• TomFin
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Just Considerations
Comment,opinion, reflections on politics, social issues and life in Thailand
Permalink : http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/justconsiderations
Thursday , October 18 , 2007
What Are You Reading?
Posted by TomFin , Reader : 585 , 12:03:15  
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While this Blog site is not representative of anything, it is fun to find out what people are reading.


To get it started I have just finished:


“John Adams” a biography by Davis McCullough


I am now reading:

“Tree of Smoke” a novel by Dennis Johnson set in Vietnam during 1964 – 1983

“Making Globalization Work”  by Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel winner in economic

Coming next will be:



“The Coldest Winter”  by Davis Halberstam concerning America and the Korean War.

“Truman”  by Davis McCullough, A bigoraphy o Harry Truman

“Founding Brothers”  by Joseph Ellis. A history of several of the founding fathers o The United States.

“On Chesil Beach”  a novel by Ian McEwan

“On the Road”  the American classic by Jack Kerouac

Read comment

comment 22
windy date : 30/10/2007 time : 12.56
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/lisnaree
Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

I just finished a book named The Double by Portuguese writer Jose Saramago. a little twisted, philosophical maybe and I am trying to figure out what the book is all about.

Anyway, I am going to continue reading "The Historian" which my friend recommended to me...
I also have to read the "Life of Pi" which I've stopped reading for a while, as I couldn't really understand the religion aspect of it.

Love this topic!
comment 21
narcisuss date : 29/10/2007 time : 22.06
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/narcisuss
I  come in peace :)

Right now I'm reading:
Social Intelligence (Daniel Goleman)
Gordon Brown ( Francis Beckett)
Hard Call (John McCain)

When I finish social intelligence I will start on 'The world is flat'.
comment 20
Ian date : 22/10/2007 time : 21.23
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/anterian36

Tom, actually about 30% on my list were British:-) But yes, America has very much fostered the growth of SF and mostly due to one man and his magazine, John W. Campbell's "Astounding Science Fiction". He gave early writers in the field a chance to publish which otherwise did not exist.
Earlier publications such as "Weird Tales", "Amazing Stories", "Wonder Stories", never achieved the same level of support or respectability.
comment 19
TomFin date : 22/10/2007 time : 14.58
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/justconsiderations

Ian, you have a strong interest in science fiction writing. It is interesting that almost every one on the long list is American. The United States must be good for the production of SciFi and fantasy writers

William Tenn (a pseudonym paying homage to Tennessee Williams) was born in London but moved to New York when he was two and grew up in Brooklyn. James White is Irish

Harlan Ellison wrote the original Stat Trek series and some Twilight Zones episodes(my favorite TV. Show). Robert Heinlein invented the water bed
comment 18
Ian date : 22/10/2007 time : 13.11
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/anterian36

I'm definitely the odd one out here, apart from Bill Bryson I have not heard of any of the authors or titles you are bandying about.
So let me add my list of fiction authors, from memory rather than by perusing my collection:-)
Isaac Asimov, Andre Norton, Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony, David Eddings, Harlan Ellison, Philip José Farmer, James Blish, Raymond E. Feist, Joe Haldeman, Robert Jordan, Katharine Kerr,
Katherine Kurtz, Michael Moorcock, Larry Niven, Fred Saberhagen, William Tenn, Harry Turtledove, Jack Vance, James White, Roger Zelazny.
comment 17
catch22 date : 22/10/2007 time : 12.21
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/catch22

Skybird - Sorry about the French. It's 'Rememberance of things past' by Marcel Proust.
comment 16
skybird date : 22/10/2007 time : 10.25
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/skybird

Catch - Thank you. Point well taken.

Your comment actually made me think (dangerous... this "thinking" thingie)... thinking why I usually like to seek out others' opinion - whether it is about a book or whateverelse.

I like having information before making my decisions. So that's a part of the data gathering process, I guess.

Now that you explained your opinion of the books more in details, I think the book goes towards the bottom of my reading list. I might get it if my plane is delayed or something like that.

And yes, I did read "A Walk In the Wood". It's the first Bill Bryson book I read, and I liked his sense of humor.

And that French title you mentioned.... that piqued my curiosity... I'll google it just to see what kind of book it might be...
comment 15
catch22 date : 21/10/2007 time : 13.50
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/catch22

Skybird.....And I would like to add. If you want to read Micky Mouse then read it. If you want to read 'A la reschere du temps purdue' then read it. But for heavens sake read them because you want to and not because some pseudo intellectual tells you that you should or should not or its good or bad. Book critics, theatre critics and movie critics all belong in the same pseudo intellectual garbage bag.
comment 14
catch22 date : 21/10/2007 time : 00.42
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/catch22

Skybird - don't take notice of what I recommend or anyone else for that matter - what do we know? Go with your instincts and find out for yourself. For me the book is Ok, but its just another take on middle America in the 50's and 60's, which was done much better in his earlier American pee take books. If you haven't read all the others then you'll like this. Have you read 'A walk in the Woods'. bloody hilarious.
comment 13
skybird date : 20/10/2007 time : 13.04
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/skybird

Last five books:
"The Innocent Man", the first non-fiction by John Grisham.
"Hindsights" Guy Kawasaki
"What's So Amazing About Grace" Philip Yancey
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" You-Know-Who
And the last one -- Murder of a Lemon Pie (or something like that - It was supposed to be a thoughtless book for a lazy day. But it turns out to be more thoughtless than I could bear. So didn't go past a couple of chapters.)

Recommend all except the last one.

And Catch -- I generally like Bill Bryson's books so when I first saw your list I made a mental note to pick it up. But then it is the only one you do not recommend... May be I need to google the review of this book first.
comment 12
Pondering date : 20/10/2007 time : 07.25
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/pondering

Poomjai....I first read 'In Cold Blood' when taking literature journalism class in college. I remember it was a pain to have to study every word Capote was using and all. After all, it's a great book, very interesting piece.

I've also read: Marley and Me...a book about a Lab, another good book. Also a non-fiction.
comment 11
Poomjai date : 19/10/2007 time : 16.32
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/poomjai

You are absolutely right Catch. Ok then, I am also reading

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

And I am proud to admit that I have read virtually every book by both Tom Clancy and Wilbur Smith!

Plus, for magazines, hard to beat Viz!
comment 10
catch22 date : 19/10/2007 time : 16.10
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/catch22

PJ - One mans trash is another mans treasure. Hope you enjoy Private Dancer.

Never justify what you are reading - some people like others to think they only read intellectual books.
comment 9
Poomjai date : 19/10/2007 time : 15.50
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/poomjai

I am reading:

Mr China - Tim Clissold

Food for the heart - Ajahn Chah

Private Dancer - Stephen Leather (ok I know it is trashy, but I met the author and he gave me a copy)
comment 8
TomFin date : 19/10/2007 time : 11.35
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/justconsiderations

"In Cold Blood" is a fine book. Capote called this a "non-fiction novel" It was a new form off writing that Norman Mailer, Tom Wolfe and others later followed.
comment 7
Pondering date : 19/10/2007 time : 07.58
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/pondering

"The Quiet Strength" by Whitaker as told by Coach Dungy, Indianapolis Colt Head Coach.

........and I personally recommend you guys "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote if you have not yet read it. Great book of all time.

I only read non-fictions.
comment 6
GGrass date : 18/10/2007 time : 23.54
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/GGrass

Car Weekly (2nd hand car magazine)
Golf Digest
comment 5
veen date : 18/10/2007 time : 19.03
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/veen

I prefer reading fictions. Just finished reading two books last week - "The 5th Hourseman" by James Patterson and "The Interpretation of Murder" by Jed Rubenfeld. I prefer the latter between the two.
Now I'm reading Michael Crichton's "Next". Hope I'll make a progress during this weekend.
comment 4
wisekwai date : 18/10/2007 time : 17.39
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/wisekwai

After reading newspapers, blogs and wire-service feeds all day, along with watching movies (for fun and for work), and doing more reading to keep up with the movies, I don't make much time day-to-day for recreational book reading.

During my vacation times, I enjoy reading trashy novels. On my last trip to the States, my mom got me hooked on the Jack Reacher novels of Lee Child.
comment 3
catch22 date : 18/10/2007 time : 15.10
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/catch22

The Kalahari Typing School for Men
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
New Europe - Michael Palin
Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson

I recommend the first 4 only
comment 2
Pomjuk date : 18/10/2007 time : 14.16
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/pomjuk

Bummer! Talk about reading, I’ve got 2 books to finish by today for a sailing class. Bear boat chartering and sailing Catamaran. And I haven't started yet.
comment 1
ahaaha007 date : 18/10/2007 time : 13.39

Hi Tom,

Just a curiosity, have you read "See Pan Ding" by the late ML Krungrit Pramote?

It would help you to understand the Thai society.
Just a suggestion from a blogger friend.
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