Currently readingA Separate Peace because I was convinced my high school self was just too immature when he labeled it as the worst book he has ever had to read… it’s not the worst book I’ve ever had to read but it’s not a good book either.
Next up will probably be either The Guns of August or Teddy Roosevelt’s autobiography.
Check out Endurance by Alfred Lansing. It’s the story of Shackletons failed antarctic voyage and how he survived. Absolutely amazing story and really well written.
I’m doing a beta-read. Well written, great ideas, etc. Unfortunately, the book is turning out to be much darker than I’m comfortable with. I’ll probably try to get to the halfway point before deciding to give up.
Like alpha, beta, gamma readers. Used by authors to get feedback at various stages of their book before it is published. Alpha stage is very rough, like first draft. Not sure where the line lies between beta and gamma stage, but they are close to finished works - only typos and minor changes would be made based on reader feedback.
For indie authors, beta readers often help to get a few reviews out close to book publication.
I’m a bit active on book-related forums. I post reviews of books I’ve read, give book recommendations, etc. In this case, the author contacted me based on my reviews.
I find nonfiction way too hard to focus on when I read it traditionally, but listening to the audio version instead has helped a lot. It becomes almost like a podcast that I can put on in the background while I do other stuff
Book 2 in the chronological order of The Legend of Drizzt series
Not sure what happened but I used to knock back 50-80 books a year, now I barely read anymore. I’m trying to get back into it with all the books being on every electronic device so I can read wherever, and I have two physical copies of the books from different releases. Yet I’m still dragging my feet getting through it.
The frustrating thing is once I get into the book I don’t want to put it down, but once I stop reading it’s hard to start again.
I miss reading.
Incidentally, I was looking at the Kobo readers recently and they look pretty neat!
I bought a cellphone sized e reader, called the moaan inkpalm. It being so small has really helped me get more reading in. There are better ones available now, but it’s pretty cheap for what it is. I can pull it out whever i’m waiting for my family somewhere, and pick a book that i’m in the right mood/mental state for.
Sometimes a book just isn’t for you, or you need something with more fun and less substance because of all the other demands on your time and attention. I used to plow through difficult books when I had the time. Now that I generally read in 15 minute stretches that’s not nearly as easy. It’s not a black and white thing.
The Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian is one of the greatest series of novels I’ve ever read. The movie Master & Commander with Paul Bettany and Russel Crowe was an amalgamation of 2 or 3 of the books in that series. It’s also the title of the first book in the series.
Yes, its accessible sci fi. Second one has a slow start but really picks up in the second half. The third is a bit more balanced in that regard. Highly recommend.
By chance, I’m doing more or less the same as you. I initially read lotr when I was ~15 yo (I’m nearly 40 now). I also read it in French those years ago but I’m rereading now the real thing in English. Loving it too.
I remember when I read it the first time I was struggling with some of the dense description but it doesn’t bother me now (or I haven’t got to that bit yet)!
It makes me wonder if I’d enjoy Brave New World more as an adult, we were made to read it at school by our RE teacher (when we were about 15/16) and I found it so dreary :D
Brave new world is definitely a book you get different things from as an adult. It’s also a pretty quick read. I’d definitely recommend taking another look.
I’m laaaaazy as sin when I’ve finally got the kids to bed so I usually hold it in my right hand and then operate the thing by pressing the buttons with the same hand. If I have to move my left for anything other than moving my drink to my mouth I consider this a loss.
How do you like books 2 and 3? I really liked book 1, but was nervous that the other books wouldn’t be able to compare/maintain the same tone so I haven’t picked them up yet.
The second book is not as great as the first one but still really good imo, I literally started the third book this morning so I can’t really say anything yet
Soil Science Simplified by Neal Eash and others, and Landrace Gardening by Joseph Lofthouse.
Soil Science Simplified is a bit textbook-y but it’s easy to understand, and it’s about soil in the context of, well, anything that could be used on or in the soil, such as in agriculture and building infrastructure. I’m not that far into it but if you remember clay, sand, silt and loam soil from Elementary, then it goes into much more, such as how the soil made out of certain minerals can behave like.
Landrace Gardening is a lighter read for me, and I’m honestly just reading it to feel persuaded to grow healthy plants. It does feel like the author is hammering his points into you, but there are some useful information here and there. Then I’m proceeding to Principles of Cultivar Development by Walter Fehr.
Why am I reading these? I got interested in preserving Siling Labuyo, a local cultivar of hot chili in the Philippines, which is gradually being overshadowed by Thai Bird’s Eye… Most people in my country don’t know what Labuyo really looks like nowadays, despite being popular in the past… the bird gods have randomly given us labuyo some time ago, and since labuyo has usually been grown wild, it has quite a high genetic diversity. I’m thinking of cultivating it. Maybe make a super labuyo and make it get popular by attaining the title of hottest chili again. But that’s obviously a pipe dream, lol. Anyway this is what ADHD does to you /shrug
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