Ace of Spades HQ

November 03, 2013

Sunday Morning Book Thread 11-03-2013: Anatine Diversions [OregonMuse]
— Open Blogger

A Happy Family

Good morning morons and moronettes and welcome to AoSHQ's prestigious Sunday Morning Book Thread.

If It Walks Like A Duck

I've become a big fan of the reality TV series Duck Dynasty, which airs on A&E. Unlike the harder-edged TV shows I watch, DD is light-hearted, funny, and, what I like best, it is a very conservative show featuring some very conservative men and women and the conservative values come through very strongly. Each episode concludes with the entire family all together at the table saying grace over the evening meal, while Willie, the main DD character and CEO of the company, narrates the lesson to be learned from the episode. It's cheesy and sappy and corny and I enjoy it very much.

The Robertson clan has put together quite a successful merchandising business based around the show, including not only their signature duck calls, but also DVDs, clothing, condiments, coffee mugs, posters, and, of course, books.

In last week's book thread, moronette mama winger tipped me on the upcoming publication of Miss Kay's Duck Commander Kitchen: Faith, Family, and Food--Bringing Our Home to Your Table , which I wish I had known about a couple of weeks ago so I could have included it in the cookbook thread. Which should go well with their original cookbook, The Commander's Kitchen.

Do an Amazon book search for 'Duck Dynasty' and you'll get a ton of stuff. Like, for example, Si-cology 1: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle. Or Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander by family patriarch Phil Robertson.

I like the show and all, but I don't know if I like it enough to buy any of the books, or merchandise.

However...

I watched some interviews on Youtube with the DD cast and was pleasantly surprised to discover that they are serious Christians, and some of them even have ministerial training. This gets muted somewhat in the show, but comes through very strongly in the interviews. So along these lines there's Faith in the Duck Blind by Jase Robertson and The Duck Commander Devotional by Alan Robertson, the one brother who is not on the show.

Here's something funny: The 'Duck Dynasty' search on Amazon will bring up Uncle Si's Secret, a mystery novel about a completely different, and completely fictional, Uncle Si, and has nothing whatsoever to do with Duck Dynasty. So a number of one-star reviews are complaints from purchasers who didn't read the blurb and who are angry because they thought they were getting a Duck Dynasty book.

Lost Manuscript Found

American author Pearl S. Buck (d. 1973), the daughter of American missionaries, spent most of her life prior to 1934 in China. Over the course of her life, she wrote over 100 books, including over 40 novels, her most famous being The Good Earth, published in 1931. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938.

40 years after her death, another Buck novel has been discovered. According to the author's son, after his mother died, someone took two manuscripts of The Eternal Wonder, one typewritten, one handwritten, from her house. Both were found in a storage unit in Texas, the son gained possession of them, and the book was published just last week.

The Amazon reviews appear to be somewhat mixed.

Book Map

Moron commenter Jakeman (Twitter: @DrFreelance) points me to this cute streep map made up from the titles of over 600 classic and maybe not-so-classic books from English literature.

There's also a TV map available, too.

Attention Military History Buffs: Freebie

My brother has alerted me to Panzer Warfare on the Eastern Front, by Hans Schaufler, which is now available in a Kindle edition for $0.

Book Giveaway

Mark Huffman e-mailed me to announce that he has set up a book giveaway on goodreads.com for his book Antediluvian. Throughout the month of November, you can enter to win one of 20 signed copies.

Books That Look Like They Might Be Interesting

Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard is an account that

traces the events leading up to the execution of one of the most influential men in history Â— Jesus of Nazareth Â— examining Jesus' life and recounting the seismic political and historical events that made his death inevitable.

Also, Miracles and Massacres: True and Untold Stories of the Making of America by Glenn Beck. From Amazon:

Thomas Edison was a bad guyÂ— and bad guys usually lose in the end.

World War II radio host Â“Tokyo RoseÂ” was branded as a traitor by the U.S. government and served time in prison. In reality, she was a hero to many.

Twenty U.S. soldiers received medals of honor at the Battle of Wounded KneeÂ—yet this wasnÂ’t a battle at all; it was a massacre.

Paul RevereÂ’s midnight ride was nothing compared to the ride made by a guy named Jack whom youÂ’ve probably never heard of.

The things youÂ’ve never learned about our past will shock you. The reason why gun control is so important to government elites can be found in a story about Athens that no one dares teach. Not the city in ancient Greece, but the one in 1946 Tennessee. The power of an individual who trusts his gut can be found in the story of the man who stopped the twentieth hijacker from being part of 9/11. And a lesson on what happens when an all-powerful president is in need of positive headlines is revealed in a story about eight saboteurs who invaded America during World War II.

___________

So that's all for this week. As always, book thread tips, suggestions, rumors, threats, and insults may be sent to OregonMuse, Proprietor, AoSHQ Book Thread, at aoshqbookthread, followed by the 'at' sign, and then 'G' mail, and then dot cee oh emm.

What have you all been reading this week? Hopefully something good, because, as I keep saying, life is too short to be reading lousy books.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:20 AM | Comments (111)
Post contains 1014 words, total size 8 kb.

1 DD is not Yankee approved. Guns and God. First?

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 03, 2013 07:22 AM (0FSuD)

2 Hi Rons, Read two books this week. If you recall last week I was Gushing over a book by Linda Lafferty called the Bloodletters Daughter. This week I availed myself of another story she has published called the Drowning Guard (a Novel of the Ottoman Empire.) It was a little different but almost as enjoyable. Which in this case is super duper awesome. It takes place in the late 1500Â’s early 1600Â’s. The beloved sister of a ruling Sultan, with her own kingdom, has sex with non Muslim men, then has her drowning Guard, a Serbian Mercenary, take them out on a boat, and kill them. Pretty straightforward right? Nothing is as it seems. Miss Lafferty once again takes us to a different time and place and allows us to live there if only for awhile. Descriptions of daily life are woven into her book effortlessly giving us a idea of the food, transportation, hierarchy, moods, sights and smells. It is very rich in itÂ’s descriptions. You can tell she took great pains to ensure the book is historically accurate. It is a small history lesson. This book is a bit more erotic than the last, although the sex has purpose and is not thrown in for effect. Her next book, the House of Bathory is currently on pre order.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 03, 2013 07:22 AM (XIxXP)

3 I finished Ender's Game this morning. I thought it was a fairly decent story. I knew the highlights, but not the details.

I'm sure the movie will suck, but I'm going to try and see it today anyway.

Posted by: Zakn at November 03, 2013 07:25 AM (zyaZ1)

4 Duck Dynasty is a family staple in my home. It is the entertainment families have been screaming for.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 03, 2013 07:26 AM (XIxXP)

5 Oh. I also ordered a Kindle. It should be here Tuesday. I have found that my vocabulary has really suffered from my lack of reading. So hopefully this will get me back to my Reading ways again.

I used to average 3 books a month. Amazon Prime hated me.

Posted by: Zakn at November 03, 2013 07:27 AM (zyaZ1)

6 The seismic events that made Jesus' death inevitable? Written like a real pinhead scholar. As Dennis Praeger say you must have gone to grad school to get so screwed up. Christ's birth, death and resurrection were prophisied and ordained for centuries. Howsabout that for a hint? I'm sure it will sell millions.

Posted by: DM at November 03, 2013 07:27 AM (D90Db)

7 There's no movie thread, but this is still book related, so I'll go ahead and post it. Saw Ender's Game with the wife on Friday. I absolutely loved it. I found it engrossing and involving in surprisingly subtle ways. Most importantly was the evolution of Ender as a character. His change from child to Napoleon is demonstrated dramatically as he figures out situations and finds solutions. Asa Butterfield's performance as Ender is appropriately small, with most of the emotion working almost solely in the eyes. I feel like the gut punch ending works better having knowledge of the reality of the situation. We see Ender celebrate his final victory, but we can't quite smile because we know what has actually happened. Very highly recommended.

Posted by: David at November 03, 2013 07:27 AM (6Oj/Y)

8 Love DD! Uncle Si and Jase are my favorites. I read an interesting article that Phil, the dad, was really not interested in doing a show. Willie was the one that was pushed it. Bet they're all glad he did. Did you know that there is an older brother, Alan. He's a minister and, GASP! has no beard....they all consider him the 'black sheep of the family.' LOL!

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at November 03, 2013 07:28 AM (bCEmE)

9
President Si sez "If you like your cup, you can keep your cup. That's a FACT, Jack!"

Posted by: mrp at November 03, 2013 07:31 AM (HjPtV)

10 So besides Merovign and myself, which Morons are in NaNoWriMo?

For $3.99 on the Kindle is Steel Boat Iron Hearts: The Wartime Saga of Hans Goebeler and U-505. http://tinyurl.com/meltbv4

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 03, 2013 07:33 AM (uVVG+)

11 I wasn't into the whole DD thing but my M-i-L pushed me to read "Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as The Duck Commander" when I was visiting her a couple of months ago. It's a blazing fast read and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Now, I am a regular DD watcher.

Posted by: Dinah Lord at November 03, 2013 07:33 AM (46UXb)

12 Just got "S." by J. J. Abrams - it's a really interesting concept - first hardcopy book I've bought in quite a while. Notes in margins, a story within a story, and physical inserts (printouts, postcards, newspaper articles) - things you can't do in a e-book. I like the concept, and like I said it actually drove me to buy a 'real' book for once. It's an interesting read - definitely different.

Posted by: Giant Polish Vagina at November 03, 2013 07:34 AM (yrBfb)

13 I think Radish is doing it as well Anna

Posted by: Zakn at November 03, 2013 07:34 AM (zyaZ1)

14 So, in a flash we get the best treads of the week. NOW how about some elbows?

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 03, 2013 07:35 AM (0FSuD)

15 " The Duck Commander Devotional by Alan Robertson, the one brother who is not on the show." Well, duh. That'll teach me to read the whole post. Nah.... He was on one episode where the wives planned a surprise wedding for Phil and Kay on their anniversary because they never had a real wedding. Alan officiated.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at November 03, 2013 07:37 AM (bCEmE)

16 Do I have to denounce myself if I've never seen Duck Dynasty? Re the street map thingy, my home town has entire neighborhoods with streets named after literary references. Kind of fun and lots more charming than the personality-less numbered streets system we have around here.

Posted by: Y-not (@MoxieMom) at November 03, 2013 07:37 AM (5H6zj)

17 Zombie book series recommendation: The King of Clayfield. This writer yanked way more footballs than Lucy, but what a ride. It's okay to mangle a metaphor once in a while.

Posted by: eman at November 03, 2013 07:39 AM (AO9UG)

18 Yay, the baseball thread! Wait, what? Still translating a load of German scheiss. I did get to read about Ubayd Allah bin Abi Bakra and his jaysh al-fanÃ (army o' destruction), though. This guy was sent to Pashtostan (Zabulistan it was called them) to conquer, loot, and take slaves. The local despot Zunbil had other ideas: he just ran into the hills, burning his own crops along the way. Soon enough the holy warriors found themselves in the Afghan desert dying of thirst. The Zunbil magnanimously fed and watered them on condition they leave and pay a huge bribe. The Zunbil "forgot" to give them sufficient supplies to get out of Zabulistan, though; so en route back the Army Of Destruction was pretty much destroyed. It's like there's only one history book about how invaders do in Afghanistan; it just gets reprinted every sixty years

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at November 03, 2013 07:39 AM (C3ps3)

19 Went to the local pizza joint Friday night. There was a group of folks in the reservable meeting room with pizza, laptops, and a sign on the door about authors at work kicking off thef NaNoWriMo effort. I'd have hassled 'em, but it looked like they were busy doing smart stuff.

Posted by: Anachronda at November 03, 2013 07:39 AM (U82Km)

20 I have to drive through a virtual Camelot/Nottingham to get to work. Guinivere this, Lancelot that, Robin hood Lane, etc.

Posted by: Lincolntf at November 03, 2013 07:42 AM (ZshNr)

21 Should have joined them Anachronda.

We did pretty much the same thing. Congregate with laptops. Food and drinks. And then talked about our various story ideas while hardly writing any words. But was a fun time that we plan to repeat next weekend.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 03, 2013 07:44 AM (uVVG+)

22 The DD family gets $200K for every show. Doesn't seem like a lot. I am sure they are selling the shit out of all the stuff in Wally World I see. I have a 20 year old Duck Commander call, still works great and they were cheap as shit then. $9?

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 03, 2013 07:44 AM (0FSuD)

I am still working my way through Margaret MacMillan's "The War That Ended Peace - the Road to 1914" - about a quarter into it. It's a general round-up of what was happening at the end of the 19th century and the first century of the 20th which led to WWI. There are wonderful thumbnail sketches of all kinds of personalities and influential people; a kind of mosaic of the issues which led to a catastrophic war. Excellent read - and a good companion book to Barbara Tuchman's "The Proud Tower."

As for my own latest book, it rolls out this month - and I'm doing a series of market days and craft fairs. Hey, it's coming up on Christmas, and those who have money to spend are all about spending it.

The Quivera Trail is already here, on Amazon in both Kindle and print editions. http://tinyurl.com/mrouzya

I describe it as "Mrs, Gaskell Meets Zane Grey..." -

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at November 03, 2013 07:44 AM (Asjr7)

24 We did pretty much the same thing. Congregate with laptops. Food and drinks. And then talked about our various story ideas while hardly writing any words. But was a fun time that we plan to repeat next weekend. Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 03, 2013 11:44 AM (uVVG+) Where do you find these people?

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 03, 2013 07:45 AM (XIxXP)

25 @15 Also, I think he is going to start showing up on the show. I thought the wedding was really sappy, but sweet.

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 03, 2013 07:45 AM (0FSuD)

26 Oregon Muse....that Panzer warfare book your brother mentioned to you is very, very good. I've had the original German edition for many years, it's chock full of dozens of personal narratives of tank fighting on the Eastern Front. Its German title is "Der Weg war weit". He also wrote another, very good book in the same vein that's a narrative history of his unit, 35th Panzer Regiment. Loaded with personal narratives like the other. Its title is "So lebten und so starben sie". Just got a new book from Amazon "The War that ended Peace" on the causes of WW1.It makes you want to go back in time and lock up all those idiots that caused a catastrophe that we're still dealing with. Next year will probably bring out a flood of WW1 books with its centenary.

Posted by: JHW at November 03, 2013 07:46 AM (OKpSE)

27 Also, I think he is going to start showing up on the show. I thought the wedding was really sappy, but sweet. Posted by: Nip Sip at November 03, 2013 11:45 AM (0FSuD) Our world could use a lot more sappy.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 03, 2013 07:46 AM (XIxXP)

28 I am nanowrimoing as well. So is my 12 year old son. I confess to have only gotten 39 words down so far. I have been reading collections of ghost stories this week. One collection was gathered by Edward Gorey and the second by Roald Dahl. Dahl postulates in his introduction that writing a good ghost story is very difficult and a lot of very talented writers have failed miserably at it. And he would know, he read over 700 stories.

Posted by: Paranoidgirlinseattle at November 03, 2013 07:47 AM (RZ8pf)

29 OSP - http://nanowrimo.org/

Click on Local Events and select Home Region. Then scroll down to see which one is closest to you.

Here is Birmingham, AL for example.
http://nanowrimo.org/regions/usa-alabama-birmingham

And if you want, can join.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 03, 2013 07:49 AM (uVVG+)

30 And if you want, can join. Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 03, 2013 11:49 AM (uVVG+) Thanks AP, I'll check it out.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 03, 2013 07:50 AM (XIxXP)

31 Uncle Si's scavenger hunt on the wedding episode was hilarious. I swear I have an uncle just like him. Not much on the reading front this past week. I'm about to start "Allegiant."

Posted by: no good deed at November 03, 2013 07:50 AM (k55Fc)

32 Read and enjoyed Saturn's Children by Charles Stross. The global warming idiocy turned out to be incidental to the plot. I did get a bit confused a few times about who was who, but I think that was intentional; the characters are all robots who update themselves from "soul chips" containing a copy of a sibling's personality, so they tend to get confused themselves if they wear an update too long.

Posted by: Anachronda at November 03, 2013 07:50 AM (U82Km)

33 Our world could use a lot more sappy. Or, as Phil would say, "sappy, sappy, sappy."

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 03, 2013 07:50 AM (fd0Pp)

34 Also, I think he is going to start showing up on the show. I thought the wedding was really sappy, but sweet. Posted by: Nip Sip at November 03, 2013 11:45 AM (0FSuD) The best part of that episode was Si trying to keep Phil and Kay busy while they set up the wedding. Si told them he was going to take them on a trip down memory lane. Only problem was Si's memory is shit. Kept taking them to places that had absolutely nothing to do with Phil and Kay's early years. Except for the last place he took them. A forest where they had carved their initials in a tree.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at November 03, 2013 07:51 AM (bCEmE)

35 Our world could use a lot more sappy. Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 03, 2013 11:46 AM (XIxXP) True dat. I loved the show were he takes his grand daughters fishing to teach them how to be "redneck girls" This stuff must make Yankee's heads explode.

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 03, 2013 07:52 AM (0FSuD)

36 21 Should have joined them Anachronda. I'm no good at smart stuff.

Posted by: Anachronda at November 03, 2013 07:53 AM (U82Km)

37 Read Doctor Sleep by King. Meh. Felt like he phoned it in. Now splitting time between The Abominable by Dan Simmons and Lies of Locke Lamora by I forget who. Pretty good, but having a hard time getting into them so far.

Posted by: kalel666 at November 03, 2013 07:55 AM (9xbt0)

38
Love the DD show, cracks me up. I wonder if it will jump the shark soon (all eventually do) do to the massive amount of merchandising. It is everywhere. But they have decided to go for the huge brass ring, and I admire them for it.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at November 03, 2013 07:58 AM (nKUHR)

39 No Vic today?

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 03, 2013 07:59 AM (fd0Pp)

40 Well kids, I'm out of her, I have made progress on Golden Angel and I will keep you all posted.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 03, 2013 08:00 AM (XIxXP)

41 There is a plethora of WW1 books coming out as the centenary of it's start is approaching in 2014. I don't know where to begin though.

Posted by: JoeyBagels at November 03, 2013 08:00 AM (GjaV4)

42 I didn't get much reading done this week, since my sister Robin was up from Texas visiting. As a favor to her, I did read a manuscript a friend of hers had given her, asking for an endorsement. Robin hadn't been able to get past p. 21, so I knew it was bad ... It was even worse that I'd thought. Scripture, philosophy, and sermon quotes strung together through a spiritual-coming-of-age narrative with no real story at all. And very poorly written, at that. I managed to struggle through it well enough to rough out a sort-of endorsement for it, and I must say it was the most difficult fiction I've ever written (with 5 novels and a bunch of short stories under my belt).

Posted by: Empire1 at November 03, 2013 08:00 AM (LG3g5)

43 Just finished reading Victor Davis Hanson's "The Father of Us All". Damn good reading for military history buffs. He discusses contemporary issues from ancient military perspective. It's really good shit. Just started his "Ripples of Battle" and it's also a damn fine read.

Posted by: fastfreefall at November 03, 2013 08:01 AM (1rdVH)

44 Read Doctor Sleep by King. Meh.

Posted by: kalel666 at November 03, 2013 11:55 AM (9xbt0)

I thought the story was ok, but too many stupid liberal tropes thrown in for my liking.
I've got The Abominable and Lies of Locke Lamora (by Scott Lynch) both loaded on the Kindle, but I'm reading the Alvin Maker series now after hearing about it here.

Posted by: Tunafish at November 03, 2013 08:01 AM (H2tCt)

45 Have fun OSP. Good luck with the book.

Anachronda, methinks thou wouldst be smart enough.

Empire1, you want scripts hard to read. Go look at the stuff being peddled on Amazon Studios. Thus says someone who has posted two spec scripts there.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 03, 2013 08:03 AM (uVVG+)

46 There's a book here titled "Invisible Women Of Prehistory: Three million years of peace, six thousand years of war". Because of the patriarchy! Yes, it will be on the test, deniers.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at November 03, 2013 08:04 AM (C3ps3)

47 Read "Fallen Angels" by Larry Nuven, Michael Flynn and Jerry Pournelle.

This is really good and funny book about future global cooling and and coming ace age.

Near future/alternate future in which anti-technology forces control Earth, while a struggling colony survives in orbital space and on the Moon. Science fiction fans on Earth work to save downed astronauts.

If you need a gift to annoy your liberal relatives or friend this book is perfect .

Posted by: redmonkey at November 03, 2013 08:05 AM (vxvH1)

48 I read Nightmare Along the River Nile, a story of 20th century slavery by Suzzanna E Nelson. I had downloaded it as a kindle freebie during a promotion, its 3.99 now. She did a good job I thought. The book is set in Clinton's term and is the story of a young man whose bus is hijacked by the lords resistance army forces and passengers sold as slaves to arabs in Sudan. Nelson keeps the book from being too gloomy by switching between Edgar's story of captivity and his friends who are working to rescue or buy him out. The rescue aspect makes it bearable but provides context of how hard it would be for most Ugandans to have anyone with resources and connections to make a rescue possible.

Posted by: PaleRider at November 03, 2013 08:05 AM (FYUWS)

49 Is anyone else having trouble accessing the HQ on their Kindles? I can get the mu.nu front page (most of the time) but the .minx pages come up and then go blank. Sometimes refreshing helps and sometimes not. This and the back-up HQ blog are the only two sites I'm having trouble with.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 03, 2013 08:05 AM (Pexsc)

This stuff must make Yankee's heads explode.

Not really. Most of us have / had family, too.

Posted by: garrett at November 03, 2013 08:06 AM (VObPh)

51
A Streep Map? Is that where you connect the moles on Meryl's body to discover the lost manuscript of Budda IV?

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at November 03, 2013 08:06 AM (nKUHR)

52 Our world could use a lot ~~more sappy~~ less fappy.

Posted by: Christine O'Donnel at November 03, 2013 08:07 AM (VObPh)

53 Lincolntf -- Do you mind saying where you are? My visiting sister lives on Maid Marian Lane in Nacogdoches, TX.

Posted by: Empire1 at November 03, 2013 08:07 AM (LG3g5)

54 Boulder Toilet Hobo, this sounds like a book in rebuttal to that one.
Noble Savages: My Life Among Two Dangerous Tribes - The Yanomamo and the Anthropologists by Napoleon Chagnon.
http://tinyurl.com/n74kn4j

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 03, 2013 08:07 AM (uVVG+)

55 Prolly the last one here to read Mark Levin's latest, "The Liberty Amendments", but I highly recommend it. Not sure that it is an actual blueprint, but it is dam' sure a good place to start.
Right after we make Congress undo everything-- but abso-effin-lutely EVERYTHING-- the super awesome 111th Congress did.

Posted by: Cretin, high grade moron isotopes in thousands of centrifuges at November 03, 2013 08:08 AM (553LD)

56 Lies of Lockamora, by Scott Lynch seems interesting, there was sort of a vampire tale along those lines, by John Grimwood

Posted by: jeffrey pelt at November 03, 2013 08:10 AM (Jsiw/)

57 I never got into Duck Dynasty because I suspected it (like Honey BooBoo and Amish Mafia) was supposed to be a chance for the elites to laugh at the rubes. Glad to be wrong, or good for the Robertsons for making the show their own in spite of the intent.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 03, 2013 08:10 AM (Pexsc)

58 Wow just made the mistake of reading the comments in the Enders game movie reviewed at wired website. Card really touched a nerve with his opposition to gay marriage. It was like millions of gay geeks wept in unison as their version of catcher in the rye turned out to be written by someone they disagree with. It changed everything man, the meaning of the story is fundamentally changed by his views of gay marriage. Never mind that the story was written back when gays weren't all about getting married and has absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality, latent or blatant, the meaning is there.

Posted by: Paranoidgirlinseattle at November 03, 2013 08:11 AM (RZ8pf)

59 "I don't know where to begin though."

I would recommend 'The Guns of August' by Barbara Tuchman. It's about the events leading up to and through the 1st month of WW1.

Posted by: HH at November 03, 2013 08:12 AM (XXwdv)

Boulder Toilet Hobo, this sounds like a book in rebuttal to that one.
Noble Savages: My Life Among Two Dangerous Tribes - The Yanomamo and the Anthropologists by Napoleon Chagnon.

-------

This is a really good read too.

Posted by: fastfreefall at November 03, 2013 08:13 AM (1rdVH)

61 . 45 Anna Puma -- And it had been accepted by some religious publisher. Methinks the writer must have something on the publisher, or be a relative, or something similar.

Posted by: Empire1 at November 03, 2013 08:14 AM (LG3g5)

62 Uncle Si's Secret ? Get right on that stat

Posted by: atheist watchdog at November 03, 2013 08:16 AM (N3Al8)

63 Been reading Larry Correia's Monster Hunter series on my Nook. Had the first one in storage and drug it out (Monster Hunters International) and quickly devoured it. Great fun, lots of guns, monsters, explosions, ichor, and all around a blast to read. He sounds like a fellow moron, plus he's got some good writing advice on his website. Check'em out if you can. http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/

Posted by: Inspector Asshole at November 03, 2013 08:19 AM (3W04v)

64 Finished miss peregrine's home for peculiar children this week too. Why the heck does everything have to be written now to force sequels? The book does not have a satisfactory resolution at the end, instead it sets up the sequel. A lot of the middle grade fiction is like that now too. My son says it is jk rowling's fault but I pointed out that her first few books have definite endings, not cliff hangers to be resolved in the next book.

Posted by: Paranoidgirlinseattle at November 03, 2013 08:21 AM (RZ8pf)

65 I watch very little TV and so am unfamiliar with "Duck Dynasty." From the sound of it, the Robertsons are good people. However, when I look at that picture and consider the beards of the World Champion BoSox, I fear that ZZ top-style beards long enough to hide a stork's nest are going to become fashionable - and I don't like it (and not because I own stock in Gillette). A short, neatly trimmed beard is one thing (although I prefer clean-shaven men) - long scraggly beards not only cover up handsome faces, they don't look very clean.

Posted by: Donna V. at November 03, 2013 08:21 AM (R3gO3)

66 @6- DM Very close to my thoughts when I read that. It was "ordained" by the Alpha and Omega before time began. I have at times seen rons and ettes ask about end times prophecy. "The Sign" by Robert Van Kampen is a very good read for all things "end times." "The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church" by Marv Rosenthal is, imo, the definitive work on "when does it happen" in relation to the "70th Week of Daniel." Both available through Zion's Hope Ministries.

Posted by: teej at November 03, 2013 08:22 AM (Nsomq)

67 I know, PGiS. Suddenly, he is Orson Scott Card "controversial author."

Posted by: no good deed at November 03, 2013 08:24 AM (k55Fc)

68 Posted by: Inspector Asshole at November 03, 2013 12:19 PM (3W04v) I just wish Correia's books weren't so expensive even in e-format. The Horde has recommended them repeatedly but at $8+ they're just out of my budget.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 03, 2013 08:24 AM (Pexsc)

69 Hey teej!!! Long time, hows 'ya been?

Posted by: HH at November 03, 2013 08:25 AM (XXwdv)

70 Posted by: teej at November 03, 2013 12:22 PM (Nsomq) Teej! I have been wondering how you were doing.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 03, 2013 08:25 AM (Pexsc)

71 @49- Polli, I've been having the same problem on my fone. It disappeared me very early this am.

Posted by: teej at November 03, 2013 08:25 AM (QbKVX)

72 If you're a fan of how-to books, Timothy Ferriss has 3 useful ones out as of now. His latest, "The 4-Hour Chef", is actually a triple-threat compendium that includes a schematic of learning itself. It reminded me in sections of the immortal Herter book, "Bull Cook and Authentic Historical Recipes and Practices".

Posted by: Cretin, high grade moron isotopes in thousands of centrifuges at November 03, 2013 08:26 AM (553LD)

73 I just don't get the Duck Dynasty thing. I tried watching it and didn't find it at all funny. Each to their own I guess.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at November 03, 2013 08:26 AM (0LHZx)

74 I'm about 40% through Cloud Atlas. I'm not sure if the section about the anti nuke reporter was done because the writer feels that way or if it was a period piece reflecting the 70s and the whole China Syndrome garbage that characterized the era. Anyway, it's not going to influence my thoughts one iota. Charles Stross has been much more heavy handed with his global warming nonsense, for example. Made some progress in Gibbon to where he's describing the tenth century Byzantine empire. Do any morons know if a companion atlas was ever done? I have a historical atlas but it hopscotches some of the times being discussed.

Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPhone at November 03, 2013 08:32 AM (00Mvj)

75 I love Duck Dynasty - the show and their ministry involvement as well. Several of the family members are involved in going around to various churches, giving talks and personal testimonies of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Posted by: mama winger at November 03, 2013 08:32 AM (P6QsQ)

76 On the Orson Scott card thing, some people are now actually implying that his views against homosexuality are expressed in Enders game. Is there a point at which a story can be a story these days without racial or gender or homosexual messaging being read into it? Sometimes a Duck is just a Duck. Dynasty.

Posted by: Paranoidgirlinseattle at November 03, 2013 08:32 AM (RZ8pf)

Lies of Locke Lamora is an oldie but goodie and I recommend the sequel Red Sails as well. Jon Grimwood did 9-tailed Fox, which was good, but the sequels went into China Mieville incoherence. For some reason Mieville just goes into incoherence for me -- and I know he is influential as all get out but can't finish one yet.

Time for a re-read of the complete Terry Pratchett (Sam Vimes is my favorite character) and get a good dose of laugh-out-loud.

Posted by: Mustbequantum at November 03, 2013 08:32 AM (MIKMs)

78 I'm doing better, I think. Thanks. Finally got back to work Monday so I was able to stop the process of selling all my non essentials. I've sure missed some of you folks. That list too long to go into but it surely includes you both.

Posted by: teej at November 03, 2013 08:32 AM (GhSTE)

79 Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 03, 2013 12:24 PM (Pexsc) The 10 dollar one (The Monster Hunters) is the full first three novels in one. I spent nearly that much just for the paperback of the first one. It's really good, fun stuff. Worth 10 bucks for 3 books.

Posted by: Inspector Asshole at November 03, 2013 08:34 AM (3W04v)

80 It seems I may have missed Anna (I'll catch up later). Been keeping busy with NaNo, four write-ups and 15k words in two days. Decent group so far with a couple of trolls I have so far managed not to engage. There's always a couple. I mean, when you think about it - writing club - oy. *BUT* several good peeps and don't forget the main group and many local groups have their own IRC channels to get online and chat (and encourage and seek encouragement from fellow writers), so if you can't physically meet up with your regional group (or if you'e in Boston, Boulder, or Santa Cruz), you can do that! Also, spending less time on blogs is keeping my blood pressure down.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith's Other Mobile[/i][/b][/s][/u] at November 03, 2013 08:34 AM (qyfb5)

81 Boy and I are current on the 115 issues of The Walking Dead and are reading again Catching Fire and The Book Thief since the movies are out this month.

Posted by: NCKate at November 03, 2013 08:37 AM (2VHEL)

82 Oh, forgot to recommend Mel Odom and his Library trilogy for the YA parents. Our library has it in adult, but sly funny enough for YA and parents.

Posted by: Mustbequantum at November 03, 2013 08:38 AM (MIKMs)

83 Duck Dynasty is teaching our young thugs...er...young people the wrong values.

Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at November 03, 2013 08:39 AM (Dwehj)

84 The NYT had an article this morning about OSC and his gay marriage views. Started to read it, thought meh, didn't.

Posted by: NCKate at November 03, 2013 08:40 AM (2VHEL)

85 Oh, and books I've been reading. AASHTO & ASTM. Anyone who knows them know how positively riveting they can be.

Posted by: teej at November 03, 2013 08:41 AM (GhSTE)

I second the recommendation of "The Guns of August" by Tuchman as a good place to start reading about WWI. I also enjoyed "The Perfect Summer: England 1911, Just Before the Storm" by Juliet Nicolson. A good picture of the halcyon days before the war. Different narrators make it more interesting, and the foreshadowing is there.

I'm back on my mystery kick - now reading Rendell's Wexford books (can't BELIEVE I'd not come across them through all my years). There are a whole bunch in the series, so I'm having fun. Good mysteries, with some but not too much psychological/pc gobbledegook.

Posted by: Bookaday at November 03, 2013 08:43 AM (+HEUC)

87 If I had a son, I doubt very much he'd look like Phil.

Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at November 03, 2013 08:43 AM (Dwehj)

88
Another interesting DD fact: Si is happily married, but his wife of many years did not want to be part of the show. His marital status is never mentioned, and most people are led to believe that he's single. This in turn has led to a flood of marriage proposals, many including pics, and disturbingly enough, they're sent to his house.

Also, Alan, the beardless brother has recently begun appearing on the show.

With Open Blogger, I agree....this show is often times a bit corny, and obviously scripted, but it's fun to watch, and I appreciate that it depicts the Robertson clan as strongly family oriented, and it does not shy away from showing their Christian beliefs. It is a very pleasant change from the Kardashians, the Real Housewives, the Jersey Shores, etc....or as I like to refer to them, "Who's fucking who this week?". Shows where they bleep out every other damn word, and each show is 30 to 60 minutes of cussing, fighting, back stabbing, fucking, whining, and bitching. And fucking.

If they run out of material, they default to their fall back position, "Next, on the Real Kardashian Housewives Of Jersey Shore, Joey totes bangs this one broad! Must See TV! Only on ABCNBCBS!".

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at November 03, 2013 08:44 AM (0IhFx)

89 I've been a big fan of Barbara Tuchman since A Distant Mirror.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith's Other Mobile[/i][/b][/s][/u] at November 03, 2013 08:45 AM (qyfb5)

90 Another interesting DD fact: Si is happily married, but his wife of many years did not want to be part of the show. And about that, Si has said "Maybe she's the only one of us with any sense."

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 03, 2013 08:48 AM (fd0Pp)

91 Another interesting DD fact: Si is happily married, but his wife of many years did not want to be part of the show. His marital status is never mentioned, and most people are led to believe that he's single. This in turn has led to a flood of marriage proposals, many including pics, and disturbingly enough, they're sent to his house. ====== There is one episode where he mentions he's raised a daughter. It's the episode where Willie takes his daughter to the store to get a homecoming dress he 'approves of' and Si goes with him.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at November 03, 2013 08:56 AM (bCEmE)

"A Distant Mirror" is very good.

I'm reading "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" by Charles MacKay. Published in 1852, it goes to show you that human nature doesn't change. If MacKay were around today, I think he'd have a lot to say about the Obamanation.

Reading about the Mississippi Scheme, it struck me that the roots of Louisiana political corruption go all the way back to it's beginnings. John Law was quite the scam artist.

Posted by: Donna V. at November 03, 2013 09:07 AM (R3gO3)

93 As a result of this post, I finally installed Kindle for Android, and got that Panzer book. Wow!
First chapter done. Helpfully, Kindle reports this is 8% of the book.
Besides great first person reporting from experienced people with different perspectives, these may be the best german translations I have ever read.

Posted by: scottst at November 03, 2013 09:17 AM (IahvH)

94 Graham Robb, "The Discovery of Middle Earth" is about Gaul before Caesar. Turns out the Celts weren't just a bunch of violent disorganised drunks! (Mind you, this was before whiskey was invented . . .) Seems they already had roads, writing, and a sophisticated communication system. And they were good at spinning blarney at foreigners, like when the Britons told Saint Jerome that their most prized delicacy was "shepherd's buttock".

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at November 03, 2013 09:20 AM (C3ps3)

95 49 Is anyone else having trouble accessing the HQ on their Kindles? I can get the mu.nu front page (most of the time) but the .minx pages come up and then go blank. Sometimes refreshing helps and sometimes not.

This and the back-up HQ blog are the only two sites I'm having trouble with.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 03, 2013 12:05 PM (Pexscg it

********

I never had this problem until yesterday. I haven't found a reason or a fix beyond just "futzing" around with it. Sometimes I just shut it down and then access through the bookmark and it seems to clear it for minx.

Posted by: gracepmc at November 03, 2013 09:29 AM (rznx3)

96 I am reading a book about Padre Pio. the Italian capuchin friar who died in 1963 as well as a little devotional of his writings. He was a great mystic and received the stigmata as well as other charisms and spiritual gifts. I find his words a great blessing: "Let us always keep before our eyes the fact that here on earth we are on a battlefield and that in paradise we shall receive the crown of victory; that this is a testing-ground and the prize will be awarded up above; that we are now in a land of exile while our true homeland is Heaven to which we must continually aspire. Jesus will assist you and give you the grace to live a heavenly life and nothing whatever will be able to separate you from His love."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 03, 2013 09:34 AM (23Kgq)

97 I wore my Duck Commander shirt proudly yesterday. The great thing about the Robertson clan is A) Duck Commander was already a multi million dollar company before the show came along. The extra publicity and merchandising has only increased their profits. B) The Roberstons are always in a struggle with the producers and A&E about the religious elements on the show; in other words A&E wants NO RELIGION AT ALL. Phil has made it very clear that the entire family will walk away from the show if their religious activities are scrubbed from the show.

Posted by: Hamilton at November 03, 2013 09:34 AM (2dYnc)

98 Posted by: Inspector Asshole at November 03, 2013 12:34 PM (3W04v) Ah, hadn't realized it was a three-book compilation. Will give it a try then.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 03, 2013 09:43 AM (Pexsc)

99 16 Do I have to denounce myself if I've never seen Duck Dynasty?

Re the street map thingy, my home town has entire neighborhoods with streets named after literary references. Kind of fun and lots more charming than the personality-less numbered streets system we have around here.
Posted by: Y-not (@MoxieMom) at November 03, 2013 11:37 AM (5H6zj)

There's a little neighborhood in Kearns that has Tolkien inspired street names. Dimrill Drive, Bree Street, that sort of thing.

Posted by: J. Random Dude at November 03, 2013 09:48 AM (72afg)

100 Love the shirts. I don't watch the show, but I love how it's working for em. We need more of this. And more importantly we don't need rejection of conservatives like Kid Rock, who is unashamedly and happily conservative. Who preaches man.

Posted by: Donald at November 03, 2013 09:52 AM (F5hy9)

101 86
I second the recommendation of "The Guns of August" by Tuchman as a good place to start reading about WWI. I also enjoyed "The Perfect Summer: England 1911, Just Before the Storm" by Juliet Nicolson. A good picture of the halcyon days before the war. Different narrators make it more interesting, and the foreshadowing is there.
I'm back on my mystery kick - now reading Rendell's Wexford books (can't BELIEVE I'd not come across them through all my years). There are a whole bunch in the series, so I'm having fun. Good mysteries,withsome butnot too much psychological/pc gobbledegook.

Posted by: Bookaday at November 03, 2013 12:43 PM (+HEUC)

**********

On pre WWII Rebecca West Black Lamb and Grey Falcon : A Journey Through Yugoslavia -- it is huge and biased and problematic in so many ways. And it is not for a close minded reader. But if you get the edition with Christopher Hitchen's Prologue and are willing it is a rewarding challenge. And in the end she gets it. Of course, you have to be a Balkans addict to enjoy it for what it is. As for Rendell, most likely you know she writes as Barbara Vine as well. If not, check some of them out. She saved me during a long overseas posting.

Posted by: gracepmc at November 03, 2013 09:59 AM (rznx3)

102 Posted by: Inspector Asshole at November 03, 2013 12:34 PM (3W04v) Glad you told me that because it's now down to $8 and I'd have never bothered to look.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 03, 2013 10:03 AM (Pexsc)

103 Posted by: Sgt. Mom at November 03, 2013 11:44 AM (Asjr7)

For a really good "How the 19th century led up to WW I" book, I recommend "Dreadnought" by Robert K.Massie, the same author who wrote "Nicholas and Alexandra".

What I got from it was:

1) The Austrians were even worse weasels than the French.

2) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand would probably not have resulted in WW I if President Poincarre of France had not been in Moscow pushing for it.

3) If when Annie Oakley shot a cigarette from Kaiser Wilhelm II lips during Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show tour of Europe, she had put a bullet through his walnut sized brain instead, the world might have been spared a great deal of horror, including the Russian Revolution and 70 years of Communist hell.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at November 03, 2013 10:07 AM (BcCwi)

104 OT for books, but the OP mentions The Battle of Athens. Gods, I had forgotten all about that! What an inspiring event, there's a youtube dramatization of it that I've seen before, it shouldn't be too hard to find. Here's a summation of the events of Aug1-2, 1946 that I googled up here: http://tiny.cc/33lz5w "The Cantrell family had controlled the economy and politics of McMinn County, Tennessee since the 1930s. Paul Cantrell had been Sheriff from 1936 -1940 and in 1942 was elected to the State Senate. His chief deputy, Paul Mansfield, was subsequently elected to two terms as Sheriff. In 1946 returning WWII veterans put up a popular candidate for Sheriff. On August 1 Sheriff Mansfield and 200 Â“deputiesÂ” stormed the post office polling place to take control of the ballot boxes wounding an objecting observer in the process. The veterans bearing military style weapons, laid siege to the SheriffÂ’s office demanding return of the ballot boxes for public counting of the votes as prescribed in Tennessee law. After exchange of gun fire and blowing open the locked doors, the veterans secured the ballot boxes thereby protecting the integrity of the election." History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme. - Mark Twain McMinn county residents had repeatedly complained to the Justice Dept. about crooked elections, but the Justice Dept. ignored them (BlacKKK Panthers at the polls, anyone?). The WWII vets carefully cleaned and returned the weapons they took from the armory before sunup (reminds me of those awful, racist Rethuglican Tea Baggers picking up their trash). I guess most of all it shows that maybe, just maybe, the founders knew what they were doing. "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Yea, funny how that works.

Posted by: Weirddave at November 03, 2013 10:21 AM (N/cFh)

105 I second the recommendation of "The Guns of August" by Tuchman

Tuchman is a very readable author but a very mediocre historian. She tells a good story, but her analysis is trite, almost childish in its superficiality. As an example, to understand why World War I happened, you need to follow, in detail, the diplomatic maneuvering in July. She devotes less than 14 lines of The Guns of August to that subject. The definitive book on that subject is McMeekin's July 1914: Countdown to War. It is also quite readable, by the way.

Posted by: HTL at November 03, 2013 10:29 AM (DV75s)

106 The reference to Tuchman's Guns of August reminded me of an incident when I was flying somewhere while reading a paperback book. A stewardess stopped by and asked "What are you reading?"

I replied: "The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman."

"Oh," she said brightly, "I saw the movie!"

Posted by: Ruthless at November 03, 2013 10:29 AM (mKRyJ)

107
Per a mention in a previous Sunday book thread, I read One Second After, (on my Kindle, of course). Good story....but it's basically Niven/Pournelle's Lucifer's Hammer rewritten with a different disaster. It's a good read, though it needs the attention of a good editor. The author ignores in large part technologies that would have come through an EMP attack unscathed, and damns his fictional U.S.A to a mortality rate of 90%.

I found the story unbelievable because the main character never realized that he could refrigerate insulin with an amonia/water refrigerator available from any RV, travel trailer, or junk yard. Another character in the story starts producing black powder, without any explanation of where he's getting sulfur, or potassium nitrate.

Phone lines are eventually restored with no mention of power generation. Ammo for common firearms exist in quantities to fight a rather major campaign...which is glossed over.

Overall, I found the story rushed, and all the 'would of', 'could of', and 'should of' repeats destroyed the story for me. There's nothing worse than being yanked out of a fictional fantasy universe by a prime character stating "If I could of, I would of!".

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at November 03, 2013 10:38 AM (0IhFx)

108 Larry Correia is DEFINITELY a moron. Definitley worth friending on facebook as well, some of his best lib mocking.

Posted by: kalel666 at November 03, 2013 12:31 PM (9xbt0)

109 On the endorsement of a Moron, I read "Forging Zero" by Sara King. I thought it started slow but it ended nicely. Followup was "Zero Recall", the only complaint I have is that the first book was at the beginning and the last book was at the end, and there is a whole lot of middle that is left unaccounted for.

Just downloaded Marko Kloos's latest short story, "Measures of Absolution" but I haven't started it yet. Marko is an author that I have followed on his blog for a while now (he wrote the legendary "Why the Gun is Civilization" that often gets credited to fictional Marine Maj. Brian Caudill) and I have enjoyed both of his books so far.

Off to work. Later roonz and roonettez!

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at November 03, 2013 01:36 PM (yh0zB)

110 It's a wonderful life living here in LA. Did I mention Open Carry is legal and no one cares when you're in a Waffle House at 0200 strapped?

Posted by: JB at November 04, 2013 05:13 AM (K/J3u)

111

"My brother has alerted me to Panzer Warfare on the Eastern Front, by Hans Schaufler, which is now available in a Kindle edition for $0."

dead