What are you reading?

[MisterBeale]

A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, The Mexican War and The Conquest of the American Continent, By Robert W. Merry

James K. Polk appears doomed to remain one of our least-appreciated presidents, despite Robert W. Merry’s valiant attempt to drag him from the shadows in (Issue: Spring 2010)..

www.americanheritage.com

 

[JBG]

I just finished reading Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. The book has been kicking around my TBR pile since before I graduated high school and I never got around to it. I confess that maybe I started it, read one page and actually liked it and then I had to ditch it for assigned reading in one of my courses.

This is the kind of book that makes me pine for the days of having a high school teacher to help me with the symbolism and references, of which this book is dense. Mr. Ladensack and Mr. Myers (they were not young men when I graduated in 1975 so I am not outing anyone), where are you when I need you? Still, I much enjoyed it. Basically the story is about an employer and a much older hire, Zorba, who is full of lessons and more full of ego. An excerpt:

"But don't you believe in anything?" I exclaimed in exasperation.
"No, I don't believe in anything. How many times must I tell you that? I don't believe in anything or anyone; only in Zorba. Not because Zorba is better than the others; not at all, not a little bit! He's a brute like the rest! But I believe in Zorba because he's the only being I have in my power, the only one I know. All the rest are ghosts. I see with these eyes, I hear with these ears, I digest with these guts. All the rest are ghosts, I tell you. When I die, everything'll die. The whole Zorbatic world will go to the bottom!"
"What egoism!" I said sarcastically.
"I can't help it, boss! That's how it is. I eat beans, I talk beans; I am Zorba, I talk like Zorba."
I said nothing. Zorba's words stung me like whiplashes. I admired him for being so strong, for despising men to that extent, and at the same time wanting to live and work with them.

Zorba was a person who lived life to its fullest. A model I can admire and learn from, as did the narrator.

 

[Rambunctious]

 

[Zavulon]

View attachment 1103310

Nice cover. Do you mind to tell something about the story?

 

[Rambunctious]

Nice cover. Do you mind to tell something about the story?

Its about a mercenary group who works for the USA and other friendly good nations and people who need security for whatever... they have a huge cargo ship that is equipped better than most battleships... they have all kinds of secret weapons subs and a moon pool... and they are former Seals and Marines...
Their ship is called the Oregon but they can change the name at will...
This series of books are called the Oregon files and I'm hooked... Cussler writes other great book series also which are equally good but the Oregon files are my favorite... I'm on my 5th one so far...
The CEO's name is Juan Cabrillo and he runs the operation... each book is a new adventure...
Its kind of far fetched but very entertaining and a real page turner...
Look them up and start with the first book in the series although he does a good job of writing each book with the fact in mind that not everyone will find or start with the first one...
He catches you up to speed in the first two chapters....

Oregon Files Series by Clive Cussler

Juan Cabrillo is Chairman of the Corporation, a special US Government-sponsored group that operates out of a ship called the Oregon; a marvel of scientif...

www.goodreads.com

They keep a good supply at my library....

 

[Zavulon]

Its about a mercenary group who works for the USA and other friendly good nations and people who need security for whatever... they have a huge cargo ship that is equipped better than most battleships... they have all kinds of secret weapons subs and a moon pool... and they are former Seals and Marines...
Their ship is called the Oregon but they can change the name at will...
This series of books are called the Oregon files and I'm hooked... Cussler writes other great book series also which are equally good but the Oregon files are my favorite... I'm on my 5th one so far...
The CEO's name is Juan Cabrillo and he runs the operation... each book is a new adventure...
Its kind of far fetched but very entertaining and a real page turner...
Look them up and start with the first book in the series although he does a good job of writing each book with the fact in mind that not everyone will find or start with the first one...
He catches you up to speed in the first two chapters....

Oregon Files Series by Clive Cussler

Juan Cabrillo is Chairman of the Corporation, a special US Government-sponsored group that operates out of a ship called the Oregon; a marvel of scientif...

www.goodreads.com

They keep good supply at my library....

Anything about nuclear, chemical and biological weapons?

 

[Zavulon]

Just started Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's cradle".

Kurt Vonnegut was in my "must read" list since "Sirens of Titan", but this book, so far, is a bit disappointing. You know, those stereotypes about crazy scientists and all.

 

[Rambunctious]

Anything about nuclear, chemical and biological weapons?

Yes... not so much Nuclear yet but all kinds of weapons are used against them... and they have to figure out how to defeat them... and counteract them... they get out of some tight situations all the time... they have a covert bridge that resembles the enterprize.... they can look like a derelict cargo barge in case they get boarded for any reason.... with a first class hospital and what is called a five star restaurant below the water line...

 

[Zavulon]

Yes... not so much Nuclear yet but all kinds of weapons are used against them... and they have to figure out how to defeat them... and counteract them... they get out of some tight situations all the time... they have a covert bridge that resembles the enterprize.... they can look like a derelict cargo barge in case they get boarded for any reason.... with a first class hospital and what is called a five star restaurant below the water line...

Sounds intriguing. I'll read it.

 

[Rambunctious]

Sounds intriguing. I'll read it.

Let me know what you think....

 

[RetiredGySgt]

wish I could read it, unfortunately I am still a bit depressed. not badly but enough I cant concentrate and read a book.

 

[Zavulon]

Let me know what you think....

The first book in the series is "Golden Buddha", isn't it? Just downloaded it, read few pages. It's readable i.e. not too complicated for me, and, looks like as plain as Tom Clancy and Colin Forbes (just a first impression) I'll read it after get finished with "Cat's cradle".

 

[Rambunctious]

The first book in the series is "Golden Buddha", isn't it? Just downloaded it, read few pages. It's readable i.e. not too complicated for me, and, looks like as plain as Tom Clancy and Colin Forbes (just a first impression) I'll read it after get finished with "Cat's cradle".

I started around the middle of the series... haven't read Golden Buddha yet... I read other books besides these kinds of action thrillers... I just find them fun to read...

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Not one of his best books. Struggling with it to stay interested.
It is, what I kind of knew was going to happen, too condensed.
O'Reilly is actually a very good author, this one.... maybe not.