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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I'm currently about three-quarters of the way through the Bob Spiz biography of the Beatles.
A very sizeable tome, but also a VERY interesting read. A pretty "informative" biography - in both the positive AND the negative aspects of their lives/career.
I'm striving to get "through" it soon, as I've gotten a few more for Christmas from Jeanette that I'm itching to "crack the covers" on:
Know my affinity for all things "Pirate" (especially Capt. Wm Kidd), she got me a book entitled "Under a Black Flag" which compares the romances/realities of pirate lore.
Another one (in that same vein):
"A Bottle of Rum" also goes by the subtitle:
"The History of the New World in 10 Cocktails".
A study of the history of the region along with (and through) it indigenous rums.
Also offers a comparative compendium (sorry Al, . . no Capt.Morgan's) and numerous recipes.
A good Rum & Cigar read.
(may save this one for Amelia)
Finally, one that I requested:
"A Shattered Peace".
The author (who's name escapes me at the moment, sorry) spent 30-odd years as a correspondent for CBS News in some of the major "hot spots" of our time (SoutheastAsia, MiddleEast, Balkans, EasternEurope, etc.).
Throughout his career, the one question he always asked (be it of a general, a politician, a religious leader, or the poor schlubb who's home was just flattened):
". . Where/when did it all start to go "wrong" here?? . . when did it turn to sh!t??. ."
Invariably, most responses pointed back to the Treaty of Versailles at the end of WWI.
His book chronicles the Versailles Convention, the "players", the deals, the stupidity, the power struggles, and the bullshit by a bunch of (albeit "well-meaning") f@ckwits that eventually screwed things up for generations around the globe.
(". . a Light-Hearted, Comedic Romp . ." - the NewYork Times) |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | The sci-fi genre is dead.
Good thing I kept the "good ones" over the last 30 years. Most of my reading material come from my own booksheves.
I did read a good biography on Paul Simon recently. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Brad - I've been reading some Orson Scott Card stuff lately and it's been pretty good. I wouldn't call sci-fi completely dead - but on life support.
I have shelves full of old sci-fi. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I think the last book I read was the History of Ovation Guitars. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I listened to a discussion on this one and it was very interesting. Bit of twist on our popular image of pirates...
Bold In Her Breeches
Current on the nightstand is Christopher Hitchens, "God Is Not Great" |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | yeah, I've seen that one &'ll put it on th'List . . . |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond by Martin A. Lee.
An absoulute MUST read for anyone interested in the social history of the period. Don't be put off by the title: it is not a narrow durg-oriented book. Lively and unbelievable! |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | I just started a book I got for Christmas called: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Music of George Harrison." It's a pretty interesting read in that it analyzes and critques his entire body of work from 1962 till his death, and evaluates his oft-too overlooked and underappreciated contribution to the Beatles as a band. |
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February 2007
Posts: 299
Location: Nashville, TN | I got Claptons Biography for Chrismas...1/2 way thru the first chapter..it's gonna be good..saw Cream reunion concert this weekend, too..pretty uneventful..it is what it is,I was a little disappointed, but what did I expect:-) These guys were the 1st @ this style..Dan |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I want to read that Clapton bio and the Harrison book sounds interesting.
Crimson... Older O. S. Card books or newer? |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | we are currently enjoying the dr. seuss collection at our house. there just ain't no time for novels with a couple toddlers and a seven year old running around the house. :D |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Brad - I read the whole Ender's series awhile back - now I'm reading the Earth series. I also got one of the newer ones for Christmas - Empire. Haven't started it yet. |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Yep rock music histories are my new book search at the Baahns & nubleee. Been through a few on Yes and Zeppelin, Beatles and I am just now working some Floyd books now. I am facinated with the 60's/70's rock era.
Facinating reads, so far, and so cool to hear first hand accounts from band members on meeting other famous musicians in odd circumstances!
Great stuff and a great perspective on the era from the eyes of those who saw it from the stage side out. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | If y'want a PinkFloyd book, read "Inside Out" by Nick Mason. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq
I had to read this book fast because it made me cry.
The Intellectual Devotional: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Roam Confidently with the Cultured Class
Good read before sleeping
The Dangerous Book for Boys by Iggulden
To remind you of the important stuff
I gotta read more music stuff |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Thats the one I am craking into right now. Great! Glad to hear this will be as good as I hope. Just got it for X-mas! Got the big soft cover version with a new pair of reading glasses.
Glancing through I see a nice photo on page 275 of Waters playing an ovetion classical guitar.
Great photo's wish I had the hard bound, looks like a keeper. |
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July 2005
Posts: 150
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada | Nothing really new, but recommended:
"Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story" by Chuck Klosterman
and
"Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro" by Michele Kort are on the coffee table at the dog hill.
Also recommended: "A Painted House" by John Grisham. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I need a break from my guitars and motorcycles, so I'm currently reading "Paris 1919" by Margaret MacMillan. It is about how the boundaries of countries in Europe and the Middle East were redrawn after WWI. Some knowledgeable friends and acquaintances (e.g., the founder of C-Span) believe this is the most important book in the past 100 years. I don't know. Personally, I'm a Louis L'Amour fan. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If you like science fiction and Louis L'Amour, then get the Haunted Mesa. Odd little book that I couldn't put down.
Also, from the Louis L'Amour cannon, West from Singapore 'cause I been to the places he writes about. |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| James, Jude, and at the moment I'm reading Matthew. |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Currently reading In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day; finishing up The World is Flat by Tom Friedman (a very important book for understanding the world from the point of technology). I was quite moved by Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains, which I finished recently. It's about Dr. Paul Farmer, one of America's brightest doctors, and his groundbreaking work in poor nations on overcoming and eliminating deadly but treatable diseases.
Haven't had time for more lighthearted stuff. Non-reading/writing, non-working, and non-guitaring time has been consumed by English Premier League soccer, the UEFA Champions League, and catching up on all the episodes of the three seasons of Roswell. |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| ..do you ever sleep?.. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I would love to have said "The History of Ovation Guitars", but it seems that Grif has done the dirty on us.
Maybe one of the other 'books' in circulation could be redirected Downunder for the viewing pleasure of me, Ozwatto and AussieJames? |
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June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | I just bought one through Amazon.com
Should have it in a few days.
AJ :) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'd circulate mine, but they seem to get misplaced. |
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March 2006
Posts: 482
Location: enid, ok | Are women pirates, pirate queens, and lusty, busty sea-wenches all the same thing? |
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January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | I had read, Bob Spiz's biography of the Beatles last year. It was one of a few books I've read about the Beatles through the years, and by far the best. It really gives a great insight to the Beatles music making abilities.
I've just finished E.C.Eric Clapton's autobiography. It read like a diary, lots of personal stuff. Drugs and booze really had the best of him for quite awhile. I was kinda expecting more about his thoughts on the music and guitars. Anyone read it yet? |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Currently reading Dorothy L. Sayers' "Busman's Holiday" (for fun), Randy Alcorn's "Heaven" (for profit), and Patrick Kavanaugh's "The Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers" (for pleasure.) :)
--Karen |
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November 2005
Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Under Cover of Daylight - James W. Hall
(because I enjoy the fellas I call 'the Florida writers.' Crime novels by the literary offspring of Dutch Leonard and John D. MacDonald.)
The Intellectual Devotional
(because I have illusions of competence.)
An Illustrate Short History of Progress - Ronald Wright
(So I can speak in an informed and withering manner
with my limp-wristed liberal friends.)
I'm probably reading something work related too.
But it's Friday and I can't remember what is is
'till Monday night. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Between my birthday and Xmas (week apart), I got 5 books and am thru 4 and working on the 5th. First was E.C.'s autobiography. Fairly interesting to read his own feelings about himself after reading what other people have to say about in other sources.
Then I read Sue Grafton's T is for Trespass. A detective novel dealing with a caretaker scaming an old man to take over his finances. It was interesting because I've worked on a number of cases like this one.
The third book was Steve Martin's autobiography dealing with his days of stand up comedy. Pretty interesting.
Number 4 was a book dealing with the history of the tv show, The Rockford Files. A fun read.
Now I'm reading Ann Coulter's book, If Democrats Had Brains They'd be Republicans. Satire at it's best.
Oh, and off to the side, I'm going thru (for the upteenth time, Robert Heinlein's To Sail Beyond The Sunset, which was his last novel..... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Tell Ann Coulter that I'll See Her Next Tuesday . . . |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | ? |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | In your dreams. To both halves of that double entendre. |
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January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Hey Paul, the Sue Grafton series is always a fun read. The wife and I bring her along in audio book form, on the long drives. Kinsey Mulhorne at her best. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Milhone. And you're right Tommy, she is a fun read.
And I'm also slowly working my way thru Legacy of Ashes, The History of the CIA. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I read Legacy of Ashes....
sheesh. |
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July 2007
Posts: 423
Location: UK | Brittany Spears autobiography " Mein Kampf " , or was that Albert Speer's |
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OT: Read any Good Books Lately?? . . .