Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[David Munch]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I Just finished _The Pillars of the Earth_ by Ken Follett. I'm not quite sure how to classify this book. It wasn't a mystery nor fantasy nor science fiction nor thriller. However it was an epic story and struggle of good (or were they) vs evil (or where they).

I give this book 4.5 of 5 stars. It is a book you won't want to put down. It will make you feel good and it will make you feel sad. It will make you smile and it will make you cry.

Highly recommended, read it.

I second this. It is probably my favorite book at the moment. I finished it for the second time about a month ago, and I am currently reading the sequel. But 4.5/5 is probably also what I would give it... Maybe a 5/5.

Originally Posted by neilmarr

If *Pillars of the Earth* was up your street, PilotBob, you'd love Follett's recent follow-up, *World Without End*. It's set in a slightly later period but picks up on some of the threads and characters in the earlier work. Highly recommended. Cheers. Neil

Being 3/4ths through the book, I'm not really so impressed as with the first one. Most of the characters are exactly the same as in the first one, and the problems they face are also of the same sort. Its good, but it is nowhere near PotE.

[lilac_jive]

I just started "The Secret of Lost Things" by Sheridan Hay, which I picked up at the library. I saw that on the spine there were old book spines, so I took a look at it (into books about books right now). Only a few pages in and it seems pretty good so far.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mason

Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara

It seems as if at least one chapter in The Evolution of God by Robert Wright could have been entitled, "Gods and Genitals.” (See https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...0&postcount=24.)

[poohbear_nc]

I've started "And Another Thing" -- the authorized addition to the H2G2 "trilogy" by Eoin Colfer - and I have to say he's captured Douglas Adams' style to a T -- combining slap-stick silliness with technical innovations we all wish existed to bringing back the characters we love, etc.

Anyone who could conceive a scenario with Cthulhu in a job interview worrying about the problem of maintaining eye contact without sucking out the soul of the interviewer deserves the mantle of carrying on the endless trilogy of the endless Earth.

I hope Colfer continues on with the next trilogy in this series!

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I've started "And Another Thing" -- the authorized addition to the H2G2 "trilogy" by Eoin Colfer - and I have to say he's captured Douglas Adams' style to a T ...

I'm glad you posted that. I had mentioned in another thread that the book was coming out, but I hadn't checked for it lately. As of NOW, it's on my Kindle and waiting for me!

Thanks!

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

Have you read "The Historian", by Elizabeth Kostova? I read it a few years ago, and enjoyed it very much.

Yes, I have read it, too. It was quite good.

One of the best books about books - or rather a 'book' that is a very holy sapphire stone tablet - is the French 'Le Livre Saphir' by Gilbert Sinoué. I'm afraid it's not translated into English, but I can find it in it's original French and a German translation at amazon.de. There might well be more translations - I know there is a Danish It's about three old, wise men, a jew, a muslim and a christian, who searches for this tablet, with an agent from the Spanish inquisition hot on their heels.

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I finished Great Tales From English History: The Truth About King Arthur, Lady Godiva, Richard the Lionheart, and More by Robert Lacey. I have always loved history and this book recounts important events, great attrocities and funny annecdotes from the early English history.[/I]

I bought this book yesterday from your recommendation. Not into it yet, but the sample from Amazon was promising.

[LazyScot]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I Just finished _The Pillars of the Earth_ by Ken Follett. <snip>
Highly recommended, read it.
BOb

Originally Posted by HarryT

Superb book - one of my favourites. It has a sequel, "World Without End", set in the same city, 200 years later, which is also well worth reading.

Thanks Harry and BOb, Ken Follett has been one of those authors on my list but whom I've never yet read. I'll take that as a strong encouragment to make sure there is at least one of his on my Christmas pile.

Currently romping though The Three Musketeers (sad, I know, but I've never read it before) and really enjoying it, in between chapters of Iain Bank's Raw Spirit.

[lilac_jive]

I've got Pillars of the Earth in my books to read in 2010 pile, because of all the good press it's gotten on here.

[HarryT]

It's a bit strange, really. Ken Follett mainly writes "thrillers" (he wrote "Capricorn One", which I'm sure you've seen the movie of, about a "faked" mission to Mars?). He just happens to have also written "Pillars of the Earth", which is a complete contrast to his usual output, and absolutely wonderful. There aren't many authors who can write in two such completely different genres.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's a bit strange, really. Ken Follett mainly writes "thrillers" (he wrote "Capricorn One", which I'm sure you've seen the movie of, about a "faked" mission to Mars?). He just happens to have also written "Pillars of the Earth", which is a complete contrast to his usual output, and absolutely wonderful. There aren't many authors who can write in two such completely different genres.

Well there are, but they usually are not as out in the open about it, they use pseudonyms.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I'm glad you posted that. I had mentioned in another thread that the book was coming out, but I hadn't checked for it lately. As of NOW, it's on my Kindle and waiting for me!

Thanks!

Be prepared - once you start it you WON'T want to put it down!! It's fun!

[omk3]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I've started "And Another Thing" -- the authorized addition to the H2G2 "trilogy" by Eoin Colfer - and I have to say he's captured Douglas Adams' style to a T -- combining slap-stick silliness with technical innovations we all wish existed to bringing back the characters we love, etc.

Anyone who could conceive a scenario with Cthulhu in a job interview worrying about the problem of maintaining eye contact without sucking out the soul of the interviewer deserves the mantle of carrying on the endless trilogy of the endless Earth.

I hope Colfer continues on with the next trilogy in this series!

Does he really compare to Douglas Adams? I've been looking at the book for some time, but cannot convince myself to read it. I'm not sure I like the idea of the "continuation" of the work of dead authors by others. Would they approve, were they alive? I tried to read Poodle Springs for example (Raymond Chandler continued by Robert Parker) and I really couldn't get into it. Some people just can't be substituted.
But then, if people who liked Adams think it's good, maybe I'll give it a try.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by omk3

Does he really compare to Douglas Adams? I've been looking at the book for some time, but cannot convince myself to read it. I'm not sure I like the idea of the "continuation" of the work of dead authors by others. Would they approve, were they alive? I tried to read Poodle Springs for example (Raymond Chandler continued by Robert Parker) and I really couldn't get into it. Some people just can't be substituted.
But then, if people who liked Adams think it's good, maybe I'll give it a try.

I do think Colfer matches Adams' wit & whimsy. I'm about half-way through - and laughing out loud.
I share your disappointment with other attempts to continue a dead author's series, but this one IMHO hits the mark. I'm hooked. Give it a try!

[omk3]

I will, thanks!

[MelC]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I am not an Oprah fan (I don't DISlike her, I'm just not a fan), but some of her books club picks have been fantastic. My favourites are "Middlesex" (Eugenides), which is one my favourite books in general, and "I Know This Much is True" (Wally Lamb). I am thinking about picking up the "Edgar Sawtelle" book.

I also really enjoyed all three of those although I don't think I was aware that any of them were Oprah picks. I recommend brushing up on your Hamlet before reading Edgar Sawtelle (and stocking up on kleenex).

Mel