Posted on 02/24/2005 6:11:45 PM PST by Tanniker Smith
Welcome to the Free Republic Book Club.
It was suggested a couple of days ago, in the FReeper's Book Rockets Up Amazon After Ingraham Show! thread (somewhere toward the end) that it would be great if there FR Book Club. Somehow, I think I got nominated to start one. I don't really know how to do that other than just to go ahead and do it. So I am -- please, feel free to point out mistakes, or point out how to make a "ping" list for folks that want to be a part of this.
Anyway, if there are no complaints, I think it would be better to have a Book Club rather than a Conservative Book Club (or a Republican Book Club or a Libertarian Book Club, etc). Yes, let's focus on the bounty of conservative books that we didn't have even a dozen years ago, but if anyone wants to occasionally talk about a mystery or SF book, it won't be off topic (unless The Powers That Be decide that it is, at least at FR). I don't know about anyone else, but the majority of my reading is composed of other stuff, as can be seen on this thread: Books Read in 2004 (Read Any Good Books Lately?)
Other than that, I have only one ground rule: judge (or slam) the books themselves, not the authors. The latter is way too easy, and beside the point. Likewise, I know the opinions folks have of Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly, but please separate the books from the people, particularly if you haven't read them.
So what should we discuss first?
ping-list test ping
Unfit For Command by John E. O`Neill
Every one read that one so moving right along
For Shame (The Loss of Common Decency in American Culture) By James B Twitchell
Enjoyable but it will make you squirm a bit.
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Ok not exactly a conservative book but this one book gave me more insight into why our nation's government is structured the way it is. And why having a great system is better then having a great leader. Great (or level 5 leaders) are needed to build the system but they build it with the view that they are not going to be around forever so they build it so it will withstand a poor leader.
I swear every GOP leader should read this book.
But seriously, now...here's a few excellent books you should check out:
--"THE LAW" by Frederic Bastiat (written in 1850; you can also find it on the Constitution Society's web page);
--"THE CONSTITUTIONAL THOUGHT OF THOMAS JEFFERSON", by David N. Meyer;
--"BASIC AMERICAN GOVERNMENT", by Clarence Carson;
--"LOST RIGHTS: THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN LIBERTY", by James Bovard;
--"THE REAL LINCOLN", by Thomas DiLorenzo; &
--"A REPUBLIC, NOT AN EMPIRE", by Pat Buchanan
Great! Shall we discuss Burn24's idea? Cities of the Plain is a good start, and in fact the other two of the trilogy as well.
Let's have a certain take on it; for instance, 'Cities Of The Plain as a quest novel'. I believe All The Pretty Horses and The Crossing were also Quest novels;
Quest novels have a central figure who strikes out in search of something -- and finds both helpers and those who impede him/her alng the way.
In Cities of the Plain young Grady is clearly searching out the flip side of the girl he lost in Pretty Horses. McCarthy's language, his sense of landscape, of doomed causes, is so remarkable.
Another suggestion; for those wanting to enhance the discussion, you can shoot over to Amazon, look up the book in question, read customer comments and a review, and pop back here with questions of whatever.
Amazon is a great tool
"Persecution: How Liberals are Waging War Against Christianity" by David Limbaugh
Could you add me to your ping list when you make it? Thanks! :)
Tell me more.
Ping successful!
Will check back in later. Cheers for the FR Book Club!
(For all of you interested in Burn24's suggestion, jump over to Amazon to check out Cities of the Plain).
Freeper LS's "A Patriot's History of America" and his upcoming "September Day".
Freeper Travis McGee's "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" and his upcoming "Domestic Enemies".
Freeper James Macomber's "Art & Part" and "Bargained for Exchange".
The entire "Prelude to Glory" series (all nine volumes) about the revoultionary war and constitutional convention by Carter.
All of Michael and Jeff Shaara's books about the Revolutionary and Civil wars.
James Alexander Thom's "Long Knife" and "Pamnther in the Sky" novels about George Rogers Clark and Tecumseh respectively.
Norman Shwarzkopf's "It doesn't take a Hero".
John Eisenhower's, "So far from God", about the Mexican American War.
Tyrone Martin's, "A Most Fortunate SHip", about the USS Constitution.
Samuel Elliot Morison's, "The Two Ocean War", about the US Navy in World War II.
...and finally, all of Allan Eckert's "Winning America" series, starting with, "The Frontiersman".
I can't remember the last fictional book I read, so I will live vicariously through this thread.
Thanks for the ping---I was one of the ones on the other thread that urged you to start this Book Club, so I am very happy to see you started it---
Like everyone, I have read Unfit for Command, and I read Tommy Franks book----
The reason I chose Txsleuth as my screen name is because I have been a member of the Mystery Guild Book Club for years--mysteries are my favorite kind of fiction--
I especially like psychological and medical thrillers---so I am definitely open to discussing fiction---
Bttt
If you like fiction with a message, State of Fear by Michael Crighton was good - I particularly liked the charts, graphs, and checkable sites for debunking the global warming nuts.
This is a great idea and I'd like to be added to your ping list.
Speaking of staying on topic, did you hear the one about... ?
;^D
What do you think about "The Case For Democracy" so far? I've just begun reading it myself.
Admittedly, I'm not that far into it. I won't be reading anything other than textbooks until I get through the three exams I have next week. What's your impression, though?
1. Please add me to the ping list.
2. I would like to second (or third ... or fourth) squarebarb's suggestion. Political books, particularly current books, are going to be discussed here anyway. Literature may not.
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