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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
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Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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March 21, 2020 What are you reading?
Since we are spending so much time at home, I am guessing most of us are reading a lot. I go thru a book about every three days and my favorite
author, for quite a while now, is James Patterson.
I own a small collection of his books and last Christmas Mom gave me at least 10 that I did not own. I am old school, I can do kindle but I love the
feel of a book in my hands.
I just finished reading TICK TOCK, published in 2011, so not a new one. Very enjoyable and the best part, one suffers and suffers while the action
unfolds but the endings are positive. Me gusta, for sure!
He is best, in my opinion, when he writes alone, but he has taken to adding co-writers. Some change the tone in a good way, some not so much.
Today, I started THE BIG BAD WOLF. Russian mafia mixed with sex slavery of prominent white women.
What are you reading amigos and amigas? And who is your favorite author and why?
[Edited on 3-21-2020 by BajaBlanca]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Reading 'Vintage Baja', again right now...
The author relates her travel stories from Baja that date back to the 1930s.
So many of the stories are from the times of my travels beginning in 1965.
Published in 1993.
[Edited on 3-21-2020 by David K]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3687
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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Best thread yet!!
Now you are on my favorite subject
In 2018, just for fun, I kept track of all the books I read, total for the year was 154..
Currently reading "Our 50 state border crisis" by Howard Buffett
essential reading for nomads!!
Also reading "American Dirt" controversial but good reading
The latest "Gray Man" book - trash, but good trash
"Race of Aces" great true story of WWII pilots
Here is a cut/paste of an email I sent to a fellow book lover last week....
Books, books, books
Let’s start with non-fiction
I am currently reading Steve Inskeep’s “Imperfect Union” about John Fremont
Inskeep recently wrote “Jacksonland” about the Indians and Pres Jackson
Also reading “ Every drop of blood” by Achorn about Lincoln’s second inauguration
“Race of Aces” by Bruning, about P38 pilots in WW2
Paul Theroux “On the plain of snakes” a travel through Mexico
3 books by Candace Millard are really great:
“Hero of the empire” Churchill in SaAfrica Boer prison
“Destiny of the republic” How Garfield’s quack doc killed him
“River of doubt” Teddy Roosevelt ordeal in the Amazon
“Without Precedent” The story of chief justice Marshall by Joel Paul
And finally, trying to keep calm and reading a Psalm each day,
Read the "Sermon on the Mount" from Matthew this week.
"Encounters with Jesus" by Tim Keller is a very affirming read.
And final final.... sorry about your fixation on James Patterson.
He is such a formula crank/out dude. A book a month? Spare me!!!
fiction…..
“Winter soldier” by Mason
“City of thieves” by Benioff
Don Winslow is one of my favorite authors
Try the Border Trilogy starting with “Power of the Dog” amazing stuff
Also read his books on the Mafia and NYCity cops
If you have not yet read James Lee Burke you are missing one of the best fiction writers ever. Very lyrical writing, and great stories
Start with “House of the Rising Sun”
My other favorite macho writers///// Lee Child, Robert Crais, Nelson DeMille, John Sanford, Jeffrey Deaver, Greg Iles “Natchez Burning” 4 books…
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The last book I finished... and I will review it in the Baja Nomad Literature forum... is Herman Hill's Second Edition of Baja's Hidden Gold,
published in 2014 by the late Roger Stillman of the Villa Bahía Hotel...
Like the first edition, a very entertaining read... only now with more stories added.
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pauldavidmena
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Posts: 1686
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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I am reading Fantasy Island, Colonialism, Exploitation, and the Betrayal of Puerto Rico, because I'm not angry enough about the uncanny ability of our
government to exploit a vulnerable population to enrich corporations.
So far it's pretty heavy-handed, written from a Puerto Rican Nationalist point of view, which doesn't necessarily represent the sentiment of most
islanders. It is enlightening to read the history of the relationship between the mainland and its unincorporated territory over the decades, but I'm
going to need a few cheap rum c-cktails to get through it.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
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Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Biography
Theobald Wolfe Tone (1763-1798), A Life (Henry Boylan)
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paranewbi
Senior Nomad
Posts: 913
Registered: 4-15-2011
Location: San diego
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Paul within Judaism, Mark D. Nanos
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pauldavidmena
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Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena  | I am reading Fantasy Island, Colonialism, Exploitation, and the Betrayal of Puerto Rico, because I'm not angry enough about the uncanny ability of our
government to exploit a vulnerable population to enrich corporations.
So far it's pretty heavy-handed, written from a Puerto Rican Nationalist point of view, which doesn't necessarily represent the sentiment of most
islanders. It is enlightening to read the history of the relationship between the mainland and its unincorporated territory over the decades, but I'm
going to need a few cheap rum c-cktails to get through it. |
When I'm reading a weighty book, I often try to balance things out by reading a shorter, more lighthearted book at the same time, switching between
the two. For that reason I'm also reading Talk Dirty Spanish by Alexis Munier and Laura Martinez. It's a tasty paella of Spanish and Latin American slang.
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Floatflyer
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Location: Whidbey Island, WA
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Mood: Wet & Cold
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Now reading "Fear-Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward, lead reporter for 2 Pulitzer Prize Awards.
Next will be Full Disclosure by S. Daniels
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RocketJSquirrel
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The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century
by George Friedman.
https://www.amazon.com/Next-100-Years-Forecast-Century/dp/07...
Geo political view of the next 100 years - written about 2008-09 - pretty good prediction and well thought out overall theory.
Didn't read much past the 2050s as just too far out timewise.
He didn't predict the virus. But still a very interesting book written in a readable style.
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John Harper
Super Nomad
Posts: 2289
Registered: 3-9-2017
Location: SoCal
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | Now you are on my favorite subject
Steve Inskeep’s “Imperfect Union” about John Fremont
Inskeep recently wrote “Jacksonland” about the Indians and Pres Jackson
“Race of Aces” by Bruning, about P38 pilots in WW2
“River of doubt” Teddy Roosevelt ordeal in the Amazon
“Without Precedent” The story of chief justice Marshall by Joel Paul
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Those all look very interesting to me, love good history stories. I need to find long and detailed books or I just burn through them too fast. I
have subscriptions to the NYT, LAT, and WSJ and devour them daily.
Just finished: "Stillwell: The American Experience in China" by Tuchman
Now reading, for the third or fourth time:"Vietnam, A History" by Karnow
Next up: "The 7 Pillars" by T.E. Lawrence, and "Guns of August" by Tuchman.
John
[Edited on 3-22-2020 by John Harper]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3687
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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| Quote: Originally posted by John Harper | | Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | Now you are on my favorite subject
Steve Inskeep’s “Imperfect Union” about John Fremont
Inskeep recently wrote “Jacksonland” about the Indians and Pres Jackson
“Race of Aces” by Bruning, about P38 pilots in WW2
“River of doubt” Teddy Roosevelt ordeal in the Amazon
“Without Precedent” The story of chief justice Marshall by Joel Paul
|
Those all look very interesting to me, love good history stories. I need to find long and detailed books or I just burn through them too fast. I
have subscriptions to the NYT, LAT, and WSJ and devour them daily.
Just finished: "Stillwell: The American Experience in China" by Tuchman
Now reading, for the third or fourth time:"Vietnam, A History" by Karnow
Next up: "The 7 Pillars" by T.E. Lawrence, and "Guns of August" by Tuchman.
John
[Edited on 3-22-2020 by John Harper] |
Thanks John, I was afraid this thread was gone way south
History....
I have found that just working my way through the US presidents was helpful
I guess my two favorites were John Quincy Adams, possibly even more diversely talented than Jefferson (and one of the first abolitionists) and Polk,
who shamelessly stole Mexico and more land than any other.
"These Truths" by Jill Leipore…. a one volume history of the US
excellent!!
Ron Chernow has done great work on Adams #1, US Grant and Hamilton.
Sort of lightweight history, but still good, the series by Brian Kilmeade. I am currently reading "Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers."
Even though it is fiction, the Border Trilogy by Don Winslow is amazing insight into the cartels and current related bad stuff. Start with the first
one "Gone for Soldiers"
Final note.
Anyone who has a library card can get on your library website and sign onto free ebooks. Ours is CL (Cloud Library) and I use it extensively. Also
has free audio books
Here is a happy tip.... California residents can get a library card in any California county. 53 counties- 53 cards. You just have to sign up in
person (not much help during the current shutdown, but all you need is your card number and away you go)
Good reading folks.....
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1301
Registered: 1-21-2017
Location: Here now
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Mood: Abiding ..........
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War and peace,,,,, That auta last me through this virus thingy.....
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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tbnoble
Junior Nomad
Posts: 32
Registered: 2-18-2017
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Finally a good thread.
Currently reading "Holy Envy" Barbara Brown Taylor exploring world religions
"Bridging Infinity" Jonathan Strahan sci fi collection
and since I teach economics
"Good Economics for Hard Times" Abhijit Banerjee seems currently appropriate though I started it in February
"Narrative Economics: How stories go viral and drive major economic events" Robert J Shiller looks at economics from the stories that drive economics
"A Good Provider is One Who Leaves" Jason DeParle examines the economics and culture of economic migrants primarily from the Philippines
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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War I Fare
The Guns of August is superb. The Zimmerman Telegram by Barbara Tuchman is another great insight into our
involvement.
If WWI is a favored subject, The First World War by John Keegan (available on Kindle) is a great read for both the events
leading into the "accidental war" and the war itself.
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John Harper
Super Nomad
Posts: 2289
Registered: 3-9-2017
Location: SoCal
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner |
History....
I have found that just working my way through the US presidents was helpful
I guess my two favorites were John Quincy Adams, possibly even more diversely talented than Jefferson (and one of the first abolitionists) and Polk,
who shamelessly stole Mexico and more land than any other.
"These Truths" by Jill Leipore…. a one volume history of the US
excellent!!
Ron Chernow has done great work on Adams #1, US Grant and Hamilton.
Final note.
Anyone who has a library card can get on your library website and sign onto free ebooks. Ours is CL (Cloud Library) and I use it extensively. Also
has free audio books
Here is a happy tip.... California residents can get a library card in any California county. 53 counties- 53 cards. You just have to sign up in
person (not much help during the current shutdown, but all you need is your card number and away you go)
Good reading folks..... |
Yes, I was looking at Chernow's books as well. My sister is sending me an older iPad and I'm linked to the local library for ebooks. One of the
contributing reasons I came home from Wyoming this summer was that I had nothing to read, it was horrible. Picked up anything I could find, right
wing, left wing, real estate catalogs (Jackson), etc. I realiized I needed to do something for this summer's trip, and my sis said she's send me the
iPad so I would not have to carry books. Although I still think a physical book is much better.
Yes, I have library cards for Mammoth and Lone Pine in addition to my local card.
John
[Edited on 3-22-2020 by John Harper]
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John Harper
Super Nomad
Posts: 2289
Registered: 3-9-2017
Location: SoCal
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| Quote: Originally posted by MrBillM | The Guns of August is superb. The Zimmerman Telegram by Barbara Tuchman is another great insight into our
involvement.
If WWI is a favored subject, The First World War by John Keegan (available on Kindle) is a great read for both the events
leading into the "accidental war" and the war itself. |
Thanks for the recommendations. Zimmerman was on my list as well. I'll look into Keegan's book.
My dad was more into Civil War, maybe since I'm the next generation my interest lies in later conflicts. I've also read extensively on the Korean War
and early Cold War. Especially aerospace development.
John
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
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Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Gore Vidal's BURR
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BajaBill74
Nomad
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Registered: 1-27-2014
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Mood: Beyond Extatic!
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I love light humerus novels. My favorite author is Stuart Woods.
His primary series is "Stone Barrington"
There is also a "Teddy Fay" series from a character in the Stone Barrington series.
[Edited on 3-22-2020 by BajaBill74]
What I'm doing at work is so secret, even I don't know what I'm doing!
One should believe in God, because even Google doesn't know everything.
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John Harper
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I've read it, it's very good.
John
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