What Do You Read?

[Conan71]

Sgrizzle's posts on movies made me curious what other people read other than "Tulsanow" []  That and Snopes and I had been having a discussion on John Grisham's new book.  

I read a lot of periodicals, much of it news or related to sailing.  When it comes to books I like crime/legal stories (Nelson DeMille, Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham) biographies, and non-fiction stories of human struggle and overcoming adversity (of late, mostly nautical- think "The Perfect Storm" or "Sailing Alone Around The World by Joshua Slocum) and humor.  I used to read more politicaly-related books, but I'm convinced that conservative pundits are on the RNC payroll and liberal pundits are on the DNC payroll.[xx(]

So what's on your bookshelf?

[RecycleMichael]

I don't read books. I read newspapers, magazines and websites. I just like current events more than history or non-fiction.

I read the Tulsa World seven days a week, Urban Tulsa, Oklahoma Eagle and all the local magazines every week or month, the USA Today, Daily Oklahoman and Dallas Morning News about three times a week each and the Wall Street Journal about once a week.

Years ago I went into the Novel Idea book store on 51st and walked around the store looking for a magazine on Fantasy Football. Perplexed, I went up to the counter and asked the guy where the magazine section was.

The clerk very snootily said, "Sir, we do not carry periodicals!". As I exited I yelled real loud, "You people who read books think you are so smart".

I then went next door to Albertson's and found the perfect magazine.

[rwarn17588]

Right now, I'm revisiting parts of "Veeck as in Wreck," the 1960s autobiography of colorful baseball team owner Bill Veeck.

I just finished "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, which may be his best novel ever. It's bleak, but uplifting at the same time. A remarkable achievement.

Before that, I read the terrific "San Antonio Rose: The Life and Music of Bob Wills" by Charles Townsend.

There's no set pattern in my book-reading. I just grab whatever strikes my fancy at the time or whatever seems relevant in my life.

The periodicals I read are No Depression, Saveur, Blender, and Entertainment Weekly (when I can snag a good price on a subscription from time to time).

[aoxamaxoa]

Bill Veck and Bob Wills were kings!

latest ..... Playing the Quantum Field.

I pass out copies of The Four Agreements to those in need of keeping their word. It's about integrity in todays world.

[jdb]

Catcher in the Rye, over and over and over...

jdb

[mspivey]

When I was younger I read several books every week. Now, I have some eye problems and unless it is a very good story, it's really hard to concentrate.

My favorite authors are
Grisham and Clancy (latest from both aren't very good)
Alistair McLean
Michael Crichton
Donald Hamilton (Travis McGee)

And many others I can't remember offhand.

But now, I mostly surf the web and read photography and photoshop magazines.

[Conan71]

I've had a hard time getting into the couple of Clancy books I've started to read.  I'll revisit him at some point.

Do any of you ever go to Steve's Sundries for books and periodicals?  It ain't Borders, but they've got some pretty obscure titles and great local interest books.  I have been going there since, literally, I was three years old when it was more of a soda fountain and a place for my brother and I to get candy, and gum.  When I had a Tulsa Tribune route, I picked up my papers on the sidewalk out front and would get a piece of pie and coke every afternoon.  It's always nostalgic for me when I go in there.

[mspivey]

I usually go to Borders or Barnes & Noble a couple of times a week, buy a coffee and a cookie and read all the magazines.

I did go to the used book store on Garnett recently and bought about a dozen Travis McGee books and a few Alastair McLean books to re-read.

[pmcalk]

I belong to a book club--we read a book a month.  It's a great group, because we all have different interest, so we get a wide range of books, from spy novels to all the classics you never read in high school, to historical fiction.  

Some of the better ones we read recently:

Non-fiction:
Under the Banner of Heaven
Freakonomics (not as good as I had anticipated, but still worth the read)

Classics:
East of Eden (one of the greatest books ever written)
To Kill a Mockingbird (maybe the best book ever, IMO.  We are reading In Cold Blood right now, and I am anxious to compare writting styles--rumor is that Capote actually wrote for Harper Lee)
A Good Man is Hard to Find (Flannery O'Conner)
The Good Earth

More recent fiction:
The Red Tent
The Power of One
White Oleander
Map of the World
Charming Billy

Good, easy Christmas read:
Holiday on Ice by David Sadaris (especially Santaland Diaries)

Good mystery:
The Shadow of the Wind

Books to avoid, no matter what they say on Oprah:
The Memory Keeper's Daughter (I couldn't even finish this one, it was so bad)
One Thousand White Women (would win an award for the most unbelievable "historical fiction" book)
DaVinci Code (through all of the hype, critics overlooked one glaring point--the writing stinks.)

[pmcalk]

Oops--I forgot to plug my favorite Oklahoma book:

Fire in Beulah by Rilla Askew.

It won the Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma centennial contest:
http://www.okreadsok.org/sixpack/fourthsixpack/beulah/index.html

It should be required reading for all highschoolers in Tulsa.

[snopes]

Up until about 10 years ago, I read almost all of the time, but got out of that habit until recently. The Innocent Man was the first book I have read in about six months.

Some of my favorites are Catcher in the Rye, The Firm, The Stand, and a whole slew of short stories from various authors.

I plan to read the two books Conan and I discussed in another thread (Fritz's book and Dreams of Ada) soon. I'd like to read "The Four Agreements" that aox spoke of but will have to do some research to find it; sounds interesting.

[tulsa1603]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk


Good, easy Christmas read:
Holiday on Ice by David Sadaris (especially Santaland Diaries)

I read this just last weekend on a plane - I wished it were twice as long!  My seatmates kept looking at me as I laughed out loud....

[Conan71]

PM- I read "In Cold Blood" about 6-8 months ago, Capote's prose is classic, and the story is gripping, but I found his prose somewhat tedious to read.  The Joshua Slocum book I'd mentioned earlier is even more tedious since it was written around 1900.  I love classic literature but it's definitely not a speed read like most of today's authors.

I liked DaVinci Code, but thought Angels & Demons was a far better book.

[pmcalk]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

PM- I read "In Cold Blood" about 6-8 months ago, Capote's prose is classic, and the story is gripping, but I found his prose somewhat tedious to read.  The Joshua Slocum book I'd mentioned earlier is even more tedious since it was written around 1900.  I love classic literature but it's definitely not a speed read like most of today's authors.

I liked DaVinci Code, but thought Angels & Demons was a far better book.

I shouldn't be so critical of DaVinci--I know many liked it; I just found it a little over the top in writing--kind of "Guy Noir" style of campy writing.

I have heard that Angles & Demons is much better.

I am looking forward to reading In Cold Blood, but I am sure it will keep me up at night.

[pmcalk]

quote:Originally posted by snopes

Up until about 10 years ago, I read almost all of the time, but got out of that habit until recently. The Innocent Man was the first book I have read in about six months.

Some of my favorites are Catcher in the Rye, The Firm, The Stand, and a whole slew of short stories from various authors.

I plan to read the two books Conan and I discussed in another thread (Fritz's book and Dreams of Ada) soon. I'd like to read "The Four Agreements" that aox spoke of but will have to do some research to find it; sounds interesting.

If you like short stories, I just finished Runaway by Alice Munro--really enjoyed it.  They are somewhat repetitive stories, but still really good.