Finally finished, based on recommendations here. Decent escapism. I'll be traveling soon, so should be picking up more in the series.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?
- Thread starter Huntn
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Finally finished, based on recommendations here. Decent escapism. I'll be traveling soon, so should be picking up more in the series.
And have just finished "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" - a charming book with some truly chilling vignettes - great fun to re-visit these classics on such a day; now, as an adult, there is a glass of aged, smooth, tawny coloured Single Harvest 1972 Graham's port to hand as I read, lost in a wonderful world.
I picked up this book about a month ago at a random used bookstore for $6 without much expectation for it. I bought it mainly for the cover and the relatively low price.
After cracking it open and finishing it, I can say that It is BY FAR one of the best books on the man. Why? Because it’s not about the man. That is, this is not a biography per se but rather an exploration of those events, ideas, and people that shaped Kissinger and his work. More than that, it is a nice unbiased analysis - written by a critic rather than an admirer - on how Kissinger reshaped those events, ideas, and people in his work.
While this book contains some biographical information, the fact that Kissinger’s life is not at the center of this work is a strong point in its favor as it brings much needed fresh air to a subject that after a while could become stale.
I definitely suggest this book to those interested in Kissinger, foreign policy, statemanship, or the shaping of policy makers.
After cracking it open and finishing it, I can say that It is BY FAR one of the best books on the man. Why? Because it’s not about the man. That is, this is not a biography per se but rather an exploration of those events, ideas, and people that shaped Kissinger and his work. More than that, it is a nice unbiased analysis - written by a critic rather than an admirer - on how Kissinger reshaped those events, ideas, and people in his work.
While this book contains some biographical information, the fact that Kissinger’s life is not at the center of this work is a strong point in its favor as it brings much needed fresh air to a subject that after a while could become stale.
I definitely suggest this book to those interested in Kissinger, foreign policy, statemanship, or the shaping of policy makers.
None of them are a patch on "The Pillars of the Earth" which - to my mind - is by far the best thing Ken Follett has written.
The Chronicles of Narnia are still keeping me company: I have just finished "The Horse and His Boy" - a lovely, lively imaginative read.
My second attempt at The Castle by Kafka:
I originally attempted to read this several years ago, when I was 16. I had just read Kafka's short stories, as well as The Trial, and I was hooked. Kafka has been a major influence on my own writing ever since. But when I attempted The Castle, I simply couldn't get into it. I gave up after about 40 pages. Perhaps on account of me being older and having read much more daunting work (like Swann's Way), this seems significantly more readable now and more entertaining, despite its extremely frustrating premise. Looking forwarding to finishing this unfinished novel!
I originally attempted to read this several years ago, when I was 16. I had just read Kafka's short stories, as well as The Trial, and I was hooked. Kafka has been a major influence on my own writing ever since. But when I attempted The Castle, I simply couldn't get into it. I gave up after about 40 pages. Perhaps on account of me being older and having read much more daunting work (like Swann's Way), this seems significantly more readable now and more entertaining, despite its extremely frustrating premise. Looking forwarding to finishing this unfinished novel!
I guess I should read the pillars of the earth as my next full-length fiction book...
I'm a professional historian - or, rather, I used to be.
The Century Trilogy - apart from the part set in the UK - just didn't work for me; I thought the Russian sections awful (and I used to teach Russian and Soviet history for a living) - they just jarred.
But, maybe that is just me.
I think that Ken Follett is one of those writers - and there are a number of them, often journeymen writers, sometimes very successful and popular ones, - who yet had one superlative book - a book where everything came right and fell into place perfectly - a book which worked both as novel, world building, credible characters, great story and as sold well researched history - in him, - and that was Pillars of the Earth, which is head and shoulders above anything else (even the sequels) he has written.
This is the one I'd recommend - from the compelling and brilliant opening page to the very end.
Rare moments when we disagree, but this kind of difference makes the world colourful.
The Century Trilogy is well-written, comprehensively covers the main events in Europe in the XX. century.
And I am telling you this as a professional who spent more than a decade of his life on Soviet/Russian soil.
Maybe the difference is that the events covered in The Century Trilogy are closer to us, we experienced some of them personally, whilst The Pillars of the Earth is set in the middle of the 12th century.
Just my 2¢ I slogged through "Pillars of the Earth" a few years back and made it to the end
and when I finally did I wondered why I bothered
To each his own
I'm currently re-reading Barbara Tuchman's "Guns of August" and find it as riveting as the first time
and when I finally did I wondered why I bothered
To each his own
I'm currently re-reading Barbara Tuchman's "Guns of August" and find it as riveting as the first time
Well, since its release in 1989, it became a classic.
Nevertheless, I think you will enjoy immensely Herman Wouk's "The Hope" and "The Glory". The author of The Caine Mutiny at his best.
Fellow readers, Goodreads just released its 2017 Readers Choice Awards, by category.
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2017
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2017
Hm.
I must take a trawl through this list, and thanks for posting and sharing it with us.
My pleasure. I already found a few books that I added to my reading list, especially the book on the Apollo 8 mission which I already purchased!
Thanks for posting it, taking my time to choose the new books to read.
Started reading Dan Brown's "Origin".
I'm looking forward to a number of books this coming year: Philip Pullman's most recent book (I've been abroad since it was published), will greet me when I return home - and perhaps - perhaps - offerings from Hilary Mantel (the third book in her Thomas Cromwell series should be gripping), Scott Lynch (I don't care about G R R Martin - well, I do - but would love to see the fourth book in Scott Lynch's 'Gentlemen Bastards' series finally see the light of day) among others.
There are other books already awaiting me on the sofa - including the latest from Mary Beard, but will post about them when I finally manage to lay hands on them, and read them.
There are other books already awaiting me on the sofa - including the latest from Mary Beard, but will post about them when I finally manage to lay hands on them, and read them.
Seems like you’ve been abroad for quite a while now. Where in the world are you and when do you expect to return?
I have the terrible habit of going back to reread lengthy series when the latest novel comes out and it's been a few years. I picked up the latest Peter F. Hamilton novel set in his Commonwealth Universe (Night Without Stars), but started rereading the prior 6 books first. I'm up to the Temporal Void (4 of 6), with about 2000 pages to go before I can read the latest one. I think I ended up rereading the first few volumes of the Dark Tower books 4 or 5 times thanks to this compulsion.
Repent immediately by watching Blade Runner !