What are you reading right now? - Page 31

Sailor Steve · 02-16-09, 04:04 PM

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!

Good recommendation for a book I normally wouldn't read. I'll check it out.

SandyCaesar · 02-16-09, 04:26 PM

It's been a while since I last saw this thread. Your social life tends to be kinda camped when you're werewolf meat.

New authors for me to discover: the Flashman series by George Fraser, which are hilarious.

Then, I've recently cracked open 2001: a Space Odyssey, and found myself absolutely hooked on Arthur C. Clarke.

Finally, I've at last had the time to read Patrick O'Brien, like Sailor Steve recommended.

to Steve! Personally, I think they're better than the Hornblower books: O'Brien has a much more engaging writing style. To me, the Aubrey/Maturin dynamic is much more interesting than Horatio Hornblower.

Sailor Steve · 02-16-09, 05:23 PM

George MacDonald Fraser also wrote the screenplay for the 1974 version of The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, which is why those movies have the feel they do (that, and Richard Lester's directing).

O'Brien was a great storyteller. I just prefer Forester's feel for history and continuity. It's all good, otherwise there would be only one book in any genre.

rubenandthejets · 02-16-09, 11:10 PM

Rereading Anthony Beevor's "The Battle For Spain" about the Spanish Civil War. Chunky book with lots of acryonyms to keep sorted out. It's a great read!

Got a soft spot for the underdogs, especially the Basques and the Bakuninists. Viva la Republica!

Spike88 · 02-17-09, 03:19 AM

The blade itself by Joe Abercrombie. Good book
And after I finish the last couple pages, Duma Key by Stephen king.

Kapt Z · 02-17-09, 08:59 AM

'On the Road', by Jack Kerouac

Heard so much about it over the years and finally picked up a copy to see what all the fuss was about.

Besides, I needed a break from the History/submarine/Military stuff.

Sailor Steve · 02-17-09, 05:13 PM

Just started We Hold These Truths, by Mortimer J. Adler. Adler was a philosopher/writer who specialized in education. He wrote many books, but was best known as the editor and compiler of the 60-volume Great Books Of The Western World.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_B..._Western_World

We Hold These Truths was written in 1987 for the bicentennial of the US Constitution. It's supposedly written for the layman, but it is a bit strong on the philosophical side, discussing the "ideas and ideals of the Constitution". Still, I'm having fun so far.

Dowly · 02-18-09, 11:34 PM

Started reading the Guy Saijer's Forgotten Soldier for the omphteenth time. Just cant get enough of it.

eljeffo41 · 02-23-09, 02:50 PM

I just finished a good one called "The Depths of courage" all about the Pacific submarine war.I don't have the book here at work so I don't remember the authors name,but I think it's pretty new!

Sailor Steve · 03-04-09, 01:15 PM

Am just starting The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Life in Medieval Africa, by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack; a book about Africa's history written by Africans.

From the Authors' Note:

Quote:

Once knowledge of these old empires resurfaced, some claimed that Jews, who had rebelled against the Romans in Cyrenaica (Libya) had migrated to the Western Sudan around A.D. 115 and built these civilizations. Another group pushed the theory that Sudanese achievements were the result of Arab invasions and the coming of Islam. Some even suggested that African accomplishments were the result of visitors from outer space. Any wild idea was more acceptable than to admit that Africans had the intellect and ingenuity to develop and control well-ordered empires.

It's a fairly short book, but looks to be informative in an area of history I'm definitely unfamiliar with.

Sailor Steve · 03-11-09, 09:31 AM

I finished the African history book, and it was pretty informative about the early empires of West Africa.

Now I'm into To Utopia And Back: The Search For Life In The Solar System, by Norman H. Horowitz. Horowitz was chief of the bioscience department for the Mariner and Viking Mars Missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboaratory in Pasadena, California. Published in 1986, the book starts by explaining how scientists classify life, including how DNA and RNA are constructed, then goes on to a history of research into how life works, follows with a history of speculation and research about Mars, and finishes with the story of the missions themselves and what they mean. All of this in language that an idiot like me can understand.

I barely started it today, but it's looking like a good one.

Thomen · 03-11-09, 01:53 PM

Reading "Operation Drumbeat" by Gannon. Interesting read and is a big help in translating KTBs from German into English.

ajrimmer42 · 03-14-09, 07:52 PM

I've just started reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. I've also recently finished reading the first 3 books in the Hornblower series, and the third and final book of the Brethren saga, Requiem by Robyn Young. All top books!

rubenandthejets · 03-15-09, 08:10 AM

Working through "The English Civil War at first hand" by Tristram Hunt-based on primary sources, lots of woodcuts and Dutch masters potraits of the main players.

Also going through "Minna no Nihongo" again...(Japanese for Everyone)

Kaye T. Bai · 03-15-09, 09:41 PM

I am currently reading "Red Storm Rising," by Tom Clancy.

I am about 50 pages into the book right now. So far, it is a very interesting book. The opening scene was perfect.

In the past few weeks, I have developed a certain interest in the Cold War; even though it is 2009.

02-16-09, 04:04 PM	#451
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din! Good recommendation for a book I normally wouldn't read. I'll check it out. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

02-16-09, 04:26 PM	#452
SandyCaesar Chief Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: HMS Thanatus Posts: 325 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It's been a while since I last saw this thread. Your social life tends to be kinda camped when you're werewolf meat. New authors for me to discover: the Flashman series by George Fraser, which are hilarious. Then, I've recently cracked open 2001: a Space Odyssey, and found myself absolutely hooked on Arthur C. Clarke. Finally, I've at last had the time to read Patrick O'Brien, like Sailor Steve recommended. to Steve! Personally, I think they're better than the Hornblower books: O'Brien has a much more engaging writing style. To me, the Aubrey/Maturin dynamic is much more interesting than Horatio Hornblower. __________________ Vanvikan, Feb. 2009: ordinary human, KIA, night 4 HMS Thanatus, May 2009: ??? human, KIA, night 7

02-16-09, 05:23 PM	#453
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	George MacDonald Fraser also wrote the screenplay for the 1974 version of The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, which is why those movies have the feel they do (that, and Richard Lester's directing). O'Brien was a great storyteller. I just prefer Forester's feel for history and continuity. It's all good, otherwise there would be only one book in any genre. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

02-16-09, 11:10 PM	#454
rubenandthejets 中国水兵 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 279 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Rereading Anthony Beevor's "The Battle For Spain" about the Spanish Civil War. Chunky book with lots of acryonyms to keep sorted out. It's a great read! Got a soft spot for the underdogs, especially the Basques and the Bakuninists. Viva la Republica! __________________ HMAS Sydney III "Thorough and Ready"

02-17-09, 05:13 PM	#457
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Just started We Hold These Truths, by Mortimer J. Adler. Adler was a philosopher/writer who specialized in education. He wrote many books, but was best known as the editor and compiler of the 60-volume Great Books Of The Western World. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_B..._Western_World We Hold These Truths was written in 1987 for the bicentennial of the US Constitution. It's supposedly written for the layman, but it is a bit strong on the philosophical side, discussing the "ideas and ideals of the Constitution". Still, I'm having fun so far. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

02-17-09, 03:19 AM	#455
Spike88 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 3,052 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	The blade itself by Joe Abercrombie. Good book And after I finish the last couple pages, Duma Key by Stephen king.

02-17-09, 08:59 AM	#456
Kapt Z Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ...somewhere in the swamps of Jersey. Posts: 909 Downloads: 157 Uploads: 0	'On the Road', by Jack Kerouac Heard so much about it over the years and finally picked up a copy to see what all the fuss was about. Besides, I needed a break from the History/submarine/Military stuff.

02-18-09, 11:34 PM	#458
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,055 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Started reading the Guy Saijer's Forgotten Soldier for the omphteenth time. Just cant get enough of it.

02-23-09, 02:50 PM	#459
eljeffo41 Seaman Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas,Nevada Posts: 36 Downloads: 318 Uploads: 0	I just finished a good one called "The Depths of courage" all about the Pacific submarine war.I don't have the book here at work so I don't remember the authors name,but I think it's pretty new! __________________ The man at the wheel was taught to feel contempt for the wildest blow. It often appeared when the weather had cleared he'd been in his bunk below!

03-11-09, 09:31 AM	#461
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I finished the African history book, and it was pretty informative about the early empires of West Africa. Now I'm into To Utopia And Back: The Search For Life In The Solar System, by Norman H. Horowitz. Horowitz was chief of the bioscience department for the Mariner and Viking Mars Missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboaratory in Pasadena, California. Published in 1986, the book starts by explaining how scientists classify life, including how DNA and RNA are constructed, then goes on to a history of research into how life works, follows with a history of speculation and research about Mars, and finishes with the story of the missions themselves and what they mean. All of this in language that an idiot like me can understand. I barely started it today, but it's looking like a good one. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-11-09, 01:53 PM	#462
Thomen Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,207 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Reading "Operation Drumbeat" by Gannon. Interesting read and is a big help in translating KTBs from German into English.

03-14-09, 07:52 PM	#463
ajrimmer42 Royal Kinotropist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 987 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	I've just started reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. I've also recently finished reading the first 3 books in the Hornblower series, and the third and final book of the Brethren saga, Requiem by Robyn Young. All top books! __________________ Alex Don't judge a ship by the number of it's guns, but by the skill of it's crew.

03-15-09, 08:10 AM	#464
rubenandthejets 中国水兵 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 279 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Working through "The English Civil War at first hand" by Tristram Hunt-based on primary sources, lots of woodcuts and Dutch masters potraits of the main players. Also going through "Minna no Nihongo" again...(Japanese for Everyone) __________________ HMAS Sydney III "Thorough and Ready"

03-15-09, 09:41 PM	#465
Kaye T. Bai Samurai Navy Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Western Hemisphere, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster Posts: 585 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	I am currently reading "Red Storm Rising," by Tom Clancy. I am about 50 pages into the book right now. So far, it is a very interesting book. The opening scene was perfect. In the past few weeks, I have developed a certain interest in the Cold War; even though it is 2009. Last edited by Kaye T. Bai; 03-16-09 at 12:36 PM.