Books

[Stomper]

Not to get you guys off track, but I suggest you guys read Salem's Lot by Stephen King. Great book. You know me, I keep it strictly horror.

[The Duke]

I will take up your recommendation, Stomper...it is hard for me to imagine that being an English major in college, I have NEVER read a novel written by Stephen King. What the hell is wrong with me?

[Stomper]

Damn Earl! Never read a Stephen King book? WOW! Salem's Lot and The Stand are probably your best bets. Pet Sematary and Misery are damn good as well. Actually now that I think about it, all of his books are good.

[The Duke]

I have always wanted to read The Stand.....fuck it, I will just go and buy it this weekend, and pssibly the classic "IT as well. I have always heard good things about King, and I have been missing out for a long time.

[LotB]

Of the 5 Stephen King books I've counted in the last few posts, I've already read them all. I'll back up the recommendations.

[stallion]

Earl, you won't be disappointed. King has written some of the best stories you'll ever read, in my humble opinion. After you read "The Stand", check out the 4-part miniseries on DVD, which is actually very good.

[The Duke]

Thanks for the info Pat. I will certainly check out that mini-series. I am always looking for new and interesting things to read/watch.

I was on a real sci-fi kick for a while, but am kind of lost as I try to find different types of things to read.

[Stomper]

If you want a quick book to read by Stephen King, check out Cycle of the Werewolf. It's a short graphic novel, but is very good. This is the story the movie Silver Bullet was based off of. I highly suggest checking the movie out too. How can you go wrong with a movie starring Gary Busey and Corey Haim. Almost forgot Everett McGill.

REVEREND, HE WAS TORN APART!

[Üncle Snake]

A rare post on this thread not related to Stephen King ...

I'm currently reading "The Great Movies" by Roger Ebert. It's a collection of 100 essays from his bi-weekly series. It's a great read that I highly recommend to anyone who has a serious interest in film.

[Üncle Snake]

I also recently picked up "Hitchcock," the definitive book-length interview with the Master of Suspense conducted by French filmmaker Francois Truffaut. They went through Hitch's entire career film by film in a very candid discussion. Hitch isn't afraid to admit his mistakes, and Truffaut doesn't shy away from criticism. It's packed with information and annecdotes, and you can learn a lot not just about Hitchcock, but about film in general. Highly, highly recommended.

[LotB]

I just read another fucking excellent book, "Rage" by Steve Gerlach. If you're anything like me, you may find yourselves identifying to some degree with the main character (though I'd hope in other ways *not*).

The one I have is actually one of the limited "unexpurgated, author's preferred text" editions.
www.bloodlettingbooks.com/rabystgel.html

But I'm told that only one scene has been cut between that and the available everywhere Leisure paperback edition. www.dorchesterpub.com/cgi-bin/rbox/selection.cgi?08439-5311-X

There is also a 26-copy lettered edition that the author signed in his own blood. See photos of the signing here: www.bloodlettingbooks.com/clhetoseestg.html

You definitely don't want the actual Australian first edition. I hear that it has been chopped all to hell by the censors over there. Censorship in Australia is at such an extreme that music by Venom, Deicide, Slayer, and Cannibal Corpse, to name a few, is actually banned there. Makes you appreciate the good ol' US of A.

Anyhow, y'all owe it to yourselves to pick up a copy of this book.

[The Duke]

I am about to read "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden. Should be a very interesting read, as I have heard many good things about it. I almost always like the book better than the movie, and this should be no exception.

[muthagoose]

I have heard that "Pattern Recognition" by William Gibson is good. I haven't had time to pick it up yet but is now out in paperback.

[The Duke]

I will have to take you up on that recommendation, Muthagoose. I saw that book out someplace, and have also heard that it is supposed to be good. I'll check it out, and let you know what I think.

Another idea: How about a books reviewed/book of the week/month featured column? Could be interesting.

[Üncle Snake]

My latest purchase from Amazon.com arrived yesterday, containing:

Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, a book about bad movies by the head writer (and host for the last five years) of Mystery Science Theater 3000

Mind Over Matters - Mike Nelson, a collection of humorous essays not related to movies

A Year at the Movies: One Man's Filmgoing Odyssey - Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo from MST3K, he apparently went to the movies every day for a year)

[The Duke]

O.k.......time to bring the Books thread back to the limelight.....

I have recently begun to re-read Frank Herbert's Dune.....this is one of the best books ever in the Sci-Fi genre. It is a great story, but also causes the reader to think about different issues that are brought up throughout the book. I would recommend it to almost anyone...it is certainly a must-read.

[The Duke]

Just finished John Grisham's "The Last Juror"---let's just hope that it is the last legal thriller he writes for a while. I would go into more detail, but it really isn't worth it. Not too bad, but I like his other books, such as "Bleachers" and "A Painted House" better than his legal thrillers.

[Kid Rick]

for what it matters I have been reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of time series as of late......high on the fantasy. I'm thinking about picking up Salvatore's Drow series as well.

[Üncle Snake]

Salvatore is one of my favorite authors. Actually, I think I have every book he's written (there's over 30 of them now). I hope you realize that if you start his drow series, you're going to get hooked and end up having to read over a dozen books. I highly recommend them though. Homeland is probably my favorite. I also suggest the Demon Wars series. The books are longer and the scope of the story is larger, and it may be his best work.

[The Duke]

Awww, c'mon Snake, you mean salvatore's "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones" isn't his best work?

In all seriousness, I have read some of his others, and they are quite good, in particular, "The Thousand Orcs". He is a talented writed in the Sci-fi/fantasy genre, and his writing is enjoyable, and makes you think at the same time.

[LotB]

The Marriage of Metal and Reading becomes apparent in this guy's Amazon list that I stumbled across:

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/guides/guide-display/-/1NTG4UEJH0W0O/ref=cm_bg_guides/002-1213388-8287239

What's cool is that I've read some of these books and own some of these albums. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with excellent taste.

[The Duke]

Interesting post, LOTB. Thanks for the recommendations...I will have to check some of that stuff out.

[Üncle Snake]

I just picked up R.A. Salvatore's latest book, "The Highwayman." It's set in the world of the Demon Wars, but it's a stand-alone story that has nothing to do with the other series. I've got a big pile of books I want to get through, so I don't know when I'll get around to actually reading it.

[The Duke]

I will have to check that book out; the new Salvatore seems appealing, being that it is a stand alone story.

[The Duke]

I will have to check that book out; the new Salvatore seems appealing, being that it is a stand alone story.

I knw how you feel, having to get through a big pile of books. I used to read 2-3 (even 4) books simultaneously, starting one, picking up another, then going back to the previous one. That gets to be a bit much at times, though.