Thread: A Good Book

Isaac Asimov
Robert Heinlein

Originally Posted by Basch

And a must read is Cryptonomicon. For those who haven't read it, please do

I loved, loved, loved Snow Crash and The Diamond Age, but I could never get through Cryptonomicron. (These are all books by Neal Stephenson, for those who don't know.) On your recommendation, though, I will give it another shot.

Currently reading Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (not that great), and listening to Paulo Coelho's The Witch of Portobello (surprisingly engaging). Next up is The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

In fact I liked them so much I have my very own dark mark.

wow, you are a huge nerd. but, I think it's unbearably cool, so I guess I'm one too

NeitherMightier-> don't worry, if xman and I can argue about public education, and jms and I can argue about communism, while remaining civil, then ANYone can argue about ANYthing and remain civil! you're just not used to the high standards of gentlemanly (or -womanly) conduct that is de rigeur around here.

For all the true bibliophiles out there (and I mean in particular Silver) I would recommend Ex Libris, by Ann Fadiman (forgive typos please). Its by no means in the league of some of the authors mentioned here but its a great book for the 'loo library' as I would put it. Its a book about books if you get my meaning.

And if you'll forgive the slight , Does anyone else have a loo library?

My loo library (aka "the cabinet under the sink") currently consists of printed out copies of the following:

• Chris Moss' guide to straight shaving
• Moler's 1926 Barber's Manual (sections on honing and stropping)
• Several pictoral guides to honing, stropping, and shaving from Joel's guide on B&B
• A crudely-drawn "grain map" of my beard

I have been studying each of those for over a month and I still find new things to learn.

Just for good measure, I also have most of the Narnia books under there...my son is almost old enough for chapter books, so I picked up a Narnia box set at a garage sale. Having never read them, I thought I would give them a go just to make sure I was comfortable with the content. I found they are perfect "loo books", so until my son is ready for them I just keep them there for quick re-reads.

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

if you'll forgive the slight , Does anyone else have a loo library?

oh yeah. my wife and I refuse to share a bathroom, so the two bathrooms are very much a ladies room and a mens room, thus the reading material in my bathroom is more suited for myself and male guests. I have no idea what the wife keeps in hers.

my throne-room library consists of light reading materials for the discerning gent... gun magazines, mostly. a few humorous books such as The Art of Manliness by Maddox (best. book. ever.) and the like.

The back of a can of Ajax.

Originally Posted by Pudu

See now, I have a 3 year old and a 10 month old and I get tons of reading done. Lately I've been immersed in Where the Wild Things Are, the Maisy and Curious George anthologies, and for those times when something a little lighter is called for, Dr. Seuss.

When the kids won't let me near their books I've lately had to settle for:

The World Without Us - Alan Weisman. Fascinating stuff, love it.
The Price of Admiralty - John Keegan. One of the best military historians.
Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution - Richard Wolfson.

I'm a big fan of Pratchett, but his latest offerings haven't had the same kind of brilliant word play that his earlier stuff does. Still, my favourite book in any genre is Good Omens. Hilarious.

Yeah, I guess Crime & Punishment didn't have enough pictures to keep my kids interested...


Melville's Paradise of Batchelors is a quick, funny read. Especially if you are married with children.

Originally Posted by jockeys

wow, you are a huge nerd. but, I think it's unbearably cool, so I guess I'm one too

There's nothing wrong with enjoying books, just so long as you can distinguish the difference between fiction and reality.

In the 4th grade I was reading books like the Prince, and Crime & Punishment... both difficult reads for any age. I also enjoyed Shakespear, and Mya Angelou. Childrens books bored me... It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I was able to go back and appreciate and really enjoy the books that didn't force me to think about them.

Now if I could just get one of the custom razor makers to design a razor that glows blue when orks are near...

Wuthering Heights blew me away. I only read it for the first time earlier this year. Wasn't expecting much thinking it would be a period chick-lit type novel. Boy was I wrong. One of the best books I have ever read and completely took over my imagination.