What's the last best book you've read?

[SemiColon]

I just started reading The Bridges of Madison County (Robert James Waller) and the way the words lift off the page into my mind makes me want to cry; both from the joy of reading it and despair that I will ever be able to write the way I want to. I may wind up hating it by the time I'm done reading -I have been known to throw books across the room if they end badly- but for now I am in that juxtapostion of wanting to devour it and wanting to savour it.

What's the last book/story/poem/whatever that made you feel this way?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm always scouting for books where the author knows what in fuck she's writing about.

The latest FIND is Syd Field's SCREENPLAY: The Foundations of Screenwriting. It is filled with illumination about writing. I ordered 2 copies from Amazon.

 

[jomar]

I'm on a Bernard Cornwell kick. The last book I read was Heretic. I'm currently working my way through his Richard Sharpe series and am on Sharpe's Triumph. My newest poem was inspired by Sharpe's Tiger, the first in the series.

 

[His_Story]

Last good book I read was Skinhead. I think it's been banned now but i have a really old copy

 

[Recidiva]

I loved Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential"

A real mix of honesty, ego and self deprecation. Most joyous was the love and respect for food.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Mary Roach's Bonk. It's an informal history and exploration of those wonderful people who research human sexuality and is absolutely the funniest thing I've read in months. There's a guffaw every two or three pages. Highly recommended.

 

[JagFarlane]

Stephen Coontes "Liars and Thieves" Ah the return of Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The LAST book I read was a reread of Cannery Row by John Steinbeck... But the BEST book... Hmmm... maybe Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. I'm not really sure.

 

[TE999]

My two absolute favorite books are collections of Fritz Leiber's Fahfrd and Grey Mouser stories: 'Swords Masters' and 'Three of Swords'. Fantasy writing yet to be equaled IMHO.

If only there were more...

 

[Stella_Omega]

My two absolute favorite books are collections of Fritz Leiber's Fahfrd and Grey Mouser stories: 'Swords Masters' and 'Three of Swords'. Fantasy writing yet to be equaled IMHO.

If only there were more...

Have you read "The Knight and The knave of Swords"? One, last, wonderful book.
(My daughter, by the way, laughed in scorn upon reading the early stories.)

I'm reading the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin series. They make me so happy!

Another "last great book" I've read would be Neal Stephenson's "Diamond Age"

Last good book I read was Skinhead. I think it's been banned now but i have a really old copy

It's not exactly banned-- but what makes it a good book in your opinion?

 

[rgraham666]

The Diamond Age was a wonderful work. Indeed, one of the best things I've ever read.

Thinking about it, the last book that really affected me was Voltaire's Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West. It changed the way I think about things.

 

[SemiColon]

The Diamond Age was a wonderful work. Indeed, one of the best things I've ever read.

Thinking about it, the last book that really affected me was Voltaire's Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West. It changed the way I think about things.

I am trying to get over my addiction to Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Catch Trap. I am not sure why, but I have read it three or four times in the last 3 months. Every time I'm not reading something, I pick it up and read it again. Now at least I have some ideas of what to read next.. I hate being "out of book" but I'm in the mood for something life changing.

 

[JagFarlane]

Hmmmm well seeing as how this is quickly turning into a favorites list, I have to add on The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan -sigh- who didn't finish it, but hopefully the ghost writer they hired hits the deadline they set, next fall. At the very least though, for him, he has all of Jordans notes for the last book, as well as Jordans wife [whom was his editor] helping him out.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Sanctuary, and its sequel, Requim For A Nun, by William Faulkner.

Sanctuary was his first commercial success thanks, at least in part, to a corncob and scenes set in a whore house. The protag in both is a Betty Davis type, outrageous southern belle/bitch named, Temple Drake.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[TE999]

Have you read "The Knight and The knave of Swords"? One, last, wonderful book.
(My daughter, by the way, laughed in scorn upon reading the early stories.)

Wow! No, I haven't! Thanks stella.

Your daughter will appreciate the stories when she matures.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Last really good book I read was probably Winter Study by Nevada Barr. Starring her native american park ranger, Anna Pigeon, returning to Michigan for the wolf study. One of her excellent action/adventure murder mysteries. I'd highly recommend it.

 

[kimbalee]

"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. Very good.

 

[shereads]

Recently finished two enjoyable thrillers by Cornelia Read: "A Field of Darkness" and "The Crazy School."

 

[shereads]

Sanctuary was his first commercial success thanks, at least in part, to a corncob and scenes set in a whore house.

The old corncob-and-whorehouse combo. Never fails.

 

[XXplorher]

Atlas Shrugged

I've been real concerned for a while, that this was actually happening to us... (What Ayn Randpenned)

Travel - and Tradeable items. (Destruction of currency/value. Reason.)

It's quite ripe to be manipulated. And it IS being so. We're about to be over. And that's a fact. Greed kills what it respects. And it's fuckin nourishing big time right now. We have a vice president who used to sit on the chair for the company he's sending war funds to. Why that's 'okay' with us? I'll never get beyond. Give anything a pretty name and now it means it's for good? She was saying all this crap 50yrs ago.

We've also pretty much been saying, "Meh... who is John Galt?"

When I read the book (not long ago) I thought that odd and implausable. But I'm an idiot. And she isn't. It pretty much looked like a map for our incoming situation.

But then Obama showed up.

John Gault.

And he doesn't want us to disappear into the hills. He wants to recognize our problem and address it - with respect for every single one of you. KNOWING, you'll ALL be needed for America to get it right again. Because without every single one of you? There is no America.

I remember reading the flaw in her reasoning... Ayn. Through all the brilliance in her awareness and clarity of declaration...

That she did not quite believe herself. She was BEGGING us to prove her wrong. Trying to say it was all about the indivudual, while writing books about us coming together... Trying not to care as much as she did. Encountering Hypocrisy - head on - while attempting to decamate it.

She don't fool me.
And she was wrong.
There IS a better choice.

Let bravery win the day. There will be people to hold us, when we think it's all over. There WILL be people who can't let us lose and know how to lead. The fact he's a black guy? That's just a bonus. It's not the reason to vote for him. It's not a vote that says, "I want equality". It's a vote that says...

I want a guy who understands what I'm thinking. A guy who believes in me. A guy who knows it's not about himself, but about us. He's gonna ask me what I think. And is not a commie motherfucker in his thinking.

Obama gets it.
Feel blessed.
Vote for yourself in him.


Hillary is a fucking joke that will tell you whatever you want to hear. Isn't that obvious? (Makes me sick).





Oh yeah, sorry. I've not read a book since. That one owned me (thanks Laurel!)

 

[shereads]

I loved Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential"

A real mix of honesty, ego and self deprecation. Most joyous was the love and respect for food.

I haven't forgotten his warnings about butter sauces and Sunday buffets.

 

[Recidiva]

I haven't forgotten his warnings about butter sauces and Sunday buffets.

And fish on Monday.

And pasta after 10.

 

[Shakti_Dreamer]

"Touched by Fire," Kay Redfield Jameson