What book are you currently reading?

[BlueStreak]

"John Adams" biography, by David McCullough. Picked this up last night at B&N, after a day of vinyl hunting. (Found an entire collection of Vladimir Ashkenzy on DG and London in nearly pristine condition.)

My Grandmothers maiden name was Adams, and she claimed to be a decendent of the former President and Founder. I haven't done any research to validate this claim, so I shall refrain from "crowing" about it.

Anyhow, I'm only through the first chapter and can't put it down. Fascinating man. Next, I'll move to Jefferson. I've read enough on him to know I'll really enjoy that as well.

Dave

[finnbow]

Excellent book choice, BS. "Adams" was very good, McCullough's "Truman" was even better.

I'm currently reading "A Voyage Long and Strange" by Tony Horwitz, one of my favorite authors of late. His books blend history with modern day travel/cultural observations. This is is about the early (pre-English) explorers of North America.

[d-ray657]

It's baseball season - I'm reading Late Innings - A Baseball Companion by Roger Angell.

Baseball really lends itself to writing and literature. If you ever come accross Shoeless Joe, grab it. It is the book upon which Field of Dreams was based, but I found it much better than the movie, although I liked the movie anyway.

Enjoy your reading folks,

Regards,

D-Ray

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

It's baseball season - I'm reading Late Innings - A Baseball Companion by Roger Angell

D-Ray - Have you read "Men at Work" by George Will? Although it's pretty clear your politics and his don't mix, his book on baseball is well worthwhile. Another book peripherally related to baseball that's worth reading is "Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports."

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by finnbow

D-Ray - Have you read "Men at Work" by George Will? Although it's pretty clear your politics and his don't mix, his book on baseball is well worthwhile. Another book peripherally related to baseball that's worth reading is "Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports."

I consider his affection for baseball and his writing on the game to be among Will's redeeming virtues - that and his disdain for Dub. Men at Work is on my shelf waiting, but there are a few baseball books ahead of it, notably the Ken Burns companion book to his baseball documentary and a biography of Buck O'Neil.

Some of my thrift store shopping sprees lately have been in the book sections, and I have built up quite a queue.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Regards,

D-Ray

[piece-itpete]

Finishing up "The Crusades" by Zoe Oldenburg. Very interesting, so much of what we think we know is absolutely dead wrong. This is true for just about everything in my experience.

Pete

[noonereal]

Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency
by Barton Gellman

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Finishing up "The Crusades" by Zoe Oldenburg. Very interesting, so much of what we think we know is absolutely dead wrong. This is true for just about everything in my experience.

Pete

Yep. Same thing in reading "Adams". Well whadda ya know, the founders were human after all.

Dave

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Yep. Same thing in reading "Adams". Well whadda ya know, the founders were human after all.

Dave

In chapter one the author goes over his early life, childhood and college years. He went to Harvard, and at the time had a girlfriend named Hanna, who lived in Charlestown. He would ride into Charlestown to visit her on weekends. In his memoirs he wrote, "The road to Charlestown was lined with taverns for quaffing, wenching and burlesque compleat with saucy boys."

I Googled up "saucy boys" and found out it was period speak for "transvetites, or drag queens".

Kind of explodes the notion that the colonials were all squeaky clean, upstanding, Godly, Christian folk, doesn't it?

Dave

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

In chapter one the author goes over his early life, childhood and college years. He went to Harvard, and at the time had a girlfriend named Hanna, who lived in Charlestown. He would ride into Charlestown to visit her on weekends. In his memoirs he wrote, "The road to Charlestown was lined with taverns for quaffing, wenching and burlesque compleat with saucy boys."

I Googled up "saucy boys" and found out it was period speak for "transvetites, or drag queens".

Kind of explodes the notion that the colonials were all squeaky clean, upstanding, Godly, Christian folk, doesn't it?

Dave

So who was ever naive enough to believe they were? Somewhat like where Hamlet tells Ophelia "Get thee to a nunnery" which was current slang for a house of ill repute.