Posted on 01/23/2024 5:03:13 AM PST by Tanniker Smith
A long time ago, there was a Free Republic Book Club ... mostly because I opened my mouth and a bunch of people told me to organize one. I haven't pinged it in a long time. (Actually, another book club started, so I stopped.)
Any way, has anyone read any good books lately. Fiction, non-fiction, genre, mainstream. Anything you want to share?
Has anyone WRITTEN any good books that the rest of us should check out?
That’s a long book series.
I’d like to go there. On another thread, I’m currently rooting for a meteor strike.
It’s a toss up…
A great compliment to Wealth of Nations is The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek.
“Everybody should read and understand Lord of the Rings.”
I read the books as a teenager, but as an adult, I watch the movies at least annually - extended versions.
Peter Jackson directed that franchise brilliantly!
I’ll give that one some consideration. I’m only 270 or so pages into Wealth of Nations.
Peter Jackson did a wonderful job technically, but he didn’t teach any of the messages that Tolkien wanted taught. Tolkien would not have liked the movies because they were lacking in the spiritual messages.
They were otherwise enjoyable.
I started reading the Alex McKnight detective novels by Steve Hamilton. The main character is a former cop making his living renting out cabins in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. But also does private detective work. Decent light reading.
DeMille has always been one of my favorite authors beginning with Charm School.
His series with John Corey I loved too mostly because he dismisses the FBI.
In the current pipeline:
The Devils of Loudun - Alduos Huxley
The Rape of the Mind: The Psychology of Thought Control, Menticide, and Brainwashing — Joost Meerloo
The Camp of The Saints - Jean Raspail
...and don’t neglect the remainder of his series of Eastern indian nations of the time, six more equally educational and thrilling reads. I remain in awe if the research gone into all of his works!
I have enjoyed Philbrick’s books.
The Autobiography of St Teresa of Avila. It was on my Christmas list and one of the kids got it for me after complaining that my list was boring!
John Ringo’s Black Tide Rising series, Larry Correia’s Forgotten Warrior Saga, ReRead Lloyd Alexanders Chronicles of Prydain, and Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. Also read a few anthologies of short stories from Baen Publishing.
Reading “Trust And Treachery” by Kraeger & Barnhart.
It’s about Roger Williams. Biographical, but written in the style of a novel.
Love Father Brown. Also been listening to the Audible audiobook collection of Sherlock Holmes read by Stephen Fry its really enjoyable.
I probably should read Dune again. Its been so long I hardly remember what the story is.
My first time reading Leo Tolstoy - what a delightful author, not gloomy like Dostoyevsky.
Also cracking open Amity Schlae's biography of Calvin Coolidge.
Yeah, fine books.. They would make a very good movie series, but the entire cast would probably go to jail right after.. :)
It’s one of my favorites. I guess top three are Dune, LotR, and 1984.
Has anyone WRITTEN any good books that the rest of us should check out?
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Best writers in the English language:
Lawrence Durrell - “The Alexandria Quartet”; all his other books
Nikos Kazantzakis - “The Odyssey, a Modern Sequel”
Gene Wolfe - “The Book of the New Sun”; “The Book of the Long Sun”; “The Book of the Short Sun”
Joyce Carry - “The Horse’s Mouth”; “Herself Surprised”
Egyptology:
Robert Temple - “Egyptian Dawn”; “The Sphinx Mystery”
SyFy:
Cixin Liu - “Three Body Problem” trilogy (the TV series comes in March)
Stephen Baxter - “Xeelee”
Extended SyFy reading:
Gregory Benford - “Into the Ocean of Night” series.
James SA Corey - “The Expanse” - all 9 volumes.
Currently rereading King David’s Spaceship by Jerry Pournelle.
Books I’d recommend, in no particular order of preference:
Any historical fiction by Kenneth Roberts.
Anything by George MacDonald Fraser, but especially the Flashman books.
Anything by John Ringo.
Adam Hall’s Quiller spy fiction.
Anything by P. G. Wodehouse, not just the Jeeves stories.
I could go on and on. My wife and I love to read, but it’s hard keeping the thousands of books shelved and organized.
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