BOOKS THREAD

I can't remember everything I read last year, but the books I read from about October on were:

Best and Brightest - Halberstam (not sure there's a better combination journalism/history book out there)
Far Afield - S.L. Price (A very well-done memoir and his feelings while in Europe resembled much the same ones I had when I spent a semester there)
Slaughterhouse Five - Vonnegut (I know resolve to read everything he's ever written)
Three Bricks Shy of a Load - Roy Blount Jr. (maybe the funniest book I've ever read)
The Tender Bar - Moehringer (while all five of these books were top notch, none of them hit me the way this one did - just phenomenal)

I also reread "Boss" (Royko), "Gatsby" and "Once a Runner" (John L. Parker Jr.).

Best and Brightest kept me from getting to a couple other books I really wanted to get to, but it was worth it.

To start off this year I'm reading "Let the Great World Spin." A novel by Colum McCann centered on Philippe Petit walking between TWC towers. I'm 75 pages into it and it's a really good read. The scene from pages 68-72 (I don't want to ruin anything) is some of the best writing I've ever come across.

After that I have "Me Talk Pretty One Day," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "The Devil in the White City" and "Idiot America" in my queue; all of which I'm very excited to read. Also, this year I really want to delve into some Caro for non-fiction and Lehane for fiction. Two writers that I definitely should have read by now but haven't gotten around to.

 

caro's first book on lbj -- the path to power -- is the best non-fiction book i've ever read.

 

Dreunc: Both "Boss" and "Devil in White City" are great reads about fascinating eras in Chicago history.

Especially "Boss." Royko hit it out of the park with that one.

 

Just finished "Where Men Win Glory."

Starting "Idiot America" tonight.

 

Then you'll love "Master of the Senate," which is awesome.

 

Re The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Finished it, and really don't get the bestsellerness here. It's fine, in a twisty 'aha!' kind of way, but not a book I'd call my friends to rave about. It was fine...I might even read the sequel, but with much lower expectations.

Really loved THE HELP, a wonderful read, probably not for guys.

 

Just finished Let the Great World Spin, took me a day and I can understand why everyone is raving I highly recommend it.

Starting Summer of the Gods, before receiving my kindle tomorrow!!!!

 

Up to page 260 in Let the Great World Spin. The stories are woven together so well and I've been consistently amazed by the amount of detail in every situation. His laying out of every scene intricately is never done in a clunky fashion; always adding to the story.

 

"The Greatest Album Covers of All Time" -- Barry Miles, Grant Scott and Johnny Morgan

Christmas gift from my sister, who knows I'm a music nerd from way back.

Just like the "Twilight" books are brain candy for my wife, this book is like Peanut Butter M&Ms for me!

 

My local HMV is pretty much out of the CD business, choosing to focus on DVDs, video games, t-shirts and books. The store has all the latest bestsellers but also a lot of cool music-themed remainder items like:

Tougher Than The Rest - 100 Best Bruce Springsteen Songs

http://www.amazon.com/Tougher-Than-Rest-Springsteen-Omnibus/dp/0825634709

and....

The Hits Just Keep on Coming: The History of Top 40 Radio

http://www.amazon.com/Hits-Just-Keep-Coming-History/dp/0879305479

 

Started the Agassi book the other day. Can't put it down. Riveting stuff. And very, very, very well written. Almost doesn't seem like Agassi could have written it himself. Either that or I'm way off about his writing skills. So damn detailed, too. Just fantastic.

 

Just finished Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." Outstanding.