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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
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  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

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  • B brenda
    21 Jul 2022, 01:47

    8c6d2aad-c2b7-482b-a974-d5556403141b-image.png

    Listening to this while working in the yard. It's quite enjoyable to listen to this version, if you like detail. I'm almost half done with it, and there's much left to do in the yard.

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    George K
    wrote on 21 Jul 2022, 01:51 last edited by
    #504

    @brenda I enjoyed it. Isaacson’s books are an easy 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.

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      bachophile
      wrote on 23 Jul 2022, 09:23 last edited by
      #505

      982DCE9F-8BA5-453B-9D49-F5861FD52DCF.jpeg

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        jon-nyc
        wrote on 23 Jul 2022, 09:58 last edited by
        #506

        Brenda - definitely give us a review when you’re done.

        You were warned.

        1 Reply Last reply
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          jon-nyc
          wrote on 23 Jul 2022, 10:03 last edited by
          #507

          74ABD6E8-541A-4261-9850-599691D52FAF.jpeg

          You were warned.

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          • J Jolly
            8 Jul 2022, 19:46

            alt text

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            brenda
            wrote on 23 Jul 2022, 12:07 last edited by
            #508

            @Jolly said in What are you reading now?:

            alt text

            Loved this one. Hope you do, too.

            1 Reply Last reply
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              Aqua Letifer
              wrote on 24 Jul 2022, 01:22 last edited by
              #509

              F45D5A77-0807-49DF-A0A7-C35B03E0A7BD.jpeg

              Please love yourself.

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                George K
                wrote on 26 Jul 2022, 00:29 last edited by George K
                #510

                So as to not derail the "James Webb Space Telescope" thread, I'm replying to the question about the Fermi Paradox in that thread with reference to the Revelation Space books.

                @Horace the first published novel in the "Revelation Space" universe is (duh) "Revelation Space." It just dumps you into the tech that Reynolds has invented, and makes things very difficult to understand.

                What the hell is the "Glitter Band?" Who are the "Conjoiners?"

                So many questions.

                If you want a good order you need to understand the backstory, and I read the books/novellas in this order. These stories make the entire universe make sense.

                • “Great Wall of Mars
                • “Glacial”
                • “A Spy in Europa”
                • The Prefect
                • Aurora Rising
                • “Dilation Sleep”
                • Chasm City
• Revelation Space
                • “Diamond Dogs”
                • “Nightingale”
                • “Grafenwalder’s Bestiary”
                • Redemption Ark
                • “Turquoise Days”
                • “Weather”
                • Absolution Gap
                • “Galactic North”
                • Inhibitor Phase

                Now, having posted this list, there's a few stories that are not essential to understanding what's going on.

                Here's what I'd eliminate as unnecessary to understand what's going on. The rest, I consider essential.

                • “Glacial”
                • “A Spy in Europa" - fun, but not essential.
                • “Dilation Sleep”
                • “Diamond Dogs”
                • “Nightingale”
                • “Grafenwalder’s Bestiary
                • “Turquoise Days”
                • “Weather”- also fun, but not essential.

                You really need "Great Wall of Mars," because it sets the whole universe in motion. The whole concept of humans vs conjoiners is set up there. Characters introduced her appear many, many years later.

                Read them in this order...they're difficult, dense, but SO fascinating.

                "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
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                  Horace
                  wrote on 26 Jul 2022, 00:35 last edited by
                  #511

                  Thanks George. I’ll let you know how I get on with them, if I crack them.

                  Education is extremely important.

                  G 1 Reply Last reply 26 Jul 2022, 00:40
                  • H Horace
                    26 Jul 2022, 00:35

                    Thanks George. I’ll let you know how I get on with them, if I crack them.

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                    George K
                    wrote on 26 Jul 2022, 00:40 last edited by
                    #512

                    @Horace said in What are you reading now?:

                    Thanks George. I’ll let you know how I get on with them, if I crack them.

                    It's a huge undertaking. I've absolutely loved it. It's as "dense" as Dune - and has none of the mysticism and "weird" shit.

                    "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
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                      George K
                      wrote on 27 Jul 2022, 01:04 last edited by
                      #513

                      You can never have enough Bosch...

                      Screen Shot 2022-07-26 at 8.00.14 PM.png

                      Harry's back-walked his retirement, and is back on the force. He and his partner, Kizmin Rider, are investigating a murder from 20 years ago.

                      Yeah Kizmen Rider, not James Edgar.

                      Seems like a simple thing to investigate, until it looks like there's major involvement from "up there."

                      It's popcorn and a very easy read. But Connelly never disappoints. This is, I think, #10 in the "Bosch" series. I have about 15 to go.

                      "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
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                        Doctor Phibes
                        wrote on 27 Jul 2022, 01:31 last edited by
                        #514

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

                        What the hell is the "Glitter Band?"

                        Presumably not the 1970's British glam-rock combo that used to provide back-up for a well known pedophile.

                        alt text

                        I was only joking

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                          George K
                          wrote on 27 Jul 2022, 01:53 last edited by
                          #515

                          “The Glitter Band.”

                          Is tha that an Alastair Reynolds reference?

                          "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.

                          D 1 Reply Last reply 27 Jul 2022, 12:07
                          • G George K
                            27 Jul 2022, 01:53

                            “The Glitter Band.”

                            Is tha that an Alastair Reynolds reference?

                            D Offline
                            D Offline
                            Doctor Phibes
                            wrote on 27 Jul 2022, 12:07 last edited by
                            #516

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

                            “The Glitter Band.”

                            Is tha that an Alastair Reynolds reference?

                            I'm thinking he was having a laugh with that particular invention - he's just the right age to remember the horrors of British glam-rock

                            I was only joking

                            1 Reply Last reply
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                              George K
                              wrote on 30 Jul 2022, 22:30 last edited by
                              #517

                              Started this yesterday, because I'm still in a Bosch-ey mood.

                              Finished this afternoon.

                              Typical Bosch - but fun.

                              Screen Shot 2022-07-30 at 5.30.28 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.

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                                George K
                                wrote on 2 Aug 2022, 22:20 last edited by
                                #518

                                That last Bosch book was made into one of the episodes of the Amazon series - the one where the cesium is stolen from a hospital.

                                Nice, short, book. Easy mystery, with a believable twist at the end. The Amazon telling dragged it out a bit, and the read was a lot "tighter."

                                Fun.

                                On to the next. Nine Dragons.

                                Screen Shot 2022-08-02 at 5.19.52 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.

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                  Copper
                                  wrote on 2 Aug 2022, 22:48 last edited by
                                  #519

                                  Retired people need lots of hobbies.

                                  This might be some fun.

                                  b0b72605-47da-46f1-9f2a-5d9143d388a7-image.png

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                    taiwan_girl
                                    wrote on 3 Aug 2022, 01:25 last edited by
                                    #520

                                    I have been reading (actually listening to) the books about Jack Reacher. I think @jolly mentioned the TV show, but these are the books I am talking about.

                                    I think they are turning into my "guilty pleasure". 5555

                                    I am really enjoying them. 😛

                                    G 1 Reply Last reply 3 Aug 2022, 01:42
                                    • T taiwan_girl
                                      3 Aug 2022, 01:25

                                      I have been reading (actually listening to) the books about Jack Reacher. I think @jolly mentioned the TV show, but these are the books I am talking about.

                                      I think they are turning into my "guilty pleasure". 5555

                                      I am really enjoying them. 😛

                                      G Offline
                                      G Offline
                                      George K
                                      wrote on 3 Aug 2022, 01:42 last edited by
                                      #521

                                      @taiwan_girl said in What are you reading now?:

                                      I have been reading (actually listening to) the books about Jack Reacher. I think @jolly mentioned the TV show, but these are the books I am talking about.

                                      I think they are turning into my "guilty pleasure". 5555

                                      I am really enjoying them. 😛

                                      Yeah guilty pleasures are fun. That’s why they’re called guilty pleasures, LOL.

                                      I found the Amazon version of the story so-so. Are the books better? Because Bosch.

                                      "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.

                                      T 1 Reply Last reply 3 Aug 2022, 01:48
                                      • G George K
                                        3 Aug 2022, 01:42

                                        @taiwan_girl said in What are you reading now?:

                                        I have been reading (actually listening to) the books about Jack Reacher. I think @jolly mentioned the TV show, but these are the books I am talking about.

                                        I think they are turning into my "guilty pleasure". 5555

                                        I am really enjoying them. 😛

                                        Yeah guilty pleasures are fun. That’s why they’re called guilty pleasures, LOL.

                                        I found the Amazon version of the story so-so. Are the books better? Because Bosch.

                                        T Offline
                                        T Offline
                                        taiwan_girl
                                        wrote on 3 Aug 2022, 01:48 last edited by
                                        #522

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

                                        @taiwan_girl said in What are you reading now?:

                                        I have been reading (actually listening to) the books about Jack Reacher. I think @jolly mentioned the TV show, but these are the books I am talking about.

                                        I think they are turning into my "guilty pleasure". 5555

                                        I am really enjoying them. 😛

                                        Yeah guilty pleasures are fun. That’s why they’re called guilty pleasures, LOL.

                                        I found the Amazon version of the story so-so. Are the books better? Because Bosch.

                                        What is Bosch? I know you have mentioned that name, but I dont know anything about it. Is it the character or the author?

                                        G 1 Reply Last reply 3 Aug 2022, 12:26
                                        • B brenda
                                          21 Jul 2022, 01:47

                                          8c6d2aad-c2b7-482b-a974-d5556403141b-image.png

                                          Listening to this while working in the yard. It's quite enjoyable to listen to this version, if you like detail. I'm almost half done with it, and there's much left to do in the yard.

                                          B Offline
                                          B Offline
                                          brenda
                                          wrote on 3 Aug 2022, 02:42 last edited by
                                          #523

                                          @brenda said in What are you reading now?:

                                          8c6d2aad-c2b7-482b-a974-d5556403141b-image.png

                                          Listening to this while working in the yard. It's quite enjoyable to listen to this version, if you like detail. I'm almost half done with it, and there's much left to do in the yard.

                                          Highly recommend. I enjoyed it immensely, and for so many aspects of the life he led. I try to use his perspective techniques from painting in my rug hooking when appropriate, and this was a good review, but there's something for everyone in this bio.
                                          Politics? Lots.
                                          Art guilds? Good explanations of how they were run.
                                          Other greats of the time, and his relationships with them? Oh, yes, indeed, and with some spicy details.
                                          Coverage of his scientific studies? Much and detailed.

                                          Again, I listened to this while doing some landscaping, and it was very easy to keep up with it at 1.2 speed. I find most recorded books go too slow, so I speed it up a bit.

                                          Not too technical, IMO, just enough to help explain and compare. Not dumbed down either.

                                          Enjoy!

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