Do yall read (Books)

[LBrown59]

Originally Posted by Western

I used to read ALLOT when I was 8-14 years old. We didn't have video games, computers and the like, heck we didn't have a TV until I was around 10 and we could only watch it on Sunday night when Wild Kingdom was on.

Its been allot of years since I have read because I wanted to. If you Live in Texas and /or have a huge fascination with Indians as I do here is a super book I am almost through reading.

Indian Depredations In Texas. Published in 1889, 672 pages. available at Amazon.

Indians have been a life long fascination for me, I have found artifacts and arrowheads in many states, and often as a kid wished I "was there" to see it first hand.

This book contains story's compiled by the author from 1st hand knowledge and second hand trusted sources. He is obviously biased, as of the time (1800's) and the advantage he had of witnessing things only left now to the imagination, explains some what why things are "as they are" in history. It also shows the tenacity of the settlers in Texas, most from "back East". It is written in the language of the time.

If your into frontier life dealing with the Texas Indians, this is a super book.

About how many?

[Travelover]

I discovered books on tape (now CD) at our local library and never looked back. It is a great use of driving time, doesn't strain your eyes and it is free.

Our library now has a deal where you can down load books on MP3 from a large data base. I just plug my MP3 player into a little FM transmitter that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket and listen to the books on the radio. If you have one of those fancy cars, you plug the MP3 player straight into the radio.

The beauty of it is that you never have to go to the library to pick it up, nor return the "book".

I download podcasts, too, especially when I fly and need something to keep me occupied.

[NuBota]

I have always liked to read - genres have changed over the years and I have started exploring others. As a kid really liked sci-fi fantasy, then I got into Clancy type suspense/combat stuff, now I am trying the classics that I "cliff-noted" in high school and some history

BUT - I don't read much anymore - because I become so engaged, I basically have to read straight through and finish. Then I have guilt that I sat for that length of time when I could be getting seat time or working around the house. Reading a book over the course of a couple of weeks just doesn't work. It's like dealing with commercials during a movie

[MikeInEburg]

Originally Posted by Travelover

I discovered books on tape (now CD) at our local library and never looked back. It is a great use of driving time, doesn't strain your eyes and it is free.

Our library now has a deal where you can down load books on MP3 from a large data base. I just plug my MP3 player into a little FM transmitter that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket and listen to the books on the radio. If you have one of those fancy cars, you plug the MP3 player straight into the radio.

The beauty of it is that you never have to go to the library to pick it up, nor return the "book".

I download podcasts, too, especially when I fly and need something to keep me occupied.

I've done this same thing for the past fifteen years. I spend a LOT of time driving and have probably listened to some 300 books. Best part is listening to books that I never would have read. Classics like "Double Indemnity" and "The Postman Always Rings Twice" are great stories. Tony Hillerman writes novels that include the ways of tribal Navajo in New Mexico. Rick Riordan writes mysteries that include the flavor of Texas. Dick Francis mysteries always revolve around the British Horseracing arena. Best book recently read was "The Help" - a fictional story that fairly accurately described the relationships between southern ladies and their paid help. My wife and I listened to it all of the way to Atlanta and back - some 23 hours on the road.

These work great when mowing or other tasks - turns mindless into enjoyable. HIGHLY recommended.
Mike

[ToadHill]

I read a lot. Right now at the farm I'm reading a 2 book compelation of the American Revolutionary war. At home I'm reading a James Patterson novel. I also read all the different series by W.E.B. Griffen. I probably read at least a book a week. The local library is only 2 blocks away.

[Alan L.]

I love to read and don't do near as much reading as I used to, and wish I still did. Most of my reading over the years has been at bedtime for maybe 30 mins to an hour before going to sleep. However this crazu internet thingy seems to keep me up later and I don't get to read as much.

Have always been a light reader, I enjoy fiction, have read very little non-fiction at all. It takes me a long time to read a book, not because I am a slow reader, but because of the little time I spend, and I tend to savor the prose and not get in any hurry.

I love Louis Lamour westerns novels and short stories. Have read pretty much all of them, some twice and a few 3 times. I can tell when I've read a book before, but I usually don't remember everything, and Louis Lamour's books are just enjoyable to read rather than to get to final solution. They are classic good guy vs bad buy, and the good guy always wins. And LL's prose is very pleasing to me. There is no profanity or sex in these books, just good clean killin'

I also like Tony Hillerman mysteries, westerns by Elmer Kelton and the Zane Grey, have read most of the earlier Tom Clancy novels (before they becoming to complicated), almost all of the Stephen King novels (this guy is sick). Read a few James Michener, Dale Brown, the Wagons West series by Dana Fuller Ross (these got pretty boring after the first 10 or so). Also read the Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean M. Auel. Enjoyed those very much.

I also enjoy books on tape in the car, as my commute is more than an hour each way. My brother picks them up at the library and gives to me before he returns them.

[Western]

Originally Posted by LBrown59

About how many?

about 33 now, like Bird I had to read for school and career classes, but out of personal interest it has been almost non-existent. I do read allot on the internet and find a huge amount of interesting stuff.

My brother swears by the audio tapes, been hard for me, since while reading a book with an area description or location, I will usually stop and look the place up on a map, sick isn't it.

Alan.. allot of "injun" warfare history in Grayson Co..

Sci fi has always been hard for me to read, don't know why. I don't mind it as a movie though.

[RobertN]

My son, wife, and I all like to read. My son was reading Tolkien when he was 8; those Lord of the Rings books are pretty involved.

I always have read. I like a wide range of reading.

Recently, I reread the books on USMC Gunnery Sargent Carlos Hathcock. Also read about 5th Marine snipers in Vietnam, and about Gene Coughlin in Iraq.

One of my favorites is still Tom Sawyer.

I get a real kick out of reading Roger Welsch' old tractor books.

Someone mentioned Native American's. "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" was a very powerful book. It is very definitve about the plight of the Native Americans.

I read Stanto's "In Harms Way" about the USS Indainapolis during the Christmas/New Years a couple years ago. That was a good book, but not a nice book for the holidays. Would definitely recomend it though.

I live right in the heart of the California gould rush area, less than 15 minutes from Coloma where John Marshall discovered the gold that triggered the gold rush. There are lots of book about that.

['Bota Fan]

Don't get to read nearly as much as I would like. I keep a list of books that sound appealing so when I can get to the library again, I'm ready. The list is longer after reading this thread.

"Rhett Butler's People" is a parallel to "Gone With The Wind" by Donald McCaig. Excellent writer with a rich turn of phrase. "Jacob's Ladder" is set in Virginia during the Civil War, and the story continues in "Canaan". McCaig has lots of titles to his credit, and I intend to read more of them.

I've read all of John Grisham's books. Some are better than others, but he generally keeps you on the edge of your seat. He'll give you whiplash the way he makes a plot turn and twist.

The very last book I read was "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Don't know how I missed it as assigned reading in high school and college, but I decided it was time. Interesting reading.

Great thread. Thanks for starting it. Hope it continues.

[Alan L.]

I also read "Uncle Tom's Cabin" a couple of years ago, and several of the Grisham books. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn maybe 10 years ago. Read them as a kid, enjoyed them much more as an adult.