Books

[dukeberto]

One of my HS senior year final projects was doing a comparison of "100 years of Solitude" in Spanish and English. I barely remember what my findings were, but I remember thinking that the tone of the story varied greatly. Garcia-Marquez is excellent and one of my favorite authors.

 

[rome8180]

^ Real Spanish speaker

<--- Fake one

 

[rhfarmer]

Take 6-8 months off after you get back, go to Central America or Mexico, live on the beach and learn how to surf and speak Spanish. Probably cost you about 5 grand.

 

[rome8180]

Some local woman will probably want to marry you. In the meantime you can hook up with a lot of European backpackers.

 

[rome8180]

Deepdark, I order the first Hap and Leonard book. I believe it was you who recommended it.

 

[deepdarkblue]

I heart Hap and Leonard.

 

[rome8180]

It came in the mail yesterday, but I have yet to start it. Looks great so far, though.

 

[Topher]

Finally got your book, rome. It's up next in my queue after I finish the new GRRM book.

 

[rome8180]

Cool. Thanks.

 

[deeyoukayeee]

Just finished Jay Winik's 'April 1865'. Absolutely astounding. Have read MacPherson and Foote, among others, and been all over the battlefields and relevant museums all my life, I figured I knew most all the relevant facts re the Civil War, but this book often had me feeling like a neophyte. I can't express how much additional insight this book brought bear about the motives, decisions and men that made both the war and the peace.

Even if you are not a history type, I'd recommend it. For sheer understanding of this country, there can't be many better books.

 

[aiw]

I agree. Fantastic book.

 

[deeyoukayeee]

Have you read '1944'?

 

[aiw]

Nope.

 

[deeyoukayeee]

Not quite as good as 1865, but same kind of historical parsing of why more was not done to limit the holocaust. Kind of the anti-1865 in that while it was serendipitous for the US to have certain people in positions of power at the end of the Civil War, it was equally unfortunate for the Jews that certain people were in positions of power late in WWII. Not much heroism with the exception of people like Rudolf Vrba, whose story is worth reading the book for by itself.

 

[aiw]

Didn't realize it was a Winik book. I'll put that on my list.

Have you read his other book, The Great Upheaval? US/Russia/France relations 1788-1800. Also excellent.

 

[deeyoukayeee]

Not yet, but I certainly plan to hit that soon along with the Cold War book from the late 90s. He is quickly passing Yergin, Figes and Ryan as my favorite historian.

 

[NCCUknow]

Lauren Goff's "Fates and Furies" is spectacular

 

[aiw]

Rome, you've said you frequent Nice Price Books on Broad Street, right?

Here's what's happening to it

 

[rome8180]

Well, shit. Just what the world needs. Another Papa John's.

 

[deeyoukayeee]

Didn't realize it was a Winik book. I'll put that on my list.

Have you read his other book, The Great Upheaval? US/Russia/France relations 1788-1800. Also excellent.

Just finished this. Another fantastic book. His ability to provide meaningful interpretation to history is remarkable. The contrast of the path liberalism took in the three countries is jarring. I'd like for him to analyze the reason we no longer have a culture/system that seems to be able to elevate the right men to leadership the way they were in our two greatest periods of need.