Anybody read a good book lately?

[shorebird]

Hbionic,

I agree with Dio that great and important books should be included in your reading list.  Personally, Shakespeare is a chore to read, but I try to digest one from time to time.

But, to kickstart, find something in your interest zone.  Like spy movies?  Perhaps a good spy novel will whet your appetite for reading.

If you want to read a spy novel, you have to read Ian Flemming. I talking about his early work from the 50's. Live and Let Die, Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, or Dr. No. You don't really know James Bond until you read Flemming. I first read Dr. No when I was 14, and was hooked on James Bond forever.

[Geowhizzer]

Hbionic,

I agree with Dio that great and important books should be included in your reading list.  Personally, Shakespeare is a chore to read, but I try to digest one from time to time.

But, to kickstart, find something in your interest zone.  Like spy movies?  Perhaps a good spy novel will whet your appetite for reading.

If you want to read a spy novel, you have to read Ian Flemming. I talking about his early work from the 50's. Live and Let Die, Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, or Dr. No. You don't really know James Bond until you read Flemming. I first read Dr. No when I was 14, and was hooked on James Bond forever.

If you go with Fleming, the first novel was Casino Royale.  If you watched the Daniel Craig film, it is pretty faithful to the novel's plot, though a tad modernized. 

Whatever you do, don't start with The Spy Who Loved Me.  That's was Fleming's experimental novel, and really throws you off a tad.  I made the mistake of trying to read that one first, and didn't get through page ten on the first read.  After I went to some of the others, I went back to TSWLM, and was able to finish it.  Still my least favorite Fleming novel, but I could at least appreciate it (Bond doesn't even appear until about halfway through the book).

In some ways, the Fleming novels has be taken as historical novels.  Fleming had detailed descriptions about the locales, and the Cold War era runs through the novels, even when Russia isn't directly involved in the plot.

[Rome]

Tad!

[Geowhizzer]

Tad!

A bit?

[shorebird]

Whatever you do, don't start with The Spy Who Loved Me.  That's was Fleming's experimental novel, and really throws you off a tad.  I made the mistake of trying to read that one first, and didn't get through page ten on the first read.  After I went to some of the others, I went back to TSWLM, and was able to finish it.  Still my least favorite Fleming novel, but I could at least appreciate it (Bond doesn't even appear until about halfway through the book).

I agree, it seems Flemming lost something after Moonraker. The Spy Who Loved Me was also my least favroite and I had to suffer through it. Casino Royal was a great book, but I have to say my favorite was Goldfinger.

[Seabiscuit36]

I just finished up PaddyWhacked: A history of the Irish Gangster. I started this 3 years ago and read 2 books in the mean time. It was a great book if you like movies like Gangs of New York or the Departed which this book gives you the true stories behind the movie.  Next up is Havana Nocturne another book by TJ English

[Phanatic]

I'm reading 1776 right now about the American revolution.

Someone got me the coffee table large print version with lots of pretty pictures.

Someone else got me Adams vs Jefferson so that is next I suppose.

After that I'll be needing something light and a little less tedious.

[mussa]

started cities of the plain, cormac mccarthy. can't wait to finish this up and get to the road or blood meridian

[PhillyPhreak54]

I've started reading more of Nelson Demille's stuff and I enjoy his books. He's written a lot and I'm glad I found his stuff because I was in need of something new to get into.

[SD_Eagle5]

They had 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy at my schools book store for 10 bucks so I picked it up.

[Phanatic]

They had 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy at my schools book store for 10 bucks so I picked it up.

It's a great book but really dark and depressing. I read it around Christmas time and that was a mistake.

[Diomedes]

It did not depress me in the slightest.

[mussa]

Pretty much done with Cities of the Plain, wrapping up McCarthy's border trilogy. Any suggestions on which one I should read next? Blood Meridian or The Road?

[rjs246]

Blood Meridian might be the best book written in the past century, but it is not an enjoyable or easy read.
The Road is much more accessible and easy to get through, but again not exactly uplifting.
If I had to re-read one right now I would choose Blood Meridian.

[mussa]

I felt that way about the trilogy, all 3 books were not that enjoyable either until the endings. I think I'm going to go with Blood since it actually came before the Trilogy...