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I know we are all busy and into fitness...but it is also good to nourish and "exercise" the mind too.
So..what book are you currently reading?

For me, I'm currently reading Marcus Aurelius' MEDITATIONS

"How To Simplify Your Life"
Seven Practical Steps To Letting Go of Your Burdens and Living a Happier Life
by Tiki Kustenmacher

...yeah, like I would take someone named "Tiki" seriously. LOLLLLLLL!!!!
To paraphrase Caslon5000's line, "Oh I crack me up... me too!"

"Free Lunch" by David Cay Johnston.. And becoming more amazed (and pissed off) every other page. I really am getting over my naivete about government, corporations and how it affects us all.

LOL. Thought about not answering this one even though I love books and love the topic. Kind of embarrassed, I'm reading a guilty pleasure of mine. Fantasy (total geek I know) Storm Waring by Mercedes Lackey if its any consolation there are some gay characters in it.

YAY for gay characters!

... aight i'm currently re-reading the marcos dynasty by sterling seagrave only cuz i got lost in some of its historical references and wanted to get it straight and while there are no gay characters in the book it does exploit imelda marcos sooo nicely

Usually into nonfiction (just ordered Halberstam's book of sports writing), but this summer has been all fiction: 'The Shadow Year' by Jeffrey Ford, 'Water for Elephants' (awesome), crime fiction by Carl Hiassen, David Baldacci, James Lee Burke.

The last few books I've read were: The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama, Castration and Male Rage: The Phallic Wound (not about literal castration so much as primal masculine psychology, it's very Jungian) by Eugene Monick, Fear of Life by Alexander Lowen, Navigating Differences - Friendships Between Gay and Straight Men by Jammie Price, The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs, and How do You Know it's True? Discovering the Difference Between Science and Superstition by Hy Ruchlis; and I'm currently reading Not Always So - Practicing the True Spirit of Zen by Shunryu Suzuki, On Combat by Dave Grossman w/ Loren Christensen, The Stoic Life by Tad Brennan. And sorta sitting by the wayside after I started reading them and lost interest partway through are Cruise Control by Robert Weiss and Masculinities by R. W. Connell.

I've been on kind of a spree lately, mostly working on figuring out my anger and my male issues, and learning to calm me inner raging bull. I find reading a couple different things at the same time a lot more interesting because if you're paying attention you can start finding connections between all kinds of different academic disciplines and one thing that was written with kind of a narrow focus can become informed by a new source totally out of left field. So the next books on the docket are The Analects translated by D. C. Lau, Plato's The Republic and Breaking the Spell - Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel Dennett.

"CHARGE !, Great Cavalry Engagements of the Napoleonic Wars," by Dudley Smith. Well, you asked !!

harry potter, yeah im a dork

Just finished reading 'Death at Intervals' by Jose Saramago...it was really s***

But now finishing a book by urban theorist Elizabeth Farelly, it's called 'Blubberland' - awesome!

BusinessInsurance Journal's Guide to the 100 Largest Bank-Owned Insurance Brokerages.

Well, you asked.

zzzzzzz

I tend to read several books at the same time...

currently:

Bones to Ashes - Kathy Reichs (series bones is based off her books)
Harry Potter (Goblet of Fire)
The Partner (John Grisham)

yomamali saidYAY for gay characters!

... aight i'm currently re-reading the marcos dynasty by sterling seagrave only cuz i got lost in some of its historical references and wanted to get it straight and while there are no gay characters in the book it does exploit imelda marcos sooo nicely

LOL I read that book back in high school. It was interesting, because my parents are staunch Marcos supporters (while I wasn't).

I thought it was a bunch of conspiracy theory hogwash though.

Three at the same time:

STARFLEET ACADEMY: COLLISION COURSE by William Shatner

THE COMPLETE MAKING OF INDIANA JONES

A FEW MINUTES PAST MIDNIGHT - A Toby Peters Mystery by Stuart M. Kaminsky

I am currently reading "The Hours" by Michael Cunningham.
Seen the movie, and loved it beyond words. The book seems to be different, but great in its own way. Highly recommend it.

crinjax said"Free Lunch" by David Cay Johnston.. And becoming more amazed (and pissed off) every other page. I really am getting over my naivete about government, corporations and how it affects us all.

That's a very interesting book Crinjax. Yes it is an eye opener for sure....or maybe more accurately..and eyebrow raiser !

Calculus of a Single Varable, 8th Ed. - Larson
Thomas' Calculus, Part 1 - Thomas
Economics, 7th Ed. - Boyes

.... oh wait - you wanted leasure literature... not academic textbooks

clive cussler
any of them i can get my hands on

robaroma saidJust finished Middlesex—really fine book.

Wow, yeah, Middlesex was great, what a pleasurable read.

Presently I am reading at home, Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II by Paul Doherty. I like history and Edward was a Bi guy plus he had a lot of mystery surrounding his death.

For the beach, I always read something very light because there are so many great looking passers-by. So Pyramid by Tom Martin is nearly captivating me.

Just finished reading through Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series for the... I don't even know how many times I've read them. I've already done my annual "Lord of the Rings" read, so I may have to go grab some new books.

I might look into that "Storm Waring" arielanatole was talking about.

I just finished Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, and now I'm reading some architectural books...

Great Avenues is an excellent book about the planning of Washington DC.

Prince Of Frogtown by Rick Bragg. Excellent!

I just finished For Whom the Bell Tolls, it rocked my world.

"The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" - It's inspired me.

Yesterday, I purchased Unspeakable by Michael Christopher. I'm more of a non-fiction/technical reader, but the plot parallels one of my life experiences. As youngsters, two boys were molested on separate occasions by the same man. As adults, they impose a sense of justice on the man and things go afoul. I look forward to discovering if their justice is one that I would have liked to have issued had the opportunity come my way.

"Boyfriend 101" by Sullivan. Yup. No joke.

And I barely read books anymore (which is a sad shame, I know).

Though, next up is "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Diamond. Picked it up when I went home for a weekend. Reading this was my homework assignment before entering high school, so no surprise, I'm doing my homework 8 years late.. haha.

Re-reading The Hobbitt, or there and back again by Tolkien

Being entertained by Zecharia Sitchin's The Stairway to Heaven: Book Two of the Earth Chronicles

Just finished Fables: The Good Prince (issues 60-69 by Bill Willingham) and loved it. Prince Ambrose / The Frog Prince / Flycatcher finally fulfills his destiny after recalling the execution of his family. Willingham beautifully establishes him as a third party to the Fabletown - Adversary conflict. My waterworks activated after I had finished it (no crying, just the prelude to it).

If you enjoy fairy or folk tales, you would do well to give Fables a try.

***
Also finished the first volume of Angel: After the Fall and enjoyed it (yay Lorne!). I would have liked more rendering of Los Angeles in its drawn-down-into-Hell state though.

I should be reading a book since I'm home alone, Saturday night and trying to find a way to amuse myself.

lol mileman....

Reading David Sedaris' new book....very funny.

Vincent Bugliosi's book The Prosecution of George W.Bush for Murder. He's the guy that put Manson away and also wrote 'Helter Skelter.'

Ya know: light summer reading!!

Reading three books at the same time. One in my bag for when I am walking around, one at home and one in my kitchen at work.(I'm a chef.)Also paging through recipe books everyday...Nigella lawson, Jamie Oliver,Ainsley Hariott,Gordon Ramsay,Garth stroebel...some of my favourites

Books I'm reading:
Ellen degeneres- The funny thing is.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez-Love in the time of cholera
Don Miguil Ruiz -The four agreements

The Life of Eleanor Rooselvelt
and
The Complete Works of Grimm's fairy tails....facinating because all that fantasy and imigery is based on real life stuff.

I am currently reading 'My Sister's Keeper' by Jodi Picoult.

"god is not Great"
How Religion Poisons Everything
by Christopher Hitchens

Currently reading the stuff I write...revision. Has to pretty perfect to make publication.

Bill's reading 'Russia' by Edward Rutherford

Totally multi-tasking ... or is it multi-reading? lol

re-reading:
Othello by Shakespeare
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
Civilization One by Christopher Knight and Alan Butler

first time read:
Mao's Last Dance by Li Cunxin

VineyardHmo said"god is not Great"
How Religion Poisons Everything
by Christopher Hitchens

that sounds like an interesting book. I saw him on a "talking heads" show discussing that book and he made some very interesting, provocative points.
Let me know how it goes.

Liber Aleph by Alister Crowley- i highly recommend it

Miracle In The Andes by Nando Parrado

"Duel" a collection of short stories by Richard Matheson. He was so deliciously creepy.

flux33312 said

VineyardHmo said"god is not Great"
How Religion Poisons Everything
by Christopher Hitchens

that sounds like an interesting book. I saw him on a "talking heads" show discussing that book and he made some very interesting, provocative points.
Let me know how it goes.

Great book - read it earlier this year - recommend it.

It's the summer and I'm usually busy with ball, so I tend to go for the light stuff. I'm currently reading two books:


and

flux wrote:
I know we are all busy and into fitness...but it is also good to nourish and "exercise" the mind too"

Mens sano in corpore sano, as the romans would say.

I just recently finished John Weir's long-awaited second book and Steve Neal's book about the 1932 Democratic convention -- the latter was fascinating. I'm now finishing Robert Reich's Reason and am about to start Candy Everyone Wants. (I always have two or three books that i'm reading, which one i read depends on my mood.)

NOW i'm reading "Life With Me Sister, Madonna" by Christopher Ciccone...

RunintheCity said

StripperRocco saidNOW i'm reading "Life With Me Sister, Madonna" by Christopher Ciccone...

You are NOT!

I sure am!!!!!! But i didnt pay full price for it.

Honestly, thus far, it's not nearly as scathing as it's being made out to be, and it's actually an entertaining read... much like Pamela Anderson's "Star". YES i read that! and LOVED IT!!!!

The Druidry Handbook by John michael Greer
On the History of Plants by Theophrastus (translated from ancient greek to latin to English)
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

I'm bad about reading more than one book at a time.

"I Love You Ronnie" Love letters by Ronald Reagan.

WOW! WOW! WOW! He was a great and profound letter writer.

The letters he wrote were amazing....not only to Nancy Reagan, but everyone he came in contact with, no matter how busy he was, he always took the time to sit down and pound out these incredible letters to friends and family!

This book is a great great READ!

Interesting about Ronald Reagan. Now I know what he was doing when he was President!

About to start "The Tin Star" by J.L. Langley, as I continue my exploration of gay literature.

I finished "Thinking Straight" by Robert Reardon. Actually quite good, one of the better books about gay teens I have read.

Will finish "Sottopassaggio" by Nick Alexander this week. His trilogy about the trials and tribulations of a gay man looking for love are quite funny, bittersweet and at times sad. I could relate to some of the main character's experiences from my single days.

A History of Russia by John Lawrence, and Maxim Gorky's Untimely Thoughts.

I am reading the timeless To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. This ought to be required reading for everyone at least every couple of years.
Tom

life with my sister madonna. it is quite an interesting read.

The Art of Power by Robert Greene

Nova by Samuel R. Delaney

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, and it is totally breaking my heart.

'Cuz it's fun: Dark Inheritance by Michael Gear and Kathleen Gear O'Neil.

'Cuz it has a pretty cover: Joseph Campbell's The Inner Reaches of Outer Space: Metaphor as Myth and as Religion. Okay, so far I haven't made it past the pretty cover...my brain's in lazy summer mode.

I just got back from Barnes & Noble where I bought Nixonland.

I'm gonna read it if I have to squint my way through all kazillion pages. It's gotten great reviews.

Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman


The world of superheros will never be the same!

YOU ROCK DR IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

yeah i read two books at once, Wanna fight about it?

I read two books at once too !!! not at this time though. Right now I'm reading an older historical novel about Pierre G T Beauregard, the Rebel General from Louisiana. Its titled Madame Castels Lodger, by Frances Parkinson Keyes

Del amor y otros demonios (Of Love and Other Demons?) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

The Fundamentals of the Physical Environment and hoping to re-read Catcher in the Rye (one of my high school book favorites).

Half-way done with it...already laughed out loud more than a few times.

Well, I'm on vacation, so that means I'm reading a lot. In the past week I finished One Hundred Years of Solitude and read The Cherry Orchard. Feeling sufficiently cultured for a while, I'm currently on the 7th book in Robert Asprin's MYTH series (having read the previous 6 in the past few days), which is basically light-hearted fantasy chock full of bad puns.

Two books right now..

1. the new Einstein biography by Walter Isaacson (i think that was the author's name) and..

2. The Portable Atheist by Christopher Hitchens

This week it's Rebecca Stott's "Ghostwalk" and
ISO 9001:2000 Explained <<---- shoot me now

But mostly this week I'm writing a bunch of crap that's ludicrously past deadline, pounding away at it until the error rate gets out of hand and I need a break.

Now would be a good time for that comet strike.

"Pillars of the Earth"

"1984"

I just finished 'The Hours" ( and now I need to see the movie!)


and if there is a book that i could recommend for the younger guys here-
'someday this pain will be useful to you'
that was an awesome fast read.

Re-reading parts of "Aviation Disasters" a book that describes the causes of all commercial airplane crashes of significance between 1950-99. It is amazing how many times in the past bombs have been used to blow planes out of the sky. As early as 1959 for US airliners. Makes me appreciate how much safer flying is today compared to the 1950's, 60's or 70's.

Trying to get through "Reservation Blues" by Sherman Alexie, but being a student and having a full time job means I have zilch time to read for pleasure...So for class, I'm making my way through

"City of Women" by Christine Stansell
"Soul by Soul: Life inside the Antebellum Slave Market" by Walter Johnson
"Death at the Haymarket" by James Green
and "The Lost Promise of Patriotism" by John Hansen

Harold Bloom's The Western Canon but it's sorta off and on.

Dorian Gray now...

I am deep into my annual reading of "Tales of the City" by Armistead Maupin... actually, am on book 4 at the moment, "Babycakes", and this year started with book 7...

If you want a good snapshot of my life as it was in the 70's and 80's these books are a must read. Even if you didn't grow up in San Francisco - you'll find them fun and nostalgic...

Rereading "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie.

hmm, right now I've got my nose buried in several different books...

"The Far Pavilions" by M.M. Kaye, a novel of the Indian Raj.

"King Leopold's Ghost", a book about the Congo Free State and the work of such people as E.D. Morel and Sir Roger Casement to uncover the genocide and slave/violence based economy that Leopold had established there

"Three Cups of Tea"-a books about a man who hiked into Pakistan in the Karakoram mountains in 1993...after promising to build a school there, he came back and established a whole series of schools.

"The Bookseller of Kabul"-a book about a bookseller who has operated a successful bookshop for 30 years in Kabul, despite the Taliban and other censorship campaigns.

I just finished the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, that was a good series. Kinda suprised people didn't boycott THAT series instead of Harry Potter.

The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder

meninlove said

Currently reading the stuff I write...revision. Has to pretty perfect to make publication.

Bill's reading 'Russia' by Edward Rutherford

Has he read London? I loved that book. Unforunaately that seems to be the only work of his that is in circulation in Mumbai.

This book was referred to me by a friend. It is AWESOME!

Anatomy of Human Destruction by Erich Fromm
Currents of Space by Isaac Asimov
Technopoly by Neil Postman

"Confessions of a Male Nurse" by Richard Ferri

and if you count trade paperbacks, then "The Injustice League"

Almost done with The Knight by Gene Wolfe. I have that masters'-degree-in-lit shame about reading fantasy and always feel the need to justify any mass-market paperbacks I'm making my way through...but fuck it, it's an awesome book. The writing is wonderful--Wolfe does a lot of really cool things with his narrators, they're either lying through their teeth or extremely naive or unreliable in some way.

My geeky friends and I are planning on doing an online group read of some Ponderous Doorstopper and are voting...The Brothers Karamazov and Don Quixote are neck-and-neck at the moment, and I'm really hoping Karamazov wins.

The Gum Thief by Douglas Coupland. And like 50 others in various states of completion.

Coping With Difficult People by Robert M. Bramson, Ph.D

I just read Sedaris' When You're Engulfed in Flames and Augusten Burroughs' A Wolf at the Table. Both good. The Burroughs was a lot darker than his others. Now I'm reading/rereading A Catcher in the Rye. I never finished it in school and feel like I should.

Also, because it's referenced in my show, I'm reading Peyton Place. Has anyone read that book? If so did you like it?

~Alex

The War of Art: Break through the blocks and win your inner creative battles by Steven Pressfield

I've been a little creatively blocked lately, I'm hoping this will light a fire.

Currently I am reading David McCulloughs book John Adams...GOOOD Stuff! I also suggest his book 1776! It is so a miracle that we are a country.

"When you are Engulfed in Flames".
My mom wanted the book for her birthday, which is August 18, so I'm reading it first before I send it to her.
SHHH....don't tell her.

I am on vacation (well working vacation anyway) so:

WHAT HAPPENED, by Scott McClellan
I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU!), by Stephen Colbert

on deck...

THE POST-AMERICAN WORLD, by Fareed Zakaria

Les Filles de Caleb

I read it in grade 10 french and loved it. So i decided to pick it up again this summer....still real good...its kinda like anne of green gables with sex...and its in french...but such a great story!

i'm reread "tales of the city" by armstead Maupin.

I love it, it's like a love letter to san francisco.

atlas shrugged by ayn rand, it's been good. lots of imagery and depth

"Breakfast With Scot" by Michael Downing, a great light summer read.

i'm reading Data, Models and Decisions by Bertsimas and Fruend... It's a fascinating read- real spellbinder- especially when you get to this one part about binomial distribution! Wow.. i'm breathing hard thinking about it.

cityguy39 said"Breakfast With Scot" by Michael Downing, a great light summer read.

I saw the movie and fell in love with the kid. how is the book?

I'm currently reading the analyst by john katzenbach but I'm stuck on page 384 because after that the next page is 417 and the following is just a mess. I'm going to return the book and hopefully get one with the ending.

After John Edwards' shocking revelation yesterday of his extramarital affair, I will be setting aside To Kill a Mockingbird in order to devote my full attention to Dan Ariely's book Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Maybe I'll be able to make some sense out of what's happening in the world- I certainly hope so anyway!
Tom

"Family Dancing" by David Leavitt

At the moment?

"Administering Windows Vista Security: The Big Surprises" by Mark Minasi

It's a small book, but really interesting! (It's also completely for my thesis)

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer

I know, it's sad that I'm reading a teen book but sometimes they seem to motivate me at times. Although the last book before that was "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" by Gregory Maguire.

Off the Deep End by W. Hodding Carter

The tale of a 45-year old guy trying to qualify for the Olympics Trails in swimming.

This book is a funny read -- in the vein of David Sedaris -- for non-swimmers and swimmers alike. The last two chapters get a bit technical for the non-swimmers but still readable.

The Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon

(P.S. I've always wondered... was Sidney Sheldon gay?)

i am reading great baseball book, "ball four" by jim bouton. it is a hilarious day by day account of happenings and annecdotes of a major leaguer on his way out of the game.

I just finished reading "The Catcher in the Rye" I've been meaning to for ages and spotted it in a friend's book case - really liked it... thought it funny that it's a frequently challenged book..

Just finished Seth Godin's The Dip.

Just started Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad's Guide to Investing

Starting and stopping Neil Gaiman's Coraline, the graphic novel adaptation by P. Craig Russell.

Then, occasionally, Blind Willow Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami.

arielanatole said

This book was referred to me by a friend. It is AWESOME!

Gawsh...is that a Bryan Hitch cover? Yum.

I'm reading two books right now, actually... I'm never totally satisfied with just one. The first is "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and the second is "The Witch of Portobello".. Both are good- but in seemingly different ways.

I'm now reading Gray's anatomy and Quiroz's anatomy as well.

Reaper's Gate, Book Seven of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

This dude knows how to write!

When Satan wore a cross, by Fred Rosen.

+

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand; hmmm

Uprising: crips and bloods tell the story of america's youth in the crossfire (yusuf jah & sister shay'keyah)

The family: the bush dynasty (kitty kelley)

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The Master Key System by Charles Haanel.

Metaphysics always a great interest to me.

I'm reading too many books at the moment.

Mary Mary by James Patterson
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Marley and Me by John Grogan
Step on a Crack by James Patterson

I'm a dork.

advanced micro-biology

Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters
by Donald R. Prothero

It's fantastic and blows creationism out of the water even better than the God Delusion!

I would Definitely recommend it

Does being propped up in bed, reading flyers count?

I need to know what's on sale at Wal mart, Canadian tire and Home Depot.

'Magical Thinking' true stories by Augusten Burroughs...fucking hilarious! Wanting to read 'Running With Scissors' next...saw the movie and loved it!

Muscle Boys; Gay Gym Culture, Erick Alvarez
Peek; Inside the Private world of Public Sex, Joseph Couture
Making Money, Terry Pratchett
Hells Gate, David Webber
The Rogue Angel series
The Alchemist
Collected Poems of Rumi
Girl Genius V7: Agatha Heterodyne and the Voice of the Castle

For those of you that liked "Soon I will be Invincible" track down "From the Notebooks of Dr Brain" by Minister Faust, and "Hero" by Perry Moore (that ones in the young adult section). But especially the Notebooks.
And I love the Mercedes Lackey novels. The Last Herald Mage is still one of my favourite series.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

B71115 saidThe Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

I have a friend who is reading that; she says it's really compelling.

I'm reading Kindred by Octavia Butler.

I finished two books yesterday..

One was House Thinking: a Room-by-room look at how we live by Winnifred Gallagher

And the other was The Dragon Healer of Tone by A.D. Adams

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown and I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by TUCKER MAX

I'm actually looking for a good one to read, I might check out some of the ones that have been listed. Last book I read was, The Secret. It was pretty good, you should all read it.

Cien anos de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Finished Reaper's Gate by Stephen Erickson a few days ago. It was goood.

The Chosen by Ricardo Pinto. Good fantasy novel.

Swan Song by Robert McCammon

World War Z by Max Brooks

and,

Fitness For Dummies 3rd edition

Eleanor Roosevelt by Blanche Wieson Cook

and

Chinese Astology by Bettina Luxon

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama

I'm starting Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I read Fathers and Sons by his grandson, Alexander Waugh, and loved it. Their family is totally bonkers but so interesting and all such good writers...

patchouliboy said'Magical Thinking' true stories by Augusten Burroughs...fucking hilarious! Wanting to read 'Running With Scissors' next...saw the movie and loved it!

I really liked Dry; much better than Running with Scissors, I thought, and much easier to read considering how truly horrible his childhood was.

The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman, about the first month of WWI.

'Mao, The unknown story' by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday. It's a big read (768 pages with another 200 pages of reference) but its very interesting.

Next up on my list, in keeping with the same theme, is The Week That Changed the World - Nixon and Mao By Margaret MacMillan.

My list goes beyond that and includes many other topics but I have never been a real big fan of novels with a few exceptions. The geek in me loves sci-fi authors like Isaac Asimov.

The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney

Freakyninjamonkey saidSwan Song by Robert McCammon

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!

swan song is awesome, liked it way better than the kings "the stand".
I am reading the girl next door from James Ketchum...it is tough to read through, very disturbing.
And George R. Martin Song of Fire and Ice books..best fantasy I came across so far.

I'm reading Michael Pollan's In the Defense of Food

Google Maps Hacks

I just finished reading Lilith St. Crow's Night Shift and Hunter's Prayer. Good stuff for any Laurell K. Hamilton, Jim Butcher or Kim Harrison fans out there. I'm currently on the second book of Jaqueline Carey's second Kushiel Trilogy.

I just read Hero yesterday by Perry Moore, I quite liked it, I'm about to start reading The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood (Chapters shipped me the Play version instead of the Prose, but I think I'll read the Play version before getting the regular since I've already got it), and I'm dipping into Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman whenever I have a spare moment (so far I've liked everything of his that he's written, along with Terry Pratchett). I've been meaning to get into Night Watch by Sergey Lukyanenko as well, but haven't gotten around to cracking it open yet

I used to read a lot more novels than I have been lately as my schedule the last few months has been a sketch-and-a-half, but I'm hoping that since I won't be taking any more of my art classes until January I'll be able to read more. I've been keeping up on my Comics though, an despite what one of my Uni Professors voiced quite vehemently, Comics can be just as well written and conceived as a text-only novel

Anyone else thinking of a Real Jock book club?

I would love a RJ book club - let's get it started!

Btw, I just finished The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. And I'm half-way through Swish: My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever, by Joel Derfner.

I'm not right now. Hopefully I'll get back on board after the GMAT and I start taking Metro to work again.

"Let My People Go Surfing" - Chouinard

(The Story of the company and founder of "Patagonia") Inspiring and Hopeful!

Queen Isabella by Alison Weir, a biography of Edward the Second of England's early 14th century wife and consort. Alison Weir's biographies of Eleanor of Aquitaine and her account of Henry VIII are excellent and, so far, her story of Isabella and her role as consort to Edward II and rival of Edward's male lover is superb.

I've been on a kick to reread stuff I hadn't in a long while, especially back from school. So right now I'm on A Catcher in the Rye, and I think Great Gatsby is next.

The Eagle's Brood by Jack Whyte- 3rd book in a series of historical fiction about the rise of Camelot and the eventual rise of Arthur. Interested? First book is called "The Skystone."

RBY71 saidI just finished reading Lilith St. Crow's Night Shift and Hunter's Prayer. Good stuff for any Laurell K. Hamilton, Jim Butcher or Kim Harrison fans out there. I'm currently on the second book of Jaqueline Carey's second Kushiel Trilogy.

The Kushiel books were great!

Dollar Bill Origami by John Montroll. I like crafts...

Star Wars - Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. I'm reading out-loud to my kids a chapter per night when I have them.

A. J. P. Taylor's The Hapsburg Monarchy: 1809-1918

The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria
Actually a very optomistic look at the world's and America's future.

Dreams of My Father by Barack Obama
I don't know that this necessarily says anything about qualification for office, but I cannot imagine John McCain (not to mention George Bush) writing anything like this. Very well written and provides good insight into the experiences that shaped Obama.

a novel by Carl Hiaasen, Skinny Dip

Patricia Nell Warren's The Front Runner
http://www.outsports.com/difference/pnw.htm

Burned through it in about 4-Days..... Very good read... one I think we might all need to read at some point...

Searching for the next read now ;)

Germinal, Zola
An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English
Théâtre complet de Marivaux

norj saidPatricia Nell Warren's The Front Runner
http://www.outsports.com/difference/pnw.htm

Burned through it in about 4-Days..... Very good read... one I think we might all need to read at some point...

Searching for the next read now ;)

Norj, that is an excellent book, I suggest maybe reading the others in the series. I have that one sitting on my desk right now I should re-read

Another book that I really liked that I picked up on a whim as I saw it walking out of the book store is called Format C: about how the evils of computers would be our downfall for Y2K. Some good mystery and plot twists.

fluxu8 saidI know we are all busy and into fitness...but it is also good to nourish and "exercise" the mind too.
So..what book are you currently reading?

For me, I'm currently reading Marcus Aurelius' MEDITATIONS

Oooh, good one, I read some of that a few years ago. Right now I'm reading "I,Claudius" by Robert Graves and "48 Laws of Power" by Greene.

Because of RJ's beloved little maltese munchkin...I mean....Muttskins,

I am reading Empires of the Sea: the siege of Malta, the battle of Lepanto, adn the contest for the center of the world, by Roger Crowley.

I just read thru the siege of Malta in 1565. The author writes a very gripping description of the action without the action getting bogged down into many details. I was up 'til 5 in the morning wanting to know who won.

"Me Talk Pretty Some Day" by David Sedaris... Its the third one in a row from him. He's a great story teller. Very funny.

I'm not poking fun or anything, just genuinely curious... What is it about David Sadaris and gay men? I don't get it. I think I heard him on NPR a few times, and while he's funny, I just don't understand the appeal.

So for those of you who've read him and like him, what do you like about him? What drew you to reading his books?

The Obama Nation... NOBAMA!

The Garden of Rama by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee

"The Toronto You Are Leaving Behind" by Gordon Alexander. He died in 1991 at age 33 of AIDS. This book was published in 2006 by his friends. It is quite good. An interesting glimpse into gay life in Toronto starting in 1974 and going to 1986 and the early years of the AIDS crisis.

Currently: Bruce Springsteen: On Tour 1968 - 2005 (by David Marsh)
Recently finished re-reading: DESERT SOLITAIRE (by Edward Abbey)

I love David Sedaris, I think he connects with gay men because he's an outsider himself.. am currently reading the Trudi Canavan books, and delighted to find gay characters in them On a bit of a fantasy run at the moment, just finished 1st three of R Scott Bakker's books and really have to recommend them for any fans of this genre, they're brilliant...

edit: I'm dipping in and out of Wilfred Thesiger's "life of my choice" - he's one of my heroes, and was probably gay himself... incredible man

Just finished Eragon, and now onto the 2nd book Eldest. I'm a total fantasy/sci-fi geek. =)

I'm reading Muscle Boys by Erick Alvarez, I have been reviewing some LGBT centered books for the coming year for the book club I run in Boston.

I'm reading Wicked. For the first time.

Where Are You Now -- Mary Higgins Clark

Project Management: 24 Lessons to Help You Master Any Project by Gary J. Heerkens...because I have a freakin' test for my Project Management subject tomorrow..this is soo boring...30 pages to go..gahhh

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

So far, its not as great as people have told me...i'm hoping it gets better later on. Still though, its not a bad read.

Just finished Book 1 (Storm Front) of The Dresden Files. (fantasy)

Modern wizard + Sherlock Holmes stories. Great read

I'm currently reading "Warrior" by Marie Brennan and getting ready to start the the sequel "Witch".

David Sedaris - When You Are Engulfed In Flames

He seems to make consistently brilliant look easy.

I just received the latest edition of "Aviation Disasters". A fascinating account of all significant airplane crashes since 1950. Just finished reading about the terrible Alaska Air crash in 2000 that was due to improper maintenance of the horizontal stabilizer. Really a sobering read at times. Good thing I am not afraid of flying!

Seven Story Mountain, Thomas Merton
Faith of Our Fathers, John McCain
Agony and Ectasy Irvin Stone
Scripture, Book of Kings 1 & 2

The Red Horse
Trinity Leon Uris

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Henry VIII: King and Court by Alison Weir

True Notebooks, Mark Salzman
The Portable Jack Kerouac, Viking Portable Library
Writing to Learn, William Zinsser
13 Ways of Looking at the Novel, Jane Smiley
The Complete IDIOT'S Guide to Critical Reading ( ! )

I am currently reading "Faith Of the Fallen" by Terry Goodkind. It's science fiction but it has a lot of good morals and things ot live your life by as well. He's an amazing author

just got done with
"a long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier"
-ishmael beah

amazing book. amazing author.

also i want to re-read twilight before it comes out as a movie

hopefully i wont have to just remember it as a book and they actualy do the book justice.

and i gotta read kite runnner now too my sister is making me.

I am reading She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I'm also rereading You Can Heal Your Life by Louis Hay. I just finished Tori Spelling's book and Change We Can Believe In by Barack Obama.

matte1973 saidDavid Sedaris - When You Are Engulfed In Flames

He seems to make consistently brilliant look easy.

I love David Sedaris =)

At the moment, "The Watchtower of Sansibar" by Lorraine Fouchet. It isnt very good though.

helium said"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer

I know, it's sad that I'm reading a teen book but sometimes they seem to motivate me at times. Although the last book before that was "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" by Gregory Maguire.

Finished "Twilight" and now I'm reading "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" by Sean Williams. From what I have read thus far, I'm really liking the book. Then again, I love a lot of Star Wars stuff out there.

I actually just finished re-reading the harry potter series... for the 5th time... no joke I am finishing up Wicked for the third time,a nd next I want to re-read the Inferno by Dante then I want to find a book by hemingway or faulkner I haven't read yet. Huge fan of both.

Just finished reading .....The boy in the striped pyjamas......

Les Mots et les Choses

Stonewall by David Carter
Hello America by J.G. Ballard
A History of God by Karen Armstrong

The Art of War by Sun Tzu Wu (edited by James Clavell)

...guy's as crazy as Machiavelli.

"Awakening the giant within" by Anthony Robbins

A tale of two superpowers unique in the history of the world, offering a totally original comparison of the United States and ancient Rome: celebrating similarities and delivering urgent insights into America’s current crises.

Does America face the same destiny endured by ancient Rome? Is the U.S. military overextended? Does the separation of church and state strengthen or weaken a geopolitical powerhouse? Is the United States just another Empire of Conquest being corrupted by its own power? Of late, it is not only historians who have been asking these questions. Thomas Madden, an award-winning professor of history, now shows almost everything we thought we knew about Rome to be wrong, and revolutionizes our understanding of what a good world empire can be.

Taking readers on a dramatic tour of the Roman Republic, a golden era before the depravities of the Caesars and late Empire, Madden uncovers a peaceful, retiring people who above all wanted to be left alone to enjoy their own families and communities, maintaining the rural traditions of their forebears. But external threats required them to establish security, which they did by creating superlative military forces and transforming defeated enemies into friends. Trust, not brutality, was the key ingredient. All other empires since have been Empires of Conquest—until now.

Beginning with a Roman story strikingly parallel to the American Abu Ghraib scandal, Madden provides a much needed historical context to our burning contemporary debates. The United States can be an empire of trust, and Madden is on a mission to get pundits, candidates, and other election-year spectators—which means all of us—to recognize this profound duty.

About the Author
Thomas F. Madden is a professor of history and chair of the department of history at Saint Louis University. His previous books include The New Concise History of the Crusades, currently the bestselling book on its subject in the world, and Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice, recipient of the Otto Gründler Prize. He has been featured in the media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, A&E television, The History Channel, PBS, and National Public Radio.

http://www.amazon.com/Empires-Trust-Built-America-Building/dp/0525950745/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223103658&sr=8-1

Why some nations are poor and other are wealthy.

Born to Rebel: Birth Order, Family Dynamics, and Creative Lives -- Frank J. Sulloway

The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer

The God Delusions by Richard Dawkins.

I'm not reading anything currentyly but I did just finish reading Perry Moore's "Hero". It was entertaining for something not having an original idea of it's own - save for the main character being gay.

I'm reading too many books right now!

Stephen King's "Just after Sunset"

Dan Brown's Angels and Demons

James Patterson's Mary Mary

Stephen King's Firestarter

James Patterson's Cross Country

Stephenie Meyer's New Moon

Ian Mcewan's Atonement

John Grogan's Marley and Me

I have the bad habit of starting a book, then getting curious about another one, starting that one...and the cycle repeats itself!

Has anyone read the "Wanted" comics? I love the movie, but I hear the comics are very different. I may pick them up one day.

Buffyfan84 saidHas anyone read the "Wanted" comics? I love the movie, but I hear the comics are very different. I may pick them up one day.

I haven't read the comics or seen the movie. The current comic series I'm reading - whenever one comes out anyway - is "The Walking Dead" series and anything tied into "30 Days of Night".

"Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown, which so far can't beat "Angels and Demons" I have to say.

Evasion and a few text books

the Twilight series! on the last one 'new dawn'

they are the best!

I'm about half way through Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It's a hard book to put down. I'm loving it.

I just finished Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Fascinating!

Wicked, only because a friend bought it for me for x-mas, well that and I wanted to start the new year on a very gay note.

Wicked is a great book, I wouldn't call reading the book gay. However the play might be!!

I am reading:
Mine all Mine by Adam Davies
Human: the science behind what makes us different by Michael S. Gazzagnia
the Paper Grail by James Blaylock

All super reads so far!

I just finished "Look Me In the Eye" by Robison, which was great. I just started "The Limits of Power-The End of American Exceptionalism" by Andrew Bacevich. I heard him on Fresh Air and he was really intriguing.

Just finished Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. GREAT BOOK! It's a sci-fi dystopia, kinda like the Matrix or Brave New World only much more focused on current-day American society and very relevant given the economic changes we're seeing these days.

Dark Tower 6: Song of Susannah


by Stephen King

I'm in the middle of "Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" by Randy Shilts. Absolutely fascinating.

Two books...

I just finished Marley and Me and it was great. Now I am reading my Cost Accounting book and may I just say, it is right up there with Marley, haha.

I'm currently reading the Book of Mormon.

I am re-reading Prayers for Bobby by Leroy Aarons

Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing and the Psychology of Genocide.



cheery stuff.

I am working through Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett

then next on my list of things to read are:

Guns, Germs, and Steel
Faucault's Pendulum
Varieties of Scientific Experience

The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman

The Bostonians by Henry James. I have a love/hate relationship with Boston.

Enriques Journey. A story about immigration mostly of Honduran children trying to get to America to reunite with parents who abandoned them in order to find work.

I just finished reading The Reapers by. John Connolly. I loved the book. The two characters, Angel and Louis are assassins and a gay couple. I would love for them to make it into a movie.

bw98042 saidI'm about half way through Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It's a hard book to put down. I'm loving it.

I just started this book a few days ago. So far... I definitely agree.

Just finished Good Omens by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman.

Not sure what to start next

Emotional Communities in the Early Middle Ages by Barbara Rosenwein

My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

Currently reading "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch and "Leadership Gold" by John Maxwell.

I am currently reading "Electro Boy" by Andy Behrman then i'm going to read. "El Alquimista" by Paulo Coelho.

zi0nx5 said"Boyfriend 101" by Sullivan. Yup. No joke.

And I barely read books anymore (which is a sad shame, I know).

Though, next up is "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Diamond. Picked it up when I went home for a weekend. Reading this was my homework assignment before entering high school, so no surprise, I'm doing my homework 8 years late.. haha.

I just started reading "Guns, Germs, and Steel" after two friends of mine recommended it for me. It's really good. I'm a history buff and a social history nerd. So this book is right up my alley. It's a long, in depth read though, so I'm surprised it was a 9th grade reading assignment for you, zi0nx5.

The God Delusion

I just finished the Elemental Masters series by Mercedes Lackey
The Serpent's Shadow
The Gates of Sleep
Phoenix And Ashes
The Wizard of London
Reserved for the Cat

I will soon get my Blue Beetle and Booster Gold comics in the mail and read them. After that I plan a trip to the store.

Any one who is in to fantasy and wants a gay main character should read The Last Herald Mage series.

Magic's Pawn
Magic's Promise
Magic's Price

I can’t think of any other fantasy book with a gay male main character. Although I personally think Harry and Ron were going at it like rabbits in the last two books but didn’t tell any one.

atlus shrugged
Only like 50 pages in but like it so far

Just started 'In The Woods' by Tana French. I got it for Christmas because the back seemed interesting.

My boyfriend got me an interesting book for Christmas, The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America by David Hadju. I'm only 100 pages in, but it's very interesting, especially the arguments people used against comic books are the same ones being used today for other things, such as video games, television shows, and movies.

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. After writing about the folk scene of the early 1960s in Positively 4th Street, Hajdu goes back a decade to examine the censorship debate over comic books, casting the controversy as a prelude to the cultural battle over rock music. Fredric Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent, the centerpiece of the movement, has been reduced in public memory to a joke—particularly the attack on Batman for its homoeroticism—but Hajdu brings a more nuanced telling of Wertham's background and shows how his arguments were preceded by others. Yet he comes down hard on the unsound research techniques and sweeping generalizations that led Wertham to conclude that nearly all comic books would inspire antisocial behavior in young readers. There are no real heroes here, only villains and victims; Hajdu turns to the writers and artists whose careers were ruined when censorship and other legal restrictions gutted the comics industry, and young kids who were coerced into participating in book burnings by overzealous parents and teachers. With such a meticulous setup, the history builds slowly but the main attraction—EC Comics publisher Bill Gaines's attempt to explain in a Senate committee hearing how an illustration of a man holding a severed head could be in good taste—holds all the dramatic power it has acquired as it's been told among fans over the past half-century.

Deaf Culture Our Way

Anecdotes from the Deaf Community

R.K. Holcomb

Zend Framework in Action

It's a dry read and I'm not a big fan of "frameworks" but at least I can add it to my resume.

Well, I just finished the Twilight Saga...

Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn

They are pretty good, I recommend if you like vampire/werewolf stuff.

I just finished Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris and now I'm reading The Big Empty by Norman and John Buffalo Mailer.

Both are excellent and highly recommended.

just started "Das Baader Meinhof Komplex"

It's about a post-war left-wing terrorist group in W. Germany. I saw the movie last year and I was so intrigued to learn more about it. Many people told me that the book was better than the film which lead me to buy the book.

Currently reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins (awsome book and awesome guy!). Then I saw a preview of a Lifetime movie coming up starring Sigourney Weaver called "Prayers for Bobby" a true story based on a book. I bought the book and read it in 3 days. Back to "The God Delusion".

The First Commandment by Brad Thor

i'm rereading anne rice's "the witching hour" and bought "no logo" the other day so that's next in line.

1491 - New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus

Tells the story of the latest discoveries and new thoughts on how the Americas were populated and organized before the European invasions and why the invasions were successful in destroying the amazing and varied cultures and empires in the New World. Before Columbus, the largest cities in the world were not in Europe or Asia or Africa, they were in the Americas.

fluxu8 saidI know we are all busy and into fitness...but it is also good to nourish and "exercise" the mind too.
So..what book are you currently reading?

For me, I'm currently reading Marcus Aurelius' MEDITATIONS

well i dont know about exercizing my mind cuz all i read is trashy horror novels like right now im reading "The Traveling Vampire Show" its pretty cool by Richard Laymon

Catching up on my months of Inctinct magazine that have been piling up

right now: brisinger by christopher paolino (fun, lite)
recently: the closers by michael connelly (for book club, fun police proceedural)

recent faves:
guns germs and steel
without reservations (silly fun)
marley and me
short history of nearly everything
[]as meat loves salt (good literary gay fiction)

happy reading!

I'm reading The Vision of Emma Blau, by Ursula Hegi. It's really good. I would recommend it.

Currently:

The Dispossessed by Le Guin (for school)

Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society by Inglehart (for school)

The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding by Schwarzenegger

...and I've taken a temporary break from Homosexuality & Civilization by Crompton