Started the Matheny Manifesto last night by Mike Matheny of the Cardinals.

Got through the first part where his letter to the parents, that went viral, started the whole manifesto thing.

Absolutely....fantastic. When I was coaching we tried many of the exact same things and beliefs. It was almost like he was in our dugout discussions writing it all down.

Will be a very quick read I believe.

Heretic;1713819 wrote:And I have started the first book. And am basically trying to figure out what's going on from the beginning. Fortunately, on tor.com, people do read/re-read blogs on fantasy series, which gives me something to read after every chapter to get the gist of how things tie into each other and what obscure details I need to pay more attention to.

Almost finished the second book of the main series. Going off a suggested reading order from the Malazan wikia, I've read the first book, then one of the Bauchelain/Korbal Broach novellas and now the second book.

I liked the first book a good bit after getting over how you just get dropped into the world and have to figure out how things work (like magic, since this is a war-themed swords & sorcery series) while dealing with constantly shifting POVs. Gardens of the Moon gets a 7/10.

Blood Follows (the novella) was more humorous (often a dark humor, since Bauchelain and Broach are a demon summoner and necromancer, respectively), but served as more of an introduction to those characters in a stand-alone setting. 6/10

With Deadhouse Gates, things got fucking off the charts. The entire Chain of Dogs parts were just gripping as hell with a brutal end. 10/10 and one of the single best fantasy novels I've read. Well, reading...I have one more chapter to go, but that has to pretty much be setting up future-book stuff, as the main plots of this one have been resolved.

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough

The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein. It's about Warren Buffett, been a really good read so far.

I read the other Ken Follet book "world without end",sequel to pillars of the earth. It was pretty good. Nothing in the pipeline right now but want to read the Dana Perini book.


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i'm just getting started (at least with a full on effort) with ASOIAF. I recently read colin cowherd's book, and it was just horrible.

Bought the Martian

Superfudge

Jacksonland

Infinite Jest.

"Black Cross" by Greg Iles. A WWII novel. Very enjoyable book about the Nazis' attempt to develop nerve gas to wipe out the Allied invasion force and a commando operation to thwart it.

I Wear Pants;1739718 wrote:Infinite Jest.

Nice...great book. Wallace was one of my faves.

fish82;1739795 wrote:Nice...great book. Wallace was one of my faves.

Plus you can use it as a dumbbell to do curls with.

Phil Steele's 2015 College Football Preview.

Go Set a Watchman

"I, Ripper" by Stephen Hunter. Good novel based on the Jack the Ripper saga. Cool to see life in Victorian London.

Dr Winston O'Boogie;1741236 wrote:"I, Ripper" by Stephen Hunter. Good novel based on the Jack the Ripper saga. Cool to see life in Victorian London.

I'll have to check that out. I've read 7 Stephen Hunter books. The Bob Lee Swagger series.

Currently in reading "Worth Dying For" by Lee Child, the 15th book in the Jack Reacher series.

TedSheckler;1741244 wrote:I'll have to check that out. I've read 7 Stephen Hunter books. The Bob Lee Swagger series.

Currently in reading "Worth Dying For" by Lee Child, the 15th book in the Jack Reacher series.

It's a big departure from Bob Lee Swagger, but very good. I am a big fan of the Reacher books as well.

Has anyone read a good novel recently? Its my mom's birthday coming up and trying to pick out a book to get her.

Commander of Awesome;1781940 wrote:Has anyone read a good novel recently? Its my mom's birthday coming up and trying to pick out a book to get her.

I haven't read it yet, but 11/22/63 by Stephen King had another surge in popularity due to the Hulu series that just came out. Reviews for the book have been mostly positive, and I just read through this thread and saw that FFT liked it when he read it a couple years ago.

It's very good, and very long. I highly recommend it though.


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Finished the companion book to Martin Scorsese's The Blues. Great read on a history of the blues and little stories here and there about the forgotten artists.
Just started "Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End." by Atul Gawande, who grew up in Athens.

Book is about how our misconception and infrastructure set up around death. He argues our concept of death is so misaligned with reality. Says that we and doctors need to be more honest about death, be more open to the idea that doing every surgery or procedure to save you may not be worth it in the end.

Fascinating read so far.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Mortal-Illness-Medicine-Wellcome/dp/1846685818

I'm currently reading the Sigma Force novels by James Rollins. Kind of a blend between a Vince Flynn and Dan Brown book....if that makes sense.

Fab4Runner;1781948 wrote:I haven't read it yet, but 11/22/63 by Stephen King had another surge in popularity due to the Hulu series that just came out. Reviews for the book have been mostly positive, and I just read through this thread and saw that FFT liked it when he read it a couple years ago.

Great book. I enjoyed the story very much, but my favorite aspect of it was the details about the time and place (Dallas 1963). Stephen King is tough to beat when it comes to putting you in a spot and making you feel it.

I am reading "Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X". I love this time in history and the civil rights movement. I have come to respect Malcolm X over the years. Not because I agree everything he said. But I think I understand where a lot of that came from based upon his life experience. I also respect his willingness to evolve his opinion when he learned something different about the Black Muslims. I respect his total commitment to a cause even though I don't agree with that cause. Ali on the other hand was a tougher character to pin down. He preached a lot of the Black Muslim stuff, but I think he was parroting what he heard. He was vicious towards other black leaders during his time. I have never understood how he has been turned into a saint. I think the Parkinson's is a big part of it.

I'm about half way through and it is an excellent read.

TBone14;1782113 wrote:I'm currently reading the Sigma Force novels by James Rollins. Kind of a blend between a Vince Flynn and Dan Brown book....if that makes sense.

Currently reading the newer Mitch Rapp novel by the new author taking over the series. Also if you like Flynn, Brad Thor has a solid series, very similar.


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