We have almost a week until "The Blue Comet." I thought this topic might keep us occupied.
What's your favorite novel?
Who is your favorite author?
What are you reading at the moment?
Any recommendations for other board members?
Re: Reading is fun!
2OK, I'll bite.
My favorite book is and has always been To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I could go on and on as to why I like the book, but I hardly think I need to. They study it in schools for goodness sakes. Its simplicity combined with beautiful language and difficult themes are what make it both challenging and great fun.
My favorite author, on the other hand, is Vladimir Nabokov and his Lolita is my second favorite book. I have simply never read another author with such command of language as Nabokov, and he had command of not just English, but his native Russian and French as well.
Currently, I am reading The Cousins' Wars by Kevin Phillips. It is a history book that contends that there is a common thread between the English Civil War in the 17th century, the American Revolutionary War in the 18th century and the American Civil War in the 19th century. I won't try and argue the authors point here. I can say, he makes some great points but I am not totally convinced, especially as it regards how religion played into each conflict.
And recommendations...well, I don't have any just off the top of my head. I'd need to narrow the focus first. But I can suggest several books on baseball, film, history and other non-fiction and of course, fiction (though I don't read much of that anymore.) I could recommend just about anything early from John Irving (at least up to A Widow For One Year.) How about I recommend my own work - Into the West. A link (it's on my blog) is in another thread in this area.
Great discussion topic, Pork Store!
My favorite book is and has always been To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I could go on and on as to why I like the book, but I hardly think I need to. They study it in schools for goodness sakes. Its simplicity combined with beautiful language and difficult themes are what make it both challenging and great fun.
My favorite author, on the other hand, is Vladimir Nabokov and his Lolita is my second favorite book. I have simply never read another author with such command of language as Nabokov, and he had command of not just English, but his native Russian and French as well.
Currently, I am reading The Cousins' Wars by Kevin Phillips. It is a history book that contends that there is a common thread between the English Civil War in the 17th century, the American Revolutionary War in the 18th century and the American Civil War in the 19th century. I won't try and argue the authors point here. I can say, he makes some great points but I am not totally convinced, especially as it regards how religion played into each conflict.
And recommendations...well, I don't have any just off the top of my head. I'd need to narrow the focus first. But I can suggest several books on baseball, film, history and other non-fiction and of course, fiction (though I don't read much of that anymore.) I could recommend just about anything early from John Irving (at least up to A Widow For One Year.) How about I recommend my own work - Into the West. A link (it's on my blog) is in another thread in this area.
Great discussion topic, Pork Store!
"Leave the gun...take the cannoli." - Clemenza
Think Tony Died? Consider this...
Visit my Blog at Hear the Hurd
Think Tony Died? Consider this...
Visit my Blog at Hear the Hurd
Re: Reading is fun!
3My favorite author is Patrick O'Brian. He wrote the series of 20 or so Jack Aubrey/Steven Maturin novels (beginning with Master and Commander) focusing on the British Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. I'm fascinated by the authenticity of language attributed to the characters in their age. The novels are a window on life 200 years ago and involve themes familiar to mankind since the birth of recorded history (and which are still with us today): love, loyalty, family, honor, and duty.
At the moment I am reading "The Story of Britain: From the Romans to the Present: A Narrative History" by Rebecca Fraser. It's a good, easy read.
At the moment I am reading "The Story of Britain: From the Romans to the Present: A Narrative History" by Rebecca Fraser. It's a good, easy read.