I am currently reading " A Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror" By: Larry Schweikart & Michael Patrick Allen. A very interesting and concise read of American History beginning before Columbus... It is like reading a college text, but well written.... of course both authors are college history professors... and yes they do have a conservative, rather than liberal philosophy. So I really don't expect anyone with a more liberal agenda to appreciate it.... But if you are middle of the road to conservative, this is good reading

I just finished "Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel - Why Everything You Know is Wrong" By: John Stossel
An interesting book the debunks some common stories by the media, including those originally written by John Stossel and his TV show... no one is sacred in his book. He takes apart his own network, the newspaper and more importantly even himself when he found out that stories he did earlier in his career were out and out wrong...

Some plays I've never bothered reading before; The Birds, The Acharnians and The Clouds by Aristophanes.

I am deep into Dr. Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak. I love a Russian novel now and then.

Ever read much Bulgakov? He's one of my favorites.

Right now I'm reading "The coffee trader." I forget the author.

Just finished Fatal Remedies by Donna Leon, a Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery. I'm now reading Murder on the Ile Saint-Louis by Cara Black, an Aimee Leduc mystery. I like European mystery novels, especially those set in Spain, France, and Italy. The Italian ones always always always include vivid descriptions of the food. Yum.....

Right now I'm reading "3:16" by Max Lucado. Yes, it is decidedly Christian in scope, which may not be the favorite genre of literature here, but the man is such a gifted writer.

Just finished volume 7 of Jim Butcher's "Dresden" series, working my way through Crichton's "Timeline" and trying to force myself through Koontz's "Life Expectancy."

just finished ...Or Not by Brian Mandabach
before that Candide by Voltaire

I'm strolling my way simultaneously through _At Home With Books_ by Ellis, Seebohm and Sykes, _The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas_ by Gertrude Stein, _The Myth of Sisyphus_ by Camus and _The Second Sex_ by de Beauvoir. I've just been put on medication for a particular condition I didn't know I had and it's restored my intellectual vigour! So I'm taking full advantage. From these I'll move on to the superb _From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature_ by Ruland and Bradbury, and _The Plague_ by Camus. Sorry to ramble on but it feels so good to be well again!

And for that we give thanks!

I'm slowly working my way through a fascinating biography, "Howard Phillips Lovecraft: Dreamer on the Nightside" by his friend and fellow writer Frank Belknap Long, usually reading a few pages last thing at night.

Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937), of Providence, Rhode Island, was the finest "horror" writer of the 20th century, IMHO (and many owe their inspiration to him) though his stories owe as much to science fiction and fantasy as to the Gothic horror tradition.

Sadly he was not as well recognised as he should have been when he was alive, and barely scraped a living as a writer. In modern times, though, his name has become legend.

He was also a dedicated fountain pen user, a perfectionist wearing out Waterman 52 after Waterman 52 with his prolific writing and correspondence.

- Stuart

I've been on a big dorky sci-fi kick lately. In the last 2 weeks, I've read The World that Jones Made, by Phillip K. Dick, Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, and Friday, by Robert Heinlein (not my favorite Heinlein book).

Brian Jacques' - 'Tales of Redwall' series.

I read these when I was a teenager and drifted off them as I got older. But now I've returned to them because I just LOVE the way this man writes. It's funny and scary and so unique And I believe that his novels appeal to people of all ages, not just teenagers (for whom these were written). He's still writing the Redwall series, after 20 years since the first book's release (and 69 years since he was born) and I suppose this is what made me want to return to reading Redwall.

I didn't want to miss out on the new adventures!

If any of the parent-members around here have kids or teenagers (preferably teenagers, I'm not sure if kids will understand quite everything in the series) who like fantasy & animals - tell them about Redwall. (www.redwall.org)

I have not read Bulgakov. Thanks for the tip!

These days I'm reading Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie. It is a very fine book, but I haven't come very far yet, too much work. The ones I have to read include Those Delightful Regions of Imagination. Writing about George Romney and the catalog of a 1994 Romney exhibition, both by Alex Kidson.

A.

Just finishing up Duma Key today...then it's on to The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri .... based on (I believe) Charlie's recco in the prior reading thread.

Peter

"Las ciudades invisibles" Italo Calvino (spanish).

If you're a mystery fan, Camilleri's Montalbano series is a very good one. How was Duma Key? Best,
David

Edit: Oops, almost forgot. I'm reading the third and final volume of Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy. Very good Scandinavian mystery series.

"MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING" BY VICTOR FRANKL--a wonderful book.

camallieri is a great mystery writer. i highly recommend him.

i will check out the larsson book.

I've never heard of Camallieri, but I love mysteries - I'll have to note that.

Currently reading Patrick Süskind's Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, which has been on my to-read list for about a year now. I'm about a third of the way through it - it's kind of like "Sweeney Todd" with scent instead of meat pies. Or maybe Little Shop of Horrors.

I'm also about to read Tony Kushner's adaptation of Corneille's The Illusion for school.

First post. Ok, here goes. I thought I would limit my posts strictly to fountain pens but this entry is related. I am slowly reading through EINSTEIN by Walter Isaacson, Simon & Schuster. What a great book! It's about two inches thick. What's interesting is the major source of material for this book - LETTERS! That's right. Hand written letters about physics and family and politics. Everything was covered by handwritten letters. Imagine the pace of time when you had to send someone a letter and wait for their reply before you could continue. And imagine how much you would have utilized a fountain pen and ink and dirty fingers.

Cellulophile...

Duma Key, in my opinion, is the best thing SK has written since The Shining...(although I have not read any of the acclaimed Dark Tower series (I'd love some opinions on DT though).

It takes about 100 pgs to get going to a soft simmer ...then at about 400 it explodes and builds over the course of the last 200.

Well worth the time!!!

Peter

I thought that Perfume was an excellent read....the whole social outcast's obsession plot was disturbing, and somewhat analagous to Phantom or Hunchback. I thought the translation/writing was compelling. The movie was very well done also.

Interestingly this has been a school read here, and has raised more than it's fair share of controversy.

I'm reading a few books at the moment.

Bertrand Russell - The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell 1872-1914 - A truly informative read that has led me down a few different and interesting rabbit trails for some future reading.

Jerome Klinkowitz - Listen: Gerry Mulligan An Aural Narrative In Jazz - A well researched and written work that discusses the recorded works of the great Jazz Baritone Saxophonist Gerry Mulligan.

Peter F. Drucker - The Daily Drucker - Drucker is has such insight into the concept of knowledge work and he comes across as amazingly well read.

I generally make notes with either my Pelikan M200 or Waterman Challenger of anything that I want to research further while I am reading.

Started "White Night" ninth in J. Butcher's Dresden series.

I love Victor Frankl. I've read that book a couple of times. It is simply amazing.

Currently I'm reading Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God. It's one of his more controversial works but an insight into Nigeria. Achebe is a great storyteller.

I'm rereading Gardens of the Moon (Book 1 in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series) by Steven Erickson. Fantasy novels are one of my guilty pleasures.

Thanks, Peter. I'm glad to hear it. As for the DT series, I heartily recommend diving into the books, even if the end left me a little unsatisfied. All of a sudden, references in other King books (e.g., Insomnia) will start to make sense. Beyond that, the characters are truly wonderful and the storytelling top notch. Books 2, 3, and 4 are particularly good. Best,
David

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely

John

Hi,

Excuse me my last and laconic post...

I´m just reading "chamanism and alucinogens" Michael Harner: a very good book about the use of alucinogens (natural but like LSD) in ancient religions and the possibilityof these drugs had been the ancient point of birth of all religions... (open mind is required).

Regards,

Jorge.

The Numerical Universe of the Gawain-Pearl Poet: Beyond Phi by Edward I. Condren

'The Captain's Lady' by Paula Marshall (A Mills & Boon, but well written) and 'Metalworking' by Paul N Hasluck - a re-print of the 1907 edition.

Regards

Richard.

Re-reading C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series, or at least the first 6 books... I still have to acquire the third triad....

Dabbling with "Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman.

Spending more time writing these days either in my journal or to new (FPN) friends

Of all the places I'd expect to find a fellow Foreigner fan, nadi-ji, this is one of the last ones! The last three books are the best by far, IMO. I can't wait for the next part to start. I definitely want to know more about Tabini-aiji's son.

I read all nine books back to back several months ago; the first five of which were rereads.

Currently I'm reading Atlas Shrugged after having finished The Fountainhead.

Felicitous greetings to you as well nadi.

I guess I shall obtain the next three imminently then.

Am digging into a big batch of books bought in recent weeks about health, i.e. healthy eating, pre-diabetes, weight loss, vegetarian cookbooks.

Some titles in progress this week:
Hyman, Mark, M.D. 2006. UltraMetabolism.
Brand-Miller, Dr. Jennie, et al. 2005. The Low GI Diet Revolution.
Brand-Miller, Dr. Jennie, et al. 2005. The New Glucose Revolution, Low GI Eating Made Easy.
House, Franklin, M.D., et al. 2008. The 30-Day Diabetes Miracle.
Ornish, Dean, M.D. 2007. The Spectrum.
Brand-Miller, Dr. Jennie et al. 2007. The New Glucose Revolution for Diabetes, the definitive guide to managing diabetes &U prediabetes using the . . .

My eyes have really been opened by this whole glycemic-index thing! I daresay everyone would benefit by being aware of it.

How bad is it that I have to fight the urge to constantly use nadi and nandi in real life? heh

Currently only reading my Biology textbook unfortunately. Not that I don't like it, but I could really use some fiction.

"Hitching Rides with Buddha: A Journey Across Japan" by Will Ferguson.

A very insightful look at Japan from a fellow Canadian who spent a long time in the country.

God is Not Great: The Case Against Religion - Christopher Hitchens

A critiquing of religion.

The System of the World - Neal Stephenson

The third part of the Baroque trilogy set in the late seventeenth early eighteenth century Europe.

Pushing Ice - Alastair Reynolds

A bit of SF space opera for light relief.

It always seems harder to avoid after reading them. It almost flows into speech in a more formalized and genteel manner than the casualness that has overcome modern communication.

Also some other good book ideas I see.

The Wing-and-wing, James Fenimore Cooper.

Re-reading "One Hundred Years of Solitude", Gabriel Garcia Marquez. A fantastic book.

I probably made it worse on myself by reading all nine books—a very felicitous number, of course—back to back. But man I really wish I could use them in normal conversation without people looking at me like a freak. I need more money...that way I can do things like that and people will just consider me eccentric. Right now I'm just poor and crazy.

Kobe the Dread by Martin Amis. This has been sitting on my to-be-read shelf for over a year now (along with his House of Meeting) -- that is a scandalously long time for Martin Amis to sit on my shelf, unread. Rectifying situation slowly.

I'm reading The Deerslayer by Fenimore Cooper. Chronologically(story-wise), it's the first in the Leatherstocking Tales.

I've been in the Middle East for awhile...

The Kite Runner
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Infidel
Bliss
and now...Three Cups of Tea

My least favorite...Bliss. The others will stay with me for some time.

~Jas

I've heard The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are really good.

I might pick them up one day to see.

I am currently reading Coyote Dreams by C. E. Murphy, Programming PHP from O'Reilley, and sundry art books.

I am also currently writing a graphic novel script.

Charles Dickens' Sketches by Boz.