BOOKS THREAD

Ehrman's written a few books for lay readers. The one I mentioned, 'Lost Christianities,' was from 2003 and is definitely geared toward a lay audience. I highly recommend it. That same year he published a companion book - 'Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament.' They detail the real development of proto-orthodoxy and he textual canon.

Bakc in 1996 he wrote a book entitled 'The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture: The Effect of Early Christological Controversies on the Text of the New Testament.' I've had it on my to-read list for a while but haven't gotten to it. It's definitely a more scholarly work, not aimed at a large audience.

I have to consider myself a fan. I'm going to take you up on the recommendation.
I love this kind of stuff.

 

Just finished the Rape of Nanking, not for those with a weak stomach. But it is a must read if you have never heard of the events. I am utterly shocked we never teach about this in High School or College.

 

It may sound a bit like "Killing Yourself to Live," but the Epting book is more straightforward, just presenting a bunch of short write-ups and photos about "historic" places in rock 'n roll history.

Much less rambling about Larry Bird, The Real World and Paul Stanley fantasies while driving across Montana.

 

Not a new book but I just finished Michael Cunningham's "A Home at the Edge of the World". Actually enjoyed it even more than "The Hours". Beautiful book.

 

Just finished reading "1942" by Robert Conroy.

Next up is "The War After Armageddon" by Ralph Peters.

 

I just finished "Where Men Win Glory" and can't recommend it highly enough. Great read and it made me really, really angry. Oh, and I love John Krakauer with a white hot burning passion.

 

Just finished Slaughterhouse Five and Spartacus War. On to Horns by Joe Hill. Slaughterhouse is the only one I can recommend. Horns would be good if they took out every single flashback scene. It is amazing to me how uninteresting those are but the stories set in the present are very good.

 

A recommendation for Moddy and the rest of the mystery/crime novel fans:

Pick up "Gutshot Straight" by Lou Berney. Reviews have repeatedly compared it Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard and Don Winslow. Agreed... but it's better than anything Leonard or Hiaasen have written in years (and I'm a fan of both). It reminded me a lot of the "Glitz," "Freaky Deaky" period for Leonard.

Really impressive for a first novel. The guy's a screenwriter who wrote it during the Writers Guild strike.

 

Care to elaborate on Slaughterhouse Five? I had it my hands the other day but also had four other books, so I held off. I've read a few reviews and it seems interesting, but I guess I'm curious to hear what you think of it.

 

One of Vonnegut's best, although I personally prefer 'The Sirens of Titan' and 'Breakfast of Champions.'

 

This is my first Vonnegut book so I might not be the best to ask about him. But I personally found the book great. Though the story is a little out there, Vonnegut is a fantastic writer.He is able to weave the past, present and future better than any book I have seen. I highly recommend it because the story is particularly engaging as well. Joe Hill could learn a thing or two from Vonnegut. I am still trying to finish Horns and it is very painful. It is considered to be a thinking ans book about good and evil. The only thing I can think about is when will the book get interesting again during every flashback. Do yourself a favor avoid and read a well written book like Slaughterhouse.