poincicco

Hey Drac, I just started a similar thread, not having taken the time to do a search for previous such requests. My bad. Anyway, here are a few recommendations in response to your request for book suggestions. I assume you mean both serious and fun, fiction and non-fiction? For what it's worth..........


* Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick (non-fiction. The REAL story of the Pilgrims and their first hundred years in the New World. Not deconstructionist, but it definitely gives facts that will alter the traditional image we were all taught in elementary school!)

* Harlan Coben (mystery fiction. I'm really enjoying his books at present. Very well written, believable and entertaining characters, good plot lines.)

* Jayber Crow, by Wendell Berry (Excellently written fictitious memoir of a backwoods barber. A literary feast!)

* Frank McCourt's books -- Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, Teacher Man. All great reads. Heartbreakingly funny, as only the Irish can produce.

* Annie Dillard's work, especially For The Time Being. Non-fiction. Very thought-provoking. Poetically written prose.

* A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving. Fiction. TERRIFIC!

* Anything by Pat Conroy (fiction. Poignant. Moves me to both laugh-out-loud joy and real tears...and I'm not a cry-baby! Wonderful!)

poincicco

Drac, I've read a few of Dawkins' books. He's very readable. I enjoyed the books. He definitely makes no bones about wanting everyone to be an atheist, but I didn't find him obnoxious at all. Worth the time? Definitely. Poincicco

romansh

Just finished reading:
Survival of the Sickest
by
Sharon Moalem

Gives an interesting/scary insight into how genetics, evolution and environmental pressures interplay
A bit much conjecture in places but well worth the read.

__________________
There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. ........... Douglas Adams

debdodd

What about a book that is just a fun? no deep esoteric, philosophical book but just a fun summer by the beach/pool read? You know a funny haha no brainier kind of book? I need one of those now and then.

I've noticed that in the winter I tend to read the soul searching kind of books and in the summer .... I just look for fluff .... so how about a fluffy, fun loving summer read? Any suggestions? BTW ... "Dear Penthouse" is not what I had in mind

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."

xxkayxx

I've got a good series for ya

It's called "diary of a teenage girl" and every other word is God.....my mom picked it up at the library once....the things they say are pretty......funny...the book almost made me puke.....

__________________
If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing

debdodd

puke from laughing so hard or the subject matter was so awful that you wanted to hurl? I can just reread "Pooh's" postings if I need a good puke-fest

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."

xxkayxx

Both! I seriously didn't think a childrens book could be so biased...i could choke that author!.. i swear......j/k


And to think how many kid's are going to wind up reading those books..all the brainwashing....gahh!

__________________
If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing

debdodd

ahhh people get brainwashed all the time reading books ... look how many people/kids get/got brainwashed reading the bible!!!! Talk about brainwashing! That book alone has repressed many a person and given nightmare to plenty of kids ... nope, the book your Mom got you might be puke material but as for brainwashing ... the bible has it beat hands down ....

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."

romansh

Deb ... did you read Lamb by Christopher Moore?
Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by the same author is pretty good too.

if not ... I'll continue to post suggestions such as Inorganic Chemistry by Cotton & Wilkinson

__________________
There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. ........... Douglas Adams

debdodd

inorganic chemistry ... dude are you trying to give me an aneurysm?

Once I finished chemistry for nursing school it was adiós for most of that stuff .... biology is okay but all those periodic tables and such ... ugh! ... I still read up with nursing journals and such but deep read about that crap like you and Og-ster do ... nope ... not gonna do it and you can't make me I tried to read about Quantum theory, string theory and all of that about a year ago and I would fall asleep or get lost in the terminology ... felt like a dog chasing my tail ... just kept going around in circles and never could grasp it .... my brain has atrophied and cannot absorb certain extrapolated thought processes ....

Usually if it's just a quick no brainier read for the summer or a weekend I will chose James Patterson (tho' lately they have been lame) or a Robert Ludlum .... I do enjoy Patrica Cornwell ... she writes forensic pathologist crime stuff ... I wouldn't mind a decent Sci-fi for the summer but lately everything seems so repetitious in that genre ... I average reading about a book a week ... I know sad isn't it .....


No I haven't read Lamb .... and the subject matter is .... animal husbandry?

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."