Rate the last book you read

[Staggerlee]

I just finished Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States".

It was a pretty good read. I think it is important to see things from multiple perspectives before you make opinions about them so I really enjoyed it. 7/10

 

[Temo]

I just finished Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States".

It was a pretty good read. I think it is important to see things from multiple perspectives before you make opinions about them so I really enjoyed it. 7/10

I thought that was great. A similar (in terms of alternative history reading, but on human history rather than American history) is Guns, Germs, and Steel. Really interesting and thought provoking.

 

[YosemiteSam]

The Lincoln Lawyer: 8/10

I picked this book up as I intended on seeing the movie and wanted to read the book first. I've heard mixed reviews about the movie from people I know, but I will say the book is very good. It is full of twists and turns and definitely keeps you interested.

The one thing I did notice is it was as if the book was written specifically for Matthew McConaughey to later play the part in the movie. His mannerisms fit McConaughey's. While reading the book it was as if I was watching a movie with him in it. I could literally see him doing what was going on.

The Lincoln Lawyer is definitely a book worth reading. I will probably try to see the movie this weekend and then review that in the other thread.

 

[ethiostar]

I thought that was great. A similar (in terms of alternative history reading, but on human history rather than American history) is Guns, Germs, and Steel. Really interesting and thought provoking.

I agree that it is an interesting book and it is thought provoking theory. However, I found it to be very deterministic in its approach and it glances over many examples that would not support the author's argument.

 

[ethiostar]

The Lincoln Lawyer: 8/10

I picked this book up as I intended on seeing the movie and wanted to read the book first. I've heard mixed reviews about the movie from people I know, but I will say the book is very good. It is full of twists and turns and definitely keeps you interested.

The one thing I did notice is it was as if the book was written specifically for Matthew McConaughey to later play the part in the movie. His mannerisms fit McConaughey's. While reading the book it was as if I was watching a movie with him in it. I could literally see him doing what was going on.

The Lincoln Lawyer is definitely a book worth reading. I will probably try to see the movie this weekend and then review that in the other thread.

If/when you get a chance check out The Brass Verdict, its the sequel to The Lincoln Lawyer and its also pretty good.

 

[YosemiteSam]

If/when you get a chance check out The Brass Verdict, its the sequel to The Lincoln Lawyer and its also pretty good.

hmm, I have it on the Kindle. It gave me like two chapters into the next book, it sounds pretty good. Let me make sure we are talking about the same one. (said it was to be released in April 2011) About when he switches to Civil Law, but then his client is said to have killed the banker who held the mortgages?

 

[Temo]

I agree that it is an interesting book and it is thought provoking theory. However, I found it to be very deterministic in its approach and it glances over many examples that would not support the author's argument.

I do find JR McNeil's counter-argument most interesting: that Eurasia has accounted for the great majority of the human population for at least the last 3,000 years, and pure chance would make it extremely likely that at any particular time the world's most powerful and advanced civilization would be somewhere in Eurasia.

 

[ethiostar]

hmm, I have it on the Kindle. It gave me like two chapters into the next book, it sounds pretty good. Let me make sure we are talking about the same one. (said it was to be released in April 2011) About when he switches to Civil Law, but then his client is said to have killed the banker who held the mortgages?

No, The Brass Verdict came out in 2008 if i'm not mistaken.

 

[ethiostar]

Good grief, I haven't had a chance to spend time reading in the months or so but i finally finished Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese. Its a long book and it took me a while to get through it since i was only able to read a few pages at a time but its an excellent book. Its about Indian twins born in Ethiopia who spend all of thier lives in the medical field. The author is actually a physician if i'm not mistaken. It was particularly interesting for me since i was born and raised in Ethiopia until the age of 16. He did a great job of capturing the history, culture and people of the country very well. The story is complex but it grabs you and doesn't let go throughout the book. The first 1/5 of the book was a tad slow but it picks up the pace after that. It is a great read and i would recommend it to anyone, especially those with interests in the medical field.

 

[ethiostar]

-Storm Front by Jim Butcher (The 1st of the Dresden Files series)

Maybe my expectation for this series was a bit too high but it was somewhat of a let down. Don't get me wrong, i still thought it was a decent read and i would give it 3/5 stars but i expected much more. My plan was to read the first three or so of the books in the series before i start reading anything else but i decided against it and read the book i talk about below.

-Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....Its old but i just read it. This has to be one of the best sci-fi books i've read and i can't believe i am just now getting around to reading it. It was simply awesome. At this point though i'm not sure which book in the series i should read next. Some suggest reading Speaker for the Dead next while others are saying Ender's Shadow should be read after Ender's Game. Any suggestions?

 

[TheCount]

Ugh, I'm on the third book of the "Dragon Tatoo" series, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and good lord, at this point it's torture.

The first book was actually very good, it was important to explain the backgrounds and everything behind all the family members so that suspense could be built and so you knew who was getting accused of what.

But the 2nd and third books have been a nightmare to read. Larsson keeps going on and on about the most banal things, and all I want is for the damn story to move forward.

Unfortunately, I'm one of those people that once I start a series, I need to see it through. I am so glad there isn't a fourth book.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

A Cabinet of Curiosities 9/10

 

[kristie]

culture warrior by bill o'reilly

9.5/10

quite an interesting book IMO.

 

[ethiostar]

A Cabinet of Curiosities 9/10

Glad to hear you liked it. I have Relic, Reliquary and that one on my shelf. I've been meaning to get to them for some time now. I want to read them in order, I don't know if that makes any difference though. Have you read the other two? If so, did you like them as well?

 

[vta]

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis - 9/10.
Short and entertaining. I love a book by an author who understands language and can use it creatively.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Glad to hear you liked it. I have Relic, Reliquary and that one on my shelf. I've been meaning to get to them for some time now. I want to read them in order, I don't know if that makes any difference though. Have you read the other two? If so, did you like them as well?

A Cabinet of Curiosities is the only Preston and Child book I've read, and it's an odd story how I came upon it. It was recommended to me by a woman who read an early draft of a book that I've written.

She really liked my book, and said that my writing reminded her of Preston and Child. I'm glad I followed her recommendation because their book has really helped me as I make revisions in my book.

I'm attending the Austin's Writers Conference in June. Hopefully, I can garner the interest of an agent.

 

[YosemiteSam]

-Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....Its old but i just read it. This has to be one of the best sci-fi books i've read and i can't believe i am just now getting around to reading it. It was simply awesome. At this point though i'm not sure which book in the series i should read next. Some suggest reading Speaker for the Dead next while others are saying Ender's Shadow should be read after Ender's Game. Any suggestions?

That is a great book. I only read it maybe three years ago too. It took me a while to get to it also.

I heard his other related books are not on par with Ender's Game. I kept telling myself that I would go ahead and check at least one of them out, but I never did.

 

[ethiostar]

-The Lincoln Lawyer

I reread this book before i get a chance to watch the movie. Not a bad book but not Connelly's best IMO. I think I actually like the sequel, Brass Verdict a bit better. Although that might have something to do with the fact that detective Bosch, from Connelly's series of books based on the detective, makes an appearance in it. I really like that character.

-Relic By Preston and Child

I finally read this book last week. I've been meaning to read this and the other books for a while now. I guess i was inspired by Scipio's review of the 3rd book. I enjoyed Relic. I think its a good read. Someone described it as a cross between Jurassic Park and Alien, and i think that's pretty fitting. I liked the pace and the characters. I'm assuming they will further develop the characters in the books following this one. I just started Reliquary, which is the second book.

 

[ethiostar]

That is a great book. I only read it maybe three years ago too. It took me a while to get to it also.

I heard his other related books are not on par with Ender's Game. I kept telling myself that I would go ahead and check at least one of them out, but I never did.

I have a couple of the other books and i've read similar reviews on them. I heard the other books tend to be a bit too preachy at times, more treatment on philosophy, religion, etc... I will read at least one or two of them at some point but i'm not sure when i will get to them. Hopefully soon, while Ender's Game is still fresh on my mind.

 

[ethiostar]

Reliquary and The Cabinet of Curiosities by By Preston and Child

I read these two books back to back. They are the 2nd and 3rd books in the series. Reliquary wasn't as good as the 1st or the 3rd but it was readable. The Cabinet of Curiosities, on the other hand, is the best book out of the three, IMO.

If i had to assign a grade to all three:

Relic------7.5/10
Reliquary------6.5/10
The Cabinet of Curiosities------8/10