Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[ThisBougieLife]

Need a new book to read...! Never sure if I should go with non-fiction or fiction.

After reading about the Reagan era, I think I'll start:

Guests of the Ayatollah: The Iran Hostage Crisis by Mark Bowden

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A few books arrived in this morning's post.

 

[Huntn]

I started watching Logan's Run last night (Amazon Prime), then I decided to look for the book. Found it here for free:
English-E-Reader.net: https://english-e-reader.net/
Example: Logan's Run: https://english-e-reader.net/book/logans-run-william-nolan

Disclaimer: This looks like a legitimate site to me. If someone knows different, I'll remove this post. I used calibre (https://calibre-ebook.com) to format it to an ePub for reading on the iOS Marvin App.

Some other sources for free ebooks: 11 Sources for Free Books: https://mashable.com/article/free-ebooks/#OrdJ6vH35Zqi

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A splendid tome by Elizabeth Moon arrived today: Heris Serrano.

I look forward to losing myself in it.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I started watching Logan's Run last night (Amazon Prime), then I decided to look for the book. Found it here for free:
English-E-Reader.net: https://english-e-reader.net/
Example: Logan's Run: https://english-e-reader.net/book/logans-run-william-nolan

Disclaimer: This looks like a legitimate site to me. If someone knows different, I'll remove this post. I used calibre (https://calibre-ebook.com) to format it to an ePub for reading on the iOS Marvin App.

Some other sources for free ebooks: 11 Sources for Free Books: https://mashable.com/article/free-ebooks/#OrdJ6vH35Zqi

Thanks for posting this.

 

[Gutwrench]

Not a book but the new edition of Whisky Advocate was delivered yesterday.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Not really read the book (although I'll read it again), but before falling asleep I went back to read a chapter from Kissinger's "Years of Upheaval". The chapter discussed Kissinger's vacation/diplomatic mission at Brezhnev's retreat in 1973, which included some hunting ("I was invited to a hunting session; I told Brezhnev that given my marksmanship abilities the animals would have to die of heart attack." )
The assessment on the Soviet leader from a human perspective was very interesting and intriguing.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Not really read the book (although I'll read it again), but before falling asleep I went back to read a chapter from Kissinger's "Years of Upheaval". The chapter discussed Kissinger's vacation/diplomatic mission at Brezhnev's retreat in 1973, which included some hunting ("I was invited to a hunting session; I told Brezhnev that given my marksmanship abilities the animals would have to die of heart attack." )
The assessment on the Soviet leader from a human perspective was very interesting and intriguing.

Some of these 'hunting sessions' were downright unsavoury.

Soviet sources (post the collapse of the USSR) reported that the animals were drugged on occasion, to make missing them almost an impossibility. I have also read accounts where western visitors were invited to partake in hunting of animals that were actually protected by law in the host country.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Some of these 'hunting sessions' were downright unsavoury.

Soviet sources (post the collapse of the USSR) reported that the animals were drugged on occasion, to make missing them almost an impossibility. I have also read accounts where western visitors were invited to partake in hunting of animals that were actually protected by law in the host country.

Quite possibly, it wouldn't surprise me. HAK doesn't discuss it directly, but he make clear that Brezhnev was not really aware of the behavior of the people close to him. HAK actually remarked that Brezhnev was very proud of his Soviet/Lenin awards without realizing that he was awarded them by the very people which life (or death) depended on his decisions and moods.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Quite possibly, it wouldn't surprise me. HAK doesn't discuss it directly, but he make clear that Brezhnev was not really aware of the behavior of the people close to him. HAK actually remarked that Brezhnev was very proud of his Soviet/Lenin awards without realizing that he was awarded them by the very people which life (or death) depended on his decisions and moods.

Well, Volkogonov wrote about animals being drugged before being paraded to be shot, and I do know of other situations where western guests were invited to participate in hunt that were, frankly, illegal.

Similar traditions of somewhat warped hospitality expressed by hunting (whether the quarry is legally shot, illegally shot, or drugged has not always been a major concern) can be found in central Asia, and in places such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Well, Volkogonov wrote about animals being drugged before being paraded to be shot, and I do know of other situations where western guests were invited to participate in hunt that were, frankly, illegal.

Similar traditions of somewhat warped hospitality expressed by hunting (whether the quarry is legally shot, illegally shot, or drugged has not always been a major concern) can be found in central Asia, and in places such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Do you think it's a cultural way to express ability to use force if and when needed?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Do you think it's a cultural way to express ability to use force if and when needed?

No, or not completely.

At one level, there is the sadistic love of killing - but, to class what happens in these countries as a contest, or a genuine "hunt" where the hunted animals have the slightest opportunity to escape their fate, is to miss the point. This is often sanctioned slaughter, a delight in the expression of capricious and sometimes cruel brute force.

However, I also think it is a monumental expression of arrogance - a declaration that they can break the law with impunity in their own country.

And - if one accepts such an invitation - then, one's own protestations about fidelity to principles based on rule of law ideals can be dismissed as not exactly terribly deeply rooted.

 

[yaxomoxay]

And - if one accepts such an invitation - then, one's own protestations about fidelity to principles based on rule of law ideals can be dismissed as not exactly terribly deeply rooted.

Well, glad HAK refused to hunt

 

[RootBeerMan]

Just finished up "Kingdom Come" by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. A really great story and truly phenomenal artwork. It's a large graphic novel, but it was a large and epic story!

 

[Huntn]

​

Disclaimer: I’m totally vested in the movie.

I’m still reading The Wizard of Oz, (1900), book, not movie, by Frank L. Baum and have gotten past the witch melting part, but so far disappointing, lacks depth, and some of the story mechanics are strained and hurt the narrative. For example the witch sends a pack of 40 wolves to kill Dorothy and her friends. They are nice enough to charge one at a time so the Tin Man can chop off their heads... one at a time. Something similiar happens with a flock of crows sent to peck out their eyes. What was a huge finale in the movie, was in the book, Dorothy getting mad at the witch for stealing one of her shoes, and dousing her with a bucket of water, just as anti-climatic as everything else.

So maybe this was cutting edge for children in 1900, but this is an example where Hollywood did an incredible job improving the story by 1000%, 39 years later, adding all kinds of story elements like the mean school teacher (the witch) who takes Toto, the farm hands (Tin Man and Scarecrow), the traveling snake oil salesman (wizard), running away from home, returning in time to get caught in a house blown up into the sky by a tornado. Ok, there is a tornado and flying house described in the most basic of terms, but no fantastic sights looking out the window, especially a mean teacher, who transforms into a great witch flying on a broom with a billowing outfit. The same Wicked Witch who wants revenge for her sister’s Death and plagues Dorothy on the yellow brick road (that does not happen either). Finally, the concept of this story being a dream, or maybe not, all brilliant!

I’m continuing reading to see if the Wizard is a Circus Man blown from Kansas to the land of the Munchkins.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Not a book but the new edition of Whisky Advocate was delivered yesterday.

Sounds a fascinating read.

View attachment 811900​

Disclaimer: I’m totally vested in the movie.

I’m still reading The Wizard of Oz, (1900), book, not movie, by Frank L. Baum and have gotten past the witch melting part, but so far disappointing, lacks depth, and some of the story mechanics are strained and hurt the narrative. For example the witch sends a pack of 40 wolves to kill Dorothy and her friends. They are nice enough to charge one at a time so the Tin Man can chop off their heads... one at a time. Something similiar happens with a flock of crows sent to peck out their eyes. At least What was a huge finale in the movie, was in the book, Dorothy getting mad at the witch for stealing one of her shoes, and dousing her with a bucket of water, just a anti-climatic as everything else.

So maybe this was cutting edge for children in 1900, but this is an example where Hollywood did an incredible job improving the story by 1000%, 39 years later, adding all kinds of story elements like the mean school teacher (the witch) who takes Toto, the farm hands (Tin Man and Scarecrow), the traveling snake oil salesman (wizard), running away from home, returning in time to get caught in a house blown up into the sky by a tornado. Ok, there is a tornado and flying house described in the most basic of terms, but no fantastic sights looking out the window, especially a mean teacher, who transforms into a great witch flying on a broom with a billowing outfit. The same Wicked Witch who wants revenge for her sister’s Death and plagues Dorothy on the yellow brick road (that does not happen either). Finally, the concept of this story being a dream, or maybe not, all brilliant!

I’m continuing reading to see if the Wizard is a Circus Man blown from Kansas to the land of the Munchkins.

The movie is brilliant, brilliant, and brilliant.

But - and here, it may be important to note, I read the book as a kid - and I thought it seriously compelling and utterly gripping as well.

 

[Huntn]

Sounds a fascinating read.



The movie is brilliant, brilliant, and brilliant.

But - and here, it may be important to note, I read the book as a kid - and I thought it seriously compelling and utterly gripping as well.

It would be interesting to see how it strikes you today after something like Harry Potter.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It would be interesting to see how it strikes you today after something like Harry Potter.

I think for its time it was a brilliant book, and the main characters were exceptionally well drawn.

For that matter, I also seem to recall that there were also a few slightly sinister episodes after the departure by balloon of the snake oil salesman - the smooth talking wizard - as Dorothy and company headed south, meaning that not everything ended with the death of the Wicked Witch of the West and the departure of the fraud by air.

 

[Huntn]

I think for its time it was a brilliant book, and the main characters were exceptionally well drawn.

For that matter, I also seem to recall that there were also a few slightly sinister episodes after the departure by balloon of the snake oil salesman - the smooth talking wizard - as Dorothy and company headed south, meaning that not everything ended with the death of the Wicked Witch of the West and the departure of the fraud by air.

So far it strikes me as shallow. I have noticed that all of the the characters who claim they lack something, demonstrate continuously that they already have it, which is clever. My critique might be an expectation divergence on my part expecting to read the movie screenplay. I’ll report back when I’ve finished it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

So far it strikes me as shallow. I have noticed that all of the the characters who claim they lack something, demonstrate continuously that they already have it, which is clever. My critique might be an expectation divergence on my part. I’ll report back when I’ve finished it.

Actually, I beg to differ; I think that the backstory that one is give about the characters who travelled with Dorothy is a lot deeper (and the book is a good bit darker) than the movie. And they face more by way of challenges - which allow for the highlighting of the individual skills of the respective members of the group - than did the group in the movie.

Nevertheless, it is entirely possible that the character of the Wicked Witch of the West (played brilliantly by Margaret hamilton) was amplified somewhat for the purposes of the movie.

Now, I must admit, I loved the movie - and, unusually for an American movie, I think it superb, and a close to being something of a flawless classic.

But, the book struck me as outstandingly good when I read it, and it seems to me to have been one of those works which has aged extremely well.

 

[Sword86]

Disclaimer: This looks like a legitimate site to me. If someone knows different, I'll remove this post. I used calibre (https://calibre-ebook.com) to format it to an ePub for reading on the iOS Marvin App.

Some other sources for free ebooks: 11 Sources for Free Books: https://mashable.com/article/free-ebooks/#OrdJ6vH35Zqi

Calibre is the shizzle.
S

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Saw this at the library today and decided to add it to my winter-break reading list:

Ghost Empire: A Journey to the Legendary Constantinople by Richard Fidler

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Saw this at the library today and decided to add it to my winter-break reading list:

Ghost Empire: A Journey to the Legendary Constantinople by Richard Fidler

That looks most interesting; please let me know how you find it.

 

[pachyderm]

Just finished up "Kingdom Come" by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. A really great story and truly phenomenal artwork. It's a large graphic novel, but it was a large and epic story!

I didn't like it. I need to read it again I guess and see how I feel now.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just finished up "Kingdom Come" by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. A really great story and truly phenomenal artwork. It's a large graphic novel, but it was a large and epic story!

The cover art alone would utterly alienate me; I must say that I get very tired of clichéd representations of women, (and, indeed, men, for that matter) and want something a little more original and less tired.