What book are you currently reading? Why did you choose that one?
By bayernfan
@bayernfan (1430)
Canada
December 16, 2008 12:01am CST
The question is straight forward, what book are you reading at the moment and how did you come about choosing that one?
Right now I am reading The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War By David Halberstam. I am interested in Politics and History and I read a review on this book in the newspaper. The author of the article in the newspaper began to compare the recounting of the U.S. handling of the Korean War in this book to the more recent conflicts that the U.S. have engaged in, so I thought that it would be interesting. The Korean War gets much less coverage or attention than other wars, so I also thought that the book might be enlightening. I am only about 100 pages into the book so far, but I am hooked. Whenever I put this book down, I can't wait to read the next chapter.
4 responses
@JCanham (20)
• United States
16 Dec 08
Yes, the question is straight foward. However my responce isn't. I'm not currently reading just one book, but four of them. So, here they are, in no particular order. "Of Mice and Men", by George Steinbeck. I love they way this man wrote. I haven't read this book since high school. A friend of mine let us borrow his copy so that my wife could read it, but it sat around for days. Unwilling to let such a good book just sit there with no attention I decided to reread it. Next is "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins. This was lent to me by the same friend, but at the time of the lending I was already involved with other books, so I'm just now really getting into it. "IT" by Stephen King. This ones a reread. I started it for something to read, and now I have an overabundance of material. Last is "Shogun", by James Clavell. Another reread. I'm fasinated(sp) with feudal Japan, and this is a great peice of historical fiction. Once I get through with the two monsters( IT and Shogun) my next book is probably going to be "Aztec" by Gary Jennings. This is another really well done bit of historical fiction, I highly recomend it. Currently thats all I have, but with the way I read, there's always more books in the queue. Happy reading folks.
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
I often find myself tackling several books at the same time as well. There are so many books to read and so little time. I have read both Of Mice and Men, which is an absolutely fabulous book, and IT, which was incredibly scary, when I was younger. It has been a long time since I read them though. I have never heard of Jitterbug Perfume, but Shogun and Aztec sound intriguing. Thanks for bringing them to my attention. If I were to start re-reading some books, I would probably start with Animal Farm by George Orwell. It is a classic and a magnificent allegory.
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
20 Dec 08
Yes, Orwell's 1984 is an eerie masterpiece in which many of the insights/predictions he made in that book have since come true. 1984 is a must read for everyone. I mentioned your recommendations to my brother, and it turns out that one of his friends owns shogun. My brother is willing to ask if I can borrow it in order to save me a trip to the library. 
I do a search online about Stephen Ambros and check that out. Thanks for the recommendations and have a Merry Christmas. 
I do a search online about Stephen Ambros and check that out. Thanks for the recommendations and have a Merry Christmas. @JCanham (20)
• United States
19 Dec 08
I agree. I also like Orwell's "1984", which I found to be a very disturbing look at the future and an intriguing attack at socialist governments. James Clavell has quite a few novels out, so if you get the oppurtunity to read shogun, and you enjoy it, there's a few others of his that I would highly recomend. I don't get too deep into non-fiction, but if you're interested in WW2, a good historian is Stephen Ambrose. He aproached the from the enlisted mens point of veiw, which gives you a wholey different perception of the events of that conflict.
@thecrazyjogger (3178)
• India
16 Dec 08
i jsut finsihed the book THE RAINMAKER by JOHN GRISHAM
i really like his writing style
but i dont read tht much non-fiction books like u do nowadays
happy lotting and have a nice day
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
I read a lot and I also enjoy novels. The majority of my reading is non-fiction though. John Grisham is a popular writer. I have not read the rainmaker. How does it compare to his other novels?
@kunking (1118)
• China
16 Dec 08
hi,bayernfan! currently i'm reading a love novel and find it very sweet..i happen to read it when surfing the internet..its highly recommended so i pick it..
glad to see u like reading books on Politics and History. i became interested in your book because its about the Korean War..u know, my country China got involved in the war. and i want to see the war in different perspective from what i have know..i will gonna local library to see whether i can borrow this book..
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
It's bound to be hard to read a book while surfing the internet, but I guess you read during breaks or while downloading/uploading. Yes I am aware that China was very involved in the Korean War. The Coldest Winter does a good job describing strategic decision making as well as historical battlefield positioning and recounts of events. This book examines events on all sides from American, Chinese, North Korean, South Korean, Russian, Chiang Kai-shek led Taiwan, and even history of Japanese occupation. I also aim to learn about historical events from as many sides as possible so that I can gain a complete picture and not just the narrative of American led culture.
@sunny7758521 (339)
• China
16 Dec 08
I'm reading Senior English students' book, I'm learning English by myself from the beginning. I didn't get into the campus, but I like English very much, the knowledge of students' book is systemic.
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
That's excellent. Self-teaching is a method that I employ myself and it is very rewarding. There are many free resources for learning English, and for those who are dedicated, motivated and self-sufficient, formal training at an educational institution is not required. Practice, practice, practice. That's the best advice. You'll get very good exposure to English here on myLot. Good luck.
