Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman.
It's a fun read thus far, but my enjoyment is tainted a bit by the fact that dammit Mister Nancy was going to be my name, Gaiman, you preemptive idea-stealing bastard
Re-reading A Canticle for Leibowitz. Been at least 25 years since I last read it. I remember almost nothing about it but do remember enjoying it. About 2/3's of the way through and am definitely enjoying it.
...
_The Disaster Artist -- My Life Inside The Room, The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made_
Turningtest,
When you finish A Distant Mirror, try Tuchman's Practicing History, 1981, a series of essays.
xterra
Sorry, didn't see this the other day. I'll look for that book; I'm a big fan of Tuchman's, and I think that's the only one of hers I haven't read. History has always been an interest of mine, and Tuchman (as well as other writers like David McCullough, Robert Massie, Antonia Fraser, and Margaret Leech) writes such rich history.
Heartily agreed! One of the greatest Science fiction books of all time! What was it," 1lb pastrami, some bagels..." (I forget the rest).One of my favorite books of all time; Mrs Grales is an image that has always stayed with me. Come to think of it, it's been a while since I read it..
War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
Thought it would be too dry after the first chapter but it draws you in and makes you want to keep reading.
Its a very dark subject, nonfiction, and not for the faint hearted.
Contrary to what the title may imply to some people, it is most definitively not an argument in favour of war.
Antonia Fraser's Mary Queen of Scots was so much more than I had anticipated. I was quite moved at Fraser's empathy and admiration toward her subject. It helped that she had such a subject, of course.
It seems that the book was in part an answer/reaction/response to her mother's biography of Elizabeth I.
Heartily agreed! One of the greatest Science fiction books of all time! What was it," 1lb pastrami, some bagels..." (I forget the rest).
In that same vein (the distant future) you might also like "Half Past Human", by Dr Thomas J. Bassman a/k/a T.J. Bass and it's sequel "The Godwhale".
I'm currently re-reading "Creatures of Light and Darkness" by Roger Zelazny. Not up to "Lord of Light", but it has a brief section on the Steel General, one of my favorite recurring characters in his works.
Antonia Fraser's Mary Queen of Scots was so much more than I had anticipated. I was quite moved at Fraser's empathy and admiration toward her subject. It helped that she had such a subject, of course.
Correct. IIRC it was published by the local historical society, so I'd imagine the demand for a translation is quite low. In any case, the work was compiled by Martin Bo Nørregård og Jonas Schlutz Thygesen, after the letters and diaries of Thyge Thygesen (1892-1958). The Danish title is "Kun legetøj i deres hænder".This sounds fascinating. I'd ask you for the title of the work; but I infer that it's in Danish -- no English translation?
Not available in the US due to copyright issues.
Super subsumed spoilers, angrysoba.
(I've read one of Banks's books, didn't care for it, and thanks to your spoilers can definitely pass on this one.)
Sorry, didn't see this the other day. I'll look for that book; I'm a big fan of Tuchman's, and I think that's the only one of hers I haven't read. History has always been an interest of mine, and Tuchman (as well as other writers like David McCullough, Robert Massie, Antonia Fraser, and Margaret Leech) writes such rich history.
I read Tuchman's "Guns of August" and Massie's "Dreadnought" a few months ago in honor of the centennial of the start of World War One.
Just finished Massie's Biography of Catherine the Great. Highly Recommended.
I borrowed Massie's Catherine The Great from our local library not long ago, but that's the kind of book I need to own. It's definitely on my "to buy" list. I also need another copy of Dreadnought; I read my first one to tatters.
Also, if you haven't read them (you probably have, but for anyone who hasn't) David McCullough's The Great Bridge and The Path Between The Seas are great; on the building of (respectively) the Brooklyn Bridge and the Panama Canal, the books are as good on the social/political histories of their respective times (and places) as the technical aspects of the two projects.
I don't know if it'd interest you but over at AH.com there are a number of alternate histories focussing on different actions and events on/around Wake; one in particular I rather like. A True and Better AlamoA Magnificent Fight: The Battle for Wake Island, Cressman, Robert J., 1995
I am reading the digital edition on my tablet; the only problem with this is trying to see the maps.
A Magnificent Fight: The Battle for Wake Island, Cressman, Robert J., 1995
I am reading the digital edition on my tablet; the only problem with this is trying to see the maps.
Is that a glitch or just the size of your screen? If it's a glitch I'll pass a note to Robert.
Neither. It appears to be a function of the software.
I am reading the book through the OverDrive app on a 10" tablet. The usual touch-screen swipe-to-enlarge gestures do not work in OverDrive, so there is no way to make the graphics larger. I can set the font size, but that does nothing to the graphics.
I might try to download the book in a different format to use with a different reader, and see if the graphics can be made bigger.