1294 replies to this topic

[Why Not Smile?]

I bought A Fever In Salem just tonight. It's all about Salem witch trials. And I have a thing for studying that. So I'm pretty excited. I took the last book too! No more on that subject. It was the only book there! So what have you bought last?

[inspectorjason]

Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind - David Quammen

This is a nonfiction book that chronicles the history, present, and probable future of four predators that are known to prey on human flesh: Australian crocodiles, Indian lions, Siberian tigers, and Russian brown bears.    The book explores the facts, the legends, and the psychologies of man's relationship with these creatures and how the power of man-eating animals is dwindling in today's world.    

I noticed this book in Barnes And Noble this past week and decided that it was one that I had to have.    Unfortunately, it'll be a while before I get a chance to read it, as I already have a stack of books that I'm currently working on.     I can't wait to sit down with this one, though.

[Why Not Smile?]

Quote

Originally posted by inspectorjason


Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind - David Quammen

This is a nonfiction book that chronicles the history, present, and probable future of four predators that are known to prey on human flesh: Australian crocodiles, Indian lions, Siberian tigers, and Russian brown bears.    The book explores the facts, the legends, and the psychologies of man's relationship with these creatures and how the power of man-eating animals is dwindling in today's world.    

I noticed this book in Barnes And Noble this past week and decided that it was one that I had to have.    Unfortunately, it'll be a while before I get a chance to read it, as I already have a stack of books that I'm currently working on.     I can't wait to sit down with this one, though.

That looks very instresting but a wee bit scary for me. Mine also is a non-fiction book. No it's not The Crucible I already have that. I also have a fiction book called I,Tituba,Black Witch Of Salem. I haven't read that yet. But this non-fiction one I'm so excited over. I was always happy reading the non-fiction Salem witch trial books in my high school library waiting for my mom to come get me after school. So I love this stuff. Can't wait to read it.

[bittersweet_me]

It's been a while since I last bought a book but I got a few ones as presents: Virginia Woolf's Miss Daloway, Douglas Coupland's Dear God and Generation X and Chuck Palahniuk's Lullaby and Choke. Next book on my "want list" is Daniel Wallace's Big fish but I'll only read it after I see the film..

[Antti]

I finally got a copy of "Torture Garden" by Octave Mirbeau in finnish. Was about time. "The Penguin Island" is rather temptating so I might pick it up tomorrow.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

"How To be Alone", a series of essays by Jonathan Franzen. I've become a big fan of his, and when I saw this in the airport bookshop, I couldn't resist. The good thing about essays is, you can read one, then go back to the novel you're reading and alternate like that. The essays I've read so far are teriffic, he is a brilliant writer.

etty

[vetiver]

It was a book on how to take revenge on people through the power of voodoo dolls!  I keep it on my desk at work as a stark warning to my staff........

Mwahahahahaha!

[Dream Brother]

I've had quite a reversal in my opinions on Michael Moore.  In the past I didn't enjoy him at all and thought he was just an arrogant man who enjoyed hearing himself talk.  But after seeing "Bowling For Columbine", seeing him on Conan promoting this book, reading parts of his website and reading an exerpt from this book in Rolling Stone magazine, I find myself thinking that I might have been wrong.  He's had a lot of critics that claim he made things up in his movies and books, but his defenses on his website to those accusations seem pretty solid to me.  So I decided to pick up his newest book and see what I think of it.

[phlmth]

Patrick O'Brian's <i>Master and Commander</i>, the start in a series of 20 books.

I have absolutely NO CLUE as to why I've started this series. ;)

Nearly done with Book 1. Twenty more pages to go.

(Kidding aside, the book is very good!!)

<img src="http://www.brothersjudd.com/reviews/images/masterandcommander.gif">

[selwehall]

"Clear and Present Danger" Tom Clancy


was on sale in a second hand bookstore

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

Quote

Originally posted by phlmth
Patrick O'Brian's <i>Master and Commander</i>, the start in a series of 20 books.

I have absolutely NO CLUE as to why I've started this series. ;)



<img src="http://www.brothersjudd.com/reviews/images/masterandcommander.gif">

I think I may have the tinyist, teenyist clue as to why you're reading this series. Do the initials "R.C." ring any bells?
etty  ;)

[Dream Brother]

Quote

Originally posted by Sweet Fanny Addams
I think I may have the tinyist, teenyist clue as to why you're reading this series. Do the initials "R.C." ring any bells?
etty  ;)

Every time I see the trailer for that movie it makes me chuckle because there's no way someone could be that pudgy if they spent so much time at sea. ;)

[inspectorjason]

I didn't purchase this one, but I came close.  

I saw Lost Boy Lost Girl today and was surprised, as I didn't think that it was out yet.    I decided against purchasing it right now, as I am already spending far too much money this month above my normal entertainment budget.    I also won't have a chance to read this one until I get Stephen King's Dark Tower books out of my way, including the new one in November.  

I will definitely own this book in the near future, though.    Peter Straub is a genius and I've always loved his works.

[phlmth]

Quote

Originally posted by Dream Brother
Every time I see the trailer for that movie it makes me chuckle because there's no way someone could be that pudgy if they spent so much time at sea. ;)

I know he can be mister pudgette, but the funny thing about that is that Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey, as written in the book, was supposed to be pudgier. Director Peter Weir decided it would be harder to film if the captain in the film were as pudgy because he wouldn't be able to navigate the ropes and ship with ease. How the captain in the book did it is beyond me. I'll find the exact numbers but I believe the captain was 16 stone and R.C. did not reach that. He did put on weight for the role but not 16 stone.

PS, a stone is about 14 pounds.

From a discussion about the book (not sure where it came from):

<i>Not to mention the fact that during the course of the 20 novels Jack's weight fluctuates greatly depending on his circumstances. I believe there are times when it is mentioned that he weighs as little as 13 stone. And there is question about his height as well. He is always described as being very tall, but the only clear mention of this height describes him as a 6 foot sea captain. And nowadays 6 feet is not considered to be very tall -- average I would say.</i>

---

<b>But have you taken some other liberties with the books?  The bad guys are French not American.  And some fans have been upset with the casting  of Paul Bettany.</b>
There are fans out there who are disgruntled because I didn't do the role at 17 stone (108kg).  In the books Aubrey ranges from 14 to 17 stone, sometimes on the same voyage.

<b>Did you gain that much weight for the role?</b>
We were going in that direction.  But about six weeks out Peter said, "You know what, I think we should cut down the weight".  He wanted Aubrey to be active, to be able to go up the rigging, and be a sailor.

<b>How big were you thinking of going? Brando big?</b>
No, but that's what 17 stone would have looked like on my frame.  And that would have been untenable, just in terms of getting up and down the f**king stairways.  So we didn't go that far. I'm not Adonis, but I'm not Rumple of the Bailey, either.

--- The above from <i>Who Weekly Magazine</i>, 9/1/03 ---

---

Now back to the "Latest Book You Bought" :D

[Barbarella]

I went to the local library to get What's Eating Gilbert Grape they didn't have it so they recommended 2 other books

The Right Hand of Evil by John Saul

and

Out of Time by Caroline B. Cooney

has anyone read either of thses books?

Out of Time seems a little young but....

[ClockEnder]

Michael Moore's Dude, Where's My Country?
and Donna Tartt - The Little Friend

I have a lot of travel coming up, so I'm really looking forward to reading both of these

[sugar N spice]

Quote

Originally posted by Barbarella
I went to the local library to get What's Eating Gilbert Grape they didn't have it so they recommended 2 other books

The Right Hand of Evil by John Saul

and

Out of Time by Caroline B. Cooney

has anyone read either of thses books?

Out of Time seems a little young but....

I loved What's Eating Gilbert Grape...keep looking for it.

I don't know the other titles, sorry.

[Elax]

The Social Construction of Technological Systems. New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology
edited by Wiebe E. Bijker, Thomas P. Hughes, and Trevor Pinch

before that, some literature that I might get around to reading in the Christmas holidays or something :rolleyes:

Harry Mulisch - De Aanslag
Tom Lanoye - Kartonnen Dozen
Kurt Vonnegut - Mother Night

[LifeImitation]

I always buy a lot of books in thriftshops or fleamarkets.
I'm now reading a biography on Judy Garland.

And if I spot a haikubook for a reasonable price
I add it at once to my little collection.

[bookwoman]

Quote

Originally posted by Barbarella
I went to the local library to get What's Eating Gilbert Grape they didn't have it so they recommended 2 other books

The Right Hand of Evil by John Saul

and

Out of Time by Caroline B. Cooney

has anyone read either of thses books?

Out of Time seems a little young but....

I'm a bookseller and a newbie who has finally stumbled onto this portion of the site. John Saul writes horror. I have not read "Gilbert Grape" (saw the movie, though) and cannot imagine recommending Saul to someone who was looking for that title. Caroline Cooney writes for young adults.  "Out of Time" is a time travel romance.

A great time travel book that has won both the Hugo and the Nebula Awards is "Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis. Highly recommended.