David - Towson, MD (187 books)

David gave

to:

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)
by George R.R. Martin

My rating:

David gave

to:

Super Sad True Love Story
by Gary Shteyngart

read in August, 2011

My rating:

Good, not great. Think Christopher Buckley, but not nearly as funny. The novel works best when taking a satirical view of our very near future. I recommend this book, but keep your expectations inline.

David gave

to:

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10
by Marcus Luttrell

read in September, 2011

My rating:

David gave

to:

One Hundred Years of Solitude
by Gabriel García Márquez

My rating:

David gave

to:

Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman

Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto
by Chuck Klosterman

read in July, 2011

My rating:

The sweeping generalizations and conclusive statements pretty much gut his theories on life, society, etc. all made through the prism of pop-culture. Might work better in in the context of fiction where a character can espouse these views, which feel...more

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David gave

to:

The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court
by Jeffrey Toobin

read in October, 2010

My rating:

The Nine picks up about a decade after the end of The Brethren. It's good, but I could only give it 3 stars because it falls short of the standard set by The Brethren. Also, I don't mind an author having a political opinion, especially when I agree...more

David gave

to:

The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court
by Bob Woodward

read in September, 2010

My rating:

I generally do not like to spend my free time reading books about the law. I picked this book up at my Dad's house during a recent trip. Due to the length of the book and its subject, I thought the odds were long that I would get very far before pu...moreI generally do not like to spend my free time reading books about the law. I picked this book up at my Dad's house during a recent trip. Due to the length of the book and its subject, I thought the odds were long that I would get very far before putting it down and picking up some fiction.

I enjoyed this book more than anything I've read in a longtime. Now more than 30 years old, what was originally current affairs when it was published can be viewed looking back with some historical perspective. The last justice to join the Brethren in the book, John Paul Stevens, was the last of the Brethren to retire from the Supreme Court in June 2010.

The Warren Court was responsible for the major advances in individual rights in the sixties and early seventies , but today's society was still be shaped in the early year's of the Burger Court (recognizing that it continues to be reshaped after the time period covered by the book, just in a different direction). It makes one contemplate what America would like today if justice Douglas had retired just a year or two earlier. Or if Nixon hadn't botched (from the conservative's perspective) so many of his picks (Blackmun and Powell). But as the Court moved to the right, the center gained in importance. Stewart, Blackman, Powell and Stevens (all republican appointments) perform admirably in the face of Burger.

Burger - was he evil or stupid? That was the clerks' debate. Woodward and Armstrong leave you with the impression he's both. That is another thing I really enjoyed about this book, like Game Change, the curtain is pulled back. Imagine the contempt Justice Stewart must have had for Burger to permit himself to be the primary source for this book at a time he was still on the Court.

I really enjoyed this book, but I also think that as a result of it being written, those with interests in picking Justices are much more careful to be certain that the nominee is what they believe him to be (Roberts, Scalia, Alito). The stakes are too high (for both parties), and, without the benefit of historical perspective, the Court looks more like it is occupied by two political parties rather than 9 justices.

Next up, The Nine by Toobin.(less)

David gave

to:

A Lesson Before Dying
by Ernest J. Gaines

read in August, 2010

My rating:

A good read. I enjoyed it, but my expectations were higher given the praise and awards it's garnered.

David made a comment on Unbridled's review of A Lesson Before Dying

"I just finished this. I couldn't agree more with your review."

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David gave to: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin	My rating:
Jan 28, 2012 10:20am
David gave to: Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart read in August, 2011	My rating:
Good, not great. Think Christopher Buckley, but not nearly as funny. The novel works best when taking a satirical view of our very near future. I recommend this book, but keep your expectations inline.
Sep 03, 2011 01:31pm · see review
David gave to: Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell read in September, 2011	My rating:
Sep 03, 2011 01:00pm
David gave to: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez	My rating:
Aug 29, 2011 10:47am
David gave to: Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman read in July, 2011	My rating:
The sweeping generalizations and conclusive statements pretty much gut his theories on life, society, etc. all made through the prism of pop-culture. Might work better in in the context of fiction where a character can espouse these views, which feel...more
Jul 06, 2011 06:14am · see review
David added the Goodreads iPhone app
Jul 05, 2011 09:48pm
David gave to: The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobin read in October, 2010	My rating:
The Nine picks up about a decade after the end of The Brethren. It's good, but I could only give it 3 stars because it falls short of the standard set by The Brethren. Also, I don't mind an author having a political opinion, especially when I agree...more
Oct 01, 2010 08:04pm · see review
David gave to: The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court by Bob Woodward read in September, 2010	My rating:
I generally do not like to spend my free time reading books about the law. I picked this book up at my Dad's house during a recent trip. Due to the length of the book and its subject, I thought the odds were long that I would get very far before pu...more
Sep 05, 2010 12:43pm · see review
David gave to: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines read in August, 2010	My rating:
A good read. I enjoyed it, but my expectations were higher given the praise and awards it's garnered.
Aug 13, 2010 01:34pm · see review
David made a comment on Unbridled's review of A Lesson Before Dying "I just finished this. I couldn't agree more with your review."
Aug 13, 2010 01:21pm · see review

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