What are you currently reading?

[Brian]

The Pirate World: A History of the Most Notorious Sea Robbers (2019) by Angus Konstam - I've loved pirates since boyhood and could not resist this new book on the topic; plus, living just hours from the Carolina coast where Blackbeard roamed furthers the interest - looking forward to starting this one soon!  Dave

I read a fun little book a couple years ago called, I think, "The Invisible Hook: The Economics of Pirates" - would recommend that!

$229 for a collection of 70+ year old recordings?

Everything on that label is outrageously expensive. I see a set of Rattle conducting the four Schumann symphonies for $53.

[SonicMan46]

I read a fun little book a couple years ago called, I think, "The Invisible Hook: The Economics of Pirates" - would recommend that!

Everything on that label is outrageously expensive. I see a set of Rattle conducting the four Schumann symphonies for $53.

Thanks Brian for the recommendation - sounds like the book below - will put on my 'Kindle list' -   Dave
.

[Ken B]

Thanks Brian for the recommendation - sounds like the book below - will put on my 'Kindle list' -   Dave
.

Interesting book.

[SimonNZ]

Finished:




Started:

[geralmar]

1999

The more I read by Clarke the smaller he becomes.  It becomes abundantly clear in reading this 500+ page book he was his own greatest admirer.  Decades ago when I was in junior high school, the schoolmate son of a respected academic told me his father had recently met Clarke at a scientific conference and the author was greatly offended that the father had no idea who he (Clarke) was.

As the subtitle indicates, the book is a collection of Clarke's published brief essays and writings (110) over six decades.  Breezily written, the essays strike me as mostly vapid and I especially tired of his travelogue writings on Ceylon since obviously I will never be privileged or important enough (like Clarke) to live there.  His observations on science fiction writing and science (especially on rocketry and space exploration) are certainly interesting and worthwhile; but not particularly original, and his earlier essays, while reasonably and commendably accurate about the future, do not make him a prophet.  I was amused by the photograph selection in the middle of the book.  Except for the first, which showed a young Clarke in military uniform, every photo that followed could be captioned, "The author shaking hands with xxx celebrity/dignitary."  I did find interesting his experiences with Kubrick on 2001 and the sequel; but they amount to only a few pages.  In fairness to Clarke, he refers the reader to a previous book. 

The book gets generally positive reviews, however, so maybe I'm just being curmudgeonly.  I left science fiction along with my youth long ago and therefore did not approach Clarke with particular reverence.  I do hope, however, to find "A Fall of Moondust".   I started it in junior high and would like to finish it some day.

[Florestan]

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I have never read Stendhal yet (although I have, of course, heard of him). Is he good?

[Florestan]

Is he good?

Excellent! 

[LKB]

I just finished rereading Failure is not an Option, by Gene Kranz. For anyone interested in the American manned space program ( the " race to the Moon " ) during the 1960's, l would say this book is indispensable.

3... 2... 1...,

LKB

[ritter]

Starting this:

[asin]2072846781[/asin]
This recently released book by critic Thierry Laget, dealing with the controversy surrounding the awarding of the Prix Goncourt to Marcel Proust for À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleur (Within a Budding Grove) in 1919 has received excellent reviews in France. What nowadays would be seen as nothing more than a historical footnote, is apparently used to give an insightful account of French literary life at the time, and unveil some hitherto unexplored angles about Proust the man and his relationship to the establishment and the press. There's a mention this treatise is published "under the direction of Jean-Yves Tadié" (arguably the greatest living Proust scholar)

[aligreto]

I have just finished reading Carlos Ruiz Zafón: The Labyrinth of the Spirits  [Translated from the Spanish by Lucia Graves]





This has been one of the most compelling reads that I have experienced in many years. The style of writing is [in English anyway] quite simple and flowing and easily lends itself to storytelling. This may have a lot to do with the translation which, if this is true, seems excellent; I don't know. The power of the writing gives great impact to the visualization process which can be powerfully cinematic in places. The characters are well rounded, believable and engaging. This was one of those books where I was torn between wanting to hurriedly devour and simultaneously prolong the enjoyment for as long as possibly.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

This is first George Eliot novel that I've read.

[aligreto]

This is first George Eliot novel that I've read.

I have not read that one in a long time but I do remember liking it for its strong characterization.

[Zeus]

Bad Blood - The Theranos scandal in glorious detail!

[Ken B]

Bad Blood - The Theranos scandal in glorious detail!

I found that a real page turner.

TD: Ten Great Ideas About Chance
Diaconis & Skyrms
A dense but so far excellent historical look at foundational ideas in probability.

[Brian]

My gf also thought the Theranos book was a great read. She kept reading me passages from it while I tried to read my own book   

I update her on Holmes stories now. She is happily dating some poor oblivious guy.

[SimonNZ]

Finished:



Started:



as well as still picking away at the Swafford Beethoven biography off and on

[Ken B]

The Shamed interests me. We seem to have settled on Gladys Kravitz as our new role model. Was it worth reading?

[Daverz]

The Shamed interests me. We seem to have settled on Gladys Kravitz as our new role model. Was it worth reading?

I thought conservatives were all for public shaming.  Well, except when it's directed at them apparently.

[SimonNZ]

The Shamed interests me. We seem to have settled on Gladys Kravitz as our new role model. Was it worth reading?

In a freewheeling, non-scholarly way it's actually very good. Somehow I was expecting something much more frivolous, but he chooses his case studies well and with empathy  - and with much self criticism for having himself long been part of the righteous online shaming brigade. Interesting views on the various types of public shaming, the deserving and undeserving, and who gets to rebuild their lives and who never does and why. And of the unforgetting and unforgiving memory of the internet.