I need some good books

[PonoBill]

I read a lot, and I read fast, so I go through a lot of books. Which has become a problem lately since all I'm finding is crap. What have you read lately that you liked? I'm particularly fond of historical fiction, historical fact, military history, science fact and fiction (hard sci-fi, not much for fantasy other than deep constructs like Game Of Thrones and The Dagger and the Coin), anything on water, anything well written about motorcycle travel. I occasionally find something interesting in general novels, but it's rare.

[woodsupchuck]

Hey PB,
Try 'Astoria' by Peter Stark if you haven't already.... sounds like it's right up your alley...about travels by water, and land, to colonize the west....and monopolize the fur trade .... circa 1811... the origins of the Oregon trail.... Just finished reading it....good read!  Cheers, Chuck

[Gramps]

If you like hunting can find it, "The Adventurous Bowmen" by Saxton Pope is a good read.  It chronicles Pope and Young hunting African big game with longbows in the 1920's.  I just reread it for the third time.

[SlatchJim]

If there was ever someone who needed a good library card... 

[SupPadre]

Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne. Excellent history of the Comanches and their battles with white settlers, mostly in Texas.

[noworrieshawaii]

Not sure I'd classify as "good books" but did just read "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer who says he's still haunted by that disaster, and Bad Boy: My Life On and Off the Canvas by Eric Fischl. Interesting look into the upper level art market. I can leave both for you. Thanks for leaving me "Riding Sophia"... fun rainy afternoon reading. 

[stoneaxe]

If there was ever someone who needed a good library card... 

He actually gave away a pretty good library. Used to be that visiting Pono I never had to worry about bringing a book. I'd just borrow a couple of his. Now it's all on his kindle.....

[covesurfer]

I'm in the middle of 'Barbarian Days - A Surfing Life' by William Finnegan and I'm really enjoying it.

[PonoBill]

Hey PB,
Try 'Astoria' by Peter Stark if you haven't already.... sounds like it's right up your alley...about travels by water, and land, to colonize the west....and monopolize the fur trade .... circa 1811... the origins of the Oregon trail.... Just finished reading it....good read!  Cheers, Chuck

Just finished it.

[PonoBill]

If there was ever someone who needed a good library card... 

He actually gave away a pretty good library. Used to be that visiting Pono I never had to worry about bringing a book. I'd just borrow a couple of his. Now it's all on his kindle.....

I've only got about 500 books on my kindle. The library at the Germantown house had thousands. Donated them.

[SUPcheat]

I'm reading "Barbarian Days", too, from the Pleasanton Library. Also "Fierce Heart" by Stuart Holmes Coleman about the Hawaiian bandit surfers of Makaha.

Headmount's ouvre tracks my own upbringing more closely (without the surfing parts), but Finnegan is just two or three years younger and also evokes many blasts from the past. He went to UC Santa Cruz for a while, when it was first starting.  Finnegan is an ocean and wave poet.  He manages to touch the face of the mystical while enumerating the practical aspects of surfing, reefs, conditions etc.

You need to read the Bible, Pono, your blighted soul requires it.

[digger71]

Two good ones combining history and shipwrecks
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea, Gary Kinder
Shadow Divers, Robert Kurson

And you've probably read some Hampton Sides stuff, but these 2 are pretty solid
Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West
Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission

And I really enjoyed Krakauer's, Under the Banner of Heaven - interesting look into Mormon fundamentalism.

Last one...Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh.  Crazy take on the Chicago street level crack trade.

[PonoBill]

Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne. Excellent history of the Comanches and their battles with white settlers, mostly in Texas.

Reddit. Loved it. I sound like the frog in that kinds joke.

[PonoBill]

I'm reading "Barbarian Days", too, from the Pleasanton Library. Also "Fierce Heart" by Stuart Holmes Coleman about the Hawaiian bandit surfers of Makaha.

Headmount's ouvre tracks my own upbringing more closely (without the surfing parts), but Finnegan is just two or three years younger and also evokes many blasts from the past. He went to UC Santa Cruz for a while, when it was first starting.  Finnegan is an ocean and wave poet.  He manages to touch the face of the mystical while enumerating the practical aspects of surfing, reefs, conditions etc.

You need to read the Bible, Pono, your blighted soul requires it.

I read fierce heart--recommended the last time I begged for new books. And I read the Bible--didn't help. Especially since I did it mostly to torture our minister. I was the president of the Baptist Youth Fellowship in Allston. Mostly because I wanted to shag two of the girls.

The rest of the books I've added to my kindle. Thanks so much. Keep them coming. I never heard of Hampton Sides, that looks like a particularly rich vein.  Shadow divers looks great too.

[SUPcheat]

Actually, the last time I read the Old Testament, I wanted to smite and sword legions of Philistines, worse than a computer game.