What have you read lately?

[resister]

i've been thinking about a book that i read a few years ago, and it's making me crazy that i can't remember the name of it. It was a book about people in large urban areas who have taken dumpster-diving to a whole new level - creating whole communities, some literally underground, whose members survive by scavenging food and other things from the streets. There was also a chapter on one nyc municipal garbage collector's headquarters that has created a veritable museum of art objects, etc., found in the trash. Fascinating book. The title was just one word, as i recall, and it was a slang term for the activity that it describes. Ring any bells?

freegan ?

[resister]

freegan ?

@ Standing Wolf

[jigglepete]

Twelve Days by Alex Berenson

New author for me, hoping for the best...

[KathyS]

I'm a huge Stephen King fan and am currently reading his latest book of short stories, "Bazaar of Bad Dreams."

[Standing Wolf]

After meeting Joe R. Lansdale a few times and reading and enjoying some of his stand-alone novels - particularly the epic 'Paradise Sky' - I finally began reading the Hap and Leonard series. About halfway through the first book, 'Savage Season'. To call Texas author Lansdale irreverent and original is a vast understatement; his writing defies description.

The Hap and Leonard stories - and I understand that there's a t.v. series now - are narrated by Hap, an "old hippy" grown world-weary and cynical, and his long-time best friend, Leonard, a Black, gay Vietnam vet. Together and separately, they scrape to make a living, get involved in various schemes to score some real money or just to right some bad situation or injustice that has rubbed them the wrong way, and occasionally drink too much.

[jigglepete]

After meeting Joe R. Lansdale a few times and reading and enjoying some of his stand-alone novels - particularly the epic 'Paradise Sky' - I finally began reading the Hap and Leonard series. About halfway through the first book, 'Savage Season'. To call Texas author Lansdale irreverent and original is a vast understatement; his writing defies description.

The Hap and Leonard stories - and I understand that there's a t.v. series now - are narrated by Hap, an "old hippy" grown world-weary and cynical, and his long-time best friend, Leonard, a Black, gay Vietnam vet. Together and separately, they scrape to make a living, get involved in various schemes to score some real money or just to right some bad situation or injustice that has rubbed them the wrong way, and occasionally drink too much.

I adore the Hap/Leonard series!!

Just started David Baldacci's The Escape. A John Puller book...I think I already read it, but I'm gonna read it anyway!

[Standing Wolf]

Lansdale will be here in Scottsdale later in the month, to sign and probably do a reading from his latest. I recall the first time I saw him, he read a chapter from his then-current book, and a couple of older ladies sitting next to me got up and left the store.

[Mister D]

@Ethereal I am set to finish Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy tomorrow. We have discussed our perspectives on Roman imperialism several times. His specialty is ancient Rome and I've read some of his opther works so I thought I'd give this a try. I think you'd like it. He leans more toward my side but he provides a very interesting examination of what life was really like living under Roman rule. One thing he made me reconsider was the extent to which your average person was aware of Roman power. i have often stated that Roman rule was remote but he argues Rome made its presence felt everywhere. At the end of the day, everyone knew who really called the shots. OTOH, local communities were allowed to live by their own customs and laws and were also required to pull their own weight in terms of policing etc. Anyway, I think you woudl like it.

[Bo-4]

@Ethereal I am set to finish Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy tomorrow. We have discussed our perspectives on Roman imperialism several times. His specialty is ancient Rome and I've read some of his opther works so I thought I'd give this a try. I think you'd like it. He leans more toward my side but he provides a very interesting examination of what life was really like living under Roman rule. One thing he made me reconsider was the extent to which your average person was aware of Roman power. i have often stated that Roman rule was remote but he argues Roman made its presence felt everywhere. At the end of the day, everyone knew who really called the shots. OTOH, local communities were allowed to live by their own customs and laws and were also required to pull their own weight in terms of policing etc. Anyway, I think you woudl like it.

WoW .. that sounds like something that i would NOT enjoy but carry on.

I'm finishing "Inside Passage" by Michael Modzelewski (about his adventures in Alaska) -

AWESOME .. he was our naturalist on a recent 7 day Inside Passage Cruise.

AND starting "The Plot to Hack America" by Malcolm Nance.

Guess i prefer semi-current events as oppose to the Roman Empire ;-)

[jigglepete]

I just cracked The Rhinemann Exchange by Robert Ludlum

So far a good WWII espionage tale.