What Do You Read?

[Cubs]

I read the Bible ..... and the occasional Ann Coulter work of genius .... thats about it

[tulitlikeitis]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

I read the Bible ..... and the occasional Ann Coulter work of genius .... thats about it

Got a real live thinker here!

[TheArtist]

I read these daily...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

http://spaceflightnow.com/

By far the best book I have read this year was,  Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sorbel

The book is based on the actual letters that were found between Galileos Daughter and Galileo, and  other historical knowledge about him.  It weaves a rich story about them and takes you into the world of that time. You get the feeling of how they lived, what life was like during that time and place in history, ), the culture, politics, even what they ate.  You get connected to them.  I got all teary eyed when I read the last sentences on the last page.  If you get the book, what ever you do dont cheat and read them.

http://www.galileosdaughter.com/book.shtml

I am currently reading "The Reformation" by Diarmaid MacCulloch

[aoxamaxoa]

Well, I just read this weeks comment from Michael Bates in Urban Tulsa and can tell you he should go to divinity school...what Tulsa does not need is more of this type thinking...HE Won't Go Away! http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A15400
It would run off all the potential worldly thinkers....

[Goodpasture]

Finished Tail of the Tiger by Clancy. Tony Hillerman doesn't write enough to keep me occupied. I do the occasional Louis L'Amour revisit (he kept me grounded with tales of New Mexico during Viet Nam), currently on a book called "Freakonomics" that is pretty interesting. Things like the fact (as the book states) a Realtor will sell their own property for about 3% more than they will sell someone else's property, but will keep it on the market about 10 days longer. 3% on a $300,000 property is $9,000. If that $9,000 is going into their pocket it is worth it. But assuming a 6% commission of which the agent gets 1.5% of the sales price, the agent is only getting an extra $135.00. So it is apparent an agent is out to get the best offer for themselves and wants their clients to take the first decent one that comes along.

Like I said, interesting reading.

[Goodpasture]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

....the occasional Ann Coulter work of genius.....

I must of missed that one. Is this the same Ann Coulter that is doing Bill Maher? Or is there another one somewhere that is actually a genius and not a parrot?  [}:)]

[Kenosha]

I miss Lewis Meyer.

You all should read Preposterous Papa. Its a riot.

[TURobY]

I scan Fark daily to get up-to-date on interesting and obscure news. I also watch the TulsaNow forums, for local interest.

Other than that, I don't get to read too many paper books. Typically, I'm too busy reviewing my course textbooks or looking at books for work.

[unknown]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

I read the Bible ..... and the occasional Ann Coulter work of genius .... thats about it

so you like fiction...

I'll read anything I find to be interesting... I used to work in a bookstore... so I've got a small collection non-fiction.

[snopes]

Regarding "The Innocent Man" by Grisham; Conan, I think you'll find these interesting. Just the other day I was in Ada visiting a relative and went by the old apartment that was the scene of Debbie Carter's murder and snapped two pictures. They aren't great, because for one I have a crappy little digital camera and (2) I didn't want to get out of my car and gawk. BTW, a very interesting sub-plot to this story. That apartment, the one in the picture? Not two years prior to the unfortunate murder, my uncle lived in that very apartment. I was in my late teens at the time, and went to visit - stayed there overnight in the same bedroom where the unfortunate incident took place. I thought it looked familiar from the picture in the book but wasn't sure until I spoke with my uncle (which he confirmed) and checked the place out for myself. Pretty interesting. Anyway, now for the recent pictures. The place has changed alot since that picture in the book was taken in the early 80s.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by snopes

Regarding "The Innocent Man" by Grisham; Conan, I think you'll find these interesting. Just the other day I was in Ada visiting a relative and went by the old apartment that was the scene of Debbie Carter's murder and snapped two pictures. They aren't great, because for one I have a crappy little digital camera and (2) I didn't want to get out of my car and gawk. BTW, a very interesting sub-plot to this story. That apartment, the one in the picture? Not two years prior to the unfortunate murder, my uncle lived in that very apartment. I was in my late teens at the time, and went to visit - stayed there overnight in the same bedroom where the unfortunate incident took place. I thought it looked familiar from the picture in the book but wasn't sure until I spoke with my uncle (which he confirmed) and checked the place out for myself. Pretty interesting. Anyway, now for the recent pictures. The place has changed alot since that picture in the book was taken in the early 80s.

Snopes,

Thanks for sharing the photos.  That is incredibly wild that you had slept in that apartment before.  A story always has a little more impact when you either recognize the names of people mentioned or know the places.

I'm half-way through Dennis Fritz's book, it's a little harder to read as he's not a skilled author like Grisham, though he does an adequate job as a first timer, basically writing his memoirs of things that happened 20 years ago.  It's interesting and rare to first read the over-all view of the story by a third party (Grisham), then to see it through the eyes of one of the book's subjects (Fritz).  Believe it or not, this book isn't quite as depressing as Grishams- but it doesn't go as in depth into Williamson's mental illness.

Fritz goes much further into the details of the jailhouse snitch "evidence" than Grisham did.  I'm now absolutely convinced there were severe errors by the judge to allow Fritz to have ever been tried in the first place.  I think had this happened somewhere else, he'd never even have been arrested.  I definitely won't ever so much as drop a gum wrapper in Ada.

I think I might get a copy of Dreams of Ada after this about the Ward and Fontenot case.  I've got six or seven other books on my night stand right now demanding my attention, but this story has really pulled me in.  I'm curious to know what the talk is around Ada these days about Peterson and their police dept.

[snopes]

Some more tidbits of info about the book and community. I've been speaking to my relatives alot about this book and it's impact on the people involved, many of whom they know or knew at the time. From what I understand, Dennis Smith, one of the Detectives died of a heart attack this summer, shortly after receiving a courtesy copy of the book. His wife worked with my Uncle at the city of Ada and went into what I would consider "hiding" before the book's release. I also hear that Bill Peterson is having a very tough time (as he should) and is expressing some concern with the members of his church. I guess he goes there on a regular basis to wash off his sins. I imagine there is alot of guilt that will resurface due to the popularity of this book. I saw that it was number 2 on the NY Times bestseller list just the other day. My Uncle and other relatives that have lived in Ada all their lives have always said that although Ada is a good town, corruption at the city level has been rampant for decades. I hope this book really starts to eat away at those involved in the whole fiasco and they get some well-deserved come uppance.

I just read your last post Conan. I plan on getting those other two books as well. My uncle is just now reading The Innocent Man and has told me it seems to be accurate and he's only at the 80 page mark right now. He said that Bill Peterson was always someone you never wanted to cross your path and that many people in the city feared the guy, even to the point of losing their lives if they crossed him. I'll make sure and keep you posted as I hear more.

[snopes]

Here's another interesting anecdote. It doesn't have anything to do with the case, but it happened in Ada, in 1984, during the time all this was taking place.

Me and a friend were young, single, and living in Broken Arrow in the summer of '84. One Friday evening we started talking about wanting to get out of town and do something different. Out of the blue I said "why not take a trip to Ada? I know alot of people there and we can drag main and maybe even talk with some girls?" He was all for it and so we left that evening.

Not long after we got there we were just driving up and down the main drag minding our own business. Before too long we saw the flashing lights of a an Ada PD squad car and pulled over. We didn't have any alcohol (like most of the kids did) so we figured we had nothing to fear.

I can't remember the details but it ended up that my friend was thrown in jail for what the cops said was a traffic violation of some sort. It was either spinning his wheels or maybe something to do with his insurance being not up to date. Anyway, they threw him in the slammer, and said that he would have to pay a hefty fine (couple of hundred dollars).

So, I took his car all the way to Oklahoma City to pick up the money (which was closer than Tulsa) because the ATMs in Ada would not access his bank account. I drove back and basically gave the cops what I consider to be extortion money to get my friend out of jail. We left Ada that morning and my friend vowed never to return.

In retrospect I think the cops probably saw the out of town plates and figured on taking a couple of hundred dollars from some young out of towners.

[snopes]

Got this off the Ada Evening News website Conan. I don't have the book in front of me right now (my wife is GLUED to it) but wasn't Landrith the sitting judge on the Williamson case? It's also interesting to note that Bill Peterson (the DA, who is STILL there) is not prosecuting the case. I think lately he's taking extended leaves of absence trying to cleanse his soul.

http://www.adaeveningnews.com/local/local_story_340121935.html

Another interesting article. I'll try not and post so many times regarding this subject on the forum because I realize it's not the book of the month club and it may be boring to some...

http://www.adaeveningnews.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_285125955.html

[Conan71]

I saw the sliger case on the news the other night and there was something on it in the TW.  I couldn't help but wonder if it was another "guilt by association Ada style" case.

Something tells me that Peterson won't be serving another term as DA.

I believe Landrith presided over the hearing that released Williamson and Fritz.

Word around the camp fire is that George Clooney has bought the movie rights to Grisham's book.