Summer Reading Thread

[The AD]

Looks like it's been a while since there's been a good reads thread, so here goes. I just started a new book that's very good so far: The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Nathaniel Philbrick. I've been reading a lot of fiction lately, so thought it was time for some non-fiction.

[Ksyrium]

i really enjoyed The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

[Marshall Tucker]

Thoroughly enjoyed empire of the summer moon.

We know how the story ends, but the comanchees fucked up some white men in the mean time.

[Flyoverland Captive]

Unbroken. Holy crap, what a tale.

[Grange]

I just finished the new Dresden Files book: Skin Game and am listening to the last book in the Wheel of Time series. Skin Game is an easy book to read goes by quick. The Wheel of Time has a good story, but I'm not sure I could actually read the entire series. Listening to it is much easier.

[RedWolf]

Unbroken. Holy crap, what a tale.

Yup, great read. His path is unbelievable...

Just finished The Goldfinch and Nachez Burning. Enjoyed both.

[The AD]

Gotta say "Unbroken" didn't really do it for me. I thought the first half was interesting, but then it got kind of slow.

[Marshall Tucker]

i really enjoyed The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

I remember reading it when it came out, mid 90s (?).

Thought the movie was ok but didn't come close to what was in the book.

[The AD]

Just finished The Goldfinch and Nachez Burning. Enjoyed both.

My mom also recommended "The Goldfinch." I'll have to check that one out.

Hadn't heard of "The Power of One." I'll add that one to the list, too!

[butterscotch]

I'm nearly done with Inifinite Jest . Amazing book, but not a "summer read".

How about In Search of Captain Zero?

[bigAK]

Hiaasen's "Double Whammy" (any Hiaasen really) and O'Brien's "How to Fight Presidents: Defending Yourself Against the Badasses Who Ran This Country" are two recent reads I would place solidly in the summer-appropriate category...

[SkiCougar]

reading future files now. predicts the next 50 years.

highly recommend it.

some things that are going to happen wether people like it or not:
1. privacy will be eliminated. the technology will be able to tell your doctor if you went out for ice cream, will tell everyone around you that you're driving too agreesively in which case you will have to pull over and calm down or be ticketed while driving.
2. we may not reach a one world govt but will reach a one world currency.
3. everyone's going to be driving a prius type eventually. only the seriously elite will be allowed to have oversized suvs unless there's a radical fuel advance to power cars.
4. water desalization plants and fish farms are what to own.
5. robots will be your waiter, soldier and possible doctor in some cases.

all of todays little rednecks aint going to like it one bit.

[Hutch]

Best book of the year for me so far (and I've read 30 or so) was All the Light We Cannot See.

Last year's best book was the Goldfinch.

[skifishbum]

the emerald mile
was one of the best reads ive read
from the history of Powell and early river runners, the sierras club battle for dinosaur to the history and characters of the making of the river running industry
to 3 badaases speed run of the grandest river journey.
well written

[sb]

You guys can read?

Capital Canoeing and Kayaking by Steve Ettinger (RIP)

[klar]

by no means new but i just finished Smilla's sense of snow and found it refreshing on a hot day.

[The AD]

the emerald mile
was one of the best reads ive read

Sounds great. It's on the list.

[PNWbrit]

The Martian, by Andy Weir

[Ksyrium]

Best book of the year for me so far (and I've read 30 or so) was All the Light We Cannot See.

Last year's best book was the Goldfinch.

Read both of these recently. Recommend both of them, although I enjoyed the Goldfinch more.

[The AD]

Just started Birds Without Wings by Louis De Bernieres (the guy who wrote "Corelli's Mandolin"). Not far enough into it to give an opinion.

[biggins]

Reading too much at once is my MO of late, so the three I'm in the middle of right now are:

American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Sheltering Sky, Paul Bowles
Carsick, John Waters

All awesome so far. On deck: The Winter People, Jennifer McMahon

Edit: Last summer I put Gaiman's 'Ocean at the end of the Lane' to bed in one night. If you're looking for something quick and really original, give it a go.

[~mikey b]

Rereading Trinity

[The AD]

Reading too much at once is my MO of late, so the three I'm in the middle of right now are:

I've never understood how people can read more than one book at once--or why they would want to.

[half-fast]

I was given a pile of Daniel Silva books, pretty quick reads, not bad. Just finished Pastoralia by George Saunders, halfway through his Braindead Megaphone

[biggins]

I've never understood how people can read more than one book at once--or why they would want to.

I don't necessarily want to, more can't help it.