What Are You Reading Now? - My Quarterly Survey

7/12/10

[MplsSteve]

Hi, everyone!

It's time again for my quarterly "What Are You Reading Now?" survey.

As you know, I consider Freepers to be among the more well-read groups currently on the Internet. Each quart, I like to find out what everyone is reading.

It can be anything...a technical journal, a NY Times best-seller, a trashy pulp novel...in short, anything!

Please do not ruin this thread by posting something inane like "I'm reading this post". It became very unfunny a long time ago.

I'll start. I'm reading a historical biography called "John L Lewis: Labor Leader" by Robert Zieger. I have found it to be a real even-handed look at one of the major figures of the American labor movement during the early to mid 20th Century. The author goes as far to state that some of the problems with today's current labor unions can be traced to John L Lewis's leadership of the UMW.

Well, what are YOU reading?

[csvset]

The Civil War: A Narrative” by Shelby Foote.

Years ago, I listened to Mr. Foote reading that set on cassette tape. I'd love to listen to them again. An outstanding work.

[TexasBarak]

Let’s see- just finished the latest Dresden Files novel, “Changes”, a book on vikings, one on D-day, one on the inventor of the Erector Set, A.C. Gilbert (a fascinating man), various and sundry old magazines that I pick up here and there (Popular Science and the like, preferably from the forties and fifties, Fine Homebuilding, woodworking mags- anything about making stuff), and I’ve just picked up Red Storm Rising for a re-read.
Oh, and the other day I read “S**t My Dad Says”, which was very entertaining.

Yeah- I read a *lot*.

[csvset]

Recently finished Vanity Fair by William Thackeray .

I just started On the Road by Jack Kerouac .

[Trillian]

I Love You, Ronnie
The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan

[GOP_Raider]

Been meaning to ask you for a while now...have you ever read Harry Turtledove’s “How Few Remain”? I just purchased it recently—which wasn’t too much of a monetary investment since I paid more to have it shipped than I did for the book itself. Alternative history though it may be, I figured I’d ask you to see what you thought of it. Hope you don’t mind.

[stainlessbanner]

Always heard about the "sroll"...here's a link to the picture of Kerouac's work NPR

[stainlessbanner]

Always heard about the "sroll"...here's a link to the picture of Kerouac's work NPR

[stainlessbanner]

Looks like it's double post day on FR :)

Of course I don't mind one bit - I enjoy discussion about history books - I'm honored that you would ask.

Turtledove is popular for alternative WBTS shistory - several folks on this forum are familiar with his work. I picked up a copy of "Guns of the South" years ago, but could not see it through to completion.

Mebbe I was distracted, but I couldn't get into it. Perhaps I've just debated all the "what-ifs" here on FR. General Lee with AK is amusing to me, but I dunno.

I'm interested in what you think of "How Few Remain" I've never read it. I might just pick up "Guns" and give it another try.

[GOP_Raider]

There is a reason why I would ask about it, and it’s due to the books later on in that series, which is called the “Timeline-191” I believe—based on what would have happened if the battle plans before Sharpsburg/Antietam hadn’t been discovered by Federal troops, thereby leading to a Confederate victory there and in turn the War.

In subsequent books in the series, a subsequent president of the CSA would rise to power in a similar manner to how Adolf Hitler in Germany. The character abolishes the Confederate Supreme Court and makes himself President for Life of the CSA. Of course, he seeks to set out to exterminate the black population and puts them in concentration camps somewhere in Texas.

What I really wonder is if this series, albeit a work of fiction, would have really been something that could have happened in the CSA? I could be completely off base here, but I can’t really see that type of autocracy going over too well among Southerners.

Once I’m done with Foote’s 2nd volume and I start “How Few Remain” I’ll have to send you a FReepmail message with my feelings on it. I’ll probably have it all done by the time of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. :)

[cycjec]

I have been looking for such a guide for quite a while.
Thank you.

[SunkenCiv]

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