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Post by jeffd on Jun 27, 2023 9:35:18 GMT -5
There's a chant I have, "sailing is fun, sailing is fun" that I use in storms, calms, while a tanker is bearing down on me from windward, etc. I stick to mostly fun sailing books. 😉 I guess it's not surprising that most books about sailing involve misery and death. The sea is like another planet and not designed for people to live. So many things to go wrong. I don't think that I have ever gone out that I didn't lose or break a piece of expensive hardware. There is my favorite "scene" in Shackleton's book "South". A crevice opens up in an ice flow they are stranded on, and one of the crew falls into it. Shackleton, a notably strong dude", reaches down and pulls the fellow out of the crevice, and sets him down safely. The fellow then bitches and moans that Shackleton saved him but failed to save his tobacco pouch, which was still down the crevice. History does not record if there was any irony or humor in the crew member's quip. |
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Post by toshtego on Jun 27, 2023 12:24:58 GMT -5
I guess it's not surprising that most books about sailing involve misery and death. The sea is like another planet and not designed for people to live. So many things to go wrong. I don't think that I have ever gone out that I didn't lose or break a piece of expensive hardware. In the desert you can't remember your name 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 27, 2023 14:16:39 GMT -5
I guess it's not surprising that most books about sailing involve misery and death. The sea is like another planet and not designed for people to live. So many things to go wrong. I don't think that I have ever gone out that I didn't lose or break a piece of expensive hardware. There is my favorite "scene" in Shackleton's book "South". A crevice opens up in an ice flow they are stranded on, and one of the crew falls into it. Shackleton, a notably strong dude", reaches down and pulls the fellow out of the crevice, and sets him down safely. The fellow then bitches and moans that Shackleton saved him but failed to save his tobacco pouch, which was still down the crevice. History does not record if there was any irony or humor in the crew member's quip. When I was a kid I read all the books on the polar expeditions, and I determined that there wasn't anything there worth me dying for. YMMV. |
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Post by toshtego on Jun 27, 2023 19:38:29 GMT -5
There is my favorite "scene" in Shackleton's book "South". A crevice opens up in an ice flow they are stranded on, and one of the crew falls into it. Shackleton, a notably strong dude", reaches down and pulls the fellow out of the crevice, and sets him down safely. The fellow then bitches and moans that Shackleton saved him but failed to save his tobacco pouch, which was still down the crevice. History does not record if there was any irony or humor in the crew member's quip. When I was a kid I read all the books on the polar expeditions, and I determined that there wasn't anything there worth me dying for. YMMV. You will be pleased to know that we have a new neighbor here. An English woman who held the record for her solo trek on foot to the South Pole. She manages one of the research stations down there and is gone south most of our Winter, the Summer months there. A stout lass of 50 now. Tough as a SMLE and just as deadly when provoked. She stands about six feet and is half as wide. Not fat. Give her a battleax and Norsemen, Romans, Froggies, Jerries beware. Most impressive lady and she comports herself as one. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 27, 2023 20:39:52 GMT -5
Sounds like a lovely and interesting lady. Better her than me.
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Post by jeffd on Jun 27, 2023 21:22:10 GMT -5
There is my favorite "scene" in Shackleton's book "South". A crevice opens up in an ice flow they are stranded on, and one of the crew falls into it. Shackleton, a notably strong dude", reaches down and pulls the fellow out of the crevice, and sets him down safely. The fellow then bitches and moans that Shackleton saved him but failed to save his tobacco pouch, which was still down the crevice. History does not record if there was any irony or humor in the crew member's quip. When I was a kid I read all the books on the polar expeditions, and I determined that there wasn't anything there worth me dying for. YMMV. When my Dad died I took my Mom for a cruise to Antarctica. We talked about the very small but real dangers involved and she said: "You know, there are folks who die of a heart attack waiting on line to get their tires rotated at Sears. You mean I might get to die in Antarctica? |
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Post by trailboss on Jun 27, 2023 23:19:43 GMT -5
There is my favorite "scene" in Shackleton's book "South". A crevice opens up in an ice flow they are stranded on, and one of the crew falls into it. Shackleton, a notably strong dude", reaches down and pulls the fellow out of the crevice, and sets him down safely. The fellow then bitches and moans that Shackleton saved him but failed to save his tobacco pouch, which was still down the crevice. History does not record if there was any irony or humor in the crew member's quip. When I was a kid I read all the books on the polar expeditions, and I determined that there wasn't anything there worth me dying for. YMMV. I understand how some adventurers took risks without being foolhardy. One thing that I cannot understand is tourists at the Grand Canyon walking out on ledges and goofing off for a picture….loose rocks out on the edge, one slip and “Hey Bubba, check this out, hold my Beeeeeeeeeeeeer” You can get the same picture without standing on the edge of the abyss. There is a book sold in the park about all the deaths associated with such situations, and it gets thicker with each printing. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 28, 2023 0:20:39 GMT -5
When I was a kid I read all the books on the polar expeditions, and I determined that there wasn't anything there worth me dying for. YMMV. I understand how some adventurers took risks without being foolhardy. One thing that I cannot understand is tourists at the Grand Canyon walking out on ledges and goofing off for a picture….loose rocks out on the edge, one slip and “Hey Bubba, check this out, hold my Beeeeeeeeeeeeer” You can get the same picture without standing on the edge of the abyss. There is a book sold in the park about all the deaths associated with such situations, and it gets thicker with each printing. I have that book. Some of it is sad and some is darkly funny. But it would make it great wheel chock for a semi on a 12% grade. |
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Post by mgtarheel on Jun 29, 2023 17:51:39 GMT -5
"Riding the Rap" by Elmore Leonard
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tree16
Junior Member
Posts: 104
Location:
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Post by tree16 on Jul 1, 2023 11:52:19 GMT -5
I picked up the Odyssey which I haven't read since I was a kid. I still remember the lore but the details were hazy so it's an enjoyable read.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 4, 2023 22:29:52 GMT -5
Finished 20k Leagues Under the Sea and started something stupid. Looking at the stack.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 11, 2023 0:54:15 GMT -5
Just finished Talking God by Tony Hillerman. Good story as usual.
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Post by jeffd on Jul 11, 2023 9:36:35 GMT -5
I just re-read The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett.
The hardboiled detective is so common in literature it is hard to read Dashiell Hammett as if it were a new idea. But keep in mind in its time it was revolutionary, and really established a lot of the noir hardboiled detective style that grew out of it. Dashiell Hammett did it first, and best. IMO.
Humphry Bogart so embodied the character in the book, he never really played a different character in his life. I have seen it written that in playing Sam Spade, Humphry learned his chops as an actor.
Same with Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, who did so well being the characters written by Dashiell Hammett they never lost that influence in anything they did later.
Even given that the genre is established and made fun of, the book is a great read, the bad guys are positively ookie in their psychopathic evil.
"Well, Wilmer, I'm sorry indeed to lose you. But I want you to know I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, it's possible to get another. There's only one Maltese Falcon."
It is a quick read. Several days with a good pipe or two or three should do it.
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Post by mgtarheel on Jul 11, 2023 22:34:37 GMT -5
"That Devil Forrest: Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest" by John A. Wyeth
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Post by mgtarheel on Jul 12, 2023 16:36:36 GMT -5
With all the fanfare with the new movie "Oppenheimer" and since I just finished my latest book I decided to read "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes. Long book about 1500 pages on my Kindle.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 13, 2023 12:05:20 GMT -5
With all the fanfare with the new movie "Oppenheimer" and since I just finished my latest book I decided to read "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes. Long book about 1500 pages on my Kindle. I just ordered a copy of the book this movie is based upon. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. I look forward to reading the book and seeing the movie, that is if it ever comes to Taos. The one theater owner has trouble getting movies for grownups, those movie without guns and car chases. This one has a bomb but that is not quite the same. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 13, 2023 12:35:29 GMT -5
With all the fanfare with the new movie "Oppenheimer" and since I just finished my latest book I decided to read "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes. Long book about 1500 pages on my Kindle. I just ordered a copy of the book this movie is based upon. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. I look forward to reading the book and seeing the movie, that is if it ever comes to Taos. The one theater owner has trouble getting movies for grownups, those movie without guns and car chases. This one has a bomb but that is not quite the same. And it's just a short drive to Los Alamos for you. I think it would be great to see it where it happened. |
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Post by toshtego on Jul 13, 2023 18:57:02 GMT -5
I just ordered a copy of the book this movie is based upon. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. I look forward to reading the book and seeing the movie, that is if it ever comes to Taos. The one theater owner has trouble getting movies for grownups, those movie without guns and car chases. This one has a bomb but that is not quite the same. And it's just a short drive to Los Alamos for you. I think it would be great to see it where it happened. I will be happy to see it in Taos. Not sure if Los Alamos has a movie theater for the general public. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 13, 2023 19:21:42 GMT -5
And it's just a short drive to Los Alamos for you. I think it would be great to see it where it happened. I will be happy to see it in Taos. Not sure if Los Alamos has a movie theater for the general public. You are right. It's closed, but it was nice when we were there. Nearest is in Sambrillo 16 miles away. Shame. |
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Post by username on Jul 13, 2023 21:13:43 GMT -5
On book four of the Wheel of Time.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 14, 2023 7:12:33 GMT -5
I will be happy to see it in Taos. Not sure if Los Alamos has a movie theater for the general public. You are right. It's closed, but it was nice when we were there. Nearest is in Sambrillo 16 miles away. Shame. Coming to Taos on July 21, maybe. The theater operator is never sure until the "reels" arrive. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 14, 2023 12:54:34 GMT -5
On book four of the Wheel of Time. I loved that series, but it was starting to drag towards the end, but then Brandon Sanderson came in to finish it up and the last books were great. I envy you reading it for the first time. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 14, 2023 12:57:09 GMT -5
You are right. It's closed, but it was nice when we were there. Nearest is in Sambrillo 16 miles away. Shame. Coming to Taos on July 21, maybe. The theater operator is never sure until the "reels" arrive. I don't know what has happened to Los Alamos. It used to be a really active town with a lot going on. Of course, so was Fresno. You'd think that the town would reopen the theater for this movie. |
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Post by toshtego on Jul 14, 2023 13:53:00 GMT -5
Coming to Taos on July 21, maybe. The theater operator is never sure until the "reels" arrive. I don't know what has happened to Los Alamos. It used to be a really active town with a lot going on. Of course, so was Fresno. You'd think that the town would reopen the theater for this movie. From the friends I have that work there, not a social place. Partly some of the people and their peculiarities and partly security. People keep to themselves and travel down to White Rock or Santa Fe for most of this. I almost moved to Fresno in the early 1990s. Glad I did not. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 14, 2023 15:59:54 GMT -5
I don't know what has happened to Los Alamos. It used to be a really active town with a lot going on. Of course, so was Fresno. You'd think that the town would reopen the theater for this movie. From the friends I have that work there, not a social place. Partly some of the people and their peculiarities and partly security. People keep to themselves and travel down to White Rock or Santa Fe for most of this. I almost moved to Fresno in the early 1990s. Glad I did not. White Rock was a real suburb/bedroom town. We had a friend who lives there, built bombs during the day. I don't think they ever had a store or anything else there. Last time we were there there was only a pizza joint. |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Jul 15, 2023 11:39:30 GMT -5
"That Devil Forrest: Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest" by John A. Wyeth Is it worth a read? "That devil" has fans in my neck of the woods. I'm on his successors at the moment: A Fever in the Heartland, Timothy Egan, 2023. Twentieth century--same as the nineteenth, same as the twenty-first. |
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Post by mgtarheel on Jul 15, 2023 12:42:27 GMT -5
"That Devil Forrest: Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest" by John A. Wyeth Is it worth a read? "That devil" has fans in my neck of the woods. I'm on his successors at the moment: A Fever in the Heartland, Timothy Egan, 2023. Twentieth century--same as the nineteenth, same as the twenty-first. Well worth a read. This is the second book I have read on his life. It amazes me every time I read a book about him. One of the greatest soldiers to come out of the South. |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Jul 15, 2023 13:50:57 GMT -5
Is it worth a read? "That devil" has fans in my neck of the woods. I'm on his successors at the moment: A Fever in the Heartland, Timothy Egan, 2023. Twentieth century--same as the nineteenth, same as the twenty-first. Well worth a read. This is the second book I have read on his life. It amazes me every time I read a book about him. One of the greatest soldiers to come out of the South. I'll give it a read. He's probably not going to be on my list of greatest anything, but I'm fascinated with history, good, bad, and ugly. |
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Post by Darin on Jul 15, 2023 17:40:21 GMT -5
Mostly ugly ... dude, you're going to glorify a KKK Grand Wizard? 🤯
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 15, 2023 17:50:13 GMT -5
Mostly ugly ... dude, you're going to glorify a KKK Grand Wizard? 🤯 It's history dude. Get over it. Not everyone who fought for the south was a demon. |
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