What are you reading?

[Jammies]

I'm reading Hitler's Willing Executioners right now. What's everyone else reading?

[Crackpot]

The Plan B Forum.

No really I'm not reading anything right now well that's not entirely true I'm reading Don Quixote whenever I'm spending time in a waiting room. It's a slow read.

Last book I finished is Mister B. Gone By Clive Barker. If you enjoyed There's a Monster at the end of this book as a child You'll love that one.

[Gob]

SuperFreakonomics, the highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Freakonomics, was released on October 20, 2009. Steven Levitt, professor of economics at the University of Chicago, and author Stephen Dubner have again teamed together to apply economic reasoning to a wide range of real-world questions. As with the original Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics is largely based upon the research of Professor Levitt, who has tackled problems inside and outside the field of economics.

Over 4 months on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list




Table of contents
Introduction: Putting the Freak in Economics
Chapter 1: How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?
Chapter 2: Why should suicide bombers buy life insurance?
Chapter 3: Unbelievable stories about apathy and altruism
Chapter 4: The fix is in---and it's cheap and simple
Chapter 5: What do Al Gore and Mount Pinatubo have in common?

http://www.superfreakonomicsbook.com/

[Reality Bytes]

Nigel Owens is one of the world's leading rugby referees. Highly respected, he has officiated in many of the sport's key matches, including the 2007 Rugby World Cup, two consecutive Heineken Cup finals (one of only two referees to have done so), this year's British and Irish Lions tour
of South Africa, and the infamous recent `bloodgate scandal' match. He is also the only openly gay rugby union referee on the circuit. Before reaching the highest echelons of the rugby world, Nigel Owens had to come to terms with the despair that drove him to attempt suicide as he struggled with his sexuality, bulimia and an addiction to steroids. An inspirational story, his autobiography is a brave and honest account of his personal struggle to overcome fear and prejudice to become one of the most respected and well known personalities in international rugby union. Nigel Owens's warmth and humour (he worked as a comedian in South Wales in the 80s) shine through his story, which is brimming with anecdotes about matches he has refereed and players he has met along the way: from Gavin Henson's first match, to on-pitch altercations with Austin Healey, Lawrence Dallaglio's intimidation tactics, coping with live televised matches, and needing a police escort from the ground in Auch, France, to his thoughts on the recent Heineken Cup quarter final between Harlequins and Leinster on 12th April 2009, which was to rock the foundations of rugby worldwide when Harlequins wing Tom Williams bit on a blood capsule and faked injury.

Available on Amazon - however anyone who'd like a personalised autographed copy either in English or in Welsh let me know and I'll pm you his address. Very interesting read and very "Welsh".

I'm also re-reading for the umpteenth time all the Pern books by Ann MCaffrey.

[Rick]

Soil Science Simplified
4th edition
Helmut Kohnke
D. P. Franzmeier
ISBN 0-88133-813-3

Seriously...

[BoSoxGal]

Alex Cross tells the incredible story—passed down through the generations—of an ancestor's courageous fight for freedom.

SEPARATED BY TIME
From his grandmother, Alex Cross heard the story of his great-uncle Abraham and his struggles for survival in the era of the Ku Klux Klan. Now, Alex passes the family tale along to his own children in a book he's written—a novel called Trial.

CONNECTED BY BLOOD
A lawyer in early-1900s Washington, D.C., Ben Corbett fights against oppression and racism—and risks his family and his life in the process. When President Theodore Roosevelt asks Ben to return to his hometown to investigate rumors of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan there, he cannot refuse.

UNITED BY BRAVERY
In Eudora, Mississippi, Ben meets the wise Abraham Cross and his beautiful daughter, Moody. With their help, Ben discovers that lynchings have become commonplace. Ben vows to break the reign of terror—but the truth of who is really behind it may break his heart. Written in the fearless voice of Detective Alex Cross, ALEX CROSS'S TRIAL is a gripping story of murder, love, and unparalleled bravery.

It's fluff, but enjoyable, idealistic fluff.

[dales]

I'm trying to stay current with shifting social trends

[Jarlaxle]

Finished Tim Dognahey's Personal Foul...and have concluded that maybe 75% of NBA games are rigged.

Now reading Keeper of the Keys by Perri O'Shaugnessey, almost done. Next on the pile: The Stone Monkey by Jeff Deaver.

[BoSoxGal]

I love that Perri O'Shaugnessey series! Have they published a new one recently? I'll have to look . . .

[Guinevere]

[Crackpot]

A quick not on Don Quixote:

All the things I've ever heard about the book happened within the first 50 pages leading me to believe just about everyone who has ever referenced the book never actually read the book to the end.

[BoSoxGal]

In college and graduate school I studied with a Professor who did his thesis on the picaresque novel and Don Quixote in particular. He'd read it cover to cover several times. Thomas Mann once reported that he re-read Don Quixote every year.

I don't know of many other people myself who have ever read the entirety. I read most of it in my Rise of the Novel course, but admittedly skipped parts. Bad bsg!

[Big RR]

I read it, in Spanish, in a college Spanish literature course, but it was only around 350 pages (as i recall) so I think it was probably an abridged version. It was interesting but Cervantes certainly could go on and on for pages about little details.

[Scooter]

I don't know of many other people myself who have ever read the entirety. I read most of it in my Rise of the Novel course, but admittedly skipped parts. Bad bsg!

That's the advantage of the picaresque novel. You don't have to read every episode in order to develop a full literary appreciation of it. God knows that I would never have been able to get through Gil Blas, the quintessential French picaresque novel, had I been forced to read it from cover to cover when I wrote a term paper on it for a French Lit class.

[Scooter]

It was interesting but Cervantes certainly could go on and on for pages about little details.

Sounds like every novel by Balzac. Oh yeah, except for the "it was interesting" part.

[Jarlaxle]

I love that Perri O'Shaugnessey series! Have they published a new one recently? I'll have to look . . .

There's a Nina Reilly "prequel" out a few months ago (forget the title), but Keeper of the Keys is a standalone story.

[Gob]

Now moved onto an old fave

"Death in Holy Orders" by P D James.

[Gilead]

I read 3 or 4 books a week... I always tell myself to slow down, sometimes it's hard to recall one from another.

The ones I'm currently beginning are from Andy Mcdermott. Starting with:

[kristina]

Just back from a visit to the folks, so LOTS of reading time in airports and on flights.

I reread "Death of an Expert Witness" by P.D. James (I love her writing), and "In a Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson. I want to visit Australia. Today. Really.

[Gob]

Nice taste Kristina.

If you like P D James, I take it you have also read the "Morse" novels by Colin Dexter?