Saw an interview with the author of this book on the Daily Show several weeks ago where Ripley was described as a cross between PT Barnum, Hugh Hefner and Marco Polo. Apparently, in the early 1900's, people in the US learned about other places in the world through the incessant travel habits and illustrations of Ripley. I haven't even reached the part of the book where he's really kicked that into full gear and I'm already totally hooked.
Last edited by Magtig; 08-22-2013 at 03:24 PM.
Started part 1 yesterday:
Wonderful. It opens with pet names and slides into a textbook wealth of biological, historical and sociological information that never feels dry, punctuated by encounters with experts that read like a good short story, and humor. Just a great read.
I have had that a while, but have yet to start it.
Recently read Stephen King's Joyland, and when it came up in conversation that it was a segue into the upcoming Doctor Sleep I re-read The Shining. Then I decided to re-read Carrie, since the remake is coming up in October. Then I decided to just go through my King library from start to finish, so I just finished 'Salem's Lot and The Stand and started Dead Zone.
I really need to stop re-reading things when I have so much on my shelf that needs to be read for the first time.
Picked up Koontz's Odd Hours and Lumley's Necroscope. I've read the first Odd Thomas a while back and this one is pretty good though I'm not sure where it falls in the series. Necroscope I read in middle school but I figure since good vampire tales have, imo, been hard to come by I've decided to read it again. As I recall the series was pretty solid.
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I just finished 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. An excellent read for anyone who enjoys horror stories with substance. They range from strange to creepy, but what impressed me most was how all of the characters in each story are developed so well. Currently, I'm starting a true crime novel called "I Would Find A Girl Walking," and then after I finish that I'll be reading the first book to the Malazan Book of the Fallen series with a friend from work. After I'm done with the first installation I'll probably catch the new book, "Doctor Sleep" by Stephen King.
Oh, and I finished off "The Great and Secret Show" just after the NIN show in Paris and I finished the sequel ("Everville") last night. The reading progress took a hammering due to personal crap and the fact that my Kindle had to be replaced.
Cormac McCarthy is so goddamn depressingly awesome. Just finished "No Country For Old Men", again.
Ray Bradbury, Illustrated Man. Very twilight zone-like
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi for the 3rd time. Tremendous book.
The Meathead Perspective archives and giggling like an idiot.
Oh my, holy crap, rolls eyes, hitches breath ... I am still reading/struggling through Fifty Shades of Grey, can't believe this is a best seller! The best thing about the book is are the reviews on amazon.co.uk half of the five star reviews are piss takes.
A friend gave me a belated birthday gift of a chick lit book 'The Love of Her Life - Harriet Evans', I don't really rate chick lit but the first chapter already reads a million time better than Fifty Shades.
Also reading 28A by Diana Evans and Love and Other Dangerous Chemicals by Anthony Cappella
Just got Joyland by Stephen King out of the library... yess!!
Eh. Also, re-read The Shining last week in preparation for Doctor Sleep.
I have to get back to the novels before I hit a slump and this looked like a good, cheap choice. I bought it in preparation for A Marker To Measure Drift, which sounded interesting, but noticed this lovely Europa edition matched my unread copy of Hamilton's Hangover Square. Looks like a mock binge game plan to kick off Autumn!
Last edited by Bokononist; 09-11-2013 at 09:07 AM.
A dystopia about a Nazi world 700 years after a Nazi WWII victory, written in 1937.
The Great Gatsby
Picked up Brother Odd the other day so far it seems in keeping with the others.
Last edited by Pillfred; 09-26-2013 at 11:14 PM.
just got this today, probably won't start it till tomorro.....
About to start "Vengeance" by George Jonas, about the Israeli response to the Munich Olympics massacre. Read it before, but quite a while ago...
Just picked up The People Look Like Flowers At Last, and Book of Longing by Bukowski and Cohen respectively.