What book are you reading?

[Tratorix]

Just finished The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell. Excellent in my oppinion, now i have to track down the next two in the trilogy. I've now started on Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, but it's not holding my interest very well.

[Ayachuco]

I just bought Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler: The Age of Social Catastrophe and will begin reading when I have time.

[Xehh II]

Rainbow Six, Tom Clancy

[Hepcat]

I was doing some revising for my history exam on New Zealand history and I found this really interesting account of pre-colonial New Zealand written by Frederick Maning, who arrived here in 1833 and became what's known as a Pakeha Maori (A white person in the early 19th century who learnt Maori language, customs and lived with Maori). If anyone is interested here it is:
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-ManPake.html

Well I think it's interesting anyway, even if nobody else does!

[R'as al Ghul]

Started into Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. Enjoyable so far, but quite thick. It's going to take me a while to finish the whole trilogy.

You are in for a great ride, mate. I envy you.
This is one of the best books ever. I immensely enjoyed it. Don't let yourself be put off but some lenghty parts you'll be rewarded with thrilling and hilarious action once Jack Shaftoe appears.
I think it's an excellent mixture between swashbuckling action, renaissance science and diplomacy. There's so much in there, other authors would've written 10 books about the same subjects, half of them non-fictional.
The last chapters are among the greatest I've ever read (pay attention to the shift to present tense). Careful though, you won't be able to lay down the book until you know what happens to Jack.
Meh, I lack the words to elaborate on its greatness.
Can you tell I enjoyed it?

R'as

[drone]

You are in for a great ride, mate. I envy you.
This is one of the best books ever. I immensely enjoyed it. Don't let yourself be put off but some lenghty parts you'll be rewarded with thrilling and hilarious action once Jack Shaftoe appears.
I think it's an excellent mixture between swashbuckling action, renaissance science and diplomacy. There's so much in there, other authors would've written 10 books about the same subjects, half of them non-fictional.
The last chapters are among the greatest I've ever read (pay attention to the shift to present tense). Careful though, you won't be able to lay down the book until you know what happens to Jack.
Meh, I lack the words to elaborate on its greatness.
Can you tell I enjoyed it?

R'as

I've read Cryptonomicon (thoroughly enjoyed), so I know his style. I like how he is apparently using ancestors of his characters from that book in this one. Haven't read any of his other novels, so I don't know if this is something he does on a regular basis. I also love the way he weaves his characters in with historical figures (and shows their quirks as well).

[Csargo]

Iron Kingdom:The Rise and Downfall of Prussia 1600-1947 by Christopher Clark

[Meldarion]

Marquis De Sade ~ Justine, Philosophy in the Bedroom, & Other Writings.

[AggonyDuck]

Just finished The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell. Excellent in my oppinion, now i have to track down the next two in the trilogy. I've now started on Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, but it's not holding my interest very well.

You just need to keep on reading Gardens of the Moon. At first I was struggling with it, but after reading about half the book I was already captured in the web that Erikson spins. His way of writing takes a while to learn to enjoy, simply because the world he has created is so extensive and full of details.

[shlin28]

Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose

[R'as al Ghul]

I've read Cryptonomicon (thoroughly enjoyed), so I know his style. I like how he is apparently using ancestors of his characters from that book in this one. Haven't read any of his other novels, so I don't know if this is something he does on a regular basis. I also love the way he weaves his characters in with historical figures (and shows their quirks as well).

I enjoyed Cryptonomicon, too. Great book. Captivating. Remember the awesome storyline of that Japanese soldier who shipwrecks, makes it to a cannibal island, manages to escape and later has to dig the mines? That's nothing compared to the adventures of Jack, though. It gives me gooseskin when I think about it.
I really enjoyed meeting those historical characters like Newton, Huygens, Leibnitz, Zar Alexander, etc. MacArthur was also quite hilarious in Cryptonomicon. Wasn't he refusing to take cover from enemy fire?
I'm actually considering reading Quicksilver again. If you want to exchange ideas, feel free to PM me. (How far into the book are you?) I haven't yet met someone who also read it.
I also read "Snow Crash" and "The Diamond Age". The Shaftoes and Enoch Root only appear in Cryptonomicon and Quicksilver (1-3) as far as I know. Maybe you have seen it yet, but Stephenson has his own Wiki. Don't spoil yourself, though.
Enjoy your ride.

R'as

[Craterus]

The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten by Julian Baggini

[shlin28]

Lord of the Silver Bow by David Gemmell

[ShadesPanther]

Imperium by Robert Harris

[seireikhaan]

Just read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse for my world religions class. A rather dry read, I must say, though it was interesting at times due to the philosophical nature of the book.

Also, just starting on The Red Badge of Courage, for a different class.

[Sigurd]

You just need to keep on reading Gardens of the Moon. At first I was struggling with it, but after reading about half the book I was already captured in the web that Erikson spins. His way of writing takes a while to learn to enjoy, simply because the world he has created is so extensive and full of details.

I am currently reading the fantasy genre.
I put Trudi Canavan to the test earlier this year and I must say that her two triologies are great.

After talking to Spartakus in the chat, he mentioned two authors I should try. I just put down Steven Erikson's Gardens of the moon and I must say; what a great book. At first I found it a little nerdy (nerdy as in the kind of guys playing D&D in costumes in a basement), but then it got easier and at the end I couldn't put it down.

I brought home two new books today: Deadhouse Gates by Erikson and A game of Thrones by George R.R Martin.
I might read the Erikson book first as Gardens of the Moon is fresh in memory.

Other authors I have read in this genre: all books by Raymond E. Feist and the 11 books of late Robert Jordan's the Wheel of times.

[Shahed]

I've read my fair share of military history, philosophy, fiction etc. Now I'm focusing on more real time things, practical applications.

I'm reading "The Game" by Neil Strauss, 2nd time. Studying it rather.

[shlin28]

Shield of Thunder, next book in the Troy trilogy

[Tratorix]

I brought home two new books today: Deadhouse Gates by Erikson and A game of Thrones by George R.R Martin.
I might read the Erikson book first as Gardens of the Moon is fresh in memory.

I just read Gardens of the Moon recently as well. Quite interesting, though i'm still not completely sold on Erikson's style of writing. It just doesn't grab me that easily. A Game of Thrones is one of my favourites. With most books, I can usually kind of predict what's coming next, but George R.R. Martin's writing keeps me off balance all the time. Never know what he's going to do next, and if you think you do your probably wrong.

Now readin Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell and Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind.

[Caius]

I read 1984 of George Orwell, I like it a lot.

[master of the puppets]

the dogs of war

[King Henry V]

The Liar by Stephen Fry.

[IrishArmenian]

Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin
And, how odd, Garcilaso, I was just reading Huxely's Brave New World.

[Beirut]

Crete, by Anthony Beevor.

Beevor wrote Stalingrad, and Berlin. Stalingrad was an excellent account of the battle. Read it a few weeks ago. Haven`t read Berlin yet, but soon.

Been looking for a book on the WWII battle for Crete for a long time, very happy to find this one, and since Beevor wrote it, it`s going to be good I`m sure. Probably one of the most ferocious and exciting (if one is to use that word) battles of WWII. This is sure to be a page turner.

Also saw a book called White Death, about the Russian-Finland war. That one will be soon, too. I forget the authours name, though.

Nothing better than finding the exact book you want. (Especially when you have a nice bottle scotch to keep the pages warm.)

[Martok]

Just started reading Foundation's Fear by Gregory Benford. It's the first book in the so-called Second Foundation Trilogy written after Asimov's death.

I forgot there were parts of this book I actually liked, and that Benford doesn't completely suck as an author. Guess I'll have to upwardly revise my opinion of him slightly from "Completely & Utterly Loathe" to "Feel Nothing but Contempt & Disdain".....

[seireikhaan]

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, by Tolkien.

[Decker]

Crete, by Anthony Beevor.

Beevor wrote Stalingrad, and Berlin. Stalingrad was an excellent account of the battle. Read it a few weeks ago. Haven`t read Berlin yet, but soon.

Been looking for a book on the WWII battle for Crete for a long time, very happy to find this one, and since Beevor wrote it, it`s going to be good I`m sure. Probably one of the most ferocious and exciting (if one is to use that word) battles of WWII. This is sure to be a page turner.

Also saw a book called White Death, about the Russian-Finland war. That one will be soon, too. I forget the authours name, though.

Nothing better than finding the exact book you want. (Especially when you have a nice bottle scotch to keep the pages warm.)

You should also look at A Frozen Hell which also covers the Russo-Finnish War if your interest is peaked!

As for me... I'm currently reading Sea of Faith: Islam and Christianity in the Medieval Mediterranean World by Stephen O'Sheafor my history class (and also for myself). It's a very easy read and enjoyable along with the descriptions of 7 major battles between Christians and Muslims dating back to Yarmuk in 636 and ending with Malta in 1565.

I was in the middle of reading Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys who fought the Air War against Germany by Donal L. Miller. I have to say that Miller did an excellent job in covering the air war since before the first bombs were dropped to wherever I stopped due to school lol. But I'd suggest anyone to read it if they are looking for a good book on that aspect of the war (World War Two I mean).

[Veho Nex]

Moby Dick.... and the great gatsby.... school sucks

[Beirut]

You should also look at A Frozen Hell which also covers the Russo-Finnish War if your interest is peaked!

Thanks. I'll check out some reviews. I'd like to get the better of the two books (obviously). I'm not looking for a 1000 page thesis of the war, but I'd certainly like to read more than I have.

[Gregoshi]

I just finished reading Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Overall an okay read, but when I got to the part in which you learn why books are burned and the disfunctional society - wow, my mouth must have been hanging open. It is hard to believe it was written in 1953 and not in today's world.