What are you reading or what books have you read or heard about? (Part TWELVE) Ongoing general thread. Showing 2,601-2,650 of 2,793

[Jim]

Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy is a good overview of the basics. It really filled in some of the blanks that I've developed over the decades since I was last in school. Even though I read a lot of popular science books & articles, some subjects interest me more than others. I highly recommend it to everyone & gave it a 5 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy is a good overview of the basics. It really filled in some of the blanks that I've developed over the decades since I was last in school...."

Thanks for posting, Jim.

[Nina]

Reading one more Louise Penny books, "The Better Man," as I think I've read at least eight in this series of the detective in Quebec. They are engrossing.

[JAKe]

I've just started reading, On Being A Christian by Hans Kung. I became interested in reading it when I posed this question to my Bible study group, Did Jesus' disciples, and for that matter the jews of that time, believe in reincarnation or a persona of a previous generation could come make themselves known again through another person at a later time? This all came about through Jesus' question, "Who do they say that I am?"

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Reading one more Louise Penny books, "The Better Man," as I think I've read at least eight in this series of the detective in Quebec. They are engrossing."

Thanks for posting, Nina.

A Better Man by Louise Penny

[Joy H., Group Founder]

JAKe wrote: "I've just started reading, On Being A Christian by Hans Kung. I became interested in reading it when I posed this question to my Bible study group, Did Jesus' disciples, and for that matter the jew..."

Thank you for posting, Jake.

On Being a Christian by Hans Küng.

[JAKe]

Joy H. wrote: "JAKe wrote: "I've just started reading, On Being A Christian by Hans Kung. I became interested in reading it when I posed this question to my Bible study group, Did Jesus' disciples, and for that m..."
You're welcome, Joy.

[Jim]

From Wolf to Woof : A Genetic History of Man's Best Friend by Bryan Sykes wasn't nearly as good as I'd hoped it would be. Too scattered & it had some gaps I didn't care for. I gave it a 3 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "From Wolf to Woof : A Genetic History of Man's Best Friend by Bryan Sykes wasn't nearly as good as I'd hoped it would be. Too scattered & it had some gaps I didn't car..."

INTERESTING. CLEVER TITLE. THANKS FOR POSTING, Jim.

[Nina]

Now reading a seven hundred page book, "Hamilton," by Ron Chernow and it is the book the play is based one.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Now reading a seven hundred page book, "Hamilton," by Ron Chernow and it is the book the play is based one."

Thanks for posting, Nina. I didn't think I'd like the new hip-hop language in the Hamilton play.

[Nina]

Not sure I'll like this book as much as I did, "My Dear Hamilton."

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Not sure I'll like this book as much as I did, "My Dear Hamilton.""

I haven't read that one, Nina.

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray

[Nina]

It is fascinating.

[Nina]

I hdn't heard of the hip hop language but know I, too, wouldn't like it.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks for telling us about it, Nina.

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray

[Jim]

Possible Minds: 25 Ways of Looking at AI is 25 essays by experts that work with & in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Their takes are all over the place & really interesting. My review includes the ToC which has their names & a brief blurb on each one. Highly recommended.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks for posting, Jim.

[Nina]

Just finished, "The Glass Lake," by Maeve Binchey . I gave it five stars.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Just finished, "The Glass Lake," by Maeve Binchey . I gave it five stars."

Thanks for posting, Nina.

[Jim]

I finally got around to reading The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling). I wasn't bowled over, unfortunately. It was well narrated, but too long & not particularly believable. I gave it a 2 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thank you for posting.

[Nina]

I enjoyed reading your comments Jim about J.K's R...book

[Nina]

Just finished an excellent book inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt's new traveling library. The story takes place in KY in the 1930'a in the poor mountain district and involves the hardships of six young women who travel by horseback and mules to deliver their books that are not always welcomed. I could hardly put this book down and it is based on true fact. "The Giver of Stars," by Jojo Moyes who wrote among other books the best selling, "Me Before You."

[Jim]

Neat, Nina.

[Carol]

Nina, if you liked that one, I recommend “The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek”—also about the packhorse librarians in KY and about the “blue people”. I loved it.

[Nina]

I am reading, "Gone Soldiers" by Marge Piercy recommended by my granddaughter, Joy Peck on Goodreads Update. So far, so good.

[Jim]

1984 is one of the few books that is worthy of reading once a decade throughout my life. The theme of what is real/true is especially of interest today with 'fake news', weighted searches, & eminently editable text. This is the first time I've read it as an audiobook. That's a great format, but I backed it up with an ebook. My 5 star review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mary JL]

Nice review of 1984, Jim.

[Mary JL]

I am reading an older fantasy classic called "Silverlock" by John Myers Myers. It was originally published in 1949; the paperback I am reading was printed in 1966 when there was a new interest in fantasy.

,,,so far, an easy read. But I've read SF and Fantasy for years and even I find it offbeat! With all the rave reviews I was expecting a bit more but I do plan to finish.

[Jim]

Mary JL wrote: "Nice review of 1984, Jim."

Thanks. Silverlock is a really good retelling of The Odyssey. I haven't read it in years, though.

[Linda]

Library book club is looking for a few more book selections. Seems I need to review the latest postings. Some of these recent posts on book selections may work for the group.

[Linda]

JAKe wrote: "I've just started reading, On Being A Christian by Hans Kung. I became interested in reading it when I posed this question to my Bible study group, Did Jesus' disciples, and for that matter the jew..."

How is it so far? Some friends belong to a book club and read "Chrisitian" related type books.

[Nina]

"The Giver of Stars," would be a good book for discussion. It is by Jojo Mayes who wrote "Me Before You." Hope I got the author's last name right. If not just google the title of the book. It is currently # 10 on NYT Best Seller list.

[Linda]

Nina wrote: ""The Giver of Stars," would be a good book for discussion. It is by Jojo Mayes who wrote "Me Before You." Hope I got the author's last name right. If not just google the title of the book. It is cu..."

I'll check this out - thank you much!

[Linda]

Book club selection for this month is "The Three Beths" by Jeff Abbott.

[Nina]

Really liked "Belgravia" by Justin Fellow and have mixed feelings about the seven hundred page, "Gone to Soldiers," by Marge Piercy. Kept my interest but I'm no prude but a bit much description of the sex scenes/too much over and over again. Slanted toward the Jewish during WW II but of course we all know how terrible the Holocaust turned out. However, a lot of the book centers on the Jewish prejudice in Detroit and I so wonder if that was the case. Also found a mistake early on and I guess that it not unusual in such a long book but it did stop me.

[Jim]

I don't do any reading challenges, but do like to see what my reading trends are.



I joined GR at the end of 2007, but didn't really track my reading until 2009. Being a nerdy sort, I export my reads each year & massage them in an Excel sheet to see how the year has gone. For instance, my 3 star & above ratings have held pretty steady around 80% - great reading. Kudos to the GR community & my GR friends for steering me right.

Thanks to audiobooks, the number I read each year has generally increased, although it seems I slacked off a bit this year from last. I almost doubled my books in 2013-14 due to audiobooks, though.

2009 - 147 books read
2010 - 117 books read
2011 - 125 books read
2012 - 130 books read
2013 - 220 books read
2014 - 212 books read
2015 - 241 books read
2016 - 230 books read
2017 - 259 books read
2018 - 312 books read
2019 - 264 books read

I'm definitely reading more nonfiction thanks to audiobooks. I'm happy about that. I'm finding they're of more interest. So many of the fiction genres have become stale for me - 'been there, done that' kind of thing. Nonfiction, especially the latest in biology & astronomy, is burgeoning with new discoveries. I generally won't read a book in biology if it was published after 2000 & prefer 2010.

[Nina]

Interesting data.

[Jim]

I flagged the post from shakil about the Juice Recipes as spam, so don't delete it. GR support will soon. In the mean time, do NOT click on the link. It will likely infect your computer.

[Linda]

Linda wrote: "Book club selection for this month is "The Three Beths" by Jeff Abbott."

Enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Good flow, plot, liked the characters. Kept my interest.

Jeff Abbott has written about 18 other novels. I'll definitely read more of his books.

[Linda]

Book club is now reading "My Grandmother Asked me to tell you She's Sorry" by Fredrik Backman (author of "A Man Called Ove"

Nina, I think you read "A Man Called Ove" - did you read this one?

So far its good. About a bright and spunky 7 year-old and her best friend and cohort and 77 year-old grandmother.

[Jim]

I was surprised by how much I liked A Man Called Ove. Not my normal sort of read, but I gave it a 5 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jim]

Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It is by Adam Savage, one of the Myth Busters. Great book for anyone who is a 'maker'. He sums up a lot of hard won lessons & puts voice to the creative impulse. He narrates the audiobook & it's a treat. I gave it a 5 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nina]

My fifteen year old daughter recommended this book, "Mosquitoland," by David Arnold. I had given it to her for her birthday and she said she had loved it and would recommend it to her friends and to me. So, I agree it's a book who's story is ageless. Such fun to read.

[Jim]

I wrote up reviews for a couple of nonfiction books this morning.

Ruler and Compass: Practical Geometric Constructions has been a real boon & I've been pouring over it for more than a month. Very dense with tiny text, but a really great shop reference. Here's my 5 star review.

The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason by Sam Harris was really good, but it is preaching to the choir, so is only a 4/5 star read. My review is here.

[Jim]

Zero-G by William Shatner & Jeff Rovin was really good, better than I expected after reading a couple of the Tech books Shatner did with Goulart. Every bit as action-packed, though. It was narrated by Shatner, which is always a plus. I gave it a 4 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nina]

I am reading a page turner that is sometimes so grim I can barely read the sentence but the writing is terrific and the story is one everyone should read. I was intrigued to read it after our local independent bookseller decided to cancel the author's visit and take the book off the shelves. Lots of critique about the fact that the author writes about the perilous journey of a mother and son trying ti immigrate to the US from Mexico and the fact that she grew up in Puerto Rico not Mexico. It is fiction, however and one columnist wrote that neither did Jane Austin ever marry and as far as we snow Shakespeare never went to Italy.

[Nina]

Oprah kept it on her list of books to read and it is number one on NYT best seller list.

[Jim]

Plight of the Living Dead: What Real-Life Zombies Reveal about Our World--And Ourselves by Matt Simon reads like SF, but it's real! Woah!!! Who knew there were so many mind controlling parasites out there? Free will takes a real shot. Funny & informative, I gave it a 5 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...