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Entertainment & Artistry => Words => Topic started by: Govtcheez on September 27, 2009, 09:50:50 AM

Title: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on September 27, 2009, 09:50:50 AM
Right now I'm reading The Corner (http://www.amazon.com/Corner-Year-Life-Inner-City-Neighborhood/dp/0767900316/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254059293&sr=8-1) and just started Open Veins (http://www.amazon.com/Open-Veins-Latin-America-Centuries/dp/0853459916/ref=tmm_pap_title_sr).  I recently picked up McMafia (http://www.amazon.com/McMafia-Journey-Through-Criminal-Underworld/dp/1400095123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254059392&sr=1-1) after hearing the author on the radio, but wasn't able to get into it.  Maybe I'll pick it up later.

So, whatchu reading ES?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on September 27, 2009, 09:56:12 AM
Spycraft and a book on deception detection by paul eckman. Not sure who wrote spycraft
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on September 27, 2009, 10:53:39 AM
So after a long hiatus from reading (for pleasure) I decided to start the Xanth series.  I enjoy the author and since the series is up to 30ish books I figured it would last me a while.

Funny thing is that I've been reading them on my "Kindle for iPhone" app...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on September 27, 2009, 10:56:17 AM
http://www.amazon.com/Color-Her-Panties-Xanth-Book/dp/0380759497/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254062978&sr=8-1

Fantasy novels are weird
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on September 27, 2009, 11:08:24 AM
I'm reading a ton for school, but not as much for fun anymore.  I have 2 books I'm working my way through though:

Beyond the Shadows (3rd in a trilogy by Bent Weeks)

A Few Seconds of Panic: A 5-Foot-8, 170-Pound, 43-Year-Old Sportswriter Plays in the NFL - very interesting...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on September 27, 2009, 11:15:30 AM
http://www.amazon.com/Color-Her-Panties-Xanth-Book/dp/0380759497/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254062978&sr=8-1

Fantasy novels are weird
HAHAHA that is great.  Anthony is a bit of a perv for sure.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: micah on September 27, 2009, 11:26:16 AM
not a book, but last night I read an article from a 1966 issue of National Geographic that I bought at a thrift store.  It was about the Gemini 6 and 7 space shuttles Rendez-vous in space for the first time and the importance of such a mission towards a future trip to the moon.  Plus it had neat pictures.

It was interesting to read because it was from a pre-moon-landing perspective.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 27, 2009, 08:24:21 PM
Anthony is a freak. 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on September 27, 2009, 09:13:45 PM
A few weeks before the birth I started reading a "Confederacy of Dunces" - awesome read, but only got about a quarter into it and I don't know when I'll get back to it. My dad sent me three books about the history of Poland and the Slavic people (pre Christianity). I started reading one of them, but that isn't going so well either :)

I read Pierce Anthony when I was in high school. I read 5 or 6 from the Xanth world, and "A Spell for Chameleon" is still in my mind from time to time!


rofl at that title GC linked too :) 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: PJYelton on September 27, 2009, 09:22:09 PM
A Song of Ice and Fire series by R.R. Martin, excellent books and highly recommended, although the next book in the series is over a year late with no end in sight :(

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_n_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Cn%3A%211000%2Ck%3Asong+of+ice+and+fire+martin%2Cn%3A25&bbn=1000&keywords=song+of+ice+and+fire+martin&ie=UTF8&qid=1254100888&rnid=1000
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on September 27, 2009, 09:30:54 PM
Anthony is a freak. 
You say that like it is a bad thing.  How many normal people do you know that write fantasy and sci-fi?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: A Bit of Fruit on September 28, 2009, 04:39:02 AM
Been reading Man in the High Castle by Phillip K Dick and From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on September 29, 2009, 09:21:44 AM
I actually haven't picked up a book in quite some time.  Sad, really.  I think the last one I started was another Stephen King book... I need something in terms of redemption of time for reading The Stand... what a horribly boring book.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on September 29, 2009, 10:32:06 AM
Kindle for iPhone ober, works wonders :D
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 29, 2009, 11:20:43 AM
Ditto.

I use my iPid Touch Kindle App all the time.  I am just about to finish the Temeraire Series fun, light reading.  I use it in boring-ass meetings, when I am waiting in a line, etc.  I prefer it to a book.

http://www.temeraire.org/index.cgi?pagetype=writing&series=Temeraire
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on September 29, 2009, 11:37:55 AM
Eh... if I'm going to read a book, I'd rather have the actual book.  If I'm using my iPhone, I'm playing a game.... which coincidentally is why I haven't read lately... iPhone gaming has replaced reading as my shitting activity.  :D
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 29, 2009, 12:31:03 PM
What games?

Bah...we should make another thread for iPhone/iTouch games.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: PJYelton on September 29, 2009, 01:57:28 PM
I really liked the first Temeraire book, got a little annoyed with the second book, and gave up on the third book halfway through unfortunately.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 29, 2009, 04:50:29 PM
Yeah.  I can see that.  I find it drags out a bit.  Little preachy too.  But it is picking up nicely now.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: stealth on October 05, 2009, 11:14:28 PM
What's it All About? Michael Caine (autobiography)
Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before Tony Horwitz
The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts Louis de Bernières

Plus a few whitepapers, doco on SharePoint and the odd newspaper (Guardian Weekly).
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on October 06, 2009, 05:43:21 PM
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I'm reading "The Servant" (http://www.amazon.com/Servant-Simple-Story-Essence-Leadership/dp/0761513698/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254865231&sr=8-1) - a book about leadership. I was apprehensive at first, but it is written like a novel and reads really well. So far it has given me a new perspective on leadership and made me re examine the way I manage my office. I recommend it to everybody, whether or not you are in a leadership position.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on October 06, 2009, 06:32:55 PM
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I'm reading "The Servant" (http://www.amazon.com/Servant-Simple-Story-Essence-Leadership/dp/0761513698/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254865231&sr=8-1) - a book about leadership. I was apprehensive at first, but it is written like a novel and reads really well. So far it has given me a new perspective on leadership and made me re examine the way I manage my office. I recommend it to everybody, whether or not you are in a leadership position.

Downloaded the audiobook. 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on October 06, 2009, 07:33:53 PM
Take your time listening to it. There is a lot of good stuff in it. I usually read a few pages and think about them. This is the sort of book I see my self going back to periodically throughout my career.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: jkim on October 06, 2009, 11:35:19 PM
I've been reading "Prodigal God" (http://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-God-Recovering-Heart-Christian/dp/0525950796/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254886020&sr=1-1) and will probably start either "The Reason for God" (http://www.amazon.com/Reason-God-Belief-Age-Skepticism/dp/0525950494/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254886020&sr=1-2) or "Blue Like Jazz" (http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Like-Jazz-Nonreligious-Spirituality/dp/0785263705) soon.

I've also been reading lots of review articles 'bout DNA and protein and fun stuff like that for class.

I feel like I should be an enigma.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: stealth on January 03, 2010, 10:42:22 PM
In a bit of a mood for light reading, so a bit of Stephen Leather and Jack Higgins at the moment.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: A Bit of Fruit on January 05, 2010, 04:30:59 AM
Kurt Vonnegut is rocking my world at the moment
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on January 05, 2010, 08:16:23 AM
I'm reading Gang Leader for a Day and The Road
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on January 05, 2010, 06:08:14 PM
3 things:

1. I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - Tucker Max
2. Great Santini - Pat Conroy
3. Agincourt - Bernard Cornwell (Audiobook)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on January 05, 2010, 06:24:11 PM
> 1. I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - Tucker Max

Why the heck would you read this?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on January 05, 2010, 06:36:58 PM
> 1. I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - Tucker Max

Why the heck would you read this?

Because it's easy and amusing.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on January 05, 2010, 06:39:37 PM
Tucker Max is a misogynist piece of shit
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on January 05, 2010, 10:07:40 PM
meh - he'd agree with that - and if he wouldn't, I would.  He's still amusing for a mindless read.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Ken Fitlike on January 30, 2010, 07:39:51 AM
Noddy. Lots and lots of Noddy. On dvd, too. For hours. :(
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on January 31, 2010, 04:11:13 PM
I'm reading Gang Leader for a Day
Finished this the other day.  Really good insight into urban poverty - how it is, how it works, and how people get stuck there.  9/10
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on January 31, 2010, 10:11:43 PM
I'm reading Gang Leader for a Day
Finished this the other day.  Really good insight into urban poverty - how it is, how it works, and how people get stuck there.  9/10

Downloading the audio book as I type this..
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on February 01, 2010, 07:04:27 PM
Right now i am reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu and then i am reading The Rogue Warriors Strategy for Success by Richard "Dick" Marcinko
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 02, 2010, 06:35:57 AM
Been through both.  Both are great. 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on February 02, 2010, 09:46:25 AM
This is like the fourth version of the Art of War i am reading, and i read the main Rouge Warrior and liked it. I also have "Anantomy of a Streetfight" to finish and a stack of Paul Eckman books
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 02, 2010, 09:47:52 AM
I'm reading Gang Leader for a Day
Finished this the other day.  Really good insight into urban poverty - how it is, how it works, and how people get stuck there.  9/10

Downloading the audio book as I type this..

...and liking it thus far...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 02, 2010, 09:57:27 AM
That's good - I don't know how much I trust the specifics of his narrative, since so much of it would have to be from memory, but in general it's very good

edit: Picked up "No Impact Man" from the library this weekend
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 10, 2010, 04:15:52 PM
edit: Picked up "No Impact Man" from the library this weekend
Finished that yesterday (good story on how to decrease your own impact on the environment without being a preachy dick but it's unrealistic for most people, and he says as much)

Next up: either Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein or a book of short stories by Stephen King.  Probably Stephen King because that's also a liberry book
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on February 10, 2010, 04:59:25 PM
>a book of short stories by Stephen King

which one? I have "Everything's Eventual" but I haven't read all of the stories yet. 1408 is in that one, great short. I haven't seen the movie yet though.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 10, 2010, 05:14:30 PM
Nah, this is Just After Sunset.  I've got Everything's Eventual somewhere but I  have no idea where
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 10, 2010, 07:07:25 PM
I'm reading Gang Leader for a Day
Finished this the other day.  Really good insight into urban poverty - how it is, how it works, and how people get stuck there.  9/10

Downloading the audio book as I type this..

...and liking it thus far...

Almost done.  Author is reading now...

Liked it.  Unique.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: A Bit of Fruit on February 17, 2010, 07:08:36 PM
Just finished The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. Couldn't put it down! Best book I have read in so long!
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 17, 2010, 07:14:44 PM
That was a great book.  It's been too long since i read it
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 19, 2010, 12:25:11 PM
Listening through it now...

Not bad.  Some odd holes...but I am not finished.  Maybe they fill in.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 19, 2010, 12:47:17 PM
I wouldn't call it great literature or anything, but it's very entertaining.  I read that he wrote it as some sort of a middle finger to Heinlein for Starship Troopers.

The King book isn't very good.  I'm going to be start Moneyball since I finally got it and baseball is starting.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: A Bit of Fruit on February 19, 2010, 09:16:49 PM
It is kind of a middle finger to Heinlen but according to the author, that wasn't his intention. I love both books - 2 sides of the same coin, I say.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 22, 2010, 06:41:28 AM
It is kind of a middle finger to Heinlen but according to the author, that wasn't his intention. I love both books - 2 sides of the same coin, I say.

+1
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: salvelinus on February 22, 2010, 08:38:25 PM
Heinlein didn't have a problem with it. There's a followup, Forever Peace, as well.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 22, 2010, 08:43:47 PM
I could be totally wrong about that - I'm pretty sure it was just some trivia question that came up and I very well could be remembering it incorrectly.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: salvelinus on February 23, 2010, 11:11:56 PM
No, people did think maybe Haldeman meant it that way, but he denied it. He was a Vietnam vet. He acknowledged the influence, but was nervous about how Heinlein would take it. Heinlein told him it was a great story. Or so I've read.
One source from a random google: http://meander61.blogspot.com/2009/11/cannonball-read-202-forever-war-joe.html (http://meander61.blogspot.com/2009/11/cannonball-read-202-forever-war-joe.html)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: stealth on March 05, 2010, 07:29:32 AM
Just finished The First Casualty by Ben Elton.  One of his better efforts in recent years (Chart Throb was dire and Blind Faith was a bad 1984 rip off).

Now it's onto Rendezvous with Rama by Athur C. Clarke.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on March 05, 2010, 07:56:34 AM
I'm reading Gang Leader for a Day
Finished this the other day.  Really good insight into urban poverty - how it is, how it works, and how people get stuck there.  9/10

Great book - did the audiobook a few months ago.  Loved it.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on March 05, 2010, 09:38:30 AM
Good book.  Less sociology and more economics than I had hoped for, but a more than worthwhile audio book.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on March 05, 2010, 09:58:02 AM
I was kind of expecting that since I first heard about the guy through the book freakonomics but yeah I can kinda see what you mean since he was a sociology student.  I quite liked the economic stuff though.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: stealth on March 14, 2010, 10:01:33 PM
Finished Rendezvous with Rama by Athur C. Clarke last weekend, and have also finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy. 

Now reading The Last Continent by Terry Pratchett.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on March 23, 2010, 09:16:17 AM
  I'm going to be start Moneyball since I finally got it and baseball is starting.
Book is great and if you like baseball and haven't read it yet you're a loser and should fix that immediately.  Also there is going to be a movie!
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on April 22, 2010, 08:46:13 AM
I'm just about done with Hemingway's Nick Adams Stories.  It's interesting to read about all these places in northern MI that I've actually been to.  I don't think I "get" Hemingway's writing style, though.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on May 09, 2010, 05:44:53 PM
Got "Stick" by Elmore Leonard at B&N for $5 and it's ok.  Throwaway crime story, but that's what Leonard writes and I'm cool with that.  Also reading The Shock Doctrine (about 2 pages at a time) and Fantasyland, which is about being obsessed with fantasy baseball.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on May 09, 2010, 09:30:10 PM
I'm just about done with Hemingway's Nick Adams Stories.  It's interesting to read about all these places in northern MI that I've actually been to.  I don't think I "get" Hemingway's writing style, though.

those are some of my favorite short stories ever! I think I might just reread them now that you have reminded me :)

What do you think you don't "get"? his writing is not very "deep", it is quite straight forward. Read his dialogue like a play...it is some of the best dialogue ever written.

The Battler is one I remember liking the most.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on May 09, 2010, 09:32:18 PM
I feel like the writing is just so simple that there must be something I'm missing.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on May 09, 2010, 09:32:33 PM
I can't seem to get through an entire book lately. I get to a point that grabs my attention entirely, put the book down and ponder over it for the next few weeks and never pick the book up.

I'm attempting to read (AGAIN) The Case for Christ (http://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Journalists-Personal-Investigation/dp/0310209307/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273455080&sr=8-1) and  Creativty by Osho (http://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Unleashing-Forces-Insights-Living/dp/0312205198/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273455126&sr=8-1)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on May 09, 2010, 09:37:03 PM
I feel like the writing is just so simple that there must be something I'm missing.

nope, not really. It is just Americana. There are a few stories from the Nick series that are very personal to Hemingway. They relate things that happen to him as a child: The three day blow, indian camp, etc.... and others that relate to his later life, but other ones are not, and there is no metaphysical depth to them so don't look for it. It is just good ol' American writing of adolescence.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on May 27, 2010, 02:50:40 PM
I'm most of the way through "All The Pretty Horses", by Cormac McCarthy (who wrote The Road and No Country for Old Men).  It's beautiful so far, but I'm kind of embarrassed to read it in public because of the silly title.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Dumah on June 05, 2010, 03:48:19 PM
Game Programming Complete

+

Brideshead Revisited
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 23, 2010, 04:05:27 PM
Currently reading 'Water for Elephants'.  It's being made into a movie and I'll be curious to see how it comes out.  The book is really good well written. 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: -KEN- on July 30, 2010, 03:18:51 AM
I just re-read The Great Gatsby. Felt like I'd forgotten it and should read it again now that I'm not 16. Still great.

I'm most of the way through "All The Pretty Horses", by Cormac McCarthy (who wrote The Road and No Country for Old Men).  It's beautiful so far, but I'm kind of embarrassed to read it in public because of the silly title.

How was The Road? I downloaded the first few chapters. Seems like it might be a good read.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Dumah on July 30, 2010, 03:42:48 AM
How was The Road? I downloaded the first few chapters. Seems like it might be a good read.

Its good. Gets rather sad in a few places
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 30, 2010, 06:55:44 AM
I've only read a little bit of The Road
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on July 30, 2010, 09:53:25 PM
I just re-read The Great Gatsby. Felt like I'd forgotten it and should read it again now that I'm not 16. Still great.

I'm most of the way through "All The Pretty Horses", by Cormac McCarthy (who wrote The Road and No Country for Old Men).  It's beautiful so far, but I'm kind of embarrassed to read it in public because of the silly title.

How was The Road? I downloaded the first few chapters. Seems like it might be a good read.

I don't like Fitzgerald at all. Did you ever read "tender is the night"? - if you like Gatsby, you'll like this one also.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: -KEN- on August 01, 2010, 12:33:05 AM
I don't like Fitzgerald at all. Did you ever read "tender is the night"? - if you like Gatsby, you'll like this one also.

Really? Why not? I downloaded Tender to the Kindle, but I haven't read it yet.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on August 01, 2010, 11:09:02 AM
I read about half of Inca Gold on my camping trip this vacation.  It's entertaining, but I'm pretty sure I'll never ever read something by him again.  I can't believe people take this stuff seriously
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: -KEN- on August 08, 2010, 03:41:50 PM
I used to read a lot of Cussler when I was, like, 14. I think I've actually read that one. It was all great at that age. I can't imagine reading it now.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on August 14, 2010, 11:54:37 AM
I'm about half way through Freakonomics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics). Interesting read without being too academic about the details. I'm reading right now about the economics grad student that hung out with a crack dealing gang for four years in Chicago, pretty nuts.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Dumah on August 14, 2010, 04:05:41 PM
You should read about the grad student who got an internship
at NASA, stole moon rocks, tried to sell the moon rocks over the
internet, got arrested, went to prison, taught the prisoners physics,
got out of prison and is now a grad student again.

He goes to my school!

Why? After that I know pretty much all I need to know about him...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on September 09, 2010, 09:45:21 AM
I'm about half way through Freakonomics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics). Interesting read without being too academic about the details. I'm reading right now about the economics grad student that hung out with a crack dealing gang for four years in Chicago, pretty nuts.
He (Sudhir) wrote a book called Gang Leader for a Day that is also very good
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 23, 2011, 09:45:37 AM
I just finished the second book in The Millennium Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Stieg-Larssons-Millennium-Trilogy-Deluxe/dp/0307595579/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298472307&sr=8-1).  I'm really enjoying these books.

It's pretty awesome to know that this author basically just wrote these books to entertain himself and they were all published posthumously.  Too bad he didn't get to see the success of his little project, though.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on February 23, 2011, 01:59:24 PM
I just finished the second book in The Millennium Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Stieg-Larssons-Millennium-Trilogy-Deluxe/dp/0307595579/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298472307&sr=8-1).  I'm really enjoying these books.

It's pretty awesome to know that this author basically just wrote these books to entertain himself and they were all published posthumously.  Too bad he didn't get to see the success of his little project, though.

That's funny. I almost never read, but for some reason decided to pick up the first one of these books and just finished it last weekend. Does this mean I should read the next one, too?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 23, 2011, 02:10:50 PM
I enjoyed it, yeah.  If you finish the second, you have to read the third, though.  I think the third picks up immediately after the second ends (and it leaves lots of questions open)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 23, 2011, 02:19:49 PM
Reading this...

http://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-World-Survival-Resilience-Redemption/dp/1400064163

I like it.  Good writing with plenty of background.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: drakkenkorin on February 23, 2011, 11:50:22 PM
Right now I'm suck on A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R. R. Martin.

Can't seem to pull myself away from this series - fantasy - but a lot more political than the "normal" fantasy book.

They're making an HBO miniseries about the first book A Game of Thrones.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on February 24, 2011, 09:18:48 AM
Currently reading this: The Gargoyle (http://www.amazon.com/Gargoyle-Andrew-Davidson/dp/0307388670/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1298557013&sr=8-2)

Pretty fucked up but very interesting and compelling.  My wife has already read it and can't wait until I finish it so we can talk about it.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on February 24, 2011, 09:22:23 AM
Currently reading The Hound of The Baskervilles (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2852)


Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 24, 2011, 12:16:10 PM
Just a reminder.  This site is always full of great material.  Free too.  I have donated...

http://www.podiobooks.com/

Check out Scott Sigler, Seth Harwood, Tee Morris, John Lenahan, J.C. Hutchins to name just a few.


Thanks to Kermi for showing me this site several years back.
This looks good!
Kissyman and The Gentleman by Scott Sigler
http://www.podiobooks.com/title/kissyman-and-the-gentleman
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on February 24, 2011, 01:04:53 PM
I'm done with Sigler for now...I'm still waiting for The Starter...but a lot of his books are the same to me.  Just a how gory can he write contest...

edit: I take it back, after 2 years he posted The Starter episode 1 last week....hmmmm....
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 24, 2011, 02:51:21 PM
Starter!?!  Awesome!  Looking forward to late summer for that finish.

He can be kind of gory but not always.  He paints a clear picture of the goings on.  Too clear for you?   :devil:
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on February 25, 2011, 08:35:49 AM
Yes - too clear sometimes hehe....That's why I haven't tried his boxing one...I just started relistening to the Rookie - with hopes that he'll not leave me hanging again....

I've also just about finished The Prince of Hazel and Oak - Shadowmagic 2...very good listening/reading....

Per books - I got most of the way through The Room...Very good.  Psychonovel concept, before I lost interest...also reading The Foundlines Tale by D.M. Cornish (young adult fantasy).  So far it's good...

Two other 'fun' books right now I'm working my way through slowly:

Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention - Very well written book by an ADHD mother about her struggles to understand and help her ADHD son.  Mom is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, so it's well researched and easy to read.

Late, Lost, and Unprepared: A Parents' Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning - Really well written book for parents that I'm stealing as many ideas from as I can...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 25, 2011, 11:02:11 AM
So Kermi... how did Hazel stack up versus the original masterpiece?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on February 25, 2011, 11:08:08 AM
It's very good.  Same quirky humor, same interesting world.  I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much just because I it didn't have quite the same sense of novelty - because it wasn't new...but still, an excellent read.  Highly recommended for fun light reading/listening. 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 25, 2011, 11:36:57 AM
I am staying away from it so that I can enjoy it while mowing the lawn this summer.  Every summer I listen to Shadow as I start out the mowing season.  Now I can add part two.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on March 17, 2011, 01:01:48 PM
I just finished the second book in The Millennium Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Stieg-Larssons-Millennium-Trilogy-Deluxe/dp/0307595579/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298472307&sr=8-1).  I'm really enjoying these books.

It's pretty awesome to know that this author basically just wrote these books to entertain himself and they were all published posthumously.  Too bad he didn't get to see the success of his little project, though.
Finished the last one last night.  They are good books!

I'm not sure what I'm going to read next.  My wife says everything I read is too depressing :(
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on March 17, 2011, 01:06:14 PM
I started watching Legend of the Seeker which then caused me to start reading the Sword of Truth series.  On the second book and the stories are really different between the show and the books.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on March 17, 2011, 03:07:18 PM
Yeah they aren't very faithful to the story at all.  Neat show.  I dislike some of the cast.  The Rahl guy makes me laugh.  Richard is terrible.  I like Kahlan though.  She works for the part.  Zedd is perfect.  The series has a lot of 80s camp to it.  Too much.

Kahlan:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2125623/
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on March 17, 2011, 03:21:42 PM
I like that the show isn't faithful to the books though, makes one able to watch both and enjoy both.  Though trying to finish up the second season while reading the first book did get a little confusing.

The casting of Kahlan was awesome and the wardrobe/makeup make it perfect.  Very pretty without going all slutty.  Zedd is great and Darken Rahl made for a very great antagonist.  I liked Richard in the first season but something about him in the second season just got annoying even from the first episode of the season.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on March 17, 2011, 06:26:27 PM
Meh.  I maintain it would be a better show if they replaced Rahl and Richard.  Oh.  And the writers.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on April 19, 2011, 05:56:26 PM
Finished The Soul of Baseball (http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Baseball-Through-ONeils-America/dp/0060854049/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303250126&sr=1-1), which is about Buck O'Neil and the Negro League and written by the best sportswriter in America today.  Very enjoyable but repetitive at times.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on April 19, 2011, 08:58:35 PM
Currently reading this: The Gargoyle (http://www.amazon.com/Gargoyle-Andrew-Davidson/dp/0307388670/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1298557013&sr=8-2)

Pretty fucked up but very interesting and compelling.  My wife has already read it and can't wait until I finish it so we can talk about it.
My reading time is so non-existent.  I'm still only about 1/2 way through this.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on April 19, 2011, 10:46:18 PM
I'm about to start Guns, Germs, and Steel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel). I've heard good things about this and the sequel.


I just finished reading a short non-fiction from The Devil and Sherlock Holems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_and_Sherlock_Holmes) (chapter 1, came for free with my e-book reader). really interesting story, but each chapter is a different story and this looks like it was the best one, I don't think I'll buy the book.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on April 20, 2011, 09:06:08 AM
Working through Game of Thrones.  Started it in preparation of the TV series.  EXTREMEMLY good.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on April 20, 2011, 12:03:52 PM
Just finished...

Unbroken
http://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-World-Survival-Resilience-Redemption/dp/1400064163

Really liked it.  If you want to know how tough the WWII Japanese POWs had it check it out.  Heartbreaking at times.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on April 25, 2011, 07:37:51 PM
Working through Game of Thrones.  Started it in preparation of the TV series.  EXTREMEMLY good.

I started reading this as well...just got through the first few pages, and I am impressed with the writing. I used to read some fantasy when I was young[er], mainly Pierce Anthony, but this is different all together. With the limited time I have, however, I'll probably finish the book when season 1 comes out on DVD :p
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on April 25, 2011, 10:03:09 PM
Xanth series or maybe Split Infinity?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on April 25, 2011, 11:24:45 PM
xanth
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on April 26, 2011, 06:15:43 AM
The first two were pretty fun.  Got old fast though.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on April 26, 2011, 07:34:55 AM
The first two were pretty fun.  Got old fast though.

i don't remember exactly, but as I recall they were all pretty different. :dunno:
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: micah on April 26, 2011, 08:26:48 AM
i don't read much, but a while ago, i stumbled upon this book in a bookstore (litterly, it was just lying out in the wrong section of the store) by Geral Schroeder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Schroeder) called The Science of God (http://www.amazon.com/Science-God-Convergence-Scientific-Biblical/dp/076790303X).  I read the first half of it when I bought it and put it on my shelf but picked it up again the other night.  Very interesting.  The guy makes some compelling points but also has a couple crazy theories; nothing to base you personal beliefs on  but gives plenty to think about.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on April 26, 2011, 08:34:15 AM
xanth
img-thecolorofherpanties

Think I might start reading Game of Thrones tonight once I'm done with the book I'm reading (David Sedaris's Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on April 26, 2011, 10:13:04 AM
I actually enjoyed the Incarnations of Immortality series a bit more than the Xanth series.  Well except the last book, wtf was that?

Right now I'm reading the Sword of Truth series
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: PJYelton on April 26, 2011, 12:44:40 PM
Game of Thrones is amazing, well at least the first three books were.  Sounds like Martin is finally releasing book number five this summer, only a couple years late.  Anyone watching the HBO series?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on April 26, 2011, 01:00:08 PM
I actually enjoyed the Incarnations of Immortality series a bit more than the Xanth series.  Well except the last book, wtf was that?

Right now I'm reading the Sword of Truth series

I did also.  I liked the first two Thanatos and Chronos after that, I thought they kind of fell apart.  Fate was my last read in that series.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on April 26, 2011, 01:37:42 PM
Working through book 2 now..losing some interest, but that's probably because I was listening to it almost non-stop....Really enjoying it on HBO so far...it's going very fast, but I'm impressed with how true it's been to the books so far....
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on April 26, 2011, 01:48:24 PM
I actually enjoyed the Incarnations of Immortality series a bit more than the Xanth series.  Well except the last book, wtf was that?

Right now I'm reading the Sword of Truth series

I did also.  I liked the first two Thanatos and Chronos after that, I thought they kind of fell apart.  Fate was my last read in that series.
I actually started with "For Love of Evil"  and then went through them mostly in order.  I liked that you didn't have to read them in order.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on April 26, 2011, 07:57:14 PM
True.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on May 29, 2011, 10:33:10 AM
Read Of Mice and Men last weekend, since I'm like the only person in America who wasn't required to read it in high school.

Currently reading Game of Thrones and Hunger Games
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on May 30, 2011, 12:04:10 PM
Currently reading Game of Thrones

I'm about 200 pages in and it is really pretty good :) I almost want to take a day off so I can read it....if my wife only didn't have to find out about it :)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on May 30, 2011, 02:04:12 PM
Almost done book 2....so good...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Dumah on May 30, 2011, 03:10:03 PM
Currently reading Game of Thrones

I'm about 200 pages in and it is really pretty good :) I almost want to take a day off so I can read it....if my wife only didn't have to find out about it :)

I'm reading it too. Nice and easy to read and a real cool story
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on May 30, 2011, 06:44:46 PM
I'm reading Suffer the Child by judith spencer and reading How Dogs Think by a Behavioral Psychologist who's name escapes me.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on June 06, 2011, 08:47:01 AM
Currently reading The Hunger Games series.  I started the first book Friday night and I'm almost finished with it.  EXCELLENT writing and great storyline.  They're just starting to make the first movie and I can't wait!  My wife just finished the 3rd book in the series and can't wait for me to catch up so we can talk about it.  It's so awesome to find a good book!
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on June 06, 2011, 08:47:58 AM
Oh, and I stopped reading Gargoyle to read this series.  It's a good book but I find myself getting bored with it.  It's very weird but not a mega page turner.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on June 06, 2011, 09:32:42 AM
I read the first one in Hunger Games last week, too - it was really entertaining.  I bought the second two, but haven't started yet since I want to finish Game of Thrones.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on June 06, 2011, 11:33:34 AM
How is GOT compared to the Hunger Games?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on June 06, 2011, 12:20:24 PM
Completely different except that they're both fiction?  I dunno, that's a weird question.  I like both books but they're not comparable
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on June 06, 2011, 12:27:54 PM
Suffer the Child was a really, really good book.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on June 06, 2011, 12:31:45 PM
I have been reading (audiobook) the Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell (AKA: John G. Hemry).

I am on the next to the last of the available books and can't get enough of them.

Great sci-fi based naval action written by a former naval officer.  The reader (Cristian Rummel) is an exceptional voice actor.

Synopsis...

The Lost Fleet Series

The Alliance has been fighting the Syndics for a century - and losing badly.  Now its fleet is crippled and stranded in enemy territory.  Their only hope is a man who's emerged from a century-long hibernation to find he had been heroically idealized beyond belief .  Captain John "Black Jack" Geary's legendary exploits are known to every schoolchild.  Revered for his heroic "last stand" in the early days of the war, he was presumed dead.  But a century later, Geary miraculously returns from survival hibernation and reluctantly takes command of the Alliance fleet as it faces annihilation by the Syndics.  Appalled by the hero-worship around him, Geary is nevertheless a man who will do his duty.  And he knows that bringing the stolen Syndic hypernet key safely home is the Alliance's one chance to win the war.  But to do that, Geary will have to live up to the impossibly heroic "Black Jack" legend.

First Book
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0441014186?ie=UTF8&tag=jaccamjohghem-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0441014186
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on June 06, 2011, 12:46:02 PM
Completely different except that they're both fiction?  I dunno, that's a weird question.  I like both books but they're not comparable
I wasn't talking in terms of the storyline.  I'm talking intensity, entertainment value, etc.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on June 06, 2011, 08:51:33 PM
It's a lot less action and a lot more intrigue and things like that.  I really can't compare them at all
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on June 07, 2011, 09:18:54 AM
Finished the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy last night.  I'm getting the second one back tomorrow from my mother-in-law.  Can't wait!
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on June 18, 2011, 08:50:33 PM
I did a lot of reading this week on vacation and I'm 2/3 of the way through the third book in Song of Ice and Fire.  It should be called "Everybody Dies".

edit: Subtitle: "Everybody Fucks"
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 05, 2011, 09:16:23 AM
Finished the 4th books in ASOIAF the other day.  I can't wait for Dance with Dragons to come out.  In the meantime I'm going to try and finish the Hunger Games trilogy, which I'm finding less and less appealing
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 05, 2011, 11:04:41 AM
Stick with it, it has some interesting twists at the end.

EDIT: I should mention that I finished the Trilogy.  Good series overall.  Very interesting characters and a very rich world weaved by the author in very few words.  I can't wait for the movies!

I started reading The Green Mile.  I'm over half way through it. 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 05, 2011, 11:15:25 AM
It's just that it's clearly written for teenagers and the style is kind of bugging me.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 05, 2011, 11:26:38 AM
Well, it's a 'Young Adult' series.  What did you expect?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 05, 2011, 11:27:16 AM
I didn't realize that going into it I guess, since I kept getting it recommended to me by adults.  It's not a big deal, at least it makes the books go by a lot faster.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 07, 2011, 08:32:33 AM
Finished the second one last night and went right into the third.  Once I got used to the writing style again I started enjoying it.

After reading 4 800 page fantasy books in a row, Catching Fire felt like it went super quickly.  Also, now that I know that Lenny Kravitz is playing Cinna in the movies, I can't help but picture him every time Cinna's around.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 07, 2011, 01:17:28 PM
Did you notice who the other characters are?  Very cool shit knowing some of that.

The thing I don't get is that the movies are going to be PG-13, which means they're going to have to do a lot of stuff differently.  Bummer.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 07, 2011, 02:01:28 PM
The girl they cast for Katniss looks very believable.  Also I pictured Haymitch as fatter but I think Woody Harrelson can definitely pull that off

I think they'll be able to do it justice as PG-13, they just may have to tone down the violence a little bit.  They can still show quite a bit though, I'd think.  They're not going to adapt books written for teenagers into R rated gorefests, even if the book is written that way.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 07, 2011, 02:02:10 PM
Also it sucked to notice that almost all of the actors playing the tributes were born in the early 90s.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on July 07, 2011, 09:18:16 PM
damn Cheez - I need to sign up for your speed reading class :p

I'm only about 420 pages into GoT. Still great.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on July 07, 2011, 09:20:08 PM
Listening to the audiobook now...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 08, 2011, 07:44:51 AM
I don't read that fast, I just do it a lot if I'm into the book I'm reading.  Also, when I went on vacation a couple weeks ago, about all I did was read.  I got through about 2 of the ASOIAF books that week
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 08, 2011, 09:08:19 AM
The girl they cast for Katniss looks very believable.  Also I pictured Haymitch as fatter but I think Woody Harrelson can definitely pull that off

I think they'll be able to do it justice as PG-13, they just may have to tone down the violence a little bit.  They can still show quite a bit though, I'd think.  They're not going to adapt books written for teenagers into R rated gorefests, even if the book is written that way.
Yeah, I think they really did a good job with the casting.  Especially President Snow being Donald Sutherland.  That's brilliant.

It'll be interesting to see it play out but I think there are several things in the second book that would have been better being left in that won't make the cut for PG-13.  Basically the antics of Johanna.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 08, 2011, 09:26:42 AM
The problems I was thinking about were actually from the first book, with the girl getting turned to goo by the wasps
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on July 09, 2011, 08:51:28 AM
I started reading GoT half in Polish. I have a Polish translated PDF that I can sneak read at work ;) and read the book in English at home. Took out a large chunk yesterday. I'm also on episode 3 of the show.

 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 10, 2011, 09:22:41 PM
The problems I was thinking about were actually from the first book, with the girl getting turned to goo by the wasps
You mean supposedly turned to goo by the tracker jackers?  You realize that was a hallucination, right?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 10, 2011, 09:23:19 PM
Just finished the Green Mile.  Good book.  A little wordy.  I want to see the movie now.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 10, 2011, 09:27:08 PM
The problems I was thinking about were actually from the first book, with the girl getting turned to goo by the wasps
You mean supposedly turned to goo by the tracker jackers?  You realize that was a hallucination, right?
Well right but it was still real from her perspective, so I'd assume it'd be part of the movie.  The way they described the real results of the tracker jackers is still very graphic.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 10, 2011, 09:31:34 PM
Yeah, there was a lot that was graphic about that book.  It was probably the most graphic of the 3 as far as I'm concerned.

The thing I'm curious about with the movies is that I don't think they can make the movie first perspective like the books.  It would be almost impossible.  But we'll see.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 11, 2011, 08:38:48 PM
Finished Mockingjay just in time for Dance with Dragons to come out!

(Collins should have stopped after the first book)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 11, 2011, 08:39:56 PM
Why do you say that? 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 11, 2011, 08:42:12 PM
The second two books were nowhere near as good as the first and I thought the ending was very unsatisfying.  They should have just left it at the end of the first book with an unclear picture of what was going to happen.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 11, 2011, 08:44:54 PM
The thing that bothers me the most about the third book is it's literally just [spoiler] mountains of shit happening to Katniss and then BAM she lived happily ever after[/spoiler]

edit: didn't we used to have spoiler tags
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 12, 2011, 08:47:13 AM
I was definitely more hooked in the first book than the last two.  But I still had a lot of fun with the last two.  I don't think I would have been very happy with just stopping after the first one.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: PJYelton on July 12, 2011, 02:44:00 PM
Holy crap, that releases today!

*races off to bookstore*
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 12, 2011, 02:47:29 PM
Yeah, I even got a chance to start it at breakfast this morning :)

Thanks, Whispernet!
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Ken Fitlike on July 14, 2011, 10:42:15 AM
I'm reading the bible.

And Noddy.

It's important to have a balanced literary diet.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on July 21, 2011, 10:35:34 PM
finished GoT last week. Reading the second one now and still hooked.

Is anyone watching the series, I watched the first 6 or 7 episodes and so far I don't like it much.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 22, 2011, 06:17:32 AM
I watched it and thought it was great - what don't you like about it?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on July 22, 2011, 10:47:23 PM
It follows the book pretty well, but it throws in things that are not in the book - like, for example - [spoiler alert] the relationship between renly and the knight of flowers (i forget his name), or the role the red headed whore has that Theon bangs, and then Theon's attitude toward the starks (now that I'm about 200 pages into CoK I know why) and there are other examples too[/spoiler alert]

I haven't got to the battle scenes yet, but I was hoping for a production a la LoTR - not even close.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 23, 2011, 08:47:11 AM
Yeah the battle is pretty lame in the show and I honestly don't remember the red headed whore at all in the books.  Theon's attitude is, I think, on display a lot more in the show because the first book hardly focuses on him at all

Renly and Loras is strongly hinted at in the books, but nothing that blatant because none of the chapter are written from either of their POV (same thing with Theon)

I imagine HBO will pick up the battle sequences in the next couple seasons because 1) there's a lot more fighting and 2) the show was pretty successful so now maybe they'll drop some more coin.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on July 23, 2011, 05:58:41 PM
Quote
Renly and Loras is strongly hinted at in the books
I didn't get that at all in GoT, but maybe that changes in CoK
Quote
I imagine HBO will pick up the battle sequences in the next couple seasons because 1) there's a lot more fighting and 2) the show was pretty successful so now maybe they'll drop some more coin.

I really hope so. even the joust tourney looked cheesy....

Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on July 23, 2011, 08:29:25 PM
The joust tourney was pretty funny.  It didn't look like something that was all elaborate and cost tons to put together.  It was like King Robert called his knight buddies and said "hey come on over let's joust in my backyard"
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on July 25, 2011, 08:53:30 AM
Just started Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol.  Decent so far. 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on August 26, 2011, 08:59:00 AM
Finally finished ADWD the other day, now I just have to wait until the next book comes out.  Hopefully it happens soon because I'll probably have to reread the whole series if it's another 5 years before it comes out again

Currently reading this (http://www.amazon.com/So-Youre-Going-Be-Dad/dp/1555612415/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314363442&sr=8-1), but it's not very good.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on August 26, 2011, 10:12:26 PM
Finally finished ADWD the other day, now I just have to wait until the next book comes out.  Hopefully it happens soon because I'll probably have to reread the whole series if it's another 5 years before it comes out again

Currently reading this (http://www.amazon.com/So-Youre-Going-Be-Dad/dp/1555612415/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314363442&sr=8-1), but it's not very good.

is congratulations in order?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on August 26, 2011, 10:58:36 PM
:)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on August 27, 2011, 12:18:35 AM
well congratulations then! I knew you had it in you :p

how far along?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on August 27, 2011, 08:37:16 AM
Technically, she's got it in her.

Just finished the first trimester, everything going good so far.

That book does suck though, anyone have any other ideas?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on August 27, 2011, 10:58:19 AM
yes...dig up the thread about fatherly advice. Actually many of the things mentioned there were true! and helpful too
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on August 27, 2011, 03:38:58 PM
That just shows how many people read this thread and how many actually click (or hover) on links.

I mean, I'm sure finishing the fifth book in an epic fantasy series might be difficult and sort of worthy of congratulations... but this makes more sense now.

Anyhoo... :dblthumb2: Good luck with that.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on August 27, 2011, 05:28:20 PM
I was wondering how long it was gonna take anyone to pick up on it

But thanks, we're really excited :)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on September 07, 2011, 12:02:42 AM
I'm done with the Clash of Kings and on two the next - what a trip! holy shit, I'm loving these books. Is there anything else quite like it? what can you guys recommend?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on September 07, 2011, 08:28:35 AM
I was recommended a trilogy by a guy named Joe Abercrombie (http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Itself-First-Law-Book/dp/159102594X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315398431&sr=1-3) and I'm slogging my way through the first book, but it's not nearly as interesting as ASOIAF.

Currently reading that, Why We Run (http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Run-Natural-History/dp/0060958707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315398473&sr=8-1) and re-reading All the Pretty Horses, because Cormac McCarthy is amazing
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on September 19, 2011, 02:35:12 PM
  I'm going to be start Moneyball since I finally got it and baseball is starting.
Book is great and if you like baseball and haven't read it yet you're a loser and should fix that immediately.  Also there is going to be a movie!

Read this over the last week and certainly enjoyed it. I'm not sure I loved the writing style or how the book was laid out, but the subject matter was right up my ally. It's just coincidence that the movie is coming out now (I just bought the book with leftover Borders gift cards since it was going out of business). After reading the book I don't see how the movie would be any good and I definitely don't see Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, but it's getting good reviews so I guess I'll make sure to watch it when it comes out on DVD.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on September 19, 2011, 04:51:09 PM
I think the movie is going to be a pretty standard underdog sports movie with the team rallying around a new leader and his weird style to win everything*!

*does not really win everything
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on September 19, 2011, 05:02:40 PM
Yeah... I get the feeling that they're going to make major changes for dramatic purposes. For example, who is Peter Brand (the character Jonah Hill is playing). That's gotta be a combo of DePodesta and the other Ivy league guy they had. Also, I doubt they finish with the loss to the Twins. Doh!

That was a fun time to be a fan, though.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on September 19, 2011, 05:45:35 PM
Yeah, I think Jonah Hill is basically supposed to be playing DePo but I believe he sued because he wasn't happy about the way he was portrayed in the book or would be in the movie

It'd be sort of logical to stop the movie at the end of the regular season because Beane's strategies are basically not applicable in the playoffs.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on September 19, 2011, 06:02:34 PM
Yeah, I think Jonah Hill is basically supposed to be playing DePo but I believe he sued because he wasn't happy about the way he was portrayed in the book or would be in the movie

It'd be sort of logical to stop the movie at the end of the regular season because Beane's strategies are basically not applicable in the playoffs.
So another Major League movie?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on September 19, 2011, 06:16:18 PM
It'd be sort of logical to stop the movie at the end of the regular season because Beane's strategies are basically not applicable in the playoffs.

Sure they're applicable. The results are just too difficult to weed out with such a small sample size.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on September 19, 2011, 08:28:37 PM
It'd be sort of logical to stop the movie at the end of the regular season because Beane's strategies are basically not applicable in the playoffs.

Sure they're applicable. The results are just too difficult to weed out with such a small sample size.
That's sort of what I meant - they even say in the book that the goal of Moneyball is to make the playoffs and once you're there you're on your own because there are too few games for it to balance out

edit: Obviously, having players that are OBP heavy is beneficial in the playoffs, but 1) the "moneyball" tactics aren't useful in the playoffs because there are no roster changes and 2) relying on statistics to work out in the long run doesn't work in in the playoffs because they're far too short
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on September 19, 2011, 08:52:18 PM
The best part of the book was all the inside dirt on how the GMs interact. I enjoyed me some of that stuff.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on November 10, 2011, 04:10:28 PM
The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow

Overall I enjoyed it, as it gives a good overview of the current state of science in regards to the major theories of the universe. I was disappointed with how the book ended, though. They hinted throughout that the science provided a more profound answer to questions like how did the universe begin and what happened before that. But while the answers they gave might be true, they left as many questions as they answered.

Anyway, a good read if you're interested in modern physics and such but don't have time to actually follow the developments of the last decade or so.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on November 11, 2011, 12:41:04 AM
I slowed down a bit with soiaf and I'm in the middle of book 3. Started rereading catch 22 . What an awesome read.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on December 13, 2011, 10:08:24 PM
my guy from Peoria lent me Patriots (http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Surviving-James-Wesley-Rawles/dp/156975599X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1323831644&sr=8-3) on CD today. I listed to two disks on my way home. VERY simple writing; def not something I would pick out on my own. I think I will continue listening to it because of the real life survival tips and techniques coming in the zombie apocalypse I have mentioned in a different thread.

The author is def not an obama lover...there is a scene where the main group of characters are approached by "communist". The leader of the group tells them that their political views make no difference; but they certainly do to the author because the communists turned out to be murderous cannibal looters with kids' limbs stored in bags for food!!! oh yeah. git some.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: kermi3 on December 13, 2011, 10:46:47 PM
Just got through The Help and Name of the Wind (http://www.amazon.com/Name-Wind-Kingkiller-Chronicles-Day/dp/0756405890/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323834261&sr=8-1) as great audio books.  The Help was really good - LOVED Name of the Wind and it's sequal.  about 80 ours of auio book bliss for less than a dollor an hour - kept me entertained in all my down and commute time for about 6 weeks.  Working on a Ted Conover now, but don't know if I'm sold on it.

Also reading Becoming a Master Student (excellent) and Not Much Just Chillin': The Hidden Lives of Middle Schoolers (http://www.amazon.com/Not-Much-Just-Chillin-Schoolers/dp/0345475763/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323834372&sr=8-1) as professional books...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on December 14, 2011, 07:15:49 AM
my guy from Peoria lent me Patriots (http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Surviving-James-Wesley-Rawles/dp/156975599X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1323831644&sr=8-3) on CD today. I listed to two disks on my way home. VERY simple writing; def not something I would pick out on my own. I think I will continue listening to it because of the real life survival tips and techniques coming in the zombie apocalypse I have mentioned in a different thread.

The author is def not an obama lover...there is a scene where the main group of characters are approached by "communist". The leader of the group tells them that their political views make no difference; but they certainly do to the author because the communists turned out to be murderous cannibal looters with kids' limbs stored in bags for food!!! oh yeah. git some.
One of the reviews on Amazon made me laugh
Quote
This has to be one of the worst edited books I have ever seen. You can tell it was written in the 1990s and updated recently; they mention the election of Barack Obama. But they did a lousy job of updating the text. The time lines, ages and historic events are screwed up. For example on page 22, it says that Todd and Mary found the ranch on vacation trips to Idaho in 2001 (happily married at the time). On the same page it states the idea for a group retreat was formed in 2006, while Todd and T.K. were in college. Later, it says that Todd started working from home in 2008, using a PC with a 20 gig hard drive and a dial-up modem. Dial-up in 2008? Especially for a corporate sanctioned telecommuter? That may have been the standard in 1988! On page 35, Kevin graduates college in 2007 and starts as a junior programmer. Next paragraph Kevin is starting SECOND career as freelance programmer in 2002. I guess he started his freelance in high school? Also, Doug states his age as 22, but he was born a year after his parent got married, soon after his fathers return from Vietnam. Let's see...The Crunch hits in 2009, so that means Doug was born in 1987, that means his father got home from Vietnam around 1986 or so. Delayed demobilization? POW release? These are just a few of the examples of bad editing and updating.
Last night I finished The Corrections (http://www.amazon.com/Corrections-Novel-Recent-Picador-Highlights/dp/B0013TFBLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323864862&sr=8-1) by Jonathan Franzen.  I don't know what I felt about it.  All of the characters are selfish, horrible people, but I really found myself empathizing with them a few times.  The book made me very uncomfortable in a few points, especially reading it this close to Christmas with all the family gatherings that entails
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on December 14, 2011, 08:09:57 AM
That review is spot on! I noticed some of the same inconsistencies. I still cant figure out the age of some characters
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on January 08, 2012, 11:58:43 PM
Finished the full Hunger Games trilogy over the last week. Overall I was happy, it was an interesting story that held my attention 'til the end. Still I share some of govtcheez' qualms. I had forgotten that it was mentioned here that its audience was teenagers/young adults. One of the biggest annoyances was that the protagonist acted and thought like a teenage girl. Yes, of course that's what she was, but it still was bothersome when you're putting yourself in her place and can't figure out at she's thinking.

I think I'm done with fiction for awhile. I got lots of non-fiction for Christmas to see if I can get through.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on January 09, 2012, 07:10:19 AM
Last night I finished The Corrections (http://www.amazon.com/Corrections-Novel-Recent-Picador-Highlights/dp/B0013TFBLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323864862&sr=8-1) by Jonathan Franzen.  I don't know what I felt about it.  All of the characters are selfish, horrible people, but I really found myself empathizing with them a few times.  The book made me very uncomfortable in a few points, especially reading it this close to Christmas with all the family gatherings that entails
The other day I finished another book by this author, Freedom.  Same feelings of uncomfortableness but I actually liked most of the characters in this one.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 01, 2012, 07:40:31 AM
I finished the new Elmore Leonard book, "Raylan", last night.  It's supposedly a novel about Raylan Givens, who is the main character in the show Justified, but it's really set up as 3-4 short stories that were generally taken from the show.

It was awful.  AWFUL
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on February 02, 2012, 11:26:58 AM
Just started Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol.  Decent so far. 
Holy shit I'm fucking sad.  I started this book 6 months ago!!  Nothing like a business trip to get you back into reading.  I'm over halfway through and this book is really good, a total page turner.  I really go through phases of reading.  Either I'm reading a lot or I'm not reading AT ALL.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on March 21, 2012, 01:13:06 PM
I finished the Lost Symbol.  Good book, good twists.  I'd recommend it.

I'm now onto a new series: Incarceron (finished) and the follow-up Sapphique.  Interesting idea, that a prison/world was created to work completely on its own with nothing coming in or going out.  The first book was pretty good but the writing is not so great.  It's confusing, doesn't give you enough 'world' detail so you end up trying to fabricate how the place feels on your own without much help from the author.  It is frustrating at times but the storyline is good enough to stick with it.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on March 26, 2012, 11:58:30 AM
Took a little vacation and managed to read a book, yay!

I read "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", it was a good read. There are some sick rapes, but they serve to really develop some of the characters. The book reads like a modern sherlock holmes, with the mystery slowly unfolding and all of the clues leading your mind in various directions. I'm very curious to see the movie now, I bet they butchered it...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on March 26, 2012, 11:59:47 AM
My wife tried to start that book like 2 times already.  Apparently the beginning is hard to get through?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on March 26, 2012, 12:02:09 PM
Yeah, it's slow in the beginning and there is no "action" until the end. But the mystery really gets interesting once you're into it.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on March 26, 2012, 12:13:10 PM
> I'm very curious to see the movie now, I bet they butchered it...

It's very close to the book.  They changed the ending a little bit but I liked the movie version better.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on March 26, 2012, 12:14:19 PM
We already decided you shouldn't even bother with the movie(s) now that you've read the book. You should have watched it first.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on March 26, 2012, 04:01:15 PM
> I'm very curious to see the movie now, I bet they butchered it...

It's very close to the book.  They changed the ending a little bit but I liked the movie version better.

I suspected the end might change. Also, I just found out that they actually made two movies, apparently there was an original European one before the hollywood version.

I just borrowed the second and third books from a friend, not that I'll actually have time to read them now that I'm back to the grind.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on March 26, 2012, 04:02:02 PM
We already decided you shouldn't even bother with the movie(s) now that you've read the book. You should have watched it first.

I'd rather have a book spoil the end of a movie than have a movie spoil the end of a book!
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on March 26, 2012, 04:39:31 PM
But reading the book spoils the entire movie!

We already decided this. Get on it.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on August 14, 2012, 12:24:31 PM
Almost done with Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.  Awesome story and very well done with intertwining actual historical events as well.  Awesome read!
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on August 14, 2012, 01:29:36 PM
Almost done with Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.  Awesome story and very well done with intertwining actual historical events as well.  Awesome read!

Don't bother with the movie.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on August 14, 2012, 02:26:35 PM
Why?  It's not even out yet, is it?  And I heard good things.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on August 14, 2012, 02:42:08 PM
Well, mostly I was making a joke based on the posts above yours. ;)

But also, it's been out for a few months and I heard bad things (mostly just from critics and news reports).

35% on the Tomatometer (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/abraham_lincoln_vampire_hunter/)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on August 14, 2012, 11:42:39 PM
The movie is absolutely terrible and that comes as no surprise. Ashley made me see it because she is a TB fan.

Didn't know there was a book, the whole concept seems completely retarded to me.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on August 15, 2012, 10:49:55 AM
... it's fiction/fantasy.  You kind of have to check your logic at the door.  And the book is really good.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on August 15, 2012, 03:21:20 PM
The book was okay.  I wouldn't go nuts recommending it.  I found it kind of boring for a bit. 

I agree that the mixing of history and photos into the fiction just rocked.  Kind of like DaVinci Code.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on August 30, 2012, 10:30:51 PM
this was a super busy week at work for me, but I got through a few chapters of the hunger games...pretty cool, but I don't like first person story telling :( plus, and I don't want to sound like a snob, so far this is written in a super simple way. I think I was hoping for something more adult.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on August 30, 2012, 10:45:52 PM
Nope. Not gonna get that. Sorry.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on August 30, 2012, 10:49:51 PM
this was a super busy week at work for me, but I got through a few chapters of the hunger games...pretty cool, but I don't like first person story telling :( plus, and I don't want to sound like a snob, so far this is written in a super simple way. I think I was hoping for something more adult.
It's teen literature.  What did you expect??
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on August 30, 2012, 10:57:16 PM
this was a super busy week at work for me, but I got through a few chapters of the hunger games...pretty cool, but I don't like first person story telling :( plus, and I don't want to sound like a snob, so far this is written in a super simple way. I think I was hoping for something more adult.
It's teen literature.  What did you expect??

:dunno:
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on August 30, 2012, 11:05:03 PM
I'm reading "Survive!" by Les Stroud
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on September 04, 2012, 01:28:44 AM
So just finished the hunger games; the first person and style was a short lived obstacle, once i got into it it read really nice. Slight differences in the movie, but for the most part the movie is an excellent portrayal of the book. I'm looking forward to the second book :) hopefully tomorrow.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on September 04, 2012, 10:09:04 AM
I'm reading "Survive!" by Les Stroud

Les Stroud is the man. Les Stroud > Bear Grylls (or however you spell that).
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on September 04, 2012, 10:31:40 AM
I'm reading "Survive!" by Les Stroud

Les Stroud is the man. Les Stroud > Bear Grylls (or however you spell that).
It is spelt: Piss Drinker
Title: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on September 04, 2012, 10:32:42 AM
Glad you got into it Jake. The second book is pretty good too. I won't say they go downhill after the first because they were all good but I did like them in order.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on September 04, 2012, 12:51:23 PM
I'm reading "Survive!" by Les Stroud

Les Stroud is the man. Les Stroud > Bear Grylls (or however you spell that).

In his book he says:

"Let's ride ourselves of the notion that Survival has anything to do with "man vs wild"." He goes on to explain that the very phrase man vs wild is stupid, but you can tell he is really making his point :D

Bear is a jackass.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on September 19, 2012, 05:25:22 PM
Glad you got into it Jake. The second book is pretty good too. I won't say they go downhill after the first because they were all good but I did like them in order.

So I'm done with book two, and a thiud into book three, and I agree with you Ober: the first book was by far better than these last two are. I'm kind of getting annoyed with Katnnis' train of thought, and I keep reminding my self that she is a 17 year old girl in a book written for other 17 year olds :)

and btw, I am really looking forward to the second movie?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on September 19, 2012, 06:19:27 PM
and btw, I am really looking forward to the second movie?

I dunno, are you?

I ordered the first book of Amazon. I really liked the movie, just waiting for the book to get here so I can start it. Right now I am finishing up yet another version of The Art of War. This one is a difficult read to be honest, and I'm not sure there is any benefit to be gained from it but it is supposed to be more "authentic" then some of the others. This one is "Art of War" by Ralph D. Sawyer.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on September 19, 2012, 06:57:12 PM
Well, I read the second book in "A Song of Ice and Fire."  That's about the second book I've read this year. It's really interesting to read the books after watching the series. And now I've got to decide if I should continue the trend and wait until the next season airs to read the third book...

Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 20, 2012, 06:24:07 AM
Glad you got into it Jake. The second book is pretty good too. I won't say they go downhill after the first because they were all good but I did like them in order.

So I'm done with book two, and a thiud into book three, and I agree with you Ober: the first book was by far better than these last two are. I'm kind of getting annoyed with Katnnis' train of thought, and I keep reminding my self that she is a 17 year old girl in a book written for other 17 year olds :)

and btw, I am really looking forward to the second movie?

Books 2 and 3 were considerably worse.  By the end I hated the main character. 
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on September 29, 2012, 10:43:11 AM
I finished book three on the plane. Half way into it, I lost interest and finished it just to finish it. Overall it was a pretty entertaining series, and I'm happy I read it.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 02, 2012, 12:50:04 PM
I see what you guys mean about Hunger Games book vs movie. I am halfway through the first book and it is loaded with information and story the movie neglected. Some of it is important. I thought the movie was good but when you see how much backgroud they skipped it wasnt so good.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 07, 2012, 11:12:56 AM
I'm starting the first book in Game of Thrones
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 07, 2012, 02:08:54 PM
I broke down and read the third book. It was great, but holy crap I've never been so angry at a fictional character before
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 07, 2012, 04:12:29 PM
Lol which one? Katniss pissed me off more than a few times.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: jkim on October 07, 2012, 06:39:21 PM
Well, I read the second book in "A Song of Ice and Fire."  That's about the second book I've read this year. It's really interesting to read the books after watching the series. And now I've got to decide if I should continue the trend and wait until the next season airs to read the third book...


Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 07, 2012, 08:13:43 PM
I was asking which charactrer. No need to ask which book he specified the third one.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on October 07, 2012, 08:20:43 PM
I was asking which charactrer. No need to ask which book he specified the third one.

Game of Thrones != Hunger Games
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 08, 2012, 12:00:23 AM
Lol, yeah I was referring the game of thrones series.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 08, 2012, 08:09:03 AM
Oooooh my bad
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on October 09, 2012, 10:56:58 AM
I'm about half way through "No Country for Old Men". Pretty good read so far once you get used to the terrible southern style grammar.


I finished the whole "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo/who played with fire/that kicked the hornet's nest" series. First book was the best but the whole series was enjoyable.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 10, 2012, 08:07:45 AM
So Game of Thrones. I'm only partway into book one, I think like the third chapter. It is going to be a real test of memory I can see already because there are so many characters and relationships to remember. Going to be difficult to keep track.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on October 10, 2012, 08:12:35 AM
at least you don't have to keep track for very long because everyone dies :p
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 10, 2012, 09:02:53 AM
Oooooh u suck lmao
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 10, 2012, 12:48:54 PM
So Game of Thrones. I'm only partway into book one, I think like the third chapter. It is going to be a real test of memory I can see already because there are so many characters and relationships to remember. Going to be difficult to keep track.
I actually really like that aspect of the books because you miss a lot of connections and subtle things the first time through. Means it's totally worth a second or third read
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 10, 2012, 01:26:33 PM
Is the TV show the same struggle? I know a lot of people really rave about it
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 10, 2012, 11:54:35 PM
The TV show is sort of distilled down, so it's easier to follow. Plus, it's easier to recognize and remember faces than names
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 11, 2012, 12:07:07 AM
So I spent a while reading today and then notice I am only 4% done according to the Kindle. The pace with this book is much slower, I went through the entire Hunger Games series in just a few days. This one is great, should provide a lot of reading which is good for me with all the sitting around at doctor appointments and what not.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 20, 2012, 12:01:02 PM
So I'm halfway through book one of Game of Thrones and it's really good. I hate when it switches over to Dany and Viserys. Pretty much because I find her boring and I really can't stand Viserys, what an obnoxiously annoying character.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on October 20, 2012, 12:05:08 PM
>>obnoxiously annoying character

don't worry. you shouldn't get too attached. to any characters.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 20, 2012, 12:29:31 PM
So I'm halfway through book one of Game of Thrones and it's really good. I hate when it switches over to Dany and Viserys. Pretty much because I find her boring and I really can't stand Viserys, what an obnoxiously annoying character.
Yeah I think everyone has their favorite characters. I found myself practically skimming through chapters every now and then to get back to the characters I like
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 20, 2012, 04:19:11 PM
I skim a lot also as of late. Jon Snow would be my favorite I think...or his wolf, i'm undecided. I just finished the part where Tyrion bests Lysa and her freak son by having the guy fight for him and win. Don't tell me, but i;m fairly certain Lysa is to blame for the hand's (Jon) death as well as the attempt on Bran, using the easily disliked Lanisters as her fall family.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 21, 2012, 02:55:31 PM
This book was really hard to get the pace of in the beginning but I am glad that I stuck with it because what a great book it is. I can see why the series went to HBO. Once I finish the first book and start on the second I think I will begin the series.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 22, 2012, 01:14:47 AM
Book one down. Man I'm more hooked on this then I was hunger games. Already one chapter down on book two, which is clearly intent on making me feel like I am suffering to get going again lol.

Does anyone else find that after a day or two of heavy reading on a book like this that you start to think and talk in that style? Like today Ashley asked me to do something and I told her I would see to it on the marrow lol
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 22, 2012, 06:47:19 PM
My internal monologue changes, but I resist the urge to speak out loud in a different style. I did find in book 3 that a certain chapter put me in a really bad mood for the entire day...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on October 22, 2012, 07:55:22 PM
I did find in book 3 that a certain chapter put me in a really bad mood for the entire day...

which?
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 22, 2012, 11:27:02 PM
How do you do spoiler text? I don't want to ruin it for anyone...
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Mike on October 22, 2012, 11:34:53 PM
How do you do spoiler text? I don't want to ruin it for anyone...


Probably the best way: Is to do this


Then the person can quote you to see what you said (or zoom way the fuck in)
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 23, 2012, 01:29:22 AM
Well then:

[edit by jake:] yeah.....I stopped reading after that. - I deleted your post because I don't want to spoil it for rod because I'm sure he would need to look ;) but that would kill it for him.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 23, 2012, 07:39:17 AM
Thanks Jake, I have no will power and I would have looked lol. I should be through book two tomorrow or Thursday
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 23, 2012, 06:05:16 PM
So Jake, you never finished book 3? I thought the ending was great
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 23, 2012, 06:06:19 PM
59% done with book II. Sitting on your rear all day has some upside, i guess.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on October 23, 2012, 06:56:20 PM
So Jake, you never finished book 3? I thought the ending was great

not quite
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 24, 2012, 01:14:40 AM
Started watching the show. The guy playing Kahl Drago is a MONSTER
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 25, 2012, 05:27:10 PM
I'm almost done the second book, but truth be told I did a lot of skimming over the parts fighting to hold my interest. Mostly I am skimming over Danny and Stannis and then putting their chapters together on the last couple of pages. I feel that I shouldn't be but for some reason they interest me greatly (dragons and the evil magic) yet mostly their turns bore the shit out of me.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 25, 2012, 10:16:19 PM
I wish I could see through my German Shepherd....or even her Husky like they do in the Direwolves. All I would ever see if my dogs asshole, though.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 26, 2012, 04:58:02 PM
Book two down, starting three. Glad the small two are still alive, i suspected what they ended up doing was exactly what they did. The daughter needs to make north also, i'm sure her wolf is still watching. The fall of their home saddens me.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 30, 2012, 01:27:35 AM
Jesus, I think I just finished the chapter that ruined your days. And if not then it must get a lot worse because this almost ruins all hope I had for an ending....

So everytime it seems Arya will get her family back something bad has to happen....usually to her. I can honestly say I did NOT expect the Frey's to slaughter Robb Stark, his mother, and his men. Jesus Christ in heaven. And Grey Wolf....I hope he made it out of there. Foolish Robb, he is the only one that does not place his absolute trust in the instincts of his wolf.

So now Winterfell will fall to Jon Snow, not that he knows it yet and something tells me that he is about to be named Lord Commander of the Night Watch anyway. Arya....poor Arya I hope she gets back to Rikkon and Bran.

God these books really make you fall in love with people just to slaughter them and they make you despise a guy like Jaimie Lannister only to later begin to feel bad for him and even come to respect him.

I'm so friggen bummed right now but i can't put it down.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 30, 2012, 01:39:38 AM
SON OF A BITCH WHY??!?!!?!

now i'm PISSED. I want to skip ahead so bad now and find out if it was just a knock out for her own good (hoping) or her demise.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on October 30, 2012, 11:58:42 AM
Haha, yup that was the chapter.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 30, 2012, 02:22:10 PM
Man that family is my favorite, such a bummer. I am transferring my hope to the bastard and the cripple but i'm sure that will soon be squashed.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on October 30, 2012, 06:41:37 PM
Joffrey's wedding made me feel better.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on November 01, 2012, 03:37:57 AM
Book three finished! If you have not read book four do not read my small printed font after this final post on book 3 :) The last few chapters of three were shocking. I knew that psycho Lysa killed her husband since book one, but not why. Should have figured that out sooner. Poor Sansa, that girl just cannot get a break. Jon should be lord commander though I suspect Stannis will try and fuck with that. The Measter is a genius for noting the sword had no heat because it is all just trickery and that red bitch is evil. What else hmm Dany is still useless and has too high a view of herself.

If snow stays on the wall it is only a matter of time before Allister and Janos try to kill him.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on November 01, 2012, 05:00:03 PM
I really enjoyed the ending of that book. Still holding out on reading book 4...but I'll probably break soon hehe
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on November 02, 2012, 02:21:57 PM
I'm already around 1/4 the way through #4. I really liked the ending of 3 as well, but I felt for Sansa because her and Arya just can't get a break.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on November 02, 2012, 04:16:18 PM
I'm reading Gone Girl right now.  Interesting so far.  My wife said it was awesome and I usually like stuff she does (she'll even tell me when I won't like it, which is kinda scary but totally accurate).  It's also like a bestseller and seems to be everywhere right now.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on November 03, 2012, 11:47:08 AM
I'm reading Gone Girl right now.  Interesting so far.  My wife said it was awesome and I usually like stuff she does (she'll even tell me when I won't like it, which is kinda scary but totally accurate).  It's also like a bestseller and seems to be everywhere right now.

The description of that sounds really good, and cool it is based in MO. Going to put it on my "to read" list.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: JaWiB on November 06, 2012, 12:51:59 AM
Broke down and read book 4...about 80% of it over the weekend and the rest today. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the other books. Basically felt like most of the chapters were in the way of reading about the characters I was more interested in.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Steve on November 06, 2012, 07:50:14 AM
I am halfway through but ya I completely agree
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: charlie on January 05, 2014, 03:13:45 PM
I finished the whole "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo/who played with fire/that kicked the hornet's nest" series. First book was the best but the whole series was enjoyable.

Read the first book a couple years ago, then just blew through the last two this past week to test out a new kindle. I liked the second two a little better, probably because there wasn't quite so much of the creepiness of the first one. That author sure seems fascinated with sex. And with what people wear. Anyway, still an enjoyable read.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on January 22, 2014, 10:14:53 AM
Gone Girl was ok.  I didn't like any of the characters, but I thought the Nancy Grace standin was interesting.

I just finished The Devil All The Time (http://www.amazon.com/The-Devil-Time-Donald-Pollock/dp/0307744868), which was a little too dark for me, but kept me turning the pages.  I've been reading a lot of books in this genre lately and really enjoying it, but this didn't have any of the humor that some of the other books have.  Last night I started Comanche Moon (http://www.amazon.com/Comanche-Moon-Novel-Larry-McMurtry-ebook/dp/B003NE6HJS/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390403662&sr=1-2&keywords=comanche+moon), the second book in the Lonesome Dove series.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: ober on January 22, 2014, 12:42:54 PM
Just finished the Mortal Instruments (http://www.amazon.com/City-Bones-Mortal-Instruments-Book/dp/1416955070/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390412433&sr=1-2&keywords=mortal+instruments) series.  It's young adult but VERY well written and I really liked a lot of the characters.  5 books for that series and now I'm starting on the prequel (http://www.amazon.com/Clockwork-Angel-Infernal-Devices-Book/dp/141697587X/ref=pd_sim_b_7) (another 3) and then she's releasing a 6th for the original series this spring that apparently requires knowledge of the prequel.

Edit: they made a movie for the first book but it apparently failed miserably.  :(  So sad, as I was looking forward to it.

Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Perspective on January 22, 2014, 04:14:02 PM
I just started World War Z. I like the writing style, neat way to tell a story. Rather then a traditional novel, it's a collection of interviews with survivors done 10 years after the zombie apocalypse.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on January 22, 2014, 05:04:16 PM
Finished this a while back in audio book form.

The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
by The Great Courses
Narrated by Professor Robert Garland
Series: The Great Courses: Ancient History

10/10.

I was sad when it was over.  Long too.

http://www.audible.com/pd/History/The-Other-Side-of-History-Daily-Life-in-the-Ancient-World-Audiobook/B00DDVPXJG

Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on January 22, 2014, 05:13:39 PM
I just started World War Z. I like the writing style, neat way to tell a story. Rather then a traditional novel, it's a collection of interviews with survivors done 10 years after the zombie apocalypse.

that was a pretty fun read.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Jake on February 11, 2014, 03:59:06 PM
Started rereading catch 22 . What an awesome read.

if you have not read this yet, you need to. What a spectacular book. I mean, it is hard to describe. Everything about this book, from the language, sentence structure, character development, and overall theme, is simply brilliant. And it gets better each time I read it.
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: Govtcheez on February 14, 2014, 07:58:39 AM
Gone Girl was ok.  I didn't like any of the characters, but I thought the Nancy Grace standin was interesting.

I just finished The Devil All The Time (http://www.amazon.com/The-Devil-Time-Donald-Pollock/dp/0307744868), which was a little too dark for me, but kept me turning the pages.  I've been reading a lot of books in this genre lately and really enjoying it, but this didn't have any of the humor that some of the other books have.  Last night I started Comanche Moon (http://www.amazon.com/Comanche-Moon-Novel-Larry-McMurtry-ebook/dp/B003NE6HJS/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390403662&sr=1-2&keywords=comanche+moon), the second book in the Lonesome Dove series.
Finished Comanche Moon a couple days after I started, finished Lonesome Dove last night.  Lonesome Dove is amazing.

All this traveling I've been doing has been good for my reading
Title: Re: What is ES reading?
Post by: yoshi on April 11, 2014, 04:09:57 PM
Song of Ice and Fire 1 for me. too many characters.