New Books I would read. New books I would not.

NEW books that I would read:

Man of Constant Sorrow by Dr. Ralph Stanley.

400 odd pages of memoirs from the Appalachian music legend who performed the lead song of the same name in O Brother where art thou.

Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel

Winner of the Booker Prize, a novel that explores the ambitious rise of Thomas Cranmer, advisor to Henry VIII of England, and his disastrous fall.

The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Book two in the Blomquist/Slander series by this Swedish novelist who sadly died too young. Intrigue with conniving corporate types and criminals of the European prostitution trade.

Under the Dome by Stephen King.

Yeah I know, it's over 1000 pages and I don't have the time. But I still have a soft spot for King, who has been an immensely gifted and influential writer, and may still have a few good books left in him.

What the Dog saw and other adventures by Malcolm Gladwell

I keep wanting to hate Malcolm Gladwell. I keep wanting to disagree with what he writes. Then I think it over and end up agreeing with him.

Going Rouge by the editors of the Nation. see below

New books I would NOT read:

Arguing with Idiots by Glenn Beck.

Funny that Beck is on the cover looking stupid in a General's uniform. Are you the Idiot in the title, Glenn?

Anything by James Patterson No that's not a title, it's just that I am not willing to read books with chapters around 500 words long. I'm not in middle school, stop treating me as if I am.

The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell

I am proud to say I never have read anything by Cornwell. So I don't have to lament, like her followers do, that she is now crankin' 'em out for a paycheck.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

My wife and I disagree on this one. I admit that Brown is not all bad, but I am not willing to read another book by him.

Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

Wow, I might prefer the Beck book to this one. Fortunately, I could read the send up, see above, by the crazy liberal faction. All is not lost.

Comments: 14

Bill F. Oct 22, 2009, 10:32pm EDT

James Patterson novels are the fast food of books. I have read a few of his, but lost interest.

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Chris W. Oct 22, 2009, 10:37pm EDT

thanks for commenting Bill. Yeah, I think it needs more to think about, less formula. He's not the only one, I just picked on him because he is the big money man right now.

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Cena W. Oct 22, 2009, 10:48pm EDT

Patterson is like Daniel Steel, read one you have read them all.

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Cena W. Oct 22, 2009, 10:49pm EDT

One Dan Brown is enough.

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Chris W. Oct 22, 2009, 10:51pm EDT

thanks Cena.

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Cena W. Oct 22, 2009, 11:00pm EDT

As for Cranmer, interesting, Did he go down with Ann Boleyn?
I should read that, I just finished a book about the War of the Roses. About the times just before the Tudors.

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David C. Oct 22, 2009, 11:08pm EDT

Interesting list on both ends. Looks like we have very similar taste in books.

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Leo Lemmer Oct 23, 2009, 3:53pm EDT

I agree on all the "not reads."

Stieg Larssons The Lady with the Dragon Tattoo is grand. I start Larsson's The Girl Who Played with Fire, the sequel, tomorrow.

Christine Zibas Oct 25, 2009, 12:57am EDT

Both of these books have been the talk of the town over on the Yahoo Mystery Readers group. They are definitely on my list. The first one won the Anthony Award this year.

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Leo Lemmer Oct 23, 2009, 3:55pm EDT

I highly recommend Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.

Chris W. Oct 23, 2009, 4:20pm EDT

yes Leo, I absolutely agree on Olive Kitteridge, one of last year's best novels. Winner of National Book Award, right?

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Don(time to open them FEMA camps) S. Oct 23, 2009, 4:38pm EDT

Hey I like Cornwell:-)
How about "Going Rouge" the sarry palin story by the Nation?

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Christine Zibas Oct 25, 2009, 12:55am EDT

I would have to agree with your reading decisions except that I'd give the Dan Brown book a go. I used to live and work in Washington, DC, so if nothing else, it'd be interesting for the local scenery. I did read an excerpt from the first chapter and thought it was pretty bad, but I am still willing to give it a try. It hasn't gotten great reviews, though.

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Christine Zibas Oct 25, 2009, 12:55am EDT

Thanks for posting your article to the Gather group, Bookin'.

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New Books I would read. New books I would not.

Comments: 14

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