Finally bought Under The Dome a few days ago. Still got the last two Dark Tower books to read though. Not sure why I left it so long in between them really, but I'll get on Under The Dome after that. Is it anywhere near the standard of The Stand? It had a few conparisons to it when it came out.

it was pretty good

i can def see why people would make the comparison cause of how he builds the characters and the "doom and gloom" of the situation

nothing compares to the stand

you should def read The Talisman and Black House if you haven't

I ended up getting this..

It's the first of a three part series and seems like a light, fun read..

Any read Gaiman?? Nevermore or that American Gods book??

Neverwhere is fine (even if Gaimen never liked it), helps if you 'get' the reference a little but not much, he did one with Terry Pratchett as well 'Good Omens' which is well worth a look if you want something fun.

The Indispensable Milton Friedman- a collection of essays from Friedman's career beginning in the fifties through the new millennium, highlighting his libertarian/capitalist outlook and reasoning as the best paths forward. I heard about Friedman as a lone wolf during JFK and LBJ 1960's liberalism and decided to check into what the man was about. I loved it and it is quite a read for people looking to expand their thoughts on politics and economics.

I read American Gods, and I really enjoyed it.

Yeah have fun with that. I liked the ending, but everything between that and Wolves of the Calla is utter trash, imo.

i started hating them at the beginning of III The Waste Lands when the lobster monster takes half his hand..

:(

Almost President: The Men Who Lost But Changed the Nation

A great book reviewing various men who ran for the highest office but lost, yet still made an impact on the country one way or another. The book highlights historical figures that came close in defeat (Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas, W.J. Bryan, Tom Dewey, Gore, Kerry, and McCain) and the figures that lost big in landslides, though they may have had an even bigger impact than the others (Al Smith, Adlai Stevenson, Barry Goldwater, and George McGovern) as well as the greatest wildcard in American political history, Ross Perot. It's really is a great book if you enjoy history or American politics. Personally, I would have preferred if they included profiles of one or two more important figures with large impacts in defeat, preferably Charles Evans Hughes and Robert LaFollette. Overall, a great read and highly recommended.

Was waiting to get some shots done and reread 400 pages of "Foley is Good"

John Green-The Fault In Our Stars: 8/10

Initially I was somewhat put off by the entirely-too-erudite-for-teens-to-be-speaking dialogue, but it gives way to a nicely underplayed story that refuses to give into maudlin sentimentality. Would that the YA section of the bookstore was papered with John Green copycats instead of Twilight copycats.

"MacArthur's War" by Bevin Alexander

This book caught my attention and I purchased it due to its claim that it was about the MacArthur-Truman showdown during the Korean War. At slightly over 200 pages it is a quick read, but is mostly a recap of the war up until the disagreement over policy and execution of the war between the military God and the Commander in Chief which take up the last 20 pages or show. It's very good and written by a reputable and very well studied author but doesn't make good on the books promise to show how America could have fallen under an authoritarian MacArthur regime. If you are a fan of military history and 20th century political/geopolitical intrigue check it out.

Finished the first three Bourne books. Wonderful. Lots of twists, so it was a bit hard to keep up sometimes since I was reading in spurts on the bus, but I loved them.

Almost have to look at the books and movies as separate Bourne universes to not be disappointed that the latter don't stay true to the former at all (except in the very beginning).

Interested to see where van Lustbader took the characters with the next set of novels.

John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath 9/10

I started this book around this time last year, but I wasn't really in the mindset to really read anything so I didn't get too far into it, and then I began my studies in September and things that were not to do with uni were put aside. Now that my postgrad studies are over I took the book up again and I have to say that it was a fantastic read.

I would like to read more about the American dustbowl and the treatment of "Okies" by businessmen and the authorities in California.

Now moving onto Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge, before returning to Skakespeare's Othello, which I also picked up and dropped ages ago.

"The Savior Generals" by Victor Davis Hanson

This book looks at 5 particular generals who were able to save and/or snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in major wars though they are not usually associated with some of the great military leaders of history. Themistocles was able to defeat the Persians at the Battle of Salamis after the crushing defeat of Thermopylae, Belisarius nearly reformed the old Roman Empire with the Byzantine Empire in the Gothic Wars, William Tecumseh Sherman's drive through the South and capture of Atlanta in the American Civil War, Matthew Ridgway's miracle in Korea (perhaps the most impressive) and David Petraeus' Iraq Surge that turned the tide in the that war. A deft history lesson and look at what makes these exceptional leaders. If you are not a fan of history and how it shapes the present day I recommend it on the Petraeus chapter alone; it gave me a prospective and analysis of the Irag War that I had never been aware of. It may have changed my opinion on the War itself. A fascinating read.

Dan Brown - Inferno 9/10

Absolutely loved this book. I'm a real fan of the Robert Langdon character and knew a fair amount about Dante's Inferno (which fascinated me) before reading this book. It's quite fast paced and moves very quickly, I often found myself reading it for hours on end and couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the twist ending in this book a lot more compared to The Lost Symbol, which had me scratching my head a little bit. Will no doubt read through this multiple times.

Thomas Hardy - The Mayor of Casterbridge 8/10

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower 8/10

Read it in the space of a few hours, dunno, not as cheery as the movie trailer made it out to be which is a terrible reason to read a book anyway I guess.

Kennan: An American Life

This is a single volume biography of 700 pages, focusing on the life of American diplomat, Ambassador, scholar, philosopher, historian and the man that is credited with the concept of "containment" as a plausible strategy during the Cold War: George F. Kennan. He lived from 1904-2005, a long life full of many stories and his life story serves as a wonderful companion to follow along with western history during the 20th century from a time before automobiles and WWI through a post 9/11 world. For those interested in politics, history, or even personal philosophy this is a wonderful read.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Narrative: :y:
Anti-Slavery message: :y:
Pro-Christian message: :n:

Robinson Crusoe

Narrative: :y::n:
Pro-Christian message: :n:

Why I Write by George Orwell.

Not much to say here. If you are a believer in Socialism it's up your alley. Just a few essays.

6.12/10

W. Somerset Maugham - The Magician 8/10

Emile Zola - Therese Raquin 8/10

The Firm - 9/10
The Testament - 7/10
Game of Thrones - 10/10
The Disaster Artist - 9/10
Moby Dick (Currently Reading)

@Nerfs rep message

Yes, it is a tedious read so far. Thinking Call of The Wild next.

Korea: The Impossible Country

Opens with a compact 20 page history of Korea but the entire book is about South Korea from 1945-the present with a focus on its contemporary culture. Religion, food, education, entertainment, social norms and a ton of other tenets of the society are covered and it's an awesome read to broaden your horizons and knowledge of a foreign and not-so-widely discussed culture.

Finished the last game of thrones book. Finally. 8/10

Just when you think things are wrapping up, he swerves. It was originally meant to be a trilogy but he keeps writing and writing.

They take real commitment though.

Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl

Very interesting book from a holocaust survivor / psychiatrist. Basically an existential look at how to find meaning in life when everything you've had has been stripped away. Definitely a suggested read.

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis - 9/10

COOL BOOK

The Professor's House by Willa Cather: 9/10

A modernist masterpiece

No Country for old men-9/10 As good if not better than the film.
1984-10/10 One of the few classics I read in high school that I enjoyed.
Marjoe-7/10 Decent Bio on the infamous child preacher.

http://i.imgur.com/DK2xi16.jpg?1

A good friend hooked me up with an Amazon giftcard for X-mas. I had been wanting this collection of Peter Bagge's Batboy comic from the late great Weekly World News. Found a used copy super cheap. This hardcover reprints the 2 years when Bagge was writing and drawing the strip. Great stuff.

http://i.imgur.com/tyBz0Bw.jpg?1

The newest issue of the best magazine if you love cult,exploitation,horror and classic porn cinema. As always this is a great read.

Final Fantasy: The Sky

Okay, so I didn't read it since there are almost no words. It's an art book dedicated to Yoshitakia Amano's work from FF 1-10. As a kid I hated Amano's art and it even deterred me from playing Final Fantasy 6.(Though my first RPG experience with Dragon Warrior was the main problem) But over the years his art grew on me til I finally "got it".

This set is actually three books, each pertaining to a group of FF games, all together in a gorgeous box. It's not a series retrospective like the Capcom Complete works series. There is no commentary at all. It is a pure art book.

I've seen a lot of amano's art over the years, but this had lodes of stuff I had never seen. It has everything from two page spreads to art for all the monsters. The dark tower gaurdians from FF 3 were particularly cool. The book that contains FF 7-10 is much smaller than the others, as Amano was no longer the head designer. FF 9 actually gets the biggest page count in that book. Interesting though, that Red XIII seemingly may have had a bigger role in the initial stages of FF VIII, as Cloud's pet/companion.

Anyway this is an amazing set, and at 60 bucks, I felt like it was a great deal given the quality.

10/10

Jack Ketchum's-Weed Species

This was originally a very limited print run chapbook. That was later reprinted as part of a mass market paperback. Based on that couple in Canada that were going around kidnapping then raping and killing teenage girls. It takes a lot to turn my stomach and this under 80 page story did that 4 times.

A Game of Thrones

Pretty great stuff. For some reason I was expecting really difficult to read, intricately detailed chapters like Tolkien, but it read more like adult Rowling to me (with more sex and violence than the Harry Potter series, obviously). The whole thing was kind of ruined for me though since I've watched the show. Clash of Kings next.

Approaching Oblivion by Harlan Ellison-8 out of 10

Love Ellison's short fiction and this collection is well done. Plus it was only 50 cents.

ken grimwood "replay"

pass.fail/pass.pass

Cool novel about this guy who dies and then awakens as himself like 25 years earlier, relives his life and makes a bunch of money via betting and stuff, dies again at the same time and keeps reliving his life, cool

House of Cards - 9/10

Star Wars: The Courtship of Princess Leia:

Now that it doesn't matter anymore, I have decided to see what I have missed out on in the Star Wars EU for the past 20 years. I rate this book 7.5/10. Think it had a weak beginning and a weak ending, but the middle part was pretty rad.

Fight Club - 7/10

Failures of the Presidents: 6.5/10

An interesting book focusing on the failures of various presidents including 5 of the first 10, Franklin Pierce, Herbert Hoover, JFK, FDR, LBJ, Carter and Dubbya. Problems include bias' of the authors which are apparent with various statements of opinion presented as fact and a fair amount of editorializing. Most of these things are covered in various history courses in high scho and freshman college courses so there might only be a limited amount of new information for hardcore history buff readers.

I read The last Evenings on earth and By Night in Chile, they were both really good because Bolano is the best.

Divergent trilogy 8/10

Because I have the reading habits of a 15yo girl.

Traveller of a Century - Good/strange novel by this Argentinian writer named Andres Neuman. About some translator in the 19th century who ends up in this city and is unable to leave and the relationships he forms in the town. Felt indebted to Mann, Kafka. 8/10

I've been reading the works of this Swiss writer Robert Walser. I really like his stuff -unique, neurotic, modernist prose. He was this outsider who was once really popular and guys like Musil and Kafka liked his stuff, but he slipped into obscurity, had a nervous breakdown and ended up in an asylum. He would go on long walks, and died during one of these walks and someone took a picture.

http://www.full-stop.net/wp-content/.../03/Walser.jpg

Peter & Max by Bill Willingham

7/10. Based in the same universe(s) as his Fables comic book series. Was alright. Read like a children's book/fairy tale. Drawback of that is that it just felt like it didn't have enough depth for a novel. Still enjoyable, but as a novel, would have been cool to have more details. Would go through years in a character's life in two sentences...

Apocalypse Watch - 3/10 The worst Ludlum novel I've ever read.

The Chancellor Manuscript - 9/10 The best Ludlum novel I've read.

3 books (fuck the titles) by Alex Kava - 5/10 Why do I even bother with modern crime novels by women. Well, at least she doesn't spend half the book describing outfits like Kathy Reichs.

The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam 9/10

Single volume history(with fantastic background coverage) of the first year of the Korean War.

Star Wars Darth Plagues by James Lucino 8/10

The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia by James C. Scott 8/10

Well written book with a thought provoking thesis and evidence to back his claim.

Stalking the Nightmare by Harlan Ellison-9/10 Best part is the story of when he got hired and fired by Disney in less than 3 hours.

The Hunger Games Catching Fire? Think thats the name. 10/10 i read it last year. cool book.

Inner Demons by Brian Coll - 10/10.

Author is a buddy of mine from college, which is the entire reason I got the book. I ended up really enjoying it, though. Great character development, plenty of gore, imagery is awesome (plus I'm mentioned a few times - famous NPC right here).

Lemons Never Lie by Richard Stark

The last of the Grofield series. Fun fast paced pulpy crime drama. 8/10

Read the entire Game of Thrones series in the span of about 6 months. The fourth one was tough to get through (it features all of my least favorite characters), but making it to the fifth one made it worthwhile. Giving them individual ratings would be difficult at this point, since they all kind of run into each other in my head. Great though, if you're into fantasy/political dramas.

Finished "Catcher in the Rye" about a month ago - my first time reading it. I loved the style of the writing, but it ended up being rather simplistic. Don't really see what all the fuss is about. I guess it was more controversial when it was written.

"Catch Me If You Can" is amazing. I highly recommend it to pretty much anyone. Don't let the Spielberg film turn you off from reading it - they're almost completely different. Reading, in detail, the depth that he went to fool so many people in so many scams was incredible. Pretty addictive book - I think I finished this in under a week.

Finished "Enders Game" about a week ago. Pretty awesome stuff - way better than the incredibly shitty film.

I started reading "The Forever War", but stopped about a quarter of the way through. Pretty depressing shit, which I guess figures, since it's basically a Vietnam War veteran's story set in a futuristic world fighting against alien beings. I'll probably finish it later in the year.

Reading the new version of "The Death of WCW" right now. I've read the first publication version about 100 times, so reading the new version with about 40% more text is a bit refreshing.

Just purchased about 10 new books for my Kindle (Top 10 sellers on Amazon for 2014), so I'll start something new soon. It'll be nice to read something from this year.

Coupon Book 6/10. Some good stuff but mostly a load of nonsense I'll never use.

William M. Thackeray - Barry Lyndon 7/10
Not as good as Vanity Fair, but still a decent read.

On to Machiavelli's The Prince.

I had my girlfriend challenge me to read more books than she will this year. She set her goal at 100 books for 2015 so I gotta do at least 101. Finished up book 4 about an hour ago.

http://doubletsblogofreviews.blogspo...4-garbage.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kd5KluPJPa...0/DSCF3559.JPG

4.95 outta 5

Machiavelli - The Prince 8/10

I am now on to Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Political Economy/The Social Contract.

Read a collection of Terry Laban's Eno and Plum comic strips. This early 90s comic strip is a what if Betty from Archie grew up and married the biggest slacker in the world. Plus how can you hate a comic with a great parody of the Cathy comic strip.

Read the Bat Boy comic strip collection from the Weekly World News over the past few days. For an actual book the last one I read was ring of hell. Up to 20 books so far this year. SO hitting my goal of 101 shouldnt be that hard.

Finished up the third Walking Dead novel. Was damn good and made up for how bad book 2 was.

I just read this french book called "The Opposing Shore". It is about two fictional countries that been in a 200 year old Cold War and this guy Aldo who is sent to a military fortress and starts stirring shit. Philosophically I didn't really understand it but the writing is sleepy and "atmospheric". I don't know, I liked it.

Been continuing with this...

Star Wars: Tattoine Ghost - A book that was written post-prequel trilogy but was written to fit chronologically in right after Courtship of Princess Leia. Mainly a Leia/Han book where they chase after a piece of art on Tattoine while Leia "comes to grips" with her past (incorporating her learning stuff from the prequel trilogy about Anakin and Anakin's mom)..... I'd say 6/10.... was not too hot on it, especially in light of the books that I read after it...


Which were....

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire
Star Wars: Dark Force Rising
Star Wars: The Last Command

Otherwise known as "The Thrawn Trilogy". I loved it.... each book just got better. 10/10 as a whole.... loved all the new characters, and it really felt like I could have been watching a new trilogy.

Life after Death by Damien Echoals

Grabbed this cheap a few days back. Decent read with a few slow points. Combination of his old journals and his diaries when he was in jail.

Hi everyone its me rad dggy dg and the last book I read was moby dick. It was really good. The whael is really big and crazy.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau - The Social Contract 7.5/10

Hi everony its rad dggy dg and the last book I read was chicken soup for the teenage soul. it was pretty good and inspirational but a bit long imo.

After the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn

Decent superhero novel. Celica is the daughter of a superman and wonder woman stand ins. She has no powers and is tired of their villains always kidnapping her. But now she has a chance to help send their biggest threat to jail.

Worth the $2 I paid for it. 3.45 outta 5

Extinction Parade vol 1 by Max Brooks
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kmka8eLad2...n%2BParade.JPG
Good art but the story is lacking in this comic about vampires fighting zombies. 1.95 outta 5

Console Wars by Blake J Harris
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0a6mBvVcT5...ole%2Bwars.jpg

Ok book about the Sega vs Nintendo 16 bit console war.

2.15 outta 5

Nexus Archives Volume 2 by Mike Baron and Steve Rudehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OAbyrzD84...2Bvol%2B02.JPG

Nicely designed hardcover collection of 7 early issues of the 80s indy comic Nexus. 4.45 outta 5

My Life in Wrestling by Playboy Gary Harthttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7uncoTpVXJ...hart%2Bbio.jpg

After years of searching about 3 weeks ago I finally got a copy of what I believe to be the second best wrestler biography I have read.

4.75 outta 5

Whats numbero uno?

A three way tie between Foley's first book,Jericho's first book and Hardcore Holly's book.

The Sirens of Titan - Kurt Vonnegut
5/5
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NpTHgxYeL.jpg

Erasmus - Praise of Folly 7.5/10

Owen Jones - The Establishment: And How the Get Away With It 8.5/10

Every time I finished a chapter I felt angry, and usually that is a good sign, as few books I read elicit a strong emotion from me. I don't particularly follow politics as for the longest time I've just had the view that all politicians are self-serving hypocrites who whore themselves to the highest bidder, but the picture this book paints of the incestuous relationship between politicians, corporations, and the media just reveals the extent in which the Government is compromised.

This is an overtly left-wing book so I need to balance it out with some neo-liberal literature, but on the whole, I come away feeling that railways and utilities need to be renationalised, and big corporations need to be challenged and tempered. But, while both Labour and the Conservative politicians continue to have no qualms sucking on the neo-liberal teat, nothing is going to be done to change the disparity in British Society.

Crikey. This reads like some first year undergrad student ranting against the machine, but this book just left me angry.

who are you voting for garf?

No idea. I might just write on my ballot: "Fuck all of them!" and sign it with your name. ;)

They might wonder why that happened twice :'(

Finished reading Star Wars: Jedi Academy Trilogy

Consisting of "Jedi Search", "Dark Apprentice", and "Champions of the Force"

I'd rate it maybe 7.5/10...

Felt very "weird" because it tries to reconcile Thrawn trilogy with the "Dark Empire" comic books which felt like a "different take entirely" on what happens post-rotj. So trying to reconcile the two "takes"/"continuities" was very "messy"....

Still, there were some "cool moments" in the trilogy....

On the whole, though, felt that the "antagonists" were really weak in this... like they were just "there" and didn't really pose anything other than a "minor nuisance".... never felt like any of them were "major threats"....

http://www.sffaudio.com/images10/BRI...aughter500.jpg

Found it difficult to put down once I started and i like how portrayed the day t o day activities of a mercenary in training.

Star Wars: I, Jedi - 7/10

Was a very weird book because it felt like two books, really.... First half of the book was basically a giant retcon, retconning this one character into the events of the previous book trilogy and retelling it from his POV. The second half was his further adventures. Overall pretty average.

Escape from Baghdad 8.5/10
https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417045270l/23013966.jpg

I thought it was hilarious.

"The Stock Market Cash Flow," ~ Andy Tanner.

Bin reading some books on personal development. Will Smith writes and speaks about motivation and his stuff is pretty good.

Was years ago, but

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...4,203,200_.jpg

8/10

Also years ago, but:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...fernalCity.jpg
8.75/10

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...d_of_Souls.png
9.5/10

Mail order mysteries

This is about all the shit they use to sell in comic books. Stuff like sea monkeys,x-ray specs and other junk.

Neat book. But not worth cover price.

So, basically novelty/gag stuff that's mostly relegated to specialty boutique stores like Spencer's Gifts these days?

Yeah pretty much. But they also included stuff like how in the 50s and 60s you could order pet monkeys and other odd things.

Yeah, I gathered that. I guess it sounds like it could be sorta cool if you had nothing else worth reading, but probably not as much of a page-turner as one would think.

The price of salt 7/10

read this book called "nineteen minutes"... just insanely sad... had a little overdramatic hollywood style trial at the end, but still was just really fucked, liked it though, good read...

read the whole harry potter series over the past six months, first four get a fail.pass/pass.pass, last three get a pass.fail/pass.pass

I enjoyed it cause I remembered seeing most of the stuff in ads as a kid reading comics.

It isn't worth the cover price. But isn't hard to find cheap.