"The Void Protocol" - by F. Paul Wilson
Pretty interesting. I don't know how Wilson keeps up with the "secret history of the world" he's created, but he comes up with some doozies. It ties in with the Repairman Jack series in a tidy fashion.
posted by Dr Winston O'BoogieI love John le Carre's books Leonard's are good, but I get tired of them.
Yeah, I like to usually toggle between the two of them. le Carre's books are pretty deep, complex, while Leonard's are just great pulp reads.
I reread The Godfather by Mario Puzo. I read it about 20 years ago and wanted to do it again because I love the films so much. Overall it is excellent. It provides some background on characters the film just doesn't have time for. It also contains some filler on Johnny Fontaine that I thought did nothing to advance the story - plus I just don't like the Fontaine character. It is one of those rarities where the 1 & 2 films are better than the book in my opinion, but the book is still very good.
I'm now into The Sicilian, Puzo's second work in the "Godfather universe". The Corleone family is not a big part of the plot, but I'm really enjoying it. It is a cool look at the way of the Mafia in Sicily during the middle of the 20th century. It's set in there during the time Michael was in hiding after killing the NYPD captain. But again, Michael is not a primary character. The main players are guys that did not figure into the original Godfather novel. So far, so good.
posted by Dr Winston O'BoogieI reread The Godfather by Mario Puzo. I read it about 20 years ago and wanted to do it again because I love the films so much. Overall it is excellent. It provides some background on characters the film just doesn't have time for. It also contains some filler on Johnny Fontaine that I thought did nothing to advance the story - plus I just don't like the Fontaine character. It is one of those rarities where the 1 & 2 films are better than the book in my opinion, but the book is still very good.
I'm now into The Sicilian, Puzo's second work in the "Godfather universe". The Corleone family is not a big part of the plot, but I'm really enjoying it. It is a cool look at the way of the Mafia in Sicily during the middle of the 20th century. It's set in there during the time Michael was in hiding after killing the NYPD captain. But again, Michael is not a primary character. The main players are guys that did not figure into the original Godfather novel. So far, so good.
Sounds interesting. The Godfather has been on my list for sometime. It will probably stay down the list as Amazon has had some good Kindle deals recently. Over the past few weeks, I have picked up:
-Color of Money: Walter Tevis
-The Things they Carry: Tim O'Brien
-A Perfect Spy: le Carre
-Exhalation: Ted Chiang
-The Devil all the Time: Donald Pollack
-Out of Sight: Elomore Leonard
-Ohio: Stephen Markley
posted by ptown_trojans_1Sounds interesting. The Godfather has been on my list for sometime. It will probably stay down the list as Amazon has had some good Kindle deals recently. Over the past few weeks, I have picked up:
-Color of Money: Walter Tevis
-The Things they Carry: Tim O'Brien
-A Perfect Spy: le Carre
-Exhalation: Ted Chiang
-The Devil all the Time: Donald Pollack
-Out of Sight: Elomore Leonard
-Ohio: Stephen Markley
Donald Ray Pollack is a favorite of mine - and a Chillicothe boy. The Devil All the Time is great. A really good movie version came out last year. His most recent novel The Heavenly Table is excellent too. But for my money, his collection of short stories called Knockemstiff is a10/10. One of my favorite books of all time. Not for the faint of heart.
posted by Dr Winston O'BoogieDonald Ray Pollack is a favorite of mine - and a Chillicothe boy. The Devil All the Time is great. A really good movie version came out last year. His most recent novel The Heavenly Table is excellent too. But for my money, his collection of short stories called Knockemstiff is a10/10. One of my favorite books of all time. Not for the faint of heart.
Oh did not know he was from Southern Ohio, awesome. I saw the movie last year and loved it, so figured I would give the book a try. I may add the other novels to the list.
posted by ptown_trojans_1Oh did not know he was from Southern Ohio, awesome. I saw the movie last year and loved it, so figured I would give the book a try. I may add the other novels to the list.
He has a cool story. He worked at the Mead paper plant in Chillicothe until he was 50 and then went to college to study writing. While there, his collection of short stories (Knockemstiff) was published. He's authentic to the area and people he writes about.
Having just finished The Expanse on Amazon Prime, I think I'm going to try picking-up the rest in the books.
There's a final Season 6 coming probably in December, but I read it mirrors the 6th book and there are 9 books.
I've really enjoyed the series, but hoping the books will be that much better without suffering any moments of bad acting and/or bad dialogue.
The series is great. I also want to jump into the books at some point.
posted by justincredibleThe series is great. I also want to jump into the books at some point.
I just got an ebook of Book 6 for my kindle from my local library. Don't know if I'll bother going back to the early books or not. Quick glance at a Reddit thread seemed like they didn't diverge much from the books until late in Season 5.
I'm currently reading The Price of Tomorrow: Why Deflation is the Key to an Abundant Future by Jeff Booth.
I just ordered The Anarchist Handbook by Michael Malice. He didn't actually write the book, it's just a compilation of essays from various schools of anarchist thought. It's currently #5 on Amazon's Best Seller list, and #1 in Politics, which is fantastic.
I'm making my way through The Bitcoin Standard. I haven't gotten to the nuts and bolts of Bitcoin yet. But the background on what makes for good money/currency, the problems with fiat currency and the need for something to get us away from central bank planners is very compelling. Makes me want to buy gold.
I finished the Color of Money. I liked the movie and the book is not at all like the movie. It is pretty much all about the Paul Newman character, Fast Eddie. I liked it as is the old guy still has it story.
Before that I finished Rum Punch, which influenced the movie Jackie Brown. The movie follows the book closely actually and I liked it.
I am now reading Exhalation, which is a collection of short science fiction like stories. It is very Black Mirror like as each story has some sort of moral to it or makes one think about technology.
Almost done with The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Incredible book, probably my favorite read at this point.
posted by justincredibleAlmost done with The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Incredible book, probably my favorite read at this point.
Loved this book. I think there are follow ups but I never got around to them.
Two sequels and a prequel. I will be reading them all this year, hopefully.
Started going through the short(ish) stories of Robert Aickman. British author who specialized in weird fiction. When I was young, I tried to read some of his stuff under the "I like guys like Stephen King and this guy's classified as horror, too!" philosophy, but wasn't able to get into him because his writing is a lot more subtle and doesn't tend to have the in-your-face scares and graphic violence.
But got the idea to give him another try, ordered everything I could off Amazon one day and now am trying again. Pretty entertaining, at least as long as you NEVER expect answers for why whatever is happening actually is happening.
Blood Runs Coal. really interesting book covering the history of the are I currently live in.
Finished The Pillars of the Earth. Epic.
Reading The Bitcoin Standard again.
Started reading The Rise and the Fall of the Third Reich.
posted by justincredibleStarted reading The Rise and the Fall of the Third Reich.
Outstanding book. I read a lot of Third Reich/Hitler history and that one stands above the rest.
Reading "The Barbell Prescription". It's about using strength training to offset the effects of aging in middle age and older. It basically adapts the Starting Strength program to the >50 population. Excellent program laid out in great detail.
Finished Exhalation, which is a series of short stories. Very Black Mirror like and most of the stories make you think.
After that read the Devil All the Time. I enjoyed the movie, which followed the book closely. What a great, dark, story about southeast Ohio and how shady nearly everyone is in small towns.
Now about a quarter of the of way through Ohio: A novel by Stephen Markley. Released in 2018, and set in 2013, it focuses on a small run down town in NE Ohio as 4 people navigate everything from losing buddies in Iraq, to the 2008 crash, to the drug crisis. It is really good, dark, and funny in spots.
Just started The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe.
posted by ptown_trojans_1Finished Exhalation, which is a series of short stories. Very Black Mirror like and most of the stories make you think.
After that read the Devil All the Time. I enjoyed the movie, which followed the book closely. What a great, dark, story about southeast Ohio and how shady nearly everyone is in small towns.
Now about a quarter of the of way through Ohio: A novel by Stephen Markley. Released in 2018, and set in 2013, it focuses on a small run down town in NE Ohio as 4 people navigate everything from losing buddies in Iraq, to the 2008 crash, to the drug crisis. It is really good, dark, and funny in spots.
I liked The Devil All the Time. Pollock's other novel, The Heavenly Table is excellent if you want another recommendation. By far his best work is his collection of short stories called Knockemstiff. I highly, highly recommend. He's a lifelong resident of Chillicothe.