February 16, 2014
— Open Blogger
Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen Bookstore, Maastricht, Holland
Good morning morons and moronettes and welcome to AoSHQ's prestigious Sunday Morning Book Thread.
Great Bookstores
A book thread reader tipped me to this Business Insider article ,18 Bookstores Every Book Lover Must Visit At Least Once. Some of these look absolutely gorgeous. I was chiefly interested to see if one notably awesome bookstore made the list, and I was not disappointed.
Coming in at #18 is Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon. Started by Walter Powell in 1971, it has expanded into several locations, even when other bookstores were closing due to competitive pressure from the large chain bookstores and internet sales.
It is one of this country's most remarkable bookstores:
The "City of Books," as the four-story flagship store on West Burnside is known, occupies an entire city block, and carries more than one million books. The sixty-eight-thousand-square-foot space is divided into nine color-coded rooms, which together house more than 3,500 sections. From the moment you walk in, it feels as if you could find anything there. (And if you can't, try one of the seven branch stores in five other locations throughout Portland, specializing in everything from technical books to home and garden.)
If you're ever in Portland, you really need to visit Powell's. It's an amazing bookstore.
We have a bookstore down here in Eugene which I like to think of as sort of a Powell's mini-me: Smith Family Bookstore has survived for 35 years by selling (primarily) used books, particularly used college textbooks. There is no facility on the Smith Family web page for browsing their inventory, since none of it is online. You actually have to go there yourself. I kind of like that.
So I'm wondering if any of you morons have favorite local, independent bookstores nearby that have managed to survive the brutal competition of the last two decades.
Here are some more bookstores worthy of note.
Thanks to Chris for the tip.
You've Seen The TV Show, Now Read The Book
I don't know how many of you are watching the 'House of Cards' series on Netflix starring Kevin Spacey. I myself am a fan of the original BBC series with Ian Richardson as the conniving, power-obsessed politician that came out in 1990. Spacey is a good actor, but he doesn't match the robust malevolent glee of Richardson's Francis Urquhart.
That mini-series, however, was based on the novel 'House of Cards' by former Thatcher adviser Michael Dobbs, and originally published in 1989. For a modern book, it has been unusually hard to get a hold of. Until now. The Kindle edition of HoC is now available for purchase at the pleasantly surprising price of $6.15. Dobb's two sequels, "House of Cards: To Play the King" and "The Final Cut," will be made available later this year.
LibrerÃa El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Moron(ette) Recommendations
I get a lot of interesting book recommendations in other threads. For example, in one of the Amanda Knox threads earlier thie week, I caught this one:
For a more lighthearted look at Italy, there is always the John Grisham novel Playing for Pizza.
Its about a third string American quarterback on the Cleveland Browns who manages to turn in the single worse performance ever. The Browns cut him and no team in the US wants him. So his agent finds him an Italian team for him to play on - the Mighty Panthers of Parma.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 12, 2014 06:44 PM (4w7wl)
How about that? A Grisham novel that's not about sleazy, corrupt lawyers.
Amazon says:
The Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player—any former NFL player—at their helm. And now they’ve got Rick, who knows nothing about Parma (not even where it is) and doesn’t speak a word of Italian. To say that Italy—the land of fine wines, extremely small cars, and football americano—holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.
It's available on Kindle, too.
Heh:
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from John Grisham's The Litigators.
Aaaannd... we're back to our regularly scheduled program.
But remember, if you buy Playing For Pizza and it isn't very good, or it doesn't live up to your expectations, then Anna Puma (+SmuD) is to blame.
This gives me the perfect excuse to talk about my own favorite Grisham novel, The Testament. This is about an eccentric billionaire who changes his will right before he dies, cutting out all of his predatory, avaricious relatives and ex-wives who thought they'd soon be cashing in big time. Instead, he leaves his entire estate to someone he claims is his daughter by a woman no one has ever heard of. It turns out she is a missionary working somewhere in the Brazilian rainforest region, so the law firm that is settling the estate has to send one of their suits down there to find this Christian missionary, who cares nothing about money, and tell her that she has just inherited 11 billion dollars.
Now that's a great plot.
Also in this Kindle edition:
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from John Grisham's The Litigators.
Boy, they're really milking this Litigators thing, aren't they?
"To Protect (our interests) And Serve (our coffee)"
For the last few years, we've been seeing the variations of this scenario play out with depressing regularity all over the country:
1. Police shoot up some innocent civilians by mistake
2. No charges are filed
3. The police department sets up a police commission to investigate police misconduct
4. Said police commission exonerates police officers of any wrongdoing whatsoever
5. Local D.A. declines to prosecute
5. Case closed.
I used to be a pretty strident "law and order" guy who took the LE side pretty much all of the time, but after hearing, over and over again, these stories and no-knock-raid-gone-horribly-wrong stories, now I'm not so sure. And I'm not so much outraged that these horrendous situations can happen, but rather the irresponsible response of the government officials afterwards, which includes stonewalling, destruction of evidence, planting of phony evidence, filing false reports, intimidating witnesses, etc., is simply beyond belief. That they are so successful at evading responsibility in most of these cases is absolutely maddening. There was a particularly egregious example mentioned in the sidebar recently where two women were shot at 103 times by 8 police officers because they were delivering newspapers from a pickup truck that looked sort of like the one a suspected cop killer was last seen driving.
As you might guess, this was the Los Angeles Police Department, whose reputation for brutality and corruption is legendary.
So here is a book about the LAPD, written by a guy who was there. I saw it mentioned in the comments section of the sidebar article. LA Secret Police: Inside the LAPD Elite Spy Division by former LAPD officer Mike Rothmiller.
I haven't read this exposé, so I don't have an opinion of the quality of the evidence Rothmiller presents, if he has any, or if he is just telling the story as he saw it.
The Amazon blurb says
Detective Rothmiller...exposed the tentacles of corruption which reached to the highest levels within the LAPD and Washington D.C. It wasn’t long after that an assassin attempted to take his life. It was apparent to many that powerful forces wanted him silenced. Incredibly, in this book Detective Rothmiller names names! See why this book changed the LAPD and is required reading at many universities. As former Assistant United States Attorney Marvin Rudnick said, “Rothmiller was in a position to know. He did very sensitive work.”
And
[T]he ending of this book will shock you. Within the new epilogue is a multi-page essay written especially for this updated book by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Cay Johnston. In it he describes his personal experience as a target of Daryl Gates illegal intelligence operations while he served as a Los Angeles Times reporter. YouÂ’ll also read the challenge posed by detective Rothmiller to the LAPD. A challenge LAPD has refused to answer.
It's available on Kindle for $2.99. For that price, I'll read it.
What Is The Most Literate City In America?
According to a study conducted by Central Connecticut State University President John Miller and reported in this USA Today article, Washington DC is the highest out of 77 cities included in the study.
So how does Miller measure 'literacy'? The rankings are based on
data that include the number of bookstores, library resources, Internet use, educational levels and newspaper circulation.
But
[Miller] acknowledges that the study, which includes cities with populations of at least 250,000, measures quantity, not quality. "That's more subjective and harder to verify," he says.
So the top five are Washington, Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Pittsburgh. The bottom 8 are cities in two states: California and Texas.
Details of CCSU President Miller's study are posted here.
Heh. "Central Connecticut State University: Where Even The President Does Research."
___________
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
06:10 AM
| Comments (288)
Post contains 1585 words, total size 12 kb.
Posted by: PabloD at February 16, 2014 06:12 AM (Pi+kB)
Posted by: NCKate at February 16, 2014 06:13 AM (1FoIf)
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 06:15 AM (T2V/1)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 06:16 AM (30eLQ)
Amen! And almost all this BS is because of two things that are related. The insane war on drugs and the militarization of police. Both of these items need to go, along with no-knock raids.
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 06:17 AM (T2V/1)
Posted by: PabloD at February 16, 2014 06:18 AM (Pi+kB)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 06:18 AM (30eLQ)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 10:16 AM (30eLQ)
Yeah, one wonders why it wasn't on the "most liberal literate cities list.
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 06:20 AM (T2V/1)
"The Strand" store in NYC is also good. And I'm always up for Tattered Cover in Denver.
Houston didn't have a single bookstore - at least, not after the Bookstop on Shepherd became a Barnes and Noble and died (and the Bookstop was more a place for couples to meet and hookup anyway - or, er, so I heard). Houston does retain several fine Half Price Books though. You just have to drive from place to place to find something.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 06:22 AM (30eLQ)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 06:24 AM (30eLQ)
Posted by: BornLib at February 16, 2014 06:24 AM (m9Be5)
Posted by: Dr. Varno at February 16, 2014 06:26 AM (V4CBV)
Posted by: kalel666 at February 16, 2014 06:29 AM (RUR9F)
Posted by: rickl at February 16, 2014 06:31 AM (sdi6R)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 16, 2014 06:32 AM (zfY+H)
I read the first series and it was pretty good.
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 06:33 AM (T2V/1)
Yep, thugs don't frequent bookstores, even in times of riot, do they? Now a zombie thug may stumble into a bookstore in search of living flesh. I am about done reading 'gun, with occasional music' by Jonathan Lethem. When I get that one read, I 'll start 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union' by Michael Chabon.
Posted by: Erowmero at February 16, 2014 06:35 AM (OONaw)
Posted by: the littl shyning man at February 16, 2014 06:35 AM (tmFlQ)
Posted by: BornLib at February 16, 2014 06:36 AM (9UCVL)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 06:37 AM (30eLQ)
And then there was "Left Hand Books" in Boulder - closed due to lack of sales. BAHAHAH! I know, it's wrong of me.
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 06:40 AM (30eLQ)
Posted by: Lizzy at February 16, 2014 06:40 AM (POpqt)
2. No charges are filed
"Leave the guns to the professionals, I hear the leftards say.
Funny how the "amateurs" who own guns rarely shoot up a house full of innocent people by accident.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 16, 2014 06:41 AM (KGCtJ)
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 16, 2014 06:42 AM (o3MSL)
I also finished the autobiography of Anjelica Huston: "A Story Lately Told." Another odd one. It's brutally candid & she "left the warts in." Her father doesn't come off very well. I'd previously read John Huston's autobiography. The book by his daughter is largely consistent, although John H. did NOT "leave the warts in" as much.
If I had a chance to be born into a family of famous artists, I'd decline, thanks very much. John Huston died broke, btw, which offends the natural order of the universe. Rich people should NEVER die broke!
Posted by: mnw at February 16, 2014 06:44 AM (68RU9)
http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/k/kipling/rudyard/actions/chapter5.html
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 06:45 AM (30eLQ)
Posted by: rickl at February 16, 2014 06:45 AM (sdi6R)
Oops!
Maybe that's because the amateurs that own guns are very conscious of their responsibility, and know that the majesty of the state will be used against them if they use their weapons irresponsibly, unlike LEO shootings where the majesty of the state, funded by our tax dollars, is used to excuse LEO behavior.
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 16, 2014 06:46 AM (o3MSL)
Posted by: Judge Pug at February 16, 2014 06:47 AM (6Nj7A)
Posted by: votermom at February 16, 2014 06:47 AM (GSIDW)
Posted by: Gem at February 16, 2014 06:48 AM (zw+pb)
Also started the latest pot-boiler by W E B Griffin "Hazardous Duty". Same Griffin patented formulaic approach, but I find them entertaining.
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 16, 2014 06:52 AM (o3MSL)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 06:54 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Wyatt's Torch at February 16, 2014 06:54 AM (zxrQh)
Posted by: Harry at February 16, 2014 06:54 AM (cZdW1)
It doesn't hurt when you know the state will expend lots of money to ensure no LEO is convicted, you are part of a SWAT team, and your local police armory holds weapons worthy of being deployed against fully armed and equipped enemy battalions.
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 16, 2014 06:56 AM (o3MSL)
I'm not saying I didn't either.
This seems like the place to bring this up. I was rereading Countdown City* again this week and there's a part that really struck me this time. There's a supposed collaborative utopian society that's been set up at the University of New Hampshire. Needless to say, it turns out that there is a fairly strong contingent actually ruling everything behind the scenes. Our hero has a discussion with the girl in charge, and I use girl because she is maybe 20, who says point blank that all utopias end up in Jacobin violence and all she's trying to do is make sure the hanging don't start in the next 70 odd days before the world ends. It was such a breathtakingly cynical, not to mention accurate, depiction of the end point of all quasi utopian arrangements, not to mention how all purely collaborative systems are actually ruled by a tiny group with the actual power, that it made me want to grab various leftists that I know and shake them and say see, see, see this is what you get. This is how that story really ends.
I will say this, while I deeply enjoy the series, the hard eyed view of human nature can be difficult to read, especially since it's true.
*Second book in The Last Policeman series, the premise of the series is that an asteroid is going to hit and there's nothing that can be done. The books are nominally mysteries but are really about what happens to society in the months and days leading up to that event.
Posted by: alexthechick - oh great SMOD can you wait til curling's done at February 16, 2014 06:57 AM (Gk3SS)
Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at February 16, 2014 07:00 AM (icj4/)
The rats were a great touch.
Posted by: Retread at February 16, 2014 07:00 AM (cHwk5)
I haven't been in either since I got my Kindle.
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 07:02 AM (T2V/1)
Tattered Cover is fine, but not nearly as good as Powell's.
Posted by: Colorado Alex at February 16, 2014 07:02 AM (lr3d7)
Posted by: tomc at February 16, 2014 07:03 AM (avEuh)
Speaking of the LAPD, where can I find accurate information on Chief of Police William H. Parker? Was his tenure really the Golden Age of the LAPD? I looked for a video on him on YouTube and only came up with one by a certain Jasmyne Cannick, a black lesbian feminist who was in the news most recently by blaming Bill O'Reilly for the knockout game.
Posted by: Pete in TX at February 16, 2014 07:04 AM (8rdsZ)
Posted by: The Poster Formerly Knonw as Mr. Barky at February 16, 2014 07:04 AM (B1yrR)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars™ [/i] [/b] [/s] at February 16, 2014 07:05 AM (HsTG8)
Posted by: Emile Antoon Khadaji at February 16, 2014 07:07 AM (KvKOu)
Posted by: Mary at February 16, 2014 07:09 AM (2wZs/)
Do you really think so? I've never cought that in any of his books. In what way do you think Clancy was a lib?
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 07:09 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: Keena at February 16, 2014 07:11 AM (RiTnx)
HOC is one of those rare vehicles where I found the film (series) a lot better than the original book, fwiw.
Posted by: mnw at February 16, 2014 07:11 AM (68RU9)
Posted by: Pete in TX at February 16, 2014 07:12 AM (8rdsZ)
"Here are some more bookstores worthy of note."
Ah, but what of our dear departed friends, lost in the great bookstore crash of the last couple of decades?
The Change of Hobbit in Westwood CA near UCLA, later moving to Santa Monica before it's demise. In it's day, an anchor for the SF community in Los Angeles.
http://tinyurl.com/kx5p5ps
http://tinyurl.com/lkqxn2g
Also Dangerous Visions on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks, the SF hub for the Valley.
The Book Castle on the Golden Mall in Burbank, the Paperback Shack chain, spinner racks of paperbacks in every 7-11 and so on.
Gone, all gone.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 16, 2014 07:13 AM (kdS6q)
Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at February 16, 2014 07:15 AM (N/cFh)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 07:17 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: the littl shyning man at February 16, 2014 07:18 AM (tmFlQ)
Posted by: Trainer at February 16, 2014 07:18 AM (LfjBa)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 16, 2014 07:18 AM (chh9K)
Posted by: The Poster Formerly Knonw as Mr. Barky at February 16, 2014 07:19 AM (B1yrR)
Heh. Liberalism for thee, but not for me...
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 07:20 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: WalrusRex at February 16, 2014 07:21 AM (E+uky)
Posted by: Doug at February 16, 2014 07:21 AM (SKx+l)
Posted by: The Poster Formerly Knonw as Mr. Barky at February 16, 2014 07:22 AM (B1yrR)
Posted by: Pete in TX at February 16, 2014 11:12 AM (8rdsZ)
When I lived in Texas, I'm pretty sure I spent a small fortune on books from Half Price Books. I particularly enjoyed finding the old editions of books that ended up being 10-15 cents because the original book price was less than 50 cents, having been published before the 1970s.
Posted by: Mary at February 16, 2014 07:23 AM (2wZs/)
On the nightstand:
The Martian by Andy Weir
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.
Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.
After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.
Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.
But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?
Publisher site with look inside preview: http://tinyurl.com/kjsk795
EW Review: http://tinyurl.com/mvjl3a2
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 16, 2014 07:24 AM (kdS6q)
Posted by: Cycomiko66 at February 16, 2014 07:24 AM (x/MmU)
Posted by: The Poster Formerly Knonw as Mr. Barky at February 16, 2014 07:25 AM (B1yrR)
Posted by: McDirty at February 16, 2014 07:26 AM (Vytzp)
Politics and Prose is a bit more gussied up now than I remember it being -it used to (and undoubtably still is) a hard-core leftist hangout.
Many years ago, a man I knew in DC owned so many books he decided to open a used bookstore on Capitol Hill, right across from Eastern Market. The bookstore, Capitol Hill books is, I believe still there, but now under different ownership, since Bill died in his sleep one night in 1994. At the time, I occasionally held down the fort there on Saturday mornings for him, since that is when he liked to run around to estate sales to find more books. It was a very pleasant way to spend Saturday mornings - sitting behind the desk with a book and coffee, chatting with the regulars when they came in. I rememeber the bane of Bill's life were the women who left bags of romance novels at the front door - he accepted donations, but refused to sell romance novels, but people donated them anyway.
My favorite bookstores are not massive. They're the cozy quiet little neighborhood holes-in-the-wall spots like Capitol Hill books, which don't take long to browse through, the owner is usually the one behind the counter and your receipt is hand-written. You just might find some interesting book you've never heard of before. Sadly, those types of bookstores are becoming rarer.
Posted by: Donna V. at February 16, 2014 07:27 AM (R3gO3)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 07:27 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Emile Antoon Khadaji at February 16, 2014 07:28 AM (CrJzY)
I just started "The Americans." It's very good-- and no Hollywood left snark about the RR years whatsoever, to my surprise. I'm using Americans as methadone while I kick my Breaking Bad addiction-- until the spinoff "Better Call Saul" starts.
I don't disagree with you about the new HOC-- I just feel I've done that already..
Posted by: mnw at February 16, 2014 07:28 AM (68RU9)
Posted by: WalrusRex at February 16, 2014 07:29 AM (E+uky)
Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at February 16, 2014 07:29 AM (icj4/)
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at February 16, 2014 07:29 AM (1htQa)
http://tinyurl.com/naqnn3x
In regards to self-financing to self-publish your literary creation, Kickstarter suffered a security breach last week.
https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/important-kickstarter-security-notice
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 16, 2014 07:30 AM (chh9K)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 07:31 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars™ [/i] [/b] [/s] at February 16, 2014 07:31 AM (HsTG8)
Posted by: votermom at February 16, 2014 07:31 AM (GSIDW)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 07:33 AM (M/TDA)
Amen! We have a children's bookstore here in Denver called Bookies that was started by some teachers. It has an unbelievable selection (cramped, overstuffed floor to ceiling shelves) because they cater to teachers and homeschoolers in addition to having the regular kids bookstore stuff. The bonus is a a 10% discount for using cash. Easy place to lose an hour or so.
Posted by: Lizzy at February 16, 2014 07:36 AM (POpqt)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 07:36 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Doug at February 16, 2014 07:40 AM (SKx+l)
I read William Goldman's autobio. He clearly considered Princess to be his best film. I thought it was his worst. Boring & unwatchable.
Posted by: mnw at February 16, 2014 07:40 AM (68RU9)
The first season of The Americans IS out on DVD. That's what I've been watching. Keri Russell isn't hard on the eyes, btw.
Posted by: mnw at February 16, 2014 07:42 AM (68RU9)
Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at February 16, 2014 07:42 AM (icj4/)
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 11:09 AM (fTJ5O)
You notice a lot of subtle hints about "bad" Republicans and good Democrats. A few other things that crop up from time to time. It is not as blatant and repetitive as Eric Flint's union push, but it is still there.
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 07:42 AM (T2V/1)
Posted by: PaleRider at February 16, 2014 07:43 AM (FYUWS)
Posted by: Doug at February 16, 2014 07:44 AM (SKx+l)
Posted by: mnw at February 16, 2014 07:44 AM (68RU9)
Posted by: Buckeye Katie at February 16, 2014 07:45 AM (1M/xn)
Sam Houston Kelligan is the son of a Texas oil tycoon. But his dream is to reach Mars. So he pits himself against others to be on the crew to land on Mars. Disaster strikes the crew of Ares at every step of the way. Two of the crew hijack the ship after they reach Mars and try to go back to Earth, leaving Sam and his companions stranded on a hostile Mars with barely any supplies. Meanwhile back on Earth, Sam's long time rival parleys the Ares disaster into buying cheap Mars Authority and proceeds to turn it into a ponzi scheme. Can Sam and his comrades somehow convert their lander into a vehicle for Sam to get back to Earth so a rescue mission can be launched?
http://tinyurl.com/nnlkqo3
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 16, 2014 07:45 AM (chh9K)
Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at February 16, 2014 07:46 AM (N/cFh)
Posted by: Anachronda at February 16, 2014 07:47 AM (U82Km)
It figures that the only Grisham book I've read is a non-lawyer one. Kind of like the only Louis L'Amour novel I've read is a science-fiction western.
Posted by: HH at February 16, 2014 07:49 AM (XXwdv)
Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at February 16, 2014 07:50 AM (icj4/)
On another note, just finished reading a book that billed itself (in a really hamfisted fashion) as a "Modern Count of Monte Cristo." Every once in a while I come across books like this and since I love the classic, I almost always read them.
This one sucked. Lots of naval gazing. ("But WHY did his friends betray him!??" -the author is practically whining this the whole book) Not nearly enough creative, long-term revenge that made the first one so satisfying. Plus the characters were boring as hell.
So I'm not going to recommend that one.
But I WILL recommend this one --> "A Prisoner of Birth" by Jeffery Archer
It has what the other book was lacking without being a sad clone of the classic. AND it contained very satisfying conclusion to boot. It's worth the read.
Posted by: Book at February 16, 2014 07:51 AM (qWES6)
Yeah, DC Literacy, I don't think it means what that researcher thinks it means.
I am lost in kid world in reading, because....kids. Currently 'Arnie the Doughnut'. But just as soon as that 26 hour day comes along, I'll be a book reading machine.
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at February 16, 2014 07:51 AM (n0DEs)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 16, 2014 07:52 AM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Buckeye Katie at February 16, 2014 07:53 AM (1M/xn)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 07:53 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 11:09 AM (fTJ5O)
You notice a lot of subtle hints about "bad" Republicans and good Democrats. A few other things that crop up from time to time. It is not as blatant and repetitive as Eric Flint's union push, but it is still there.
___
You're kidding, right? I got the exact opposite impression.
Posted by: Book at February 16, 2014 07:55 AM (qWES6)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 16, 2014 07:56 AM (chh9K)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 16, 2014 11:52 AM (RZ8pf)
OOH! Thanks for the recommendation. Books for boys 'of a certain age' are really hard to pin down.
Posted by: Book at February 16, 2014 07:57 AM (qWES6)
She said, "books are like old friends. Even if you don't ever re-read it, it's always nice to have them around." I agree. Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at February 16, 2014 11:50 AM (icj4/)
To say nothing of aiding you in online arguments. I can't remember how many times I've grabbed a Paul Johnson history off the shelf to refute some lefty nonsense about Reagan or Christianity or the wonderfulness of Che. Adds a bit more weight to your argument if you can say, "on page 277..." rather than quoting wiki.
Posted by: Donna V. at February 16, 2014 08:01 AM (R3gO3)
Posted by: Book at February 16, 2014 11:55 AM (qWES6)
Not kidding. I didn't pick up on it the first couple of time because I was concentrating so much on the "story". I am seeing it now. YOMV
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 08:01 AM (T2V/1)
In book news, religions of peace breaking out all over:
Penguin Books India agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of The Hindus: An Alternative History, by the US-based academic Wendy Doniger, as part of a settlement after a group of Hindu conservative nationalists filed a case against the publisher.
Penguin's decision not to fight the case has worried many authors. In a statement, Doniger said she was "deeply troubled Â… for free speech in India in the present, and steadily worsening, political climate" but also "glad that, in the age of the internet, it is no longer possible to suppress a book."
Penguin refused to comment on Thursday.
http://tinyurl.com/ojxpfpw
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 16, 2014 08:01 AM (kdS6q)
Posted by: Book at February 16, 2014 08:02 AM (qWES6)
Posted by: Buckeye Katie at February 16, 2014 08:03 AM (1M/xn)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 16, 2014 08:03 AM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 08:05 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at February 16, 2014 08:06 AM (icj4/)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 16, 2014 08:06 AM (chh9K)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 16, 2014 08:07 AM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 08:07 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Anachronda at February 16, 2014 08:08 AM (U82Km)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 16, 2014 08:09 AM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Gem at February 16, 2014 08:09 AM (zw+pb)
Posted by: Megthered at February 16, 2014 08:09 AM (iR4Dg)
Clancy was pretty solidly a Republican. Or at least a Libertarian leaning Republican.
Posted by: Book
He actually considered running as a Republican against Mikulski for the Maryland Senate seat.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 16, 2014 08:09 AM (kdS6q)
Posted by: Book at February 16, 2014 08:10 AM (qWES6)
Yes. WWI steampunk is a sub-genre called dieselpunk.
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 08:11 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 16, 2014 08:13 AM (XyM/Y)
He actually considered running as a Republican against Mikulski for the Maryland Senate seat.
__
Oh... that would have been fantastic. Drat.
Posted by: Book at February 16, 2014 08:13 AM (qWES6)
Posted by: Phil in Houston at February 16, 2014 08:13 AM (CbMSv)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 08:13 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at February 16, 2014 08:13 AM (icj4/)
Posted by: dirks strewn at February 16, 2014 08:14 AM (77F0w)
Posted by: biancaneve at February 16, 2014 08:14 AM (2sR50)
Posted by: Gem at February 16, 2014 08:15 AM (zw+pb)
Posted by: biancaneve at February 16, 2014 08:17 AM (2sR50)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 08:17 AM (M/TDA)
The last three books that I bought at Smith's were the The C.S. Lewis science fiction trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength.
:wq!
Posted by: Insert Clever Name Here at February 16, 2014 08:17 AM (SS8WM)
??
I wasn't aware that anyone was insulting me.
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 08:17 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 16, 2014 08:18 AM (XyM/Y)
Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at February 16, 2014 08:18 AM (icj4/)
:wq!
- I read those as a teenager- fantastic series.
Posted by: Book at February 16, 2014 08:20 AM (qWES6)
So true! There was an air of sly wit in that one that Kevin Spacey does not reach. And Robyn Wright is a tad too one-note portentous.
I hope Netflix has it....
Posted by: PJ at February 16, 2014 08:21 AM (ZWaLo)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 08:21 AM (M/TDA)
It actually was a good place for us to raise our kids, believe it or not. There are many conservatives here, homeschoolers, etc. We're not totally isolated.
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 08:22 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 08:23 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: grammie winger at February 16, 2014 08:24 AM (oMKp3)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 16, 2014 08:24 AM (XyM/Y)
Posted by: Doug at February 16, 2014 08:24 AM (SKx+l)
We listened to Playing for Pizza on audio book. It was very cute and enjoyable. Just light reading, but enjoyably it was just that.
If you are looking for an audio book that hubby & wife can both enjoy I'd recommend it. The beginning where the QB screws up is just excruciating, you can really picture it in your mind.
Thanks for the recommendation of "The Laughing Policeman" that is something I always meant to read, so I'll look for it after I finally finish SLOGGING through War & Peace.
Posted by: jocon307 at February 16, 2014 08:26 AM (g3T5+)
Posted by: grammie winger at February 16, 2014 08:28 AM (oMKp3)
Posted by: Lincolntf at February 16, 2014 08:30 AM (ZshNr)
Posted by: HR at February 16, 2014 08:31 AM (hO8IJ)
Oh, right. Dang, I'm slow...
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 08:32 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 16, 2014 08:33 AM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at February 16, 2014 08:38 AM (Z6IPg)
Posted by: Lauren at February 16, 2014 08:38 AM (hFL/3)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at February 16, 2014 08:39 AM (chh9K)
Posted by: Lauren at February 16, 2014 08:39 AM (hFL/3)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 16, 2014 08:39 AM (XyM/Y)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 08:39 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: RWC at February 16, 2014 08:41 AM (gWJqs)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 16, 2014 08:41 AM (XyM/Y)
Posted by: Law of Self Defense at February 16, 2014 08:43 AM (8gaTv)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 16, 2014 08:44 AM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 08:45 AM (M/TDA)
Speaking of which, apparently my sisters' oldest daughter has co-authored a book and gotten a deal with a major publishing company. And she got a quite large advance for the book, or if I understood it correctly, a series of books.
So good for her.
Posted by: HH at February 16, 2014 08:45 AM (XXwdv)
Posted by: Lauren at February 16, 2014 08:49 AM (hFL/3)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlinSeattle at February 16, 2014 08:49 AM (RZ8pf)
OMG, best-selling author Andrew Branca is in da house!!!
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 08:49 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 08:51 AM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: Lauren at February 16, 2014 08:51 AM (hFL/3)
Posted by: Jean at February 16, 2014 08:57 AM (4JkHl)
Posted by: Mary at February 16, 2014 08:57 AM (2wZs/)
Lots of interesting books, too.
Posted by: Jules ( turning Chinese ) at February 16, 2014 08:59 AM (omBWL)
I was in a bookstore in Belgium, it had been in business, in the same location, since before the Revolution. Sobering.
Posted by: Jean at February 16, 2014 09:00 AM (4JkHl)
Every week :^)-spouse and son.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 16, 2014 12:39 PM (XyM/Y)
Every week, sometimes twice a week. Tulsa is blessed to have an absolutely fabulous award winning library system. One of the top ten library systems in the US. It is extremely well funded by both private and public money. When I traveled in my job for six years, I made it a point to get to each city's library, and I was always so pleased to see how favorably Tulsa's City County Library system "stacked" up. This is my library, built by one of Tulsa's biggest builders, Roger Hardesty. http://www.tulsalibrary.org/hardesty-regional-library He recently added a children's theater, Connor's Cove, to it, there on the left side with the yellow sail.
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, think mink. at February 16, 2014 09:01 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 10:18 AM (30eLQ)
Agreed. When Campbell tries to write about either politics or introduce a romantic element, his results are on a par with Weber (i.e. very forced and unnatural). Fortunately, every single book in that series (The Lost Fleet) has a couple of good battles to enjoy. The next series, Beyond the Frontier, is also very good, at least so far.
Posted by: CQD at February 16, 2014 09:03 AM (L9te5)
I thought that ended?
Posted by: Jean at February 16, 2014 01:01 PM (4JkHl)
Nope, still open, even in a foot of snow.
Posted by: Mary at February 16, 2014 09:06 AM (2wZs/)
Posted by: grammie winger at February 16, 2014 09:10 AM (oMKp3)
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, think mink. at February 16, 2014 09:10 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: grammie winger at February 16, 2014 01:10 PM (oMKp3)
One of my favorite things too. I used to have to fill out these little pink slips to do it, now a few clicks on the the library's web site and it's done....ah progress.
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, think mink. at February 16, 2014 09:12 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: goldilocks at February 16, 2014 09:13 AM (ez1qi)
Anyway, if you are the type of person who likes to read cook books for fun, or if you just like Nigella in general (sorry 'rons, no cleavage shots within. Actually, no pictures of any kind.) I think you'd probably enjoy it. Posted by: Lauren at February 16, 2014 12:38 PM (hFL/3)
I do like cookbooks like that, thanks for the tip, Lauren.
I have a good one called "The Old World Kitchen: The Rich Tradition of European Peasant Cooking" that has a lot of ancedotes and information about how European cuisines developed from very humble peasant dishes. The recipes themselves have tons of fat and lard in them (and please, anti-carb people don't tell me that fat and lard don't make you fat - unlike the peasants, we are not plowing from dawn til dusk.) It's interesting to me to see the roots of the master recipes of French and Italian haute cuisines.
Posted by: Donna V. at February 16, 2014 09:15 AM (R3gO3)
Posted by: waelse1 at February 16, 2014 09:18 AM (p9wR8)
Ever see 'The Last Man on Earth'?
First version of the novel, starring Vincent Price and filmed in Italy. Spooky film...
Posted by: HH at February 16, 2014 09:21 AM (XXwdv)
Posted by: That SOB van Owen at February 16, 2014 09:25 AM (8bBsO)
Posted by: Lauren at February 16, 2014 09:26 AM (hFL/3)
Posted by: Rolf at February 16, 2014 09:26 AM (+O7nZ)
Posted by: Doug at February 16, 2014 09:27 AM (SKx+l)
Posted by: huerfano at February 16, 2014 09:28 AM (bAGA/)
Posted by: McDirty at February 16, 2014 11:26 AM (Vytzp)
Agreed. I can't spend a lot of time in there because they have a mold and mildew issue in the sections that have carpet. Do you go to Steve's Sundries over on Harvard? Do you live in Tulsa or somewhere close?
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, think mink. at February 16, 2014 09:29 AM (kXoT0)
Regarding what I read, I actually finished two books this week. The first was The Aeneid by Virgil and translated by Robert Fagles which I read for the book group. I really enjoyed it although I had to be in a certain mood to make headway in it otherwise it could be a slog. The ending fights between the Trojans and the Latins was an amazing onslaught of pure carnage as Aeneas and Turnus cut wide swaths through everybody else like WWE stars going through an undercard before finally meeting. I swear Turnus was a model for Ric Flair because after slattering tons of other people in very graphic terms, when Aeneas was ready to do the same to him he starts begging for mercy to which Aeneas said fuck that shit when he saw the sword of Pallas and ran his ass through. Good read which provoked a lot of discussion. Next book group selection is "Death in the Family" by James Agee.
Also fininshed "Winter's Bone" by Daniel Woodrell, which I'd seen the movie for and wanted to see how the book compared to it. Amazingly there wasn't much missing in the movie. I think that in the book Uncle Teardrop was presented in a more humane manner than the woman-smacking meth-snorting hilljack trash he was presented as in the movie. He was still all of the above in the book but came to Ree's defense a bit more willingly than I remember in the movie, assuming my mind isn't playing tricks on me. Anyway it was an extremely good book but maybe a notch below "Give Us a Kiss" which concentrated on the members of another family but got the point across that the Dolly family was a collection of mongrel human garbage. Maybe I didn't enjoy this quite as much because I knew what was gonna happen because of seeing the movie. Anyhoo both of the books are highly recommended.
Made some headway in "The Red Fortress" where they laid out how Ivan the Terrible began to deserve that appellation late in life as he seemed to lose his fucking mind and acted extremely erratically.
Finished a chapter in Gibbon where he dealt with how the Rooskis interacted with the Byzantine empire after they did some major ass kicking under Swatoslaus at the expense of Nicephorus; then John Zimisces took over and said "enough of this Rooski shit" and pretty much laid waste to all the areas they controlled until they retreated. They also converted the Rooskis to Christianity which Gibbon makes his usual snarky comments like a fucking dhimmi. I'm now one chapter from the end of Volume 5 which has been a major undertaking.
Posted by: Captain Hate at February 16, 2014 09:32 AM (hylEe)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 09:37 AM (m5+rk)
We had a situation about 4 years ago where a patron dropped bed-bug infested books in the overnight book drop (several times) at the main branch of the Denver Public library, and they ended up having to destroy thousands of infected books. The worst part was they wanted to suspend the guy's library card (he was quite unrepentant about the whole thing) but he raised a stink and they let him continue checking out books. Took a long break from the library after that.
Posted by: Lizzy at February 16, 2014 09:37 AM (POpqt)
Posted by: FCF at February 16, 2014 09:38 AM (Khja4)
Posted by: Doug at February 16, 2014 01:27 PM (SKx+l)
Does your library list pre-publication items? I request books the library has ordered. The Tulsa library uses the WowBray service, http://www.wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?p=2362--GEN&more. You might mention it to your library system.
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, think mink. at February 16, 2014 09:38 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: waelse1 at February 16, 2014 09:39 AM (p9wR8)
Posted by: Dorcus Blimeline at February 16, 2014 09:39 AM (iB0Q2)
Posted by: J. Random Dude at February 16, 2014 09:39 AM (8OfdL)
Posted by: Mustbequantum at February 16, 2014 09:43 AM (MIKMs)
Posted by: Lizzy at February 16, 2014 01:37 PM (POpqt)
I truly don't understand that about our society, someone gets their well-deserved consequence for their actions, but they make noise and those in authority positions (including judges) cave in even though that person was in the wrong. Why? So screwed up.
Posted by: [/i][/b]KG at February 16, 2014 09:44 AM (IPz9m)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 16, 2014 10:32 AM (zfY+H)
Shorey's then moved up to Fremont, and eventually closed that location as well, saying that they would still be selling books online. But what used to be their website is gone too, now. They may still be selling books on Abe or through Amazon (actually the same thing since Amazon bought Abebooks a while ago), but in terms of an independent identity they are gone.
Near their final location, on Stone Way, however, is a trio of bookstores that occupy a common building and between the three have a pretty good selection for browsing. Collectively they are known as the Seattle Book Center, and the place is worth a visit. One is a general bookstore, another more of a nautical and military store, and the third handles fiction.
Berkeley used to have a great set of bookstores near campus (Moe's, Shakespeare & Co., etc.) but I have no idea if they are still there because I haven't visited in years. Chicago also had four great bookstores on 57th. near the campus of the University of Chicago, but again, I haven't been there in years. One was also called Powell's but was no relation to the one in Portland.
All of my favorite bookstores in downtown San Francisco and San Diego are gone, although in La Jolla (technically part of the City of San Diego) there is one, D.G. Wills, that has been great for browsing for the last 30 years, and is definitely still in business.
Used bookstores and Abebooks have a symbiotic relationship. If I hear about a book that I want I go to Abe and usually have a wide selection of choices available to me, all from bookstores around the country. So that helps keep them in business for those occasions when I just want to browse and see if I run across something that I did not know I wanted. A great way to spend an afternoon.
Posted by: CQD at February 16, 2014 09:44 AM (L9te5)
Posted by: Obnoxious A Hole at February 16, 2014 09:44 AM (TKk/U)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 09:46 AM (m5+rk)
Posted by: Vashta Nerada at February 16, 2014 09:56 AM (/i3Yt)
Either a bad experience if you weren't aware, or a quite entertaining one if you were.
Posted by: HH at February 16, 2014 09:58 AM (XXwdv)
Started out very young going with my mother. The later by myself. We only lived about half a mile from there if I took shortcuts. During the summer I was checking out 8 or 10 books a week. It is a museum now for the city.
http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles33739.jpg
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 09:59 AM (T2V/1)
Posted by: russian toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 09:59 AM (yMRjq)
Posted by: russian toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 10:01 AM (yMRjq)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 10:02 AM (yMRjq)
Posted by: Buckeye Katie at February 16, 2014 10:04 AM (1M/xn)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 10:05 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at February 16, 2014 10:06 AM (Dwehj)
Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at February 16, 2014 10:08 AM (Dwehj)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 10:08 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 10:09 AM (l4SC+)
Posted by: Weirddave at February 16, 2014 10:13 AM (N/cFh)
Posted by: Boss Moss at February 16, 2014 10:15 AM (6bMeY)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 10:15 AM (l4SC+)
Posted by: Boss Moss at February 16, 2014 10:17 AM (6bMeY)
Posted by: goldilocks at February 16, 2014 10:17 AM (ez1qi)
Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at February 16, 2014 10:18 AM (Dwehj)
Posted by: Brother Cavil at February 16, 2014 10:22 AM (m9V0o)
Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at February 16, 2014 10:22 AM (Dwehj)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 10:28 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Captain Hate at February 16, 2014 10:31 AM (hylEe)
Posted by: Captain Hate at February 16, 2014 01:32 PM (hylEe)
If you are up to Nikephorus Phokas and John Tzimiskes you have progressed about 800 years in your project to get through all of Decline and Fall. Makes my eyes hurt just to think about it. After you have finished with Gibbon (who is neither the most readable nor the most definitive, although by far the longest), you might want to consider John Julius Norwich's three-volume history of the Byzantine Empire (The Early Centures, The Apogee, and Decline and Fall), which is by far the most entertaining series of books ever written on the subject.
Posted by: CQD at February 16, 2014 10:32 AM (L9te5)
Posted by: Richard McEnroe at February 16, 2014 10:32 AM (XO6WW)
Posted by: Nuclear SUV at February 16, 2014 10:34 AM (KGgBy)
Posted by: CQD at February 16, 2014 02:32 PM (L9te5)
Preaching to the congregation, Brother; I loved that series and it piqued my interest to discover more. I thought it was written in an extremely engaging style.
Posted by: Captain Hate at February 16, 2014 10:37 AM (hylEe)
Posted by: waelse1 at February 16, 2014 10:38 AM (cwuc2)
Posted by: grammie winger at February 16, 2014 10:38 AM (oMKp3)
Posted by: grammie winger at February 16, 2014 10:39 AM (oMKp3)
I love Half Price Books, and have visited every store in the Cincinnati area at least once, with the two west-side stores being old friends. 
A Cincinnati-area chain, The Paperback Rack, was responsible for helping me stock my shelves some years ago. They have no stores near me right now, which is probably for the best since I am running short on shelf space (again). Posted by: exdem13 at February 16, 2014 10:40 AM (lJaja)
Posted by: kbdabear at February 16, 2014 10:44 AM (aTXUx)
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 16, 2014 10:46 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 16, 2014 10:46 AM (u82oZ)
Posted by: Lauren at February 16, 2014 10:47 AM (hFL/3)
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 16, 2014 10:48 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 16, 2014 10:48 AM (l4SC+)
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 16, 2014 10:50 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: Sabrina Chase at February 16, 2014 10:53 AM (2buaQ)
Posted by: grammie winger at February 16, 2014 10:59 AM (oMKp3)
Posted by: Captain Hate at February 16, 2014 02:37 PM (hylEe)
Norwich is so entertaining that I have seriously considered reading some of his other books, even though they deal with subjects that I am not particularly interested in.
Posted by: CQD at February 16, 2014 11:00 AM (L9te5)
A Prayer for the Devil by Dale Allen has laughably amateurish writing, stereotypical characters, weak settings (set around Boston, where I live, but it seems the author has only a passing familiarity with the area), heavy handed injections of the author's conservative political and religious views, plot flaws both large and small, and a conclusion with far too many loose ends (pretty clearly hoping to set up a sequel). I would recommend giving this book a good leaving alone.
Posted by: cool breeze at February 16, 2014 11:00 AM (A+/8k)
Denver's local Tattered Cover stores are also impressive, but Powell's just blows them away.
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 16, 2014 11:01 AM (/96QU)
The Great Courses (which I found out about from a Maggie's Farm commenter) are wonderful - well, at least the one on "How to Listen to and Understand Great Music." The lecturer, Robert Greenberg, is a lot of fun and I'm enjoying the music, since I like classical music but don't know much about it. The "Food: A Cultural Culinary History" one had it's interesting moments, but the lecturer (an obvious lefty) annoyed me. I want to get some more music and history and lit ones - they're expensive at full price, but they have a lot of sales.
The only annoying thing is that I seem to get a catalog from them every 2 days now.
Posted by: Donna V. at February 16, 2014 11:01 AM (R3gO3)
Posted by: huerfano at February 16, 2014 01:28 PM (bAGA/)
Two weeks in a row now that Dunnett's name has come up on the book thread. Amazing to me as I've been a fan forever. If you like her Niccolo series try the Lymond Chronicles, which I like even better. Only a very mild spoiler: the two series tie together.
I've read all but the newest Bernard Cornwell and much as I like his Saxon series, Sharpe is my favorite. I recommend them if you haven't read them yet.
Posted by: Retread at February 16, 2014 11:02 AM (cHwk5)
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 16, 2014 11:04 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: God to Kent at February 16, 2014 11:06 AM (yac39)
Also, Title Wave in Anchorage, in the old Montgomery Wards mall. They have punchcards so you earn rewards. And they have everything, somewhere, if you look. Great kids books, too.
Posted by: tcn at February 16, 2014 11:07 AM (fwcEs)
Posted by: Beer Ninja at February 16, 2014 11:14 AM (598AG)
Posted by: garrett at February 16, 2014 11:16 AM (XUBfI)
Posted by: cool breeze at February 16, 2014 11:16 AM (A+/8k)
Posted by: DC in Towson at February 16, 2014 11:19 AM (eQJwb)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 11:20 AM (M/TDA)
Posted by: Fox2! at February 16, 2014 11:22 AM (cHwSy)
Hmm. Impression I've gotten from reading her blog is that she very well might not have pants on herself when she comes over here.
Posted by: Anachronda at February 16, 2014 11:31 AM (U82Km)
Posted by: Tuna at February 16, 2014 03:20 PM (M/TDA)
I'll bet you make Bernard happy just as you are.
Posted by: Retread at February 16, 2014 11:44 AM (cHwk5)
Just got off the phone with Port Book and News, here in Port Angeles. Ordered two armfuls of books. All items will be delivered tomorrow by Alan, the owner, to my current residence at convalescent hospital several miles away.
Our town as also has another fine indie book store, The Odyssey. Neither are Powells, but for our small town, are blessings. Ordered S from them.
Posted by: Hammersmith Police at February 16, 2014 12:09 PM (vO+By)
Posted by: John the Baptist at February 16, 2014 12:23 PM (Xs981)
Chamblin Bookmine in Jacksonville, FL. I've only been to the one under the bridge on 17, from what I understand they opened another. Paperback Exchange, if you like those sorts of places (I do, very much) in Virginia Beach, on Holland RD in the Timberlake Shopping Center. I don't know if the Exchange is still there, but they used to get quite a bit of my money.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 16, 2014 12:25 PM (yh0zB)
But I spent my money at Half Price Books on Guadalupe. Hours and hours just going section by section. I curated my 'Conan' collection there and that, as I am sure you are all aware, is a daunting task.
Posted by: CozMark at February 16, 2014 12:27 PM (dm7Ev)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at February 16, 2014 12:31 PM (yh0zB)
She is the charmer who said, "The only thing conservative about Forrest Gump is his retardedness."
Posted by: Epobirs at February 16, 2014 12:37 PM (bPxS6)
"Ah, but what of our dear departed friends, lost in the great bookstore crash of the last couple of decades?"
Did you ever get down to Long Beach? Used to be an absolute mecca for used bookstores, with the flagship being Acres of Books. I cried like an actual baby when they finally closed.
Posted by: Tammy al-Thor
Yeah, did actually. Quite a trek from where I used to live. There was a store down there, right by a stained glass shop, that used to have an amazing stock of first eds/pre pub hardbacks for pocket change. They must have had a reviewer living in the area who was dumping off his stuff after he was done with them.
Got a first ed of Wolf.s Who Censored Rodget Rabbit that still had the publisher's letter inside for almost nothing. Worth a couple of hundred nowadays.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 16, 2014 12:55 PM (kdS6q)
Try the Skullduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy. Although the central character is female, these are not soppy teen romances. The closest they come to Twilight territory is very much in the anti position with vampires being loathsome monsters.
The title character is a sorcerous warrior who was not stopped by being killed in battle, instead continuing on as a skeleton taking on the role of detective in the secret world of magic users. The POV character is twelve in the first book and ages as the series continues with her as Skullduggery's apprentice, turning eighteen at the beginning of the eighth book.
Posted by: Epobirs at February 16, 2014 12:58 PM (bPxS6)
Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at February 16, 2014 12:58 PM (a5ljo)
It began, I believe in the 90s, for two reasons:
1) Federal government willingness to subsidize and arm up local cops with military hardware at little, or no cost; and
2) A profoundly changed institutional mindset that "Officer Safety" trumps public service.
The 1st, makes local police beholden to federal authorities, weakening local control;
The second: any means justifies the ends. Shoot grandma in er bed and her dog at her side at the wrong address, no problem as long as Officer Friendly gets home to a hot meal at end of watch.
Folks relying on local police to protect 2nd Amendment rights might consider Chiefs of Police are often appointed by liberal local administrations. Rural Sheriffs are, in my experience, most likely RTKBA friendly.
I will be pleased as punch to be told my generalizations are the stuff one puts on a lawn to make it green. In the meantime, I am not a fan of those who protect revenue streams and maim folks minding their own business.
If asked the question: "Do you support the overthrow of the government through force or violence?" I vote door number one. Violence is icky.
Thanks for the book thread. Best regards to all.
Posted by: Hammersmith Police at February 16, 2014 01:01 PM (vO+By)
Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at February 16, 2014 01:08 PM (a5ljo)
Posted by: Epobirs at February 16, 2014 01:14 PM (bPxS6)
1. They have definite harm in that Obama has usurped the powers of congress in violation of the consitution - harm met
2. He is directly time to the harm as he is the one who performed the action that caused the harm - second requirement met
3. The supreme court has the power to mitigate and correct the harm by ordering the President to cease and desist and rule all of the autocratic actions perform by Obama null and void
But the liberal and swing justices one ruled in the past that congress had the power to impeach, therefore action by the supreme court was nit needed. That is probably what Lee is worried about.
The thing is, that ruling was based on NOTHING, that is not a requirement under the federal rules of standing.
In addition Lee said there was NOTHING congress can do short of impeachment.
Yes there is
Cut off his money. ALL of it. But the GOP is worried about bad press from the MFM. STUPID
They can continue to hold his corrupt minions in criminal contempt until all of them are indicted.
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 01:48 PM (T2V/1)
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 01:49 PM (T2V/1)
Just West of Acres of Book was Sherlock's Home. Loved sitting in wing-back chair scanning mysteries for purchase. Buddy and I used to take actual policeman's holidays at AoB and Sherlock's Home, then repair to a beer joint down the street to compare new treasures. Early to mid-80s if I remember correctly.
Posted by: Hammersmith Police at February 16, 2014 01:49 PM (vO+By)
That reminds me -- couple three years ago, I heard an NPR reporter interviewing some researcher who claimed that she could predict whether a person was a liberal or a conservative just by measuring the startle reflex (however that's done). Her research showed her that with conservatives, it took a lot less stimulation to trigger the reflex.
Oh, brother. I was getting ready to roll my eyes when I heard the following exchange:
NPR reporter: "But that just plays into the stereotype that conservatives are scaredy-cats."
Researcher: "Yes, but it could also mean that conservatives just know more."
Afterwards, I realized that this was like sighting a rare bird: an NPR news report that made an attempt to be even-handed.
BTW, I have no idea what happened with this research, if it was any good or not.
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 16, 2014 01:58 PM (fTJ5O)
Posted by: All Hail Eris at February 16, 2014 02:34 PM (QBm1P)
Posted by: RovingCopyEditor at February 16, 2014 03:14 PM (/S5ss)
Posted by: Sal at February 16, 2014 03:17 PM (lrTwr)
Posted by: ForgotMyNickname at February 16, 2014 03:44 PM (PhmlQ)
Just got off the phone with Port Book and News, here in Port Angeles. Ordered two armfuls of books. All items will be delivered tomorrow by Alan, the owner, to my current residence at convalescent hospital several miles away.
Our town as also has another fine indie book store, The Odyssey. Neither are Powells, but for our small town, are blessings. Ordered S from them.
Posted by: Hammersmith Police at February 16, 2014 04:09 PM (vO+By)
I will have to check them out. Probably this summer, when I can drive the convertible right up the west side of the Hood Canal and enjoy the scenery. Right now, with the rain pouring down, that drive would not be a lot of fun.
Posted by: CQD at February 16, 2014 03:49 PM (L9te5)
Posted by: Steve at February 16, 2014 03:50 PM (S4QH1)
"The Strand" store in NYC is also good. And I'm always up for Tattered Cover in Denver.
Houston didn't have a single bookstore - at least, not after the Bookstop on Shepherd became a Barnes and Noble and died (and the Bookstop was more a place for couples to meet and hookup anyway - or, er, so I heard). Houston does retain several fine Half Price Books though. You just have to drive from place to place to find something.
I am pretty partial to Murder by the Book (which has new and used books) over on Bissonet in Houston. Carries mostly mysteries and does stretch that out into some non-mystery areas.
Posted by: Charlotte at February 16, 2014 04:05 PM (xqiXc)
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at February 16, 2014 05:01 PM (Asjr7)
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at February 16, 2014 09:01 PM (Asjr7)
Another great Southern California bookstore. I purchased quite a few books there when I lived in Brentwood (that's not very close, but Disney was a client so I was in the area often enough).
In the same SoCal vicinity, Wahrenbrock's in San Diego was the first great bookstore I ever saw (I didn't drive yet, so I had to ride the bus to get there). It is, sadly, long since closed. But Vroman's is apparently still going strong. Yay.
Posted by: CQD at February 16, 2014 05:42 PM (L9te5)
Posted by: BornLib at February 17, 2014 04:21 PM (zpNwC)
Posted by: BornLib at February 17, 2014 04:28 PM (zpNwC)
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Still working on the re-read of Clancy and Flynn. This week completed the Sum of All Fears and Separation of Power. Currently on Debt of Honor. I have come to realize that not only was Clancy not that good of an author due to over use of standard cliché formula, but he was also a closet liberal.
Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 16, 2014 06:12 AM (T2V/1)