Freethought & Rationalism Archive

christ-on-a-stick · 02-10-2003, 11:21 AM

K, here's the deal:

My husband and I are leaving this Friday for a week-long vacation to stay with family up in Northern Cali (near Lake Tahoe). We will probably spend a couple of days skiing in Tahoe but the rest of our vacation there will be spent in serious R&R mode - they have a beautiful place right on a golf course and my favorite thing to do is spend hours sitting on the back porch all bundled up with hot chocolate, reading and watching the deer (there's gazillions of 'em!)

So I want to take 3 new books to read during that week and I would like to break it down as follows:

1) Pure entertainment value novel (note I am not into sci-fi or romance, all else is welcome!)
2) One book on comparitive religion (NOT Xian apologetics! hehe) - of "medium" length (no huge volumes, I plan to read all three of these books.
3) Something *different*.... anything! An autobiography, book about wine or food, psychology, history, YOU NAME IT!!!

Post your 3 picks and I will be visiting Borders on Wednesday or Thursday night to pick up the winners

(And of course I will make a full book report on the chosen books upon my return from vacation!)

Bloop · 02-10-2003, 12:16 PM

1. What about one of the Stephen King "Bachman books". The Running Man or The Long Walk. Perhaps Catch 22 by Joseph Heller if you haven't read it.

On 3 i'd go with Homicide - A year on the killing streets by David Simon. The book that inspired the tvshow. (it would suite my needs for 1 as well. It's very entertaining too.)

Mediancat · 02-10-2003, 12:20 PM

Well, on the first one, if you're up for mysteries, I might suggest Anonymous Rex by Eric Garcia -- but it has one VERY weird twist in the concept of the novel. (The protagonist is a dinosaur. It's still a very funny book.)

If you want something a tad more normal, I'd go for the Reeves-Stevens thrillers Icefire and Quicksilver, or the Mark Twain mystery series by Peter Heck.

For the third, how about a Cecil Adams Straight Dope collection? They're entertaining, funny, and you learn things.

For the second, no ideas. My apologies.

Rob aka Mediancat

christ-on-a-stick · 02-10-2003, 12:21 PM

Hmmm... I've read almost every King/Bachman book including those but I will check out Catch 22.

LOVE the idea for 3 - that was one of my all-time fave shows.

What about #2 Bloop? Any sugggestions?

christ-on-a-stick · 02-10-2003, 12:22 PM

Mediancat - duly noted! (I am making a list here to take to the bookstore with me).

NO #2's???? Heckola, I thought y'all would be full of 'em!

August Spies · 02-10-2003, 12:29 PM

1. Pure entertainment:
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut... however tehre is some level of sci-fi in that book. So as an alternative ill suggest
Survivor by Chuck P. (author of fight club). Quick easy interesting read.

2. no clue.

3. something different.
"If on a winter's night a traveler" by Italo Calvino. Great book, easy fun read but very different in writing style.

if you have read that I read a great book of one act plays by David Ives called something like "14 plays" David Ives though, check him out if you are into plays.

(note I guess my #3 answers could be #1 anwers... and in fact probably should be. Read Calvino out of everything suggested.

christ-on-a-stick · 02-10-2003, 12:30 PM

Hey August,

Suggestions added to list

Except "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler" - have it, have read it many times and love it!!!

August Spies · 02-10-2003, 12:33 PM

Okay, well I haven't read this but if you love Calvino I hear his book "the baron and the trees" is very good. its about a kid who gets mad at his parents and climbs a tree but never comes down and learns how to travel through the tree tops and wierd stuff like that.

edit: its also real short. peace

jess · 02-10-2003, 12:36 PM

what's wrong with Romance? Most every story out there has some in it, and many are romance + ...

just wondering.
/romance advocate

American Gods/ Neil Gaiman. Comparative religion? Nah. Entertining and a damn fast read.

Our love feels too good to hurt this much/ Mira Kirschenbaum. A pinpoint and fix the troubles in your relationship before they get out of hand. Simple and easy psych text with a checklist.

Any book on the Enduance. Shackleton's amazing trip to Antartica during WWI when he and 27 of his men were trapped on/in Antartica for 2 years without a ship (three lifeboats). He got each one out alive. Will make your skiing trip that much more... interesting...

Any Jane Austen book. Oh wait, that's romance...

comparative religions: The one I am currently enjoying is Her Share of the Blessings, Women's Religions Among Pagans, Jews and Christians in the Greco-Roman World. Ross Shepard Kraemer

did I hit all your subjects?

dangin · 02-10-2003, 12:36 PM

Novel - The Power of One by Bryce Courtenany. Splendid tale of young English boy/youngman growing up in South Africa, during apartheid. The title refers to his world view that reliance on self is most important. He becomes an atheist as a child, which is an aspect of his self reliance.

As to #2, I'd take some Ingersoll or Bertrand Russel. Mostly because I'm reading a lot of their stuff right now, so that is what is on my mind.

#3, Either The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature or anything by Richard Dawkins.

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02-10-2003, 11:21 AM	#1
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	Book Suggestions - Post your 3 Picks Here!!! K, here's the deal: My husband and I are leaving this Friday for a week-long vacation to stay with family up in Northern Cali (near Lake Tahoe). We will probably spend a couple of days skiing in Tahoe but the rest of our vacation there will be spent in serious R&R mode - they have a beautiful place right on a golf course and my favorite thing to do is spend hours sitting on the back porch all bundled up with hot chocolate, reading and watching the deer (there's gazillions of 'em!) So I want to take 3 new books to read during that week and I would like to break it down as follows: 1) Pure entertainment value novel (note I am not into sci-fi or romance, all else is welcome!) 2) One book on comparitive religion (NOT Xian apologetics! hehe) - of "medium" length (no huge volumes, I plan to read all three of these books. 3) Something different.... anything! An autobiography, book about wine or food, psychology, history, YOU NAME IT!!! Post your 3 picks and I will be visiting Borders on Wednesday or Thursday night to pick up the winners (And of course I will make a full book report on the chosen books upon my return from vacation!)

02-10-2003, 12:16 PM	#2
Bloop Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Sweden Posts: 833	1. What about one of the Stephen King "Bachman books". The Running Man or The Long Walk. Perhaps Catch 22 by Joseph Heller if you haven't read it. On 3 i'd go with Homicide - A year on the killing streets by David Simon. The book that inspired the tvshow. (it would suite my needs for 1 as well. It's very entertaining too.)

02-10-2003, 12:20 PM	#3
Mediancat Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Baltimore County, MD Posts: 19,644	Well, on the first one, if you're up for mysteries, I might suggest Anonymous Rex by Eric Garcia -- but it has one VERY weird twist in the concept of the novel. (The protagonist is a dinosaur. It's still a very funny book.) If you want something a tad more normal, I'd go for the Reeves-Stevens thrillers Icefire and Quicksilver, or the Mark Twain mystery series by Peter Heck. For the third, how about a Cecil Adams Straight Dope collection? They're entertaining, funny, and you learn things. For the second, no ideas. My apologies. Rob aka Mediancat

02-10-2003, 12:21 PM	#4
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	Hmmm... I've read almost every King/Bachman book including those but I will check out Catch 22. LOVE the idea for 3 - that was one of my all-time fave shows. What about #2 Bloop? Any sugggestions?

02-10-2003, 12:22 PM	#5
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	Mediancat - duly noted! (I am making a list here to take to the bookstore with me). NO #2's???? Heckola, I thought y'all would be full of 'em!

02-10-2003, 12:29 PM	#6
August Spies Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The Vine Posts: 12,950	1. Pure entertainment: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut... however tehre is some level of sci-fi in that book. So as an alternative ill suggest Survivor by Chuck P. (author of fight club). Quick easy interesting read. 2. no clue. 3. something different. "If on a winter's night a traveler" by Italo Calvino. Great book, easy fun read but very different in writing style. if you have read that I read a great book of one act plays by David Ives called something like "14 plays" David Ives though, check him out if you are into plays. (note I guess my #3 answers could be #1 anwers... and in fact probably should be. Read Calvino out of everything suggested.

02-10-2003, 12:30 PM	#7
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	Hey August, Suggestions added to list Except "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler" - have it, have read it many times and love it!!!

02-10-2003, 12:33 PM	#8
August Spies Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The Vine Posts: 12,950	Okay, well I haven't read this but if you love Calvino I hear his book "the baron and the trees" is very good. its about a kid who gets mad at his parents and climbs a tree but never comes down and learns how to travel through the tree tops and wierd stuff like that. edit: its also real short. peace

02-10-2003, 12:36 PM	#9
jess Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: rationalpagans.com Posts: 7,400	what's wrong with Romance? Most every story out there has some in it, and many are romance + ... just wondering. /romance advocate American Gods/ Neil Gaiman. Comparative religion? Nah. Entertining and a damn fast read. Our love feels too good to hurt this much/ Mira Kirschenbaum. A pinpoint and fix the troubles in your relationship before they get out of hand. Simple and easy psych text with a checklist. Any book on the Enduance. Shackleton's amazing trip to Antartica during WWI when he and 27 of his men were trapped on/in Antartica for 2 years without a ship (three lifeboats). He got each one out alive. Will make your skiing trip that much more... interesting... Any Jane Austen book. Oh wait, that's romance... comparative religions: The one I am currently enjoying is Her Share of the Blessings, Women's Religions Among Pagans, Jews and Christians in the Greco-Roman World. Ross Shepard Kraemer did I hit all your subjects?

02-10-2003, 12:36 PM	#10
dangin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: The Middle, Kansas Posts: 2,637	Novel - The Power of One by Bryce Courtenany. Splendid tale of young English boy/youngman growing up in South Africa, during apartheid. The title refers to his world view that reliance on self is most important. He becomes an atheist as a child, which is an aspect of his self reliance. As to #2, I'd take some Ingersoll or Bertrand Russel. Mostly because I'm reading a lot of their stuff right now, so that is what is on my mind. #3, Either The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature or anything by Richard Dawkins.

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