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Author Topic: To Be Well Read  (Read 1722 times)

Offline rpm

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« Reply #45 on: May 30, 2007, 10:58:30 PM »
jhookt, you're from Texas. Why aren't you reading Larry McMurtry?
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Offline Bluedog

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« Reply #46 on: May 30, 2007, 11:18:27 PM »
Not exactly literary master pieces, and I doubt finishing them all will make you well read, but Sven Hassle writes some really gritty down to earth war stories from the German soldier's perspective.
I've just read 'Blitzfreeze', paid a dollar for it at the book exchange shop,, and thoroughly enjoyed every page of it.
Pretty much zero Nazi mindset involved, in fact the one hard core Nazi in Mr Hassle's stories cops a LOT of crap from his fellow German soldiers about being a Nazi.
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Offline Vulcan

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« Reply #47 on: May 30, 2007, 11:45:55 PM »
Dunno bout you guys but I've switched to audiobooks for the last few years. I read all day long at work (email, porn etc). Last thing I need is to bash my eyes some more.

My favourites...
Herbert, the Dune series, even the prequels by his son are fun
Gibson, Neuromancer, Patter Recognition (both fairly prophetic imho)
Heinlein, especially Starship Troopers, and Stranger in a Strange Land (grok it), some of Heinleins other books have interesting ideas
HG Wells stuff, getting back to the original versions rather than the 21st century versions is fun. The Invisible Man and The Island of Doctor Moreau are well worth revisiting.


And of late I've discovered some real gems in the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars series (I'm currently reading/listening to Gods of Mars).

I like to read the old stuff, it gives you a little insight into the mindset, plus  it is great escapism.
« Last Edit: May 30, 2007, 11:48:40 PM by Vulcan »
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Offline Sandman

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« Reply #48 on: May 31, 2007, 12:03:33 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by rpm
jhookt, you're from Texas. Why aren't you reading Larry McMurtry?


Lonesome Dove was an enjoyable read. :aok
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sand

Offline rpm

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« Reply #49 on: May 31, 2007, 12:21:33 AM »
Horseman, Pass By
The Last Picture Show (trillogy)
Lonesome Dove (series)
Terms of Endearment (series)
Crazy Horse
Cadillac Jack

I'm sort of biased, we are both from Archer City.
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My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
Stay thirsty my friends.

Offline jhookt

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« Reply #50 on: May 31, 2007, 12:22:05 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by rpm
jhookt, you're from Texas. Why aren't you reading Larry McMurtry?


never heard of him. the only buzz i have heard about texan writers was that guy who wrote "no country for old men" or some title to that effect. and clearly you can see how much i know about that subject.
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Offline Sandman

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« Reply #51 on: May 31, 2007, 12:23:47 AM »
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
I can't get through the stand myself.  But I've done his other books.

Pick up "The Running Man".  It's a much darker scarier story then that 80's tripe with Schwarzenegger.  He penned a lot of books under the name Richard Bachman.


Yeah... just as I said... The Running Man was one of his short stories.

Personally, I liked The Long Walk best, I think.
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Offline rpm

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« Reply #52 on: May 31, 2007, 12:31:00 AM »
If you love Texas, you need to read Larry McMurtry. He's a fantastic writer. Horseman, Pass By (a/k/a Hud) is a great place to start. I don't know if it's possible for me to name a favorite, I love them all.
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My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
Stay thirsty my friends.

Offline Thrawn

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« Reply #53 on: May 31, 2007, 12:32:15 AM »
Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics, by Henry Hazlitt

http://www.amazon.com/Economics-One-Lesson-Shortest-Understand/dp/0517548232
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Offline Sandman

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« Reply #54 on: May 31, 2007, 12:32:27 AM »
Hell... I like McMurtry... and can't say I like Texas much at all...

;)
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sand

Offline Excel1

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« Reply #55 on: May 31, 2007, 02:03:27 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Bluedog
Not exactly literary master pieces, and I doubt finishing them all will make you well read, but Sven Hassle writes some really gritty down to earth war stories from the German soldier's perspective.
I've just read 'Blitzfreeze', paid a dollar for it at the book exchange shop,, and thoroughly enjoyed every page of it.
Pretty much zero Nazi mindset involved, in fact the one hard core Nazi in Mr Hassle's stories cops a LOT of crap from his fellow German soldiers about being a Nazi.



Yup, Sven Hassle's books are a good read... good stories with plenty of action without the PC nonsense. Some of his books are better than others but if you read 1 and enjoy it you probably will end up reading them all, I did, and same way as you Blue, through book exchange.

Sven's books a cerebral in comparison, but I still  regret chucking out the hundreds of Commando comics I use to have. Probably all classics by now cause I think their been out of print for years.
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Offline AWMac

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« Reply #56 on: May 31, 2007, 02:09:07 AM »

"It's What's for Dinner..."

:D

Mac
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Offline Dowding

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« Reply #57 on: May 31, 2007, 05:31:22 AM »
My favourite books that I consider classics:

The Tempest (Shakespeare)
Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
Desolation Island (Patrick O'brian)
The Old Man and the Sea (Hemmingway)
Keep the Aspidistra Flying (Orwell)
Down and Out in Paris and London (Orwell)
1984 (Orwell)
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Offline DiabloTX

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« Reply #58 on: May 31, 2007, 05:47:54 AM »
Meh, McMurtry has some brilliant moments.  Some utterly forgettable moments as well.  Ever tried reading Anything For Billy?  Lonesome Dove was awesome.  Streets of Laredo was good.  Dead Man's Walk I am not even sure Larry wrote.  Comanche Moon has it's moments as well but it's mainly just a long snuff novel.  I'm interested in seeing how much gore they put in the TV series when its aired this November.
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Offline lazs2

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« Reply #59 on: May 31, 2007, 08:30:40 AM »
I find myself in agreement with tedbear on this one.

Read what you enjoy and look at some of the required school stuff... starting with things like tom sawyer and 1984.  

Ayn Rand is good...  all the old American drunks born around 1900 like Fitzgerald and hemingway and london.

The authors who wrote about their times  the good and the bad... is the best history lesson... like listening to a favorite grandfather.  

Problem is... you read this stuff and say...  What the hell is wrong with us?  Why did we stray so much to gain so little?

lazs
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