What book is on your nightstand? Readers!

[betarhoalphadelta]

Finished Recursion by Blake Crouch. Very similar writing style to Dark Matter, similar physics paradoxes uncovered.

Good read, pretty quick (started/finished it on a flight from Chicago to LA). I'd recommend it if you're into his style.

 

[passedpawn]

Finished Recursion by Blake Crouch. Very similar writing style to Dark Matter, similar physics paradoxes uncovered.

Good read, pretty quick (started/finished it on a flight from Chicago to LA). I'd recommend it if you're into his style.

Yep, fast read. Got pretty nuts at the end, didn't it.

 

[passedpawn]

Reading The Terror by Dan Simmons. The book uses real names and ships of the quest for the Northwest Passage, but adds an ice monster of some sort that is beginning to wreak havoc now that the ships are locked in ice.

I have a bunch of stuff by Dan Simmons, just getting into it now. Quality writing for horror, kinda verbose but we'll see.

https://www.amazon.com/Terror-Novel-Dan-Simmons/dp/0316008079

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That was a good book, but unnecessarily long. ~800pp. It was fascinating. The second half of the book went much faster than the first. Most of the volume was incredible character development. I would not recommend it for casual readers who want in&out books.

Reading the following now. I've been putting it off for a long time. So far, light enjoyable reading with a nice pace.

 

[tellyho]

Just finished the Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Really gripping.

 

[Imhoppy]

Thanks PP.
Sailing is my passion, traditional boats only. I have an extensive library, but I'm always looking for more.
I have read, and watched survival and adventure stories in other settings too.

Not long ago, I read "Sailing Alone Around the World", a memoir by Joshua Slocum. After a 3 year voyage, ending in 1898, he completed a single-handed global circumnavigation aboard the sloop Spray. He was the first person to sail around the world alone.

One interesting note...When he was passing by Tierra del Fuego, he was warned that he might be attacked by some indigenous Yahgan Indians in the night, so he sprinkled some tacks on the deck. He was awakened in the middle of the night by yelps of pain. He was proud of resourcefully defending himself.

Excellent adventure story and an awesome read.

He set sail in 1909 to the West Indies and was never heard from again.

 

[Robert65]

Reading the following now. I've been putting it off for a long time. So far, light enjoyable reading with a nice pace.

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Interesting column by Ross Douthat Tuesday in the New York Times about his currently reading Watership Down to his daughters and recognizing its relevance to current events.

‘Watership Down’ and the Crisis of Liberalism https://nyti.ms/2MVKOlS

 

[passedpawn]

Interesting column by Ross Douthat Tuesday in the New York Times about his currently reading Watership Down to his daughters and recognizing its relevance to current events.

‘Watership Down’ and the Crisis of Liberalism https://nyti.ms/2MVKOlS

I couldn’t read that article. Spoilers!! But of course it’s a political analogue like Orwell’s animal farm. It’s far more delightful(so far, anyway).

 

[Wayne1]

Just finished "The Lager Queen of Minnesota" by J. Ryan Stradal. EXCELLENT read. It take awhile to get into the beer business, but it is a very accurate portrayal of brewing. Also an ode to Midwestern women and their families.

 

[JohnSand]

Not long ago, I read "Sailing Alone Around the World", a memoir by Joshua Slocum. After a 3 year voyage, ending in 1898, he completed a single-handed global circumnavigation aboard the sloop Spray. He was the first person to sail around the world alone.

One interesting note...When he was passing by Tierra del Fuego, he was warned that he might be attacked by some indigenous Yahgan Indians in the night, so he sprinkled some tacks on the deck. He was awakened in the middle of the night by yelps of pain. He was proud of resourcefully defending himself.

Excellent adventure story and an awesome read.

He set sail in 1909 to the West Indies and was never heard from again.

I read that book young, certainly before finishing high school. I read it again every few years and keep copies at home and on board. Slocum is a personal hero, one of those historical figures that I would meet if that was possible. He wrote some other short works including Voyage of the Liberdad.

 

[passedpawn]

Not long ago, I read "Sailing Alone Around the World", a memoir by Joshua Slocum. After a 3 year voyage, ending in 1898, he completed a single-handed global circumnavigation aboard the sloop Spray. He was the first person to sail around the world alone.

Added to my kindle - thanks!!! I've read a bunch of similar sailing adventure books and love them. Not sure how I missed this one (maybe I didn't ).

By the way, this is a public domain book, so there's a bunch of versions by different publishers. Some have very few illustrations, and some have a lot. I bought the Penguin Classics version based on reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Alone-Around-Joshua-Slocum-ebook/dp/B07Z9LLNQM/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1571835663&refinements=p_27:Joshua+Slocum&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Joshua+Slocum#customerReviews

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

That was a good book, but unnecessarily long. ~800pp. It was fascinating. The second half of the book went much faster than the first. Most of the volume was incredible character development. I would not recommend it for casual readers who want in&out books.

Reading the following now. I've been putting it off for a long time. So far, light enjoyable reading with a nice pace.

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Hmm... Never heard of "Watership Down", which is strange as apparently it's a long-standing cultural icon.

So it's on the Kindle now... Add it to the list.

 

[Imhoppy]

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage , by Alfred Lansing, first published in 1959. This is, bar none, the most incredible and epic feat of human endurance imaginable.

The Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914–1917 is considered to be the last major expedition of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Shackleton's "Endurance" became trapped in the ice of the Weddell Sea and then drifted northward, held in the pack ice, throughout the Antarctic winter of 1915.

Eventually the ship was crushed and sunk, stranding its 28-man crew on the ice. After months spent in makeshift camps as the ice continued its northwards drift, the party took to the lifeboats to reach the inhospitable, uninhabited Elephant Island.

Shackleton and five others then made an 800-mile (1,300 km) open-boat journey in the "James Caird" to reach South Georgia. Polar historians regard this voyage of the exhausted crew in a 22.5 foot long lifeboat through the "Furious Fifties", known for their 60-foot waves and hurricane-force winds, as one of the greatest small-boat journeys ever completed. The crossing of South Georgia Island to reach the Grytviken Whaling Station is in itself one of the greatest inspirational adventures of all time.

From there, Shackleton was eventually able to mount a rescue of the men waiting on Elephant Island and bring them home without loss of life.

If you love and crave thrilling adventure stories, this is the grandest and most unbelievable journey ever!

 

[passedpawn]

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage , by Alfred Lansing, first published in 1959. This is, bar none, the most incredible and epic feat of human endurance imaginable.

I agree!, this was perhaps the greatest true-life adventure story ever told. Frozen in ice, avoiding the incredibly aggressive leopard seal, elephant island, rowing across the sea in the small boat, even scaling a frozen mountain. Incredible, and the Lansing version of the story is very well written.

I was especially impressed by the photographer who, against the wishes of Shackleton, saved the images that grace the center of the book. Those glossies are a real treasure. A picture's worth a thousand words, and when you see them you'll be stunned, especially considering their provenance.

It (really) gives me a warm feeling to know that others are still reading these stories.

 

[riceral]

Just finished "Prussian Blue" by Philip Kerr.

And started "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead

 

[corkybstewart]

Right now I'm reading an amazing book about the rescue of around 500 (mostly) American airmen shot down over Yugoslavia during World War II. This was the first I have ever heard of this operation and WWII has always fascinated me. It really shows the gratitude and sacrifice of the Yugoslavian peasants who kept these airmen hidden and alive at great cost to themselves. It's called The Forgotten 500. I'm also reading The Book of Jasher, one of the books not chosen for inclusion in the Old Testament(lots of them out there) and a book on the geology of Arizona. i enjoy light and entertaining books like these to keep my brain operating at at least a minimal level.

 

[estricklin]

Some I've read lately:

The Cider House Rules
Matilda
Under the Dome by Stephen King
American Gods
The Phoenix Project
A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston

The stand out:

Currently Reading The Two Towers and have A Christmas Carol on deck. I've considered Watership Down quite a few times myself, but haven't pulled the trigger on it yet. Will definitely be downloading a sample of Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage.

I think I've mentioned it in this thread before (not sure), but if you love sailing adventures, this book is amazing:

 

[govner1]

“Heroes” by Stephen Fry

 

[passedpawn]

This just came out. I'm deep into the Kindle version. I find it very thought-provoking. I'm lucky to have a friend who love to discuss such things.

 

[RevA]

Currently reading Gail z Martin - War of Shadows and Bernard Cornwell - The Fort that's not work related.
Just finished Wildcrafter brewing and Brew like a Yeti, fantastic books.

 

[RevA]

Currently reading Gail z Martin - War of Shadows and Bernard Cornwell - The Fort that's not work related.
Just finished Wildcrafter brewing and Brew like a Yeti, fantastic books.

 

[RevA]

Currently reading Gail z Martin - War of Shadows and Bernard Cornwell - The Fort that's not work related.
Just finished Wildcrafter brewing and Brew like a Yeti, fantastic books.

 

[riceral]

Just finished Istanbul Passage and starting Japan 1941

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Finished book 5 of a song of ice and fire.

Now, like everyone else, I'm left hoping he doesn't die beefier finishing the series.

 

[Immocles]

Still tearing through Dresden Files books myself. About halfway through Small Favor (book 9? 10? somewhere in there)

Finished up The True Bastards by Jonathan French about a week and a half ago. Book 2 of three in the Lot Lands series. No clue when book 3 comes out, but I really, really enjoyed the first two. Downloaded a couple of his other books to my kindle to read in between Dresden books.

 

[Coastalbrew]

I have 4 currently:
1. Building skin on frame boats
2. How to Brew
3. The home brew recipe Bible
4. Moby Dick

 

[passedpawn]

Finished book 5 of a song of ice and fire.

Now, like everyone else, I'm left hoping he doesn't die beefier finishing the series.

Do you think it will end similar to the HBO series? I felt betrayed by the final episode. If I had dedicated as much time reading the books, and he ended them as the series ended, I'd stage some sort of protest involving fire.

 

[Broothru]

I think I've mentioned it in this thread before (not sure), but if you love sailing adventures, this book is amazing:

Absolutely outstanding book. Truly a time of Iron Men and Wooden Ships. And speaking of Iron Men, "Undaunted Courage" was enough to inspire me to a two year journey retracing the steps of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. I've been to every one of Earth's continents except Antarctica, and nothing else even comes close to the experience of rediscovering America. Stephen Ambrose has always been one of my favorite historian/authors ("D-Day", "Band of Brothers", "Nothing Like It in the World").

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Do you think it will end similar to the HBO series? I felt betrayed by the final episode. If I had dedicated as much time reading the books, and he ended them as the series ended, I'd stage some sort of protest involving fire.

I haven't seen the series. I've heard everyone hates the ending.

Apparently Martin has said that was AN ending, but not necessarily the one he envisioned for the books.

 

[RevA]

Do you think it will end similar to the HBO series? I felt betrayed by the final episode. If I had dedicated as much time reading the books, and he ended them as the series ended, I'd stage some sort of protest involving fire.

I've kinda put reading the rest of the books on hold after the HBO series.

 

[Steveruch]

My local library has a sad selection of sci fi so I've started digging into the non-fiction.