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

[HomeInMyShoes]

Finished Terry Pratchett's Thud! last night. Pratchett makes me laugh. There were lots of them.

Started Bill Allen's How to Slay a Dragon last night. Should be a quick read and then on to something maybe more substantial.

[Ditchleyportrait]

[Nancy Fulda]

Originally Posted by orange!

Just picked out Zen in the Art of Archery from my bookshelves.

Is that any relation to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Because I liked that one a lot...

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

Is that any relation to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Because I liked that one a lot...

There's a sort of "sequel" to that one which I really liked as a travel narrative: Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

[Nancy Fulda]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

There's a sort of "sequel" to that one which I really liked as a travel narrative: Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Ooh. I'll have to check that out.

[Rumpelteazer]

As a thank you for giving my sister my old Sony eReader she bought the hardcover version of Cold Vengeance for me. She gave it to me when she came over tonight to watch Sherlock Holmes (the new BBC version). I can't wait to start tonight, even if a DTB is more cumbersome than my Kindle.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

...Right now I'm reading "Dave Barry Does Japan." In a word... hilarious!...

Yes it was. I just finished it a couple of hours ago. Well, except for chapter 10, where Dave Barry broke from his usual comedic manner and adopted a serious and solemn tone throughout the entire chapter. Then again, the subject of that chapter, "Hiroshima," was his visit to that city on the anniversary of the dropping of the bomb. Not exactly a topic that lends itself to comedy.

Dave Barry Does Japan: recommended for anyone who likes to laugh.

Thanks, Stitchawl!

Today I also finished Harry Lorayne's Ageless Memory: The Memory Expert's Prescription for a Razor-Sharp Mind. Well, I say I finished it. Really, it's one of those books that contains such valuable information that I'll be returning to for a long time to come. Highly recommended, especially for those of us who will soon be approaching middle age (I'm 61).

I also finished the latest Kindle issue of Science News today.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

As a thank you for giving my sister my old Sony eReader she bought the hardcover version of Cold Vengeance for me. She gave it to me when she came over tonight to watch Sherlock Holmes (the new BBC version). I can't wait to start tonight, even if a DTB is more cumbersome than my Kindle.

Oooohhh, those are airing already? The second set of three episodes?

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Oooohhh, those are airing already? The second set of three episodes?

No, they (both BBC and Dutch tv) are rerunning the first series. She missed those last year but I got her hooked this time around. I read that they are currently filming the second series so hopefully they'll be aired some time this winter.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Grantville Gazette, #33

Which was great, and I've just finished #34 too, and I'm going straight onto #35.

(The Dodo plot line is on-going, I hope there's another episode in #35.)

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by carld

I loved the 1634 books and have to say the thought of rescuing the dodos really caught my attention. There are good-sized previews of all the episodes available at the Gazette site here. I think I'm going to have to buy them just for this story.

Unless you want the early access granted at the Grantville Gazette site, the least expensive way to buy the Gazettes is in the bundles at http://www.webscription.net/ in the six volume bundles, which are $27, or $4.50 per issue.

[philandjan]

I thought that I'd find out if Jo Nesbo lives up to all of the hype and have just started Redbreast.

I just can't put it down!

[orange!]

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

Is that any relation to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Because I liked that one a lot...

Hi Nancy, not any relation to my knowledge (other than the common theme of Zen, of course).

However, and this is speculation on my part, since Zen in the Art of Archery was published in 1953, and I believe was pretty widely known, it's possible that Pirsig's title was an homage to Herrigel.

By the way, the Master who Herrigel studied under was named Awa Kenzo. I recently found this followup book that might be interesting.

[Fbone]

Finished The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. The first 50 pages were great then it slowed down and then reasserted itself at completion. He did get a bit over zealous in his "message" but overall the book was decent with interesting ideas. I gave it 3 stars.

On to another sci-fi oldie ... The Martian Chronicles by Bradbury.

[carld]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Unless you want the early access granted at the Grantville Gazette site, the least expensive way to buy the Gazettes is in the bundles at http://www.webscription.net/ in the six volume bundles, which are $27, or $4.50 per issue.

Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be a bundle covering the whole dodo story. I'd have to buy at least two of them.