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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
December 8, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Just finished a book my friend loaned me called The Mormon Murders based on the true events surround the forgeries and bombings of Mark Hofmann in the mid-'80s.
While there is a lot that is fictionalized (conversations and behind-closed door interactions, motives of those involved, etc.), whenever I came across a factual claim that could be verified I came up a winner. For instance, I didn't know that Bruce R McConkie wrote a book (Mormon Doctrine, first edition, which has been called the most influential LDS books of the 20th Century) in which he tells readers to consult the entry for "Church of the Devil" when he's talking about psychiatry which blew my mind with how much it reminded me of Scientology attitudes about psychiatry.
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
December 22, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Well, I've almost made it through the 11 "Wheel of Time" books written by Jordan. Next up are the Brandon Sanderson books that finish the series. I'm truly curious to see if Sanderson can make something of that hot mess.
Other recent reads:
The "Truth" series by Dawn Cook. Dawn Cook wrote "The Hollows" series as Kim Harrison. While "Truth" is straight fantasy and "The Hollows" is urban fantasy, there is still excellent reading all 'round.
"Kraken" and "Railsea" by China Miéville. "Kraken" is an odd, but thoroughly enjoyable urban fantasy romp about London centered on a cult religion and their obsession with a giant squid. "Railsea" is a kinda steampunk meets "Mad Max" on rails. Incredible fun.
Currently reading (alongside the WOT book) the second "October Daye" book by Seanan McGuire. Urban fantasy set in San Francisco with a Fae half-blood as the main character. Very good reading so far.
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
January 13, 2016 at 10:30 pm
Ok, I'm a little over half-way through book 13 of the "Wheel of Time" and can honestly say that Sanderson has done the best that he could with that hot mess of tangled threads and never ending quests left for him by Robert Jordan. Having said that, these are the only books to date by Sanderson that I will only read once. I absolutely love his writing and impatiently await ever single one of his releases. But, the foundation was bad. Anything built upon it was going to be shaky at best.
Other recent reads:
"Inferno" by Dan Brown. Brown's books are a guilty pleasure of mine. I know the "true and accurate" portions of his books are bullshit, but it's good bullshit.  He's not the most talented writer in the world, nor is he terribly good at fact checking, but he can spin a good yarn.
Finished the the second (and third) of the "October Daye" books. They keep getting better. Need to get more!
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
January 13, 2016 at 11:34 pm
(January 13, 2016 at 10:30 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote: "Inferno" by Dan Brown. Brown's books are a guilty pleasure of mine. I know the "true and accurate" portions of his books are bullshit, but it's good bullshit. He's not the most talented writer in the world, nor is he terribly good at fact checking, but he can spin a good yarn.
I enjoy brown but I still haven't got around to inferno yet. Is it pretty much in the same vein as his other Langdon books?
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
January 14, 2016 at 12:30 am
(January 13, 2016 at 11:34 pm)Clueless Morgan Wrote: (January 13, 2016 at 10:30 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote: "Inferno" by Dan Brown. Brown's books are a guilty pleasure of mine. I know the "true and accurate" portions of his books are bullshit, but it's good bullshit. He's not the most talented writer in the world, nor is he terribly good at fact checking, but he can spin a good yarn.
I enjoy brown but I still haven't got around to inferno yet. Is it pretty much in the same vein as his other Langdon books?
Well, he's not chasing jeebus (or his great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, grand-daughter) around Europe nor is he tracing great secrets of the "secret societies." It's different, but similar to the other Langdon novels. Worth a read if you enjoyed the other Langdon tales. Much better than "The Lost Symbol."
I just hit the jackpot at the Baen Books web site. 42 new sci-fi (granted, older books) e-titles to sink my teeth into, completely free! No log-in, no email mining, no hassles.
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
January 14, 2016 at 12:38 am
My kiddo wants me to read The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig. I can't wait as she says it's a great book.
Disclaimer: I am only responsible for what I say, not what you choose to understand.
(November 14, 2018 at 8:57 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: Have a good day at work. If we ever meet in a professional setting, let me answer your question now. Yes, I DO want fries with that.
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
January 31, 2016 at 12:51 am
Just re-read (listened to) the "Jumper" series by Steven Gould this past week. Insanely good series about Davy, humanity's first teleporter.
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
January 31, 2016 at 3:26 am
The Captive Mind by Czesław Miłosz. Interesting, especially if someone want to see how marxism-leninism stifled artistic freedom and crushed spirits of east European intellectuals.
The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.
Mikhail Bakunin.
The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.
Socrates.
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
January 31, 2016 at 11:58 am
Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries
by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Good, enjoyable, very non-technical pop science book. Was a very good choice for a just-before-bed book.
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RE: Read any good books lately? Rate them here
January 31, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Reading SM 101: by Joesph Sanders
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