What's Everyone Reading

[Bill Hart]

Please read 'Defending Jacob.' I know I said I don't read lawyer books, this is one of the best - I resisted it, despite a friend's recommendation, I'm glad I finally broke down and read it. Steve, are you listening? I can do a quick summary if needed. Highly recommended. And the film rights got picked up. If it could be adapted like 'A Simple Plan,' (Sam Raimi's break-out from horror movies), it could be wonderful as movie.

 

[Steve williams]

I put it on my list Bill

 

[carolkoh]

I recently found out that a small local group was making a Redwall MMO & chatted with some of the "instigators." One thing led to another and I admitted to having the cookbook. We are now planning a Redwall themed New Year's Dinner. The cookbook isn't just a book of recipes, it is delightfully illustrated and has a story written by Brian Jacques as well.

 

[Bill Hart]

View attachment 6804

I recently found out that a small local group was making a Redwall MMO & chatted with some of the "instigators." One thing led to another and I admitted to having the cookbook. We are now planning a Redwall themed New Year's Dinner. The cookbook isn't just a book of recipes, it is delightfully illustrated and has a story written by Brian Jacques as well.

What's a Redwall MMO, Carol?

 

[carolkoh]

What's a Redwall MMO, Carol?

A massively multiplayer online role playing game - MMORPG - sorry, shortening it to MMO is jargon. It is a game based on the Redwall universe. i.e. kids (and us gaming adults) will be playing as mice, rabbits and hedgehogs

 

[Bill Hart]

Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Electrify the World, Jonnes, Jill. This is an enormously interesting read, even for those of you with serious EE credentials. The history of the battle between DC and AC current, covering Edison's attempts to electrify lower Manhattan using small DC powered substations, Tesla's marvelous inventive know-how in the development of a multiphase AC motor, the patent wars between Westinghouse and everybody else, the bid to light the Chicago World's Fair, the story of the electric chair as fodder for the combatants over the more dangerous electrical system, and the hydro-electric installation at Niagara Falls. While I've read several books on different aspects of this story, the particular book presents a great overview. Well worth reading, particularly so for someone who hasn't read about the history of electricity, much of which is still so relevant today.

 

[Bill Hart]

The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy, Nasaw, David. Still reading this, but it is extremely engaging, well researched, and remarkable as much for the man as for the sweep of history that his life covered.
The author apparently had unbridled access to a number of sources, from family material to declassified intelligence archives. Given Kennedy's role in WWII, it makes for compelling reading. You don't have to love the Kennedy dynasty to enjoy this book; to the contrary, this appears to be a very credible biography of a controversial figure, warts and all. And exceeding well-written.

 

[jazdoc]

"The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" by Haruki Murakami

In a Tokyo suburb a young man named Toru Okada searches for his wife's missing cat. Soon he finds himself looking for his wife as well in a netherworld that lies beneath the placid surface of Tokyo. As these searches intersect, Okada encounters a bizarre group of allies and antagonists: a psychic prostitute; a malevolent yet mediagenic politician; a cheerfully morbid sixteen-year-old-girl; and an aging war veteran who has been permanently changed by the hideous things he witnessed during Japan's forgotten campaign in Manchuria.

 

[Bill Hart]

"The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" by Haruki Murakami

Hmmm. Sounds a little strange, but I like that. Mo Hayder? did a book about the Manchurian campaign i remember being struck by; I think I'll start the Caro Johnson bio next, finished The Patriach, consider it a must read.

 

[jazdoc]

Hmmm. Sounds a little strange, but I like that. Mo Hayder? did a book about the Manchurian campaign i remember being struck by; I think I'll start the Caro Johnson bio next, finished The Patriach, consider it a must read.

Whart --

You'll love the Caro bio of Johnson...best book I read all year.

Yeah, Murakami is a little strange, but delightful. I just discovered him this year through "1Q84" and also read "Norwegian Wood" and "The Elephant Vanishes". He's a real renaissance man...used to run a jazz club and is an avid record collector. Apparently he is a well-known customer at collectible record stores around the world and owns 40,000 LPs. Music is a recurring theme in his work and there have been musical works inspired by his work. He's also an avid runner and his written about marathon training...

You can read more about him here: http://www.murakami.ch/main_7.html

 

[Bill Hart]

Whart --

You'll love the Caro bio of Johnson...best book I read all year.

Yeah, Murakami is a little strange, but delightful. I just discovered him this year through "1Q84" and also read "Norwegian Wood" and "The Elephant Vanishes". He's a real renaissance man...used to run a jazz club and is an avid record collector. Apparently he is a well-known customer at collectible record stores around the world and owns 40,000 LPs. Music is a recurring theme in his work and there have been musical works inspired by his work. He's also an avid runner and his written about marathon training...

You can read more about him here: http://www.murakami.ch/main_7.html

I remember the title of IQ84, ok, that author goes on the list. thanks, Doc.

 

[jazdoc]

I remember the title of IQ84, ok, that author goes on the list. thanks, Doc.

Let me know how you like it!

 

[Bill Hart]

Whart --

You'll love the Caro bio of Johnson...best book I read all year.

Yeah, Murakami is a little strange, but delightful. I just discovered him this year through "1Q84" and also read "Norwegian Wood" and "The Elephant Vanishes". He's a real renaissance man...used to run a jazz club and is an avid record collector. Apparently he is a well-known customer at collectible record stores around the world and owns 40,000 LPs. Music is a recurring theme in his work and there have been musical works inspired by his work. He's also an avid runner and his written about marathon training...

You can read more about him here: http://www.murakami.ch/main_7.html

Doc, am now well into the Caro book, the description of Johnson's mindset in the moments before the assassination is one of the most wonderfully wrought pieces of history and imagery I remember ever reading- it is a wonderful history. I had forgotten about, and never fully appreciated the impact of, the Bobby Baker scandal on Johnson's prospects for serving a (second) term in a place other than Washington. This is a great book. I think I read the first one of this opus, and skipped the others, so I'll have to go back at a certain point and read them all.
I think you will enjoy The Patriarch, it is very much in the same spirit as this book, very revealing of the people, not just the events, and provides the 'other side' of the nomination bid in 1960, as well as WWII, early Hollywood and a few other odds and ends.

 

[jazdoc]

'The Patriarch' is up next!

'Means of Ascent' and 'Master of the Senate' are the equal if not better than 'The Passage of Power'. The story telling of LBJ's senate race against Coke Stevenson is masterful ( albeit it idealizes Stevenson).

 

[Bill Hart]

'The Patriarch' is up next!

'Means of Ascent' and 'Master of the Senate' are the equal if not better than 'The Passage of Power'. The story telling of LBJ's senate race against Coke Stevenson is masterful ( albeit it idealizes Stevenson).

10-4.

 

[Bill Hart]

HHhH by Laurent Binet. It's about the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the Nazi who ran secret intelligence, came up with the 'Final Solution' and was the "Protector" of Czechoslovakia after it was occupied by the Nazis. While the historical tale is pretty well documented, what's fascinating about the book is that the author explains that he wants to do justice to the subject and not stray too far from the truth, and then interposes interludes into his narrative where he discusses his research, including his contemporary visits to the various locations involved in the plot to eliminate Heydrich (who was, even among Nazis, a pretty evil guy). It's a fascinating read. I think it was just translated to English this year, which is why it's considered a 2012 book, though written earlier. Here's a link to the publisher's site: http://us.macmillan.com/hhhh/LaurentBinet

 

[DonH50]

Louis L'Amour

 

[R Johnson]

Triggered by the recent centennial of Sir Georg Solti's birth, I'm finally reading John Culshaw's 1967 "Ring Resounding" concerning the landmark recording of Wagner's Ring cycle operas. Fascinating!

 

[jazdoc]

My son is doing his senior honors project on John Coltrane and this is one of his reference books. Very well done. The first 1/3 covers Coltrane's musical development up to recording "A Love Supreme". The middle 1/3 covers the actual recording at RVG's studio and the final 1/3 describes the impact of this seminal recording. The author does a good job of weaving in Coltrane's religious awakening and his cultural influence. Highly for all Coltrane fans.

 

[Bill Hart]

My son is doing his senior honors project on John Coltrane and this is one of his reference books. Very well done. The first 1/3 covers Coltrane's musical development up to recording "A Love Supreme". The middle 1/3 covers the actual recording at RVG's studio and the final 1/3 describes the impact of this seminal recording. The author does a good job of weaving in Coltrane's religious awakening and his cultural influence. Highly for all Coltrane fans.

Lucky you are not a heavy metal fan, or he'd be doing his senior writing project on Motley Crue.
The apple doesn't fall too far....