I received a few books for Christmas, but the one I think that I will read first is Michael Palin's Hemmingway Adventure. His travel books are not particularly probing or deep, nor are they particularly well written (although they are far from being poorly written). This will be the fourth travel book by him that I read and I quite enjoy them (I have not, however, seen any of the TV series that also were made documenting the same trips).
Although not great travel books by many standards, I think the reason is that I enjoy them is that his books convey a feeling of 'travelling along' with an enjoyable companion. When I travel, I am not on a scientific expedition or there to perform cultural critique - I am there to enjoy myself while hopefully learning a thing or two - and meeting a few interesting people - along the way. He seems to have the same approach.
heh. 709, this is actually Whatcha Reading Thread v3.
Thanks for the acknowledgement and link.
Currently reading "Snow White" by Donald Barthelme. Weird. The pacing is pretty fast. Good read. It definitely reads like the 60s. Takes the archetypical fairytale and pumps it full of drugs.
Before that I was reading the "Book of Five Rings" and "How to read a person like a book".
Re-reading The Satanic Verses to piss my mother off as I hang out at her place for the holidays. I saw how much grief the Franken book gave her, so I decided to keep up the agony.
I'm reading a couple of Frederik Pohl novels for the holidays. I just finished Narabedla Ltd (with Jack Williamson), and I have about 20 pages left to go in Midas World.
Now about halfway through "The Short Stories" of Earnest Hemmingway.
Prey was good, but not on par with some of his older works (imho). And there is a reason Hemmingway is considered one of the greatest American writers ... I like his style of writing.
Next ? ... thinking about reading the series by Tim LeHaye (sp).
Tonight I'm taking home Cryptography's Role in Securing the Information Society. I doubt I will read it straight through considering it's a National Research Council study, in other words: BORING.
I also have the Psychology of Graphic Images that I will probably skim as well.
You been reading Dan Brown lately? I just finished Da Vinci Code, looking to pick up Angels and Demons soon.
I received a few books for Christmas, but the one I think that I will read first is Michael Palin's Hemmingway Adventure. His travel books are not particularly probing or deep, nor are they particularly well written (although they are far from being poorly written). This will be the fourth travel book by him that I read and I quite enjoy them (I have not, however, seen any of the TV series that also were made documenting the same trips).
Although not great travel books by many standards, I think the reason is that I enjoy them is that his books convey a feeling of 'travelling along' with an enjoyable companion. When I travel, I am not on a scientific expedition or there to perform cultural critique - I am there to enjoy myself while hopefully learning a thing or two - and meeting a few interesting people - along the way. He seems to have the same approach.
i love palin's travel books, if you ever saw the shows (they're a treat) you'd appreciate the writing in the books more as he writes just as he narrates the show.
palintravels his website, has all the books online so you can read them all as well as look at basil pao's incredible photos.
he also has a data base so you can punch in a city or a hotel or anything you can think of and all the book references will appear. i think it may be my favorite site, plus he has an iMac!
he's now doing the himalayas and western china, and has had a few updates from there.
As until now I only had read the german translation of the Lord of the Rings, I bought myself the english version (the illustrated hard cover box set).
I'm just starting to partake in some 'holiday cheer', so don't know how long I have at the keyboard while my mind is still in "the book mode".
The following are books I bought during my last foray to Borders. Haven't read any of them yet, because I have too many chores to do, and can't let myself read until most of them are completed. If any of you have read any of these, please let me know which I should start with, since my reading time is so limited:
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis.
French Lessons by Peter Mayle
Acquired Tastes by Peter Mayle
The Grown-Ups Guide to Running Away from Home by Rosanne Knorr
Blue Latitudes - Boldy Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz
That Fine Italian Hand by Paul Hofmann
Obviously, I am dying to do some more travelling, since most of these are travel books. I would like to write travel books. What a wonderful way to live - travel the world, experience beautiful places, meet fascinating people, and then write about it.
I have been trying to read Bill Bryson's book about travels in Europe, but fall asleep after one paragraph because I've been getting by on 3-5 hours of sleep a night. I also have his book about England, which I definitely want to read next, since I am such an Anglophile.
Carol
PS I am totally impressed with what all of you are reading. I'm such a lightweight in my choice of literature. Oh well. One must be true to oneself.
i love palin's travel books, if you ever saw the shows (they're a treat) you'd appreciate the writing in the books more as he writes just as he narrates the show.
palintravels his website, has all the books online so you can read them all as well as look at basil pao's incredible photos.
he also has a data base so you can punch in a city or a hotel or anything you can think of and all the book references will appear. i think it may be my favorite site, plus he has an iMac!
he's now doing the himalayas and western china, and has had a few updates from there.
Comments
Although not great travel books by many standards, I think the reason is that I enjoy them is that his books convey a feeling of 'travelling along' with an enjoyable companion. When I travel, I am not on a scientific expedition or there to perform cultural critique - I am there to enjoy myself while hopefully learning a thing or two - and meeting a few interesting people - along the way. He seems to have the same approach.
originally posted by ShawnJ
heh. 709, this is actually Whatcha Reading Thread v3.
Thanks for the acknowledgement and link.
Currently reading "Snow White" by Donald Barthelme. Weird. The pacing is pretty fast. Good read. It definitely reads like the 60s. Takes the archetypical fairytale and pumps it full of drugs.
Before that I was reading the "Book of Five Rings" and "How to read a person like a book".
Originally posted by groverat
Re-reading The Satanic Verses
Now that's just creepy. Guess what I'm reading...
Now about halfway through "The Short Stories" of Earnest Hemmingway.
Prey was good, but not on par with some of his older works (imho). And there is a reason Hemmingway is considered one of the greatest American writers ... I like his style of writing.
Next ? ... thinking about reading the series by Tim LeHaye (sp).
Originally posted by giant
Tonight I'm taking home Cryptography's Role in Securing the Information Society. I doubt I will read it straight through considering it's a National Research Council study, in other words: BORING.
I also have the Psychology of Graphic Images that I will probably skim as well.
You been reading Dan Brown lately? I just finished Da Vinci Code, looking to pick up Angels and Demons soon.
Possessing Genius: The Bizarre Odyssey of Einstein's Brain
Originally posted by Chinney
I received a few books for Christmas, but the one I think that I will read first is Michael Palin's Hemmingway Adventure. His travel books are not particularly probing or deep, nor are they particularly well written (although they are far from being poorly written). This will be the fourth travel book by him that I read and I quite enjoy them (I have not, however, seen any of the TV series that also were made documenting the same trips).
Although not great travel books by many standards, I think the reason is that I enjoy them is that his books convey a feeling of 'travelling along' with an enjoyable companion. When I travel, I am not on a scientific expedition or there to perform cultural critique - I am there to enjoy myself while hopefully learning a thing or two - and meeting a few interesting people - along the way. He seems to have the same approach.
i love palin's travel books, if you ever saw the shows (they're a treat) you'd appreciate the writing in the books more as he writes just as he narrates the show.
palintravels his website, has all the books online so you can read them all as well as look at basil pao's incredible photos.
he also has a data base so you can punch in a city or a hotel or anything you can think of and all the book references will appear. i think it may be my favorite site, plus he has an iMac!
he's now doing the himalayas and western china, and has had a few updates from there.
A couple of probability theory books.
I'm just starting to partake in some 'holiday cheer', so don't know how long I have at the keyboard while my mind is still in "the book mode".
The following are books I bought during my last foray to Borders. Haven't read any of them yet, because I have too many chores to do, and can't let myself read until most of them are completed. If any of you have read any of these, please let me know which I should start with, since my reading time is so limited:
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis.
French Lessons by Peter Mayle
Acquired Tastes by Peter Mayle
The Grown-Ups Guide to Running Away from Home by Rosanne Knorr
Blue Latitudes - Boldy Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz
That Fine Italian Hand by Paul Hofmann
Obviously, I am dying to do some more travelling, since most of these are travel books. I would like to write travel books. What a wonderful way to live - travel the world, experience beautiful places, meet fascinating people, and then write about it.
I have been trying to read Bill Bryson's book about travels in Europe, but fall asleep after one paragraph because I've been getting by on 3-5 hours of sleep a night. I also have his book about England, which I definitely want to read next, since I am such an Anglophile.
Carol
PS I am totally impressed with what all of you are reading. I'm such a lightweight in my choice of literature. Oh well. One must be true to oneself.
Originally posted by superkarate monkeydeathcar
i love palin's travel books, if you ever saw the shows (they're a treat) you'd appreciate the writing in the books more as he writes just as he narrates the show.
palintravels his website, has all the books online so you can read them all as well as look at basil pao's incredible photos.
he also has a data base so you can punch in a city or a hotel or anything you can think of and all the book references will appear. i think it may be my favorite site, plus he has an iMac!
he's now doing the himalayas and western china, and has had a few updates from there.
Thanks so much for the tips.
Originally posted by dmz
Clancy's right far too often on some things.
I'm not saying it isn't accurate. I'm saying that it is hardly philosophical.
Barto
Amorya
Nick