher" for something a little darker. Great books.

                    Thanks for the recommendations - I'm on it. Haven't read sci-fi in a while (last one was Seveneves). I'll probably be done this in a few days even with work.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • kluursK Offline
                      kluursK Offline
                      kluurs
                      wrote on 4 Oct 2021, 19:04 last edited by
                      #360

                      Just finished - really nicely done, nuanced biography and history of the time, one of the better and memorable books I've read this past year.

                      7730fc3e-7656-41fc-95ea-fdbc8f559616-image.png

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • G George K
                        4 Oct 2021, 17:27

                        @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                        Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

                        Started it. It's a fun read.

                        It's been years since I read The Martian, and I'd forgotten what fun it was (not at ALL like Artemis).

                        If you like that style of writing, you should look at some of John Scalzi's work. It's a bit "harder" sci-fi (spaceships, and all that), but it has the same sense of humor and wit.

                        Or, look at "The Dispatcher" for something a little darker. Great books.

                        X Offline
                        X Offline
                        xenon
                        wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 06:18 last edited by
                        #361

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

                        @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                        Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

                        Started it. It's a fun read.

                        It's been years since I read The Martian, and I'd forgotten what fun it was (not at ALL like Artemis).

                        If you like that style of writing, you should look at some of John Scalzi's work. It's a bit "harder" sci-fi (spaceships, and all that), but it has the same sense of humor and wit.

                        Or, look at "The Dispatcher" for something a little darker. Great books.

                        Just finished it. Stand by the rec. Really good.

                        G 1 Reply Last reply 6 Oct 2021, 11:50
                        • X xenon
                          6 Oct 2021, 06:18

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

                          @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                          Hail Mary by Andy Weir is great (the guy who wrote The Martian).

                          Started it. It's a fun read.

                          It's been years since I read The Martian, and I'd forgotten what fun it was (not at ALL like Artemis).

                          If you like that style of writing, you should look at some of John Scalzi's work. It's a bit "harder" sci-fi (spaceships, and all that), but it has the same sense of humor and wit.

                          Or, look at "The Dispatcher" for something a little darker. Great books.

                          Just finished it. Stand by the rec. Really good.

                          G Offline
                          G Offline
                          George K
                          wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 11:50 last edited by
                          #362

                          @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                          Just finished it. Stand by the rec. Really good.

                          OK - Next: Scalzi's "Fuzzy Nation."

                          Or "Lock-In." It's not as science-fiction-ey as Fuzzy Nation. It's the story of a detective who caught a virus during a pandemic, causing her to be "locked in" - awake, aware, and unable to move. Technology makes her life tolerable.

                          "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.

                          X 1 Reply Last reply 6 Oct 2021, 15:16
                          • G George K
                            6 Oct 2021, 11:50

                            @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                            Just finished it. Stand by the rec. Really good.

                            OK - Next: Scalzi's "Fuzzy Nation."

                            Or "Lock-In." It's not as science-fiction-ey as Fuzzy Nation. It's the story of a detective who caught a virus during a pandemic, causing her to be "locked in" - awake, aware, and unable to move. Technology makes her life tolerable.

                            X Offline
                            X Offline
                            xenon
                            wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 15:16 last edited by
                            #363

                            @george-k Ha! I started looking for some similar books. Old Man's War seems to be a frequently recommended one as well.

                            G J 2 Replies Last reply 6 Oct 2021, 17:51
                            • X xenon
                              6 Oct 2021, 15:16

                              @george-k Ha! I started looking for some similar books. Old Man's War seems to be a frequently recommended one as well.

                              G Offline
                              G Offline
                              George K
                              wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 17:51 last edited by
                              #364

                              @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                              Old Man's War

                              That was the first Scalzi I read (on @Jolly 's recommendation). There are, I think 5 books in the series and all of them are good. They are hard HARD, military SF. Not as engaging, or light as the others, but very enjoyable. The last two books are the same story from two different characters' perspectives. Made for an interesting read.

                              "The President's Brain is Missing" is another fun read.

                              "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.

                              X 1 Reply Last reply 6 Oct 2021, 20:31
                              • RenaudaR Offline
                                RenaudaR Offline
                                Renauda
                                wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 17:57 last edited by
                                #365

                                Just finishing up:

                                7cce6091-e3c3-4911-bae2-803aa90beb11-image.png

                                Elbows up!

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • B Offline
                                  B Offline
                                  bachophile
                                  wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 19:39 last edited by
                                  #366

                                  38BE5E15-03AF-4238-818D-99FD5686F3DA.jpeg

                                  After binging Lilyhammer I went to this. Just published last week.

                                  Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply 6 Oct 2021, 19:42
                                  • B bachophile
                                    6 Oct 2021, 19:39

                                    38BE5E15-03AF-4238-818D-99FD5686F3DA.jpeg

                                    After binging Lilyhammer I went to this. Just published last week.

                                    Doctor PhibesD Offline
                                    Doctor PhibesD Offline
                                    Doctor Phibes
                                    wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 19:42 last edited by
                                    #367

                                    @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

                                    After binging Lilyhammer I went to this. Just published last week.

                                    The title and photo makes it looks like something that ladies of a certain age would read

                                    I was only joking

                                    B 1 Reply Last reply 8 Oct 2021, 12:50
                                    • G George K
                                      6 Oct 2021, 17:51

                                      @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                                      Old Man's War

                                      That was the first Scalzi I read (on @Jolly 's recommendation). There are, I think 5 books in the series and all of them are good. They are hard HARD, military SF. Not as engaging, or light as the others, but very enjoyable. The last two books are the same story from two different characters' perspectives. Made for an interesting read.

                                      "The President's Brain is Missing" is another fun read.

                                      X Offline
                                      X Offline
                                      xenon
                                      wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 20:31 last edited by xenon 10 Jun 2021, 20:33
                                      #368

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

                                      @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                                      Old Man's War

                                      That was the first Scalzi I read (on @Jolly 's recommendation). There are, I think 5 books in the series and all of them are good. They are hard HARD, military SF. Not as engaging, or light as the others, but very enjoyable. The last two books are the same story from two different characters' perspectives. Made for an interesting read.

                                      "The President's Brain is Missing" is another fun read.

                                      Alright - I'll pick a new one this weekend. Ever read the Bobiverse series? That's another one that seems to pop-up in the same vein...

                                      (Edit: I also just realized that "in the same vein" is a mining analogy. Never actually thought about that before.)

                                      G 1 Reply Last reply 6 Oct 2021, 20:53
                                      • X xenon
                                        6 Oct 2021, 20:31

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

                                        @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                                        Old Man's War

                                        That was the first Scalzi I read (on @Jolly 's recommendation). There are, I think 5 books in the series and all of them are good. They are hard HARD, military SF. Not as engaging, or light as the others, but very enjoyable. The last two books are the same story from two different characters' perspectives. Made for an interesting read.

                                        "The President's Brain is Missing" is another fun read.

                                        Alright - I'll pick a new one this weekend. Ever read the Bobiverse series? That's another one that seems to pop-up in the same vein...

                                        (Edit: I also just realized that "in the same vein" is a mining analogy. Never actually thought about that before.)

                                        G Offline
                                        G Offline
                                        George K
                                        wrote on 6 Oct 2021, 20:53 last edited by
                                        #369

                                        @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                                        Ever read the Bobiverse series? That's another one that seems to pop-up in the same vein...

                                        I've all but the new one. Though a clever concept, they don't seem to have the wit or charm of Scalzi.

                                        "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
                                        • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes
                                          6 Oct 2021, 19:42

                                          @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

                                          After binging Lilyhammer I went to this. Just published last week.

                                          The title and photo makes it looks like something that ladies of a certain age would read

                                          B Offline
                                          B Offline
                                          bachophile
                                          wrote on 8 Oct 2021, 12:50 last edited by bachophile 10 Aug 2021, 12:51
                                          #370

                                          @doctor-phibes a more recent photo. Today actually. Recognize the bird next to him?!

                                          BBB416FB-0306-4EFF-8525-C433DAA85AD8.jpeg

                                          Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply 8 Oct 2021, 13:08
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