Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine So what are you READING?

Just bought two books (I still have a stack I need to read, but they were on a 2 for the price of 1 shelf.

First is Great Gatsby, which I've read and love, so I thought a reread would be cool (I usually don't like to reread books unless a lot of time has passed).

Second is "On the Road", which I've never read before actually. Looking forward to that one, although I'm wondering if I'm too old for all the angsty goodness that goes with it

You know... everytime I've thought about reading "On the Road" I've had exactly the same thought. I should've read it when I was 18 or something, and it just feels like too late now.

That's exactly what's happened to me a bunch of times now until I finally just broke and bought it (because of the 2 for 1 deal). So now I just have to get the inkling to read it...maybe I can time it right when I'm in the mood for it. Like if I get cold feet for my wedding or something (I kid, I kid ).

But yeah, its a concern for me too. I wish I read it when I was 18 too.

I've gotta get around to reading Slaughterhouse 5 sometime because I keep seeing it used in reference to Lost! Is it a really good, involving read or just one of those technically well-written books (if you understand the difference) as some classics are.

I also need to read Slaughterhouse 5 myself and I'll be interested to here some replies.

Like Jorg and Blacula, I have an 'on deck' table right near my bed with a stack of books on it to read. I'm currently midway through Dark Tower part 7. I've basically read only King books since May, including all the other 6 Dark Tower books, so I'm heavily invested here. Although I have Salem's Lot to read too, I may switch it up for my next one (possibly the above referenced Gatsby).

Finished up Star Wars: Death Star by Michael Reeves and Steve Perry Saturday night. Not as bad as some of the reviews I've read, but certainly a book with structure issues.

I count that they had about 10 to 15 characters in this book and three of them were known commodities (Vader, Tarkin, and Daala) going into it. The rest were fillers and "page" time for each character was kept short and choppy. Almost like watching a modern music video. Scenes and angles kept changing real fast and by the time I got invested in the new characters the book was nearly over.

If you are not an avid Star Wars reader then I would say this book is not for you. If you are there are some interesting side scenes that didn't make it to film in Episode IV but do make it into this book.

Jorge, I work at an advertising agency and everything I have read so far has been dead on and funny - the making up billable hours for clients to the office politics and the characters so far introduced - I work with everyone one of them.

Its a bit more snarky then I expected but its good.

No one has an opinion on Slaughterhouse 5 for me and Cobalt?

Haven't read any books recently but I did read two very cool articles in Portfolio Magazine not long ago. One detailed the battle between Hollywood and online pirate organizations like Pirate Bay. The pirates seem to have the upper hand. For instance, a group of teenagers were able to hack into one of Hollywood's biggest online security companies and by releasing internal memos, expose that companies own doubts about it's abilities to prevent pirating.

I've never pirated anything before, but after reading the article, I think that Hollywood might have to re-examine the way they are doing business in the age of the internet.

The second article was an examination of the business model being put forward by burger chain Carl Jr. (they own Hardies as well, I believe). Reading about their strategy of marketing to blue collar guys and presenting them with an incredibly unhealthy menu was not pretty (the pictures of greasy fast food items that accompanied the article didn't help). A burger with a hot dog on it and another topped with eggs and bacon (I still want to gag when I think about that one) are just a couple of the items that are making them one of the bright spots in the fast food industry and causing other chains like Burger King and Wendy's to follow their lead. That most is better seems to be the message.

I read that issue of Portfolio in the dentist's office. I may have to subscribe.

Your dentist certainly offers better reading material than most - all I get are decorating magazines and Sports Illustrated.

Slaughterhouse Five - I read this a long time ago, late 70s, and it sort of depressed me, although it's supposed to be absurdist funny, because up until then I didn't know about the firebombing of Dresden. But it probably merits a reread because it has aliens, time travel and (for you guys ) sex with a porn star - and it's a critique of war.

So I just reread "Great Gatsby" last week in like two days. I forgot how thoroughly awesome it is! A great, great read, and it was enjoyably 200 pages long (after reading like twelve 1,000+ers lately).

The narrarator (Nick Carraway) is far more likeable than I remember, and so is the girl *he's* interested in (Jordan). Daisy is despicably annoying to me too.

All in all, a great read. When Nick turns to Gatsby and tells him he's better than all the rest of them combined, it brought a smile to my face--much more so than I remember. I never really gave this book its due when I read it in high school. Definately a great commentary on becoming the person you want to be while accepting who you are.

I'm reading "Late Nights On Air" by Elizabeth Hay, a Canadian writer. It's about the characters inhabiting a radio station in Yellowknife in the Canadian north in the 70's. It's very well written and paced. Every so often, I need to reconnect with my northern self.

Cobie, I agree Gatsby was better the 2nd time around. Nick was much more likable as well for me.

After Kurt V. died I bought Slaughter House 5. Yet to read it.

Reading Tale of Two Cities and it's going much slower than I would like.

STF, never read a Canadian book. Atleast I don't think so. (though I am currently reading every Alpha Flight ever so I'm in a Canadian kick) I always wanted to read the Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.

Tale of Two Cities starts out slow, but it really picks up in the last third.

I listened to it on cd, and must have started that first cd about half a dozen times before I really got into it.

EDE, thanks for giving me hope. I'm at the part where Darnay is staying at his snotty uncle's house. About a third in.

The problem with it is that almost everything with Charles Darnay is boring, and he at least seems to be the main character throughout most of the book.

It's really about the last third or so when you realize that it's really Sidney Carlton's story, and he's just so much more interesting than Darnay.

I'm reading God on Trial by Peter Irons. It examines 5 of the current slate of religious legal battles. The Mt. Soledad cross, Prayer at a high school football game, the 10 Commandments in a courthouse, "under God" in the Pledge of Alligence, and Creationism in schools.

The author presents the background of the cases and follows them through the legal process. It gets interesting when he will quote the Supreme Court Justices' questions during oral arguments. He ends each chapter with personal accounts of a person form both sides of the issue.

While reading this in a McDonalds, a guy who was sitting near me, asked "Who's the judge?". My Dad asked if I was reading about God.

Anyone else here ever read the Dragon Knight books by Gordon R Dickson?

I've looked on the Web but have never found anything saying what his plans were for the series if he had lived.

Let's see... since my last post I've read five books that I can think of off-hand:

The Crimson Shadow
Luthien's Gamble

Winter Prey
Night Prey

and

Bad Prince Charlie

The first two are kind of a fantasy take on the Robin Hood tale. Both written RA Salvatore and I'd say they were competent enough. They didn't totally envelope me like the first six books in RA's Legend of Drizzt, but then again not much has. These books seemed a bit more simple, like they were aimed at a younger audience. There's a third book in the series and after reading the first two I made the mistake of reading the inside cover of the third one which pretty much tells you everything that is going to happen. Haven't read it yet, but I might some day.

The next two were "cop catch the serial killer" books. Not bad... not great either.

Bad Prince Charlie by John Moore was a pretty good read though. Very tongue-in-cheek approach to fantasy/fairy tale writing and re-writing. I found myself laughing out loud a few times at this book. I've read a couple other books of his The Unhandsome Prince and Heroics for Beginners and they have all made me laugh... and that is tough to do. If you haven't read any of his "stuff" I highly recommend it.

Not a lot of reading going on these days eh?

I finished the latest Harry Dresden story from Jim Butcher, Small Favor. I liked it, but its been a few weeks since I read it and since I've read all of the other Harry novels I have trouble remembering what happens specifically in each book. I'm looking forward to rereading this entire series someday.

Also read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. Fairly competent story and certainly entertaining yarn about werewolves, walkers, and vampires. Nothing spectacular either good or bad... solid B+.

Also read Legacy of the Force: Revelations by Karen Traviss. Didn't seem like a lot happened in this book, but I've always found myself enthralled by Traviss' take on the clones and Mandalorian culture. She's written about six books or so related to them and only one of them bogged down a little for my tastes. This one wasn't it. I don't get the rest of Star Wars fandom some time as they seem to pan her more than she deserves. Maybe I'm just getting more patient in my old age.

Just picked up the latest Percy Jackson book ...

I am currently reading up on the doomsday predictions for December 21, 2012.... Anyone else falling thrall to the possible end of the world scenarios being harolded by the end of the 4th Mayan calendar, the I-Ching, and various scientific predictions? Most of the Wiccan/New-Age crowd is studying all this with a grain of salt and a big sigh. For those of you not up to speed, just Google the date 12-21-12 and it will blow your mind.... Whether or not it turns out to be just a bunch of crap, there is no denying some of the truths such as the increase in the Sun's solar flare and sunspot activity is influencing the Earth's weather and causing earthquakes and megastorms. Also the Earth's magnetic field is experiencing 'cracks' the size of the state of California so more harmful radiation is making its way into our atmosphere. So, hey everybody, the least you can do is to start applying sunblock as a regular part of your morning ritual and be more conscious of your time spent out in the sun!

I just finished 'The Society of S' by Susan Hubbard. It was a vampire story written in the first person and was a surirpsingly engaging coming of age story. This book was so engrossing that I read it in one day. I seriously could hardly put it down because I wanted to know what would happen next. After finishing it I hurried to the computer to jump on Border's Books and looked for other books by this author. Happily she has just released a sequel that continues the story, called 'The Year of Disappearances.' The latest book was released May 8, 2008.

Now I am reading 'Saging While Aging' by the awesome Ms. Shirley MacLaine. I love the way she is so real. She tells it like it is and is not afraid to show people her flaws and share her mistakes in hope that it can help someone else to make better choices or have less pain. Shirley is all about enjoying and learning from her journey as a child of the universe. She is honest and humble enough to say that were it not for her 'stardom' and all the money and opportunities, she would not have had the means to travel around the world many, many times on her spiritual quests. I love the way she mixes humor and warmth into her stories whether about 'old Hollywood' or the metaphysical. Shirley appears to be happy in her new home in the high desert country of New Mexico and is seeking to embrace the reality of old age.

Shirley rocks. Have you ever been in the area in New Mexico where she has her home? It's beautiful country.

Hi Jerry, no, not yet but I've always wanted to take a trip there. My maternal grandfather had a turquoise mine around Kingman, Arizona and was part-owner in a silver mine in northern Nevada in the 1930's through the 1960's. He had a wonderful relationship with talented, and spiritually powerful Navajo people and employed them in his jewelry and trading post businesses. I grew up watching the old shaky home movie reels of his travels and adventures throughout the Southwest. Every Thanksgiving we watched the previous summer's desert and mountain beauty, but it was always in black and white. I totally believe the Land of Enchantment is a sacred region and that I need to walk the ancient pathways and breathe the night air and listen to the voices of the spirit teachers. Shirley does rock, and I hope she stays with us for a good long time yet. Blessed Be!