What's on your book table?

[Zomby Woof]

Whether your nightstand, end table, coffee table, dinette table, desk, or wherever you keep your current books.

Right now I am plowing through a collection of first-person essays, documents, and letters of the American Revolution, published by the Library of America, still working on Clinton's book, and Haynes Johnson's "The Best Of Times: America In The Clinton Years". I have so much to catch up on, that I usually have 3 or 4 books at a time on my table.

Let's hear yours!

[Placebo]

1. I am Reading...

"Naked Lunch", classic.

and going to pick up 'BUSHWORLD: Enter at Your Own Risk' by: Maureen Dowd this weekend. :)

[Zomby Woof]

3. Burroughs

I once worked in a big chain bookstore, and a co-worker, a retired indie bookseller, had a first edition hardcover of "Naked Lunch" which she gave me as an impromptu gift!

I can't say I ever had much curiosity about heroin, but Burroughs made me feel like I have experienced it, which is all the better through the printed word.

Trivia: Which famous band named themselves after a "character" in that book? :-)

[Placebo]

5. OMG I know the answer I just can't remember it right now!!!

GAAAAAAAAAH, IT'S ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE!!!!!!!

uuuuuuuugh, shoot me now, but i know they are named after the silver vibrator

please jumpstart my stupid brain with the answer lol

[Zomby Woof]

6. Are you reeling in the years?

Are you stowing away the time? ;-)

[Placebo]

8. STEELY DAN!

HA, thank you, my brain needed that. :pals:

[Zomby Woof]

9. lol!

I am going to drink my big black cow...

[DemBones DemBones]

19. OMG! I read "Naked Lunch" in 1964

or early '65 (my senior year of high school) and never made that connection.

Damn, do I have to do a remedial reading now? It was pretty depressing as I recall, didn't make me long to try heroin, either.

[Happy Eddie]

2. Genome

Genome: the autobiography of a species in 23 chapters, by Matt Ridley.

Each chapter is about a chromosome and is different in theme. For instance, chromosome 4, when mutated, can trigger Huntington's Chorea (it killed Woody Guthrie), and that chapter is ruminations on "fate". Chromosome 6 is reputed to have something to do with intelligence, so that chapter is a riff about "nature vs. nurture" and the history of IQ tests, &c.

And no, I'm not that smart. I'll have to read it twice just to absorb half of it. But it may be the most absorbing book I've read this year.

[Zomby Woof]

4. sounds fascinating

And as a longtime admirer of Woody, I can appreciate that insight. :-)

[DemBones DemBones]

13. That is right up my alley -- going to Amazon now

to find out more. (How did I miss hearing about this book?)

[jus_the_facts]

7. Got my latest Stephen King installment the other day...

.....finished re-readin' Misery last night and started on The Tommyknockers....collectin' all his work in hardback I am!! :)

[Zomby Woof]

11. I prefer hardcovers of my faves too!

It just feels more literary or something. :D

[jus_the_facts]

21. I concur.....

....and they LAST a lot longer as well...we've been orderin' all our favorites in hardback for the last few years...runnin' out of shelves to put 'em all on now....I NEED m'own library/study!! *dreams on* :D

[DemBones DemBones]

10. "Flaubert's Parrot" is what I started reading today.

Also re-reading "Enemy Women," (a far better Civil War novel than "Cold Mountain") just finished "Rule of Four" (not what it was cracked up to be, made myself finish it since I foolishly bought it.) Plus various "reference" books like "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy," the book about the Bush dynasty, etc. I have "nests" of books and magazines on tables on either side of my chair, beside my bed, etc., so you really don't want the whole list! ;-)

[Zomby Woof]

15. I understand!

All that, and a stack of newspapers to critique, lol.

I actually think the best Civil War novel I have read is Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels". As for "Cold Mountain", I think of it as more of a southern gothic 'Odyssey' which just happens to use the Civil War (which Shelby Foote rightly calls our 'Iliad') as its backdrop. But I will keep your recommendation in mind. :hi:

[Mizmoon]

23. Shelby Foote? That bastard owes me $5!

:>)

[Mizmoon]

12. Tuxedo Park by Jennet Conant

It's about Alfred Loomis. Fascinating.

He gave each of his kids a million dollars 'to experiment with' when they were still in their teens. And this was during WWII!

[Zomby Woof]

20. sounds interesting

Wonder if Bill Gates will read that? :-)

[ZenLefty]

14. The Complete Far Side

Every syndicated cartoon he drew from 1980-1994. About 1200 pages in two volumes. Life is good. :D

[Zomby Woof]

16. *swoon*

I have every paperback volume of the "Gallery" series, but not that gem you have. It's like a boxed set with outtakes! :D

[ZenLefty]

30. It's got a lot of extras.

Some of the cartoons appear next to the hate mail they generated, often funnier than the cartoon itself. Each year has a little piece written by Gary Larson, and the book has a forward written by Steve Martin. This is humor taken to a level of brilliance that few comics will ever come close to.

So I read cartoons out of that book, but I've also got Bill Clinton's book that ZLGirl and I share (two bookmarks), the latest fiction by Guy Gavriel Kay called The Last Light of the Sun, an old Roger Zelazny I picked up, and I'm still trudging my way through Irvine Welsh's book Porno. The Dalai Lama's book How To Practice is still there, a great book for novice and devotee alike.

I did find an old Dickens book, which has both Barnaby Rudge and Hard Times. The book was printed sometime in the late 1800s but I don't know exactly when. I love the old typeface and style of antique books, but hate to read them, because when they're that old they tend to want to fall apart.

Yeah, that's my bookstand right now.

[Zomby Woof]

33. I love antique books too

I don't have anything quite that old, but I do have a few old history books and poem collections from the early 1900's. The binding is a bit worn, so I hesitate to open them too much.

[DemBones DemBones]

22. Great choice! One year I was given three copies

of "The Illustrated History of the Far Side" for Christmas. You might deduce that people knew my fondness for Larson's humour.

[libhill]

17. Since you asked -

I'm reading "The Sumerians, Their History, Culture, and Character", by Samuel Noah Kramer. A rather dated history, published in 1963, but still containing much that is interesting and relevant to our own times. What's the relevance, you ask? Well - I found this interesting - and I hope it's o.k. to quote this passage: "It was in the course of these cruel wars and their tragic aftermaths, that the citizens of Lagash found themselves deprived of their political and economic freedom; for in order to raise armies and supply them with arms and equipment, the rulers found it necessary to infringe on the personal rights of the individual citizen... Under the impact of war, they met with little opposition. And once introduced, the palace coterie showed itself most unwilling to relinquish the domestic controls, even in times of peace, for they had proved highly profitable... Citizens were thrown in jail on the slightest pretext: for debt, non-payment of taxes, or trumped up charges of theft and murder". Sound vaguely familiar? This occurred in ancient Mesopotamia over four thousand years ago. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Zomby Woof]

25. yes, that's the crux of history

We're great at altering our environment, creating technology, and exploring our world, but deep in our core, we're not as far from the cave as we sometimes flatter ourselves for being.

[DemBones DemBones]

26. It's so relevant that you should

post it in GD. I'd imagine quite a few DUers would view that quote as a keeper. I know I'm copying it.

Thanks for posting!

[Kire]

18. The Rebel - Albert Camus

I just started it last night.

[Zomby Woof]

27. I have only read excerpts in passing

I shall dig deeper with his work.

[Kire]

64. I finished 'The Stranger' in no time flat because...

...I heard there was a Cure song based on it (Killing an Arab). It's quite good.

But the Rebel and all of his essays are not easy.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. Mike Tidwell "Bayou Farewell",

Bill Clinton "My Life", Daniel Goleman "Emotional Intelligence", and Jeff Shaara "Rise to Rebellion" (second time around).

[Zomby Woof]

29. what?

No books about beer, homemade medicine, or pheasants? ;-)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

39. I bought a book about homebrewing

that I haven't read yet...
I need space in my house before I can even think about it! :beer:

[NMDemDist2]

28. a bunch of crappy mainstream mysteries from the used bookstore

since I never read anymore it seems.

I'm either here or working or phone banking or canvassing

the only reading i get done is waiting in the chiropractor's office or during my "daily constitutional" where the new Discover mag is which is the double "Einstein" edition

i feel so pedestrian.

[Zomby Woof]

31. finding time is hard!

I wouldn't be behind if it weren't so...

After the election, make time for yourself to read.

And if I may make a recommendation in case you haven't tried - get some Walter Moseley, which is readily available in mass-market paperback. Easy Rawlins is one of the great mystery protagonists in current popular fiction.

[NMDemDist2]

32. well if the sun every comes back out again, I'll find some

pool time and get some reading done while i float

I think I have read some "Easy Rawlins" before and enjoyed it

but I'll want to catch up on all the political books when the election is over i think

[Zomby Woof]

34. For sheer cathartic value...

...my favorite political writings are by the Great Gonzo himself, Hunter S. Thompson. I can't wait for his take on this year's election campaigns.

For a bit more down-to-earth fare, Molly Ivins will always do.

For heavy analysis, I still like to chew on Chomsky or Zinn.

[NMDemDist2]

35. Molly Ivins is my hero

smart, pithy and funny

she rocks :)

[Zomby Woof]

36. The first time I read her....

Beyond her newspaper columns that is, I wanted to marry her. She floored me THAT good.

[NMDemDist2]

37. her's was the latest "real" book I bought

Bushwacked

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Zomby Woof]

46. Grovelbot reads...

"I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov.

And his pages in the latest issue of "Popular Mechanics" are kind of sticky.... x(

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

40. Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. nt

[alittlelark]

45. Great, great book

I loved it! Another one to re-read.

[wovenpaint]

41. The Mad Weave Book

It's a book on triaxial weaving technique. Instead of 2 yarns weaving at a 90 degree angle, this weave consists of weaving 3 yarns at a roughly 60 something degree angle. Creates very strong fabric that can stretch-parachute fabric comes to mind. Mainly used for baskets-kind of like cane seat. Called "mad weave" because it can be frustating to figure out.

Have Mary Summer Rain's "Phoenix Rising" there too....re-reading it

[TroubleMan]

42. Howard Zinn - A People's History of the United States 1492-Present

I'm suprised I haven't read it yet. I'm about 2/3 of the way through. It's quite an eye opener.

[Zomby Woof]

51. that is required reading

Particularly for what it reveals about this nation's labor struggles, and civil rights.

[alittlelark]

43. Thoureau's 'Walden and Civil Disobedience'

Along w all of the Hardcovers of George RR Martin's 'A Game of Thrones'. They are always there. I thumb through the really Good parts....as I WAIT in impatience for his (now 3 years late) sequel.

[BurtWorm]

44. "One Market Under God" by Thomas Frank

which laid some of the groundwork for his What's the Matter with Kansas. This one is a devastating critique of the "New Economy" cult. Not for people who can't take a little criticism of Clinton. By far most of Frank's wrath and wit is directed at jerks like George Gilder and Newt Gingrich, but Clinton comes in for some knocks for throwing in too much with the GOP on welfare reform, globalization, and media restructuring.

Also reading:

The Origin of Species
The Anatomy of Melncholy (by Robert Burton)
Albion (by Peter Ackroyd)

[Bridget Burke]

47. "The Charnel Prince" by Greg Keyes

Second in the series that started with "The Briar King". Brand new hardback, just arrived from Amazon.

[Mojambo]

48. "When China Ruled the Seas"

The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-33.
by Louise Levathes.

Just started it. Pretty good.

On the fiction side it's "Red Mars" by Kim Stanley Robinson.

[Rhiannon12866]

49. "The Greatest Sedition Is Silence" by William Rivers Pitt

And a few others. I never did finish "Forbidden Truth: U.S.-Taliban Secret Oil Diplomacy and the Failed Hunt for bin Laden" by Jean-Charles Brisard and Guillaume Dasquie. I must, but all the foreign names confused me. I also ran across Robert Byrd's latest on a recent visit to the bookstore. I am interested in that. And my friend's Dad got "Why Lincoln Matters" by Mario Cuomo, recently, which I hope to borrow. And my friend has "The Greatest Democracy That Money Can Buy" by Greg Palast, which he still hasn't finished. So much is out there, right now! But I will read Will Pitt first.:D

[MichaelHarris]

50. a book

of Elvgrin pinups from the 40s and 50s. Mmmmmmm pinups.

[terrya]

52. Still reading "My Life"...and I'm currently reading "The Ice Storm"

Rick Moody's terrific novel on which the Ang Lee film is based.

[mdmc]

53. I just finished

:kick:

[mdmc]

55. fabulous , small Jews

[Misunderestimator]

54. Just picked up the 9/11 Commission Report at the airport yesterday.

It joins Woodward, Franken, Hillary, Dean, Moore and Clarke, along with a bunch of novels including Atwood's Oryx and Crake.

[Zomby Woof]

59. that's not a stack of books

That's a skyscraper. :wow:

Thanks! That makes me feel better about always having my own pillar. :D

[Misunderestimator]

60. LOL... I keep them in more than one pile... so as to not look too phallic

:D

[daisygirl]

56. Charles de Lint, Susan Wittig Albert, Sue Grafton

I went to the library this week and picked up a few books - Medicine Road (Charles de Lint), Indigo Dying (Susan Wittig Albert), and R is for Ricochet (Sue Grafton).

Lately I'm mostly into mysteries, but any time I spot a new Charles de Lint book it goes on my list.

[LWolf]

57. Ok, but remember...

you asked!

The Healing Sounds of Didgeridoo Book and CD published by Binkey Kok publications

Building Moral Intelligence Michele Borba

The Telling Ursula LeGuin

The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies Vasant Lad

Madame Secretary: A memoir Madeline Albright

Understanding by Design Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe

[chenGOD]

58. My subway read is...

"Dinosaur in a Haystack" - Stephen Jay Gould (another collection of his essays for Natural History magazine)

My bedtime read is "Rama Revealed" - Arthur C. Clarke/Gentry Lee

Gotta try and re-read a book of Focault's that I have, but his writing style is so convoluted I really don't enjoy reading him when he gets really deep....

[SarahB]

61. Piled high with too much stuff

Lots of Mother Joneses and Scientific Americans, a Neal Stevenson book, Captain Underpants books, a JC Penney catalog, a couple Victoria's Secret catalogs, comic books, a Cosmo Girl, Polysomnographic and respiratory technical stuff, parenting books, political nonfiction (too many), and plenty of text books, and assorted erotic stuff that are shelved. :D

[Zomby Woof]

63. weeeeeeeeeeee!

:hi:

[eleny]

62. A big stack of crafting books, mostly fabric arts

A cozy mystery set in Maine
Jack Kerouac's collected letters