Author Topic: Reader's Nook  (Read 121148 times)

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Offline 6pairsofshoes

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #300 on: August 06, 2020, 10:46:49 AM »
John Scalzi wrote "Old Man's War" which is quite entertaining (and the amusing Redshirts, too).

He also has a blog (do we still call them blogs?) at https://whatever.scalzi.com. First a warning: he is sort of the anti-OSC: he is a bit (well a lot) of a Social Justice Warrior (he carries a lot of guilt about being a rich middle aged white man with privilege), which leads to a lot of ignorable drivel. Then the point: he has two regular posts, one is "New Books and ARCs (Advanced Readers Copies)", which does what it says on the tin, and the other is "The Big Idea", in which he posts an essay by a book author on their motivation in writing the book. This can lead to some good stuff (and also some rubbish). Because of his political leanings these authors tend toward the female/ LBQTQBTLQWTBI, but that probably isn't altogether a bad thing.

I checked Scalzi's blog and it looks promising, particularly because it includes The Light Brigade, which is on my ipad, in the reading queue. 

goldie, I've never read much historical fiction, but have heard of the movie, Spartacus (with Kirk Douglas) which is supposed to be a kitschy delight.  So I expect the book is even more interesting, especially given the date of its release.  I was, for some reason, (perhaps because the author is Scottish) reminded of the fact that I've always wanted to read Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott.  I read one of his books, Kenilworth, mostly because I picked it up in a sale and the binding was beautiful.  It's about Sir Robert Dudley, a suitor of Queen Elizabeth I.  Quite the page turner.  It whetted my desire to read others by the same author.  I'd audited an intellectual history course a million years ago that had assigned Ivanhoe and never got around to reading it.  But the subject of Orientalism and the situation of this heroine in the Crusades is intriguing to me.  Suddenly, I'm in the middle of time, time from quarantine and waiting, so I'm reading like I'm on a desert island with a library.

Offline 6pairsofshoes

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #301 on: August 07, 2020, 01:35:54 PM »
I am Spartacus!

Move over, Buster.  We're all Spartacus here.

Offline goldshirt*9

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #302 on: August 08, 2020, 04:38:09 AM »

Offline smokester

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #303 on: August 08, 2020, 03:25:51 PM »
We don't all have experience of being on crosses, though.

I dunno... some of the clubs you frequent. They're not healthy for a man of your age.
Don't put off until tomorrow, what you can put off until the day after.

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Offline dweez

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #304 on: August 08, 2020, 03:29:29 PM »
christ, what's your safe word?
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Offline smokester

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #305 on: August 08, 2020, 03:31:00 PM »
christ, what's your safe word?

Way to pretend you don't know that already.
Don't put off until tomorrow, what you can put off until the day after.

There is an exception to every rule, apart from this one.

Offline dweez

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #306 on: August 08, 2020, 03:40:11 PM »
What?

(I also feign being hard of hearing at times)
--dweez

Offline smokester

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #307 on: August 08, 2020, 03:50:37 PM »
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

At least, that's what it sounds like when you're trussed up on a cross.
Don't put off until tomorrow, what you can put off until the day after.

There is an exception to every rule, apart from this one.

Offline smokester

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #308 on: August 09, 2020, 03:59:37 PM »
I’ll let you know, if I ever have to use it.

Anyone that says POINH if you do, is banned.
Don't put off until tomorrow, what you can put off until the day after.

There is an exception to every rule, apart from this one.

Offline 6pairsofshoes

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #309 on: August 10, 2020, 07:31:58 AM »
Reading The Light Brigade.  War stories from conscripted grunts in Earth's future.  Pretty entertaining.

Offline goldshirt*9

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #310 on: August 11, 2020, 11:49:05 PM »
have just received
The Elements of Eloquence: How To Turn the Perfect English Phrase to go with
The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language
both by  by Mark Forsyth,  just awaiting
The Etymologicon: a circular stroll through the hidden connections of the English language to make the set

Offline smokester

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #311 on: August 12, 2020, 01:53:43 AM »
Don't put off until tomorrow, what you can put off until the day after.

There is an exception to every rule, apart from this one.

Offline 6pairsofshoes

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #312 on: August 12, 2020, 07:30:55 AM »
have just received
The Elements of Eloquence: How To Turn the Perfect English Phrase to go with
The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language
both by  by Mark Forsyth,  just awaiting
The Etymologicon: a circular stroll through the hidden connections of the English language to make the set

Those look like fun, readable reference books.  I really enjoyed The Light Brigade.  It just didn't let me down or degenerate in to sentimental twaddle at the end, like some of those feel good light books do.  I'll read others by the same author:  Kameron Hurley.

Right now I have Ivanhoe in the queue, so I'll probably read that, as I've been on a scifi tear lately.  The books take a day or two to get through and I suspect Scott will be a slower read.  It's so hot here, that I have been taking little naps or rests where I read for an hour or two.  So I'm getting through books rather quickly.


Offline dweez

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #313 on: August 12, 2020, 07:37:43 AM »
With great power comes great responsibility

Did somebody say something?
--dweez

Offline goldshirt*9

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Re: Reader's Nook
« Reply #314 on: August 13, 2020, 12:00:19 AM »
Right now I have Ivanhoe in the queue,
Its a good yarn