MisterCairo
I'll Lock Up
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I just finished Bernard Cornwell's tenth book in the Last Kingdom series (formerly the Warrior Chronicles, formerly formerly the King Alfred Chronicles), The Flame Bearer:
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What Are You Reading
- Thread starter Lancealot
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MisterCairo
I'll Lock Up
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- Gads Hill, Ontario
I am now reading, and about half way through, Ian Rankin's latest Rebus mystery, Rather Be The Devil:
AmateisGal
I'll Lock Up
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- 6,126
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- Nebraska
Finished this book this morning. I am in awe. What an amazing story! I can't believe everything that dog went through - and he survived the war. If any story needs to be made into film, this is it!
Getting ready to start Studs Terkel's The Good War. Yes, I have never read it. No, I don't know why. Which is why I'm remedying my error.
Harp
I'll Lock Up
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- 8,508
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- Chicago, IL US
Getting ready to start Studs Terkel's The Good War. Yes, I have never read it. No, I don't know why. Which is why I'm remedying my error.
An excellent suggestion. A book I have never read but I happened to have met Studs years ago while at Illinois-Chicago campus, an angel in a checked shirt.
- Messages
- 17,182
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- New York City
My copy came yesterday, going to give it to my girlfriend in a day or two (as she's really busy with a few things right now). Can't wait to "borrow" it back from her.
AmateisGal
I'll Lock Up
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- 6,126
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- Nebraska
- Messages
- 17,182
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- New York City
Just finished "A Certain Age" by Beatriz Williams
A novel set in early 1920s New York that revolves around "the murder trial of the century," its secrets and the web of people involved, including the wealthy socialite protagonist. Sex (of course), money, old and new (of course), power (of course), insecurities and egos collide in upper-crust NYC with normal tawdry affairs taking on larger meaning as the details of the trail unfolds.
The story is professionally crafted, the characters decently developed, the feel of the period reasonably well captured and the narrative moves along at a solid pace, but it never adds up to more than the sum of its good but rarely great parts. In the end, I felt that I read a technically proficient novel without the soul or artistry that emotionally engages you with a book.
I'd like to recommend it - and as a quick read with some good period details, it does the job - but it just didn't have that special something that makes you feel passion for the characters and story.
A novel set in early 1920s New York that revolves around "the murder trial of the century," its secrets and the web of people involved, including the wealthy socialite protagonist. Sex (of course), money, old and new (of course), power (of course), insecurities and egos collide in upper-crust NYC with normal tawdry affairs taking on larger meaning as the details of the trail unfolds.
The story is professionally crafted, the characters decently developed, the feel of the period reasonably well captured and the narrative moves along at a solid pace, but it never adds up to more than the sum of its good but rarely great parts. In the end, I felt that I read a technically proficient novel without the soul or artistry that emotionally engages you with a book.
I'd like to recommend it - and as a quick read with some good period details, it does the job - but it just didn't have that special something that makes you feel passion for the characters and story.
MisterCairo
I'll Lock Up
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- 7,005
- Location
- Gads Hill, Ontario
Just finished Rankin's Rather Be the Devil, now back to Dickens's Bleak House, which has been sitting with the bookmark at page 410 for a couple of months now! Better crack on..
Harp
I'll Lock Up
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- 8,508
- Location
- Chicago, IL US
A bulwark against tyranny; On the structural safeguards of the US Constitution, James Piereson, The New Criterion; Vol 35/Jan 2017
LizzieMaine
Bartender
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- 33,699
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- Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
A millenarian religious pamphlet from 1920, which makes the bold prediction "Millions Now Living Will Never Die!"
Of the 1.8 billion people alive in 1920, best estimates are that less than a million are still living today.
Oops.
Of the 1.8 billion people alive in 1920, best estimates are that less than a million are still living today.
Oops.
Harp
I'll Lock Up
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- 8,508
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- Chicago, IL US
Piereson's article sparked memories of The Federalist Papers, Madison's contribution most especially #10 & #51.
My college copy cannot be found, so I will scrounge around a second hand book shop Saturday for its replacement.
Gladstone's remark that the American Constitution was the finest work ever struck by the mind of man owes no small measure to Madison.
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Benzadmiral
Call Me a Cab
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- The Swamp
A rereading of James M. Cain's Mildred Pierce and Double Indemnity. I didn't see that HBO miniseries of MP with Kate Winslet, but as I read the novel again, I could really see her in the role. Mildred was described as blonde, not at all like Joan Crawford (thankfully), and we're told that she exhibits a squint when she's worked up about something. Kate was probably great, and I'd like to see it. Who played the singing sociopath, Veda, in this one?
As for DI, just about everything that could be said or written about it as a film has been said or written. I'm of the opinion that Raymond Chandler's screenplay has the better ending, and Edward G. Robinson's Keyes is more engaging (in the novel he never refers to "the little man inside," his term for his intuition). However, I'd forgotten the novel's ending. It is very creepy, and caught me by surprise.
As for DI, just about everything that could be said or written about it as a film has been said or written. I'm of the opinion that Raymond Chandler's screenplay has the better ending, and Edward G. Robinson's Keyes is more engaging (in the novel he never refers to "the little man inside," his term for his intuition). However, I'd forgotten the novel's ending. It is very creepy, and caught me by surprise.
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⇧ Funny I just read "MP" about a month ago. My post on it is here:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-are-you-reading.10557/page-364#post-2188314
I would encourage you to see the HBO version when you can - it is really well done. And as you anticipated, Winslet does an outstanding job as does the actress who plays horrible Veda.
Your review is encouraging me to pick up a copy of "Double Indemnity" to read.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-are-you-reading.10557/page-364#post-2188314
I would encourage you to see the HBO version when you can - it is really well done. And as you anticipated, Winslet does an outstanding job as does the actress who plays horrible Veda.
Your review is encouraging me to pick up a copy of "Double Indemnity" to read.
Tommy
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 284
- Location
- Pennsylvania USA
finished Thorton Wilder's 1928 Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey. A surprisingly fast read of an accidental death event, and a monk's inquiry seeking a why (beyond the obvious).
I don't think destiny played a role, maybe fate, but certainly a case of in the wrong place at the wrong time...
I don't think destiny played a role, maybe fate, but certainly a case of in the wrong place at the wrong time...
Harp
I'll Lock Up
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- 8,508
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- Chicago, IL US
James Forsyth, Theresa May is the most left-wing Tory Prime Minister for 40 years; Spectator, 14 January 2017
Brexit economics and social pragmatism.
Brexit economics and social pragmatism.
- Messages
- 17,182
- Location
- New York City
"Grand Central" by David Marshall, first published 1946
My girlfriend and I love spending time in old bookstores and grabbed this one for a few bucks many years ago as it looked like it might be a fun read about an iconic building we love. For whatever reason, it sat on our shelf all this time until I pulled it down this weekend.
I'm only about a third of the way through it, but what a gem of a book. It's a very casual "study" (way too formal a word) of Grand Central Terminal - the building, the workers, the shops, the trains and its history. It's definitely for mass consumption - it's not academic, it's not train "geeky," it's just a fans book that is surprisingly well written. And since it was written in '46, you not only see the station back when it was still operating relatively close to its glory years, you pick up some cultural references and other of-the-period views that are always fun for Fedora Lounge members.
And the author knows how to tell a good story, pick out an interesting anecdote, incorporate some cool facts and history without being pedantic while keeping it all moving along swiftly. The few pages on how Vanderbilt cornered the market in several railroad companies - several times - to create the New York Central railroad, the parent of Grand Central, was engaging and quick so that those not into Wall Street machinations got the idea and felt the excitement without getting bogged down in details.
I'll update after I finish - but so far, a really fun read if you have any interest in the building and its history.
P.S. I just checked and Amazon has some decent copies for $10-15 bucks, but with some work, I bet a good copy could be had for less.
My girlfriend and I love spending time in old bookstores and grabbed this one for a few bucks many years ago as it looked like it might be a fun read about an iconic building we love. For whatever reason, it sat on our shelf all this time until I pulled it down this weekend.
I'm only about a third of the way through it, but what a gem of a book. It's a very casual "study" (way too formal a word) of Grand Central Terminal - the building, the workers, the shops, the trains and its history. It's definitely for mass consumption - it's not academic, it's not train "geeky," it's just a fans book that is surprisingly well written. And since it was written in '46, you not only see the station back when it was still operating relatively close to its glory years, you pick up some cultural references and other of-the-period views that are always fun for Fedora Lounge members.
And the author knows how to tell a good story, pick out an interesting anecdote, incorporate some cool facts and history without being pedantic while keeping it all moving along swiftly. The few pages on how Vanderbilt cornered the market in several railroad companies - several times - to create the New York Central railroad, the parent of Grand Central, was engaging and quick so that those not into Wall Street machinations got the idea and felt the excitement without getting bogged down in details.
I'll update after I finish - but so far, a really fun read if you have any interest in the building and its history.
P.S. I just checked and Amazon has some decent copies for $10-15 bucks, but with some work, I bet a good copy could be had for less.
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scottyrocks
I'll Lock Up
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- 9,178
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- Isle of Langerhan, NY
AmateisGal
I'll Lock Up
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- 6,126
- Location
- Nebraska
Finally managed to grab Daniel Silva's latest, The Black Widow, from the library. I will now disappear into a cave for the next two days. His books are so good I can seldom tear myself away.
DNO
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,815
- Location
- Toronto, Canada
Enough with the serious stuff for a while. Just dug out 'Goodbye to All Cats' by P.G. Wodehouse. A short story that always gives me a good chuckle.
Benzadmiral
Call Me a Cab
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- The Swamp
A reread of John D. Macdonald's novel (his last, I think) from '84, One More Sunday. It's a "big" novel, with a lot of characters, focusing on the inner workings of a huge modern evangelistic church -- the kind with its own television affiliates. It plays fair. Some of the characters are hypocritical, but many truly believe in the Lord's work they're doing. And MacDonald, the "John O'Hara of the crime novel," works a death into the story that turns out to be a murder. As usual, good stuff.
