GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

Thank Tal for this topic idea, although it may have been done before.

In the last few weeks some good books I have finished.

Overlook by Michael Connelly
State of Fear and Next by Michael Crichton
Exile by Richard North Patterson
Machiavelli Covenant by Alan Folsum

Others?

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

I am reading The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Saw the movie of the same name and could not figure out why some Christians were so upset with this book and the movie.

It is a kids' book like the Harry Potter books.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

World Without End by Ken Follett. A sequel of sorts to Pillars of the Earth. Didn't finish WWE yet, but the 1st few hundred pages are not a disappointment.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

I'm almost done with "Boom" by Tom Brokaw... a look at baby boomers who came of age in the 60s and are now today's leaders...and how the events of the 60s (Vietnam, women's movement, music, Kennedy/King, etc) influenced how these folks think today. It's a very good read.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

For fun and light reading try some Carl Haissen. Skinny Dip was my favorite. Most of his writing has an underlying theme regarding the abuse of the Everglades, past and present.
I am in the middle of World Without End and it is just as good as Pillars Of The Earth, which I read over Christmas.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

Tal,

Thanks to you and I2ridehd for getting this topic going again.

It must be autobiography season at the BB house:

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin and Clapton by Eric Clapton

The two Ken Follett books mentioned here and Brokaw's Boom await on a table.

And, Beady, I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love Carl Hiaasen's humor and insight into human nature. Stormy Weather is my absolute favorite. I also really liked Skin Tight.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

The first movie The Golden Compass is a Harry Potter like escape. I have read that if they make the second and third books into movies they plan to stick closer to the original works. That's a big if though even if the first movie recouped a lot of its US profit margin losses overseas.

Personally, the movies-- if they have some deep message about religion and authoritarianism-- should stick more to the original author's intent. That way it is harder to argue that some kind of deception is going on to get children interested in these books on false pretenses of their not being anything like the Harry Potter books.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

Tal, it was written as a direct slap towards the Narnia trilogy -- which has pretty obvious Biblical references. Both trilogies are very much based on the Christian religion -- one for, one against -- and both are geared towards children. If you look at them from a religious context, neither is innocent. If you take them at face value, both are innocent.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

For those that like Carl Haissen, and I have read all his books and enjoy his humor, try Lawrence Sanders. His McNally series is great plus he has written many others. Most all take place in Southern Florida and have the detective twist. Nelson Demille also has a wise cracking detective in many of his books and an excellent author as well. I have to get the new Ken Follett book as I have also read all of his. Lie Down with Lions was my favorite of his with Pillars of the Earth being second. And all time favorite author is James Clavell.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

Good to know, Red. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia

The movie The Golden Compass seemed rather devoid of any philosophical nuances. The book of the same name seems to get into it a lot more.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

Re. the Pullman trilogy: I have not read them because that's not my genre, but I think The Amber Spyglass, which is the third in the trilogy, is the one that really got people upset.

I know there are probably issues that could be found - with anything - but fans of fantasy fiction are just looking for a good story to follow up their main man Tolkien.

And fans of fantasy fiction are often really fast readers who will read straight through an author in record time. They seem to love the detail and the web of the genre.

I have a little theory on fantasy fiction that I have tested over the years by just talking to people who like it. Fantasy fiction often seems to be the genre of choice for those who are mathematically inclined. - engineers, etc.

I have to mention here a book that I bought last night. (Mr. BB and I need to stay away from Borders or we will never be able to afford a house in TV.) Anyway, the book is called House Lust by Daniel McGinn. It has a 2008 copyright and addresses the psychology of what we go through with our real estate. I have not started it yet so I don't know if I can recommend it or not. But it looks good to me.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

I will have to read The Amber Spyglass at some point. Have to get through the first two in the His Dark Materials series first though.

I am more of a mystery/suspense/horror fan than one of fantasy and science fiction at least in books.

Look into joining Barnes & Noble with a Membership when you get here. Think its $25 a year but you get coupons every month or so for 20 to 25% off of various items as well as weekly coupons for substantial savings off of selected usually best selling items. You also get quite a lot off of a lot of stuff as a Barnes & Noble Member. You get 40% as a member off of current hardback bestsellers.

You can then combine the monthly coupon with the Member's discount. Quite a savings.

There's a Barnes & Noble at Lake Sumter Landing in TV.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

Tal,

Thank you for the offering of advice on how to support my habit. We have a similar thing with Borders. It actually makes us spend more on books. They email these lovely little discount coupons. We find ourselves watching for them. When they make us an offer we cannot refuse, we make the pilgrimage.

A bookstore affects me like Sam's or Costco can. I find many things I did not know I needed. Once, many, many years ago, I took a parttime job at Waldenbooks. I wanted to do it for the discount. At the end of the week, I owed them money.

Boomer

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

One good thing then about moving to TV; I do not recall a Borders anywhere close to TV. You would have to drive to Gainesville, Orlando or the Tampa Bay area to find a Waldenbooks or a Borders. There's a Books-A-Million in Leesburg that's about 30 to 45 minutes from TV depending on what part of TV you are.

Re: GOOD BOOKS TO READ
 

I have to seriously limit my visiting at any bookstore, even with the discount cards I'm lucky to walk out with only two shopping bags full. Right now, I'm seriously considering flying to California to kill my best friend -- she sent me a B&N gift card for $25.00. The problem is I haven't walked into a book store for 6 months to SAVE money. Can you imagine how behind I am in book buying and what kind of damage I'm going to do to my pocketbook when I walk in there?

But for books, just finished Crisis by Robin Cook. Pretty good book.

A good poolside book is any of the Janet Evanovich books, at least for us females (doubt the men would appreciate them).

Nothing else really going right now bookwise. Guess I've taken one of my few breaks from books. May be a good thing? Now, if I could take a break from the puter!