What Are You Reading?

[Estonut]

I know Spock will get a kick out of this one.

One of the sites that sends me emails every day is Open Road Media, which specializes in catalogue titles of well-known authors. They don't have the current best sellers but they have lots of books that were best sellers when originally published 20-80 years ago. Five years ago, they put nearly 5,000 of their titles on Amazon for free one weekend just before Christmas. (Needless to say, I picked up quite a few of those.)

They haven't done anything like that since then, but I got an email from them today advertising that they had over 100 "carefully curated" titles that I could get for $10. I looked at the website and the selection had a lot of quality titles in various genres. Buying this was a two-step process. You first had to buy the discount key for $10, then add the titles to your shopping cart and apply the discount key. But I have a couple of programs that automatically scan for available coupon codes and somehow one of them found a code to get the $10 discount key for free. So I "bought" the discount key for free and then got 107 titles for free (original list price over $1500). In all fairness, Open Road Media usually discounts most of their titles periodically, so if I had been patient, I could probably have gotten most of those titles for $2-3 each.

Some of the titles: North Dallas Forty, Crazy Horse and Custer, The Comedians, The Group, The Late Shift, The Thin Red Line, The Young Lions, The White Album, Life at the Dakota, Casino, Alive.

Somehow, discounts and freebies just happen to find me. I've got a lot of reading material ahead of me.

So now, you're bragging about being a thief...

As if the $10 deal wasn't good enough.

[Estonut]

Stacked up to read between semesters (two more days and I'm done):

Joe Posnanski's book on the 100 best baseball players ...

Out of curiosity, I looked up his list. For such a recent work, I'm surprised he didn't even mention Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. Of course, he doesn't have the longevity yet, but the likes of him hasn't been seen in 100 years.

[silverscreenselect]

So now, you're bragging about being a thief...

As if the $10 deal wasn't good enough.

I wasn't a thief. The free coupon was out there for anyone to use. I guess you think I stole 50 cents from Publix last week when I used a coupon on a bottle of detergent.

[tlynn78]

Physical books - just finished 'Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards' - Al Kooper's autobiography (not Alice Cooper's) - excellent bio of the whole music business from the fifties onward - I thoroughly enjoyed at and he made no cheap shots nor gossipy. He seemed to be everywhere in the music world and great stories with virtually only positive things to say about most of the people he worked with (with a few exceptions being mostly execs and managers, not artists).

Carole King's 'A Natural Woman' - really a quick read and also a most fascinating life.

Currently in the middle of the Jerzy Kosinski biography by James Park Sloan - I'm really enjoying it - still early into it (about 25%) but I've read nearly all of Kosinski's novels - what a unique person he was.

Audio books - mostly Charles Dickens recently - finished A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and Bleak House, about to start Great Expectations. Favorite was A Tale of Two Cities, I found it to be remarkable. Oliver Twist surprised me as I thought I knew most of the story from the movies and musical, but so much was left out and the movies expanded what were more minor sections (IMO) - so that was fun to experience it in a way that I wasn't sure where it was going.

I always told my kids when they were on Quiz Bowl teams and so forth to always go with "Tale of Two Cities" on Dickens questions as the others seem to be interchangeable and not likely to be an answer for high school trivia contests.

That is another book I should read. (Tale of Two Cities).

Right up my alley is a new book on lion conservation that might jump to the top of the pile.

"The Last Lions of Africa: Stories from the Frontline in the Battle to Save a species."

I mentioned earlier that I recently read a book on Jack Ruby's trial that came when the History Book Club card thing did not get returned when we were in Africa this summer. Another book on Watergate (King Richard) was paired with that and I might read it as I know little about Watergate and otherwise the book will just sit in a pile somewhere.

You should definitely read ToTC - it's remarkable, and hard copy is the way - although listening on cd (unabridged) would be a close second.

[Estonut]

So now, you're bragging about being a thief...

As if the $10 deal wasn't good enough.

I wasn't a thief. The free coupon was out there for anyone to use. I guess you think I stole 50 cents from Publix last week when I used a coupon on a bottle of detergent.

If the "coupon" wasn't issued by Open Road Media, then you're a thief. I guess you think using a neighbor's Netflix password isn't stealing.

[silverscreenselect]

So now, you're bragging about being a thief...

As if the $10 deal wasn't good enough.

I wasn't a thief. The free coupon was out there for anyone to use. I guess you think I stole 50 cents from Publix last week when I used a coupon on a bottle of detergent.

If the "coupon" wasn't issued by Open Road Media, then you're a thief. I guess you think using a neighbor's Netflix password isn't stealing.

If the coupon wasn't issued by them, then someone figured out a way to hack into their site so that it would discount the price to zero if people entered a common four-letter word on the promo code line. It was obviously a code that had been supplied to a number of people, but it wasn't one of those one-time, individualized coupons with lengthy alphanumeric coupon keys like I sometimes get for freebies on my birthday. If someone on this Bored posts that Amazon is having a 50% off sale on something, it's not stealing if you take advantage of that information.

[Spock]

I am on a (mostly) different tranche of books than when I started this thread and I also finished some in the interim.

I have read one that is right up SSS's alley. "The Reactonary Mind: Why Conservative Isn't Enough." I read it first as an Ebook-then I bought the hard copy so I can make notes and stuff.

I read an afore-mentioned book on Watergate called "King Richard"-I knew/know very little about Watergate, except the hearing interfered with my cartoons when I was 8.

Still reading the "Brown Waters of Africa" as an ebook as I left it for awhile and read some other ebooks. It is going fairly quick now.

I read "On Leapard Rock"-Author Wilbur Smith's autobiography. Fascinating-he certainly lived a life of adventure.

Another read in the interim was a library book-"A Wild Idea"-bio of Doug Tompkins who made a business fortune in the first part of his life then did major conservation stuff in Chile and Argentina in the last part. Best friends with the guy who started Patagonia for 50 plus years.

For fun-I read the Kelly Turnbull thrillers by Kurt Schlichter-about the USA split into 2 countries-I had read 2 previously, but I re-read them and slammed the other 4 quickly as well.

Enjoying my reading of Herodotus so far.

Also reading another one up SSS's alley-"Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies."

Bought an EBook called "The Last Bookseller"-Guy had a bookstore (now closed in Stillwater, Minnesota (A Book Town). I am pretty sure I bought my most expensive book in his store in 2014(about $500)-he had a stack of Africana in a back room and I went a little wild.

Also reading "1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus"

[T_Bone0806]

Currently reading "Liverpool Fantasy" by Larry Kirwan. It begins in 1962 with the premise of John Lennon walking out of the studio when it is revealed that their record label insists on Til There Was You being released as the Beatles' followup to Love Me Do instead of Please Please Me, breaking up the band and leaving them as a one-hit wonder, in England only. It then switches to 1987 where we see what has become of each Beatle, and a meeting of the 4 men 25 years later.

Next in line is a book Skoop sent me called "Anatomy Of A Song", which dissects 45 different iconic tunes to see what makes 'em tick. Then a couple of early Christmas presents given to me by a friend, memoirs by baseball lifer Buck O'Neil ("I Was Right On Time") and Tommy James, regarding his career and being on a record label owned by a strong-arm type with heavy mob connections ("Me, The Mob, and the Music").

[Vandal]

I'm reading Hollywood Station by Joseph Wambaugh (he's 84 and still typing away). Just bought two John Grisham books at an indie bookstore so those will be next.

I need to read more, so I'll check out what everyone else is doing upthread to add to my TBR pile.

[silverscreenselect]

I read an afore-mentioned book on Watergate called "King Richard"-I knew/know very little about Watergate, except the hearing interfered with my cartoons when I was 8.

That one comment explains soooo much about your development.

[Beebs52]

I read an afore-mentioned book on Watergate called "King Richard"-I knew/know very little about Watergate, except the hearing interfered with my cartoons when I was 8.

That one comment explains soooo much about your development.

Nice.

[Spock]

I read an afore-mentioned book on Watergate called "King Richard"-I knew/know very little about Watergate, except the hearing interfered with my cartoons when I was 8.

That one comment explains soooo much about your development.

Nice.

Gee, I am sorry I was 5 to 8 years old when Watergate occurred and as I grew older, I chose to read extensively into other areas of history and the environment that interested me. You will note that I rectified this gap somewhat by my current reading of King Richard. I at least know the names and players better now.

Not sure if I will read further into it or not. Herodotus and some of the other ancients are calling my name at this this time.

[Beebs52]

Don't feel bad. I was like advising JFK on public relations at 8. Catch up dude.

[tlynn78]

Don't feel bad. I was like advising JFK on public relations at 8. Catch up dude.

To be fair, I'd bet some here peaked at about 8

[Spock]

SSS, just curious if you have read Gulag Archipelago. This is a major work that came out in your young adulthood(1974). If you haven't read it, that explains a lot.

The funny part is I thought you would get the Watergate "Joke" and hit me on the McCarthy book. But, apparently, you are still a little too emotionally attached to Watergate.

[silverscreenselect]

SSS, just curious if you have read Gulag Archipelago. This is a major work that came out in your young adulthood(1974). If you haven't read it, that explains a lot.

No, I haven't. My reading tastes back then were considerably more lowbrow.

[SportsFan68]

I thought Vandal started this thread, but oh well.

I want Vandal to see this because of The Dragon's Song. Wow! I've had it for several months but wanted to get caught up on my Book Club books before starting it. Big mistake! Huge! I could have re-read it twice by now. As it is, I'm halfway through after starting it this morning.

I'm going to go read myself to sleep. Good job, Vandal and Binh Pham!

[Spock]

Since a long time has gone by; maybe time to refresh.

Let's see; what am I reading now?

EBook

1) "Dividing Paradise"-about the conflict between (mostly) affluent newcomers and old timers in a rural, high amenity valley in Washington.

2) "Wild Places"-about the still wild places on the map of Great Britain. I have set this aside a couple of times to read a different EBook (see above)

Analog

1) Unfortunately Herodotus got away from me and it has been awhile since I worked on it. I enjoy it, so I have to get back to it.

2) "Open Season"-just finished this book #1 in C.J. Box's Wyoming Game Warden series. I will probably continue the series, unless I jump over to the Longmire series.

3) "The Mapmakers" a library book about the history of Cartography.

4) "Thunder in the Mountains" about the Nez Perce (Chief Joseph) War.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Some of what I read since last time.

1) The CS Lewis Space Trilogy

2) "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom"-T.E. Lawrence-I did not expect it to be so whiney.

3) "The Tapir's Morning Bath"-Life at the Tropical Research Station on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls' Escape from Slavery to Union Hero. This is a great read. I will be of interest to more than South Carolinians. Amazon is doing a short series on Small. i want South Carolina to put Smalls in Statuary Hall replacing Wade Hampton IIII.

[Vandal]

I thought Vandal started this thread, but oh well.

I want Vandal to see this because of The Dragon's Song. Wow! I've had it for several months but wanted to get caught up on my Book Club books before starting it. Big mistake! Huge! I could have re-read it twice by now. As it is, I'm halfway through after starting it this morning.

I'm going to go read myself to sleep. Good job, Vandal and Binh Pham!

Thanks, sprots!

I hope you like the whole thing.


I'm reading John Grisham's The Rooster Bar.

[SportsFan68]

I thought Vandal started this thread, but oh well.

I want Vandal to see this because of The Dragon's Song. Wow! I've had it for several months but wanted to get caught up on my Book Club books before starting it. Big mistake! Huge! I could have re-read it twice by now. As it is, I'm halfway through after starting it this morning.

I'm going to go read myself to sleep. Good job, Vandal and Binh Pham!

Thanks, sprots!

I hope you like the whole thing.


I'm reading John Grisham's The Rooster Bar.

I did like the whole thing and will re-read it soon.

I thought I was all caught up on my book club books, but I read this month's book some time ago and remember very little of it, certainly not enough to participate in an intelligent discussion about it. It's Half Broke by Ginger Gaffney.