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.

 

[JBG]

I just finished reading (with some skips, see later in review) The Downing Street Years by Margaret Thatcher. This book gets a "four star" from me. It was densely packed with information. Given that this is now 2025 and the last period covered in the book is late 1990, certain of the people and events covered are lost to the sands of history. On the other hand, her impressions of U.S. and other political leaders is invaluable.

The Downing Street years has a lot of wisdom important to the here and now. I confess to putting the book down and skipping parts that just did not particularly interest me. Frankly, the book could have used some editing. All the same, I do recommend it.

 

[Synthaholic]

I'm buying this tomorrow. I am completely emotionally invested in this man's mission. He is a saint. And Niall being Niall, every cent goes to Tina's Hospital.

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Tina/Niall-Harbison/9780008725716

Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World|Hardcover

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND IRISH TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER. THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. _...

www.barnesandnoble.com

Niall Harbison (@niallharbison.bsky.social)

On a mission to save street dogs around the world. You can support here... https://www.happydoggo.com/donate

bsky.app

https://x.com/NiallHarbison

 

[Zavulon]

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...

Yes. "Fun" is the word. I've started to have the fun when the authors wrote, that "dzomo" is a cross between yak and horse. (Anyone who saw yak even at picture, do understand that that cross is impossible as a breed betweeb cow and horse. Dzo is a cross between yak and cow, actually). I've continued to have fun when the pilots of a submerged submarine used GPS for precise navigation and manoeuvring in the swarmed harbour. Using subcutaneous injection of tranquilizer for immediate immobilisation - gave another portion of fun (and forced me to use some vodka to calm my nerves). When it came to description of magnetohydrodynamic engines (violating all laws of physics including the law of conservation of energy) I surrendered and decided to take the book not for adventury or even fantasy book, but for the "literature of nonsense" something like "The Hunting of the Snark" by Lewis Carroll.

But still funny, yes.

 

[Rambunctious]

Yes. "Fun" is the word. I've started to have the fun when the authors wrote, that "dzomo" is a cross between yak and horse. (Anyone who saw yak even at picture, do understand that that cross is impossible as a breed betweeb cow and horse. Dzo is a cross between yak and cow, actually). I've continued to have fun when the pilots of a submerged submarine used GPS for precise navigation and manoeuvring in the swarmed harbour. Using subcutaneous injection of tranquilizer for immediate immobilisation - gave another portion of fun (and forced me to use some vodka to calm my nerves). When it came to description of magnetohydrodynamic engines (violating all laws of physics including the law of conservation of energy) I surrendered and decided to take the book not for adventury or even fantasy book, but for the "literature of nonsense" something like "The Hunting of the Snark" by Lewis Carroll.

But still funny, yes.

I told you its far fetched... think of these books like you would superhero movies... it may not be everyone's cup of tea but I enjoy the excitement... The NUMA files by the same author may be better suited for you...

 

[Zavulon]

I told you its far fetched... think of these books like you would superhero movies... it may not be everyone's cup of tea but I enjoy the excitement... The NUMA files by the same author may be better suited for you...

It's not that I don't like it. It's quite readable. And thanks, I'll try NUMA files, too

 

[Rambunctious]

It's not that I don't like it. It's quite readable. And thanks, I'll try NUMA files, too

Its a fun pastime read and it takes my mind off more serious issues...
Golf got rained out yesterday so I polished off half a book...