Today i reread the maintenance instructions for an Arjo patient lift. Damn I gotta get a life!
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Today i reread the maintenance instructions for an Arjo patient lift. Damn I gotta get a life!
Last month, I've finally managed to read 'Catch 22', which was missing on my list for far too long. This was followed by 'Norwegian Wood' by the Japanese write Murakami. And currently, I am catching up on one of my old favourites, the various cases (short stories) of Sherlock Holmes in the second compilation called 'The Return of ..'
'Rollin' yer Swag' by William C.F Cowen, a memoir of his own life growing up and working in Western Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Mick
That there are Matt...Been sorting a few of those that I own today. Not enough bookcases here, so a little re-arranging is happening, and space being made on other shelf spaces for books. What I wouldn't give for one of those old fashioned reading rooms, with floor to ceiling, wall to wall bookcases! :)
Mick
The latest FF&G mag. Fur Fish & Game
Like Jimmy I am working my way through the Bible. I have a bookmark in the OT and the NT. I try to get some of it daily, time permitting. I am also reading "Boehnhoffer" by Metaxas. It is about Dietrich Boehnhoffer who was a pastor in pre 3rd Reich Germany who plotted to assassinate Hitler. God book, but very detailed and deep.
Currently I am reading myself typing "currently I am reading myself typing" "currently I am reading my self typing" "currently I am reading myself typing". :)
Aside from that I am reading "smiley's people" by john le carre.
I'm currently reading course texts and proofreading syllabi for courses I will begin teaching next week.
The Death of Sweet Mister by Daniel Woodrell
What am I reading? Every week and a half I go to the local library and bring home 4 to 7 books whose cover blurbs seem interesting. If I am not interested or fascinated by the time I've read 24 pages it goes on the reject pile. Prefer good sci-fi, well thought out detective mysteries and the occasional surprise in the general category. Above all there must be "real" dialogue between characters to move the plot along. I detest the endless pages of characterization and introspection many authors use to fill of pages (makes you think they are getting paid by the page) before they reveal any of the characters, plot and dialogue. Two current favorite authors tho are J D Robb, she writes futuristic murder mysteries (real name Nora Roberts) and Harry Turtledove who writes alternate history/science fiction. Did a fascinating history on the US if the confederate war went a different way.
I agree with you. I have spent many a night TRYING to read one of the so called classics or one of the top 100 books ever written. I might give them a little more than 24 pages though!
This leads to also why I will not bother to read a book twice. [I have done it. See my previous post about an instruction manual. ;)] To me a good author will get their point across the first time.
My nook,I gave 700 lbs of books to the local school last week,my nook wgts about 8 ozs.
you have a good point but for me there is something about the actual book in my hands.
At least I should get rid of 3/4ths of my book collection that is much more than 700 lbs! :dropjaw::rofl2:
I have said I don't read books twice but I have a strong affinity to the ones I like. [And ones i don't]
I have a strong repulsion of the idea that some computer somewhere is in control. Or my batteries might go dead and my library is gone.
is alot to be said for the actual hardbound copy.I have 400 books on the nook hardrive,my batt dies on occasion,all is still there when I charge it back up.
I'm reading an antique book entitled "TO HELL WITH FISHING" by Ed Zern who, only a few of you will remember for his "Exit Laughing" column in Field and Stream magazine. Exit Laughing was a one-page article on the last page of Field and Stream mag for 30 years.
I have a copy of his "To Hell With Fishing" which was first published in 1945, the year I was born. Absolutely funny, humorous writer. He died in 1994.
Reading a book by Juliet Barker, "Agincourt: The King, the Campaign, the Battle," fascinating read about really a rather small battle, with little gain, yet still resounds as one of the greatest most memorable battle of all times.
Also, the importance of the English Long Bow, and it's devastating consequences is fascinating.
I heard tell that you don't really 'own' a digital book. At any time the e-reader company can decide to delete your account. There was a recent case of this with Kindle deleting a users account due to the user apparently having a conflicting account. This was proved to be untrue, yet it took a long fight for the user to get their account re-instated.
The English had nothing to do with it. The Welsh were the first to use what is now commonly referred to as a 'Longbow', though they didn't invent it as such. The English used Welsh Longbowmen until such time as they were able to train up their own, though the Welsh were the masters of this bow for a long time.
Mick
@Mick
That's right - it clearly mentions the Welsh as first to use the Longbow and train others and there were many Welshmen at Agincourt! I'm usually much better with my facts....must be getting tired!
Thanks Mick for clearing that up - that's an important point!
As a Welshie who also enjoys archery, I'm just a bit finicky about the name 'English' Longbow when I read it. I see it as a common, but knowingly so, mistake that everyone is happy to compound upon...And it irritates me. However, you don't need to apologise, I just shouldn't be so picky about it. ;)
I'm currently reading another book (Doubling up on reading material. Got two books on the go.) called 'Everything I know about writing' by John Marsden. A basic guide on how to write books without making common errors.
Mick
@Mick
Thanks! However, points like that are really important, IMO, reminds me of the movie, Animal House when John Belushi's character shouts: "What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
As for the e-reader, I've got a Kobo, has about 400-500 books on it, came with 125 built in! I love the thing, yes, once in awhile I get caught with the, "charge your ereader" message, which is a drag, but it will fully charge in about three hours and last weeks!
As for the account deletion, haven't heard of that but anything's possible I guess.
Now, not reflecting on previous statements here, but I've had some discussions with the hipster crowds who disdain e-books, along with most other corporations or corporate products, with, ofcourse the exception of Apple and Starbucks, and they say, "the feel of a real book argument."
I just find it funny, aside from their raging against the machine (great band) with a Latte in one hand and their iPhone in the other (many also with their parents money), that anything that saved the huge environmental cost of manufacturing and distributing books would be a good thing. Well, their hipsters, what can one say...every generation has their own, and aside from their two emotions, disdain, and utter disdain, I think their interesting kids!
I read recently The division of Christendom "Christianity in the sixteenth century" H.J. Hillenbrand. Fascinating. I've just picked off the shelf The Confessions of Saint Augustine. After this read I want to read some fiction, the fun stuff.
I have been discussing Neal Stephenson's books with a friend recently. I particularly liked Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle. The former book is about code-breaking and computers in WW2, plus data banks and treasure hunting in the present. The Baroque Cycle explores Natural Philosophy, money, and vagabondry in England and Europe during the Baroque period.
Patrick O'Brian: The Truelove
James A. Michener: Centennial
Revolutionaries by Jack Rackove. Great insight into our founding fathers and what eventually led to their founding of the United States.
I just reread my Puff The Magic Dragon pop up book. My grandson loves it but I have to be careful he doesn't wreck it. It is signed by Peter Yarrow. I have a shelf for signed books and it sits next to The Enola Gay by Paul W. Tibbets. I laugh every time I see them. I wonder if I should move one or both. They might spontaneously combust being in that close of proximity. :thinking:
Great read leadduck. I know Jack.
This is a great read too. Check it out.
Amazon.com: Conquered into Liberty: Two Centuries of Battles along the Great Warpath that Made the American Way of War (9780743249904): Eliot A. Cohen: Books
Adam Carolla, In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks Great observational humor with a hint of curmudegonly anti-PC political commentary (without being overtly political) A great light read.
This weekend I'm reading Nick Hornby's Slam.
I like this writer,he keeps it light and humorous, but still has something to say about society today.
Some time ago I read Richard Mason's "The Drowning People". I guess it will be the best and scariest book I read this year. Scary not in the sense of murderers behind each corner, but human behaviour and how jealousy can drive you to manipulate others. I would recommend it to anyone!
The Incorporation of America: Culture and Society in the Gilded Age by Alan Trachtenberg.
Just started the latest Harry Turtledove series, The War That Came Early. This one titled Two Fronts. An interesting take on alternate history, detailed by following a number of individuals from all sides of the conflict while detailing alternate paths of WW II. Slow reading, a lot of characters to keep track of but still riveting in my mind.
"When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty" by Joni Eareckson Tada.
Highly recommended!
Very sad to hear of the death of Seamus Heaney today. First and foremost of course he was a poet - one of the greatest of his generation. But as a mediaevalist, my thoughts upon hearing this news turned immediately to Beowulf. Before his, all translations of Beowulf (that I'm aware of) were either slaves to the translator's notion of poetry that disregarded the beauty of the language, or slaves to the idea of literally translating the language, that sacrificed the wonder of the poem. He found a beautiful balance. If you have never read Beowulf, you really should as it is a fantastic story (not to mention a foundational text of the English language and all that...). And if you want to read it in translation, read Heaney's version.
All of this to say: I'll be re-reading Beowulf today.