BOOKS THREAD

I can't make it this year, but my annual plug for those in NYC or nearby. Tickets for the New Yorker Festival go on sale today. I've gone the past five years and have enjoyed every session I've attended.

New Yorker Festival

 

I'm no Deadhead - although I did review one of their shows in 1987 during my music mag days and was very impressed with how good they were live - but David Browne's new So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead is a terrific read. Covers all the bases with interviews from the survivors both in and out of the band. I am sure there are more in-depth Dead books out there but this was a great read for a neophyte like me.

 

You could be the library's best patron instead. Interlibrary loan has been a godsend for me (and my wallet!)

 

My city has a very good library system and the main branch is a five-minute walk from the house. We can also do interlibrary loans from the library system in Toronto. Saved me a small fortune too.

 

My wife got me into the library early on (20 yrs ago!) and its been a godsend. Saved so much $$ because many times would not ever reread the books. We have an excellent online request hold system (do have to wait for the newest books) and we live 2 mins from the library.

 

As soon as I see a new release that I am interested in I put a hold in right away if the library is carrying it. By the time my turn comes I have read the books I have stacked up waiting. I read one book a week on my commute.

 

Toronto Public Library puts new books in the system as soon as they're ordered so if you're on the ball, you can request the new Stephen King before the release date and have it almost immediately when they receive it. I buy almost nothing for my eReader ... just download from the library.

 

Mike Tyson's Undisputed Truth is a chaotic, at times messy and rambling memoir about a messy and totally chaotic life. Some good stuff about his childhood and boxing career and even if half the stories he relates involving ridiculously excessive drug and alcohol abuse, rampant womanizing and street fights are true than Iron Mike makes Keith Richards, among others, look like fucking light weights.

 

Kidon by Bob Dickinson. World War II (and beyond) story about the search for truth and justice in a world filled with good and evil men. Littered with typos and sloppy spacing (perhaps self-published, and a first run edition) and there's a bit TOO much coincidence but the story is nice and closes well. The cocksucker Nazi commander conjures images of Hans Landa.

 

Thank you all for some great reading ideas. Combined with a Craigslist hammock I refurbished, I've been on a great roll for the last six weeks of summer.


Billy Martin ...by Pennington was excellent. His ex's finally telling their stories was key. Well sourced on and off the field. Can I put it up there with Lombardi? Yes. A constant theme was how many of Martin's quick turnaround jobs would have been wild cards today but back then came up short.

Station eleven ...as per this thread's recommendations ...was very entertaining. Bravo for a first time effort. I would never have discovered this on my own.

500 days...outstanding

Al michaels. Stuart Scott...

The pine tar game...very enjoyable background telling by Bondy. Quick read. Loved some new details. Worth reading for sure.

Active liberty...Stephen Breyer. Very readable short constitutional arguments. A change of pace read.

Genghis khan ...jack weatherford. 2004. I picked through this after listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore series about the great Kahn. book was helpful; the podcast super.

Mr. Mercedes + Finders Keepers ....by S.King. A new tack for king. I liked them. Probably has a third book coming on his adult take on "the Three Investigators" and if so I'll put my request in at the library.

The Martian...up in the air on this but eventually liked that the math/science stretched the this old brain a bit. I'm not sure if the movie can tell the story without coming off like Mcguyver goes to the moon.

A bone to pick...mark bittman collection of foodie stuff. Eat better. Support local farmers. Eat less meat. Over and over but well written



Now currently reading winslow's the dog and have cartel on order.

 

Well now I want a hammock.