What Are You Reading Now?

[falafel]

I am working my way through East of Eden for the 2nd time. I LOVE this novel. However, I am having trouble getting through the chapters where Cathy Ames shows up and Adam marries her. I just wish they'd get to California already.

[SteelBlue]

Stoner by John Williams. Read the first chapter before bed last night and it was stunningly good.

[SteelBlue]

Great series. But dang it, how many of these books are there?

I think there are five? The original was written 15 years prior to the second and I wonder if the subsequent books were a bit of a money grab with Highsmith going back to the one book that worked for her commercially?

Spoiler for Major spoilers for both Netflix series and novel:

The main difference in the novel from the series is that in the novel Ripley escapes any and all responsibility for the murders and completely assumes the lifestyle Dickie had built. The Netflix series ends with the main detective seeing a pic of Dickie in Marge's book, and realizing he'd been talking to the wrong person all along giving the impression that Ripley was found out. We see Ripley getting a new passport under a new name and the assumption is the chase will be on for a season 2. Perhaps this is bleeding out into the second novel?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Finished The Talented Mr Ripley and rewatched the. Netflix series. I have to say it’s one of the best series from a novel I’ve ever seen. I enjoyed it even more having read the book. Strongly recommend both.

Great series. But dang it, how many of these books are there?

[SteelBlue]

Finished The Talented Mr Ripley and rewatched the. Netflix series. I have to say it’s one of the best series from a novel I’ve ever seen. I enjoyed it even more having read the book. Strongly recommend both.

[happyone]

It's been a while since I've added anything to this discussion, but I have been reading, just not as much

A few non fiction books I've finished recently

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...bine_and_Lance

Carbine and Lance: The Story of Old Ft. Sill

I was given this as a 12-13 yr old and I haven't picked it up in 40+ yrs. First published in 1937, written by a serving office it is a fascinating look at the Indian Wars in the Southwest. This book covers the time form the first US Govt treaties with the Wichita, who were living in the area that became Ft. Sill, in the 1830s to the 1930s when the book was published. Ft. Sill itself was established in 1869 and the site was personally approved by Phil Sheridan, who was in the area during the Washita Campaign. Ft. Sill has been the home of some very famous units and personalities over the time it was an "Indian Fighting Fort". These include both the 10th (Buffalo Soldiers) and 7th Cavs, Col Grerison (who built the old Fort and commanded the 10th), Gen Sherman was almost killed the by the Kiowa Chief Santanta. Custer and the 7th camped at the site during the Washita Campaign in the winter of '68 and was stationed there in the 1880s and '90s. Much of Sill's Indian Fighting mission ended with the end of the Red River War in 1874. However it continued as site for keeping the peace between settlers and Natives through the opening of the Indian Territory to whites in the 1890s. The author also tells the story of just how Ft. Sill escaped closure and became the training site for the Field Artillery.

Ft. Sill in one of the 5 or 6 installations of the dozens established during the Indian Wars and dotted the West still being used by the US military (4 or 5 Army and 1 AFB) that I can think of off the top of my head. I have a personal connection with Ft. Sill. As much as an Army Brat grows up anywhere, I grew up there. My Dad was stationed there 4 times while l was growing up and I also spent 3 mths there at a school when I was in the Army

Some of the terminology and stereo types are dated - esp racially. That said I felt the author has a great admiration for what the Kiowas and Comanches accomplished and why and how they fought.

Most of the original buildings are still in use. Ft Sill also has a great Artillery museum along with with Indian Era displays if you are ever in the area and are interested.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...rance-on-trial

France on Trial

This is the story of the trial of Field Marshall Philippe Petian, hero of Verdun in WWI and leader of Vichy France in WWII for treason in July of 1945. Fascinating look at both the Vichy regime and the vengeance that was imposed on collaborators after war. De Gaulle wanted him convicted. He was of the opinion that he should have a "fair trial" then hung. Petain was found guilty of treason and condemned to die, however the court recommended that the sentence be commuted to life in prison and DeGaulle agreed to that. Again a fascinating read.



I really like Hampton Sides - his latest is no disappointment

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...-wide-wide-sea

The Wide Wide Sea

This is the story of James Cook's third and last voyage. Again fascinating, I learned a bit in this one. IE I didn't know the goal of this voyage was to find the Northwest Passage. He went up the Bearing Strait, mapping much of the North Coast of Alaska before deciding it was a fools errand. The story of his death in Hawaii is also very interesting. Sides opines if he was eaten after he was killed or not. His crew did not get a complete set of remains from the natives.

[The_Tick]

Dungeon Crawler Carl. Pretty fun so far. It is a mix of Ready Player One and The Hunger Games. I do audiobooks, and the orator takes a bit to get used to. Good "read" so far though.

[SteelBlue]

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. Never read it or any of her others but have often read interviews with authors who describe it as an exceptionally well-crafted novel.

[falafel]

I feel like I read this novel (and wrote the summation you quoted) about 10 years ago? This book has stuck with me all these years. There was a scene where Paul was awake and looking out over the city and had the overwhelming feeling he was the only one awake. At that time this particular scene resonated with me intensely because I was going through my own life questions, and I felt similarly alone.

I am stoked that you read it and even happier that you also liked it as I respect your opinion a lot. It's also cool that your post has already sold 2 more copies. I really do think it hits a weird spot that Mormons are qualified to understand more than many/most whether like me they decided to leave or like you they've stayed.

To be fair, I borrowed my copy from the library.

[Donuthole]

I feel like I read this novel (and wrote the summation you quoted) about 10 years ago? This book has stuck with me all these years. There was a scene where Paul was awake and looking out over the city and had the overwhelming feeling he was the only one awake. At that time this particular scene resonated with me intensely because I was going through my own life questions, and I felt similarly alone.

I am stoked that you read it and even happier that you also liked it as I respect your opinion a lot. It's also cool that your post has already sold 2 more copies. I really do think it hits a weird spot that Mormons are qualified to understand more than many/most whether like me they decided to leave or like you they've stayed.

Yep, it has been on my "to read" list for about 10 years. So that checks out. I think your description of it back then piqued my interest, but it just kept getting overlooked. I even asked for it for Christmas several times(I always give my in-laws a list of books they can choose from) but for whatever reason that one was never given to me. It must not have sounded sexy to my MIL? By the time I finally purchased it and read it, I legit had no idea what it was about. Just that it was a book that was recommended and I put on my list. So I was going in pretty blind, which I don't think was a bad thing.

[SteelBlue]

I read this one over the last few weeks. Weird barely begins to describe it. But I enjoyed it quite a bit. The characters were fun. I loved the long, one-sided dialogues between Paul C. O'Rourke and his hygienist.

I feel like I read this novel (and wrote the summation you quoted) about 10 years ago? This book has stuck with me all these years. There was a scene where Paul was awake and looking out over the city and had the overwhelming feeling he was the only one awake. At that time this particular scene resonated with me intensely because I was going through my own life questions, and I felt similarly alone.

I am stoked that you read it and even happier that you also liked it as I respect your opinion a lot. It's also cool that your post has already sold 2 more copies. I really do think it hits a weird spot that Mormons are qualified to understand more than many/most whether like me they decided to leave or like you they've stayed.

[Green Monstah]

Sounds like a pile of dog shit.

You’re welcome.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Sounds like a pile of dog shit.

[falafel]

I read this one over the last few weeks. Weird barely begins to describe it. But I enjoyed it quite a bit. The characters were fun. I loved the long, one-sided dialogues between Paul C. O'Rourke and his hygienist.

I missed this one (and SB's original post last year). This is right up my alley. Immediate download.








(double gut punch to GM!)

[falafel]

The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins. If you have someone in your life who is hyper-sensitive or easily offended (that's me), I highly recommend.

Sounds like a pile of dog shit.