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Old 03-14-2009, 07:14 AM   #41
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I'm mostly a reader of sort of meaty fiction, now that I have the time in ER. Just finished one of my favorite novels of all time.

Angle of Repose -- Wallace Stegner. Won the Pulitzer in 1971. Deserved it. More than just a compelling story of settlers in the West in the 1870s. The writing elevates this to the Serious Book category. My highest recommendation.
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Old 03-14-2009, 07:31 AM   #42
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Angle of Repose is a fantastic book. I second the recommendation.

My most recent reads include

The Last Battle by Cornelius Ryan - history of the battle for Berlin and the end of WWII in Europe.

American Lion by Jon Meachum - a biography of Andrew Jackson

The Age of Napoleon by J. Christopher Herold - history of the era

Il Sorriso di Monna Lisa (Mona Lisa Smile) -- adapted from the screenplay of the Julia Roberts movie of the same name
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Old 03-14-2009, 07:37 AM   #43
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Quote:
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Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt is my current pre-St. Patty's Day read.

Being non-fiction dealing with Ireland and America during the Depression,
it'll make you appreciate even a really bad day in the market.

-LB
Have recently read Teacher Man by Frank McCourt. Tells of his life in America post Ireland.

This book was dogged by the critics, but I enjoyed it because he was honest about his emotions & feelings. It kinda had the attitude of "this is who I am, if you don't like it--tough"
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Old 03-14-2009, 07:39 AM   #44
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Bought/read Enough by Jack Bogle, as much as I admire him, I doubt this audience would learn much from it, and I've already sold it online. Just finished America's Cheapest Family, and I think I'm going to re-read Walden next. To each his own, but I'm another who rarely reads fiction, last time was in college about 35 years ago...
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Old 03-16-2009, 09:37 AM   #45
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I read the first 2 of Susan Penman's historical fiction works (see below). If you want some European history lessons this is a nice way to start. I listed her works in historical order below. When Christ and His Saints Slept covers the English and French history when Maude and Stephen were fighting for the crown. Time and Chance covers Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, also Thomas Becket's falling out with Henry. Devil's Brood was just released and has very good reviews at Amazon. It continues with the Henry II and Eleanor history and is next on my list.

1101-1154 When Christ And His Saints Slept (Vol 1 of Trilogy)
1156-1171 Time And Chance (Vol 2 of Trilogy)
12th Cent Devil's Brood (Vol 3 of Trilogy)
1192-1193 The Queen's Man
1193 Cruel As The Grave

1183-1232 Here Be Dragons (Vol 1 of Welsh Trilogy)
1231-1267 Falls The Shadow (Vol 2 of Welsh Trilogy)
1271-1283 The Reckoning (Vol 3 of Welsh Trilogy)
1459-1492 The Sunne In Splendour
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Old 03-16-2009, 12:17 PM   #46
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Entertaining, with fun dialog:

Amazon.com: Man in the Middle: Brian Haig: Books
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Old 03-16-2009, 12:25 PM   #47
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Yes, it is NPR's Simon.
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Old 03-16-2009, 01:44 PM   #48
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Currently, this one:

William Lashner - Past Due - Praise

Pretty good!
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Old 03-16-2009, 09:31 PM   #49
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Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy. I'm only 30 pages into it, and I'm already thinking about buying free copies for my office mates some of whom are anything but.
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Old 03-22-2009, 11:04 AM   #50
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Oh gosh, that's for sure. I bawled like a baby.
Okay that makes three for Big Red
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A liitle heavy reading...
Old 03-22-2009, 04:19 PM   #51
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A liitle heavy reading...

I'm 850 pages into the 1.050 pages of Atlas Shrugged. It appears to be a book about the future of America, based on our current direction. Quite depressing, actually.
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Old 03-22-2009, 04:35 PM   #52
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I have not read it yet, but I just was watching Book Notes on CSPAN and will soon be reading How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer.
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Old 03-23-2009, 11:13 AM   #53
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series

Quote:
Originally Posted by canadianteddy View Post
Have recently read Teacher Man by Frank McCourt. Tells of his life in America post Ireland.

This book was dogged by the critics, but I enjoyed it because he was honest about his emotions & feelings. It kinda had the attitude of "this is who I am, if you don't like it--tough"

Thanks for the heads up. I also discovered there's a middle book
called 'Tis that covers the young adult/middle part of his life. I've got
that one coming from paperback swap first and then its on to
Teacher Man.

-LB
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Old 03-23-2009, 12:36 PM   #54
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Since it's spring, I am now reading a gardening book called "Fresh food from small spaces" by R.J. Ruppenthal.
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Old 03-23-2009, 02:35 PM   #55
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Quote:
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I'm 850 pages into the 1.050 pages of Atlas Shrugged. It appears to be a book about the future of America, based on our current direction. Quite depressing, actually.
A long time ago I started to read Atlas Shrugged after hearing that Alan Greenspan was very influenced by Ann Rand and that this book kind of discussed her philosophy. Couldn't really get too interested in it though and put it down after maybe 50 pages -- so I didn't give it a chance really. Just looked it up on Amazon and there were over 1700 reviews! Reading a few of those reviews it still seems like somewhat of a mystery to me where it's worth the effort as I'm a slooo...ow reader .

Doug, let us know what you think after reading it.
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Old 03-25-2009, 02:36 PM   #56
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I'm reading "Run for your life " by James Patterson . It really holds your interest and keeps me turning the pages . Much better than Grisham's new book which I thought was slightly boring.
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Old 03-25-2009, 03:24 PM   #57
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My latest book was "The Snowball". Good read.
Amazon.com: The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life: Alice Schroeder: Books
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Old 03-25-2009, 05:39 PM   #58
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I have decided that reading one of the Shopaholic's book was enough. I am not going to read the other four. There are too many other good books just waiting to be read.
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Old 03-25-2009, 08:00 PM   #59
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"Wisdom of Our Fathers" by Tim Russert. Also, just recently I bought five Tom Clancy novels, all hard backs for $.10 each at a garage sale. Looks like they were never opened. Can't find time to get at them.
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Old 03-26-2009, 02:41 PM   #60
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I was sick this week so I've been doing a lot of reading . I finished the new Patterson book and now I'm reading "Just after Sunset " . It is a collection of short stories by Stephen King .I used to read all his books and then I just stopped but this is just enough of his weirdness to be okay .
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