Books! How do you read and what do you read?

I lean towards mysteries. I went through a phase for about 6 years where all I read were books about WWII.

As far as how I read, I was a book person until my kids got me a kindle. (Those college degrees are paying off. The gifts are getting better)

I was reticent at first, but the first time I didn't know the meaning of a word and put my finger on it and the definition popped up, I crossed over for good.

I recently downloaded the Bible onto my phone. It's the only book I have on it. You never know when you might feel the need.
 

Just finished another nonfiction!

A Stranger in Your Own City by Ghaith Adul Ahad

The book covers from about 1980 to 2019. The author was born in Baghdad in 1975 and by 5 years old started experiencing the hardships and violence from the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). Soon after that the Gulf War (1990-1991) and the crippling sanctions placed on the country. Then the 2003 US led invasion which ignited sectarian civil war, terrorism by ISIS and continued corruption by the so-called new democratic government.
 
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Just finished Blood Music by Greg Bear about a week ago. My first read in the genre I never knew existed, cyber punk novels. At first I just railed against the lack of character depth, just more cheesy what - happens-next drivel. But my stepson stopped by and pointed out the whole genre is long on plot, thin on character development. My problem is: if I don’t care about the characters, I can’t care what happens to them. Needless to say I don’t expect to try the genre again. Once I’m a philosopher, twice would make me a pervert.

However it is clever as hell in a speculative science fiction way with many interesting parallels to Christian beliefs, primarily life after death, immortality and transformation. Still, not worth it.
 

Catching up on the 'Harry Bosch' series of Detective books by Michael Connelly.

Made a list of ones I haven't read and downloading them from my local library.
Have 4 more to go and after those, I plan to jump over to the 'Lincoln Lawyer' series
that includes Harry helping out his half brother, Mickey Hailer.

I particularly enjoyed the books after his retirement from the LAPD and working 'cold case' homicides.
His approach to cases, starting with a small thread of evidence and building a case, amazes me.

The books centered around the 1992 events in LA, hit home with me as my good friend was a police officer
in Long Beach and we lived in the 'Valley' during this time.

We watched the news reports of the city coming to grips with people's anger.
We left in 1994, right after the two major earthquakes.

It was our 'Sign' to get out of Dodge...
 
Feelslikefar said:
Catching up on the 'Harry Bosch' series of Detective books by Michael Connelly.

Made a list of ones I haven't read and downloading them from my local library.
Have 4 more to go and after those, I plan to jump over to the 'Lincoln Lawyer' series
that includes Harry helping out his half brother, Mickey Hailer.

I particularly enjoyed the books after his retirement from the LAPD and working 'cold case' homicides.
His approach to cases, starting with a small thread of evidence and building a case, amazes me.

The books centered around the 1992 events in LA, hit home with me as my good friend was a police officer
in Long Beach and we lived in the 'Valley' during this time.

We watched the news reports of the city coming to grips with people's anger.
We left in 1994, right after the two major earthquakes.

It was our 'Sign' to get out of Dodge...
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Did you live in the Valley during the 94 earthquake?
 
Seems I forgot that Southern Californians consider San Fernando 'The Valley'.
We were living in Moreno Valley and I forgot the above.

With the riots and Landers earthquake in 1992 and the Northridge quake that made
our house unlivable, we decided on another place to settle.
They were closing my base at March AFB, so I decided it was time to retire.

(Northridge Quake: I'll never forget both the wife and I thrown from our bed to the floor and our youngest
son screaming.
Ran to his room, scooped him up and we headed out the back door to a place with no over-head
power lines.
I was working with the Disaster Response Force at the time and I knew I had to leave them and do
my job.
Lot to ask of a wife, but she is a strong lady, who was used to my need to go.)

Sorry about the 'Valley' thing.
 
I know the Moreno Valley. :)
Didn't realize it was hit so hard with the Northridge EQ. We live/lived in the SFV so that one pretty well creamed us, but the Big Bear/Landers quake didn't affect us. You were a lot closer to the epicenter of that one.

Things have been fairly quiet in So Cal - geologically speaking - for the past couple of decades, thank goodness.
 
Until now, I hadn't read a book about Capone and Ness. What I knew was mainly from the TV series decades ago and then the Kevin Costner's movie. I like this book chronicling these men from birth to death and what followed.

Scarface and the Untouchable: Al Capone , Eliot Ness, and the Battle for Chicago by Max Allen Collins and A Brad Schwartz.
 
I'm reading Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman. I read all his books but it's been years so I don't remember. This is the one Dark Winds season 1 is based on. Rather loosely. But really, he is an exceptional writer.
 
A sweeping narrative of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the author's quest to find her family's origin. This book should be required reading in schools.

Mott Street: A Chinese American Family's Story of Exclusion and Homecoming by Ava Chin
 
I just finished a book by Rachel Jeffs and how she left the FLDS. Her father sexually abused her from the time she was 8 years old until about the time she became a teenager. Then he became the "Prophet" he wound up in prison for "marrying" a couple of children and having sex with them. The people however still obeyed his every pronouncement, and he seemed to enjoy making their lives even worse, no enjoying anything, no laughing, children could no longer have toys to play with. Then he started sending people away forever, or sending people away from their families from 2 weeks to months! She finally got to be with her kids and decided to leave!
 
mrstime said:
I just finished a book by Rachel Jeffs and how she left the FLDS. Her father ******ly abused her from the time she was 8 years old until about the time she became a teenager. Then he became the "Prophet" he wound up in prison for "marrying" a couple of children and having sex with them. The people however still obeyed his every pronouncement, and he seemed to enjoy making their lives even worse, no enjoying anything, no laughing, children could no longer have toys to play with. Then he started sending people away forever, or sending people away from their families from 2 weeks to months! She finally got to be with her kids and decided to leave!
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I remember when this was in the news. Terrifying, heartbreaking situation of absolute dominance and control by a "religious" leader whose focus was his own power and pleasures.
 
I’ve been reading fiction by the author Ivan Doig.
The Whistling Season
Last Bus To Wisdom
The Bartender’s Tale. (Currently reading)

He was an American author and I think the quintessential storyteller of the post war American West .
 
I was flipping between two books which I sometimes do base on my mood. I've already posted the first book on the Chinese Exclusion Act which I finished reading within the past week. The second book I just finished.

Wildland: The Making of America's Fury by Evan Osnos.

The author covers the chaos tearing America at the seams: greed, fear, anger, endless wars, political dysfunction and gun violence. From the 9/11 attacks to the January 6th siege.
 
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All That is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay; excellent, some parts really hit me, like how did this author know stuff similar to my past, especially this quote from it:

"The full weight of her loss, her unmothering, became clear. Miranda remembers the moment to this very day...Her sadness made the sight of happy people infuriating, isolating, as if the world were a big, rollicking party that she was not invited to. Yet she still wanted to be near them, to spy on the party."
 
The book I'm reading is' The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig
Nora Seed's life has had its ups/downs,she's depressed losing her job ready to end her life
One night at midnight thinking she died, she wakes up at the Midnight Library which is half way between living& dead. All the books are titled 'Regrets' . She is given the opportunity to undo her regrets,try out different lives she could of lived by reading the different books
I'm enjoying this Sue
 
SEARCHING FOR SAVANNA by Mona Gable.
This a novel based on a true happening.

Savanna was an indigenous woman who was murdered for her unborn child.
The book explains about how many indigenous women are kidnapped, murdered with little police working to find them.
It does tell how our government is till after all these years, treating indigenous peoples.

Very interesting to read.
 
One thing is becoming clear: I am a lightweight when it comes to reading, I have always (well, mostly) steered away from "serious" books and am presently reading a non-dystopian sci-fi book!
 
Just finished another non-fiction. This is the first book I've read by McPherson (Civil War historian and Pulitzer Prize winner).

Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander In Chief by James M. McPherson.

The book is not very long and it's more of an overview of Davis's presidency and how he managed the
war. All his field commanders, except maybe Lee, came across as quite mediocre. What I found fascinating as
the war was nearing its end, Davis came to the realization that for the Confederacy to survive hundreds of
slaves would need to become Confederate soldiers. :confused:
 
Nosy Bee-54 said:
Just finished another non-fiction. This is the first book I've read by McPherson (Civil War historian and Pulitzer Prize winner).

Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander In Chief by James M. McPherson.

The book is not very long and it's more of an overview of Davis's presidency and how he managed the
war. All his field commanders, except maybe Lee, came across as quite mediocre. What I found fascinating as
the war was nearing its end, Davis came to the realization that for the Confederacy to survive hundreds of
slaves would need to become Confederate soldiers. :confused:
Click to expand...
Adding clarity to anyone who is wondering: Jefferson Davis was (the first and only) President of the Confederate States of America; he was never the President of the United States.

Prior to the Civil War, he'd served in the US House and Senate.

That is interesting, @Nosy Bee-54, about needing slaves to become Confederate soldiers in order for the south to continue slavery. Can't imagine enslaved people would have been willing or enthusiastic about the cause.
 


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