Book Club

[Guest]

I like books, and I like guns. There's a gun thread, why not a book thread?

 

Discuss any books. Picture books, colouring books, novels, textbooks, rulebooks, workbooks, as well as notebooks.

 

Spoiler

Idk what the mods' views are on political books like The Prince, The Social Contract, & The Communist Manifesto as those are books but also political, however they're political ideas & more so philosophy so if an admin wants to chime in that might help with the guidelines.

 

To start out, I was curious about the Dune books. Has anyone read those? Do you like them?

Link to the book series I am talking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(franchise)

[The1Dickens]

33 minutes ago, fpo said:

Discuss any books.

What about audiobooks? I prefer to listen while I work, drive, clean, etc. Do those count?

[Guest]

8 hours ago, The1Dickens said:

What about audiobooks? I prefer to listen while I work, drive, clean, etc. Do those count?

Why not? 

[The1Dickens]

Console Wars

-SEGA, Nintendo, and The Battle That Defined A Generation-

Written By: Blake J. Harris; Narrated by: Fred Berman

"A mesmerizing behind-the-scenes business thriller that chronicles how SEGA, a small, scrappy gaming company led by an unlikely visionary and a team of rebels, took on the juggernaut Nintendo and revolutionized the video-game industry."

 

I originally grabbed this book, because the length is 20 hours and 41 minutes. I grabbed a lot of books that are longer, because I didn't have to worry too much about starting something else mid-shift at work. This story is based on over 200 interviews of former employees of both SEGA and Nintendo, pitching both sides of the narrative. You get to learn about things that didn't get much publicity at the time, like how SEGA tried to implement a ratings system prior to ESRB. They humanize all the personalities, flaws and all, of the titans of the industry at the time, and how SEGA started to develop internal conflicts that we can see ultimately led to its demise in the hardware market. I found this book to be more entertaining than I was originally expecting, and I have listened to it multiple times already. I enjoy how the narrator delivers the various personalities, inflecting to add tension, stress, or reservedness to the quotes.

 

Side note: For my Audible settings, I found the default speed to be too slow to sound like "casual conversation" type speech, so I have the speed set to 1.2x. To me, this sounds more like someone is talking to me, rather than reading to me, and has greatly improved my experience with audiobooks.

[Volbet]

I just finished Thomas Piketty's Capital In the Twenty-First Century today. It was okay. Kinda lacked pathos and analysis notes, but a very enlightening anyway. 

 

14 hours ago, fpo said:

To start out, I was curious about the Dune books. Has anyone read those? Do you like them?

Link to the book series I am talking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(franchise)

I've read the first three Dune book and enjoyed all three. After the initial shock of reading a sci-fi book using a fantasy writing style, I found the world and characters very engaging.  

[Guest]

40 minutes ago, Emulator said:

I recently read "1984" by George Orwell. I was struck by this book and am still thinking about this book. Those who did not read it, I assure you, you will not regret it.

I heard the “TL;DR” summary. Still worth the full read? 

[The1Dickens]

12 hours ago, fpo said:

I heard the “TL;DR” summary. Still worth the full read? 

I would say it is, myself.

[greenhorn]

21 hours ago, Emulator said:

I recently read "1984" by George Orwell. I was struck by this book and am still thinking about this book. Those who did not read it, I assure you, you will not regret it.

I can recommend it as well. I would also suggest reading "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley and "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, which are must reads imho.
 also liked "I am legend" by Richard Matheson. I liked it much better than the movie (with Will Smith) that is based on it

[Guest]

On 7/16/2020 at 11:53 PM, fpo said:

I like books, and I like guns. There's a gun thread, why not a book thread?

 

Discuss any books. Picture books, colouring books, novels, textbooks, rulebooks, workbooks, as well as notebooks.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Idk what the mods' views are on political books like The Prince, The Social Contract, & The Communist Manifesto as those are books but also political, however they're political ideas & more so philosophy so if an admin wants to chime in that might help with the guidelines.

 

To start out, I was curious about the Dune books. Has anyone read those? Do you like them?

Link to the book series I am talking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(franchise)

I would recommend the Halo novels for anyone interested in just general sci-fi stuff, even if you have no interest in the game itself. After reading most of the core novels I actually stopped playing after Halo 3 because the games weren't doing the lore any justice, in my opinion at least. Most are well grounded, realistic, witty and have a sort of charm about them that I consider them top tier books for sci-fi adventure types.

[The1Dickens]

Masters Of DOOM

Written by: David Kushner; Narrated by Wil Wheaton

"Masters of DOOM is the amazing true story of the Lennon and McCartney of video games: John Carmack and John Romero. Together, they ruled big business. They transformed popular culture. And the provoked a national controversy."

 

I really enjoyed this book. If you're a fan of history of tech-related things, then this is one worth reading/listening to. Wil adds plenty of energy to certain moments, like when the group is playing D&D, and it helps to split the story into 'in the moment' memories, and 'in hindsight/recollection' memories. Some great humor moments, like after Romero left id, showed up at E3 to showcase his new game, but instead started gushing about how awesome the new id game was going to be. Carmack's growth follows from the programs he used to write for magazines (when they were small enough to publish), to his getting in to rocket science, always in the pursuit of knowledge, and making his brain work.

[Gix7Fifty]

Carnivore: Dillard Johnson and his Bradley Fighting Vehicle during the Iraq War. 

It's controversial that he is one of the deadliest American soldiers of all time but it's still a good read/listen.

 

I'm about to start House to House: SSG David Bellavia.

[Bombastinator]

I’m just starting. “Myth of a Christian nation” on audible.  It was suggested to me.  I have no idea if I’m going to like it or not.  It’s apparently written by an evangelical pastor, but the person who suggested it to me is pretty blue, so I really have no idea what I’m going to hear. 

[KablahGaming]

Mostly a comic reader here, but have recently been reading Mark Owens books like No Hero.

[Bombastinator]

23 minutes ago, KablahGaming said:

Mostly a comic reader here, but have recently been reading Mark Owens books like No Hero.

Hmmm...  good books for people who like comics...  what comics are you into?  I’d suggest wild cards, assuming supers, but it can get kinda dark.  There’s a villain with a literally addictive personality that’s really kind of horrific.  Maybe it will still work if you liked no hero. It’s darker than no hero though.

[PhantomDragon]

I always used to have at least one book checked out from the library. Alas, they are closed but I still read off their app from time to time. Science Fiction is at the top of my list for now. Recently read The Long Sunset by Jack McDevitt. It had a cool idea for quick space travel I found intriguing and its take on alien life. Also enjoyed the Felicia Sevigny Novel series by Catherine Cerveny. Besides SciFi, I bought the first 3 books of the Witcher series from Barnes and Noble in early Feb. Still need to finish Blood of Elves. Had gotten to hooked on the game when I finally bought a PC to handle it.

[X-System]

Hello, I like manga books. I have 1406 volumes (244 titles)

 

Picture of part of the manga books (I have other book sheft for unread manga books. When I read a book, I put in this big sheft)

 

[Volbet]

I just finished a reread of the Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Really cemented that it is one of the greatest novels ever written.

Now I just have to start on the Stormlight Archives series by Brandon Sanderson. I've heard really good things about the series so far. 

 

3 hours ago, PhantomJaguar77 said:

I always used to have at least one book checked out from the library. Alas, they are closed but I still read off their app from time to time. Science Fiction is at the top of my list for now. Recently read The Long Sunset by Jack McDevitt. It had a cool idea for quick space travel I found intriguing and its take on alien life. Also enjoyed the Felicia Sevigny Novel series by Catherine Cerveny. Besides SciFi, I bought the first 3 books of the Witcher series from Barnes and Noble in early Feb. Still need to finish Blood of Elves. Had gotten to hooked on the game when I finally bought a PC to handle it.

Good luck reading the Witcher Saga. It's one of my favorite modern fantasy series. 

[Bombastinator]

3 hours ago, Lord Vile said:

Should read animal farm and the road to Wigan pier 

The problem with Orwell and Rand and a bunch of other editorial political tracts masquerading as novels from whatever political direction is they’re just that.  They use the novel format to hide their intent and pull tricks with plot to make their position seem more reasonable than it is.   it’s conceptually abusive to the reader.

[Bombastinator]

8 minutes ago, Lord Vile said:

Or you can just read the book?

..and risk getting brain washed..  there are books from various political directions like this. It’s a problem to look out for.  Speculative fiction can be a hotbed of these because it provides the best medium for abuse.  The ability to manipulate history and reality means they can’t intrude on the purity of whatever concept.  Doesn’t make them bad books necessarily.  Orwell is a good writer.  Better than many.  Animal farm was written in the US in the 1950’s during the height of the red scare. It’s considered classic Cold War propaganda. Doesn’t make it bad.  It merely means it’s useful to keep in mind what it is.

[Bombastinator]

Just now, Lord Vile said:

Or you can just read it as a piece of fiction. You can read anything and draw a political agenda out of it if you wish 

The issue is the book is specifically designed to have a political agenda drawn.  To force it happening even.  I’m just saying one needs to be aware. It’s in no way unique like that. 

[wall03]

I'm reading David Copperfield.

[Bombastinator]

Just now, wall03 said:

I'm reading David Copperfield.

The thing I remember about that writer is he was paid by the word so the language can get florid.  That book has its own point in history in which it sat.  19th century Britian.  Iirc it was originally written as serialized magazine articles.

[Tan3l6]

I've read I.Asimov "Foundation"  

Now Apple is making a TV series.

 

 

[KablahGaming]

11 hours ago, Bombastinator said:

what comics are you into?

Mostly Star Trek. I have read some older ones like sad sack, GI Tales. See a trend here? I have read the occasional Marvel or DC hero comics with the kids when they wanted some. And plenty of the pony, sugar and spice stuff out there. Kids.... what a joy!

 

11 hours ago, Bombastinator said:

I’d suggest wild cards

Will look into this!! Thank you.

 

Here are a few I had within hands reach.

[Volbet]

3 hours ago, Bombastinator said:

The problem with Orwell and Rand and a bunch of other editorial political tracts masquerading as novels from whatever political direction is they’re just that.  They use the novel format to hide their intent and pull tricks with plot to make their position seem more reasonable than it is.   it’s conceptually abusive to the reader.

Well, neither Rand nor Orwell were coy about their books being political. Both used novels as a way to underline and examplify their political and philosophical outlooks. It's hardly abuse of the reader, if the reader is aware of the intend.

 

For example, the explicit political commentary of Animal Farm was why T.S. Eliot rejected the book for publication in 1944.