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[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

The nomination process for our October Memorable Sidekicks group read has begin. Drop by the thread to make a selection. The poll goes up on September 8th.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[Lisa P, My weekend is all booked up!]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Saw some people doing a buddy read in another group and jumped in on it to read Pirate Latitudes"

Would like to hear what your thoughts are on it...Definitely NOT one of Crichton's best, in my humble opinion.

[Lisa P, My weekend is all booked up!]

Giving another try to audiobooks. Started listening to Treasure Of Khan while doing my walking. So far so good...my mind only wandered a few times. I'm enjoying the historical info that the story opens with.

[Tad]

Trying to finish up Full Ratchet: A Silas Cade Thriller by Mike Cooper. Good, but not great. About to pick up The Return by Michael Gruber. Hoping that will be a quick fun read.

[Jim]

I'm half way through KILLER DEADLINE by Steve Trotter. This is quite likely Trotter's BEST yet!!

[Tim The Enchanter]

Mostly finished . This is my 6th Reilly book. I can say without reserve, this is the BLOODIEST one yet. Heads are rolling...literally.

[Janey]

Tim wrote: "Mostly finished . This is my 6th Reilly book. I can say without reserve, this is the BLOODIEST one yet. Heads are rolling...literally."

Oh, yes, I remember that book. Great stuff!

[Julia]

Tim wrote: "I, Curmudgeon wrote: "Julia wrote: "I'm very well rounded. I read a mystery followed by a thriller followed by a mystery followed by a thriller followed

Well - if there isn't any violence or dead ..."

I don't know why, but zombies never do much for me. My hubbie loves 'Walking Dead'. To me, it looks like 9th grade acting class. Can't do vampires either. I like the-killer-next-door. Or better yet, the elected killer.

[Sharon]

Julia wrote: "I don't know why, but zombies never do much for me. "

I'm definitely not a fan of zombies either, in fact a mention of zombies will pretty much guarantee a pass from me on a book. Vampires are probably second on my list and werewolves third. I know it's very odd, since I actually do enjoy some urban fantasy, but the author has to really walk a tightrope with me as a reader.

[Lisa P, My weekend is all booked up!]

Julia wrote: "I don't know why, but zombies never do much for me "

Me either...there is just nothing exciting or interesting about zombies (zero personality factor)!

[The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be]

I just finished a good sci-fi anthology (dystopian in nature) Metatropolis Edited by Jay Lake and/or John Scalzi. Five long short sories or five short novellas. They were all pretty good. It's worth the read.

Before that I read book 6 in the Patrick Bowers Files, The King by Steven James. If you liked the others, this is as good as they were and, in my opinion, getting back to the best of the series which we saw in the first couple of books. This series has been as consistently fun as the Sigma Force books by Rollins, though decidedly different in content (This is a suspense thriller, polie procedural thing).

There's only one more of this series coming and that's next year.

I just started Don't Know Much About Mythology: Everything You Need to Know About the Greatest Stories in Human History but Never Learned which is non-fiction and, so far, very interesting. It's not exactly a favorable read for people of faith, but, it's not offensive and is not written like an attack add. It's just a well written point of view, delivered in an entertaining manner. I'm enjoying the read.

[Seeley]

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "I just started Don't Know Much About Mythology..."

Sounds interesting. I like the questions on the blurb and will have to read it soon.

I've always wondered why my fellow 'believers' are shaken when I mention things like, "Hercules' father was a god and his mother was a virgin, five hundred years earlier than, oh what's that guy's name?" Faith is fun, straight jackets are not. :)

Peace, Seeley

[Sharon]

I, Curmudgeon wrote: " It's not exactly a favorable read for people of faith, but, it's not offensive and is not written like an attack ad."

I took a class in Comparative Mythology in college and a couple of the texts (or portions thereof) were the 'bibles' of various religions, including the Christian Bible.

I found the class fascinating.

[Patricia]

Sharon wrote: "Julia wrote: "I don't know why, but zombies never do much for me. "

I'm definitely not a fan of zombies either, in fact a mention of zombies will pretty much guarantee a pass from me on a book. Va..."

Same here! Except for Patricia Briggs.

[Tim The Enchanter]

Lisa P wrote: "Julia wrote: "I don't know why, but zombies never do much for me "

Me either...there is just nothing exciting or interesting about zombies (zero personality factor)!"

I did just read which included a generous helping of zombies. I really did enjoy it!

[Patricia]

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "I just finished a good sci-fi anthology (dystopian in nature) Metatropolis Edited by Jay Lake and/or John Scalzi. Five long short sories or five short novellas. They were all pretty good. It's wo..."

I know a lot about mythology. I think it develops as one culture/people conquer another.

[Willie]

I'm reading Batman: The Long Halloween. It's excellent. I should have read it sooner.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Regarding mythology versus faith, feel free to ignore if you're not interested in my spiritual opinion:

I'm a Christian and I am not threatened by reading mythology. It's a matter of knowing what you believe and having personal ownership of that belief. Faith isn't about having a closed mind, it's about having an informed mind and integrating belief into action in your life. God cannot be disproved or invalidated by anyone or anything, certainly not by investigation and an inquisitive mind.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

@ Patti: I love, love, love Patricia Briggs. Only she could make me a zombie lover!

[Tim The Enchanter]

Well said Lady. I feel the same way.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Tim wrote: "Well said Lady. I feel the same way."

Thanks!

[Jim]

I just finished KILLER DEADLINE by Steve Trotter and loved it.


Now I'm into PERMANENT INTERESTS by James Bruno. This one's another surefire winner.

[Donna]

I'm re-reading Rise of Empire by Michael J Sullivan in anticipation of the Rose and Thorn coming out next week. :)

[Eileen]

Lady D, well said!

Patti, I love Patricia Briggs too!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Eileen wrote: "Lady D, well said!

Patti, I love Patricia Briggs too!"

Thanks!

[Travis]

Unfortunately many religions are full of closed minded people which is why religion is to blame for probably the bulk of the worlds history of wars and violence. The constant my god is better than your god. At the end of the day its not about what religion you belong to but if your a descent human being. You can pray and go yo church every day but if you won't help a little old lady carry her groceries out of the rain what good are you. I'm a christian as well but some of the things I see sometimes makes me glad I keep my faith to myself. Some of these church goers are just plain wacky. You should have been at my house around Christmas time. My brother in law asked me if I have ever read any of Philip Pullman dark material you know the golden compass. My mother in law flipped out how could you read those he wants to kill god. He asked her if she read them
No and I never would because he wants everyone who reads them to kill god. This turned into a heated debate until my mother in law went home she got so upset to be in a house with a god killer. I rarely talk to my mother in law because she is clearly crazy. How can reading a book kill god. If we read a book with an assassin will you start snipering people off. Come on I think I got on a tangent here but my point is if you truly have faith a book really shouldn't destroy that or else faith is not what I think it is. Sorry so long I ramble at times..

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

No need to apologize, Travis. I don't believe in judging people for what they read. If they want to read it, that's their business, and it's not mine. I certainly don't agree with treating anyone bad because they read something I don't personally want to read either.

[Travis]

I should have described my brother in law. He is a menonite not strict I mean not Amish or anything. Still went to Christian school and college. Listens to Christian music has a Christian rock band. Participates in all sorts of church functions. He doesn't swear doesn't drink. All in all just a real honest guy who apparently is all that is evil in the world for reading Philip Pullman. My other brother in law the atheist he isn't even on speaking terms with his parents but that's a whole other story. I get along with every last one of them myself because I'm pretty open minded.

[Seeley]

Travis of NNY wrote: "religion is to blame for probably the bulk of the worlds history of wars and violence."

One note: I think if you take a close look at history, you'll find the bulk of wars have always been about material things. The autocrats who waged them used religion to justify their actions. The Spanish Inquisition was a 'legal' method of taking land and money from Jews and Muslims (same for the crusades).

Peace, Seeley

[Travis]

Seeley wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "religion is to blame for probably the bulk of the worlds history of wars and violence."

One note: I think if you take a close look at history, you'll find the bulk of wars ha..."

Good point not religion itself. Perhaps it would have better worded in the name of religion. Extremists of one form or another. I know what you mean regardless of whether I can word it out correctly.

[Jim]

And people are strange, too. I try and cut everyone a great deal of slack and figure most people are doing what they're doing because they are trying to take care of themselves. I just don't like anybody trying to get up into my stuff. And even there, I cut them a lot of slack, too. Pick your fights with care. Then..oh, baby!

Most trouble in the world is about somebody trying to take somebody else's stuff. Or just trying to mess someone up - 'cause they can. That really irritates me.

Bottom line, I think that's about as complicated as it needs to be. Fugedaboudit is a good one to keep in mind, too. Life is short enough.

[Jim]

One thing more: Seeley is absolutely correct. There's always a reason for it--whatever it is.

[Eileen]

I wish people could just get along.

When my family gets together we avoid talking about politics, religion and sex. We just stare at each other till someone wants to play beer bong. Then we talk about sports, lol.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Eileen wrote: "I wish people could just get along.

When my family gets together we avoid talking about politics, religion and sex. We just stare at each other till someone wants to play beer bong. Then we talk..."

LOL! What if you're like me and you find sports extremely boring unless you're playing them? :)

[Travis]

In some families a sports discussion can just about tear the house apart. There are of course no truly safe topics of discussion because any time there are people with opposing ideas who are passionate that they are right and their opinion is absolute there is going to be trouble . I have stood my ground on some pretty stupid things sometimes just for sake of trying to win the argument.

[The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be]

Seeley wrote: "I, Curmudgeon wrote: "I just started Don't Know Much About Mythology..."

Sounds interesting. I like the questions on the blurb and will have to read it soon.

I've always wondered why my fellow '..."

Yes, it's good a good read. It's got some descreapncies with what I've learned about things, but, I'm hardly a scholar...unless the History, Discovery and Learning Channels count as Scholarly pursuits. It's also has some things that he does support with actual findings. Generally, its a smattering or what I'd call a "dusting" of information about Mythology that will get you through a mensa dinner party and maybe make you sound like the smart kid in your Western Civ class at school.

It's entertaining too, which helps, with a dry sense of humor and a gentle pressing of traditional boundries and beliefs. If you were a writer, ignorant of deeper ins and outs and complexities of Mythology, this would be good to point your research to something more James Rollins-ish.

If you knew nothing going in, you'll learn a lot from this. If you knew a lot about mythology, you'll be entertained but want more detail and some research by esteamed members in the field of archeology before you swallow everything in the book.

He does have a flare for making "connections" Like British Historian James Burke who wrote Connections and even hosted his own television show that was very interesting and sometimes, highly speculative. Just like Burke you can't ignore his conclusions, and, just like Burke, there are times where the connections get a little thin, if they are really there at all.

Bottom line though, it's still an interesting and fascinating book.

[Ctgt]

So I just finished The Lions of al-Rassan and although it is considered fantasy it is really more an adventure story. None of the tried and true fantasy tropes more of an alt/history set in medieval Spain. Just a great book! I read Tigana awhile back and loved that, two for two with this author. Highly recommended.

[Seeley]

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "unless the History, Discovery and Learning Channels count as Scholarly pursuits ..."

Oh man, you've exposed my weakness there! I'll read the book just to have a better reference point that my decade-of-TV diploma :) Thanks, you're raising the bar around here.

Peace, Seeley

[Julia]

Eileen wrote: "I wish people could just get along.

When my family gets together we avoid talking about politics, religion and sex. We just stare at each other till someone wants to play beer bong. Then we talk..."

LOL! I should get my family talking about sports. I had a shouting match with my brother-in-law over Syria last night. I should have argued with him about the Packer's chances. But watching grown men give each other permanent brain damage never appealed to me.

Wait. I used to go out with men to bars... thank god that part of my life's over.

[Miekey]

Eileen wrote: "I wish people could just get along.

When my family gets together we avoid talking about politics, religion and sex. We just stare at each other till someone wants to play beer bong. Then we talk..."

At 4th of July, my family argued about Manchester's red card in the UEFA Champions game against RM. That broke down into Bundasliga v La Liga v Serie A Brasil ...

Mom had to call a cease fire by banging a wooden spoon on the picnic table. She told us to talk about Pope Francis. Things calmed down.

[The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be]

Julia wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I wish people could just get along.

When my family gets together we avoid talking about politics, religion and sex. We just stare at each other till someone wants to play beer bon..."

My wife is a Cleavland Browns fan. My son has recently announced that he's a Baltimore Ravens fan... to quote the cute little pigmy she-sloths from Ice age two (Disney)

"BAD-JU-JU!"

Ever since Art Modell moved the team from Cleavland to Baltimore, the Ravens have been on the evil demons list... you know Ba'al, Archemides, Mophisto, Baltimore Ravens... that list.

[The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be]

Seeley wrote: "I, Curmudgeon wrote: "unless the History, Discovery and Learning Channels count as Scholarly pursuits ..."

Oh man, you've exposed my weakness there! I'll read the book just to have a better refere..."

It's my return to college...I feel all smart and stuff now :)

[Seeley]

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "Julia wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I wish people could just get along.

When my family gets together we avoid talking about politics, religion and sex. We just stare at each other till someone wants to..."

Ha! that's funny, my wife's from Baltimore and won't let my son say anything nice about the Colts (who moved to Indiana and were replaced by the Ravens).

Peace, Seeley

[Tim The Enchanter]

@CTGT thanks for bringing Guy Gavriel Kay to my attention. Added some of his to my "to read" list. Especially interested since he is Canadian!

[Patricia]

I think we are OK as long as we avoid radical fundamentalists of any stripe--Christian, Muslim, Hindu--whatever. Or sports, come to think if it.

Loved Guy Gaveril Kay until he killed off the wrong person! He is still a lovely, lyrical writer.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Travis of NNY wrote: "In some families a sports discussion can just about tear the house apart. There are of course no truly safe topics of discussion because any time there are people with opposing ideas who are passio..."

I really dislike watching sports, so I think if forced to do so, it might get a little ugly!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Ctgt wrote: "So I just finished The Lions of al-Rassan and although it is considered fantasy it is really more an adventure story. None of the tried and true fantasy tropes more of an alt/history set in medieva..."

I've heard lots of good things about this author. Tigana is on my bookshelf. I will get to it one day!

[Eileen]

Seeley wrote: "I, Curmudgeon wrote: "unless the History, Discovery and Learning Channels count as Scholarly pursuits ..."

Oh man, you've exposed my weakness there! I'll read the book just to have a better refere..."

I recently learned that someone could become a Professor of Pop Culture. I missed my calling....

[Eileen]

Miekey wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I wish people could just get along.

When my family gets together we avoid talking about politics, religion and sex. We just stare at each other till someone wants to play beer bon..."

I love sports and talking about sports! Even though I live in a town that never ever wins anything.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

I haven't been able to start Mistborn yet. :(

Yeah, I am completely aware that I am lacking the sports appreciation gene. I like playing sports and being active, but for some reason, watching sports is one of the most boring activities on earth for me.

I still root for the Cubs, even though it's universally known that they never win.