An interesting read, I knew several of his security people and there was never a dull moment around him.
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An interesting read, I knew several of his security people and there was never a dull moment around him.
Here are 3 more to add to the list above if you wish to add them, not written by Asimov himself but added at the request of Asimov's wife - Janet Asimov
"Foundations Fear" 1997 - Gregory Benford - Preceded by "Prelude to Foundation" - Followed by "Forward the Foundation"
"Foundation and Chaos" 1998 - Greg Bear - Preceded by "Forward the Foundation" - Followed by "Foundation's Triumph"
"Foundation's Triumph" 1999 - David Brin - Preceded by "Foundation and Chaos"
I found them well written and enjoyed reading them as books that further "filled in the gaps" and expanded the series
I'm reading Johanna Fiedler's Molto Agitato: The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera. Can't put it down. The politics, the culture clashes, the monumental egos! And the wonders of opera itself, starting with the miracle that any of the productions ever make it to performance. The author was the Met's general press representative for 15 years, so she certainly knows where a lot of feuds may remain only half-buried if the combatants are still living. The book is a perfectly wonderful, entertaining, educational, eyebrow-raising work of art. One can only imagine whatever was left out.
Among other things the book can give one new respect for the architecture and complete functionality of the Met's "new house", which opened in the Lincoln Center complex in 1966 to replace the original 1883 opera house on 39th Street. There's a lot more than what the audience ever sees of that building, fourteen levels in all, five of them underground, and in depth from the plaza on Broadway, it extends to Amsterdam Avenue and takes up the space a 47-story skyscraper would occupy if lying on its side. "It's all in there" : space for rehearsals of soloists, orchestra, chorus, ballet... and all the crafts and materials required to prepare costumes and stage scenery as well. But the real draw of this book is in the tales of the interactions among the general and artistic directors, the boards and donors, the principal singers, the clash of European v American traditions, and the occasional collisions of financial limitations with artistic production values... just, wow! That "new house" for the Met must be earthquake- and volcano-proof since it's still standing after more than 50 years.
Among other things the book can give one new respect for the architecture and complete functionality of the Met's "new house", which opened in the Lincoln Center complex in 1966 to replace the original 1883 opera house on 39th Street. There's a lot more than what the audience ever sees of that building, fourteen levels in all, five of them underground, and in depth from the plaza on Broadway, it extends to Amsterdam Avenue and takes up the space a 47-story skyscraper would occupy if lying on its side. "It's all in there" : space for rehearsals of soloists, orchestra, chorus, ballet... and all the crafts and materials required to prepare costumes and stage scenery as well. But the real draw of this book is in the tales of the interactions among the general and artistic directors, the boards and donors, the principal singers, the clash of European v American traditions, and the occasional collisions of financial limitations with artistic production values... just, wow! That "new house" for the Met must be earthquake- and volcano-proof since it's still standing after more than 50 years.
yeah.
I don't care for his writing style though.
It reminds of all the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade essays I've read over the past 14 years.
I kid you not.
I've read several classics, A Tale Of Two Cities, Last Of The Mohicans,A Connecticut Yankee... etc etc and compared to these, to me, his style comes off as juvenile? I can't quit put my finger on it but something is missing.
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
I've never read anything by Gladwell, despite his books constantly topping bestseller lists (which alone is obviously not going to convince me a book is worth reading), but I'm interested in this book's premise. A number of my friends have read it and given it mixed reviews ("Brock Turner apologetics" is one phrase I came across in a review) but I'm open to hearing what he has to say.
I've never read anything by Gladwell, despite his books constantly topping bestseller lists (which alone is obviously not going to convince me a book is worth reading), but I'm interested in this book's premise. A number of my friends have read it and given it mixed reviews ("Brock Turner apologetics" is one phrase I came across in a review) but I'm open to hearing what he has to say.
I read it not so long ago and to me it seemed like a series of lectures that might be given as popular entertainment on the lecture circuit of his time
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yep, that's part of the charm. The book is from the perspective of Ishmael, an American sailor and a not a completely reliable narrator. His simple narration is stylistically broken by the style of other texts such as the Bible or more technical books about whales.
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
I've never read anything by Gladwell, despite his books constantly topping bestseller lists (which alone is obviously not going to convince me a book is worth reading), but I'm interested in this book's premise. A number of my friends have read it and given it mixed reviews ("Brock Turner apologetics" is one phrase I came across in a review) but I'm open to hearing what he has to say.
Let me know what you think of this book, I'm also interested.
My problem is with Gladwell's 10,000 hours rule as he completely butchered serious research about productivity and success and made it a different concept that he could easily sell. I don't think it was ill intentioned but I think that it's going to drive people into following the wrong path.
When you finish Moby Dick, you might be interested in reading "In the Heart of the Sea" which is about the sinking of the Essex, which is what inspired the novel Moby Dick. As for me, after six years, we get finally get a new novel about my favorite Chicago Wizard "Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden", so I picked a copy of Peace Talks as they were unboxing them Tuesday, and have been only allowing myself 5 chapters a day. We get a second novel from him in September, I am worried after that I will have to wait a long time. I have been rereading my Anne Rice, its funny, I originally read the books when they came out, but now being married to a Cajun girl from New Orleans and having been there so many times since we get married, its hilarious, when the characters go to restaurants and bars I have been known to hang at for meetings or dinner.
-Tig
I'm reading River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. It's Peter Hessler's account of his time teaching English to Chinese middle school students in Fuling in the mid-1990s, as part of the third wave of Peace Corps volunteers who worked in China. Hessler's books and other writings are always hard for me to put down once I pick them up. Started this one last night before a power outage kicked in and found myself bothering to fish up a camping lantern so I could keep going!
Fascinating book, and not least because it was during a time when China had decided to make command of English a national priority. Also interesting: the town's location along the Yangtze River was where some of China's ancient cultural artifacts were scheduled to be drowned when the Three Gorges Dam project would be completed.
Hessler noted that at least for awhile, China permitted a fair amount of public discussion and dissent about that huge dam, until the powers that be finally made a decision to go ahead with it. Then it became wise to drop the subject, even though there were marks on a couple of tall buildings in Fuling that were constant reminders of exactly how high the 177 meter mark was, the level to which the Yangtze would be allowed to rise at that point behind the dam when its construction finished.
Surprisingly, although the ancient inscriptions measuring seasonal water levels on a riverside stone in Fuling's Baiheliang area (the White Crane Ridge) were not among the top antiquities considered for preservation or removal and establishment elsewhere before the Three Gorges Dam was completed, a project to create an underwater museum in Fuling was actually approved and later built for about $30 million US. It's now a UNESCO world heritage site.
Fascinating book, and not least because it was during a time when China had decided to make command of English a national priority. Also interesting: the town's location along the Yangtze River was where some of China's ancient cultural artifacts were scheduled to be drowned when the Three Gorges Dam project would be completed.
Hessler noted that at least for awhile, China permitted a fair amount of public discussion and dissent about that huge dam, until the powers that be finally made a decision to go ahead with it. Then it became wise to drop the subject, even though there were marks on a couple of tall buildings in Fuling that were constant reminders of exactly how high the 177 meter mark was, the level to which the Yangtze would be allowed to rise at that point behind the dam when its construction finished.
Surprisingly, although the ancient inscriptions measuring seasonal water levels on a riverside stone in Fuling's Baiheliang area (the White Crane Ridge) were not among the top antiquities considered for preservation or removal and establishment elsewhere before the Three Gorges Dam was completed, a project to create an underwater museum in Fuling was actually approved and later built for about $30 million US. It's now a UNESCO world heritage site.
If you liked that one, Jo Nesbo has written eleven other novels featuring Detective Harry Hole. I can't get enough of Nordic Noir.
Haven't read The Snowman, but the movie was pretty bad. I've been meaning to check out the book, so I think I should get on it. Thanks for the reminder!
Please tell me it gets better from the first book. I am about 70% through it and I have found it to be a little boring to tell you the truth.
I read "The Caves of Steel" and I thoroughly enjoyed that one. This one, I will finish, but it has not captured my imagination or attention like "Caves" did...
First foundation book? I think they are all quite good tbh.
I'm still reading Moby Dick.
Still enjoying it even though the writing style is killing me.
Was Melville naive?
Was he gay? Not that there is anything wrong with that.
Have any of you read it?
Still enjoying it even though the writing style is killing me.
Was Melville naive?
Was he gay? Not that there is anything wrong with that.
Have any of you read it?
I'm always looking for outstanding thrillers, adventures, fantasy, science fiction, and mysteries/court room dramas. Suggestions appreciated!
Still working on Eragon.
I am a big Fantasy and Scifi fan, in particular epic stories that run for multiple volumes.
The best that I have read so far is the Malazan book of the Fallen series of books. Nothing really comes close in regards to world building, story lines, writing style and quality, the magic system, mystery, suspense, and character building.
But it is not for the faint of heart. The very first time I attempted to read it, I stopped half-way in the first book, because the author does NOT stoop so low as to hand-holding the reader in explaining what is going on: you are throw in at the deep end of the pool, and no punches are pulled. A few years later after reading more epic fantasy (such as the Wheel of Time and Game of Thrones) I tackled the first book again, and did not look back. What a brilliant series. Not for the beginner fantasy reader, I think!
The author Steven Erikson is a tough act to follow, and nothing else I read before or after can really match it. It was the second fantasy series to really impress me after having experienced LOR in my teens.
Most books will seem quite simplistic after reading Malazan. I had to lower my expectations a bit after
And I realized that series like Game of Thrones are actually not that good. I blame Malazan The Words of Radiance series is very good too, in particular if you like leveling up with a protagonist. Some of the scenes had me gasping out loud with my hand before my mouth in tensed excitement. It is not often a series evokes that kind of response from me.
[automerge]1595453951[/automerge]
PS currently reading Michael Sullivan's Riyrian books. Fun, light-hearted read. Feels as if it's written for a younger audience (Malazan rears its ugly head again).
Another series worthy of your fantasy reading time is "the Licanious trilogy" by James Islington. Somewhat more complex storytelling.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I’m not sure what you mean by hand holding. Is it hard to follow?I am a big Fantasy and Scifi fan, in particular epic stories that run for multiple volumes.
The best that I have read so far is the Malazan book of the Fallen series of books. Nothing really comes close in regards to world building, story lines, writing style and quality, the magic system, mystery, suspense, and character building.
But it is not for the faint of heart. The very first time I attempted to read it, I stopped half-way in the first book, because the author does NOT stoop so low as to hand-holding the reader in explaining what is going on: you are throw in at the deep end of the pool, and no punches are pulled. A few years later after reading more epic fantasy (such as the Wheel of Time and Game of Thrones) I tackled the first book again, and did not look back. What a brilliant series. Not for the beginner fantasy reader, I think!
The author Steven Erikson is a tough act to follow, and nothing else I read before or after can really match it. It was the second fantasy series to really impress me after having experienced LOR in my teens.
Most books will seem quite simplistic after reading Malazan. I had to lower my expectations a bit after
The Words of Radiance series is very good too, in particular if you like leveling up with a protagonist. Some of the scenes had me gasping out loud with my hand before my mouth in tensed excitement. It is not often a series evokes that kind of response from me.
[automerge]1595453951[/automerge]
PS currently reading Michael Sullivan's Riyrian books. Fun, light-hearted read. Feels as if it's written for a younger audience (Malazan rears its ugly head again).
Another series worthy of your fantasy reading time is "the Licanious trilogy" by James Islington. Somewhat more complex storytelling.
Most fantasy and scifi books gently introduce the reader to their world(s) and characters. Not so with Malazan - the reader is thrown in the midst of it. And not many books manage to be brilliant at both large scope epic story telling while also cutting deep into character development. Malazan does.
Seriously though, I don't care if he was, just that this passage makes one wonder. Yes, it was a very different time and the writing style is going to reflect that... but still.
Again, I'm not making any kind of judgement... but come on...
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