Religion and Ethics and Health BBS

Religion and Ethics and Health BBS
[ Religion and Ethics and Health BBS ]

Any avid readers (of BOOKS) around here?

Posted by Mugwump on December 28, 2025, 7:15 am

An arbitrary standard? Let's say 50 books a year at minimum and composed of multiple genres. History and Mystery, etc. Would be interesting to compare notes if genres match.

I used to read a lot of fiction when young

Posted by Moishe on December 29, 2025, 7:39 am, in reply to "Any avid readers (of BOOKS) around here?"

Favourite author in HS was Thomas Hardy

After that, Vonnegut, John Barth, Robertson Davies

For mysteries, P.D. James

Currently all Science and Non-fiction

Dawkins, Maddow, Brian Greene, stuff on quantum mechanics ( which is a bigger mystery :-))

Then, you became fiction. ;)

Posted by Mondo FUego™ on December 29, 2025, 1:45 pm, in reply to "I used to read a lot of fiction when young"

Hey, just ribbing you a bit. You are one of the smarter leftwing blokes here.

Remember, debits on the left, credits on the right ... well, except in factory cost accounting.

I read Fifth Business when I was in HS.

Posted by Mugwump on December 29, 2025, 1:38 pm, in reply to "I used to read a lot of fiction when young"

Seeing the name brought a smile.
I think reading fiction is extremely important. I love a juicy fact as much as the next guy, but entering new emotional worlds on a regular basis strikes me as vital to human growth.

Great book

Posted by Moishe on December 29, 2025, 6:51 pm, in reply to "I read Fifth Business when I was in HS."

Of course it led me to "The Manticore" and "World of Wonders", which I also enjoyed.

I never made it to the rest of the trilogy.

Posted by Mugwump on December 30, 2025, 6:07 am, in reply to "Great book"

Too much enamored with Faulkner at the time.

Re: Any avid readers (of BOOKS) around here?

Posted by trish on December 28, 2025, 7:45 am, in reply to "Any avid readers (of BOOKS) around here?"

yes. I love mysteries and scifi. What are some of your best-loved authors

No books, though I have thousands.

Posted by GOG on December 28, 2025, 8:17 am, in reply to "Re: Any avid readers (of BOOKS) around here?"

Just the internet. Short attention span. Need a quick fix. But I do like books. Especially pictures. They are of substance, often quite attractive, and they give one the appearance of being literate. I have a very large bookcase floor to ceiling that was stuffed. But a few years ago the California fires caused me to pack them up and into storage. They are much missed. Probably leave them to the library.

Re: Any avid readers (of BOOKS) around here?

Posted by Mugwump on December 28, 2025, 7:59 am, in reply to "Re: Any avid readers (of BOOKS) around here?"

Easy.

Michael Connelly
Jonathan Kellerm
Scott Turow (except thr last book)
Martin Cruz Smith
Mick Herron

SciFi ( I Like the older stuff)
Robert Sheckley
Clifford Simak
Fredric Brown
Phillip Dick

History
Dan Jones
Mike Wallace (Gotham Series)
Adrian Goldsworthy
Robin Lane Fox
Jonathan Kirsch

Favorite book of this century: All The Light We Cannot See (hopelessly lowered lowered in class by the abominable TV production)

Titles

Posted by trish on December 28, 2025, 8:47 am, in reply to "Re: Any avid readers (of BOOKS) around here?"

I have specific favorites.

Nearly anything by Dan Brown
Terry Pratchett rocks (Love Small Gods)
C Moore (Lamb: The Gospel according to Biff)
J Leven (Satan: His psychotherapy and cure)
Katherine Kurtz: The Adept Series
Piers Anthony: Incarnations of Immortality Series

The Leven was great fun.

Posted by Mugwump on December 28, 2025, 9:13 am, in reply to "Titles"

The SciFi genre lends itself more to the short story and novella...at least for me.it does. That explains my fondness for Robert Sheckley and his humorous view of possibilities. "Does it feel good when I do this?" is one of my favorites.
I'm not a particuar fan of Dan Brown and find his pauses to deliver extended factoids really annoying. The fact that his first biggie was almost totally derivative of the non-fiction(?) "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" was particvularly irksome.

BTW, If I'm in a sour mood (if you spent close to 300 days a year on the road you'd get sour, too) I just pick up anything by Donald Westlake.

300 days OMG

Posted by trish on December 29, 2025, 2:49 am, in reply to "The Leven was great fun."

I traveled for a while after college. It grew old very quickly. Not having your own space sucks, especially if it's not the best lodging

I hope you get more time to stop.

It's the nature of the beast.

Posted by Mugwump on December 29, 2025, 6:06 am, in reply to "300 days OMG"

In the last month I've been in Zurich, New York, London, Milan and Naples. I've been home for 3 (or is it 2?) nights. I've got one taping and a Gala to go, then I take my annual pause for a couple of weeks. During that time my wife and kids get to familiarize themselves with their Dad. It is a strange life but it is the one I chose.
. It's fulfilling, lucrative and has led to some great friendships even though they are most often in passing and just renewed from time to time. If it wasn't for the technology of our time it would be impossible to maintain a marriage and family. .

You must be doing something right

Posted by trish on December 30, 2025, 6:04 am, in reply to "It's the nature of the beast."

Most families would not survive that kind of emotional (physical) distance.

I applaud both you and them

I would love to see Zurich and Milan, LOVE Naples.

I doubt I will ever travel again, so I'll live vicariously through your adventures (when you share)

Oh I don't doubt that

Posted by trish on December 30, 2025, 11:25 am, in reply to "You must be doing something right"

I hope you didn't think I was insulting. The energy it takes to do your work must be incredible.

Yet, you truly love it. If a person can live their passion, even for a while, it is a good moment in life

None taken. From the outside it does seem terrific

Posted by Mugwump on December 30, 2025, 2:03 pm, in reply to "Oh I don't doubt that"

and in many ways it is. Then again, you sometimes find yourself 6,000 miles from home (reason to love the internet, video calls, etc.)

Well, it's not like being a tourist.

Posted by Mugwump on December 30, 2025, 6:12 am, in reply to "You must be doing something right"

Rehearsals, performances, costume business, study, etc.
It's a very disciplined life.

Oh, & those who collect but not read books should be drawn

Posted by Mugwump on December 28, 2025, 9:17 am, in reply to "The Leven was great fun."

and quartered.

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