Previous Book: The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell

Current Book: That Hideous Strength, Clive Staples Lewis

Next Book:Likely a choice between Stand on Zanzibar, by John Brunner, or The Demolished Man, by Alfred Bester, or something that one of you guys suggest.

I just finished reading Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. I have now read all 3 non-DaVinci books by Brown and have been disappointed by each one.

They all start out with a cool premise and storyline, but all become very obvious and boring down the stretch.

I am a big fan of John Sandford. He has written probably 15+ "Prey" series books about a homicide detective named Lucas Davenport. They are set up in a similar fashion to books by James Patterson, but I think that Sandford is a better writer.

If you enjoy Patterson, pick one of Sandford's books up. You can usually find them at a used book store for like a buck or 2. Sandford does write them in a chronological order (i.e. besides the murder investigation, the character's lives are discussed) so if you start near the beginning of the series it will make more sense as you read. (i.e. kind of like watching Seinfeld. Knowing the history isn't critical to understanding the plot, but adds to it if you do.)

I read DiVinci when it came out, but this was already after reading just about all of the books that he referenced or borrowed from. I was expecting something a bit better, and I'm not particularly fond of his writing style. Still, I appreciate his effort to get the masses to think about certain topics, and I guess that's why he dumbed down his writing so much, IMO.

Sophandros Wrote:....Still, I appreciate his effort to get the masses to think about certain topics, .....

How is a complete work of fiction supposed to "get the masses to think about certain topics"?

I am currently reading The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life by Charles Stanley

Sophandros Wrote:I read DiVinci when it came out, but this was already after reading just about all of the books that he referenced or borrowed from. I was expecting something a bit better, and I'm not particularly fond of his writing style. Still, I appreciate his effort to get the masses to think about certain topics, and I guess that's why he dumbed down his writing so much, IMO.

I'm not sure that was his goal. Although I have not yet read DaVinci, his sophmoric approach in the other 3 tells me that that is just his style. He tries to be tricky with a twist, but the whole time he is jumping up and down and waving his hands telling you where he is going, so that it is clear what the twist is about 10 chapters before he gets there.

The other thing that is funny to me is that each book has a "true" element that he tells you all about (anti-matter, code breaking, space telescope) and then he mixes that with a bunch of stuff he "creates" or manipulates, creating the illusion of "everything in my book must be true" leading critical thinkers to question and "sheep" to foolishly believe.

Just finished reading:
Elaine Pagels, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas

Currently reading:
Nevada Barr, Endangered Species
Marge Piercy, Sex Wars

Up next:
Nevada Barr, Liberty Falling
Richard Feynman, What do you care what other people think? (I'd started reading this but left off awhile ago)
Murray Sperber, Beer and Circus: how big-time college sports is crippling undergraduate education

Skimming so I can catalog 'em*:
a shload of digitized 19th & 20th century German Jewish periodicals

*doesn't count as "reading"; but man oh man, am I spending a lot of time looking at them!

[EDIT] goofed on the dates -- it's 19th & 20th, not 18th & 19th. Duhhh.

blah Wrote:I just finished reading Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. I have now read all 3 non-DaVinci books by Brown and have been disappointed by each one.


They all start out with a cool premise and storyline, but all become very obvious and boring down the stretch.

Angels & Demons was the best Dan Brown book. Hands down. Digital Fortess was a joke, and Deception Point was even worse.

blah Wrote:I am a big fan of John Sandford. He has written probably 15+ "Prey" series books about a homicide detective named Lucas Davenport. They are set up in a similar fashion to books by James Patterson, but I think that Sandford is a better writer.

If you enjoy Patterson, pick one of Sandford's books up. You can usually find them at a used book store for like a buck or 2. Sandford does write them in a chronological order (i.e. besides the murder investigation, the character's lives are discussed) so if you start near the beginning of the series it will make more sense as you read. (i.e. kind of like watching Seinfeld. Knowing the history isn't critical to understanding the plot, but adds to it if you do.)

Patterson's a hack. His early Alex Cross stuff was great, but ever since leaving the DC PD, and going FBI, the books have stunk.

Currently, I'm reading "A Confederacy of Dunces", by John Kennedy Toole. Hilarious. Too bad the guy got so depressed he killed himself before the book (or anything else he might have ever written) got published.

I'm a big fan of James Rollins, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, Clive Cussler, Jack DuBrul, Jeffery Deaver, Michael Connelly, and a few more. I'll read anything written by that list above without worry of quality dropping. (Although Cussler's recent work is questionable, he has plenty of books in his catalogue that do NOT suck, and will keep you reading for a long time).

lauramac Wrote:Currently reading:
Marge Piercy, Sex Wars

I know how that one ends.....

The woman always wins. ;-)

blah Wrote:

lauramac Wrote:Currently reading:
Marge Piercy, Sex Wars

I know how that one ends.....

The woman always wins. ;-)

And the man takes up residence on the couch!

rteynor Wrote:Currently, I'm reading "A Confederacy of Dunces", by John Kennedy Toole. Hilarious.

Indeed! lmfao

I am a fan of many of Peter Benchley's books.

GrayBeard Wrote:

Sophandros Wrote:....Still, I appreciate his effort to get the masses to think about certain topics, .....

How is a complete work of fiction supposed to "get the masses to think about certain topics"?

I am currently reading The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life by Charles Stanley

Well, people think about the stuff in the Bible, now don't they?

lauramac Wrote:Just finished reading:
Elaine Pagels, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas

Currently reading:
Nevada Barr, Endangered Species
Marge Piercy, Sex Wars

Up next:
Nevada Barr, Liberty Falling
Richard Feynman, What do you care what other people think? (I'd started reading this but left off awhile ago)
Murray Sperber, Beer and Circus: how big-time college sports is crippling undergraduate education

Skimming so I can catalog 'em*:
a shload of digitized 18th & 19th century German Jewish periodicals

*doesn't count as "reading"; but man oh man, am I spending a lot of time looking at them!

I like Pagels and her approach to things.

Sophandros Wrote:

GrayBeard Wrote:

Sophandros Wrote:....Still, I appreciate his effort to get the masses to think about certain topics, .....

How is a complete work of fiction supposed to "get the masses to think about certain topics"?

I am currently reading The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life by Charles Stanley

Well, people think about the stuff in the Bible, now don't they?

Sophandros, the drama queen. I absolutely regret taking the bait that you tossed out there.

rteynor Wrote:

blah Wrote:I just finished reading Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. I have now read all 3 non-DaVinci books by Brown and have been disappointed by each one.


They all start out with a cool premise and storyline, but all become very obvious and boring down the stretch.

Angels & Demons was the best Dan Brown book. Hands down. Digital Fortess was a joke, and Deception Point was even worse.

blah Wrote:I am a big fan of John Sandford. He has written probably 15+ "Prey" series books about a homicide detective named Lucas Davenport. They are set up in a similar fashion to books by James Patterson, but I think that Sandford is a better writer.

If you enjoy Patterson, pick one of Sandford's books up. You can usually find them at a used book store for like a buck or 2. Sandford does write them in a chronological order (i.e. besides the murder investigation, the character's lives are discussed) so if you start near the beginning of the series it will make more sense as you read. (i.e. kind of like watching Seinfeld. Knowing the history isn't critical to understanding the plot, but adds to it if you do.)

Patterson's a hack. His early Alex Cross stuff was great, but ever since leaving the DC PD, and going FBI, the books have stunk.

Currently, I'm reading "A Confederacy of Dunces", by John Kennedy Toole. Hilarious. Too bad the guy got so depressed he killed himself before the book (or anything else he might have ever written) got published.

I'm a big fan of James Rollins, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, Clive Cussler, Jack DuBrul, Jeffery Deaver, Michael Connelly, and a few more. I'll read anything written by that list above without worry of quality dropping. (Although Cussler's recent work is questionable, he has plenty of books in his catalogue that do NOT suck, and will keep you reading for a long time).

Toole also wrote The Neon Bible, which is an unfinished novel.

Confederacy is one of the greatest American novels ever written, IMO.

GrayBeard Wrote:

Sophandros Wrote:

GrayBeard Wrote:

Sophandros Wrote:....Still, I appreciate his effort to get the masses to think about certain topics, .....

How is a complete work of fiction supposed to "get the masses to think about certain topics"?

I am currently reading The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life by Charles Stanley

Well, people think about the stuff in the Bible, now don't they?

Sophandros, the drama queen. I absolutely regret taking the bait that you tossed out there.

Nah, dude, I'm just giving you a hard time. You asked whether fiction can inspire thought, and I responded with the most published peice of fiction that his inspired the most thought.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

BTW, you may have noticed the author of the book I'm currently reading.

Sophandros Wrote:Nah, dude, I'm just giving you a hard time. You asked whether fiction can inspire thought, and I responded with the most published peice of fiction that his inspired the most thought.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

BTW, you may have noticed the author of the book I'm currently reading.

One day the truth will be revealed, but no one can make you see what you refuse to until that time.

As far as your current book, who is it? Should I know him?

GrayBeard Wrote:

Sophandros Wrote:Nah, dude, I'm just giving you a hard time. You asked whether fiction can inspire thought, and I responded with the most published peice of fiction that his inspired the most thought.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

BTW, you may have noticed the author of the book I'm currently reading.

One day the truth will be revealed, but no one can make you see what you refuse to until that time.

As far as your current book, who is it? Should I know him?

Ahh, CS Lewis...sheesh. I have not read any of his stuff, so I didn't get the full name thing.

GrayBeard Wrote:

GrayBeard Wrote:

Sophandros Wrote:Nah, dude, I'm just giving you a hard time. You asked whether fiction can inspire thought, and I responded with the most published peice of fiction that his inspired the most thought.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

BTW, you may have noticed the author of the book I'm currently reading.

One day the truth will be revealed, but no one can make you see what you refuse to until that time.

As far as your current book, who is it? Should I know him?

Ahh, CS Lewis...sheesh. I have not read any of his stuff, so I didn't get the full name thing.

No worries at all.

Lots of non-fiction, heavily focused on 3-6 page articles related to relevant scientific advances.

I forsee this trend continuing for at least the next 3-4 months, with a slight shift into reading larger works of my own invention. (EDIT: that's also soon to be a recurring feature of l-mac's reading list as well)

:goodnight: