A list and brief discussion of what I'm reading (paper books, comics, magazines, e-readers), or listening (audiobooks) to these days.
Updating to discuss movies, TV etc.
I'd recommend: Fall of Giants, Pillars of the Earth and World Without End - all by Ken Follett.
I liked all of these books because they were deep enough to get lost for a week or so. Fall of the Giants is the first of "The Century Trilogy", "World Without End" is the sequel to "Pillars of the Earth" which was based upon a middle ages town and the construction of the cathedral.
I have to give a big recommendation to Stieg Larsson, who's Millenium Trilogy is a real page turner (done 2.3 of the 3 books). Some initial difficulty getting used to the setting and names being Swedish, but that doesn't take too long to get over.
Definitely areas that would be squeemish - capture/confinement/rape/torture of women, misuse of government power to institutionalize a minor - but the characters are quirky and strong an you do care to find out what happens.
Finished the Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson - still greatly recommend all three books. Sorry to learn Mr. Larsson died soon after submitting the manuscripts for the 3 books.
Richard Dawkins ("The Blind Watchmaker" and "The Greatest Show on Earth") is a good read to explore the boundary between science and faith. His conclusion of activist-atheism is a little strong for me, but the exploration of the issue from a scientific perspective should not only be encouraged, but mandatory for students sometime during high school.
Tad Williams Otherland series was excellent - I am not a big fantasy fan, but really go into the whole idea of the next generation internet (avatars, socialization in cyberspace) and the "trapped in the internet" intrigue.
I'd recommend: Fall of Giants, Pillars of the Earth and World Without End - all by Ken Follett.
ReplyDeleteI liked all of these books because they were deep enough to get lost for a week or so. Fall of the Giants is the first of "The Century Trilogy", "World Without End" is the sequel to "Pillars of the Earth" which was based upon a middle ages town and the construction of the cathedral.
I have to give a big recommendation to Stieg Larsson, who's Millenium Trilogy is a real page turner (done 2.3 of the 3 books). Some initial difficulty getting used to the setting and names being Swedish, but that doesn't take too long to get over.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely areas that would be squeemish - capture/confinement/rape/torture of women, misuse of government power to institutionalize a minor - but the characters are quirky and strong an you do care to find out what happens.
Finished the Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson - still greatly recommend all three books. Sorry to learn Mr. Larsson died soon after submitting the manuscripts for the 3 books.
ReplyDeleteI'd recommend for the kiddies the Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the newer "Heroes of Olympus" series by Rick Riordan.
ReplyDeleteRichard Dawkins ("The Blind Watchmaker" and "The Greatest Show on Earth") is a good read to explore the boundary between science and faith. His conclusion of activist-atheism is a little strong for me, but the exploration of the issue from a scientific perspective should not only be encouraged, but mandatory for students sometime during high school.
ReplyDeleteTad Williams Otherland series was excellent - I am not a big fantasy fan, but really go into the whole idea of the next generation internet (avatars, socialization in cyberspace) and the "trapped in the internet" intrigue.
ReplyDelete