What's Everyone Reading?

I wish they would not overstate things so.........Ernesto Guevara was a grandly misguided idealist.............a convert to the religion of Marxism, one who actually could actually remember and the night of his Road to Damascus conversion, and even called his beliefs a "faith"

Yes, he was self-absorbed, and could be extremely violent..........he chose the role of guerilla fighter over his assigned role of doctor to the rebels.

He was known from the time of his youth as a dare-devil, simply without fear. The accusations of cowardice say more about the authors' desire to demean him on every possible aspect than anything else.

When all is said and done, he was a tragic figure..................a man devoted to an ideal he thought would be the saviour of all mankind, a man who sacrificed himself, and numerous others to an ideology that saved no one.......

If being a deluded loser gets you a t-shirt, then Che deserves one.

No Country for Old Men by CORMAC McCARTHY

Money to Burn by James Grippando

"Pinheads and Patriots" by Bill O'Reilley.

Fear Itself by WALTER MOSLEY

Three books currently...

House Rules by Jodi Picoult - Loved My Sister's Keeper from her as it was a pretty emotional read. Now I'm onto her recent novel as I find it pretty hilarious, even though it's mostly about a murder case. Probably the reason why I find it hilarious is because it's a bit of a personal read for me since I can kinda relate to the main character in some ways, (He has Asperger's Syndrome).

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - Thought I would see what the fuss is all about with this series. Haven't gotten too far in it, however.

The Shining by Stephen King - Am I the only one who's not too fond of this thriller by the Kinger? I'll admit, it has gotten a bit more interesting but it sure feels a bit slow. I'm still going to read through it as I'm wanting to go through all of King's bibliography. Besides, I did have some small issues before with 'Salem's Lot and look what happened then...I ended up loving it!

"Last Call" by James Grippando

Jodi Piccoult is a good author.

The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

Nothing of any substance at all. I always read fantasy recreationally. I find it very relaxing.

I'm really glad I dropped into this thread tonight, I didn't know there was a bio of Dave van Ronk, I'll certainly try to find that. I loved that guy, he was a genius, mentor to the likes of Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Joni MItchell... I started out with a guitar, seems like a hundred years ago now, trying to play "One Meatball" the way he did. It's on YouTube, and it's brilliant.

Right now I'm re-reading a whole lot of Maeve Binchy. I love the way she intertwines the lives of all her characters into half a dozen subplots that initially don't seem to have much to do with each other, then she neatly ties it all up into a happy ending. I like happy endings.

Great to see that Dave von Ronk is fondly remembered as he was, indeed, a huge influence on many artists of that era.

I just started reading:

A Summer of Hummingbirds: Love, Art, and Scandal in the Intersecting Worlds of Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Martin Johnson Heade


by Christopher Benfey.

Amazon.com: A Summer of Hummingbirds: Love, Art, and Scandal in the Intersecting Worlds of Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Martin Johnson Heade (978159420160: Christopher Benfey: Books

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Grifter's Game (previously published as Mona) by LAWRENCE BLOCK

"The Reversal", by the greatest mystery writer of our time, Michael Connelly.

What poll did you get that from? Surely not greater than Arthur Conan Doyle!

JLM, ever occurred to you to look before you leap?

I said the greatest mystery writer of OUR TIME.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born May 22nd, 1859 and died July 7th, 1930.

Surely even you can not be old enough to call that time frame OUR TIME.

Sorry, I always envisioned the 20th century as being "our time" - loosely speaking. (I still have vivid recollections of my great aunt who was born in 1864)

I have just about all the works of Lawrence Block in my library.

He rates right up there with Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Vince Flynn and David Baldacci.

I've read about 45-50 of Block's books, but there's still plenty left to read.

I prefer Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series to his stand alone novels.

I've only read Baldacci's 'Absolute Power' - great book, that is a bit different (extra characters) to the equally enjoyable Clint Eastwood/Gene Hackman movie of the same name.

And I've read Connelly's 'Blood Work' - coincidentally also made into a movie by/starring Clint Eastwood. I'll have to get around to reading 'Void Moon' and 'The Poet' soon.

But there are always too many James Sallis, George Pelecanos, Don Winslow, Jeffery Deaver, Walter Mosley, James Lee Burke, Tim Dorsey, etc., books that I just have to read first.

Currently reading: You Could Call It Murder by LAWRENCE BLOCK

Currently Reading: Parliamentary Democracy in Crisis, by Peter H. Russell, and Lorne Sossin

It's essentially a collection of academic essays, discussing whether or not the decision of The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the 27th Governor General to prorogue the 1st Session of the 40th Parliament, on the advice of The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister, was constitutionally correct.

As a special treat for the reader, too, Parliamentary Democracy in Crisis features an insightful foreward by The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson P.C., C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the 26th Governor General (arguably one of the Office's most influential viceroys). The book takes a rather balanced approach, offering arguments suggesting both that (a) the Governor General followed the correct course of action and, alternatively, that (b) the Governor General should have refused his advice, with some even suggesting that Mr. Harper should have been dismissed by royal prerogative.

On Killing Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

A little light reading.

Unhinged

The Naked and The Dead, Norman Mailer.
After the first few chapters I thought I wouldn't make it through as the plot was dwelling on one campaign in WWII south pacific. It soon diverted to past snippets of each characters life prior to enlisting. I'm about half way through 626 pages.

I was in the process of reading "The Apostle" by Brad Thor, but a recent event in my life made me to pick up "Chicken Soup For The Pet Lover's Soul".

"-- by Gregory Paul.

Just when you thought it was safe to walk in the woods this Christmas, or to vote Conservative!

So that is why there is an upper and lower house?

Ahhh, the Houses! Proof positive that man and dinosaurs coexist.

They still do. In the Sixties, Jim Morrison declared himself the Lizard King. Things haven't been the same since.

There were lizards everywhere. Some red lizards bred with blue lizards which made purple lizards that now live in California (sometimes Aspen).

Then some red lizards bred with yellow lizards and created the Canadian orange lizard and amongst them all there are still pure red and blue lizards hiding in old folks homes and churches.

And l--?

Looks like a nice place to retire. No?

These will turn green when they fully mature.