Do yall read (Books)

mrmikey · Mar 25, 2011

I just started reading again after a decades long absense from it. I lean toward Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, and that novel by Marcus Lattrell Lone Survivor was excellent (thanks to whomever recommended it) to name a few.
Who's got some recommendations for war novels ie the Vietnam era. I tried a couple, Karl Marlantes - Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War was one, and was not impressed......Mike

forgeblast · Mar 25, 2011

John Sanford is a big +1, William Gibson is also good, Neil Stephenson is one of my all time favorites, his books are just so well written. Robert Heinlien has to get a mention too.

Chuck52 · Mar 25, 2011

mrmikey said:
I just started reading again after a decades long absense from it. I lean toward Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, and that novel by Marcus Lattrell Lone Survivor was excellent (thanks to whomever recommended it) to name a few.
Who's got some recommendations for war novels ie the Vietnam era. I tried a couple, Karl Marlantes - Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War was one, and was not impressed......Mike

I haven't read his Vietnam books, but I did like The Emperor's General, by James Webb. Also read Born Fighting, which was good. He's a decorated Vietnam era Marine, so I expect his books about those experiences to be good.

Chuck

bironacad · Mar 25, 2011

Reg said:
I guess calling them "Texas Indians" says something about the way you think of them ?

of them?

Interesting in itself.

Do I read? not nearly enough. I relate to Egon though, the eyes do have a limit, lol.

bironacad · Mar 25, 2011

crashz said:
I'm an engineer, so I get my fill of dry reading.

So on my own time, I like to read cheesy detective novels. Robert Parker's stuff is my favorite. I can read one of his book on a short flight, waiting time included.

Right now I'm just starting the complete works of Sherlock Holmes. Not quite as fast, but still a fun read.

I really enjoyed the early Spencer novels as well.

Tony Hillerman, James Lee Burke and Ian Rankin have strong regional representation with interesting characters, if you like that sort of thing.

jayste · Mar 25, 2011

It seems that reading books has been more of a "seasonal" thing to me. When I do read I gravitate to western historical fiction. Funny thing is I've never read a Zane Grey or Louis L'Amour book. I have read some by Ralph Compton and Elmer Kelton. And oddly enough I've probably seen more movies and mini-series taken from L'Amour books.

mrmikey · Mar 25, 2011

Thanks all, I'll give 'em the once over, much appreciated....Mike

tractorsanmore · Mar 25, 2011

Louis L'amour was and still is my favorite storyteller.I have around seventy of his paperbacks and have read most of them several times although that was years ago . He passed away in 1988 .

Western · Mar 25, 2011

tractorsanmore said:
Louis L'amour was and still is my favorite storyteller.I have around seventy of his paperbacks and have read most of them several times although that was years ago . He passed away in 1988 .

Yes, a true story teller. I haven't read nearly as much of him as you have though, that is quite a collection.

GGB · Mar 26, 2011

"The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan. It tells the story of the dust bowls on the high plains during the Great Depression. A very compelling read, with tales of the families and towns during those bleak years.

GGB

Ridgewalker · Mar 27, 2011

I have a least one copy of every L'amour book ever written. I have about 5,000 books in my collection that is mostly Western's with a lot of Tom Clancy, Robert Parker, Lee Childs, etc. All "guy" books. Then there's my Steven Ambrose selection and all the WWII stuff that begat. And did I tell you I love reading about U.S. Western expansion and have tons of books on that topic as well?

I think I could be considered a book hoarder, once I get one I never let it go unless it's a really bad read.

jimmyj · Mar 28, 2011

Just read "the mad trapper of the rat river" a true story of a guy who eluded the police in the far north for 30 days in the freezing winter.

texbaylea · Mar 31, 2011

RobertN said:
I have been reading something totally different lately. The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik.

The series is about dragons, from a different perspective. These dragons are not magical. They are set in the time of Napoleon's conquests. They are used as an Air Force by various countries.

Pretty good reading, interlaced with history. And, a totally different perpective compared to the typical fantasy depiction of dragons.

Otherwise, I have been deep in reading US EPA Energy Star 5.2 spec's and test procedures.

I have read the Temeraire series from the start. Very enjoyable read. I was lucky enough to score one of the initial complimentary copies from the publisher and that got me started. I convinced the library to add the series to their collection so I could keep up with it.

Vernon

mrmikey · Apr 4, 2011

Thanks Vern and Robert for recommending the Temeraire books. I'm about 1/2way thru the first book, I was a bit sceptical ay first but it's an excellent read. Well written and actually gets you 'into' the story if that makes any sense, I'm looking forward to readin the rest......Mike

mostly_gas · Apr 5, 2011

mrmikey said:
Who's got some recommendations for war novels ie the Vietnam era. I tried a couple, Karl Marlantes - Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War was one, and was not impressed......Mike

Mark Berent wrote a series of 5 book with a Vietnam setting, worth a read.

RobertN · Apr 5, 2011

I have read a lot about Gny Sgt Hathcock, and a little about Mawwinney(sp?). Amazing reading about Hathcock and the other snipers in Vietnam.

mrmikey said:
Who's got some recommendations for war novels ie the Vietnam era. I tried a couple, Karl Marlantes - Matterhorn A Novel of the Vietnam War was one, and was not impressed......Mike