OT: The Good Book: What are you reading right now?

[Runner77]

Broached the subject of self-help and inspiration type business books and just saw this one yesterday:

The author was on an afternoon show and mentioned how he turned himself from an illegal entrepreneur to a legal entrepreneur.

His contention: If you can do it illegally, you can do it legally. Simple enough. Maybe it'll inspire someone.

 

[MXD]

I just found Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in a used-book fundraiser and it kinda makes my day.

 

[Mrb1p]

I just finished A brief history of progress by Ronald Wright. Really good and light read.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I just found Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in a used-book fundraiser and it kinda makes my day.

The 2011 film adaptation is real good if you like the story, it's got a ton of great British actors in it and a top notch 1970's look. It helps knowing the story in advance cause there's a lot of characters and moving parts in it and it can be a tad hard to follow.

 

[MXD]

The 2011 film adaptation is real good if you like the story, it's got a ton of great British actors in it and a top notch 1970's look. It helps knowing the story in advance cause there's a lot of characters and moving parts in it and it can be a tad hard to follow.

Oh of course. That movie is, like, a very solid 9. I liked the '70ies serie starring Alec Guiness, too.

 

[Chili]

New authorized bio of Serge Savard out (en français) by Philippe Cantin.

Reading this autobiography of Neil Young, hard to put down so far (his early life on the road and everyone he met).

 

[HelloBellyvo]

I read the latest Harry Bosch. The Night fire . Bosch, one of my favourite detectives.

 

[HelloBellyvo]

Before the Bosch book I read the latest Jo Nesbo. His protagonist, Harry Hole, is a dark soul.

 

[habamillions]

Before the Bosch book I read the latest Jo Nesbo. His protagonist, Harry Hole, is a dark soul.

The harry hole books are great. Im reading bruce coffin's detective byrons series right now. Great books. Being a former detective he knows polive procedures

 

[HelloBellyvo]

The harry hole books are great. Im reading bruce coffin's detective byrons series right now. Great books. Being a former detective he knows polive procedures

thanks for the introduction of detective Byron. I'll look him up. I also like police procedurals.

If you like espionage thrillers set during ww2 The Station series by David Downing are a great. I like historical fiction.
Another interesting series also set during ww2 is Bernie Gunther. Historical detective thrillers. Ex cop turned detective.

 

[habamillions]

thanks for the introduction of detective Byron. I'll look him up. I also like police procedurals.

If you like espionage thrillers set during ww2 The Station series by David Downing are a great. I like historical fiction.
Another interesting series also set during ww2 is Bernie Gunther. Historical detective thrillers. Ex cop turned detective.

Thanks. Will definitely look into them.

 

[QuebecPride]

Read for a second time Nous étions invincibles by Denis Morisset and Claude Coulombe, which is an autobiography of Denis Morisset about his time with the Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), the special forces of the Canadian Army (similar to the SEALs & Delta Force in the US, SAS in the UK, GIGN in France). The JTF2 are viewed as an elite special forces in the world, probably in the top3, but we never hear/read about them because their missions are classified. Morisset was amongst the first members of the rebirth of the Special Forces in Canada and has been part of missions in Ex-Yougoslavia, Rwanda, Afganisthan, Latin America.This book is a great way to enter their world. Being interested in wars and tactics (I love FPS & Tactical war games and war movies/series), this is a must-read to me.

Spoiler: Spoiler

One of his missions in Columbia was actually turned into a Hollywood movie (Tears of the Sun). Morisset talks extensively about the hatred for his French background amongst some of his superiors, the camaraderie and trust they had in each other and the ugly events he witnessed. Most, if not all of the JTF2 were on steroids and other pill cocktails to keep up physically/mentally during his time there. One of my favourite anecdote from the book is when they visited an American base for training purposes in Virginia. They were asked to do a night-time Helicopter drop, I believe it was with ropes. When the Canadians' turn came, they felt something moving under their feet on the ground, but they couldn't care less and moved up to complete their mission. The moving things were venomous snakes that were put there by the Americans as a joke, and the latter were astonished that the Canadians jumped in there like it was nothing. One squad members had to go to the hospital because he was bit and needed an antidote, but it really portrays how these guys only care about the mission. There's another funny one about that training week, where they had to cross a really wide river sliding with a rope, again at night I believe. The river was filled by alligators too. At some point, the river proved to be too wide, for they were really tired from all the training they've had in the previous days, and one of the JTF fell in the water. All his squadmates followed him into the river and drew their knife, just to realize the alligators were in fact fake plastic ones. They really didn't like to leave a man behind

 

[Per Sjoblom]

I just found Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in a used-book fundraiser and it kinda makes my day.

The whole Smiley series are great!

 

[Marshy71]

Im up to the 2nd book in the Malazan book of the fallen series by Steven Erikson. Had heard a lot of good things about it over the years but never got around to reading it - wish i read it sooner!

No wasting time setting the scene, you start right in the action and go from there, putting the pieces together as you go.

Also contains a list of who is who at the front which you reference a fair bit as you read - epic fantasy at its best!

 

[QuebecPride]

Im up to the 2nd book in the Malazan book of the fallen series by Steven Erikson. Had heard a lot of good things about it over the years but never got around to reading it - wish i read it sooner!

No wasting time setting the scene, you start right in the action and go from there, putting the pieces together as you go.

Also contains a list of who is who at the front which you reference a fair bit as you read - epic fantasy at its best!

Never heard of it, looks like the author is Canadian too, how do you like it so far compared to other fantasy book series?

 

[ahmedou]

What about No Days Off: My Life with Type 1 Diabetes and Journey to the NHL?

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

What about No Days Off: My Life with Type 1 Diabetes and Journey to the NHL?

Have you been reading it ?

 

[ahmedou]

Have you been reading it ?

Before everything else, I'm gonna check out with the Montreal public library. Like at their overdrive stuff. I'm not used to that yet. It's new concept to me. It seems it's available there. This book is expensive in this regard. So maybe if I've access to it.

 

[Walrus26]

I've started early on my new year's resolution, which is to re-read my collection of Iain M Banks SF novels. In order.

Consider Phlebas is still one of his best books. We could do with one of the tripedal 8-foot-tall Idiran ultra-warriors at LD.

 

[Frozenice]

I read Kaiser’s Pirates, about the German Navy in WW1, if you think China is going to take over the world, no problem, this may give you pause.

Also, Les Miserables, read about half of it in junior high for school, good to read the whole story, a lot of heavy slogging but a good read. A classic for a reason.

—- Giller Prize Winners below——

Fifteen Dogs, it was okay, I’m a bit too old for it’s intended audience, imo. Had the story potential to be a all-time classic but fell flat in too many ways. Still, can recommend it but don’t expect a lot from it.

Us Conductors, okay, liked it but nothing outstanding.

419, Of the 3 the best story and the best written, parts of it were meh but overall quite good. Recommended.

 

[Chili]

I read Kaiser’s Pirates, about the German Navy in WW1, if you think China is going to take over the world, no problem, this may give you pause.

I have that book but haven't read it, been reading biographies, including 2 of Neil Young.

Currently reading Charlie Chaplin's autobiography. He crossed paths with a lot of famous people in his lifetime (Churchill, Einstein, Gandhi, Hearst...).

One of my favorite movies 'The Kid' he wrote, directed, produced, financed, was shot on his lot and he was the star. He also edited the film. On 'City Lights' he also wrote the music. A one man studio.

 

[Frozenice]

I have that book but haven't read it, been reading biographies, including 2 of Neil Young.

Currently reading Charlie Chaplin's autobiography. He crossed paths with a lot of famous people in his lifetime (Churchill, Einstein, Gandhi, Hearst...).

One of my favorite movies 'The Kid' he wrote, directed, produced, financed, was shot on his lot and he was the star. He also edited the film. On 'City Lights' he also wrote the music. A one man studio.

I’m going to read that Neil Young’s book you’re reading now (looks interesting, I’ve spent some time in Wpg, T Bay and SF, I think it will resonate with me) in a while, right now I’m reading The Kite Runner and soon to start Beyond Belfast.

I’m planning to read a few more of the Giller Prize books, Do Not Say We Have Nothing and Late Nights on Air and then I’m thinking some classics like Hemingway.

I want to read some books on movies I found interesting like The English Patient but that won’t be for a while.

 

[Chili]

I’m going to read that Neil Young’s book you’re reading now (looks interesting, I’ve spent some time in Wpg, T Bay and SF, I think it will resonate with me) in a while, right now I’m reading The Kite Runner and soon to start Beyond Belfast.

I’m planning to read a few more of the Giller Prize books, Do Not Say We Have Nothing and Late Nights on Air and then I’m thinking some classics like Hemingway.

I want to read some books on movies I found interesting like The English Patient but that won’t be for a while.

I do recommend the Neil Young book I mentioned above, smooth read. Some of the autobiographies I read avoid talking much about their family but NY is very open in the book.

I picked up a bio on Hemingway, haven't read yet (Mary Dearborn).

'Les Miserables' is on my to read list . I read a Victor Hugo biography not long ago (Graham Robb). A very interesting life.

 

[Per Sjoblom]

I've started early on my new year's resolution, which is to re-read my collection of Iain M Banks SF novels. In order.

Consider Phlebas is still one of his best books. We could do with one of the tripedal 8-foot-tall Idiran ultra-warriors at LD.

I have not read that one. I read one about the evolution of man from start at the savannas of Africa and finish where man lives in symbiosis with a tree and the benefits for the tree is that is gets nutrients from when the beings die (they are not really human anymore). Will check it out.

 

[Per Sjoblom]

I have that book but haven't read it, been reading biographies, including 2 of Neil Young.

Currently reading Charlie Chaplin's autobiography. He crossed paths with a lot of famous people in his lifetime (Churchill, Einstein, Gandhi, Hearst...).

One of my favorite movies 'The Kid' he wrote, directed, produced, financed, was shot on his lot and he was the star. He also edited the film. On 'City Lights' he also wrote the music. A one man studio.

He was a genius for sure.
The Kid. Was that the one where the kid was played by a very young Uncle Fester from the Adams TV series?