Do yall read (Books)

[Mark_in_NH]

I am 48 and still read as often as possible. Seems I read more in the winter most likely do to not being able to do much outside. One of the reason I built this porch, (still a work in progress) was so that I could sit out there and read.
I am an advid reader of James Patterson and actually just bought a newly released novel yesterday at my local 2nd hand shop. A $28 book for $6 makes me a happy camper.

 

[robb01]

I read as much as I can, much better than tv

 

[texbaylea]

My wife and I are voracious readers and use our local library a lot. She likes mysteries and I prefer science fiction although that genre is mostly fantasy now. Most of the prior generation of writers had a very good grasp of the physic and possible technology but they are gone.

We have a new HD lcd TV but that does not get watched very much.

The sci-fi publisher Baen has an on-line free library where their authors allow them to put up one or more of their titles. I use that when I run out of books. Reading on a laptop is different and, for me, not as enjoyable as a book. At least, with a book you can read with a dog on your lap. Our 70 lb Boxer makes a good book rest.

We need to make another run to the Library this week.

Vernon

 

[woodchuckie]

Before I retired I read at work on every brake I took. That could range form 1 1/2 to 4 hours a day. I read:
Koontz
Chancy
King
Patterson
Goodkind
Since I retired I don't have the time except for one book. The Wheel of Time
a fantasy series introduced to be by one of my daughters boyfriends I think in the early 90,s. At that time there were five books. Now I'm waiting on the last three. #13, #14, and #15. Sometimes over two years between books. I've read all of them at least 3 times and the early books twice that. They are between 4 and 5 hundred pages long.

The author was Robert Jordan. He died before he finished the series so his wife has collaborated with his handpicked successor Sanderson, to finish the series. The next one is supposed to go on sale in September.

THE WHEEL OF TIME. I can't get enough. I'm hooked and addicted.
There are entire web sited devoted to this one series.

 

[/pine]

IMO, just because a "history" book is considered "non-fiction" does not mean it's pure fact...

The problem with "history" books is the source of the information related...many of the assumed facts are based on details and stories "remembered" and passed on from actual "eye witnesses" wherein lies the problem...many "historical" accounts based on "eye witness" accounts are no more valid or accurate than what a person remembers which to say the least is mostly unreliable.

Ask any district attorney...or just ask 5 people that saw the same accident...most likely you will get 5 different accounts...remembering historical events is no different...
The Discovery Channel airs a program every now and then that depicts an experiment to exemplify this...they outfitted a group of people with helmet cameras and then led them through a course that was set up for the test where the group would encounter different situations...30 days later the groups was brought back and during interviews they were questioned about what they remembered about the encounters... a large majority of the group described things completely different than what was recorded on the helmet cameras they were wearing... so in my opinion when reading "historical accounts" in so called history books one should take them with at least a grain of salt...not that the main idea of what transpired is lost but just because something is thought of as "history" does not mean it happened exactly the way it is depicted...and on top of the memory factor there is always the fact that many stories become embellished over time.

As for (fiction) reading enjoyment...if you like to read check out any 'Clive Cussler' novel...he likes to mix some "history" with some great adventure with plenty of action...

 

[Travelover]

............ One of the reason I built this porch, (still a work in progress) was so that I could sit out there and read.
............

Beautiful porch.

 

[Bird]

Yep, there was a time when our courts considered "eye witness" testimony to be the best evidence, but that theory was long ago debunked.

And of course, you're right about the history books. The things we're told now is, in many cases, considerably different from what was in the history books when I was a kid. It turns out George Washington may not have chopped down that cherry tree after all.

 

[Chuck52]

I've been hooked since I started on the Hardy Boys at ten or so. I mainly read silly stuff these days, like science fiction and fantasy. I like the "after civilization falls" stories and things about people displaced in time. Reading the 1632 series now. A while back I got hooked on James Lee Burke's detective stories. The only non fiction I have read lately was one of Jim Webbs books, "Born Fighting", about the influence of Scots Irish immigrants on history. Someone mentioned the "Wheel of Time" series. I started that and have read most of the books, but it got to be so long between new books that I lost track of the characters. I couldn't remember who I was supposed to be cheering for. The women of the White Tower got to be pretty irritating, too. I kept hoping our hero would spank Them for a change.

Another time travel series is the one by Diana Gabaldon....started with "Outlander", I think? Anyway, a modern woman goes back to Scotland, just before the American revolution. Seems like there's another one of those out now. I have the local library site bookmarked....gotta check that.

Like someone else said, I like to read in long spurts, but after spending a day reading I feel guilty for not having done something "useful". We probably need to work on accepting taking simple pleasures as "useful".

Chuck

 

[Western]

I agree on the "history" some is/can be bogus, still doesn't take away from the "fact" that it is interesting and certainly closer to the truth than say Star Wars. Some people still think Columbus was a "good" guy. I guess it's a relative perception. I think you can weed through some misgivings of history by understanding the biases/culture of the time. History is only a reference to the past..

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Beautiful porch.

Thank you !!
I still have alot of work to do. Interior ceiling, hang the ceiling fans and some trim work, exterior landscaping etc.
I can honestly say that I have been fortunate to have been able to enjoy many a cigar, books and reading the TBN while sitting on the porch.

 

[dancer]

I surely wish more people read more books and magazines. If that was so, then there would be many fewer instances when I wanted to be the "Spelling Police" -- needing to edit and correct spelling and especially grammar errors.

Sorry!

P.S. Reading newspapers doesn't really count -- there are too many spelling and grammatical errors in them these days, and also too many special usages, and A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S of doubtful value.

 

[Western]

I surely wish more people read more books and magazines. If that was so, then there would be many fewer instances when I wanted to be the "Spelling Police" -- needing to edit and correct spelling and especially grammar errors.

Sorry!

P.S. Reading newspapers doesn't really count -- there are too many spelling and grammatical errors in them these days, and also too many special usages, and A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S of doubtful value.

Try reading the Fox news site every morning. It's almost like some of it was "rushed" to press it's so bad.

My only complaint about their web site.

I thought "magazines" where only for the pictures?

 

[/pine]

I surely wish more people read more books and magazines. If that was so, then there would be many fewer instances when I wanted to be the "Spelling Police" -- needing to edit and correct spelling and especially grammar errors

You mean like using commas when there is no need? (cheap shot) oh wait...that's punctuation not grammar...

[rant]
What gets me is incorrect word form usage like posting something sounding very intelligent yet they use "there" in place of 'their' or "their" in place of 'they're'...likewise with using "your" when it should be 'you're'...etc...etc.
[/rant]

 

[RobertN]

I just grabbed a Roger Welsch book from my shelf. Great book, every guy should read.

"Everything I Know About Women I Learned From My Tractor"

 

[dave1949]

I surely wish more people read more books and magazines. If that was so, then there would be many fewer instances when I wanted to be the "Spelling Police" -- needing to edit and correct spelling and especially grammar errors.

Sorry!

I am no doubt guilty of all the above (and below). I don't want to be guilty of literary snobbery though. Sorry, too! Reading and writing comes easily to some. I like to hear opinions and learn from folks regardless of their language abilities.

As you say, their is know excuse four it in a commercial publication, if they won't hold the standards, we are doomed.

Dave.

 

[jayste]

I am no doubt guilty of all the above (and below). I don't want to be guilty of literary snobbery though. Sorry, too! Reading and writing comes easily to some. I like to hear opinions and learn from folks regardless of their language abilities.

As you say, their is know excuse four it in a commercial publication, if they won't hold the standards, we are doomed.

Dave.

Ditto!

Jay

 

[texbaylea]

Like Chuck52 I have enjoyed Eric Flint's 1632 series. In the SciFi/Fantasy genre this scheme of a lead author setting the parameters/environment and inviting other authors to contribute stories within that environment is very enjoyable to me. Synopsis: A few square miles around a West Virginia coal mining town are move back in time to Thuringia (before Germany) in 1632. The stories chronicle how the Americans survive and what their impact on that world is. Try it, you may like it.

Chuck - You want to amplify or correct what I have said?

Vernon

 

[Chuck52]

Like Chuck52 I have enjoyed Eric Flint's 1632 series. In the SciFi/Fantasy genre this scheme of a lead author setting the parameters/environment and inviting other authors to contribute stories within that environment is very enjoyable to me. Synopsis: A few square miles around a West Virginia coal mining town are move back in time to Thuringia (before Germany) in 1632. The stories chronicle how the Americans survive and what their impact on that world is. Try it, you may like it.

Chuck - You want to amplify or correct what I have said?

Vernon

I'm only on number two in the series, but that sounds good to me! Have you read the "Dies the Fire" series by Stirling? My only quibble with the 1632 series so far is how few of the "good guys" seem to be getting hurt. That's less of a problem with Stirling's stuff, but in that series you have to work even harder at suspending disbelief. It involves some continuing external interruption of the rules of physics....I find it easier to deal with instantaneous miracles! I preferred his "Island in the Sea of Time" series, which is much more like 1632.

Chuck

 

[EddieWalker]

My all time favorite author is Wilbur Smith. He writes books on historical events in Africa, with fictitional charactors. Mostly he spins his stories around one particular family, but he'll go back two hundred years and the events of that time, and the decedents of that original family into the mid 20th century. None of the books rely on each other, but after reading a few of them, some of the characters are mentioned from his other books.

Another favorite is W.E.B. Griffin who wrote a series of books about the Marine Corps in WWII. It's called The Corps, and really a good read.

I enjoy most of the big names, but will also try somebody new if it sounds like an interesting story. I've also found that the classics are really good. The Three Muskateers is an absolute favorite book. It's just totally unexpected and while similar to all the movies, it's also way different. I've read quite a few of them, and Mobey Dick was the only one that I gave up on. That book was just too much effort!! LOL

For fun, I enjoy going to Barns & Noble. Steph and I do this after dinner all the time. We also like to going to the used book stores, Good Will and the other charity type stores that sell books. I'm into hard cover books and have a dream of one day having a library full of books that I've read. I give away paper backs, but have quite a few hard covers that are first editions in good condition that I've paid over $100 for some of them.

Eddie

 

[czechsonofagun]

Indians have been a life long fascination for me, I have found artifacts and arrowheads in many states, and often as a kid wished I "was there" to see it first hand.

Just curious - did you read any Seton's books? He was a lot of inspiration for me especially Two savages if you know?